Tag Archives: blogging

Mmmmm… Tomatoes!

I recently had a conversation with a co-worker about how much better homegrown tomatoes taste.  Of course they are best out of one’s own garden, but a farm stand or farmer’s market can be an acceptable second.  Last Sunday I went to And Stuff of That Nature to feed my fresh tomato appetite.

Right there, inviting me to buy something!

The stand is handily located on State Route 5, between the Frankfort Bridge and Watkins Road.  There is space enough on the shoulder to pull over; you only have to be a little careful getting out on the driver’s side.

There are many choices available.

There are many vegetables to choose from, but tomatoes were what I mainly wanted.  I could also have gotten honey or a hanging basket of flowers or a dozen eggs.  Well, it isn’t that far from my house; I can easily return for more fresh goods.

Lots of choices!

I was tempted by the hanging baskets but was skeptical of my ability to remember to water one  This is another reason I am not as disappointed as I might be about not achieving my container garden.  In years past I have remembered to water.  These days I question myself.

And Stuff of That Nature is located at 3759 State Route 5, Frankfort, NY.  You can follow their Facebook page for updates about items available.

 

Late, Lame, at Least It’s a Post!

I guess I had a couple more blogger’s sick days in which I did not even have the wherewithal to post a few whiny words about how I couldn’t make a blog post.  Ooh, here’s a Freudian typo:  I first put “shiny words.”  I guess I want to feel that my talent as a writer always shines through.  It is my one talent, after all.  Or do I flatter myself?  Never mind, on with my Lame Post Friday post, made early-ish Saturday morning.

That magic elixir, coffee.

I am on my second cup of coffee.  I am enjoying it quite a bit.  I went without if for two days, substituting tea for my morning cuppa (I believe I mentioned it the last time I made a blog post).  I love tea, but coffee is what gets me going in the morning.  Not that I am actually going right now, but I am blogging, so we’ll call that a win, however lame this post may turn out to be (I am thinking very, but I am also my worst critic) (that earlier line about my writing talent notwithstanding).

Only a dream?

It took me a long time to find a second picture to liven up the post.  This is from 2017, a really good year for my container garden.  I was determined to have one this year, but, alas, not determined enough.  Perhaps I can get out and at least do a few things in the yard this morning.  Unfortunately, it is supposed to rain (my bunions and the weather forecast said so).  I think I even heard a few drops earlier.  I suppose I could do a certain amount in the rain, then take a very soapy shower, hoping not to track too much mud between the door and the bathroom.  It might be a good idea to eat breakfast first.

 

These plants don’t seem to have any problem growing.

I wanted to add one more picture.  Regular readers may remember that this was meant to serve as inspiration for the murder mystery I must finish.  That will be a good thing to work on if it pours rain later.  Such plans!  Such ambition!  Will I accomplish anything?  The uncertainty will add interest to my Saturday.

 

A Whiningly Late Tired Tuesday Post

I am taking Tuesday as a Blogger’s Sick Day.  I got home from work last night, managed to do a couple chores, then succumbed to a bad head.  I don’t know what else to call it.  It is more light-headedness than pain, and a neurologist once told me it was a form of migraine.  Oh dear, and here I am whining about it.  Anyways, I felt unable to do anything much so went to bed early.  This morning (Wednesday, early), I am feeling equally as bad with an upset stomach for good measure.  I am sipping tea instead of my usual coffee.  It is quite tasty and may settle my stomach (to add an un-whiny comment).

Pretend there is tea in the mug.

I like to add an illustration when possible.  I am not drinking out of that mug currently, but it is the first one I came to in my Media Library.  In fact, it is kind of what my stomach feels like now.  Maybe not that bad, luckily.  I certainly must go to work today and Friday.  If I do not, my employer will not pay me for July 4th. It is a good policy, really, or a lot of people who had not foresightedly asked for those days off might be tempted to call in.

And here’s an interesting grammar point.  My Chromebook does not like the word “foresightedly.”  I do not see why I cannot make an adverb by adding “-ly” to any handy adjective.  Some writers eschew adverbs and rail dementedly at their use in any and all situations (you see what I did there?).  I personally need all the help I can get and will avail myself  of any words I like, even if I have to make them up.

Look, at that, a whole paragraph about my psycho grammar, not whining about my stomach or head.  On that note, I thank you for tuning in, and sign off with hopes for a more productive Wednesday.

 

At Least I Have My Monsters

So I broke my streak of posting daily by missing both Saturday and Sunday.  I have a couple of Mohawk Valley adventures to blog about, but as often happens on a Monday, I am too tired to do so now.  I may also be too tired on Tired Tuesday.  I have not been sleeping well.  But just listen to me whine.  The fact is, I am disinclined to post even now but feel I must not miss another day.

Sometimes I get carried away, too.

I put in a picture before I got more bogged down in whining about how tired I am.  I figure I can mange a Monstrous Monday post, only hoping I can find pictures I have not shared too recently.  I think the above one qualifies.

Mine is certainly not this big.

Here is one I have shared many times, The Brain from Planet Arous.  It is my favorite picture to share when I am feeling particularly brain dead.

