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A couple of weeks ago I did a post where I took Tabby for a walk then watched a cheesy horror movie on TCM. When I saw The Blob was scheduled for Thursday, I planned to do the same thing. Steven and I love the 1958 version of The Blob with Steve McQueen.

First I made myself a little obnoxious to my co-workers by going around all day singing, “It leaps, and creeps, and glides and slides across the floor, right through the door and all around the wall, a splotch, a blotch, be careful of the Blob! (pop) Beware of the Blob!” I think they were amused, and nobody called the men in the white coats.

My brilliant plan suffered a setback when the walk with Tabby proved to be absolutely uneventful. Not even a neighbor on a porch to say hello to. Of course quiet walks are a good thing, and Tabby was happy to be walking with both her peeps. We enjoyed it, just nothing to blog home about.

For the other horror movie blog post, I sneaked in a little local color by drinking Gatorade out of my Boilermaker glass and tea with local honey from my Ilion Little Theatre mug. Thursday I was in the mood for a little white wine. After making a joke about the Boilermaker glass and not making it through the movie (it holds a good 16 ounces), I asked Steven to find me a local wine glass.

“How about Slocum Dixon?” he asked. Perfect! The glass was from “Crusaders Winemakers of the Mohawk Valley 2011,” of which Slocum Dixon was one of the sponsors. This is a fundraiser the Herkimer Crusaders host at Herkimer County Community College where local winemakers, mostly hobbyists, offer tastes. People attending the event vote for their favorite. The wines are also judged by professionals. Local restaurants offer good food, and it is altogether a fun time and a great fundraiser. That will definitely make a blog post when it happens again, if I can possibly make it there.

So wine in hand, husband and dog nearby, I watched the movie. I must say the largest suspension of disbelief was Steve McQueen as a teenager, but such is often the case (remember the Sweathogs? ). Still, a fun movie. Good effects: the blob itself is definitely more believable than some of the superimposed monsters and giant apes in other movies of that era. The plot is suspenseful if a little cliche: the kids know something is wrong while the grown ups tell them to shut up and behave. A little difference this time, though, as one cop and Steve McQueen’s father are inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.

I won’t give away the ending, in case you haven’t seen the movie. And now I’m off, to look for some truly local things for my next blog post. Stay tuned!

That headline looks a little like this is going to be about horror movies. Read it out loud. Get it?

Sometimes in the afternoon, if we’re out and about and have a little extra time before we’re supposed to be somewhere and don’t want to stop at home and get our dog all excited, Steven and I like to go to the Knight Spot in Frankfort for ice cream. Last Wednesday, waiting for Mohawk Farmer’s Market to open, we did just that.

The Knight Spot is an informal, neighborhood-y place to eat. The service is friendly and the food is good. In addition to soft serve ice cream, which I almost never want, the Knight Spot offers Gifford’s Ice Cream. Flavors include Chocolate Rain Forest Crunch, Moose Tracks, Cake Batter, and Wicked Good Chocolate. We stood at the freezer to make our selections, then sat at a booth under a plaque that read “Coffee and Friends Are the Best Blend.” I couldn’t agree more. Coffee and ice cream go good together too, and we ordered coffee as well.

Steven had a brownie sundae with Moose Tracks while I more conservatively ordered a small dish of raspberry sherbet. I’m not always so well behaved. The brownie sundae includes a warmed brownie, hot fudge, whipped cream, nuts and a cherry. I have been known to indulge, and I briefly regretted my virtue when the waitress brought our dishes of differing sizes. I was happy again after the first bite, though, a burst of raspberry flavor. I usually go for the chocolate ice cream, so this was different and yummy.

The Knight Spot is also a good place to go for breakfast (love the breakfast sandwich), lunch or dinner (love the patty melt). They are located at 265 E. Main St., Frankfort, NY, which is the corner of Main and Palmer Streets. You can find them on Facebook, or call 315-894-4054.

A delightful local resource wherever you happen to live is always the public library. I made a trip to Frank J. Basloe Library just the other day.

