Wrist to Zamboni?

Posted on December 23, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh, thank heaven for Wrist to Forehead Sunday. Yes, I’ve been spending all day NOT doing my blog post. I’ve thought about it at odd times (cue jokes about me being odd at all times), but with no real idea of what I should write about. I did a few things on Saturday, but can I make the effort to write about them today? Um, no.

In my defense, it’s almost Christmas. I’ve been baking cookies, making treats and wrapping presents. And I took my dog for a lovely walk. I felt a little guilty about that. It was a beautiful warm, gloomy day such as I enjoy, and other parts of the state are suffering ice storms and power outages. Then again, it’ll happen to us sooner or later.

I’ve been on the go since six this morning. Did you know that other people had the bright idea to shop at that hour? They weren’t so bad, but did you know that large stores clean the floor with a zamboni kind of a thing at that hour? I felt a little ill used: in a store of that size, one would have thought I would once in a while go down the aisle the zamboni is NOT in. Not so much.

But it’s all good. I have one more day of work, then vacation. I have a lot of my wrapping and treat-making done. I have a few good things to write about, once I surgically remove my wrist from my forehead. As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

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A Stroll But Not a Shop

Posted on December 22, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

I think Saturday Pedestrian Post is going to be a thing, till the return of Saturday Running Commentary, of which I do not despair.

It is raining in the Mohawk Valley today (Saturday, as I said). My schnoodle, Tabby, does not like to walk in the rain. She will go a few feet, then stop and give me a look that says, “What are we doing out here?” She won’t even go into the backyard to do her business till she’s desperate. She will stand on the porch and look out at the wet landscape speculatively.

When it looked as if the rain had stopped for the moment, so we gave it a try. Of course it had started again by the time I had found a proper jacket (damn weather that changes every five minutes), got Tabby’s harness on and made sure I had poop bags. However, Tabby seemed to want to go, so we started out.

It was not raining very hard. We headed down Bellinger Street towards Church. I had an idea to walk to Main Street, so see if anything was going on with Herkimer Now’s Shopper’s Stroll. This was to be a Christmas event featuring specials at participating businesses, strolling carolers, horse and buggy rides, a live nativity and more. I figured a cute little dog with wet paws would not be welcome in a business, but I figured we could see some sights.

Tabby wanted to go a different way, but I convinced her and we made it to Main Street. The live nativity was to be later (preview of coming attractions), so things were quiet at Herkimer Reformed Church. It started to rain a little harder as we started down Main, but I didn’t get the Look from Tabby, so I hoped for the best.

There was the horse and buggy! Two beautiful Clydesdales pulled the covered wagon, first at a walk then at a trot. Tabby seemed very interested. Perhaps she wanted to make friends with the horses. Or she thought all the people getting a ride would probably like to pet her.

The rain tapered off but did not stop. We crossed the street to the old Glory Days, where some people were putting up murals. I had read about these in the paper. They were painted by local high school and elementary students. They are beautiful and certainly improve the appearance of that sad building. I complimented the people putting them up, and thanked them for doing it.

I would have liked to stop in a Weisser’s Jewelers. Steven got me a lovely ring there for an anniversary. I wonder if I could find a nice ring there for him. However, I kept my wet-pawed doggy out of there and kept walking. Likewise we stayed out of Mary Anne Mothers Designs. We greeted Santa Claus in front of Brian’s Roast Beef Deli. Some people were taking pictures with him.

We did not walk by all the businesses that participated, and I apologize for not giving a shout-out to everyone. However, if any of my lovely readers would like to know more about the Herkimer Shopper’s Stroll or about Herkimer Now, you can visit their website at www.herkimernow.com. You can also Like Herkimer Now on Facebook.

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Friday Night Lame

Posted on December 21, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I have NOT written my blog post yet at 6:16 on this Lame Post Friday evening.

6:16 by the clock on my stove. I am perched on a stool, watching sausage, pepper and onion cook in a cast iron frying pan. I dare not leave the room. I must be here to stir at need.