Ah, a cup of tea.

Perhaps I should emulate the Frankenstein monster in the picture and relax with a cup of tea.  I could make it herbal so as not to further disturb my sleep patterns.  Then again, it is a bit warm for hot tea.

I see I am over 200 words, which regular readers now I consider respectable.  As usual, I will try for a better blog post tomorrow, and I hope you will again tune in.

 

Lame Plans, Late Post

Just to round out the week of late posts. here is my Lame Post Friday blog post, being typed in early (by most standards) Saturday morning.  I kind of feel the week is Monday through Friday, and the weekend is a separate entity.  Monday through Friday workers often feel that way.  I do not care for other work schedules, but to each his own, as the old lady said when she kissed the cow.

Random picture, to distract from a boring opening paragraph.

My daisies are well over, and i must cut down the drooping stems and dead blossoms.  However, it is pouring rain right now.  No walk, run, or gardening for me for yet a while.  I know, it is quite eligible to pull up weeds in the rain, I understand they come up easily and sometimes the roots along with them.  I couldn’t worry too much if the roots came up with the daisies, since they are taking over my front lawn.  However, right now I am on my first cup of coffee and still in my nightclothes.  How ambitious must I be prior to 6 a.m.?  Sheesh!

My real plans for later in the day,.

I searched for this picture, because I thought it would be a funny one.   As a matter of fact, it is symbolic of my plans, because I plan to clean then relax.  Right now as I look at the end of my couch, I see, a few afghans, one incompleted, a pillow, a purse, the TV Journal, and a book I was reading yesterday. My legs are a little to the right of where you see them in the picture (isn’t that how you spell incompleted? My Chromebook is underlining it) (or are you supposed to say incomplete?  or not completed?  You would think I would know better grammar by now).

I actually feel a little uncomfortable that I have mentioned my plans.  My problem with making plans is that whenever I make a plan, the plan goes to hell. I can accomplish small plans, like “make a phone call after work” (did that yesterday), but so many plans get lost in a morass of  “oh, first I have to do this” and “oh, wait, I can’t do that” and “well, that did not work!”  Still, one does what one can.

Now I have rattled on for, ooh, almost 400 words.  Score!  Time to finish my coffee and get on with my Saturday.  I hope I can make my Saturday blog post on time.

 

I Remember Roxy

And it’s another late post, but one can be late on Non-Sequitur Thursday, yes?  Or will it be a Throwback Thursday?  Once again, I resort to my Media Library.

He was so handsome.

I was just thinking about Roxy the other day.  This was a play, beautifully researched and written by Jack Sherman and presented by Herkimer County Historical Society and Ilion Little Theatre in 2015.  Wow, almost ten years ago.  My late beloved husband Steven had several roles.  This is him as Dr. Suiter.  He was such a good actor and had quite a way with a monologue.

He had it coming.

I had the honor to portray Roxalana Druse, who killed her husband with a gun and an ax.  She did not feed his body to the hogs, as legend has it, but tried to burn him up in the stove (the play doesn’t show that part).  She may have had better luck with the hogs, because it was the nasty scent of burning body that first alerted the neighbors that something was wrong.

I thought the poster was cool.

The play had a huge cast of ILT regulars and newcomers.  Things got a little crowded backstage and in the one dressing room, but we all got along, and I made a lot of new friends.  That is the best part of community theatre:  the friends we make.  Come to think about it, that is the best part of life.  Sorry to get a little sentimental, but one might as well say it.

So this is my theatre throwback post.  I often do throw back to theatre memories, because community theatre is a big part of my life.  I need to get back into a play.  And finish writing that murder mystery I mentioned yesterday.  At least I made my Thursday blog post.  A little late, but over 300 words.  Yay me?  I hope so!

 

Not the Hole Story

Sooo… by making my Tuesday blog post on time, I broke my streak, because I did not post anything yesterday, Wednesday.  I can’t get too exercised over it, though, because by my rules for me, this will count as my Wuss-out Wednesday post, and my streak will only be broken if I fail to post anything for Thursday, whether I post it today or early Friday morning (ooh, yes, tomorrow is Friday) (with apologies to all those who work Saturday).

What could this be?

This may look like a random photo for Waste Not Want Not Wednesday, but it is much more than that, at least in my twisted mind.  It is a well outside the Herkimer County Historical Society.  They dug in this well for artifacts some years ago and found some interesting things.  Now, as you see it is overgrown.  But could it have future relevance and interest?  At least fictionally, it could!

I took this picture after walking to the Society to purchase some post cards (regular readers know I like to send post cards to people).  I thought it would inspire me.  You see, I began writing a murder mystery for the Historical Society centering around this very hole in the ground (ooh, I just thought of a good title for this post!).  Full disclosure:  I began to write it last year for our fall show but felt it was too complicated a plot for my brain at the time.  I wrote Lights, Camera, Murder! instead, which I think worked out pretty well.  More recently I came across the notes for the other and was surprised by how much I had written on it.  I said, “Heeyyyy!”  or some such expression.

Many accept the rule that writing about not writing is still writing.  I will add that writing about what one is going to write is also still writing.  Now I just have to write it.