Basloe is located at 245 N. Main St., Herkimer, NY, with a public parking lot on Prospect Street, the next street over, parallel. A nice little park leads along the side of the building to the library entrance. There are often people sitting on the park benches enjoying the setting, or waiting for the library to open at 10 am. Sometimes a hot dog vendor parks on Main Street, so you can feed your hunger as well as your thirst for knowledge.

I had been online earlier that day trying to reserve Devil in a Blue Dress, by Walter Mosley. We had just watched the movie for the umpteenth time (great soundtrack). I have never read the book, although I read another one about the main character, Easy Rawlins, later in the series. I was unable to complete my reservation, though, because the computer told me my card needed renewing.

I prefer going to the library anyways. I’m not so adept at these online things. It works for me if I know what I want or at least have an author in mind. I like to wander through the actual books, where I usually find something I didn’t know I wanted. This time I found Roads to Saratoga by Gil Herkimer, the continuing saga about the settlement and defense of New York’s Mohawk Valley during the 1700s. Right up my alley! It is actually the second book in an historical trilogy, but I sometimes do things out of order.

While I wandered through biography and history, Steven wandered through the DVDs but did not find anything to tempt him. When Steven used to work in Massena, NY, he would walk to the library on his lunch and read newspapers. We also used Basloe for its computers before we had our own.

Basloe is open Mon.-Tues.-Wed. 10 am to 7 pm, Thurs.-Fri. 10 am to 5 pm, Sat. 10 am to 2 pm, closed Saturdays during July and August. You can call them at 315-866-1733 or log onto http://www.midyork.org/Herkimer.

I must add a note regarding a blog post earlier this week. I mentioned a drainage ditch in Herkimer that was transformed into a pleasant path. I read in the Telegram not two days later: it was not a drainage ditch, it was a hydraulic canal. That’s what I get for just running and writing and not doing any research. I’ll have to look up more about the hydraulic canal and get back to you.

One of my favorite things about this blog is the unassailable excuse to go out to dinner. Monday night Steven and I checked out Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant at 650 1/2 West German St. (corner of German Street and Lou Ambers Drive), Herkimer.

Salvatore’s was previously located on Main Street, but the new location boasts a larger dining room and a porch with outside seating. I thought the sun was too bright and hot to sit outdoors last night (we had an early dinner), so we sat inside. The waitress was very nice and offered to bring us ice water with our coffee,which we always want but often forget to ask for. And yes, we have coffee before and with as well as after dinner. We like coffee.

The menu offered many tempting choices. I noted calimari and garlic knots in the appetizers — two of my favorites. I considered an Antipasto Salad or Eggplant Rollentini, but Steven found wrap sandwiches on the back page and that sounded even better. He got the Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap with regular fries. I ordered the Chicken Greek Wrap and asked what Fortunato Chips are. Deep fried pepperoni, the waitress told me. Of course I had to try them.

The food was very good, and the waitress kept our coffee filled. As I said, we were there early, but business was picking up as we sat there. They seemed to do a lot of take out. I noted that Salvatore’s is right on my way home, so I made sure to pick up a take out menu for future reference.

“Better take two,” a guy behind the counter suggested. “One for the car, one for home.”

I told the people working there that I intended to write a blog post about the restaurant. They hoped I would give them a good review, and I said I certainly would. The guy that offered the advice about the menus also suggested a couple of places in Utica that might make worthy blog posts. I don’t think I’ve blogged about anything in Utica yet, but I’ll get there. And I’m sure it will be before I run the Boilermaker in 2012.

Salvatore’s is open Monday through Thursday 11 am to 10 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am to 11 pm, closed Sunday. They deliver to Herkimer and Mohawk. Call 315-866-2600.

As I run I always look for distinctive features or entertaining happenings to share with my readers, and the other day I came up with one.

There used to be a rather unsavory drainage ditch that crossed German Street. Trees and bushes were growing in it, people had thrown in garbage, and it was a breeding ground for a number of unpleasant insects. The village cleaned it out, filled it in and now there remains a black top path surrounded by grass, flowers and young trees. A pleasant addition to a run or walk.

