Category Archives: personal

Pictures of Plants without a Plan

Posted on July 23, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I do not have anything particular to blog about today, unfortunately, and I have very little brainpower with which to blog.  I do, however, have a couple of pictures which I just walked into my backyard to take specifically for the purposes of this blog.

So cheery and yellow!

I noticed this morning that I had some Black-Eyed Susans blooming.  I was very happy, having missed my peonies, wild daisies, rhododendron, and Rose of Sharon (why do I capitalize Black-Eyed Susans and Rose of Sharon but not the rest of them? Discuss amongst yourselves).  As you can see, I have not missed the Black-Eyed Susans by any means, because there are a number waiting to open.  I hope to get a wider view later, showing the full scope of my Black-Eyed Susan patch.

More greenery growth.

Now this is a plant my late, dearly missed husband Steven and I purchased at a garden day or some such at the Herkimer Home in Little Falls, NY. I forget what it is called, if I ever knew (it is hard to say what I may or may not have known).  It is not where we originally planted it, but it is much larger than the original growth.  It used to have little pink flowers, but I have not seen any this year.  I live in hope.

It seems every year I have great gardening plans, and every year I disappoint myself.  But let us face facts:  I do not really have plans: I have daydreams.  Any time I make an actual plan, the plan goes to hell, pardon my language (I was going to say “the plan goes to pot,” which has the charm of alliteration, but then you might think I am talking about marijuana and it all gets too complicated).  Well, never mind.  I will enjoy what happens to grow and deal with what happens.  And write a blog post or two along the way.

 

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Real Flowers on Tired Tuesday

Posted on July 22, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh dear I have waited till late in the day (for me) to make my Tired Tuesday blog post.  I really do not have much to say, because I do not want to go on about my health woes (and they are currently quite woeful, although I have some hope) (oops, I went on a little bit). I went for a little walk today, to the post office to mail a letter to a friend which, incidentally, I took way too long to finish, then to the Elks Lodge, to visit to whichever friends might be there.  On the way, I took one picture, which I will now share.

Oh dear, I did get part of me reflected in the door!

I must go by there again and focus more on the flowers.  I took the picture because in a recent post I shared a past picture of some flower in front of a place on the other side of Main Street.  These are even better, because they are real flowers.  I suppose one would expect the Department of Environmental Conservation to use real flowers, but one can never count on these things.

Full disclosure:  It was not easy for me to walk as it has been previously. I say this even though it constitutes whining about my physical ills.  I consider that it is OK on a Tired Tuesday post.  I shall hope for a better blog post tomorrow, and as always., I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Am I Monstrous or Just Muddled?

Posted on July 21, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have a small window to make a Monstrous or other Monday blog post before I have to wander down to the town offices to cover the Herkimer Town Board meeting.  I will probably have to finish the post after said meeting.  I could only have done it earlier, but, well, things happen.

Live is a sometimes a rough road.

I scrolled through my Media Library looking for an illustration to show I did some driving today.  To Cooperstown, to be exact, to see a doctor.  The roads were not that bad for most of the way.  I think this is a picture I took for a story I did about road work in Ilion, later used here in a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday.  For Monstrous Monday purposes, we can pretend those are monster footprints, or maybe the monster was snacking on the asphalt.  Monsters need a lot of roughage in their diet, so I understand.  OK, I just made that up.

A little nature is always nice.

I looked for a more attractive picture to counteract the bad road (pronounced a-trahk-tive).  I do not remember where this little stream is and do not have time to research the matter.

Pretty!

I end with a shot of Main Street in Herkimer, although it is actually Prospect Street where I am headed.  Also, these flowers are no longer decorating that spot.  Bummer.

However, I am over 200 words.  I am going to bill this as a Muddled Monday and drive on.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Swooning about the DooDah

Posted on July 20, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Once again I almost neglect to make my blog post. In my defense, it is rather a Wrist to Forehead Sunday, maybe a Wrist to Forehead Weekend. I spent some time yesterday swooning around, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead, of course.  My couch had to make do for a chaise lounge.  I am somewhat adaptable in that respect.  Does it take two days to recover from my DooDah doings?  Perhaps.

Only a fraction of the parade!

I stood at the beginning and tried to get a shot that showed the scope of the parade.  Then I walked back down the line, taking a few pictures and wondering if I really wanted to ride on a float.  I was quite tired by that time.  Still, riding on a float was my best bet, since I had left my car at Ilion Elks Lodge and caught a ride to the parade’s beginning (it seemed like a good idea at the time).  I could always jump off said float as it went by the Elks.

Who better to appear in the parade?

This is the float of the class of 1976.  They seemed like a fun bunch of people when I chatted with them before the parade.  They had said if they had room, I could ride with them, but they lacked sufficient space.

They were having fun, yes.

I ended up jumping on a float that had not previously offered but just happened to have an extra chair. It was Emrich Land Surveying.  I know the owner, because he is an Ilion Village Trustee.  I met his mother, sister and nieces.  They were so nice and fun!  I was certainly happy to sit down.

