Category Archives: humor

I Hope Nobody Comes Along and Drops a House on Me

Our area is under a severe thunderstorm warning.  Naturally Steven and I went out to sit on the deck till it got here.  We each took a glass of wine, and I brought my Tablet, to take a picture or two for blogging purposes.

I’m not sure the Tablet captures the color and light.

This is the view over our back fence.  One of my favorite skies is a dark one hit by sunshine.  This was not as dramatic as some I have seen, but I believe in appreciating what I see.  We sat down, sipped our wine and chatted.  Eventually I took another picture.

What do you see in the clouds?

This is to my left.  I think some of the clouds may be the same as in the other shot, but it is hard to say.  I decided to walk put front and see what the clouds looked like there.

“It’s probably not as dark,” I predicted.  I was correct.  However, as I got ready to take a picture of the blue sky and white clouds, I saw that darker ones were moving in.  I tried to capture both.

Pretty ominous!

When I showed that one to Steven, he said I should send it to Jill Reale.  For non-local readers (and local readers who don’t happen to know), Jill Reale is the meteorologist on WKTV morning news.  She shares weather photos that readers send to her via social media.  How proud I would be to be featured!  So I posted it on her Facebook page.

I sat back down.  Soon we picked up our wine glasses, because the wind had picked up.

“I should make a video of this,” I said, watching tree branches whip back and forth.  I don’t know that I am technologically advanced enough for video.

In any case, it soon started to rain, so we came inside, and I made this blog post.  I wonder if I can come up with a headline striking enough to constitute a Non-Sequitur Thursday post.

 

Mid-Week Monster Movies

Do I have a feature called Mid-Week Movies?  Looking back, I see I have another post thus titled.  Anyways, we watched two movies tonight and since I got nuthin’ else, here goes.

Full disclosure: sometimes I feel like the Blob, or at least a blob.

I DVR’d The Blob sometime ago, as I usually do when I see it is on TCM.  It is one of our perennial favorites.   Since I am quite ready to begin the Halloween movie watching portion of our year, it was a good choice for tonight.  Oh, who am I kidding?  I am ready to watch Halloween movies at all times.

It’s scary!

To continue with the monster theme (ooh, could this post be Mid-Week Monsters? ), I suggested Little Shop of Horrors, by which I mean the original Roger Corman flick, NOT the musical.  Steven graciously agreed.  That was very nice of him, because in general he is not as big a fan of the cheesy stuff as I am.

My favorite character is Gravis Mushnick.

We are tired after our movie viewing and will probably go to bed soon.  I’m sorry this is not a more riveting description of the evening, but you’ll have that.  At least, with my blog you will.  I guess I’ll close with one more monster picture.

“You were looking for a monster?”

Naturally I wanted to use my favourite,  Nosferatu.  I may even watch that movie again soon.

 

Lawn Update on Tired Tuesday

Tired Tuesday it is!  I am sitting on my back deck, extremely grateful when the breeze blows, and hoping to make some semblance of a blog post.  I took a few pictures a minute ago, thinking to do an update on the state of my yard.  Spoiler alert: it isn’t that great.

I loves me my Black-Eyed Susans!

My Black-Eyed Susans finally bloomed, no thanks to me weeding them, which I did not.

I tried to get two good views.

The other day I did do some clearing out by my fence.  Of course I did not take a before picture — who can be bothered by such things when enjoying a rare bout of ambition — but I seem to remember taking a picture of the area for some flowers that had grown there.

Here it is!

You can’t really see the fence.

NOW you can see the fence!

The expression, “I fought the lawn, and the lawn won,” comes to mind.  But to end on a more positive note, our Brown-Eyed Susans are also starting to bloom.

Hey! You can see Steve’s feet!

These just magically appeared a few years ago, and this year there are quite a few of them.

Yay! They’re pretty!

Never mind how crappy the deck is starting to look!

So my lawn is not looking as bad as it could look, despite my colossal lack of effort this year.  Then again, why am I so hard on myself?   I have kept the grass in check, done some work around the edges, pruned the evergreen tree, in short, worked somewhat.  One can almost always do more.

So I can sit on my deck and relax with a minimum of guilt.  It doesn’t do me any good to shoulda-woulda-coulda anyways.  I will just relax myself till the thunder I am hearing gets a little closer.  Happy Tuesday, everyone!

