Category Archives: personal

Moonshine Monday

Posted on October 3, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Full disclosure:  It is not really Moonshine Monday.  I did not nor will I drink any moonshine today.  I’m a little sorry about that.  Today is one of those posts I make in haste before rehearsal, having once again failed to write anything earlier today.  I think it will be long on pictures and short on words.  That may be a good thing.  Let’s see what I can come up with…

I went to DikinDurt Distillery in Herkimer, NY  a while ago, so I could write about it for Mohawk Valley Living Magazine.  That issue came out today.  Noting that they did not use all the pictures I took, I thought I could use them here.  If you want to read the article, and the rest of the magazine, which is a wonderful publication, you can find them online: http://www.mohawkvalleyliving.com/.

Wouldn’t you love to have this in your house, with or without the moonshine?

This and the next picture were in the magazine.  However, I like them, I downloaded them, I’m sharing them.

Elizabeth Stack and Eric Boyer, co-owners of DikinDurt Distillery.

No, I did not have a sample from all those bottles of moonshine.  For one reason, they are only allowed to give you three 1/4 oz. shots.  The rules for distillery tasting rooms are much more strict than for winery tasting rooms (who me, sample every possible wine at a sitting?  Say it ain’t so!).

Kim suggested this shot, as it included the logo.

My friend, Kim, came with me when I visited.  We must return sometime soon with my husband, Steven.  For another reason, I might like to taste three different moonshines.

You can look through a window at where it all gets made.

 

I would also like to get a t-shirt.

I purchased a coffee mug when we were there.  The next time, I’ll probably buy some moonshine to put in my coffee, possibly Toasted Maple or Mohawk Valley Fire.

Kim did not fear the clear.

I close with another picture of Kim, because when you have a beautiful blond friend, it is nice to put her picture in a blog post.

DikinDurt Distillery is located at 115 Smith Rd., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-868-1563, www.dikindurt.com.

 

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With a Laptop on my Knee

Posted on October 2, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

OK, I’m sitting here with the laptop on my lap (I know, where else would it be?  Well, it MIGHT be somewhere else; I’m not here to discuss the possible whereabouts of computers), and once again, I got nuthin’ (or is it “nuttin'”?  I like “nuthin'”) (which is not the same thing as not liking anything, but close).

Where was I?  Ah yes, Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  I tell you, I am down.  I’m not a writer.  I write a silly blog, and, as Truman Capote once said, “That’s not writing, that’s typing.”  Yes, yes, I must stop with the existential crisis, people will think I am merely fishing for encouragement.   I am only being honest, in this case.  Oh, sometimes I fish for encouragement or even compliments, never fear.  Hell, I’m not perfect.  I’m a factory worker who takes pen in hand or keyboard under fingers occasionally and words come out.  Good words?  Useful words?  Entertaining words?  One can only hope.

I have been trying to take another step towards reaching my writing goals, and I have had little to no success. I know, lift your feet a little higher, push them forward a little more, these things are under our own control if only we would accept responsibility.  Very well then, I shall accept responsibility.  Tomorrow, or possibly later tonight, I will work on the novel I found earlier today.  Ooh, that’s right, I did do one thing today:  I found the notebook I’ve been looking for where I had started a novel I thought I would like to finish. It’s a baby step, but it is a step.  I shall make further updates as events warrant.

In the meantime, it is Wrist to Forehead Sunday, the day I try to enjoy myself with my husband and not think about returning to work tomorrow (I’ll work on curing the Monday to Friday Malaise another time, did I mention I’m not perfect?).  We were watching Halloween movies earlier.  I wonder if we could watch another one now. No, I can’t work on that novel now, time with husband, remember?  I may or may not ever become a successful novelist, but if I take care to spend time with my husband I WILL have a good marriage.  Priorities, people.

 

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Frankenstein and his Bride on Slacker Saturday

Posted on October 1, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

So it was after seven on Lame Post Friday when I posted.  Now it is after eight on Slacker Saturday, and here I am.  Of course, it was not Slacker Saturday earlier today.  I was not exactly slacking then.  That happened later.  Now I am at the sitting on my couch enjoying the Watching Halloween Movies portion of the day.  We just finished watching Frankenstein and Steven is putting in Bride of Frankenstein as I type.  The James Wale version of these tales, of course.

