My Husband, Mr. Christmas

I spent some time today staring at a blank sheet of paper.  “Just write something,” I told myself.  I did not.  However, rather than continuing with a whiny post, writing about not writing (the irony is not lost on me), I thought I would share a couple more pictures of the delightful Christmas decorations my wonderful husband Steven put up.

Full disclosure: none of these has ever actually cracked a nut.

Steven has a lovely collection of nutcrackers.  It’s always fun when I can find a different one for him.

A few more cuties.

This is our dining room table.  Luckily we do not plan on eating there any time soon.

A little busy, but fun.

The three wooden boxes and a lot of the other stuff is up all year, but Steven added some Christmas touches.

As I sit here typing, Steven is working on our Christmas cards.  What a guy!  He is certainly Mr. Christmas this year!  I wonder if I can find a nice picture of him in my Media Library, so he can sort of take a bow.

Steven doing some Christmas shopping.

Here is a recent picture of Steven at New 2 You Consignment Store in Ilion, along with the proprietresses and their cute dog.  That reminds me, we have a lot more Christmas shopping to do.  Perhaps I had better make a list.  In the meantime,  Happy Monday, everyone.

 

Cheered Up By Christmas Decorations

It is late in the day on Sunday.  Will I make a blog post or be a failure for the day?  I vote blog post!  With that end in mind, I took a few pictures of the Christmas decorations in our house.  Full disclosure:  my husband Steven is responsible for most of them.  But why worry about such details?  I’m sure my readers would like to see what we have.

A little busy, but I think it is fun.

Here is our mantle.  Some of the decorations are up year round, but I feel the whole is Christmas-y.  I just now realized I should have gotten a close-up of the delightful gnome we recently acquired from Kayla Marie Creations in Mohawk, NY.

Isn’t he cool?

I also wanted to include an update of our skeleton Bonita.  We dressed her for the season.

Why wouldn’t a skeleton celebrate Christmas?

I guess it’s a little blurry, but it will have to do.  I put the garland and fan on her, and Steven gave her the lovely headdress.  He got it off a prize he won yesterday at a basket raffle at Trinity Lutheran Church in Herkimer.

Another Steve creation.

This is our kitchen window.  You can see the reflection of our Halloweddingannivesaweenarary banner.  I tried to turn around and get a shot of that, but the light was against me.

I particularly like the pine cones.

This is our stove.  The pilsners with stones, marbles and pine cone were Steven’s own inspiration.

I do love Christmas decorations.  It makes me feel a little better on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

 

Time for Scattered Saturday

It is time for a Scattered Saturday post.  I feel it is better than waiting till tomorrow and hoping to make two posts (never a sure thing, however early I make the first post).

I ran this morning, making a long enough run to keep myself confident for the Reindeer Run 5K, a mere week away (yikes!). I even had some good in-head narration for a Running Commentary blog post.  However, that was not to be.  I shall instead try for a Scattered Saturday.

Our friend Kim picked up me and my husband Steven shortly after noon.  We went to Herkimer Original Cheese, where we sampled and purchased some yummy stuff.  We went to the Mohawk Reformed Church, where we bought some used books and jewelry.  We stopped at Side Streets for a drink.  We went to the Lutheran Church on Henry Street in Herkimer for a vendor fair, bake sale and basket raffle (Steven won something!).

Our last stop was at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, where we sampled some wine and also purchased some.  We adjourned to our house for a libation and to make plans for further Mohawk Valley Adventures next week.

I realize I can make better blog posts about these stops.  Perhaps I will at some later date.  For now, I shall return to enjoying my Saturday. Happy Weekend, all.

 

Some Semblance of Christmas Decorations

Earlier I had great ambitions of doing a real post, taking pictures of the Christmas decorations my husband Steven has put up. Later on I had thoughts of completely wimping out and trying to do two posts tomorrow instead.  Now I am tapping one letter at a time into my Tablet with the stylus, hoping to come up with some semblance of a Lame Post Friday post.

I just don’t imagine he could actually crack a nut.

I thought I would pep the post up with a picture I took last night at Jamo’s, where Steven and I had supper last night.  Steven threatened to try to sneak this guy out under his coat, but he was only joking. He does have a nice collection of nutcrackers, but none of this size.

