Dressing Up My House for the Occasion

Yesterday I started a home improvement project I hope to add to in the coming days.  I saw on the news that some people were decorating their houses for the amusement of passersby.  This is especially helpful, the feeling is, as we are free to take solitary walks but must not actually visit our neighbors.  Full disclosure: my neighbors have almost never visited me, although they are certainly welcome to do so in better times.  That said, I know various pedestrians pass our humble abode, and I am happy to give them something extra to look at.

The view from across the street.

When Steven saw me coming down from the attic laden with various stuff, he said, “What are you doing?”  However, he approved of the project.  I put a Christmas ribbon and some tulips on Frankentree.

I think I need more stuff.

I put two scarecrows, a pumpkin, and a skull on the porch,.

I need to zoom in more.

 

And on the other side of the tree…

I hope to add to my porch in the coming days.  I think I have more stuff in my house, but I do not rule out a trip to the dollar store.  For one reason, I heard they have toilet paper.

Another thing is putting stuffed toys in your window, so neighborhood kids can go on safari.  I immediately put a tiger and lamb in one of my windows.  Alas, I could not get a good picture of them.

Too many reflections!

I also put a couple of teddy bears in an upstairs window.  Unfortunately it is raining so I cannot get any more pictures today.  However, it is a work in progress.  I will post more pictures as my decorations improve.  As always,  I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

Lame Pictures, Lame Post

This will not be a typical Lame Post Friday post.  For one reason, it is not a typical Friday,  a phenomenon being experienced by many of us.  In fact,  I daresay most of us, because even if you are at work, things are hardly typical.  But why am I telling us what we already know and are tired of thinking about?  My bad.  On with the post.

Can you see the buds?

When I took my walk to the post office, I brought my Tablet but did not think I would take any pictures.  After all, I can’t post about my walk every day, can I?  No, really, do you think I can?  Then I saw buds on some trees and tried to get a picture.  Perhaps I should have zoomed in.

Again, I should have zoomed in.

My own crocuses have not appeared, but I took a picture of somebody else’s.

Dammit, you can’t see the buds here either!

This is a magnolia tree which will look magnificent as the season progresses. I’ll make sure to take another picture then.  Next, I crossed the street to try to get a picture of some little white flowers.  I must learn the names of these things.

Oh dear, another one that looked better in real life.

I think I must up my picture-taking game.  On the other hand, I’m going to consider this OK for Lame Post Friday.  Yes, times are atypical, yet I will still take advantage of the calendar.  Happy Friday,  all.

 

Trying for a Smile on Throwback Thursdsy

How about a nice Throwback Thursday post?  I hope I do not use pictures I have used too recently, but they will be pictures I have used before.  And there is a good chance I will say the same things about them.  Maybe I can think of something new.  Let’s see.

One of the all time greatest casts I have worked with!

I went back to March 2017 and found this gem.  It is the cast of Leading Ladies, the play I directed for Ilion Little Theatre in the spring of 2016.  Perhaps you read a few of my blog posts about it.  I SO look forward to getting together with my theatre friends again!

There’s trouble at the speakeasy!

This picture was also in March 2017, and is also from a wonderful theatrical experience, Rubbed Out At Ruby’s, an interactive murder mystery I wrote.  We were scheduled to present it again in April as  fundraiser for RCIL, but, alas, it has been postponed.

At least he looks relaxed!

This was the first picture I noticed, of our much missed late pooch, Spunky.  I wasn’t going to use it, because I thought it would make me feel too sad.  Then thinking about theatre experiences past and not knowing when I will have more…

Come, come, this will never do.  I do not mean to make a blog post purely to moan and groan about how depressed I feel!  That won’t help anybody.  Let me see what is in March 2018.

Yikes!

Here’s some theatrics that may bring a smile!  We were making a DVD on the Right to Bare Arms, for the Herkimer County Historical Society to use at a Celebrity Roast for Marc Butler in 2015.  It was great fun.

That is what I strive to do: keep a smile on my face.  There really is a lot to smile about.  The other stuff I can’t really do much about.  At least I can keep making my daily post!

