Category Archives: personal

Lame it Snow!

Posted on November 29, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Sorry, sports fans, but this will be a Lame Post Friday post.  Winter has once again reached the Mohawk Valley, and I have not ventured out on any adventures.  I did leave the house, to help clear the driveway and  unbury a few vehicles (what, autocorrect, “unbury” is not a word?  And apparently neither is “autocorrect.” I can’t worry about these things now).

Stock photo, is that what they call it?

This is actually a picture from March 2017, but I thought I would like to share some snow pictures.  I really had not planned to go anyplace much today anyways.  I have never been one for Black Friday shopping.  I will be a little disappointed if I miss Shop Small Saturday, but I suppose I can shop small for the rest of December, so that will be OK.

At least it’s pretty!

 

I was disappointed not to go running this morning.  In the early morning hours I dreamed it was raining (I did hear it rain earlier in the night) and I was running in the rain.  I do not usually run in the rain, but with the Reindeer Run 5K approaching (I officially registered this morning!), I thought it would be a good idea.  When I woke up, I told myself to see if it was, indeed raining.  Imagine my surprise to see the world covered in snow.  And it was still snowing.  That was when my head informed me that I am still not over the illness that has been plaguing me.

The three words that best describe me are as follows, and I quote…

I was looking for another snow picture, but I like this one better.  I went out twice to help with shoveling, thus getting a little fresh air (Times Square!) and exercise.  Now I have completed a blog post of some 300 words.  I say score and once again I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Still Ill, but Throwback Thanksgiving

Posted on November 27, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody, and welcome to a Throwback Thursday post.  I am feeling a little better from my ailment of the other day.  Not 100% but on the mend, and I thought I could make a quick post, just to not go to many days without.

Lovely fall colors, yes?

This is a picture from 2016.  It is a bouquet of flowers my dearly missed husband Steven sent me when I was leading lady in the play The BusyBody at Ilion Little Theatre.  Come to think of it, that play happened in the spring.  I don’t know why I shared the picture in November.  I’m sure my husband picked the colors because they are my favorites.

Look how cute they are.

Here are some fall decorations.  I decided the bigger ones were sweethearts and the little one was the guy’s little brother.  Note the straight mouth; he wishes little brother would go away so he can kiss his girlfriend.  However, the girlfriend thinks little brother is cute and his happy he is there.  I have shared that story before, but it is Throwback Thursday after all.

Wow, look at all that stuff!

And here is another picture of when my husband used to decorate.  Perhaps I will see what I can do for Christmas.

I see I have reached 200 words.  That will do, I say.  I hope to be up for Mohawk Valley Adventures soon.  After all, Shop Small Saturday is coming!

 

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Oh No! Not a Blogger’s Sick Day!

Posted on November 26, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I missed blogging and running Sunday and Monday then took a three mile run this morning.  I was set to do a Running Commentary Post!  I even purposefully ran by a few places I know I have pictures of in my Media Library so I could illustrate.  I felt rather awful after the run, wondered if I should have kept it to two miles, trudged my cool-down walk, and just managed to stretch before getting in the shower.  Still, this was going to be find.

After a shower and finding an outfit to put on, I fixed myself a nice egg sammich for breakfast, using Heidelberg French Peasant Bread (just to add a little local flavor to the post).  I had big plans in my head to go shopping and get stuff done after writing my blog post and  before covering the Frankfort Town Board meeting tonight.

Then after breakfast, it hit me.  For some days I have been dealing with some sore throat/coughing, which I thought was post nasal drip due to my ever present allergies.  This morning, it was suddenly much worse, with a banging, sick headache.

Only I feel like the real thing.

It’s no fair!  This is Thanksgiving week!  I am supposed to get together with my family and have fun!  Oh well, these things happen and we must make the best of them.  Perhaps it is a 24-hour Bugaboo and I will be fine tomorrow.  I am about to try the effects of a hot toddy.

Take your medicine, old lady!

This is actually from The Atomic Brain, a favorite cheesy horror movie.  She is actually drinking a cocktail, and that sour look on her face is natural.  My hot toddy features whiskey from Cooperstown Distillery, just to give another area business a shout-out.

Anyways, I wanted to post something, anything, so here it is.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Slacking But Still Blogging!

Posted on November 23, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am going to make a Slacker Saturday post before I continue to slack.  Full disclosure:  I slack many days.  I have always been kind of a lazy bum.