Steven is due home in a short time. At least, I’m sure it will be longer than I want it to be. Retail employees sometimes find difficulties in leaving on time. No matter, it seems dinner will not be ready precisely as planned.

It is fortunate that I only require a lame post of myself today. I tried, tried, tried to write something at work. Nothing doing. Blame it on the season? Cop to it as an occupational hazard? Demand credit for At Least Trying? In any case, I crave your indulgence (isn’t that an elegant phrase? I rather enjoyed it).

As usual, I hope for at least one Mohawk Valley adventure this weekend. Or I may sit on my butt watching Christmas movies and crocheting frantically. Whatever happens, I will report back. Happy Friday, everybody.

Full disclosure: As I typed in that it was 6:16 and I was perched on a stool, stirring, it was in fact, closer to 6:40 and I was slouched in an office chair, typing. I knew that would happen. It just felt weird. Me and my strange obsession with accuracy.

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Once Again, I Say Too Much

Posted on December 20, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

While this is a post about Why I Can’t Write a Post Today, it is not another lament about Writer’s Block or Writer’s Blank or whatever it is I suffer from. It is a mere statement of practical considerations.

I have been Christmas shopping and plan to do more. Of course I love to plug local businesses, and this is a grand opportunity to give a few shout-outs. However, SOME people who MIGHT be receiving presents from me may POSSIBLY read this post.

Someone may suggest that I be cagey, mention the store but not the item. I could do like my Mom does and say, “I got you a … and a …” Well, my family is pretty clever. If I mention the store, they may guess the item. In fact, already I’ve said too much.

Additionally, I think it makes a better post if I tell what I purchased. It is the sort of concrete detail that makes the writing ring true. Or do I flatter myself?

My original plan was to not give presents this year. I was going to send each person a lovely handwritten note reading: “Dear (name), No present this year. You were bad. Love, Cindy Claus.” I eventually decided against it, because my handwriting is not all that good, and it really is not the sort of thing you would want to type. Perhaps a nice counted cross stitch, although I am also not very deedy in that respect (my computer is telling me “deedy” is not a word, and I cannot find it in the dictionary, but I am certain I’ve seen it used in a book) (it was a Regency Romance, so perhaps it is an archaic term)(how old must something be to be to be archaic?) (yeah, yeah, I know, how old am I — must you make such obvious jokes?).

Where was I? Ah yes, trying not to give away what I am getting people for Christmas. In pursuit of that object, I’ll shut up now.

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Fun for Pets’ Sake

Posted on December 19, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

Saturday Steven and I went to the Antique Mall at 100 E. Main St. in Mohawk, NY for a fundraiser for 4PetSake.

4PetSake is a food pantry for pets. I don’t know much more about it than that, but anything that helps animals is OK in my book. Additionally, we had never been to the Antique Mall. It sounded like an excellent Mohawk Valley adventure.

The event ran till four. It was after two when we arrived (due to Steven’s work schedule). We checked out some of the antique vendors first. I love looking at antiques, except that it’s a little disconcerting when I see things that I remember very well from my childhood. I suppose I’m getting to be an antique myself, although I prefer the term “vintage” (and my readers who might be older than me, don’t worry: you’re vintage, too, and I’m sure we all improve with age) (any of my lovely readers, at any rate).

Eventually, Steven and I made our way to the 4PetSake people. Our first order of business was to put in for the Basket Raffle (also known as a Chinese Auction). As I made my selections, I heard some lovely Christmas music. Then I saw that it was a gentleman at the end of the room, singing into a microphone. When he paused, I approached him and told him how much I was enjoying it.

“I thought it was a CD,” I told him.

“It is.” He indicated where his background music was coming from.

“Oh, but your voice is so beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

“No, thank you.” It really added to the ambiance.

Steven and I also bought some treats at the bake sale as well as a couple of hot dogs. Before we left, we checked out a few antique vendors we had missed. It was a very enjoyable afternoon. We’ll have to check out the Antique Mall again, and we will definitely look for more 4PetSake fundraisers.

For more information on 4PetSake, call 315-796-2584, or email pet-sake@hotmail.com. You can also Like their Facebook page.

