Tag Archives: blog post

A Spring-ish Post

Hello and welcome to another Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  I still have no Mohawk Valley Adventures to blog about, but I have a few spring-ish pictures that I can share.

First spring-ish picture.

I have been taking walks almost every day, in addition to my runs, and I have been appreciating the return of bare sidewalks.  I was even more delighted when I looked down and saw these blossoms.  I don’t know what they are; I don’t think they are crocuses, usually the first blooms we see.  This was yesterday afternoon.  Today I wondered if any of my crocuses were up.  I ventured out to see.

They look a little sad.

There was nothing but last year’s grass out front.  Out back I saw these white flowers, but I think I saw them too late for a good picture.  I don’t know what these are either; I didn’t plant them, they just showed up (kind of like me at the Elks Club).  Then I saw some green poking through last year’s leaves.  I left all my leaves, because I read somewhere it was a helpful thing to do for certain bugs and critters.  Any excuse for me to be lazy!  However, this was where I had planted some daffodils a few years ago, and they usually come up.

Yay! Daffodils!

I pulled away the leaves and was delighted to see green and yellow.  I walked around the yard, looking for any other bits of green trying to poke up but did not find any. However, I am encouraged by what I saw.  Oh, I KNOW it will get cold and probably snow a couple more times, so you can just stop shaking your head at me with that superior smirk (you know who you are).  I am enjoying the here and now.

And I am enjoying the fact that I am over 300 words with this blog post.  I think that makes seven days in a row.  I wonder what else I can accomplish.

 

Post Now, Slack Later

I have blogged every day since Monday, posting in the morning about the previous day’s adventure.  This is what I used to do when I first started blogging, I think.  If I can remember back to 2011.  Wow, I have been blogging for a while, haven’t I?  All this by way of introduction to a Slacker Saturday post.  It seems funny to call this a Slacker Saturday prior to 7:30 in the morning.  How do I know how much I am going to slack in the coming hours?  OK, it is a pretty safe bet I will not get much done.  My point is, if I do not make a blog post now, I am afraid I will not make one before the end of the day.

Which poop do I feel like today?

I threw in a picture from my Media Library to pep things up.  Pepping up with poop?  Regular readers know how much I enjoy alliteration.  Anyways, you can plainly see it is fake poop.

I do not know how many Mohawk Valley Adventures are in store for me today, if any.  I really need to get some work done around my house as well as working on my latest murder mystery, Recipe for Murder Royale. Yes, it has a title now, as well as a cast of characters and a good (or do I flatter myself?) three pages of script.  That reminds me, I need to email the places we are doing the mystery for and tell them the title.

One of my favorite murderous bunches.

I throw in a picture of another murder mystery for your further entertainment.  This one was supposed to be a 1920s theme, and I had quite a bit written on it, but I just couldn’t make it work.  I do not despair of finishing it eventually (preview of coming attractions).

We all get carried away sometimes.

I wanted to add a third picture and could not resist making the silly caption.  If I get extra ambitious today, perhaps I will have a Mohawk Valley Adventure and make a second Saturday post.  As always, I hope you will stay tuned.

 

When In Doubt, Add Coffee

And now my headache is back.  I begin my Lame Post Friday Post with a whine.  It is too early yet for wine, which might help my headache but could also cause a worse one tomorrow.  Ah, the trials and tribulations.

Random picture to denote passage of time while I go put on coffee.

I had tea instead of coffee earlier this morning, which is usually fine.  I had a headache, which got worse after I ate breakfast and took some Migraine Relief (with the magic ingredient caffeine, as a boss of mine used to say).  After lying down for a while, my head felt better, so I went for a run.  I did not run yesterday due to a back ache (YES all I do at my age is feel pain in various parts of my body.  Either you know what I am talking about or you eventually will).

Where was I going with this?    What a dull, boring post!

 

The inspirational bumble bee.

I looked for a more exciting picture to pep up the post and found this from The Mustard Seed in Little Falls, NY, thus adding a shout-out to a local business.  The bumble bee is part of their logo, because of the story that aerodynamically speaking, the bumble bee should not be able to fly, but somehow does.  Thus, the owner of the Mustard Seed never lets anybody tell her what she can and can’t do but somehow does what she does.  I have not been to the Mustard Seed in a while, but it is a very fun place to shop.  There are several fine places to shop in Little Falls.  I must take a drive there soon.

Don’t I look like a little devil?

I close with the wine I mentioned in the first paragraph.  I was wearing that shirt and drinking white wine yesterday, but my hair does not look like that these days.  I started to grow it out when I knew I was going to audition for the play I’m in (perhaps you have read my blog posts about that).  It will probably not stay long.

However, this blog post has gotten a little long for a Lame Post Friday post, approaching 400 words.  And I think the coffee I put on earlier is done.  Can headache relief be far?  In any case, I thank you one again for tuning in and hope I have managed to be at least mildly entertaining.

 

Everybody Is So Excited for Me to Get Murdered!