Yesterday I ran down as much of the path as I encountered. This morning I ran in the opposite direction. Halfway through my run I realized I was quite thirsty so directed my steps toward the spring. Ah, bliss! We are so blessed to live in a village with a handily located spring.

As I ran on I saw the hills that comprise both the front and back way to Herkimer County Community College, but I cravenly avoided them. (I may not be much of a runner, but at least I can rock the adverbs. When was the last time you heard somebody use “cravenly” in a sentence?) Both days I ran I noticed houses with a Boilermaker banner hanging out front. Ah, I feel bad to miss it this year. 2012, Utica! I’ll be there!

Of course I always look at other people’s flowers for ideas for my own yard. Today I particularly noticed day lilies. We have some day lilies that were here when we bought the house, and I’ve always thought they look blowsy. I keep seeing ones where whole plant is fuller, the stem with the bloom has nice spiky leaves all the way up and they are only knee high. Not like the ones in my yard, where a tall, bare stalk holds the bloom. As I ran I also saw some tall ones like mine, but they were in a larger area. There, they didn’t look so bad. It’s all about setting.

I also saw people on their front porches enjoying a cup of coffee. That motivated me to keep running, because I promised myself the same treat after my shower. A very effective bribe. Perhaps one day I’ll invest in a lap top, so I can blog from the deck. After all, my blog is all about enjoying what can be found in our own backyard.

Many of the liquor stores in the area offer free wine tastings. It is a great way to discover new wines, increase your knowledge of wines and sometimes be sociable. Friday I went to Vintage Spirits in Herkimer to enjoy one.

Vintage Spirits usually holds a tasting once a month. I’m on the e-mail list, so I had notification. Before I had a computer Bronson Hager would nicely call and let me know when one was coming up. This is how local businesses treat you right.

Bronson started me out with El Coto Rosado (Rose) Rioja 2010. Bronson is great at these wine tastings, because he can suggest the best tasting order, and he knows a lot about the grapes and the wine making process. I learned a lot of what little I know about wine making at Vintage Spirits tastings. The Rosado was the most delicate wine of the afternoon. It was very light, not too sweet, an excellent summer wine. I could picture myself sipping it as I sat on my deck some afternoon or evening.

Next I tried the William Fevre Chablis Champs Royaux 2009. It was barrel aged, Bronson told me, but not heavily oaked like some Chardonnays. I’ve found I don’t care for the heavily oaked Chardonnays (doesn’t that make me sound like a real oenophile to say that?). I liked that one a lot. I put a star by it, because the price tag was $19.99, so I didn’t intend to buy it right away. I confess I tend to buy the $7.99 Nathanson’s Creek or Avia (that probably wrecks my oenophile cred, doesn’t it?).

At this point, a few more people were there tasting, so we were all comparing notes about what we liked and when we drank it. I’m not one for food and wine pairings, since I often sip a glass before or after dinner, but one gentleman talked about what the various wines would go with. I recommended to latecomers the wines I had tasted and liked. I like to be sociable at every opportunity.

My other favorite of the day was the Tradition Merlot from Milbrandt Vineyards. I learned they are allowed to call it Merlot if there is a large enough percentage of Merlot grapes in it. This one had 78% Merlot, 16% Caberet Sauvignon (one of my favorites because it’s fun to say and fun to drink), 5% Malbec and 1% Barbera. I wrote “Yummy!” in the little book I bring to tastings. Then I added “very smooth, interesting finish” to be more oenophile-ish.

I tried a few more things, including an Arbor Mist Pinot Noir Pomegranate and a Heron Hill Vineyards Late Harvest Vidal Blanc, which I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be nuts about because I don’t care for sweet wines. But I have two sisters and a mother who do like sweet wines, and I may purchase one of these bottles the next time they are coming to my house.

