Category Archives: personal

LiFT Labours

Posted on July 27, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

Rehearsals continue for Love’s Labour’s Lost by William Shakesapeare, to be presented by LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company as part of Little Falls Canal Celebration August 13 and 14, 2022. We rehearsed last night, with the result that I was too tired to make even a Tired Tuesday Post.  I hope to make it up to you by sharing a few more rehearsal pictures.  Of course I also hope to induce local readers to come out and see the play.  It’s going to be great!

A delightful bantering duo.

We were looking at costume pieces last night, so I should have taken a couple more pictures, only I did not have my Tablet with me.  Don Armadio, the dude in the hat, is going to wear the purple cape I wore a few years ago as Gonzago, or whatever his name was in The Tempest.  Don’t judge me to harshly for forgetting the name.  I am having enough trouble remembering my lines for this one!

The prince and his guys.

We have been having a blast at rehearsals, cracking each other up.  When somebody does something, on purpose or accidentally, particularly funny, we all yell, “Keep it! Keep it!”  I would give an example, but I don’t want to spoil the joke for anybody who comes to see the play.

This one is a really funny scene!

I think I will bring my Tablet tonight and get somebody to take some pictures with me in them, as well as my friend Kim.  All our scenes are together, so I have none of her, either.  Egregious omission!  Does that sound Shakespearean?  I may be infected.

Love’s Labour’s Lost will be shown free of charge at Benton’s Landing in Little Falls, NY, at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, August 13 and 14, 2022.  I hope to see you there!

 

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Not Monsters, Mosey!

Posted on July 26, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

Despite all the adventures alluded to yesterday, I content myself today with a mere Pedestrian Post.  For one reason, I took a few pictures when I walked on Sunday.  For another reason, I thought of that alliterative title as an answer to any readers expecting my usual Monstrous Monday Post.  In fact, I set a fairly brisk pace, since I was walking for exercise. But you know how I love alliteration.

I did not avail myself of the seat.

The first thing that caught my eye as I left the house was this comfy-looking couch, sadly abandoned.  Why can’t people donate these things?  Perhaps there was something wrong with it that I could not perceive.

Lots of bunnies around here.

This bunny hopped away while I was fumbling with my phone, but I managed to get a shot when he paused.  I like bunnies.

It feels steeper when you are on it.

This hill is short but fairly steep.  I do like to go up hills, although you can get too much of a good thing.  When I got to the end of the street, I impulsively turned right and went up to Herkimer College the back way. I felt pretty proud of myself for doing it.  It was not so easy to get a picture, since there are curves, but I tried.

I think this was more than halfway up.

Going down Lou Ambers Drive was a snap.  Ah, when gravity is my friend!  When I paused at the spring to refill my water bottle, I took a closer shot than the other one I shared.

I thought you might like to see the stones.

I did not take a walk this morning, due to a thunder storm.  Quite frankly, I enjoyed sleeping in.  Tomorrow, however, I hope to be back out on the sidewalks again.  Will I write another Pedestrian Post or cover one of last weekend’s adventures?   A little uncertainty adds interest to my day.  In either case, I hope you will tune in.

 

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Many Adventures, Not Enough Posts

Posted on July 25, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

Here it is, late (for me) into a Sunday evening,  and I have made neither a Saturday nor a Sunday post.  Wrist to Forehead Sunday indeed.  But before I swoon and faint dead away, I will attempt a Preview of Coming Attractions, because I have had a few Mohawk Valley Adventures recently. I hope to make fuller blog posts in the coming days.

Who doesn’t love a pig with a sheep and a crow on top?

Thursday I went to A Little Touch of Country,  a lovely gift shop on South Washington Street in Herkimer, NY.  I definitely want to write more about them.

Fun lady, fun wines!

Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer has been having tastings every weekend, and I have been to several.  I take tasting notes, so I really ought to write more about them.

I love that dog!

I mentioned the Doodah Parade in Ilion. Well, here are a few more participants.  I did not take a whole lot of pictures, but I took enough for another blog post.

Who, us? Kill our husbands?

Saturday night, my friend Kim and I participated in a fundraiser for the historic Herkimer County jail.  We impersonated local murderesses from the past.  I KNOW my readers want to hear about that! Or do I flatter myself?  No matter, I see I am over 200 words.  Phew!  And I will just have to owe you one for Saturday.  Put it on my tab.

 

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I Doodah Didn’t Make a Post

Posted on July 23, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh DEAR!  Look how late I am making my Lame Post Friday post!   How did it get to be ten o’clock on a Saturday!  I know, the usual way.

In my defense, last night I participated in the Doodah Parade, part of the Ilion Days festivities.  I rode on the float for Ilion Little Theatre.  It was a fun time, but hot and tiring.  Just imagine if I would have walked!