A publicity still from the Frankenstein movie I referred to above.

One thing I loved about Bride of Frankenstein is the prologue, with Elsa Lanchester as Mary Shelley.  I adore Elsa Lanchester, and this is an excellent introduction to the tale.  I have always been a little sorry the movie did not return to the scene of the introduction, making it a real book-end of a framing device.  However, I personally cannot figure out a way to do that without it being an anticlimax.  Perhaps James Whale, the director, could have come up with something suitable, but I cannot blame him for not having bothered.  Then again, perhaps he did bother, and the studio rejected his ideas.  Studios tend to do that, you know.

“My Mary is an angel,” says Percy Shelley.

Here is the delightful Elsa Lanchester.  What a fun scene this must have been to film.  She sits there, embroidering sweetly, with the tale of a monster in her head.

This was my Facebook profile picture for a while.

I’ve shared this picture here before, but I thought it appropriate to include a picture of Lanchester as the Bride.

Anyways, this is my Saturday post.  Full disclosure:  I thought I was going to just go to bed and make this post at five or so tomorrow morning.  I’m going to count that as a “Yay, me,” deserved or not.  I hope to see you all on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

 

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No Pictures, But Lots of Plans

Posted on September 30, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, here I am, after 7 p.m. on Lame Post Friday and no post anywhere in my brain.  So I sit down, start typing, and hope for the best.  Before I started typing, I went to Facebook and looked for an image to download from the show we’re watching.  It is Dateline: Secrets Uncovered on Oxygen.  We watch a lot of Oxygen, because they show a lot of Snapped, one of my favorites.  This particular episode of Dateline was a case that was also covered on Snapped.  I LOVE to see the same crime on more than one show!

Oxygen has what they call “Crime Time Weekends,” where they show LOTS of true crime shows.  I am a well-known addict of true crime.  Um, not committing it. Reading about it and watching television shows about it.  The real documentary shows, not what I call the reenactment-fests.

However, I do not intend to have a “Crime Time Weekend” of my own.  I have plans.  Tomorrow I am going to go running (preparing for the East Herkimer Fire Department 5K Race!)  I may also walk to the post office, after writing my usual post cards, just for a little more exercise.  Later on Saturday, I plan to attend the Flood Relief Benefit for Rocky Rockwell, an area veteran who lost his house to flooding earlier this year.  In between these two activities, I have to figure out what to wear to the latter, always a traumatic experience for me (perhaps that will form the subject of Saturday’s blog post) (preview of coming attractions).

Sunday will be spent watching Halloween movies with my lovely husband, Steven, with a few breaks to work on our lines for A G.R.A.V.E. Murder, the murder mystery dinner theatre we are doing to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  I think I know my lines pretty well, but it is well to be sure about these things.

So this is my Friday Lame Post.  No pictures but lots of plans (would that be a good title for this post?  I’ll ask Steven).

 

 

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Firefighters, Here I Come!

Posted on September 29, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I’d open with this catchy logo.

I ended Sunday’s Running Commentary post wondering if I could find a nearby 5K any time soon.  Ask and you shall receive!  Just a couple of days later, my husband Steven showed me an article on Facebook about a new 5K right here in Herkimer, NY. It is the East Herkimer Fire Department 5K, a new race. I said LET’S GO!!!!!  It got even better.

It is to benefit East Herkimer Fire Department.  I LOVE fire departments!  They save lives and property. During the flooding in 2013, fire departments traveled from across the state to Herkimer to help pump out people’s basements.  Three different departments cheerfully pumped us out three different times.  I think firefighters are GREAT!

The run will take place Saturday, Oct. 14.  Steven is on vacation, so he can attend and cheer me on.  Later that day, we will participate in A G.R.A.V.E. Murder, the murder mystery dinner theatre we are doing to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  That will make for an entire fun day!

Run, then murder. Life is full for Mohawk Valley Girl!