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Tumbling Thoughts

Posted on December 18, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

It’s not Wuss-out Wednesday. In fact, I spent a good portion of my day at work lamenting that it was not Wednesday yet. Yeah, yeah, I know, wishing my life away. I’m not going to sit here and justify my desire for the weekend. I have a headache.

Where was I? Ah yes, wussing out. I’m afraid, in fact, that it is Yet Another Post About How I Can’t Write a Post Today. Why can’t I write today? The headache? It’s not that bad. The fact that I’m sitting in the laundromat on a cold December night? No, laundromats are good places to write, and cold December nights are often strangely conducive.

I wrote a little on my novel while at work. About half a page. Actually, as I type it into the computer, a handwritten page translates (transposes?) into more than a page typed. Then again, how many pages will I throw out when I finally figure out what the plot is and begin to revise?

Perhaps I should not include that last sentence. It will give the outlining writers a chance to get all smug and point out that THEY already know the plot BEFORE they begin writing. Well, that’s nice for you.

I wonder if I ought to be concerned that the only thing I seem capable of writing is stuff about not being able to write. Seriously, I keep flipping back pages and trying to continue with things started previously. Nothing doing.

Having neglected to bring a book or a deck of cards, it seems I must either continue writing this post or sit here and watch minutes pass as counted down by the clothes drier.

Full disclosure: I wrote the above while sitting at the laundromat and stopped writing after the last sentence. I am now sitting at home, typing this into the computer. I see I am approaching 300 words. That’s a whole lot of nothing. I’ll stop now and hope for a better post tomorrow.

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The Most Wonderful Scooping Time of the Year

Posted on December 17, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

In my defense, I wrote two pages on my novel while at work today (MUST I always specify that it was while on break?) (I suppose so). I have no blog post written, and I can’t come up with any last-minute Monday Middle-aged Musings. Well, maybe I can. I’ll just keep typing and see what comes up.

I took Tabby for a walk just now. I only intended to go one block, because it is below 20 degrees out (anybody who does not find that chilly for walking with a dog that likes to stop and sniff, please be advised that you are not normal). I was glad I had worn a scarf and only wished it covered more of me. My jacket felt warm to begin with, but eventually the wind pierced it, too. I persevered. Dogs must be walked, after all.

This really is a wonderful month of the year to go for a walk after sundown, at least in Herkimer, NY. Many people have lights or at least put their Christmas tree in the window.

When I had walked a little way down German Street, I saw God’s own light show: the full moon (according to the calendar, it is actually full tomorrow, the 17th, but it looked pretty full to me). It was behind a tree at first, but revealed itself and I walked. It was big, it was round, it was silver, it was as bright as the streetlights. I loved it.

A few feet further on, a house imposed itself between me and my new love. I briefly considered continuing down German till I could see it again, but I figured it would continue to rise and I could probably see it through a window from inside my nice warm house.

When Tabby did her business, I blessed the snow. You scoop a little snow with the poop, and it doesn’t stink so much. Ooh, it was so cold the snow was powdery, not a smidgen of packing quality. No matter, I scooped up what I could.

I began to wonder if anybody would see me and think I was cruel for bringing my dog out on a night like this, but Tabby seemed to enjoy it. A dog on a back porch barked at us as we went by. Oh, I hope they only let him out to do his business and will soon let him back in! I’m thinking probably they will, or we would usually be hearing a lot more barking from that house.

So that is my pedestrian post for the day. Sorry to write about walking my dog twice within three days, but sometimes a blogger’s gotta do what a blogger’s gotta do.

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Where’s the Beef Broth?

Posted on December 16, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a cooking post for Wrist to Forehead Sunday (you may notice, I do not make this a question, because I intend to write it regardless). I think it will make a good post, because I invented another new recipe.

I had some leftover beef I thought would be good in a soup. I remembered buying beef broth, and I always have diced tomatoes on hand. This would work.

I started out by chopping an onion and putting it on to cook in olive oil. I put a lid on the pot, so the steam would keep it from burning to the bottom. I crushed up some garlic and set the timer for 15 minutes (so the garlic could breathe, or whatever it does). After 15 minutes, I put the garlic in with the onion and let them cook together for a while.