When I was first deciding to start a blog, I considered doing a wine blog. I think there is room in the blogosphere for a wine blog that describes wines as “yummy.” Of course I would have to say more that “yummy,” and I think in this blog post I managed it. But I don’t think I could go wine tasting every day and keep my day job, so I will stick to the occasional wine post when it relates to the Mohawk Valley,

Vintage Spirits is located at 246 Mohawk St., Herkimer, 315-866-6800.

Friday we went to one of my favorite Mohawk Valley things, the Ilion Farmers’ Market at Clapsaddle Farm on Otsego Street, Ilion. The market runs Fridays from noon to six and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The market used to run during the summer only in the field, but it last winter it went to year round in the barn. You have to be a little careful walking, because the floor is not the smoothest, but it’s worth it. It is a fun, historic setting. I overheard Jim Parker tell somebody how old the barn is, but I stupidly did not write the year down. I think somewhere in the late 1800s.

Jim Parker, of course, is the local artist who paints historical scenes of the area and who owns Clapsaddle Farm. I have a t-shirt of one of his prints of Ilion, which I purchased at a craft fair a couple of years ago, but it was dirty so I couldn’t wear it yesterday. We also have on our wall a print of a winter scene we bought a few months ago, the first time we checked out the farmers’ market in the barn.

Friday we arrived early. They were still waiting on some baked goods, which they encouraged us to stick around for but which I knew I must resist. I scanned the shelf of jars looking for some hot garlic pickles I had previously purchased but had consumed the last of. Alas, they were not available, and I could not quite make up my mind between sweet bread and butter chips and sour dill.

We recognized one of the vendors from the Mohawk Farmer’s Market, Rosemary Fohs of Pillow Creations Plus.

“I think I bought an apron from you,” I said. She remembered me, and showed me some of her other wares. I especially admired some canvas totes. I think they would make great gifts, ideally suited for Steven’s notion of “put a present in a present.”

Rosemary also told us she intended to participate in the Ilion Village Wide Garage Sales July 16. She and her husband will be switching off between the farmers’ market and their house. Having missed the village wide sales in both Herkimer and Mohawk, I have some hopes of finagling my schedule to make Ilion’s.

We also looked at some lovely wooden furniture, and browsed through some Jim Parker prints. He has some on note cards and coffee mugs. I definitely will buy a Jim Parker coffee mug as soon as I make up my mind which one I want.

I conclude by saying the Ilion Farmers’ Market is well worth a stop, for the setting, for the goods, and for the fun people you’ll meet.

The headline is a quote from the commercial. You have to hear it in a heavy Arnold Schwarznegger-like accent.

I’ll preface this by saying I love bread. Bread has gotten a bad reputation these days, I think largely due to the Atkins Diet, which I will not go within 10 feet of (South Beach for me!). And a lot of bread is just boring, fairly tasteless, not very nutritious calories. But good bread is yummy and good for you. Sourdough and whole grain bread is specifically good for dieters. Other breads, eaten in moderation, taste good and will enhance your quality of life. Remember, we all have to eat, we may as well enjoy it.

Therefore it was with joy and pride that Steven and I drove out Rt. 28 in Herkimer to the Heidelberg Bakery to treat ourselves to some of the best bread you can buy. You can purchase Heidelberg Bread in the super market, but I think it’s fun to drive to the source every once in a while. For one thing, they also have yummy baked goods so you can treat yourself to a cookie or turnover for the ride home.

We were delighted to note that the Cafe is open again, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Too bad we had just eaten breakfast or we would have grabbed a seat and had a feast. But that’s material for a future blog post. Yesterday we got a loaf of Sourdough, one of Multigrain, and two chocolate chip truffle cookies. The cookies didn’t look like such a much, with little bitty chocolate chips, but they were filled with truffle. A great treat for a Thursday morning.

You can like Heidelberg Bakery on facebook, or you can visit their website http://www.heidelbergbakingco.com. Or take a drive out Rt 28 in Herkimer and enjoy!