Then I noticed that registration is through RunSignUp.  I love those guys!  It is so simple and straightforward to register through them, and they don’t try to sell you anything.

So, feeling all happy and determined to participate in this 5K, what did I do but take three days off running.  In my defense, it has been hot and humid, and my body has not been in the best of health (but you already know that; I spent my other posts this week whining about these things).  I went running today.  In fact, my intention was to make a Running Commentary post.   However, I see I am approaching 300 words, so how about a Registration Commentary post?  We’ll call it a win for Non-Sequitur Thursday.

 

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I’m Also a Witch

Posted on September 28, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

First a quick postscript to yesterday’s post (postpost?):  the crock pot applesauce was DELICIOUS, especially with the vanilla ice cream.  It was also yummy today for my lunch without the ice cream.  Unfortunately, my digestive woes continue.  I only mention it as a partial excuse for today’s Wuss-out Wednesday post.  Earlier this afternoon, I seriously considered cancelling the blog due to weather.  I thought, why not?  They call sports games for rain, snow or severe heat.  Lightning causes all sorts of cancellations and plan changes.  Why am I expected to function normally in unreasonably warm, muggy weather? (The weather folks call it “unseasonably warm,” but I calls it like I sees it.)

I know, I know, stop being such a baby.  That and, when have I ever functioned normally?  And when have I ever needed an excuse for Wuss-out Wednesday?  When have I ever used an excuse that was not immediately discounted, at least by those pesky critics in my head?  How many questions do you suppose I can fit into one paragraph?  Would you believe one more?

I think this blog is spinning out of control, even for a Wuss-out Wednesday.

What I may look like tomorrow morning.

When in doubt, look for a Halloween picture.  I went to the downloads on our laptop and found this.  I couldn’t quite see what it was in the downloads (too small), but I saw pumpkin, darkness, and said, OK.  Pumpkin spice coffee.  Ah, the thought of that encourages me.  It is the taste of autumn.  I could use some autumn.

I’m the one on the right.

I do not now where Steven got this picture, but I love old-fashioned stuff like this.  Ah, the thought of Halloween approaching makes me feel better about everything.

This time I’m the one in the middle.

Wow, my husband finds some great stuff online.  And too late I remember, I could have thrown in the pictures, called this Wordless Wednesday, and had done with.  I never do anything right!  On the other hand, if that’s what I am, I’ll embrace it.  Happy Wednesday, everyone.

 

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I’m Such a BRAT!

Posted on September 27, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was going to call this a Tasty Tuesday post, but in fact I have not yet tasted the treat that is currently cooking in the crock pot.  I know, some bloggers would make their blog post later or tomorrow, but we all know that is not how I roll.  I make blog posts on the fly before going to rehearsal, and I go with what I got, even when I ain’t got nuthin’.

Be all that as it may, this afternoon I decided that I would go on a bland diet. Never mind why; nobody wants to hear about other people’s digestive issues.  I only bring it up because it is relevant to the post at hand.  Some may feel the bland diet is especially appropriate to me because of the acronym that helps us remember its elements: BRAT (you know who you are) (and I gotta say, right back atcha, for the most part) (but I digress).  BRAT, for the digestively blessed who have no need to know such a thing (digestively is not a word?  I’ll be damned!), BRAT stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast.  Pasta and potatoes can also form part of the diet, but there weren’t enough vowels to add two more P’s, so you just have to pretend they are included under Rice or Toast.

After work, I headed to the store to purchase Bananas, Rice, and Applesauce (I already had bread for the toast at home).  After some internal debate about brown vs. white rice (I like brown but wondered if it was bland enough for a BRAT like me) (I took a chance and got the brown) and a quick look around for a treat for Steven (I love my husband), I checked out and headed home.

And found out I had forgotten the applesauce.  Damn it!  When there are only four items on one’s diet, one does not like to miss one.  However, I have some apples I purchased recently at North Star Orchards in Westmoreland (thus adding a little local flair to my post).  I know one can make applesauce in the crock pot.  I looked for a recipe online.  I’ve had pretty good luck finding things online lately (knock wood).