NOT a slacker.

I am looking at an episode of Columbo, which I found on Roku TV recently.  Regular readers know how much I love Columbo.  Earlier today I went on a two mile run, and after I finish this post I will walk to the post office with my usual Saturday post cards, which I have already written.  I am afraid that is the extent of my productivity today.  Well, I might work on a letter as I go.  No promises.

Good place to eat.

Maybe I will treat myself to dinner later.  There are several good choices in Herkimer. This is the first one I came to in my Media Library.

I could never do my hair this way alone.

How vain of me to share a picture of myself.  It relates to the post, however, because this is from the Ilion Little Theatre production of Prescription: Murder, the first episode of Columbo, which was also a stage play.  I was the murder victim, and I think a lot of people were happy to see me go.  It was probably the only way to shut me up.

It is easier to shut me up from blogging, and I will sign off now.  I hope to have a Mohawk Valley Adventure soon to write a blog about.  When I am done slacking.

 

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Not Too Lame for the Reindeer Run!

Posted on November 22, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to another Lame Post Friday post.  It looks like I last had one at the end of October.  Additionally, it is my birthday weekend; I feel I should be able to have fun.

Earlier today I ran for over three miles.  I was going to make a Running Commentary post titled, “Last Run at 61.”  I was really quite happy I made it that far.  That means I am in good shape for the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls in December.  Regular readers know I have participated in the Reindeer Run before.

One of my all-time favorite pictures.

This is December 2017, the first time I ran the Reindeer Run.

I felt jolly.

My late, dearly missed husband Steven took this picture before I left for the run.  Just look at all the Christmas decorations behind me!  That was when Steve and I really went to town on decorating.  I confess, Steven did most of it.

A more elaborate outfit.

This was in 2018, when I took a little more trouble with my ensemble.  I need to come up with something fun to wear this year.

The Reindeer Run 5K, sponsored by Rock City Runners, is Satuday, Dec. 13, at 9 a.m.  For more information, you can visit Rock City Runners Facebook page.

Ooh, not till the 13th!  I thought it was the 6th!  Score!  A whole week more to get ready!

 

 

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Can You See the Rainbow?

Posted on November 20, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

My first intention was to make a Running Commentary post about this morning’s run.  However, those are best done soon after the run, while my in-head narration is still fresh in my mind.  So I thought, I know, Waste Not Want Not Wednesday.  The problem with that is, I only have one photo that might go to waste, and I’m not sure it is all that good a one.

It looked much better at the time.

It is a rainbow I saw as I walked away from the post office last Thursday.  I walk to the post office almost every day, because I am trying to send more letters and post cards to family and friends.  It is my small way of trying to brighten up the world.  With my messy handwriting, it is questionable how much brightness I actually provide, but one does what one can.

Who, me? Like wine?

With not much else to say, I share a picture from November 2019, “All packed and ready for Thanksgiving weekend!”  I am looking forward to Thanksgiving.  Food, family, and fun, yes, please.

I have a few Mohawk Valley Adventures planned in the next week or so, raising my hopes that I can get back to daily blogging.  As always, I hope you will stay tuned.

 

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Yay! Books!

Posted on November 19, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I just got back from the book sale at Ilion Free Public Library.  Yay!  Books!

Picture taken last year when I went to the sale.

I heard about the sale yesterday, at the Ilion Village Board of Trustees meeting.  Regular readers may recall my side hustle of covering some meetings for Sentinel Media.  I like to include a picture with the story so thought a couple pictures of the book sale would be nice.  The fact that I could also purchase books was strictly by the way.

Lots of books!

The books are donated by patrons, not just discarded books from the collection, so there are a lot of new and like-new books available.

And the price is right!

Last year I found some biographies of famous figures from the American Revolution.  This year I lucked out on fiction.  I try not to read a whole lot of fiction, because I have a hard time putting it down once I start reading, but I love it.

Another angle.

The sale continues through Saturday, Nov. 22.  They keep putting out more books as books sell, so even if you have stopped by, you might like to check back.  I hope to do so later in the week.

Ilion Free Public Library is located at 78 West St., Ilion, NY, phone number 315-894-5028.

 

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A Fun Visit to Newport Marketplace

Posted on November 16, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Thursday morning my sister Cheryl called me and said it was such a dull, rainy day, why didn’t we take a drive to Newport and wander around Newport Marketplace for a while.  I readily agreed.  I had not been there in a while but enjoy following them on Facebook.  For one thing, the guy often makes a pun about the picture he’s sharing.  I fancy myself quite the pundit (see what I did there?).

