Category Archives: personal

Walk, then Wrist

Posted on November 9, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh well, I thought it had been another week since I last posted, but it seems it is a matter of three days only.  I’m not sure what malaise I suffer, but let us not worry about it, shall we?  For one reason, I ought not encourage myself to whine over my real or imagined ills.

Still there! Still red!

I throw in a picture to pep things up.  I fear this will be a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  For one reason, it is Sunday.  For another, well, I said I ought not encourage myself to whine, but I admit I tend to do so with little or no encouragement.  I took that picture yesterday when I went for a walk.  That tree has been cheering me up for some time now.  I am impressed by how long the bright leaves have lasted.  Yesterday’s walk cheered me up, too.  Exercise is a magic elixir, I find.

A local landmark.

This was the other picture I took on yesterday’s walk.  It is now an apartment building, but it was the Margaret Tuger School, remembered by some of Herkimer’s older residents.  They brag about being paddled by Ms. Tuger.  I first heard of her when I saw her portrait at the Herkimer County Historical Society.  I was fired with ambition to write a biography about her.  Unfortunately, I had no idea how to research and write a biography.  I still don’t, but I love to read them.

In addition to my walk, I went to a rummage sale at Herkimer Reformed Church yesterday.  I thought of going to a tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor, but my steps took me in another direction.  So I did at least three blogworthy activities yesterday.  I will content myself with this Pedestrian Post, and hope to post again before another three days pass.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Back on Track?

Posted on November 6, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have not only not been blogging, I have not been running as much as I like to, for various reasons.  The problem with not doing something, especially when you suffer from depression, is that the longer you don’t do it, the harder it is to start doing it again, be it running, writing, or going out with friends.  I have been saying for days I want to start running today and finally decided today would be the day.  As I went to bed last night, I thought, I can run first thing, before coffee or anything!  Could that be the reason I slept in later than I have in over a week?

Yes, I got up with absolutely no inclination to run or do anything.  However, after a cup of tea, something to eat, and waiting for what I ate to digest, I decided to take Nike’s advice and Just Do It.  As soon as I started to find some running clothes to put on, I felt better about everything.  I misplaced my Garmin, but my phone was charged and has the Map My Run app.  I did not misplace the strap I use to hold it on my arm.  Soon I was on my way.

How I felt before my run.

I ran by this skeleton as I left my house.  There were a lot more leaves around him today.  I had no plans as to where or how far to run.  I figured I would listen to my body and just keep moving for a while.  As it turned out, my body was not at all averse to running.  I felt fine!  I could keep going for miles!  In fact, I kept going for two miles.  I felt especially happy about this, because I might do the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls in December.  I have run it before and enjoyed it quite a bit.

They even provide little bags!

As I walked my cool-down walk, I took this picture.  I had noticed it during my run and felt impressed.  This, I thought, is being part of the solution!  I personally try to always remember to carry a bag or two when I walk my dog (when I have a dog).  However, it cannot be denied that shit happens.

I guess that was a little digression from Running Commentary, but it got me close to 400 words.  Score!  Am I back to blogging?  I hope at least I am back to running!

 

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I Stumble in my Blogging Journey

Posted on November 3, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I started my November of posting every day by, you guessed it, not posting on November 2 (today is Nov. 3 by my calendar, although my WordPress Timestamp may say Nov. 4; I don’t properly understand these things).  However, it is only a little after 5 a.m. (ah, the miracle of Fall Back).  I had quite a stretch of making my posts late, in the morning, before I left for work.  We’ll pretend this is one of those days.

As it happens, I no longer work.  Except for almost every night when I am asleep, I dream I am at work at various places.  I must find a book on dream interpretation and see what it means, although I might scare myself.  Who wants to be inside my head?

A little fall color, at least.

I throw in a picture to pep things up.  I have fallen off the running wagon for one reason and another (explanations are tiresome), but I have tried to at least walk.  This shot was from a walk I took while staying at my sister Diane’s house last weekend.  I liked the look of the dark green against the bright yellow.

The road less traveled?

This is a picture I took in Ilion last week to possibly go with my story for Sentinel Media about the Ilion Town Board meeting.  It is one of the entrances to Russell Park, a good place to take a walk.  I may go there for a walk one day before it gets too cold.

