Category Archives: Uncategorized

Just a Little Local

Posted on July 3, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I saw on Facebook that Monday was Shop Small Day or the whole week was Shop Small Week or some such.  You know I never pay attention to these things.  In any case, for Mohawk Valley Girl, EVERY day is Shop Small Day.  Unfortunately,  I cannot shop every day, and I cannot always go small for what I need.  Well, we none of us can live up to our ideal (and if you are sitting there smirking because YOU always do, all I can say is that you probably need some better ideals) (you know who you are).

Where was I?  Ah yes, attempting to shop small.  One of the pages I follow encouraged us to share on Facebook pictures of our purchases.  I went to T&J’s Fruits and Vegetables in Herkimer earlier this week, but those vegetables are already cut up and in a salad.  Maybe I have one tomato left.

I’ll probably put it in an omelet or sammich tomorrow.

I also went to Valley Wine and Liquor,  also in Herkimer.  I am sipping a little wine as I type this.

Of course I use my Halloween glass year round! What did you expect?

To add a little more local, I got that awesome glass from Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit.

Today I drove to Little Falls, NY.  I had seen there was to be a new gift shop opening near The Cafe at Stone Mill.  I went to the Cafe first for a cup of coffee.  I cannot convey how much I have longed to sit in a cafe, sip coffee, and write.  I worked on a letter to my sister.

It is yummy coffee!

I thought about getting ice cream instead, since it was so hot out, but the lower calorie count won.  To tell myself it was not really ice cream but frozen yogurt would be mere quibbling.  Additionally, this is coffee by local roaster Joseph Putrello, and it is excellent coffee.

I already have one of those coffee mugs.

I did not purchase anything in the gift shop but intend to return.  After checking it out, I drove to Burke Park for the weekly Fresh Market.

It’s already on my calendar for next Thursday.

I spent more time at the market, and took more pictures. I hope to write more about it later.  In the meantime, I see I am approaching 400 words.  That seems good to me.  I hope to do more local shopping and buy more stuff soon.  And write blog posts about it.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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Will Running Commentary Return?

Posted on June 30, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I love it when my runs get up to 40 minutes, because about 22, 23 minutes in, my body goes, “Oh, yeaaah!”  This does not happen to me during shorter runs.  Your results may vary.

I have not said much about my plan to run in the Virtual Boilermaker 15K for the simple reason that I do not have a plan.  I don’t know how to make a plan for that sort of thing!  The only virtual run I have done so far was a 5K sponsored by Rock City Runners to benefit the Little Falls Food Pantry (perhaps you read my blog post about it).  I am thinking a 15K will be at least proportionally more complicated, if not moreso (why is my Tablet underlining “moreso”?  That’s a word, isn’t it? ).

Be all that as it may, I have been running incrementally longer runs (or do I mean increasingly?  Am I being unnecessarily verbose?  Say it ain’t so!).  I thought it might be nice to make more Running Commentary Posts.  Unfortunately,  I make my best Running Commentaries soon after the run.  Yes, I ran this morning, but I just don’t remember all that much about it.

What does that say about me?  Nothing good, I suppose.  Then again, why should I go out of my way to say good things about me?  Readers will think I have a tremendous ego.  Yet again, I have long maintained that there are worse things than having an ego the size of Manhattan.

Well, that is enough of that circular argument.  But it gives me an idea:  I am going to call this a Monday Mental Meanderings, hit Publish, and drive on.  I hope I can go running again tomorrow.

 

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Remember my Bald?

Posted on June 15, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Does anybody remember when I was going to get my head shaved to raise funds for St. Baldrick’s Foundation?  Do you also remember that it was cancelled due to Covid?  Well, it was, back in March, and I did not worry too much about it till recently,  when hair establishments began re-opening.

I began feeling a little self-conscious about my increasingly unruly mop, especially when so many of my friends, family and co-workers had donated to a good cause, in addition to the entertainment of seeing me bald.  The money had gone to the cause all right, but there I was with my head of quarantine hair.

I was fortunate to get an appointment at my favorite establishments,  Hot Spot Salon and Spa in Herkimer, NY.  I took a Before picture, specifically for blogging purposes.

I am lousy at taking selfies.

One could argue that it is no sacrifice to get rid of such bad hair.  Additionally, with the hot summer weather coming, it will be a pleasure to be bald.  Well, never mind all that.  I said I was going to be bald, and I am a woman of my word.

Ta-dah!