(That last sentence would have made a good title too.)

 

Tired But On Time!

At least it is the end of the day Tuesday.

I promised myself I could use this picture if I made my Tired Tuesday post on Tuesday.  Bribery often works with me.  Unfortunately, just because I log onto WordPress and start typing does not mean I have anything to say.  I know, when has that ever stopped me?

I typed that in (I once again quote Truman Capote: “That’s not writing that’s typing”) then could not think of another word to type.  Perhaps I should not have put both the play and dinner in the same blog post for Sunday.  Perhaps I should be having more Mohawk Valley adventures to write (type) about.

They were pretty.

I threw in a picture before I got any more bogged down in “shoulds.”   This is a shot of my Black-Eyed Susans from August 2018.  The patch has since overgrown with weeds and stuff.  Not a yellow bloom to be seen. I plan to cut the whole thing down and start over again.  Not today, of course, but possibly by the weekend.  Then I can have another Lawn Order post.

 

Where will the road lead me?

Another kind of post I have not made lately is a Running Commentary.  For one reason, I have not been running.  I hope to begin again soon.  In the meantime I have been walking every morning.  Perhaps a Pedestrian Post is in order.

For today, however, I am over 200 words.  It will have to do.  Full disclosure:  I have been fighting a vague headache most of the day, and I think it is winning.  However, it is the end of the day.  We shall see what tomorrow will bring.  I hope you will stay tuned.

 

Monsters I Have Known

The late posts continue as I sit here Tuesday morning hoping to at least do a Monstrous Monday post.  I am sipping re-heated coffee from yesterday (waste not, want not), which is never as good but will surely do (there I go again, calling myself Shirley).  I almost felt like putting on a sweatshirt this morning, as we got a break from the excessive (to me) heat but said to myself, “Don’t worry; as soon as you start drinking the coffee you will get a hot flash.”  Sure enough…

Never mind all that, on with the monsters!

He looks like a friendly fellow.

I open with an unknown monster I found somewhere on the internet back in 2017.  It is a pretty cool scene.  I wonder if it is somebody’s house or an attraction one can visit.  I may never know but enjoy speculating.

He is scary, yes!

I move on to a better known monster, my favorite guy Nosferatu, from the eponymous 1922 silent movie, arguably the scariest movie ever (although I do not argue it myself, because I almost always lose arguments).

Here’s a creepy one!

Perhaps a lesser known monster, here is the unnamed menace from Carnival of Souls.  Is he death?  Is he the devil? I got the picture from the Carnival of Souls Facebook page.

Another low-budget delight.

They may look human, but they are witches, thousands of years old in Haunted Hotel, also known as City of the Damned,  although both are misnomers, as I believe I have pointed out before, because it involves an inn in a village.  Speaking of known and unknown, the guy in the middle is a young Christopher Lee.  I did not recognize him the first time I saw this movie (I have it in one of my DVD horror collections), but it was before I became acquainted with Hammer Horror films.

I see I have rattled on for over 300 words.  Additionally, my coffee has gotten tepid.  I do enjoy making a Monstrous Monday post and hope my readers do as well.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

Remember the Alamo?

Late posts lead to more late posts.  This is how bad habits start, or return as in this case.  I had two genuine Mohawk Valley Adventures yesterday, which is why I was too tired to post.  Yes, I need more vitamins, vegetables, or exercise. Or maybe a vacation.  AAaaahhhh… (pause for fantasy of sleeping in and doing nothing for days).

Be that as it may, yesterday afternoon I went with my friends Kelly and Jim to the matinee of The Savage Dilemma at Ilion Little Theatre.  It was really funny.  I not only laughed out loud at parts of it, I laughed out loud when I could tell a funny line was coming up.  Alas, I did not get any pictures.  Of course, we are forbidden to take pictures during performances by copyright laws and consideration for the actors.  Still I could have gotten a couple pictures of them still in costume after the performance.  Only I liked some of the Act I costumes best.

After the show, we went to The Alamo Bar and Grill in Poland, NY.  They wanted to take me someplace I hadn’t been, or at least hadn’t been often.  In fact, I had been there once for lunch a long time ago, so I was delighted to return.  We enjoyed the decor, and the food even more.  We shared loaded fries, which could have made us too full for our sandwiches.  Kelly had Brisket, while I had a Classic Burger.  Jim had a Slider Train, which included burgers with different stuffings.

None of my picture turned out very well.

All over were past-used tap tops (is there a better name for those things?).  We speculated that some of them might be valuable antiques.  We also liked the fake fish.  At least, I’m sure some of them were fake.  Some may have been real.

You can see more tap tops behind it.

I noticed a picture of an old stone fort. “What is that?” I asked, pointing, then immediately realized.  “Oh, it’s the Alamo.  Remember the Alamo?”  I said it in a conversational tone, not like a war cry.

It was a very enjoyable afternoon and evening.  The Savage Dilemma will be presented again next weekend at Ilion Little Theatre.. For more information, you can visit their website or Facebook page.

The Alamo Bar and Grill is located at 8773 S. Main St., Poland NY. You can also visit their Facebook page.