I have been sitting or lounging ever since, except for when I have been swooning.  In fact, I feel another swoon coming on.  This does not bode well for tomorrow’s blog post.  Whatever will I do?  Worry about it tomorrow, I suppose.

 

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The DooDah Did Me In!

Posted on July 19, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have been lounged on my couch doing not much of anything today and remembered I did not make a blog post yet.  I went to the DooDah Parade in Ilion, NY and had a fine time.  Alas, I lack stamina and resiliency, but let us not dwell on my petty problems, let us talk about the parade.  For anybody just tuning in, it is one of the grand events of a week of Ilion Days Festivities.

Yay! Ilion Little Theatre!

As I walked around talking to people and taking pictures, I was delighted to see some of my friends from Ilion Little Theatre.  I think I mentioned in a previous post that the club had not participated in recent years, so I was happy to see them back.  They even invited me to ride on the float with them.  In fact, I had a few offers.

I loved it!

I foolishly did not make a note of whose this float was, but I complimented the man driving the pick-up truck towing it.  I told him about the yard in Potsdam that has a large number of toilets planted with real flowers.  I saw it once in person, but unfortunately only in passing.  Perhaps a road trip up North is indicated.

He was a friendly guy!

You can’t really see his cape in this picture.  He told me he was a combination of Superman and Wonder Woman.  It just goes to show you, anything goes at the DooDah Parade!

I’m afraid I spent too much time walking up and down, chatting and having a good time.  My back, knee, and hip are not thanking me for it today.  I wonder if I should change the name of my blog to Mohawk Valley Old Lady.  Hmmm… doesn’t have a ring to it.

 

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Do I DooDah?

Posted on July 17, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

That title occurred to me as I sat here on my Chromebook contemplating my day and wondering if I would get anything of substance done (spoiler alert: I probably won’t).  One problem is I have to recruit my energies for the DooDah Parade, a highlight of Ilion Days this evening.  I must cover it for the Daily Sentinel.  At least, I never heard back from my editor that she wanted me to cover it, but I covered it last year, so I thought I would submit something.  At least it will make a good blog post and be something for me to do on a Friday other than watch Dateline or Columbo and wish it was not too hot to knit.

I personally am on the Boomer cusp.

This is a picture from last year.  I walked all around the floats and marchers as they waited for the parade to start, chatting up lots of people and looking for Joe White, who is the main mover and shaker behind the parade.  I never found him, but one of the American Legions let me ride along on their float.  It was great fun.

I am back left, with my arm raised, looking a little like the Statue of Liberty.

This is from 2019, when Ilion Little Theatre used to participate in the DooDah.  They had a circus theme that year.  I just draped a few of my lighter shawls around me and put on my tiara, which long-time readers know I wear at any excuse.  I don’t remember what I purported to be, but I feel I looked fabulous.  This year the theme is, not surprisingly, Happy Birthday, America.  I feel I should dress appropriately, although I must remember the weather will be warm, not to say hot.

I keep saying I’m going to join them.

I thought I’d close with another shot from last year.  These are the Happy Hags, a delightful dance troupe that makes many local appearances.  I think they are wonderful.  If my arthritis or whatever it is permits, I may yet join them.  They are very nice.

So I guess I have talked myself into going to the DooDah Parade.  I must figure out what to wear (my Uncle Sam or George Washington costume?), where to park (I know a good spot close to the end but not too far to walk to the beginning), where to go afterwards (there is a good band playing at Ilion Elks Lodge) (preview of coming attractions) etc.  I said in my email to my editor that she might prefer to send a more talented photographer, so I see someone else there from the Sentinel, that will be fine.  I will use my photos for the blog.  As always, I hope you will stay tuned.

 

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Tip Top Breakfast at Top of the Morning

Posted on July 17, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I met my Elks friends for breakfast this morning at Top of the Morning Cafe in North Utica, NY.  We had eaten there before, so I was able to refrain from annoying the car behind me by slowing down at every turn looking for Coventry Avenue.  I may have annoyed other cars with other driving behavior; I make no promises when it comes to annoying people.

I remembered to take a picture on the way in.

There were many good menu choices as well as some tempting specials.  I dithered and debated.  Then I went ahead and ordered two eggs over medium with Italian toast.

“That’s it?” Michele said.  I had been looking at some pretty elaborate meals.

“I’ll eat it, and I’ll like it,” I said.  Actually, the eggs were exactly the way I like them, and the toast had plenty of butter, also the way I like it.

I enjoy a simple breakfast sometimes.

I also liked the coffee mugs: what I call a four-finger mug, because the handle is nice and big.  I put pepper on my eggs but no salt.  Lately I have been eating eggs without salt and find I like them just as well.  Who knew?

Bonnie got one of the more elaborate breakfasts. I think it was a meat lovers scramble.  I took a picture for blogging purposes.

It did look tempting!

