Category Archives: Uncategorized

A Little Farther Afield

This past weekend my sister Diane took me to the Liverpool Elks Lodge.  I admit I am kind of an Elk-aholic.  I love to go to the Elks Lodge and visit with my friends.  It was fun to go to another lodge.

Our Lodge doesn’t have a deck!

I got the grand tour, but I didn’t take any pictures inside.  They do have a nice big banquet room and bar.  I was envious of their deck, although with my sun sensitivity, I would probably not spend much time on one.

I’m also envious of the water view.

I should have gotten a close-up of the little pavilion.  I said that was probably a good place for weddings.  The lady giving me the tour said she had gotten married there.  Another thing I didn’t get a picture of was their nice pavilion, which was build entirely with volunteer labor.  It looks like a great place for barbecues or clam bakes.

A handsome memorial.

The bricks have names on them, memorializing veterans.

I took a close-up, in case I needed to remember the lodge number.

Inside the lodge, Diane and I enjoyed a few drinks, some popcorn, and conversation with other Lodge members.  Her husband and daughter joined us later, and it was altogether a very nice time. Of course I like my own Lodge best.

 

I Have a Sinus Headache

I put that headline to warn anybody who does not like bellyaching posts.  I thought “bellyaching” was a more descriptive word than “whining,” but the pedant in me feels it is the wrong word since, for once, my belly is not aching.  I pause as I ponder the discrepancy to pour myself another cup of coffee, which may solve the whole problem.  Hey, I can hope.

It is mid-afternoon on a Tuesday, and once again I have not done much blog-worthy activity.  I could perhaps have made a Lawn Order Post, as I spent some time wrestling with my deck and back yard.  Not a lot of time.  In my defense, I am old and suffering a mysterious complaint which renders sustained movement painful (I did mention this was to be a bellyaching post) (once again, the pain is not in my belly).

NOT from my Media Library

I suddenly bestirred myself to get up and go out into the back yard and take a couple of pictures.  Here is my rhododendron, just beginning to bloom.  It is now blocked by a new tree I perhaps should have cut down when it was still small.  However, there are other trees in my yard I may want to have taken down, so perhaps I should let this one live.  I do like shade.

A little more color.

I guess I mentioned that my mower is at Collis Tru-Value Hardware being worked on (just to plug a local business).  I thought it behooved me to do the best I could with the non-power mower.  I figured I could at least get the weeds and grass mushed down a little.

By no means a large section of lawn.

This meets my cousin Mary’s criteria of “looks better than it did.”  A little at a time, I will get the whole thing looking better, and when the power mower is back I hope to get it looking  very nice indeed.  Then I will take more pictures and maybe even invite people over.

These are all over the yard.

On the way back to the house, I took a picture of some forget-me-nots.  It didn’t turn out so well, but I will have plenty of opportunity for more pictures.  Before I went inside, the dog next door on their back porch barked at me.  She often does.  If a ball has fallen into our shared driveway, sometimes I throw it for her to chase while I beat a hasty retreat.  I did so this time.  Alas that my throw was not very strong, and she returned before I had gotten far.  A young woman came out of the house while I prepared to throw the ball again.

“I always feel so bad, because she just wants to play,” I said.  “So I throw the ball, then try to escape.”

I heard her call the dog Luna as she brought her back into the house.  Now I know the dog’s name.  It’s always good to be on a first-name basis with the neighbor’s dog.

By the way, the coffee did help the headache.

 

It’s Silly, But It Is A Post

Well this is a hell of a note, an expression I have not used in quite a while if memory serves. My Chromebook seems to be frozen. My Tablet will not allow me to log in to WordPress (it says “Checking your browser this may take a few seconds, but they have quite the generous definition of”a few “).

So here I am on my phone, where I have made posts but not what I feel are my best work. No matter. A crappy post is better than no post at all.

Not in a row.

I throw in an illustration to pep the post up.  This is merely to show that I do not have my ducks in a row, and one of them is a frog. Just in case anybody was hoping I had gotten my act together as a blogger.

And this is me, looking cute, or do I flatter myself?

I just really like this picture of me on Kentucky Derby Day. I know it is silly, but I embrace my silliness.

I do not know how to check my word count on my phone, so I will hope I have at least 200 words.  I am not used to pecking in my posts one word at a time any more. Still, I made a post, and I believe that is the important thing.

It All Started with the Spider

I am having a Tired Tuesday Post.  It may even be construed as a Terrible Tuesday Post, but let us not become too dramatic.  Then again, drama is my life!  (Said with a dramatic gesture).

This morning there was a spider in my coffee.  Ew!  This is what happens when you do not examine your mug before adding coffee.  I have only myself to blame.  Full disclosure:  I drank the rest of the coffee, spider germs be damned.  I had to finish my story about the Ilion Village Board Meeting for Sentinel Media.  Caffeine helped.