I couldn’t decide which photo to use so include both.  These are this year’s participants of YAW, Young Actors Workshop.  For more information on that, you can go to It’s Facebook page or website, http://www.ilionlittletheatre.org.

I did not take a picture of me in my silly outfit.  Everybody else was in Western wear, because the theme of the parade was Doodah Rides Again.  I do not own anything appropriate except for a pair of cowboy boots my sister Vicki gave me.  It was so hot, I considered wearing the boots and nothing else, but, you know, sunburn.  Then my friend Kim (who originally wanted to go as Lady Godiva) pointed out that witches ride brooms.  I threw together an outfit that did not include black. I really should have taken a picture.

So we’ll call this a Post About Why I Didn’t Make a Post Yesterday, and I will attempt to make my Saturday post while it is still Saturday.  But no promises.

 

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Use this later

Posted on July 22, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

Alas, I am back to my bad habit of making a late blog post.  In fact, I am skeptical of my ability to make a post now.  We are having a heat wave, and I do not like it!  I went for my walk, which I missed yesterday, and it is quite muggy out.  The birds were not singing.  They weren’t singing Tuesday either, and I do not remember Monday.  Oh dear, I am getting all bogged down in my petty complaints and whining when I set out to plug a local business and musician.  Get your act together, Cindy!

That is what I typed in this morning.  Then I got my act together at least enough to make a post about Phil Arcuri at Fratello’s.  However, mindful of the phrase Waste Not Want Not, I saved the whiny paragraph, labeling it “Use this later.”  I think I will keep that as my heading and bill this as a Non-Sequitur Thursday post.

It is a fairly silly post, too, because the first thing I say is I am posting late, and here I am, fanatically pecking at the Tablet with my stylus hoping to make my Thursday post on Thursday.  But when have I ever worried about making a silly post?

I thought I looked pretty.

I looked in my Media Library for a silly picture and found this.  I believe I was dressed for a murder mystery.  I must play with the curling iron again sometime.

 

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Cool Music on a Hot Night

Posted on July 21, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yesterday I noticed that Phil Arcuri was playing at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY.  While waiting to punch out after work, I called my husband, Steve.  The answering machine picked up.

“Hi, honey, I just wanted to put this in your mind before I get home…”

“Get your ass in the shower, we’re going out!”  my work friend Rick shouted behind me.  Steve picked up the phone at that point.  He had not heard Rick’s interjection, so I filled him in on that.  The current heat wave has drained up both of energy (yes, I KNOW other parts of the country have it worse, at least we have fans, we are just big babies, oh, shut up), but we decided it would be nice to go sit somewhere air conditioned, eat some good food and hear some music from one of our favorites.

Oh no, my computer is doing the thing where I add the picture and it does not let me type anything below it.  When I try to the cursor jumps back up here.  Well I don’t have time to futz with it now.  I’ll just leave the picture at the end of the post.  It is not a current picture anyways.  I did not bring my Tablet, because I forgot to charge it.  I took one picture with my phone, which I immediately shared on Facebook, in case any local friends might like to hurry out and join us, but right now my phone is charging.  This is all by the way.  Let’s get back to the post.

Steve and I agree that nobody seems to have more joy in music and living than Phil Arcuri.  It is always a pleasure to hear him play.  Additionally, he includes the setting and audience in his songs.  In “Margaritaville,” he said his “brand new tattoo” is “a Fratello’s cutie,” and in one chorus it was “all Geno’s fault.”  Geno is a member of Fratello’s excellent staff.

Speaking of staff, we had a new bartender, Savannah.  She was new to Fratello’s, too.  I asked her what the Cali sauce was like in the Cali Chicken, available as a sandwich or wrap.  She said it was barbecue and spicy, but not too spicy.  I decided to try it, as a wrap, only with grilled instead of fried chicken.  Geno once suggested that substitution to me, when I wanted the chicken wing salad but hesitated, because deep fried does not always agree with me (although I confess I love it).  It was a delicious sandwich.  Steven contented himself with a salad.

We had not been to Fratello’s for food and music in a while, because I usually have rehearsal for Love’s Labour’s Lost in Little Falls (perhaps you read a few of by blog posts about that).  We were delighted to have the opportunity to go last night.  It made a nice break from hunkering down in front of fans at our house (YES, I am grateful I have fans! Sheesh!)

He always has a great time, and makes sure everybody else does, too!

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Pedestrian Pictures Part 3

Posted on July 20, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

On this morning’s walk, I purposely walked by places I took pictures last Saturday, so I could use the last three in today’s post.  Of course it was dark when I walked today, but pictures don’t turn out so well in the dark.

Sometimes there are flowers.