It’s a great place!

We took a long time wandering around.  There is so much to see, and it is one of those places where there is always something new. I saw lots of stuff that would make great Christmas presents.  Cheryl and I talked about how it is not worth gift-giving if it causes you more stress than joy. I get a great deal of joy from giving presents.  My only problem is my desire to give people presents they really want and/or can use.  I see so many beautiful antiques and decorations, but one only has so much room in the house.

I ended up purchasing a very small snow globe, maybe an inch high, of a little Christmas tree.   It would be a good present; almost anybody could find a space in their home for it.  However, I just might have to keep it for myself.  It is so cute!

I could make one!

Outside the Marketplace, we noticed a sweet decoration made with a pallet.   I even have some old Christmas balls like that!  I wonder if I could find a space in my home for such a thing.

Newport Marketplace is located at 7583 Main St., Newport, NY, phone number 315-845-8822.

 

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Return to Fratello’s

Posted on November 15, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Wednesday I did something I haven’t in a while:  went to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY for music an food.  Long-time readers may recall that used to be a regular thing with me.  Why wouldn’t it be? I love music, and I love food!  Additionally, I love supporting local, both restaurants and musicians.  But for one reason and another I have not made it to Fratello’s in a while.  When I saw that Gridley Paige Naked and Scared with Justin Smithson was going to be there, I made plans!

Unfortunately, only one of my pictures turned out.

I keep saying that I will never get over my disappointment that Gridley Paige is not actually naked.  That is the dirty old woman in me.  I question, too, how scared they are, but I do no purport to know anybody else’s emotional state.  I had never heard Justin Smithson play with them before but have heard him solo and like him quite a bit.  He is, as you may know, the Rock’n Roll Mayor of Frankfort.  I should see if the Sentinel wants me to start covering Frankfort Village Board meetings.  I already do the Town ones.

After quite a bit of debate, I decided on a steak and cheese wrap.  Yum!  There are so many excellent choices.  I may have to start going every week again, so I can work my way down the menu.

When I left, the band was bantering with some customers.  I listened for a minute then said, “You guys have to play another song so I can dance my way out!”  They were happy to oblige.  I took my time leaving, dancing back and forth a few times, looking like the crazy old lady I am.  Such a fun time!

Fratello’s Pizzeria is located at 158 E. Main St., Frankfort, NY, phone number 315-894-8484.

 

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I’m 61 and I Still Run

Posted on November 13, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that rhyme as I walked my cool-down walk after today’s run.  I’ve been 61 for over 11 months, and this is the first time I thought of it.  What the hell, me?  However, waste not, want not: I’m still 61 and I can use it for a headline for a Running Commentary post.

I did not run for the last two days, so I really felt obligated.  In my defense, yesterday it was snowing and I just couldn’t trust the roads.  I walked later in the afternoon and couldn’t trust all the sidewalks, but it is less of a problem for walking.  I did not trust the sidewalks today but stuck to the roads for the most part.  In general I prefer to stay on the sidewalks.  I like to give myself every advantage of not getting run over by a car.

I often run by the Court House.

Full disclosure:  This picture is from February 2021, but it shows a landmark I ran by and it shows snow.  Regular readers may recognize this as part of Herkimer’s Historic Four Corners, a favorite place for me to walk or run by.  I was on the second half of my run by this time.  I was using the Map My Run app on my phone, making a lot of turns in hopes of mapping out an interesting shape, and saw that I was just over a mile.  Go, me!

I was holding the phone in my hand, because I could not find the strap I hold it on my arm with and was too impatient to look for it.  It made it not so easy to blow my nose as I ran, but you can’t have everything.

Also not taken today.

I could not find the picture I wanted to share but came across this one.  I was wearing that headband today.  I purchased it in Niagara Falls while on my honeymoon with my beloved dearly missed husband Steve in 1990.  My hair is not that long, but it’s growing.

My run was not too bad.  I went almost two and a half miles in 33 minutes, which while slow is faster than my recent runs.  I did not pet any dogs, although I saw a couple nice ones.  I did get to pet one of my favorite doggy friends, Pugsley the morkie on my cool-down walk (it was right after I thought of today’s headline).  I may be ready for the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls this December.  I hope they have one.

 

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