As my day progressed, I needed to go to Ilion again to drop off a flier of my latest murder mystery, A Revolutionary Murder, at Morning Star Methodist Church.  While there I shopped at their Pay It Forward Thrift Store.  Alas, I did not take any pictures.

Later in the day, I walked to the post office to mail a note and post card, then on to the Herkimer Elks Lodge to reserve two tickets to the previously mentioned murder mystery.  Then I walked on to The End Zone Pub.  Just to say hello.

You can’t really see the new light.

While I was there, Brock, the owner, was placing a new light in the front display.  I took a picture, but as you see, not a very successful one.  What can one expect on a day which began with a spider in one’s coffee?

 

My Valentines

I thought it might be fun to do something unexpected for somebody else on Valentine’s Day.  Accordingly, I went to Flowers by Suzanne in Herkimer, NY, and purchased some carnations.

I love flowers.

Mindful of my mental and physical health, I walked.  I am SO looking forward to bare roads and sidewalks!  The lady at Suzanne’s was very helpful.  I got pink and white carnations, which she nicely wrapped in some pink paper.  She told me they did not need to be put in the little water holders; they would be fine.  I walked back down Mohawk Street till I came to To Niche Their Own, a delightful little shop I have written about before.

It’s a cool place.

Ashley, the owner was behind the counter, and a lady (whose name I stupidly did not ask) was working at the sewing machine in the window.  I presented each of them with a carnation.  They were very happy.  Ashley insisted on giving me a beautiful artificial flower.  I may purchase some of them for other people! Ashley also pointed out to me some new earrings that had come in, handmade and each pair unique.  I returned later and purchased a pair.

My next stop was A Little Touch of Country on South Washington Street.  The owner was very touched, saying I made her day.  She gave me a hug, which made my day!

I don’t have a picture of the outside of the shop, but here is some of the merchandise.

I gave flowers to others, but those were the most memorable, and the best shout-outs.  It wasn’t a bad Valentine’s Day.

Flowers by Suzanne is located at 433 Mohawk St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-866-0206. To Niche Their Own is at 127 Mohawk St., A Little Touch of Country on South Washington Street.

 

I Treat Myself at Chickweed

I read recently that we should treat ourselves to nice things once in a while.  Regular readers know I also like to support local businesses.  I did both this morning with a stop at Chickweed Boutique in Little Falls, NY.

I LOVE to shop small!

Chickweed Boutique has a variety of items to tempt most tastes:  clothes, soap, candles, jewelry, cards, and more.  I found some nice Christmas presents there in the last two years.  I knew I could find something I liked.  Now I am wishing I had taken a couple pictures of things I liked and didn’t get.  Damn!  Next time!

I just spent a foolish amount of time searching through my Media Library then through my phone, looking for more pictures of the Boutique with no luck.  I will return, take more pictures, and do another blog post.  In the meantime, I will continue with this one.

After looking through everything in the store twice, I settled on some loose herbal tea.  I have not had loose tea in a while, and I liked the illustration on the label of this one.  I thought it looked like me, only skinnier.  I came home and made myself a cup.

Yeah, the chick on the label is MUCH skinnier!

 

I enjoyed my tea quite a bit and look forward to having another cup.  I also look forward to my return to Chickweed Boutique.

Chickweed Boutique is located at 624 East Main St., Little Falls, NY.

 

New Years Lame

New Year’s Day always feels like a Sunday to me, and not a holiday Sunday, just a run of the mill Sunday.  Imagine my delight when I realized it would be followed by a Friday!  Thank you, calendar.  Now I can make a Lame Post Friday Post.  This post will be heavy on the half-baked philosophy, so buckle up, butter cup (I don’t know why I said that).

 

I thought I should put a picture in.

I wanted to use the picture of Bette Davis in All About Eve, where she says, “Fasten your seat belts, It’s going to be a bumpy night,” but I couldn’t find it in my Media Library and I don’t know how to download a photo from the internet on my Chromebook.  But I digress.

 

A friend posted a meme on Facebook saying that the new year really begins in spring, when the earth reawakens from its winter slumber. My friend saw the point but preferred having the new year begin as it does now.  Given that the calendar is an entirely human construct and that Facebook is a specious source of rules for life, I think both the meme and my friend are right.

There are many points in the year when we can feel a new beginning. For example, fall and the start of school feels like New Year to many. Spring is indeed an awakening that can refresh us. And personally, as we meet goals and challenges, we often feel a rush of relief and renewal. For example, after I complete a 5K or a murder mystery, I feel like, “Ah! Now I can concentrate on other things.”