The first recipe I came across was pretty simple:  apples, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, water.  They said Golden Delicious Apples and I have Macintosh, but I was undeterred.  Additionally, they said core and peel, and I left the peel on.  There are plenty of nutrients and fiber in the peel, you know.  Continuing to do my own thing, I cut the apples into smaller pieces than the quarters called for by the recipe. For one reason, since I was leaving the peel on, I thought it would be easier to eat.  Then I got tired of chopping apples and stopped at six.  I halved the other ingredients.  See, I can do the math.

The apples are in the crock pot, and the crock pot is on HIGH.  Yes, I remembered to plug it in (don’t laugh; we all forget such things on occasion).  It should be done after rehearsal.  Steven and I will have some for a treat before bed.  Maybe we should stop at the store on the way home from rehearsal and get some vanilla ice cream to  put on it while it’s still warm.  I can start my bland diet tomorrow.

 

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An Afghan for Rocky

Posted on September 26, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am going to recount today’s minor Mohawk Valley adventure, not so much because it was an exciting adventure, but because it will advertise an upcoming event local readers may like to go to.

Regular readers know I like to crochet and watch movies or television.  The only thing I know how to crochet is afghans, and I have gotten pretty fast at making them.  As you may guess, they can pile up.  My solution is to donate them to worthy causes.  When I see a poster for a benefit fundraiser with a Chinese auction, I try to give a call and donate an afghan.  I’ve written about this before, not in the interest of tooting my own horn (I do that on Toot Your Horn Tuesday), but to call attention to one of my favorite things: people helping people.  I truly believe that we are the answers to each other’s prayers (but never mind the half-baked philosophy; that goes on Lame Post Friday).

Today’s cause is Rocky Rockwell, a local veteran who suffered a demolished home in recent flooding.  I believe this is the second time his home has suffered damage, and this time it was much worse.

I knew some time ago about the Flood Relief Benefit for Rocky Rockwell on Sept. 30.  Well, you know how it is:  when you know you’ve got to the end of the month to do something, you just naturally put it off.  At least I do.  If you do not, well that is an excellent habit to be in.  Keep up the good work.  Be that as it may (one of my favorite expressions), I finally called the number for the benefit organizers and found out I could drop the afghan by their meeting tonight at the VFW.  So I did.

I told you it was not all that exciting of an adventure, didn’t I?  BUT I think it will do as a plug for the benefit.  It is this Saturday, Sept. 30 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Herkimer VFW, 129 Mohawk St., Herkimer, NY.  You can find out more at the Facebook Event page (I love Facebook Events).  A motorcycle ride precedes the benefit, and at the benefit there will be a DJ, raffles, food, a Chinese auction, and cash bar.

I’ll be there, checking to see how many tickets get put in for my afghan.

 

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View from the Bottom of the Hill

Posted on September 25, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Wrist to Forehead Sunday indeed!  I cannot even type in one coherent sentence!  Never mind why; it is not that interesting.  I have not had a particularly an interestestetring

That was when I gave up and stopped typing.  How embarrassing!  On the brighter side, it seems I spelled embarrassing correctly the first time for once.  It is early Monday morning.  It has happened a few times that I miss my daily post so do it the next morning as early as possible.  I actually could have done this one at 2 a.m. when I woke up and could not get back to sleep, but I like to stay in bed and keep trying. I often meet with success, as I eventually did this morning.  Ah, but will I meet with success in making a blog post?

Probably not.  As I was about to type when I became quite disgusted with my clumsy typing, I did not have a particularly interesting weekend.  I enjoyed it; it’s just nothing to write blog about (get it, like “nothing to write home about”?).

I did see a cartoon on Facebook that caught my attention and my thoughts.  It showed a person at the bottom of hill carrying a bicycle on Monday; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were spent struggling up the hill; Friday was a happy person at the top of the hill starting down; Saturday zipping down; Sunday reaching the bottom and into Monday in an endless cycle.  I thought, “Yes, that is exactly what I feel like, only without the bicycle.  I feel like I’m pulling myself up a vertical incline with only my fingernails for tools.”  Seriously, that is the exact image that has been coming to my mind lately, even before seeing the cartoon.

