Tag Archives: blogging

Yay! Books!

Posted on November 19, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I just got back from the book sale at Ilion Free Public Library.  Yay!  Books!

Picture taken last year when I went to the sale.

I heard about the sale yesterday, at the Ilion Village Board of Trustees meeting.  Regular readers may recall my side hustle of covering some meetings for Sentinel Media.  I like to include a picture with the story so thought a couple pictures of the book sale would be nice.  The fact that I could also purchase books was strictly by the way.

Lots of books!

The books are donated by patrons, not just discarded books from the collection, so there are a lot of new and like-new books available.

And the price is right!

Last year I found some biographies of famous figures from the American Revolution.  This year I lucked out on fiction.  I try not to read a whole lot of fiction, because I have a hard time putting it down once I start reading, but I love it.

Another angle.

The sale continues through Saturday, Nov. 22.  They keep putting out more books as books sell, so even if you have stopped by, you might like to check back.  I hope to do so later in the week.

Ilion Free Public Library is located at 78 West St., Ilion, NY, phone number 315-894-5028.

 

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A Fun Visit to Newport Marketplace

Posted on November 16, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Thursday morning my sister Cheryl called me and said it was such a dull, rainy day, why didn’t we take a drive to Newport and wander around Newport Marketplace for a while.  I readily agreed.  I had not been there in a while but enjoy following them on Facebook.  For one thing, the guy often makes a pun about the picture he’s sharing.  I fancy myself quite the pundit (see what I did there?).

It’s a great place!

We took a long time wandering around.  There is so much to see, and it is one of those places where there is always something new. I saw lots of stuff that would make great Christmas presents.  Cheryl and I talked about how it is not worth gift-giving if it causes you more stress than joy. I get a great deal of joy from giving presents.  My only problem is my desire to give people presents they really want and/or can use.  I see so many beautiful antiques and decorations, but one only has so much room in the house.

I ended up purchasing a very small snow globe, maybe an inch high, of a little Christmas tree.   It would be a good present; almost anybody could find a space in their home for it.  However, I just might have to keep it for myself.  It is so cute!

I could make one!

Outside the Marketplace, we noticed a sweet decoration made with a pallet.   I even have some old Christmas balls like that!  I wonder if I could find a space in my home for such a thing.

Newport Marketplace is located at 7583 Main St., Newport, NY, phone number 315-845-8822.

 

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Return to Fratello’s

Posted on November 15, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Wednesday I did something I haven’t in a while:  went to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY for music an food.  Long-time readers may recall that used to be a regular thing with me.  Why wouldn’t it be? I love music, and I love food!  Additionally, I love supporting local, both restaurants and musicians.  But for one reason and another I have not made it to Fratello’s in a while.  When I saw that Gridley Paige Naked and Scared with Justin Smithson was going to be there, I made plans!

Unfortunately, only one of my pictures turned out.

I keep saying that I will never get over my disappointment that Gridley Paige is not actually naked.  That is the dirty old woman in me.  I question, too, how scared they are, but I do no purport to know anybody else’s emotional state.  I had never heard Justin Smithson play with them before but have heard him solo and like him quite a bit.  He is, as you may know, the Rock’n Roll Mayor of Frankfort.  I should see if the Sentinel wants me to start covering Frankfort Village Board meetings.  I already do the Town ones.

After quite a bit of debate, I decided on a steak and cheese wrap.  Yum!  There are so many excellent choices.  I may have to start going every week again, so I can work my way down the menu.

When I left, the band was bantering with some customers.  I listened for a minute then said, “You guys have to play another song so I can dance my way out!”  They were happy to oblige.  I took my time leaving, dancing back and forth a few times, looking like the crazy old lady I am.  Such a fun time!

Fratello’s Pizzeria is located at 158 E. Main St., Frankfort, NY, phone number 315-894-8484.

 

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I’m 61 and I Still Run

Posted on November 13, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that rhyme as I walked my cool-down walk after today’s run.  I’ve been 61 for over 11 months, and this is the first time I thought of it.  What the hell, me?  However, waste not, want not: I’m still 61 and I can use it for a headline for a Running Commentary post.

I did not run for the last two days, so I really felt obligated.  In my defense, yesterday it was snowing and I just couldn’t trust the roads.  I walked later in the afternoon and couldn’t trust all the sidewalks, but it is less of a problem for walking.  I did not trust the sidewalks today but stuck to the roads for the most part.  In general I prefer to stay on the sidewalks.  I like to give myself every advantage of not getting run over by a car.