The above paragraph was what I put as a comment on the post.  I followed it by, “Oh dear, this is sounding like a blog post.”  So I copy and pasted it to WordPress and saved it. I thought I might expand upon the idea, but I see I am over 322 words.  I think that is sufficient for a Lame Post Friday post.  Now I must get on with 2026.

 

Of Slippers, Socks, and Something

I don’t know what in the world is wrong with my WordPress, but I cannot seem to type anything in this space in the Classic Editor.  I think I am in the Block Editor now, which I do not navigate as handily.  Never mind.  I have missed posting for some days now and feel I can manage a Non-Sequitur Thursday post before hopping off (not literally, of course) to breakfast with some friends.

No, NOW I am on the Block Editor. I’m not sure what I was in before. It took me a minute to figure out how to Add Media, and now I have no idea how to add a caption to the picture. I just took it this morning. My mother gave me these slippers over Thanksgiving. My father gives her slippers every Christmas (just like Steve used to do for me), but she does not wear them out as quickly as I do. I mentioned that I needed slippers, and she fixed me up. I took the picture, because I thought the color was festive, and I knew the socks were.

Now I can’t remember how to Add Media.

Figured it out! These are the Christmas slippers my late, dearly missed husband, Steve gave me some years ago. I have not worn them out yet, because I only wear them at Christmas. I see I was wearing the same leggings, and one of my favorite pair of Christmas socks.

I had to search for this picture! These slippers I completely wore out, because I loved them so much. It seems Block Editor does not tell me how many words I have, but I am sure I am over 200. Unfortunately, I have not been particularly Non-Sequitur. But I guess I can bill it as a Throwback Thursday. At least I am back on the blog.

Now I can’t figure out how to add Categories and Tags.

Good Breakfast!

This morning I had a good breakfast at the Home Town Diner in Mohawk, NY.  I was meeting some friends and had suggested the place.  We ate there once before and enjoyed it.

It’s a nice place.

I did not take any pictures; this is from when I ate there the first time, by myself.  I love to go out for breakfast.  My favorite thing to order is a breakfast sandwich, which I had this morning:  ham, egg and cheese on an English muffing, yes please!  A couple of my friends had omelets, which looked pretty good.  The hash browns looked tempting, too.  Maybe next time I will ask my friends if I can get a picture of them around the table.  In case any of my blog readers think I am making it up and I really don’t have any friends.

Also from a previous visit.

The last time I was at the Home Town Diner I had waffles with fruit, which was the special that morning.  Yum!  I did not see any breakfast specials on the board, but I know they often have good lunch specials.  Note to self:  go to the Home Town Diner for lunch.

We lingered over coffee, chatting.  It was a very pleasant morning.

The Home Town Diner is located at 150 West Main St., Mohawk, NY, phone number 315-927-4149.  You can follow them on Facebook to hear about their specials.

 

Two Mile Tuesday Is Back!

I haven’t done a Running Commentary Post in a while (too lazy to check how long ago), but I have been running again.  Not very far, not very fast, but that is not the important thing.  I hope.  Anyways, I ran today after two days off, and it went pretty well.  I was still feeling sluggish, so I told myself I would feel satisfied if I at least did a 20 minute run.

Me, feeling satisfied with my run.

This selfie was taken after a different run, but I wanted to put in an illustration just then.   I set out hoping to at least persevere.  It was much colder than yesterday; in fact, when I got up my backyard was covered with snow.  I still saw a little of the white stuff, but roads and sidewalks were bare.  Phew!

Looking through my Media Library, I cannot seem to find any of the streets I ran on.  Alas!  I went up Maple Grove and on into the residential area behind Valley Health.  That gave me some minor uphills.  I stopped and petted a cute little dog. A couple of other dogs barked at me but not in a threatening manner.

I had told myself 20 minutes would be all right, but of course I wanted to up my time by ten percent.  Let’s see, that would be 31 minutes.  That was my goal, 31 minutes.  It would probably be two miles, since I was at least doing a 15-minute mile (judge me if you are so inclined; I said I run slow).  So I kept checking my Garmin and doing the math in my head.  17 more minutes… 14 more minutes…

It was not till I was almost back to my house when I realized I had not properly done the math.  Last week I ran 29 minutes.  Ten percent of that is three (I round up).  I didn’t want to go 31 minutes, I wanted to go 32!  So I ran past my house, scolding myself that 29 plus 3 is 32 not 31.  How embarrassing!  But I ran that last minute, so I think I can feel pleased with myself.  It was over two miles, but I seem to have misplaced my Garmin, so I cannot tell you exactly how much.

Full disclosure:  As I typed that last sentence, I remembered where the Garmin is, but it is upstairs, and I just went upstairs, and I am far too lazy to go up again this soon.