I confess to a few moments of, “What was I thinking?”  But mostly I think it is funny.  And I do it to honor my beloved Aunt Carlyn, who lost her hair and her life to brain cancer.  St. Baldrick’s Foundation funds cancer research.  So I wear my pate proudly, and remind myself to use sunscreen on top now.

 

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I Should Have Made a Better Blog Post

Posted on June 7, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh dear, I am up to my old tricks again, falling asleep before I make my blog post then frantically typing at 5 a.m. to make up for it.  I had meant to make a Saturday Running Commentary Post. I even took a picture of my new running shoes for an illustration.

I had to lean over my fat belly to see them.

I was wearing my Boilermaker t-shirt,  which was given to me by a friend.  She had purchased it for herself, for inspiration.  Since said inspiration was not forthcoming, she passed it on to me.  It fits me, so my bloated belly showed.  I did not take a picture of that.

It was actually a pretty good run.  I ran for a long time and went up a couple of minor hills.  My new sneakers were an utter delight.  I purchased them on sale at Melfi’s Shoes in Ilion, NY.  I should probably write a whole blog post about that, in order to give a shout-out to a local business.  We all know Mohawk Valley Girl loves local!

So I guess this is my blog post about what I should have written my blog post about.  I’ll call that OK for 5:30 on a Sunday morning.  I’ll try for a better blog post later, but no promises on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

 

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A Blooming Saturday Post

Posted on May 31, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Before.

Today I was determined to put these flowers into pots for my container garden.  I had a small-ish bag of dirt, because they were out of the bags of one or two feet square feet of of dirt,  which I have purchased in previous years. Oh well, you snooze, you loose; I took what I could get and used it.

One angle of my deck.

After filling two urns, I was outof dirt and had to return to the store.  However, I found that with smaller bags, it was easier for me to pour the dirt from the bag into the pots.

The other angle.

You can see the lawn chairs in the background.  I put them out in the lawn to take advantage of the natural disinfection of sunlight.  These chairs have previously resided in my garage,  which smells just a slight bit of mildew.  One cannot always control the moisture in these situations.

I took another picture, of my feet and and what you could see of the deck beyond, but I cannot find it now.  That is how technologically inept I am.  However,  I feel I have done a good job on my deck.  Steven and I sat outside and enjoyed the view for a while.  No doubt we will do so again.

In the meantime,  here is one more picture of my backyard.

I’ll get another shot, when there are even more blooms.

Here is our rhododendron.  I thought it would be blooming soon. I do love a tree that blooms.  I must plant a few more.  No doubt I will make another blog post when I do.

 

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No Title on Throwback Thursday

Posted on May 29, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

How could one of these lovely ladies be a murderess?

I open this week’s Throwback Thursday Post with a photo of the cast of  Fabulous and Fatal, the murder mystery we presented last fall to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  Full disclosure:  I am having difficulty in making any post at all.  I wrote other stuff while on breaks at work, so that goes against my usual contention of “writing begets writing.”   I am alternately staring at the screen and typing things in which I immediately backspace out.

Never mind that, I tell myself.  Just type.  How hard could it be?  I’ll just look for more throwback photos.

Guess which one of us was nipping at the whiskey.

This is one of my favorite photos.  It is me and Jay Groah at the Ritz and Ragtime at Rutger Park fundraiser for the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica.  Jay Groah is a realtor and one of the main movers and shakers of the Landmarks Society.   He is also a very cool guy.

J’accuse!

Back to murder, I add a picture of a murder mystery we did last spring.  And I will be damned if I can think of the title!   How embarrassing!  I can’t even find a blog post about it, although clearly I wrote one, since this picture was in my Media Library.  Once again I say, what the hell, me?

Well, never mind that.  I am over 200 words, and that is plenty enough for a foolish post like this.  Some might say it is too much, but I feel that would be unkind, don’t you?

 

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There’s No Balcony Scene In Hamlet

Posted on May 27, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

What she said!

After sitting here with a blank mind for a while, I looked in my Media Library for some inspiration.  I found this chalk art on a walking path near my house.  I love sidewalk art.  I hope I get a chance to photograph more of it.

This isn’t chalk.

Here is a more permanent decoration on the walking path.  I find it a cheery addition to the area.

As you may have guessed, this is a Tired Tuesday Post. I was going to blame the heat, but I find I am often tired these days.  Perhaps I am ingesting insufficient vitamins or fiber or something.

Aaaaaand now I have the type it in, backspace it out disease.  Do suppose that should be capitalized (Type It In, Backspace It Out Disease) or hyphenated (type-it-in-backspace-it-out disease)?  Discuss amongst yourselves.