 

Wednesday Walk, With Trees

I took a longer walk yesterday, but I took a few pictures today.  I think I’ll try for a Wordless Wednesday post, although with me, I’m afraid there will always be words.  Yesterday when I walked, there was snow in the air and on the ground.  Today, Steven and I were vindicated for our decision not to shovel, because most of it was gone.  I reveled in the almost warm temperatures and looked for signs of spring to photo.

Look! It really is spring!

The first picture-worthy thing I encountered were some flowers sprouting up in front of St. Francis de Sales Church.  I love to see a little green in March!

And here is St. Fran the Man.

I backed up a little, to show where the sprouts were.  It was one of those days where I couldn’t properly see what I was aiming at with the Tablet.  I just clicked and hoped for the best. Would any of the pictures be usable?  The suspense added a little interest to my walk.

You see the best of dead and living this time of year.

Across the street from the church, I snapped a picture of a tree dried out from last summer.  Some of these dried plants are beautiful.  I must get a few for my own yard.

One of my favorite views.

As I walked, I continually admired the bare trees against the sky.  I’m afraid my Tablet does not capture the look, so you will have to take your own walk, if possible.

Just the possibility of a tree, so far.

On my way home from the post office, I noticed some recently planted trees on Bellinger Street.  I took pictures.  My hope is to take more as the year progresses so we can track their progress.

You can see buds on this one!

 

This one, not so much.

 

And here are several at once.

I am thinking I can continue to photograph these trees as the years go by, and we can all watch them grow.  How’s that for a bit of optimism,  thinking we’ll all be here for years and years so we can look at trees? What better reason to stick around?

 

Just Another Day of Quarantine

After logging onto WordPress at least three times, I found that no blog post was forthcoming.  I know, I know, blog posts don’t just happen; you have to WRITE them.  Well, here I am, early Wednesday morning, trying to do just that.

My sister Diane approved Monday Punday and further suggested Tuesday Cruise Day. I could take a walk, run or ride, and blog about that.  That would have the charm of rhyme over my usual features of Running Commentary and Pedestrian Post.  Accordingly,  I went for both a run and a walk.

My walk was to the post office, because I had written a few more post cards.  I took a long walk before arriving home.  I put my Tablet in a bag.  It was a lovely shoulder bag purchased at Paca Gardens in Little Falls, NY, just to throw in a plug for a local business. Alas, it was snowing and I got no pictures.

Returning home, I read a book, looked at Facebook, watched some movies.  I called Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant in Herkimer for dinner.  Yum!  Later I heard it was National Take-out Day.  We got delivery, so perhaps it did not count.  Perhaps we should do real take-out tonight, just to be sure.

I see I am over 200 words, so I guess I’ll call it a Tired Tuesday post and hit Publish.  We’ll see if I can do better than a Wuss-Out Wednesday post later today.

 

Monday Movies

How about Monday Movies instead of Monstrous Monday?  For one reason, we watched a couple of movies I think I have pictures of in my Media Library.  But can I find them?

And you thought you had some strange bedfellows!

Our first feature was Straitjacket,  a William Castle movie starring Joan Crawford.  Steven was feeling down, and I thought a sweet, uplifting story about ax murders would cheer him up.  Who doesn’t love a good ax murder?

Is all permissible for Science?

Our second feature was The Tingler, another William Castle, this one starring Vincent Price.   Who doesn’t love Vincent Price?

Another questionable act of Science.

And here is another scene from that movie.  After The Tingler we took a break from movies to fix and enjoy dinner.

Speaking of murder…

Monday, of course is Dateline Day, with multiple episodes airing on OWN.  I have in fact lost track of The Valentine’s Day Mystery while I wrote this.

I like cake, too.

Looping back to Straitjacket,  here is Joan Crawford again.  She sure takes the cake, doesn’t she?  Any way you slice it, she is sweet.  I ax you, is that a star or what?

Now all the pun hating readers are groaning while all my fellow punsters are coming up with further plays on words.  And that gives me an idea for another feature:  Monday Punday.  Sunday Punday could work to.  I hope you’ll all stay tuned.

 

Sorry, But I’m Not Apologizing

I guess we all knew this was going to be a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  I went running this morning yet did not feel a Running Commentary post welling up within me. Likewise, no amount of movie watching has made me inclined for a Sunday Cinema post.  These things happen, I suppose.

