Category Archives: personal

Drive to Dyn’s

Posted on October 7, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

According to the weather reports on the morning news as well as my own observations, today was the pick day of the week to take a scenic ride. I had meant to spend the day cleaning the house but impulsively took a little time out to drive to Dyn’s Cider Mill in Richfield Springs, NY.

It was a lovely drive. I saw a lot of color but, alas, did not pull over and take any pictures. I took several at Dyn’s but could not tell how well they turned out, because the sun was so bright.

An evocative shot, with the door ajar, or do I flatter my photographic abilities?

When I pulled into the parking lot, a couple was enjoying what looked like an iced coffee (in a rare moment of circumspection, I did not ask) on the porch. When I went to take a picture of the front, two ladies were coming out. I waited till they were out of the frame.

A wider view.

I took two shots of the front and cannot decide which I like better, so I include both. Inside I bought Dyn’s Popcorn, which my main reason for going there, and maple syrup from Shaver-Hill Maple Farm in Harpersfield, NY. As a result of listening to too much Roger Miller as a child, I insist on calling it Maple Syrple.

At the counter, I got hot cider and a brownie to bring home for Steven. For myself I hesitated between an carrot cake cupcake or a pineapple bar, ultimately deciding on the latter. Yum!

My view as I ate my treat.

I was going to sit in my car to enjoy my treat, but the other couple was leaving as I came out, so I sat on the porch. I took one more picture before heading out.

Why have I not purchased a pumpkin yet?

I enjoyed the scenery on my ride home, too. I plan to pop a bowl of that popcorn to eat while watching Halloween movies one night soon. For more information on Dyn’s Cider Mill, you can visit their website, http://www.DynsCiderMill.net.

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More Than a Walk in the Park

Posted on October 6, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did something different today and took a hike through Russell Park in Ilion, NY. Oh, OK, it was more of a walk, but it was over a trail with changes in elevation, rough patches, and even a little mud. In other words, it was an effort beyond that cliche, a walk in the park.

My companions in this adventure were my sister Cheryl and niece Jenna. They do quite a bit of hiking in various parks around the area. I always think I am OK to go for a trail walk because of all the running I do. I confess that sometimes on a run or, more often on my cool-down walk, I say to myself, “My legs are magnificent instruments of propulsion!” Well, let me just say I do not need to feel so pleased with myself.

We liked the snaky looking branches.

I did not take a lot of pictures. We were wishing there were some longer views, especially with the fall foliage reaching peak.

Another angle of the snaky branches.

There are quite a few trails in Russell Park. We were on the Horseshoe Trail, I think. We had to choose which fork to take a couple of times. We saw a bridge we considered crossing, but I felt what we could see of the trail beyond it looked iffy. Cheryl went down for a photo op.

My sisters and I all have a good sense of drama.

We ended up at the Soccer Field and followed the road back to where we had parked. We looked at the trail map, which I stupidly did not get a picture of. We talked about where we might walk next time but decided not to follow any other trails today.

It was a lot of fun. In addition to a challenging walk, we had a great visit with a lot of laughs. I hope to tag along on more of Cheryl and Jenna’s hikes.

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Bonita Watched Movies, Too

Posted on October 5, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl
I do dress Bonita for the seasons.

I purchased the devil mask at the rummage sale for Salisbury Historical Society last Saturday. I also put it on a bowling pin and a plastic cup to surprise my husband Steven as to where I put it. This is the only picture I took.

I fear I am coming down with a cold or sinus infection so decided to take it easy for the day. I can make a Sunday Cinema Post if I can find pictures of the movies we watched, which I know I have somewhere in my Media Library.

When we got to this scene in the movie, I said, “I have a picture of this in my Media Library! “

The Haunting is one of my most admired scary movies. No special effects, no gore, but yikes! It is also a pretty faithful adaptation of the book by Shirley Jackson.

The characters make this movie.

We went on to Lake Placid, much less admired by the critics but highly entertaining. But I have to say once again: having Betty White call someone a c***s***** is a cheap laugh.

Earlier today I got some decongestant from the pharmacist. I think I will take some and go to bed early. If I still feel crappy tomorrow, perhaps I can watch more Halloween flicks and have Movie Monday.

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Fun at the Antiques Mall

Posted on October 4, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I made another visit to Mohawk Antiques Mall today with my sister, Cheryl. We had a wonderful time wandering around looking at things and chatting. I foolishly did not take any pictures. I wonder if I could find any in my Media Library or Tablet, because I do like to use pictures.

I just loves me some rhinestones.

Of course antique, second hand and thrift stores are my favorite places to look for costumes and props. I have no theatrical endeavors pending, unfortunately, but it does not hurt to keep an eye out for future possibilities.