I often run by the Court House.

Full disclosure:  This picture is from February 2021, but it shows a landmark I ran by and it shows snow.  Regular readers may recognize this as part of Herkimer’s Historic Four Corners, a favorite place for me to walk or run by.  I was on the second half of my run by this time.  I was using the Map My Run app on my phone, making a lot of turns in hopes of mapping out an interesting shape, and saw that I was just over a mile.  Go, me!

I was holding the phone in my hand, because I could not find the strap I hold it on my arm with and was too impatient to look for it.  It made it not so easy to blow my nose as I ran, but you can’t have everything.

Also not taken today.

I could not find the picture I wanted to share but came across this one.  I was wearing that headband today.  I purchased it in Niagara Falls while on my honeymoon with my beloved dearly missed husband Steve in 1990.  My hair is not that long, but it’s growing.

My run was not too bad.  I went almost two and a half miles in 33 minutes, which while slow is faster than my recent runs.  I did not pet any dogs, although I saw a couple nice ones.  I did get to pet one of my favorite doggy friends, Pugsley the morkie on my cool-down walk (it was right after I thought of today’s headline).  I may be ready for the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls this December.  I hope they have one.

 

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Walk, then Wrist

Posted on November 9, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh well, I thought it had been another week since I last posted, but it seems it is a matter of three days only.  I’m not sure what malaise I suffer, but let us not worry about it, shall we?  For one reason, I ought not encourage myself to whine over my real or imagined ills.

Still there! Still red!

I throw in a picture to pep things up.  I fear this will be a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  For one reason, it is Sunday.  For another, well, I said I ought not encourage myself to whine, but I admit I tend to do so with little or no encouragement.  I took that picture yesterday when I went for a walk.  That tree has been cheering me up for some time now.  I am impressed by how long the bright leaves have lasted.  Yesterday’s walk cheered me up, too.  Exercise is a magic elixir, I find.

A local landmark.

This was the other picture I took on yesterday’s walk.  It is now an apartment building, but it was the Margaret Tuger School, remembered by some of Herkimer’s older residents.  They brag about being paddled by Ms. Tuger.  I first heard of her when I saw her portrait at the Herkimer County Historical Society.  I was fired with ambition to write a biography about her.  Unfortunately, I had no idea how to research and write a biography.  I still don’t, but I love to read them.

In addition to my walk, I went to a rummage sale at Herkimer Reformed Church yesterday.  I thought of going to a tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor, but my steps took me in another direction.  So I did at least three blogworthy activities yesterday.  I will content myself with this Pedestrian Post, and hope to post again before another three days pass.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Back on Track?

Posted on November 6, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have not only not been blogging, I have not been running as much as I like to, for various reasons.  The problem with not doing something, especially when you suffer from depression, is that the longer you don’t do it, the harder it is to start doing it again, be it running, writing, or going out with friends.  I have been saying for days I want to start running today and finally decided today would be the day.  As I went to bed last night, I thought, I can run first thing, before coffee or anything!  Could that be the reason I slept in later than I have in over a week?

Yes, I got up with absolutely no inclination to run or do anything.  However, after a cup of tea, something to eat, and waiting for what I ate to digest, I decided to take Nike’s advice and Just Do It.  As soon as I started to find some running clothes to put on, I felt better about everything.  I misplaced my Garmin, but my phone was charged and has the Map My Run app.  I did not misplace the strap I use to hold it on my arm.  Soon I was on my way.

How I felt before my run.

I ran by this skeleton as I left my house.  There were a lot more leaves around him today.  I had no plans as to where or how far to run.  I figured I would listen to my body and just keep moving for a while.  As it turned out, my body was not at all averse to running.  I felt fine!  I could keep going for miles!  In fact, I kept going for two miles.  I felt especially happy about this, because I might do the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls in December.  I have run it before and enjoyed it quite a bit.

They even provide little bags!

As I walked my cool-down walk, I took this picture.  I had noticed it during my run and felt impressed.  This, I thought, is being part of the solution!  I personally try to always remember to carry a bag or two when I walk my dog (when I have a dog).  However, it cannot be denied that shit happens.

I guess that was a little digression from Running Commentary, but it got me close to 400 words.  Score!  Am I back to blogging?  I hope at least I am back to running!