I may get one of the bigger breakfasts another time and take some home.  For today, I enjoyed what I got.

Top of the Morning Cafe is located at 414 Trenton Rd., Utica, NY.

 

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I’m Idle on the Ides

Posted on July 16, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Beware the Ides of July!  Perhaps you thought the Ides were only in March.  A doctor I used to work with said it was the Ides the 15th of every month.  This was the same doctor that once made a smarter-than-thou remark and I told him not to be didactic.  He said he didn’t know what that meant.  I told him it meant the same thing as pedantic, and he got mad.  I like to tell that story.  But I digress.

Today on Facebook, I posted that it was the Ides of July, which must be why I was having a bad day already.  It is a weird day, because the wildfires in Canada are affecting the air quality here.  It is as dark as a very cloudy day in my house, but when I look outside, everything looks yellow.  I find it creepy.  I KNOW, Canada has it much worse, I feel terrible for them!  Anyways, a couple of friends commented that they hoped my day got better and I realized I was probably the only one who could make my day better for me (a fairly daunting thought).

Accordingly, I took a soapy shower (I found some moisturizing body wash and one of those plastic spongy things). I put on one of my fancy caftans and the fancy shoes I later found to go with it.  Naturally I took a picture.

Don’t you just love the pompoms?

I might have looked more elegant with my ankles crossed, but with my left foot perpetually asleep, I felt it better not to.  Long-time readers may remember those shoes as the ones I wore to get strangled in in Prescription: Murder at Ilion Little Theatre about a year and a half ago.  Everybody loved those shoes then.

He looks upset, but he was really glad I was dead.

Maybe I can also bill this post as a Wayback Wednesday now.  Anyways, I also took a selfie, so readers could see my fancy caftan.  Maybe I should get one of them there selfie sticks, so I can really give the picture.

I try to look cute.

I guess I have cheered myself up some.  I feel cool and elegant in my caftan.  Maybe I’ll pour some ice water into a fancy glass and sip it slowly.  At any rate, at least I’ve made a blog post.  I hope the air outside is better, so I can have some Mohawk Valley Adventures tomorrow.

 

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Not Typical on Tired Tuesday

Posted on July 14, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am having a rather rough time these days.  I put my crutches aside on Saturday.  It went fairly well, but I clearly need my appointments with orthopedics next week and month.  And a few other appointments as well, but I must not go on about my physical ailments.  It is so tiresome, although I understand it can be typical of women my age.  Oh, how I hate to be typical!

I prefer to be colorful.

I quickly throw in an unexpected photograph.  Who could be uncheered by a drag queen?  Not me, I feel better already. I really do not have much to blog about currently.  Last night I covered the Ilion Village Board meeting.  While there, a trustee asked me was I going to cover the DooDah Parade on Friday.  I emailed my editor at the Daily Sentinel and asked if she wanted me to.  I did last year.

A shot from last year’s DooDah Parade.

I hitched a ride on a float of one of the American Legions.  This is a picture I took from it as the parade started.  It was a lot of fun.

And who doesn’t love a classic car?

Last year’s parade was notable because the Grand Marshal was an exchange student who returned for the 50th Class Reunion.  I got a picture of him in the fancy car loaned for the occasion.  I do not even know what this year’s DooDah theme is.  Ilion Days had completely dropped off my radar, due to my health problems (oh dear, I mustn’t get back on those again!).

At any rate, I am over 250 words. I can bill this as a Tired Tuesday post and drive on.  We shall see what the rest of the week will bring!

 

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I Didn’t Get To

Posted on July 13, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I neglected to make my Wrist to Forehead Sunday blog post, but that isn’t really what I Didn’t Get To, as referenced in the title.  The title refers to the Utica Boilermaker 15K, which longtime readers know I have run in the past and I meant to run this year but was sidelined by my treacherous body.  Then again, perhaps it was me who betrayed my body by not training properly, not stretching enough, eating the wrong things, blah blah blah.  In other words, once again, Operator Error.  In either case, yesterday I swooned, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead, because I could not join the other runners.

What I might have looked like after the race.

That is a picture from April of 2020, after I had just run a Virtual 5K to benefit, I think, a food pantry in Little Falls, NY.  These were my pre-Garmin, pre-Map My Run days, so I ran what I thought I remembered was the DARE 5K route, up the hill to Herkimer College (a formidable hill, in case you didn’t know).  Some people were impressed.

So I got on Facebook yesterday and saw all the good wishes for Boilermaker runners and video from WKTV, and I was, I admit it, a little down. So I said to myself, “You don’t get to.”  And isn’t that the truth?  Sometimes you just don’t get to.  I didn’t get to see my husband turn 70.  I didn’t get to win the Lottery.  I didn’t get to plant a vegetable garden this year.

I do not know why that little phrase should make me feel better, but somehow it does.  I did not get to run the Boilermaker.  Maybe next year I will.  Or maybe not.  A little uncertainty adds interest to 2027, does it not?

 

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