However, the point of the cartoon was, “Don’t be like this.”  I commented, “How, how, how can one accomplish this?”  So far nobody has replied, although I got a couple of Likes (on Facebook as with the blog, I love to get Likes).  So now I appeal to my blog readers:  How can one accomplish this without changing one’s job, going back to school, or otherwise completely disrupting one’s life?  Any ideas?  Anybody?  Bueller?

Full disclosure:  I am not feeling particularly ill-used by fate this morning.  I actually feel in a pretty good mood right now.  Is it the coffee?  Or the blog?  Maybe I should start waking up with the blog on a Monday.  It may have a positive effect on my life.

 

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Sandy Start to Scattered Saturday

Posted on September 23, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I actually don’t know how scattered my Saturday will be, but you know how I love alliteration.  This is actually Saturday Running Commentary, which I have been wanting to bring back for some time now.  I didn’t run far, I didn’t run fast, but I think I can get a few paragraphs out of it.

Of course I did not feel like running as soon as I got out of bed about 5:30 this morning.  No, I didn’t party hearty last night.  I fell asleep on the couch then went to bed early.  Yes, I’m old, don’t judge.  I had thought about getting right out, since I love beginning my run in the dark and ending it in the light.  I decided to have some coffee first, comforting myself with the thought that it is fall.  Days will get shorter, and I will have plenty of dark runs.

Sure enough, after a little caffeine I felt more inclined to exercise.  The sun was up, but it was foggy, so I put on one of my ARMY t-shirts with the reflective decal on the back.  Additionally, I revised my plans for where to run.  I had wanted to go out Main Street and up a steep hill, coming out on Steuben Road.  I decided to go someplace with less traffic and/or a larger shoulder.  True, there isn’t always a lot of traffic on Steuben on a Saturday morning, but some people really like to gun it up that hill.  I like to give myself every advantage.  Accordingly, I ran down German Street in the direction of Herkimer College.

However, as I ran I felt not up to tackling that hill.  I have not run it since before the Boilermaker 15K.  I mostly like to run it so that I can post on Facebook that I did and impress my friends.  I thought I could save it till Sunday, when I usually increase my running time by the recommended 10 percent.  I ran up the hill by Valley Health and into the residential area I call the suburbs.  I knew I would find some major and minor hills there.  I want to start running more hills, to build myself up, but I really felt like sticking with the minor ones this morning.

I hoped to run on different streets from the last time I ran in the area, but of course I could not remember where I turned, so I just picked a street.  I saw a man in his front yard with a very cute little puppy. I think she was a yellow lab.  They were apparently having a business meeting, but the pup looked as if he wasn’t quite sure what he was supposed to do.

“Can I pet your dog?”  I asked.

“Sure,” he said.  “She might nip you; she’s only eight weeks old.  Her name is Sandy.”

Sandy jumped up eagerly while I petted her. She didn’t nip me, but she licked my hand and in general acted like a sweet, friendly pooch.  The man and I wished each other a good day, and I returned to my run.  As I did, I thought of the title for today’s post.  Just now I think maybe some of you thought I went running in the sand.  That would be nice, but I know of no handy beaches around here.

My run was not bad.  My legs felt pretty OK, with a few twinges in my knees and one bunion.  I was puzzled by the bunion’s pain, since it is not supposed to rain before next Wednesday.  I realized my breathing felt fine.  This delightful state of affairs deteriorated towards the end of the run, but I kept up for a full 36 minutes, which is how long I ran last Sunday.  I feel sure I will be up to forty minutes tomorrow, yes!

As I finished my run, I saw a neighbor and her sweet dog, Rocky, out walking.  I was happy to meet them on my cool-down walk.  Around the corner, I met and petted another nice dog.  I do love to pet a dog.  As I continued my walk, I reflected that I am now in 5K shape.  I ran for 36 minutes; I can run a 5K in 36 minutes.  And if I can’t run it in 36 minutes, by the time I am 36 minutes into a 5K, I can certainly finish.  Now, to find a 5K nearby…

 

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