The onions got soft fairly quickly. A few even turned brown. I like carmelized onions, so I let them cook till I got hungry enough that I wanted to get on with it.

That was when I could find neither the diced tomatoes nor the beef broth in my pantry. Oh yes, I remembered, I had heated up the beef broth one day when I was feeling sick to my stomach. Soothing and nutritious. I did have some cream of mushroom soup, always a good ingredient (gourmet purists are gasping in horror, but they have obviously come to the wrong blog and must respond as they see fit).

I found some diced tomatoes, but by then the idea of cream of mushroom soup was appealing to me. I put it in the pot, with a can of milk, and stirred well. I added some spices (cumin, parsley flakes, and McCormick Savory All-Purpose, if you wanted to know).

I threw in some frozen green beans and cut up the leftover beef. When it was all heated through we ate. Steven had his with Spano’s Hard Crust Italian Bread, which is made right here in the Mohawk Valley, in Utica, NY. Yum! (I used some of it for an egg sammich yesterday.)

We enjoyed dinner. Steven pointed out that we have a beef roast in the freezer. He suggested cooking it one day soon, so we can use the leftovers to make this recipe again. If I remember it. Oh wait, I can just look here. Silly me.

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Not Bad for a Saturday

Posted on December 15, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

I knew I wouldn’t run today, but I thought I could walk with my schnoodle, Tabby, and get a nice pedestrian post out of it. It was a little cold when I decided to do this. Our thermostat showed the outdoor temperature as 14 degrees, and it usually reads a little warmer than it actually is.

I know Tabby has a built-in fur coat, but I thought she could use a little extra help. A couple of winters ago, we got her a cute little coat, grey with pink furry lining and trim. The words “Good Girl” are embroidered in pink on the back. The coat was big on her when we got it, but she’s put on a little weight since then (cue smart remarks about dogs getting to resemble their owners).

Unfortunately, the coat was somewhere in Fibber McGee’s closet (if you don’t get that reference, ask your grandmother) (oh dear, now I’m going to get hate mail from grandmothers who are NOT old enough to have listened to “Fibber McGee and Molly” on the radio).

Where was I? Ah yes, pulling everything out of my living room closet. Oh, well, I had meant to clean out that closet anyways. On the brighter side, I also found my mittens I had been looking for. Just in time to shovel the driveway, which I suppose I will finally have to do tomorrow.

So, there we were, all bundled up and ready to go. We got one house away from home, and Tabby stopped and looked at me. That’s usually her signal that she wants to go home. Sometimes she actually turns around and pulls me. This time I took the hint right away.

Well, for a ten foot walk, this is almost a 300 word post. I call that not bad for a Saturday. Hope to see you on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

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Put Another Lame on the Fire

Posted on December 14, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

Um, you guys get that, right? You know, like “put another log on the fire”? Oh well, one does one’s poor best.

So it is Lame Post Friday and I am even more lame than usual. And I’m working under a deadline, because World’s Dumbest comes on at six (it’s 5:46 as I type this), and I would really like a glass of wine. However, don’t drink and type (oh, like one glass of wine would make me substantially more lame than I am the rest of the time!).

All day at work today, I thought about writing (while still getting my work done, OF COURSE). I alternately pondered what to write on my blog and where to go next on my novel. I came to no conclusions on either one. I’m in a tighter corner on the novel, though. One character has another by the scruff of the neck, and I have no idea who it is. That is, the one being held by the hoodie. I know who’s doing the holding.

Oh dear, now I’ve said too much. I try not to talk too much about the novel I’m working on. It never helps, and it only makes me look more foolish when I don’t finish that novel. Of course, silence does not come naturally to me (see Monday’s post) (you’ll have to arrow back; I’m on the acer, and I don’t know how to make a link)(oh, I’ll save you the trouble if you missed it, it was just about how much I talk, which is a lot).

Where was I? Ah yes, having said too much. Luckily, I see my word count is now over 250, a respectable length for me. On with the weekend! I even have time to pour the wine before I tune into TruTV.

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