I hoped the lights outside would not be too obtrusive.

Here is another shot of Jamo’s. I do love Christmas decorations.

I took another picture of Jamo’s decorations, but it turned out blurry.  I guess some people have blurry vision later on a Friday evening, but that is no reason to add to anybody’s lack of focus.

I have a few tentative plans for Mohawk Valley Adventures on Saturday.  I hope to write some good blog posts about them.  In the meantime,  Happy Friday, everyone!

 

 

All Dressed Up for Non-Sequitur Thursday

Oh, the days when I have Mohawk Valley Adventures and then feel too tired to write about them!  It is for just such an emergency that Non-Sequitur Thursday was invented (by me).

I got home from work, showered (I have the sort of job you shower after, I mention for the sake of those who did not know or had forgotten), and put on a cute outfit (although I daresay I flatter myself).  Steven and I had planned on shopping and dining.

We went to Rose Quartz Stand.  I had a gift certificate I had won at a Herkimer County Historical Society fundraiser.  We took a long time walking around and deciding.  I will probably return for even more Christmas shopping (and a little shopping for me).  After making our purchases, we walked down the sidewalk to Jamo’s for dinner.  Yum!

Now we are home relaxing.  I hope to write more about both our stops later.  In the meantime,  here is a brief shout-out to two Herkimer businesses.

The Rose Quartz Stand is located at 105 Mohawk St., Herkimer NY, phone number 315-868-5199.  They are open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday,  11 a.m. to 5 p.m, Saturday, closed Sunday and Friday.

Jamo’s Restaurant and Bar is located at 123 Mohawk St., phone number 315-866-1746.  They are open 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday,  11 a.m. to 9 p.m, Saturday and Sunday.

 

Great Run on a Gloomy Day

Here is the Running Commentary post I should have made yesterday!   I knew I had to run; I had not run for two days, and the Reindeer Run 5K is a week and a half away.  Additionally, I LIKE to run!  And I like best to run when I am in good shape to do so.  That means running on a regular basis even when I do not feel particularly inclined to do so.

As I left work, however, I did feel inclined to run.  For one reason, it was a grey, gloomy day, whereas yesterday had been bright and sunny.  I love a grey gloomy day.  Steven says I am part Addams (Morticia, not Ansel, of course).  It was not overly cold, either.  The roads and sidewalks were just as much of a mess, but one must deal with these things.

I wore my road-guard vest (that’s a reflective vest, for you civilians), because I knew I would be running in the road where the sidewalks were not plowed, blown or shoveled.  I made sure I was on the left side, facing traffic.  I like to give myself every advantage.  As I started, I remembered the good thing about running on snowy roads and sidewalks:  it takes more effort.  That mean it burns more calories!  Of course I mostly run for entertainment and general health reasons, but a little help towards my weight-loss goals is always welcome.

The run was great.  I was able to spend most of my time on the sidewalk, but I kept mostly to the lesser traveled streets just in case.  I had told myself that 20 minutes would be an acceptable run, then caught a second wind and decided to go for 25.  Then I got confused and ended up running for 26 minutes.

Hmm… this is not the most entertaining blog post I could have written. On the other hand, it isn’t overly long.  I think I’ll chalk it up to Wuss-out Wednesday and drive on.  I hope you are all have a swell mid week!

 

It’s Not a Crime to Wine Instead of Whine

I did not go running today, so anybody can feel free to judge me, if they are so inclined.  I don’t know if I can manage much more than a Tired Tuesday post.  But maybe I could share a few photos of a previous Mohawk Valley Adventure I did not write about.

I stupidly cannot remember her name!

We often go to wine tastings at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer,  as I believe I have mentioned.  We took a number of pictures at a recent tasting of 19 Crimes wine, one of my all time favorites (what a surprise).  Above is the lovely lady who poured.

Kim, me and Steve, looking criminal.

They had a few props for even more photo opportunities.

And one with more criminal expressions.

19 Crimes wines have a different crime printed on each cork.  Naturally I am trying to collect all nineteen.  Full disclosure: I don’t have any idea how close I am.

An employee of the store also got in on the fun.