 

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I Stumble in my Blogging Journey

Posted on November 3, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I started my November of posting every day by, you guessed it, not posting on November 2 (today is Nov. 3 by my calendar, although my WordPress Timestamp may say Nov. 4; I don’t properly understand these things).  However, it is only a little after 5 a.m. (ah, the miracle of Fall Back).  I had quite a stretch of making my posts late, in the morning, before I left for work.  We’ll pretend this is one of those days.

As it happens, I no longer work.  Except for almost every night when I am asleep, I dream I am at work at various places.  I must find a book on dream interpretation and see what it means, although I might scare myself.  Who wants to be inside my head?

A little fall color, at least.

I throw in a picture to pep things up.  I have fallen off the running wagon for one reason and another (explanations are tiresome), but I have tried to at least walk.  This shot was from a walk I took while staying at my sister Diane’s house last weekend.  I liked the look of the dark green against the bright yellow.

The road less traveled?

This is a picture I took in Ilion last week to possibly go with my story for Sentinel Media about the Ilion Town Board meeting.  It is one of the entrances to Russell Park, a good place to take a walk.  I may go there for a walk one day before it gets too cold.

So I guess this is another nothing post, but one does what one can.  I shall try to continue with a better blog post later today.

 

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No Blog November?

Posted on November 2, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I pause in my gyrations to try for my first blog post in a week (and a day).  I have been in the midst of a deep dark depression (excessive misery) (AAAUUU!).

Now I pause because I don’t know how to spell OH.  Not everybody will get my tele-literary reference above, but there used to be a very silly show on Saturday nights called Hee-Haw!  They featured some very talented musicians, but I was there for the comedy, some of which was musical.  There was one recurring sketch with these old hillbillies lying around singing, “Gloom, despair, and agony on me!”  letting off a wail of despair at the end of each line.

If I was on one of my older devices, I could perhaps have found an appropriate illustration, but I have not figured out all the ins and outs of my Chromebook yet.  I am SO twentieth century!

Coffee always helps.

I am currently sipping coffee out of this mug.  It was Steve’s.

I’m sorry, I forgot where I was going with this blog post.  I guess I was just feeling kind of mortified that I have not posted in over a week and since I was taking a break to sip some coffee, I would try for a few words.  And I see I am over 200.  Score!

OK, my mini challenge to myself is to post every day in November.  Only a 30 day month, how hard can it be?  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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It’s Still October, It’s Still Friday, and I’m Still Lame

Posted on October 25, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Alas, I missed making my Thursday post and here it is, getting later in the afternoon on Friday, and my brain feels not up to blogging.  How ridiculous.  Luckily for me, it is Lame Post Friday.  However lame I have been up till now (and regular readers know I have been pretty lame lately), I feel free to make a foolish post now, and no promises about tomorrow.

He looks like he’s saying, “Good grief!”

What could be sillier than Santa Claus in a Halloween t-shirt?  This particular Santa Claus stays on the landing of my staircase most of the year, and some years I dress him for the holidays.  I have not dressed him this year.  In fact I have not decorated for the holiday at all, and it is my favorite!  What the hell, me?  I am supposed to be having a Halloween party but have not done anything about it except talk.  Oh well one can get a lot done by utilizing the last minute.

Just a little cluttered.

This is a picture of a past mess in my living room.  I have always liked it because Bonita the skeleton looks so leisurely and Santa Claus is peeking around the corner and Darling Duck is just kind of hanging out.  The clutter there is different now but I do not have a current picture.

Will I succeed in cleaning my house?  Will I entertain on Halloween weekend?  A little uncertainty adds interest to the end of my October.

 

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A Few Pics, A Brief Post

Posted on October 23, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I am not doing so good at the daily blogging stuff.  I will at least try to make a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post, using a few photos from my cell phone.  This may also serve as a Preview of Coming Attractions, if only I follow through!

Nice local business.

I went to a wine tasting at Ann Street Liquors in Little Falls, NY.  They do not have tastings as often as Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, but I try to attend when they have one.

Great family grouping!

Here are a couple cousins, a sister and a nephew at an art event I recently attended in Liverpool, NY.  Why I did not write a blog post right away about the happening, I do not know.  At least, maybe I could think of a reason, but it would be so unflattering to me, I hesitate to do so.

A very cool place.

This is a picture from Cobblestone Castle, a place I visited with my sister Cheryl recently.  Once again, I blame myself for not blogging about it sooner.

I may as well as admit, my depression and grief keep me from doing the things I like to do.  However, sometimes I manage to post something.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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