I thought I would give a brief update of Prescription: Murder the play I am in at Ilion Little Theatre (ILT).  Rehearsals are going very well.  Characters and relationships are developing, the set is looking good, and we are all having a lot of fun.

The little chippy!

That’s my husband and his girlfriend.  I sure don’t have good luck with stage husbands!  In 2015 it was William Druse, when I played the title character in Roxy.  He was abusive and a lousy provider, but at least he didn’t kill me.  Yeah, I killed him.  What’s your point?

I am jealous of the typewriter.

That is Dr. Fleming’s efficient secretary, Miss Petrie.  I don’t like to tell too much about the characters and how the plot unfolds.  I feel a little bad that I gave away that I get murdered, but it is in the title after all.  Other members of ILT are very encouraging to me.  They are all looking forward to me getting killed!

Guess which one is Columbo.

Prescription: Murder will be presented at Ilion Little Theatre, 13 Remington Ave., Ilion, NY, March 28, 29 and 30, and April 4, 5 and 6, 7:30 Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays.  For more information go to ILT’s website http://www.ilionlittletheatre.org or visit their Facebook page.

 

I Hop to the Java Shop

I went to the Java Shop a few times when it was on Main Street in Herkimer, NY and liked it but had not yet visited their new digs on Mohawk Street.  I finally corrected the omission yesterday.

Not the best picture, but you get the idea.

I confess one reason I had not visited yet is that there is only street parking, and I am not good at finding a parking space.  Of course this was the case on Main Street too, but I find parking easier on Main Street than Mohawk.  I guess that’s just me.  Also, the Main Street location was easier walking distance from my house.  I can still walk to Mohawk Street, but it is farther and I have to cross Route 5.  I know, the trials and tribulations of being me.  Some of you are probably playing miniature violins or whistling, “It’s a Hard Knock Life” (you know who you are).

No gumballs in the gumball machine, but I like it.

I ordered an egg sandwich on an English muffin and after some debate decided on regular coffee.  I was going to get fancy and try a latte but decided against it at the last minute.

Plenty of seating.

I sat at a table and started a letter to a friend while I waited for my sandwich.  There is a section with couches, which would be nice to sit at if I was only having coffee.  I wanted to take a picture, but with the sun shining in through the windows, I was afraid it would not come out.

I enjoyed my breakfast very much.  The coffee was delicious, but I must return one day to try one of them there lattes.

The Java Shop by Cucina Berto is located at 402 Mohawk St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-717-7724.  You can find them on Facebook.

 

Running Commentary Is Back! I Hope

Yesterday began what is supposed to be a stretch of warmer weather in the Mohawk Valley, so I threw caution to the wind (which had died down) and went running for the first time in months.  I didn’t really throw caution to the wind; I just thought it would be funny if I added the parenthetical comment, since it has been so horridly windy lately.  In fact, I dressed appropriately, stretched a little before I ran, and ran at a pace suited to conditions.

I ran in the road, although in general I prefer sidewalks.  You just can’t count on people driving to notice little old ladies like me.  OK, I’m not so little, but I may go on the South Beach Diet, and with that and running, I may shrink.  Not Incredibly, like the guy in the movie, but somewhat.  Anyways, the roads were pretty much bare, and I tried to stick to the quiet ones.

I didn’t Map My Run but relied on my Garmin, which I tended to look at a lot, hoping for encouragement. It really didn’t feel too bad to begin with.  The frisson of virtue that I was finally running and the delight of almost springlike weather helped.  I had it in my head to run for 20 minutes.  As my body started to get a little tired, I thought I would at least do a mile, because that would probably be 15 minutes.  YES, that is a damn slow mile; one has to start somewhere!

At one point, I saw a lady walking down the sidewalk toward me.  When she got closer I asked, “Can you tell I’m running or am I too slow?”

She laughed and assured me I was doing great.  My first mile was indeed over 15 minutes.  By that time I was still at least five minutes from my house, so my 20 minute goal worked out fine.

Me feeling good about myself.

Since I had not Mapped My Run to share on Facebook, I took a selfie for my Facebook Friends’ entertainment.  Naturally I had to share my triumph on Facebook.

And now I have shared my triumph with my blog readers.  I plan to run again today.  I feel more Running Commentary Posts are in my future!

 

Recipe for a Blog Post Anyways!

Sunday I went to the Herkimer County Historical Society where they were celebrating the launch of their new cookbook, Home Town Recipes From Our Table to Yours!  They had several of the recipes represented, and encouraged me to sample whatever I wanted.  Yum!

I just love the cover!

Alas, I did not take any pictures other than of the cookbook itself, but I sampled carrot cake, rhubarb cake, and chicken wing dip.  I can’t wait to try those and other recipes in the book.

While there, I chatted with Cassie Castle about this spring’s murder mystery, which I am supposed to be writing to benefit the society.  Naturally I am having trouble with it.  However, Sunday morning when I noticed the cookbook launch and decided to attend, something clicked in my brain.  As I washed the dishes and did a few other chores, in my head a voice was saying, “Cookbook… cookbook.”  And the next thing I knew I was making notes and starting a script with the tentative title, Recipe for Murder.