Accessories are always fun, too.

I already have quite a few fancy bags, but there may be room for one more sometime.

I have a few dishes like these.

I love seeing things I remember from my childhood, especially when it is something I remember from Grandma’s house. These everyday items seem very meaningful to me, but I do not want to wax philosophical.

It was a fun visit. Another good thing about antique stores is that merchandise changes often. So I may make another fun visit soon!

Mohawk Antiques Mall is located at 100 E. Main St., Mohawk, NY, phone number 315-219-5044. They are open Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.;, Monday and Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Tuesday.

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Late Post Friday

Posted on October 3, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Here I am once again, typing in a post (OK, picking out one letter at a time with the stylus) early on the morning after I was supposed to make said post. Yes, they are only my rules for me, but I feel I should follow them a little better than I do. But never mind that: on with the post.

You see, it was like this…

I am still figuring out this new editor and somehow put these two vaguely related photos here. I daresay I could get rid of them easily enough, but I prefer to just go with it.

The picture on the left is Pete’s Tavern, on North Main Street in Herkimer, NY. The one on the right is Herkimer County Courthouse, further up Main at my beloved Historic Four Corners.

Next annoying thing about this new editor: I can’t see my word count as I go. How will I know when I reach my goal of 200 words? Shall I count them, as I did back in my pre-computer school days? Let us not resort to drastic measures.

This is an old shot, but one or two blooms yet remain.

This is turning into a Non-Sequitur Post, as I accidentally choose another photo and go with it. This is the Rose of Sharon from our backyard. I need to do some yard work this weekend. That might make a better blog post.

I am just going to admit here that I am fighting another bout of depression. I hesitate to say so, because my mother reads this blog and I do not want her to worry. Then, too, I can hear some people saying, “Poor pitiful you! Stop whining already!” Oh wait, that is my inner critic. But perhaps she has a point. A cup of coffee, a good run. I’ll be fine.

And I will strive to make my Saturday blog post on Saturday .

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Bare Bones of a Blog Post

Posted on October 2, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Crap! WordPress picked today to impose its new editor on me, and I have no idea how to share a photo. I purposely took a photo for that title! Curse you, WordPress!

One of my favorite wines.

After great effort, I find out I can add a photo I took earlier of a glass of wine I poured myself. Of particular note is the wine stopper, which I purchased yesterday at Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit. I wished I had a Halloween bottle to put on it, such as Vampire Pinot Noir or Werewolf Merlot. However, I thought the scary picture of the convict was good enough.

You know, that grass looks pretty green. I SO do NOT want to mow again.

I just shared this picture yesterday but thought it fit with the Bare Bones theme of the post. Readers of yesterday’s post know it was another purchase from Pumpkin Junction.

Who doesn’t love a picture of a skeleton with a duck and Santa Claus peeking in?

I wanted to add one more skeleton picture.

OK, here is my story of today’s post. I invented the title first, meaning to share the picture I took, to show off the skull stopper and point out that, yes, I am once again drinking wine. Then I get confronted with this new editor, which I have been studiously and successfully avoiding thus far. So I have coped as best I can at the time.

The beauty part is that it is Non-Sequitur Thursday, so not making sense in fact makes sense. I will strive to make my peace with this editor. As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

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Another Halloween Decoration Update

Posted on October 1, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I needed something to cheer myself up today.  My first thought was to go to a dollar store and get some cheap Halloween decorations.   Then I thought, don’t be silly!  Go to Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit and get some good stuff!  For one reason, in addition to being good quality,  it is quite reasonably priced.  Also, I thought it would make a good blog post.

It is a beautiful drive to Pumpkin Junction.  I take Higby Road out of Frankfort to Graffenburg Road.  I saw lots of color in the trees, and a few Halloween decorations in people’s yards.

Just walking around Pumpkin Junction is like exploring a haunted house.  I took a few pictures of some ghouls upstairs.

A couple of charming fellows.

There are also a lot of costumes upstairs.  Do I need something new to wear this year?  Could be.

I may have a hat like that.

I was more interested in taking pictures of the ghouls than the costumes.

Another sweet pumpkin head and friend.

I stopped taking pictures when I went downstairs, because I was busy shopping.  I hope to convince my friend, Kim, to return with me this weekend.  I’ll take more pictures then.  In the meantime,  here are a couple shots of the new decorations I purchased today.

I have always wanted one of those skeletons coming out of the ground!

The skeleton and gravestone are new;  the dead plant is from my container garden.

I’ll try to get one of her lighted up.

We got Witchy at Pumpkin Junction a few years ago,

The other side of the porch.

You can’t quite see the new ghoul hanging on the side of the porch roof.  I suppose I had better go out and get another picture.

Well, that didn’t turn out very well.