 

Fun Time on a Sunday

Here is a quick shout-out to Waterfront Grille in Herkimer, NY.  My husband Steven and I were having a delightful time sitting on our deck but eventually decided a change of scenery would be nice.  Hence we headed for 800 Mohawk Street and looked for a seat at the bar.

Steven naturally drank a toast to me.

We sat at the bar and ordered appetizers, my favorite thing to do.

I tried to get a couple more pictures of the wider view.

Through the screen but interesting.

A better view.

I admired a baby a man was holding.  He also had a little girl,  who was very taken with the view.  I tried to get a shot of the family catching Li’l Diamond.

Here they are!

No, here!

Eventually I only wanted a shot if our bartender.

Here are Dawn and Steve.

We had a delightful afternoon.  I hope to visit the  Waterfront Grille again soon.  Perhaps we will even go on a boat cruise. I believe a variety of tours are  available.

 

Why I Did Not Make a Post

This is going to be a short, self-indulgent post wherein I apologize for not making a post yesterday.  I left in the morning to spend a wonderful day with family.  I returned early enough to make a blog post, but first I went out on the deck to enjoy a glass of wine and some time with my husband.

Lounging in a comfy chair, watching the changing light in the sky, all I wanted to do was just stay there and relax.  And all I wanted to do after that was lounge in my bed reading a book till it was time to go to sleep.  The thought of picking up my Tablet and venturing online was not a pleasant one, and no threat of guilt the next day could sway me.

In point of fact, I could have made a blog post in the morning; I had time to do so.  However, I was enjoying a leisurely morning.  Eventually I went for a short run.  I thought about making a Running Commentary post, but instead put on a fashion show for my husband.  Well, I had to figure out my outfit for the day!  What better way than to pose in front of Steven, both getting his input and testing which clothes are most comfortable?

So the post did not get made, and now I am over 200 words explaining why not.  I’ll try for a better post later on today, but as usual,  no promises.

 

Diamond Days are Under Way!

I just got back from checking out day one of the Herkimer Diamond Days Street Festival, and thought I would make a quick post plugging the event.

Can you read it? My Tablet would not let me zoom in.

My husband Steven and I went down to the End Zone Pub and Grub, because I wanted a cup of the Gem Juice which I so enjoyed during previous Diamond Days.

We were sitting at the table on the right for a while.

We had a couple of drinks and got some food from a food truck.  The food trucks vended from 5 to 7 p.m.  Live music began at 8 p.m. with Jenny & The Buckshot 5.  We were not there that long, unfortunately.

Where the music was going to play.

One view of the vendors.

Our view as we walked back to our car.

Diamond Days continue on Saturday Aug. 3 with food and street vendors, a dunk tank,  performances and more.  Most events take place on North Main Street.  One exception is the Herkimer Elks Lodge Car Show in Meyer’s Park.  Herkimer County Historical Society will hold their book sale and the History Mystery further up N. Main Street.  Additionally, tours of the 1834 Jail will be offered.

For more information,  you can visit the website http://www.HerkimerBPA.com or the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/herkimerspoppin/.

 

Me and the History Mystery

I had a great time today at one of my favorite places,  Herkimer County Historical Society.   I was there with my husband Steven,  sister Cheryl, niece Kimi, great nephew Sheppie and great niece Evie.  We were helping Sheppie solve the History Mystery.

Sheppie was given a pencil (he picked a green one, my favorite color!), clipboard and paper.  He had to look at various displays and answer questions.  We helped him write the answers, either by spelling the word while he wrote it or writing it in for him.  It took a while, because we were having fun looking at all the displays, not just the ones that held the answers.

Cheryl, Evie and Sheppie admire a Remington typewriter.

We explained to Sheppie what a typewriter was.  I’ll have to haul one of my collection out for him to play with one day.

Cheryl helping Sheppie spell an answer.

I had to get a shot with a smile!

Evie and her Aunt Kim.

The mystery took us upstairs.   I always stop and admire the woodwork, but Sheppie was more interested in getting up those stairs and finding more answers.

Sheppie trucked up those stairs!

Evie peeked through the banister at me.

We admired the displays in the hall before spending some time in the dollhouse room.

We were all impressed with the big wheeled bike.

Uncle Steve and Kim.

We all loved the dollhouse room.

I was delighted to introduce Sheppie, Evie and Kim to the historic society.  Cheryl and of course Steven have been there with me before.  What a wonderful source of education and entertainment!  If you have never delved into local history,  I highly recommend you make a visit to your nearest historical society.

