Tag Archives: blogging

I Practice Art Interpretation

Posted on October 2, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I just realized I had not shared all the senior parking space art at Herkimer Junior Senior High School.  As I frantically type prior to going out to breakfast with friends (preview of coming attractions), I will repair the omission, at least in part.

I can identify!

I loved that movie Clueless!  What year did it come out?  Too lazy to look it up, and perhaps this senior is not referring to that at all.  I am SO not up on current pop culture (it’s probably not even referred to as pop culture any more).

Oh, I get it!

At first I thought this was just minimalist, then I saw it is a pencil!  Clever!  Unless it is something totally else and I am silly, not uncommon for me, as regular readers know.  I am seeing a theme here of me having no faith in my ability to interpret art.

Pretty!

What’s not to like about this one?  My intent was to share three pictures, but I see I am well under my self-imposed minimum of 200 words.  A minimalist blog? Once I was accused of having Minimalist Monday, because I posted on Facebook:  “Long story, not very interesting.”

It is interesting to me how the words add up, because that little bit of nonsense put me over the top.  Good thing, because it is not Monday, and I am no minimalist (although I used to wear mini skirts) (I would imagine I still could; I have a pretty good set of gams, I can say without overly flattering myself) (preview of coming attractions?)

In any case, I thank my readers for tuning in.

 

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Good Apple Stuff!

Posted on October 1, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last weekend (before all the dog stuff went down), I had the pleasure of tasting the wares of Beak and Skiff at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY.  They were offering only a fraction of their many products, and I am now anxious to try more.

The first thing I tasted was the Honeycrisp Vodka.  Vodka made from apples instead of potatoes?  Interesting!  I liked it.  When I said it was seasonal, because of the apples, Kyle, the pourer, hasted to assure me it was available year round.  I am not a big vodka drinker, but this one could change my mind.

Kyle and I had a fun time tasting. Of course I did most of the tasting.

The same vodka with blueberries added was also good.  I also enjoyed the Pommeau, a French drink combining brandy and apple cider.  There was one wine, Honeycrisp Apple Wine.  I found it a good middle of the road wine: both dry and sweet wine drinkers could enjoy it.  The last thing I tasted was the Bourbon Cream Whiskey, 75% cream, 25% whiskey.  Yummy!  That would be so good in a cup of coffee!

Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards is located in Lafayette, NY.  Of course Mohawk Valley Girl was even more delighted to find she was sampling local products (yes, I talk about myself in the third person sometimes).   Lafayette being closer to Liverpool than Herkimer, I envisioned a visit to my sister Diane in the near future.   I think she would be delighted to visit Beak and Skiff with me and see what else they have to offer.

 

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A Happy Ending to the Tail!

Posted on September 30, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I just thought I would make a quick post in case anybody was concerned about the cute little dog my friend Jerry and I rescued from the highway on Saturday.  As I said I took her home and out for a walk.  We actually went for several walks over two days, because she seemed to really like to walk.  I purchased some dog food for her and put her pictures on several lost pet pages on Facebook.

So stinkin’ cute!

They scanned her for me at the Humane Society and found no chip.  However, my friends were also sharing my Facebook post and scanning other Facebook posts.  I, too, was logging on every few minutes and going to every pet page I could think of.  I confess, part of me wanted so badly to keep that sweet dog!  She was so loving and good!  But I felt sure somebody was missing her terribly.

Finally not one but two friends messaged me with a post of pictures of the dog, saying she had run away from the area where we had found her.  It was clearly the same dog.  I called, a man came and picked her up, and she was very happy to see him.

I would just like to say that THIS is Facebook at its best!  And community at its best.  People who don’t know each other are able to connect and get a lost dog home with the help of other people sharing and looking.  I feel happy I had a part in rescuing this little cutey.

 

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Apples and Music, Yes Please!

Posted on September 29, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Before my dog rescue adventure yesterday, I had a lovely time at Windy Hill Orchard in Cassville, NY.  I had thought about going as soon I heard that my favorite band The Posers was going to be there.  Then my friend Jerry posted on Facebook that he was going and was looking for people to join him.  Naturally I volunteered for that.  Turns out, Jerry wanted to go to get apples, being a long time  patron of Windy Hill, and only after he thought of going found out about the Posers.  Needless to say, we both greatly enjoyed both music and apples.

We should have had either Jerry or me standing next to the sign.

We got there while the band was doing their sound check.  Food was available, so I got a hot dog while Jerry got sausage and peppers.  Soon the band was playing.  I had to get up and dance.  Nobody took a picture, which was probably been just as well.

They Rock!