Since I plugged the newspaper yesterday, I thought today I’d give a shout out to NewsChannel 2, WKTV Utica. My problem is, I like to actually go to the place or do the thing I blog about right before I blog about it, and I’ve been either at work or asleep for most of the news broadcasts in the last 24 hours. I did catch the last 15 minutes of News at Sunrise, but that was with my first cup of coffee. Not my best time.

But I do love local news, and I enjoy WKTV whenever I catch it. I was upset recently when WKTV had a dispute with Time Warner Cable, and we were threatened with losing it. Turned out Herkimer County was not part of the dispute, and they resolved it anyways, so phew (wiping imaginary sweat off forehead). I’ve mentioned that I know Dave Dellacese from Ilion Little Theatre. I’ve also met Bill Worden and his wife. They are quite charming. Ask them about meeting over a piece of pie and cup of coffee at the Woolworth lunch counter.

Thanks to the internet I do not have to totally miss my WKTV fix due to scheduling conflicts. I can go to http://www.wktv.com, which is what I did this morning before writing this post. I could review all the stories, get weather, community events and more. I had to click on a headline about a drunken teen going to the police station to complain about a parking ticket. You can’t make this stuff up. They have some useful ads too. Did you know Dave Koz (one of our favorite jazz artists) is coming to Turning Stone? I was especially pleased to see the community events. I can use that to plan ahead. Maybe I can have fewer lame blog posts like this one.

You can also friend WKTV on Facebook. Steven has been their friend for a while and gets breaking news before I do. I finally friended them too so I won’t miss out.

I think WKTV is a definite asset to the Mohawk Valley. If you haven’t already, check them out on the television or the internet.

As I picked up the paper today, I thought, “What shall I blog about? Oh dear, what shall I blog about?” Then I looked at the paper and realized it is the first day of the new format for the Utica Observer Dispatch and the Herkimer Telegram. Doesn’t that work out well?

Let me preface this by saying that I love newspapers. I know we can get our news from the television and the internet, but I like picking up the paper, spreading it open and perusing it. The television gives you everything in their time, and scrolling down the computer screen just doesn’t have the same pleasure for me. Also my eyes like the printed page better. Could it be the presbyopia? Or am I just old and set in my ways? Let’s not go there. Just suffice it to say, I get two newspapers a day and I like it.

For weeks now the O-D has been printing an article answering questions about the new format: Will we have the same amount of news? Why the switch? Why are you getting rid of Dilbert and Doonesbury? The last question was of some importance to me as Dilbert and Doonesbury are two of my favorite strips. Of course, I knew why they are getting rid of them: they took a reader poll and I predicted the two most intelligent but controversial strips would go. That is, the two strips that sometimes some people don’t “get.” OK, sometimes I don’t get them either, or think they’re very funny. But I usually like them, and in Doonesbury I am very absorbed in the stories of some of the characters. Like Toggle, the veteran who suffered a traumatic head injury and is now attending college and working as a sound engineer. He is dating Alex, Michael Doonesbury’s too-smart-for-her-own-good daughter. Imagine my delight when I saw the O-D had wisely moved Doonesbury to the Opinion page. I know the Rome Sentinel has always done that, and I kept saying to my husband that the O-D should follow suit. So a big woo-hoo for keeping Doonesbury.

As for the rest of the paper, I like the new format. It is a little smaller and so less awkward. The printing is of higher quality. There were no pages with black blobs or smears; all was easy to read. The format is a little different, too. The sections today were News, Community, Sports and Living. They still highlight local attractions and businesses, good for planning future blog posts. Today’s Living section highlighted farmer’s markets, one of my favorite things. They had a big article with tips for getting the most out of the markets and a personalized account by Cassaundra Baber about her experience at one. I was disappointed that they did not include a list of local farmer’s markets. They had a web site you could go to, but I would have liked to see a side bar I could cut out for future reference. Did I mention I’m a little old fashioned? Did I have to mention it?

Well, I think this has been my longest blog yet. I’ll conclude with a recommendation to read the O-D and/or the Telegram. Excellent publications in and about the Mohawk Valley.