So I guess this is another nothing post, but one does what one can.  I shall try to continue with a better blog post later today.

 

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No Blog November?

Posted on November 2, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I pause in my gyrations to try for my first blog post in a week (and a day).  I have been in the midst of a deep dark depression (excessive misery) (AAAUUU!).

Now I pause because I don’t know how to spell OH.  Not everybody will get my tele-literary reference above, but there used to be a very silly show on Saturday nights called Hee-Haw!  They featured some very talented musicians, but I was there for the comedy, some of which was musical.  There was one recurring sketch with these old hillbillies lying around singing, “Gloom, despair, and agony on me!”  letting off a wail of despair at the end of each line.

If I was on one of my older devices, I could perhaps have found an appropriate illustration, but I have not figured out all the ins and outs of my Chromebook yet.  I am SO twentieth century!

Coffee always helps.

I am currently sipping coffee out of this mug.  It was Steve’s.

I’m sorry, I forgot where I was going with this blog post.  I guess I was just feeling kind of mortified that I have not posted in over a week and since I was taking a break to sip some coffee, I would try for a few words.  And I see I am over 200.  Score!

OK, my mini challenge to myself is to post every day in November.  Only a 30 day month, how hard can it be?  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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It’s Still October, It’s Still Friday, and I’m Still Lame

Posted on October 25, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Alas, I missed making my Thursday post and here it is, getting later in the afternoon on Friday, and my brain feels not up to blogging.  How ridiculous.  Luckily for me, it is Lame Post Friday.  However lame I have been up till now (and regular readers know I have been pretty lame lately), I feel free to make a foolish post now, and no promises about tomorrow.

He looks like he’s saying, “Good grief!”

What could be sillier than Santa Claus in a Halloween t-shirt?  This particular Santa Claus stays on the landing of my staircase most of the year, and some years I dress him for the holidays.  I have not dressed him this year.  In fact I have not decorated for the holiday at all, and it is my favorite!  What the hell, me?  I am supposed to be having a Halloween party but have not done anything about it except talk.  Oh well one can get a lot done by utilizing the last minute.

Just a little cluttered.

This is a picture of a past mess in my living room.  I have always liked it because Bonita the skeleton looks so leisurely and Santa Claus is peeking around the corner and Darling Duck is just kind of hanging out.  The clutter there is different now but I do not have a current picture.

Will I succeed in cleaning my house?  Will I entertain on Halloween weekend?  A little uncertainty adds interest to the end of my October.

 

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A Few Pics, A Brief Post

Posted on October 23, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I am not doing so good at the daily blogging stuff.  I will at least try to make a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post, using a few photos from my cell phone.  This may also serve as a Preview of Coming Attractions, if only I follow through!

Nice local business.

I went to a wine tasting at Ann Street Liquors in Little Falls, NY.  They do not have tastings as often as Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, but I try to attend when they have one.

Great family grouping!

Here are a couple cousins, a sister and a nephew at an art event I recently attended in Liverpool, NY.  Why I did not write a blog post right away about the happening, I do not know.  At least, maybe I could think of a reason, but it would be so unflattering to me, I hesitate to do so.

A very cool place.

This is a picture from Cobblestone Castle, a place I visited with my sister Cheryl recently.  Once again, I blame myself for not blogging about it sooner.

I may as well as admit, my depression and grief keep me from doing the things I like to do.  However, sometimes I manage to post something.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Wrist to Forehead Sunday Morning

Posted on October 19, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is early Sunday morning, and this title occurred to me.  Regular readers may have noticed that I have not posted in a few days, and I feel bad about that.  My mother suggested that it might be easier to make fewer posts, pointing to a friend of hers that posts once a week.  I know this is true; many bloggers post once a week or a few times a week.  The point is, they post regularly.  For me, I like to post every day.

Random picture to denote passage of time while I make my tea.

I guess it isn’t really a random picture, since I spent some time scrolling down my Media Library before I picked one.  As a note of interest, I seem to be on my last teabag of black tea.  I have green, white and herbal, plus plenty of coffee, so this is not the disaster it may have been.

Wrong Way might as well be my middle name.