We had a fun time tasting the wine and taking pictures. And now I have managed to make a post NOT whining about how I can’t make a decent post today.

Valley Wine and Liquor is located at 326 S. Caroline St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-867-5800. They are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday,  12 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

 

Welcome, December!

The view from the deck.

I think I mentioned yesterday that winter has arrived in the Mohawk Valley (too lazy to look at yesterday’s post and remind myself; what do you want from me on a Monday?).  We woke up to a winter wonderland this morning.  Mostly I wondered why I was out shoveling my driveway at 5 a.m. instead of hiring some guy with a snowplow attachment or owning a snowblower.  Full disclosure: we have my father’s old snowblower, but we have never been able to get it started.

I don’t mind the shoveling so much, really.  Most of the time it is a mere matter of pushing fluffy stuff around.  This morning things were a little heavier, especially where the street plow had filled us in. Steven helped then spent a great deal more time shoveling while I was at work.

Further disclosure: after I went to bed early, as I like to do on a Sunday, I heard a neighbor snowblowing.  I wondered if I shouldn’t get up and take a layer off my own driveway.  Of course I was too comfortable.  This morning I questioned my choice, but obviously it was to late.  What do I always say about not indulging in regrets?  I kept shoveling.

When I got home after work, I grabbed my Tablet to get a few pictures of the snow, to dress up my blog post.  First I took the above shot.  Then I wanted to get one of the remains of the Brown-Eyed Susans.  I love the look of dried plants against the snow.  Unfortunately  I was not able to zoom in (I am SO unhandy at these things!).

I couldn’t make myself walk into the snow for a close-up.

I like to have three pictures and at last decided on one of Frankentree.

He’s all decorated for Christmas!

By this time it was snowing on my Tablet.  I know it is not good to get devices wet, so I retreated back to the house.  So, three pictures,  over 300 words.  I call that an OK post for a Monday.  Tune in tomorrow, to see if I manage to go running in the snow.  After all, it won’t be that long till this blog goes All Reindeer Run All The Time.

 

Has Wrist to Forehead Sunday Become a Cliche?

A winter storm, or at least winter weather started hitting the Mohawk Valley this morning.  I went running well before the precipitation, although it was frightfully cold.  It turns out I don’t mind running in cold weather. If I had gotten on here earlier and made a Sunday Running Commentary post,  I would be all set right now.  Oh well, that ship sailed, as they say (I have many times observed that one can often get away with using a cliche, if one adds “as they say” or “the proverbial”).

Where was I?  Ah yes, indulging in cliche and trying to make a blog post. I think we can legitimately call this a Wrist to Forehead Sunday. I am feeling a bit swoony on the sofa and I don’t care who knows it.

Clearly this is not me, but I know just how she feels.

I really am sorry to be making yet another post about not being able to make a decent blog post.  I’m afraid it has become the rule rather than the  exception.  On the other hand, I am making my Sunday post on Sunday. That has to count for something, doesn’t it?

Oh dear, is “has to count for something” another cliche?  I would hang my head in shame, but I am pretty sure that IS a cliche.  I bet it is also a cliche to promise to try to do better tomorrow.  How embarrassing!  I’ll have to sprinkle “the proverbial” over this post out of a salt shaker!

But Happy Sunday, everyone.

 

Late on Friday, Ambitious for Saturday

So Thursday I managed a foolish post while tired, but I could not accomplish such a feat on Friday.  I know I proclaimed Wednesday Lame Post Friday,  but I think I will have to dub it Wuss-out Wednesday and have another Lame Post Friday today.  Uh, yesterday.

Today, in fact, is Shop Small Saturday,  a holiday tailor made for Mohawk Valley Girl!  I have actually been saying lately, ” EVERY Saturday is Shop Small Saturday for me!  I hardly ever shop big!”  That said, I plan to make a few local stops today, perhaps even venturing out of Herkimer into Frankfort, Ilion, Mohawk, and Little Falls.  Hmm. That may entail quite a number of stops. We’ll see.

However, there are other things I need to accomplish. I must get some writing done other than a late, lame blog post. It would be a good idea to run. And there is always my house that needs a lot of cleaning…

I think more coffee is first on the agenda.  We’ll make this post a little shorter than my usual, and I’ll try to make up for it later.