At least you can see some nice clouds.  A cloudy night is Halloweeny, I always think.

Pumpkin Junction is located at 2188 Graffenburg Road, Sauquoit,  NY, phone number 315-794-4604.  They are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

 

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Remember That Mini-Maker?

Posted on September 30, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I never wrote about running the Mini-Maker at Copper City Brewing in Rome.  This was a 15K organized by the Roman Runners as an opportunity to run our Virtual Boilermaker.   I have started this post several times but cannot seem to do the event justice.  Under the heading A Bad Blog Post Is Better Than No Post At All, I will share the pictures I took that day and hope that will give an idea of what a wonderful event it was.

Volunteers Kelly and Kevin at the registration table.

The event took place Sunday, Sept. 13.  I was among the first to arrive.  I had said I would volunteer, since I had already run my official 15K, but when the day came, I definitely wanted to run.  I thought I should accept the invitation to start early, since I could not guarantee how fast I would go.  Kevin helped me out by getting me my own personal bicyclist to make sure I did not get lost.

My bicycle guy Scott was awesome. I’m sure he was a big reason I went as fast as I did.

When I started running, I soon realized I was running faster than I had on any of my training runs.  What the hell, me?  I did peter out the last few miles as my back started to hurt and my breathing got a little ragged.  But I thoroughly enjoyed the run.  It went through some scenic areas along the canal and through Griffiss Air Force Base (I guess it’s not an air force base any more; it’s been a while since I lived in Rome).

Carrie and Steve Klepadlo of Broasters.

Before the race I enjoyed a cup of cold brew courtesy Broasters Coffee Company.  It is single origin and yummy.  They currently operate a wholesale business not open to the public.  However, they do events and farmers’ markets.  I wonder if it was extra caffeine boost that helped me run so fast.  I’ll have to get some more of that coffee!

Christina at the bar.

After the race, everybody had a great time, drinking beer, Bloody Marys and more.  I drank some Fallin’ For Pumpkin Ale, which I enjoyed very much.  I also enjoyed a free hot dog.

I liked the scene behind the bar, too.

 

Our most gracious host.

I had been to Copper City Brewing before.  I hope to go again soon.  Roman Runners are holding a 5K this Saturday.  Do you think I should go?

 

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It is the Monstrous Time of Year!

Posted on September 29, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

For this week’s Monstrous Monday Post,  I took some pictures of the evolving Halloween decorations at my house.

His name is Harold Ghoul.

I purchased this ghoul from a neighbor’s yard sale this year.  Our other ghoul,  Elliott Ghoul,  is in the front window.  I could not get a good picture due to reflections.

A work in progress.

You can’t see the Keep Out tape very well, and I need to place the scarecrows more advantageously.

I am especially proud of this little group.

The black tulips that Bonita is holding were a prop from Spring Into Murder, one of the dinner theatres written by me (regular readers know I like to mention my murder mysteries at any opportunity).  The gorilla in the mask is Bert the Birtday Gorilla.  I got him at a post-Valentine’s Day Sale for Steven’s March birthday, a number of year’s ago.

Lots of little things here!

I meant to put just a few things on the mantle, but once I got started…

The shirt is too worn out for me to wear, alas!

Since this Santa Claus stays out all year, I like to dress him up a little for Halloween.  Maybe next year I will try a vampire cape or witch’s hat.  It is nice to have these little improvements from year to year!

 

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Some Skeleton, Mostly Cinema Sunday

Posted on September 28, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

We have been having an enjoyable, leisurely Sunday, and I am not that into making a blog post. What a bum.  However, according to my rules for me, I am obligated to make a blog post if I possibly can.  I am pretty sure I can, but it may be of the Wrist to Forehead Sunday variety.

He is fine, yes.

As often is the case, I watched a DVR’d episode of Svengoolie. I record that show every week. I love it.  We watched Brides of Dracula, a Hammer Horror Film, which I believe I have seen before, without benefit of horror host. I may actually have a picture of this movie in my Media Library,  but I despair of finding it tonight.

Three of my living room friends.

Here is Bonita, one of our skeletons.  I arranged her differently today for Halloween decorating purposes.  I mean to take some pictures for blogging purposes soon.  Santa, in the background, is also dressed for the season.  Darling Duck, not yet.

A young Christopher Lee!

How nice: I found a picture of another movie we watched: Horror Hotel.  It is creepy, yes.

I might look good in such an outfit.

We also watched The Invisible Man with Claude Rains.  What a marvellous actor that man was.  We also watched a DVR’d episode of Mystery Science Theatre 3000, but that one barely rates a mention.

However, I have managed over 200 words of a Cinema Sunday.  I guess I do not have to swoon, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead after all.

 

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