Of course there are still several hurdles to get over before I am once again murdering for fun and non-profit.  For one thing, I need to field a cast.  Oh yeah, and finish the script.  Maybe if I make one of the recipes in my new cookbook, I can get even more inspired.

If you are interested in purchasing Home Town Recipes From Our Table to Yours! you can contact the Herkimer County Historical Society at 315-866-6413.

 

Walking into the Weekend Once Again

I’m pretty sure I’ve used that headline before, but perhaps my readers will forgive me.  If not, well that is a silly thing to hold a grudge over, isn’t it?  Oh I know, you’re not mad, only disappointed.  Now I’m getting silly.  I had coffee instead of tea this morning.

Do Not Enter into silliness? Say it ain’t so!

I have been getting out walking almost every day this week, so I thought a brief Pedestrian Post would keep me in the daily blogging habit for another day.  I actually took this picture some days ago.  I was on my way to the Herkimer Elks Lodge.  I joined recently and have met some very nice people.  I hope to participate in some of their projects.  If nothing else, it will make for some good blog posts.

Not as clear as I had hoped.

On another walk, I noticed some bird prints and paused to take a picture.  That extended my walk, because I dropped a glove and did not notice it till I was two or three blocks away and had to go back.

Some guys from the press conference.

Just to show you I have not only been taking walks and hanging out with the Elks, I share a picture from a press conference I covered for Sentinel Media Company.  Regular readers may recall I cover a couple of village and town board meetings for them.  I like to pretend I am an intrepid girl reporter from a 1930s or ’40s movie, although I am really none of the three.

I do not know what the rest of my weekend will bring, but I hope something blogworthy.  In the meantime, I approach 300 words and hope I have been at least mildly entertaining.  I wonder if there is any more coffee…

By the way, I fixed the headline.  It originally read, “Walking into the Weekend,” which I had indeed used before.

 

Will It Be Spring? Lame Will Tell

What is with this posting every other day, me?  Will I ever get my act together?  For the answers to these and other burning questions, stay tuned. I do not promise to answer them, but you may be able to draw your own conclusions.  In any case, it is Lame Post Friday, this hot tea is not the miracle I was hoping for, and I am sitting ten-finger typing on my Chromebook and thought I could manage at least a silly post before trying to get on with my day.

Random picture to denote passage of time while I make myself a second cup of tea.

We had a couple of days where it got kind of sort of warm.  Yesterday was not one of them, as I learned after I had inadvisedly left the house without hat or gloves.  It was the bitter wind.  I guess that makes the picture a little less random, because that is what I felt like walking, although of course not as skinny.  Perhaps after a few weeks on the South Beach Diet.

Preview of Coming Attractions?

Searching for another picture to pep things up, I came across this one of me in the garden at Raindrops on Roses Bed and Breakfast in Herkimer, NY.  I have been to their wine tasting room a few times and enjoyed it very much.  I would like to take some wine loving family and friends there sometime this spring or summer.  It is easy walking distance from my house.  We could walk there, taste a few wines, walk back to my house, then sit out on my deck drinking more wine, which I will provide.  Ah, more motivation to get my house clean!

But for right now…

Unfortunately, quite a bit of snow has to melt before I start thinking about gardens and deck parties.  In fact, there is more snow outside than is shown in this picture, but I did not feel like scrolling through my Media Library all morning.

I see I have rattled on for over 300 words.  I will try for a more Mohawk Valley related post later today, striving once again to become a daily blogger.  As always, I hope you will stay tuned.

 

Post Post-Rehearsal Post

Yes, I neglected to make a blog post yesterday, in the morning or in the evening.  I don’t know why I feel so obligated to call attention to my shortcoming, but so it is.  Yesterday I was writing in the morning, just not on the blog (my side hustle, covering local board meetings for the Sentinel).  In the evening, I had rehearsal for Prescription: Murder, the play I am in at Ilion Little Theatre.

Me and my husband, till death do us part.

This picture is actually from last Tuesday’s rehearsal.  The director took a few pics of my big scene and texted them to me.

I don’t know what he’s looking so upset about.

I purposely bought the nail file for this scene.  It’s a fancy glass one.  I like to take a little trouble with my props.  I am having a lot of fun at rehearsals, and people seem to think I am doing very well with the character.  I need to do a little better with the lines, but I am working on that.

And that’s the end of me.

I did mention that I am the murder victim, didn’t I?  I guess I’ll end up spending most of the play backstage crocheting.  I feel fortunate I do not have to spend too much time lying dead on the stage trying not to sneeze.  It was my murderer’s idea to kill me so my body lies behind the couch, so the audience will not be focused on watching to see if I move.

Prescription: Murder will be presented March 29 through 30 and April 4 through 6, 7:30 p.m. on the Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. on the Sundays, at Ilion Little Theatre, Remington Avenue, Ilion, NY.  For more information you can go to their website http://www.ilionlittletheatre.org or visit their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ilionlittletheatre.