“Backspace me out, willya?”

I had a sudden urge to include a picture of Nosferatu.  He can always brighten up a dull post.  I am now veering into Non-Sequitur territory.  I feel that Non-Sequitur Thursday has a better ring than Non-Sequitur Tuesday,  but what are you going to do (as in “whatta  ya gonna do?”).   I have a completely unrelated headline I have been dying to use.  I guess Today is the day!

 

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I Don’t Whine, I Wine!

Posted on May 13, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Did I mention that I joined a wine group on Facebook?   I think I must have (regular readers will understand that I am too lazy to go back and check).  Well, one reason I was so tired yesterday was that I spent a great deal of time driving around looking for porches to leave wine in front of.  No, I do not have GPS nor yet  smart phone I can look directions up on.  I don’t even have a local street map, if such a thing is still available (note to self: look for a local street map).

It was fun putting these together.

I fixed up six packages.  I had purchased inexpensive wine from Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer and beer from Beer Belly Bob’s in Ilion.  I also utilized the dollar store.  I re-used tissue paper from my collection.  Waste not, want not, I always say.

My first stop!

My first two stops were at friends’ places I had been at before.  And yet I drove by Kim’s house twice before making it there.

I was concerned by the lack of a roof.

I drove away from this place and drove back to take the picture.  It had stopped raining when I left the stuff there, only to start up again later.  Next time, I will cover things in plastic or pick a sunny day for deliveries.

One of the prettier porches I saw.

The above was one of the easier ones to find.  I did not get pictures of the others.  At one, the door opened before I got there.  At another, I was parked in a no parking zone and wanted to hurry.  By the last, I was just done!

It was fun to drive around, except for when I got lost, something I have rather a talent for.  I was glad to spread some cheer.  I may do it again!

 

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Non-Movie Monstrous Monday

Posted on April 21, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am really happy that I got into the habit of making a Monstrous Monday Post,  because that is all that I am up to now.  It has not been a horrible day.  The truth of the matter is that I have very little to complain about. So I won’t.  At least right now (no promises for tomorrow).

Not a movie monster, but kind of scary.

This is the first monster to catch my eye in my Media Library.  It was a display at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer.  I have missed their weekly tastings!  However, in view of other current events, this is not something to complain about.  So I’m not.

He is more fun than scary.

Here is another non-movie monster: a skeleton on my front porch last Halloween.  That was a fun evening.  I hope we are back to interactive enjoyment by next Halloween!

Aren’t they cute?

To continue the theme of at-home monsters, here is the adorable skeleton my husband gave me last year.  He is sitting in a mug for Fabulous and Fatal, the murder mystery we put on for the Herkimer County Historic Society last fall.  They created the mug for WKTV’s Mug Club, and Steven got them to make another one just for me.

He looks a little confused.

Another of our domesticated monsters is this delightful mummy. I think this is appropriate for a post in this time of quarantine.  I do not have to leave my house to enjoy monsters!

I may enjoy some movie monsters later,  courtesy DVR or DVD.  I hope you are all having a marvelous Monday.

 

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Skeletons, Fashionable and Monstrous

Posted on April 14, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

This shall be a Monstrous Monday Post.  Should “post” be capitalized?  I think I have done it both ways.  Oh dear, I think it is becoming clear that this will be a very foolish post.  What else can one expect?  It is a very bad time for Mohawk Valley Adventures,  after all. But monster pictures, I can do. I hope.

“Oh woe! Oh anguish!”

Here is our skeleton,  Bonita, in a wrist to forehead pose.  That is pretty much how I am feeling these days, but there is no point in elaborating on the subject.

You didn’t think she had only one outfit, did you?

Here is Bonita in her current ensemble.  I am having trouble with the hat.  Bonita’s head is too small for most of my chapeaux.

However, this was meant to be a Monstrous Monday Post,  not a Skeleton Fashion Parade.  What else can I find in my Media Library?

“May I have this dance?”

Here is a monstrous skeleton from House on Haunted Hill, one of our favorite movies.

I must watch this one again.

I wanted to end on another monstrous skeleton,  and I am sure The Screaming Skull fits the bill.  I have it on DVD, in my collection of 50 Horror Classics, I believe.  It was also featured in an episode of Mystery Science Threatre 3000, one of our best beloved shows.

As I sign off, I am torn between Dateline on OWN, or a monster movie on DVD.  I feel sure either choice will be delightful.  Happy Monday, everyone!

 

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