Walking or running (Oh, WILL I ever run again?), I usually try to see the temperature on the sign in front of Trinity Lutheran Church.  That is how I know I can rock a run down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.  This morning was warmer than 59 degrees.  It was muggy too. I anxiously await a break in humidity.

It feels steeper when you are on it.

This is the infamous Hill By Valley Health.  I capitalize it, because I often refer to it when logging my runs and now walks. It is by no means as formidable as the hill up to Herkimer College (previously known as HCCC), but I found it took some effort to get up it this morning.

I LOVE the spring!

Every morning, I carry a small bottle of water, drink it while I walk, and refill it at the spring.  It is what I used to do one my longer runs, when I was getting up to 50 minutes, or mornings I felt particularly dehydrated.  I feel particularly dehydrated most of the time these days. I don’t know what that’s all about.

It was not a bad walk. Few of my walks are.  Of course, walking is much easier than running, and you don’t always need to shower afterwards.  I will have to start making some more interesting observations, though, if I want to continue making a lot of Pedestrian Posts.  For today, however, I’ll just bill this as a Tired Tuesday and drive on.  Once again, thank you for tuning in.

 

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Morrison and Monsters, Yes Please!

Posted on July 19, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

My evening has kind of gotten away from me, but perhaps I could manage a Monstrous Monday Post.  Full disclosure: I spent a good portion of the evening watching a two-hour Dateline on DVR.  In my defense,  Keith Morrison.  Hubba, hubba!

Steve is a little jealous. Teehee!

It’s really Keith’s voice that curdles me.  So mellifluous!  And when he talks about murder and mayhem, I have all my favorite things!  But he is scarcely monstrous.  What else can I come up with?

Me too!

One reaon I am so sluggish is the extreme humidity we have been experiencing today.  Oh, stop playing that miniature violin!  I know others have it worse, and some demented people even like it.  As for me, I am hunkered down near a fan, thinking longingly of central air.  Or fall.

 

What I feel like today.

Ah yes, The Blob.  I am feeling rather blobulous myself lately.  I walk almost every day and try not to eat too much, but these moderate measures seem to be no match for middle age.  There’s a monster for you!

A recurring bit of advice I sometimes follow.

I modify the advice: Know when to give up, lie down in front of a fan, and go to sleep!  At least I made it to 200 words.  Thank you for tuning in.

 

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More Weekend Walking

Posted on July 18, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

Here is Day Two of Pictures Taken On My Walk.  I took another walk this morning but did not take any further pictures.  So under the heading Waste Not Want Not, I share a few more taken yesterday.

Is it the first or the last?

The lone Black-eyed Susan appealed to me.  I saw some other patches with more blooms, so I don’t know if this one is just getting started or just ending.  My own Black-eyed Susans have not done much this year, but my whole yard is kind of a lost cause.  Let us not dwell on such depressing topics.

Pretty!

I am try to be circumspect when taking pictures of other people’s yards.  You know, not include identifying things such as numbers or names. Therefore, I was happy to get this shot of just flowers.  Of course, Google Maps shows no such compunction, but I am no Google (cue jokes about my googly eyes).  But I love these colorful blooms.

Lots of flowers!

On the uncultivated side, we have these.  I first tried to get a shot of a lone Morning Glory but could not get a good angle so went for the profusion of… whatever these are.

I do enjoy my weekend walks, when the sun is up and I can admire flowers.  Additionally, sometimes people are walking their dogs.  I like to pet a dog.  Tomorrow I am back to walking in the dark.  However, I still have a few more unused pictures from Saturday.  As always, I hope you’ll tune in.

 

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Garage Sales on My Mind

Posted on July 17, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

When I took my walk this morning,  I brought my phone and took pictures, thinking to do an illustrated Pedestrian Post.  In the course of a 40 minute walk, I took nine pictures.  That is too many for one post, so I will split things up.

A creative sign.

Today was Herkimer’s Village-Wide Garage Sales.  I have been seeing signs like this all over for the past few days.

Intriguing, yes?

I took my walk around six, well before garage sale time, even for early birds (and most of the garage sale ads I’ve ever seen say, “No early birds!” anyways).  But I did see a couple of yards already prepared.  I was certainly curious as to what the tarps were hiding.

As I walked, a runner who often exchanges greetings with me came up behind me.

“Good morning!” I said.

“It looks like everybody is getting ready for garage sales!” she said.

“I know, I’m making notes of where to go later!”  Full disclosure: I did not go to any garage sales.  I have too much stuff in my house as it is.  I ought to have a garage sale myself, only I am far too unorganized.

I did not try to buy it.

The little paper says, “For Sale.”  I took the picture, because the camper brought back memories of the pop-up camper we used to have when I was a kid.  We had some good trips, and my sisters and I had some fun nights in our back yard in that camper.

Thoughts of garage sales and camping added a little interest to my walk.  I hope to take another walk tomorrow.

 

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