The fact is, I feel not the slightest obligation to apologize for a foolish post during this stressful time.  Clearly, to run around having Mohawk Valley adventures would be irresponsible.   I am more than willing to risk my own health.   Alas, as is so often the case,  it is not only about me.

So shall I spend the next week or two hiding behind the Corona Virus (or as I prefer to call it, Covid 19) and posting only the lamest material?  That could happen.  I maintain it is the right thing to do, because some people are entertained by my nonsense, and entertainment is a definite service in times of quarantine.

Of course I will attempt to publish the most amusing posts possible.  I fear not much is possible today,  hence my Wrist to Forehead status.  On the other hand,  I am having a fairly enjoyable Sunday.  One cannot have everything.  Even if I have a dreadful day, I will strive to have a better blog post tomorrow.

 

A Saturday at Home

I have allowed it to become rather late in the day to make my Saturday blog post.  I know, I should have made a Saturday Running Commentary post earlier.  Then I walked to the post office with my weekly post cards, making a Pedestrian Post completely eligible.  Later yet, my husband, Steven, and I watched a few movies.  Saturday Cinema is not usually a thing, but it could be.

What today really was was Day One of the Quackenbush Quarantine,  as Steven dubbed it on Facebook yesterday.  I know, almost everyone is under quarantine,  but how many of us can be alliterative about it?  Yet another blessing for me to count.

Really, as things go, I have very little to complain about (not that THAT ever stops me!).  I am grateful for all my blessings and concerned for those that lack same.  I ask myself, what can I do to help?  One thing I did was to write more than my usual number of post cards.  I figure as we’re all stuck inside, not visiting anybody or gathering at the usual places,  a little personal mail would be welcome.

Next I hope to use my at home time to get my house together and to do more writing.  I am thinking about a new novel to start, one I may actually finish.  Then maybe I can dig out and finish the plays I have almost completed.

Oh, such ambitious plans!  Who knows but what I will do is go on more runs and watch more movies?  At least I will write a blog post about whatever I do.  Happy Corona Saturday, everyone.

 

Porch Sitting Preview

The Mohawk Valley really warmed up today, with highs close to 70!  Steven and I actually sat on our front porch for a while.  I took a few pictures.

I LOVE grey skies!

We did not know how long we would be able to sit out, because ominous storm clouds were moving in.

These are even better!

As I moved off the porch to get this shot, I reassured a couple of kids playing soccer that I was photographing the sky, not them.  They were not too worried about it.  Then Steven said, “Take a picture of the soccer players!”  I asked them, and they said OK.

They had some pretty good moves, but I was unable to capture any.

We enjoyed sitting watching the clouds move in and the kids play soccer.

The porch roof kind of blocks this one.

 

The clouds moved in further…

 

And further!

Eventually it started raining.  We kept sitting on the porch, even when the rain blew in on us.  We did not get too wet. Then it stopped raining, and we felt vindicated.  When the wind started to feel a little chilly, we came back inside.

It was wonderful to sit on the porch in warm temperatures.  The weekend is supposed to be cold, but we know the overall trend will be warm.  Come on, spring!

 

 

Salvatore’s for Supper

Today Steven and I decided to help our local economy and one of our favorite restaurants by ordering in.  Eating a delicious dinner we did not have to fix was strictly by the wayside.

Steven called Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant in Herkimer and ordered lasagna, which is on special on Thursdays (I never like to call places on the telephone).  When Steven asked what they had for dessert that two could share, they suggested chocolate spoon cake or strawberry cheesecake.  I voted for spoon cake! Yum!

Delivery did not take long, and we were soon enjoying our food.  Alas, I did not take a picture.  That’s a habit I have never gotten into: taking a picture of my food before I eat it.  I know others do, because I see it when they share the pictures to Facebook.  I think it is supposed to be a good dieter’s thing to do, because it makes you more aware of what you eat.  So much for my weight loss goals!

It was a delicious supper.  I encourage everyone to support local eateries by ordering delivery or take out.  I’m going to make a list of local places for us.

Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant is located at 650 1/2 German St. In Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-866-2600.  You can check out their specials on Facebook.