We ate and listened till Jerry’s daughter and son-in-law joined us.  Then we got bags and walked into the orchards to gather some apples.

I got some good walking in at the time.

Jerry had told me there was a beautiful view at the end of the orchard, and it did not disappoint.

I’m afraid my camera does not do as good a job as a fancy camera.

There was a photo op area, so I asked to get a picture of my friends.

Every adventure is better with friends!

Full disclosure:  I did not get any apples, but the others filled two bags. This was conservative.  Jerry said he went a little crazy last year and got almost 40 pounds of apples.  He made apple pie, apple sauce, apple crisp, and he still had too many apples!  I must say he behaved himself on Saturday. While they went to pay for them, I went back to hear more music.

This is the shot where you can kind of sort of see the bass player.

I took a couple more pictures.  I always feel bad that I can see the three front men pretty good but rarely get a good shot of the bass player and drummer, who are also awesome.

This one almost shows the drummer.

Jerry danced with me for the last song we were there for.  It was a lovely time, and a lovely drive there and back.  And if Jerry makes any apple pie with the apples he gets, maybe he’ll save me a piece.

 

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Rather a Different Adventure

Posted on September 28, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

“Well, you’re really having your adventures today,”  my friend Jerry told me.  The adventure was supposed to be a visit to Windy Hill Orchards to pick apples and listen to my favorite band, The Posers.  We did that, and I will make a blog post about it (preview of coming attractions).  We went a different way home and found ourselves in the midst of quite a different adventure.  On Route 8. I thought I saw a small animal run across the road and up a side road.  When we got closer we saw it was a small dog.

“We have to turn around!” I said.  I was driving.  Jerry said there was someplace ahead, but I used a person’s driveway.  I know most folks don’t like that, but this was an emergency.  We quickly spotted the little pooch, about to walk up the driveway of a deserted trailer.  I jumped out of the car.  She came right to me, tail wagging (it wasn’t till later we determined it was a female, but for convenience’s sake, I will say she).

Picture taken much later, obviously.

Jerry held her in his arms as we got back on the road.  I declared my intention of taking the sweet dog home and putting her on Facebook and of checking Facebook lost pet pages.  Jerry could have taken her home, but it may have caused his Chiweenie, Chip, to go out of his mind.  We wanted to be considerate of Chip.  He is not a young dog.

Ignore the mess, admire the dog.

I have wanted to get my house more dog ready before adopting a pet.  Now I feel really stupid for taking so long about it.  However, the dog seemed very interested in walking around and sniffing at things.  I followed her around with my phone, hoping she would stand still enough for a photo op.  When she paused by the door and looked at me expectantly, I thought a walk might tire her out enough that she would stand still.  I could not find the leash I thought I still had so used a strap from one of my soft briefcases.

Picture taken while walking.

I don’t know if I was successful, but I was trying to get a shot of her unusual grooming.  The hair on her shoulders forward is longer than behind.  Clearly this dog has been groomed and taken care of.

Tomorrow I will reach out to the Humane Society to see if this girl is chipped.  I have posted to two lost pet sites and asked my friends to share my own post.  I would be most happy to give this nice dog a home, but I feel sure her peeps are missing her terribly, as she is certainly missing them.  Additionally, it is not ideal to adopt a dog about whom one knows nothing.

Of course I am happy to render what assistance I can to our furry friends.  But this is not the kind of Mohawk Valley Adventure I would recommend.  By the way, if anybody recognizes this pooch, please let me know!

 

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TGI Lame Post Friday

Posted on September 27, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Here I am trying to get back to being a daily blogger plugging the Mohawk Valley, but yet I am going to have a Lame Post Friday post today. My excuse?  I have no excuse; there is no excuse for me.  I enjoyed Happy Hour today.  Can you tell?

Lame Post Friday is traditionally the place where I share random observations and half-baked philosophy.  I did observe things today as I walked from my house by the post office (to mail a post card), past the Town Offiices (to drop off my taxes), on to Cliff’s Local Market where I used the ATM and purchased some candy (don’t judge me), then to Valley Wine and Liquor where I tasted some of the wares of Beak and Skiff of Lafayette, NY (preview of coming attractions).  I mostly admired the cloudy sky, but I enjoyed different houses and their various decorations and gardens.

A little bit of color!

This picture is actually from October 2024, but it shows about the percentage of color we are seeing currently.  Still, every bit of color is welcome.  Does that lead into a bit of half-baked philosophy about Enjoy What You Have; Don’t Worry About What You Have Not?  Discuss amongst yourselves.

She seems to feel cheery!