I was actually looking for the meme that said, “First drafts don’t have to be perfect; they just have to be written,” or words to that effect (there probably isn’t a semicolon; I have kind of a passion for semicolons).  However, I realized I would have to do quite a bit of scrolling to find it, and I think this one is almost as good.  The fact is, I feel I am going the wrong way about being a daily blogger.

The right way?  I suppose I must figure that out, hence I swoon, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead.  Will I find the right way?  Will I write other things?  The suspense will add interest to my Sunday.  In any case, I see I approach 300 words, which is not bad for a mere placeholder post.  Maybe I can manage a real post later.  I have all day and a whole cup of black tea to help me.

 

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The Rest of my Pixley Pics

Posted on October 16, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I guess I can call this a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday and share the last three pictures I took at Pixley Falls, which I visited last Friday with my sister Cheryl.  As I mentioned a few Pixley posts ago, they are actually the first three pictures I took, since I felt I could keep track of them better if I shared them in backwards order.  The way my mind is (not) working lately, I have to make things easy on myself. OK, maybe it has always been that way; let us not dwell on the past.

A little stream at least!

As I mentioned, there was not as much water as we have seen previously.  I wonder if Monday’s rain made things any better.

That’s a big rock.

I like the rocks as well as the trees and waterfalls.  I’d like to have a rock garden in my back yard but do not know where I would find the rocks and am quite certain I lack the strength to transport them.

And there they are!

I close with a picture of the big falls themselves.  It would be awesome to stand under the water on a really hot day, I thought.  Last Friday I did not care to try.

Regular readers may remember that I had planned to clean my house on Friday when my sister Cheryl called and invited me to join her in a trip to Pixley Falls.  Full disclosure:  My house is still a mess but I have made some progress.  I wonder if Cheryl will interrupt my cleaning for another adventure soon.  Maybe I need to come up with something to interrupt her housework.

 

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Oh Yeah, We Tasted Wine

Posted on October 15, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I just realized I neglected to make a blog post about my sister Cheryl’s and my stop at Montezuma Winery in Old Forge two weeks ago.  Me, neglect wine? Say it ain’t so!

Wine? Yes, please!

We have been to the original Montezuma Winery in the Finger Lakes, and I visited their tasting room in Cooperstown with my friend Kim.  I did not realize they were in Old Forge till Cheryl suggested we stop there.

I started with the Duck Duck Lam Goose Co.  It was just too cute a name to resist!  It is a red sparkling wine.  I do love a few bubbles!  I felt it smelled New Yorky, which to me is a great compliment.  Then I foolishly asked what grape it was.  Hello!  Lam Goose Co/Lambrusco?  Silly me!  (I even wrote “silly me” in my tasting notes).

I love a wine with a goose on the label!

I took tasting notes on the other wines I tried, but none of them are very descriptive.  Regular readers know that I rarely taste “notes” of anything, nor can I describe the “finish,” but I do like to come up with something a little more interesting than “good”  and “I like this one.”  My favorite was the V0luer 2023 Pinot Noir.  Cheryl tasted all different ones from me, because she likes sweet wines better. Of course we made the usual jokes about how she is sweet and I am not.

We finished up with Judd’s Grape Pie, a grape liqueur.  It was indeed grapey and very sweet.

I do love tasting wine.  I wonder if I can get anybody to go with me to the Finger Lakes any time soon.

 

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More Pixley Pics

Posted on October 13, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Here are a few more pictures from Pixley Falls, my Friday adventure with my sister Cheryl.  We were happy to commune with nature.

Cheryl agreed to pose a couple of times.

There were several wooden bridges, some of them not actually over streams, due to the dry weather I suppose.

Lovely!

We were happy whenever we saw water flowing.  At least when the water is down to a trickle, you can see the rocks better.  Under the heading, Make a Virtue out of Necessity.

More water, different rocks.

 

With the bright sun shining through green leaves, I could almost believe it was summer.  However, the cool temperature and lack of bugs reminded me it was October.  I did not mind the temperature and I was quite happy about the lack of bugs.

A more dramatic pose.

I should have zoomed in more on Cheryl in this shot.  She took a dramatic shot of me but has not texted it to me or shared it on Facebook, so I cannot include it in the blog.  I feel it is just as well; I am far less photogenic.

I was really happy I had forsaken housecleaning for nature walking.  Being out in the woods is good for you on so many levels.  And I am sure it makes a better blog post.

 

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