Herkimer County Historical Society is located at 400 and 406 N. Main St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-866-6413.  They are open 10 a.m. to  4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

 

Market, Motors and Memory

I went to the Clinton Farmer’s Market today.  What a crowd scene!  I brought my Tablet to take some pictures, but the only real photo op was a display of some vintage cars. The cars reminded me of a previous experience,  so this may turn into a Throw Back Thursday post.

My companions at the market included my sister Cheryl and great-nephew Sheppie.  We were the three who walked across the street to see the cars.  I love classic cars.

I would love to tool down the road in this!

A fellow there showed us the engines of a couple of the cars and explained some of the mechanics involved.  These were Franklin cars, which were apparently the best made at the time.

Cheryl and Sheppie.

The cars reminded me of a time I dressed in 1920’s garb and posed near an old automobile.

This is not exactly like the car in my memory.

I was unable to show my pictures of the other car at the time, but I can show them to my readers now.

Hmmm… not really like it at all.

Here is the car I remembered.   It was parked in front of one of the Rutger Mansions in Utica, NY, for a fundraiser for the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica.  But that isn’t the picture I really wanted to show.

I rarely ignore a chance to flash a little leg.

Yes, this is me, impersonating a society lush from the 1920’s.

My husband Steven and friends Kim and Wayne.

This picture was actually taken a year later than the previous one, but it us the same car.

I guess this also can count as a Non-Sequitur Thursday post,  since I veered from farmers market to memories.  Who says I can’t multitask?

 

Picture-filled Pedestrian Post

I finished a letter to my sister, Diane, and thought I would take a walk to the post office with it.  For one reason, I neither ran nor walked this morning and I need the exercise.  For another reason, I could take my Tablet with me and take pictures for a Pedestrian Post.

I actually started out with some trepidation.   After all, I have walked this way many, many times, at least a few with my Tablet.   Could I find anything new to take a picture of?  I decided to trust my luck and set out.

The plant that ate Bellinger Street?

I have been noticing these prickly bushes taking over what used to be a nice front yard garden.  I’m not sure if anybody currently lives in the house, but if anyone moves in, I hope they have clippers!

I think a professional company does the flowers.

I decided to take a picture of Saint Francis, in front of the church of that name.  He is a little backlit, but we can just pretend that’s his halo.  I continued on through Meyer’s Park.

You can’t see the school seals, but you can read the poem.

As I walked across the park to take a picture of the 9/11 Memorial Garden, I noticed this bench I had never seen, donated by Herkimer High School Class of 1959.

Another shot that didn’t turn out as well as I had hoped.

And here is the Memorial Garden.  You can’t read it, but the bench says what it is.

I don’t think I have shared a picture of this before, but no promises.

After mailing my letter, I decided to get a shot of the Methodist Church across the street. Then I thought I would stroll over to Washington Street and take a picture of the old Lorraine Billings School. I found a couple other photo ops first.

I hope to write more about this place eventually.

This was the Baptist Church but is now the future home of the Business and Professional Association of Herkimer.

Pretty flowers.

Next I turned around and took a picture of some Queen Anne’s Lace I had noticed.  I have some of that in my lawn, but not as many blooms.  When I was a kid we used to pick it and put it in water with food coloring.

When it was for sale, they advertised it as a “Brick Bonanza.”

I’ve always been rather fascinated with this building.  I do not know who currently owns it or what might eventually happen to it.

Good subs, among other tjings.

Just to throw in a plug for a local business,  I took a shot of Carney’s Corners.  We often get take-out or delivery from them (but for beer, I go to Beer Belly Bob’s in Ilion).

I’ve been here many times.

I decided to turn down Mary Street and take a picture of the Elks Lodge.  I have performed there with LiFT, the Little Falls Theatre Company,  in Shakespeare plays and murder mysteries.  I wonder if they’ll have us back soon.

The DMV is here.

Continuing up the street, I got a picture of the county office building.  Next was Christ Episcopal Church.   I know I have taken pictures of that, so I took one of the sign and surrounding flowers.

The Episcopal church is very welcoming.

Turning up Main Street, I soon found myself at my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.  Rather than photographing the buildings, which I know I have done, I took a picture of the historic marker in front of the 1834 Jail, again including some flowers.

Again, you probably can’t read it, but I’ve written about the jail and will no doubt do so again.

After that, I headed for home, ignoring any further photo ops.  I was afraid my post would be too long, and I see it is beyond my usual length.  Thank you to whoever has stayed with me till the end!