I close with a picture of Witchy, who is not currently on my front porch, but I hope she soon will be. I obviously have no great philosophical points to share.  Yet I hope this will be acceptable on Lame Post Friday.  I hope you are all have a delightful opening to your weekend.

 

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More Parking Lot Pictures

Posted on September 26, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Wednesday I ran early in the morning to beat the rain, and I ran through the Herkimer Junior Senior High School parking lot so I could use more pictures of the seniors’ parking spaces as illustration for a Running Commentary post.  Then I went a different way with my Wednesday post (as you may have read).  Today I ran in the afternoon, when I thought it had stopped raining.  I ran towards the high school, for the same reason, but cars were still parked in the lot as well as driving along the streets, and it just seemed a better idea not to go there.  However, that is no reason not to make a blog post using more of my parking lot pictures.

This one is cool!

I see two names on this one.  I don’t know if that means it is a shared space or merely collaborative artwork. Perhaps I ought to research these things.

Rewind or fast forward?

I had forgotten Kanye West’s full name.  I think he goes by “Ye” now, but I really do not follow rap.

This seems like an athletic guy.

I like the different lettering on this one.

A more minimalist approach.

This one seems quieter compared to some of the others, but that is what makes the parking lot as a whole such a work of art.  It takes all different kinds to make a world.  Let’s embrace it!

 

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A Delightful Dinner

Posted on September 25, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Today I found myself in Little Falls around dinner time and decided to check out Trattoria Giorgio’s.  It is in the space previously known as Ruggiero’s Trattoria, which I always liked.  I found that it is still a delightful place to eat.

I guess it’s also known as a Tap and Tavern.

I took a seat at the bar and perused the menu.  I wanted to get a glass of wine with my meal but would not know what to drink till I decided what to eat.  I went with one of the specials:  a grilled chicken BLT.  I thought it would pair well with Chardonnay.  I don’t really know a lot about wine pairings, but I know in general white goes with chicken.

While I waited for my food I worked on a letter to my sister Diane and chatted with the bartender and other patrons.  The bar is in a U shape, which is handy for  conversation.

My sandwich was delicious.  As usual, I cut it in half and took half home with me.  It came with chips, but I figured the chips wouldn’t travel well in the same box with the sandwich.  They were not the homemade kind anyways.  But I kept nibbling on them while I finished my drink.

I was in Little Falls to attend a meeting of the Flash Fiction group at Little Falls Public Library (preview of coming attractions).  If I make that a regular Wednesday thing, I may make dinner out a regular Wednesday thing too.  There are a few more places along Main Street in Little Falls I would like to eat at (another preview of coming attractions!).  But I will make Giorgio’s a regular stop.

Giorgio’s is located at 546 E. Main St., Little Falls, NY, phone number 315-823-1414.

 

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Late Post, More Art

Posted on September 23, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

After falling down on my daily blogging ambitions once again, I try to pick things up with a few more examples of parking lot artwork by Herkimer High School Seniors.  I ran by the art on once of my morning runs recently, a great addition of something fun to look at while I thunk along.

Who doesn’t love Spiderman?

This is a good one for me to run by, because for the next mile or so the Spiderman theme song plays in my head.  Yes, I know all the words.

Kitty is nice, too.

This is another one I wish I had gotten a better shot of.  Well, local readers are encouraged to take a walk down and check these out for themselves.  They are even better in person.

Is he surrendering? Or part of a wave?

I’m not sure who this fellow is, because I am not up on current popular characters.  Perhaps it is an invention of the senior who painted it.  That would be cool.

I like the lettering.

I do four instead of my usual three pictures, and I still have some left for future posts.  Which I hope to make in a timely fashion and stop missing days.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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Whiskey and Rye

Posted on September 20, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Thursday I made my way down to Valley Wine and Liquors in Herkimer, NY for a tasting with Cooperstown Distillery.  I went to Cooperstown Distillery some years ago with my late, dearly missed husband Steve, and knew they had good stuff.  And of course I am always up for checking out a local or area business.  I was very glad I went.

He was great.

The pourer was a nice young man named MacGuire Benton.  I told him having a last name for a first name was sexy.  I thought I could get away with a remark like that at my age.  At least he didn’t seem to mind.  By that time I had sampled all his wares and we had established something of a rapport.  He gave me lots of good information about the distillery, and encouraged me to return for another visit.

“They’ll take good care of you,” he said.

He said they get their grains locally from Crowe family farm in Canajoharie.  More local!  Spent grains are placed in an underground tank, and farmer’s take them for their cattle.  MacGuire said it was circle of life when he eventually ate a steak from a cow that ate some of their grains.  I speculated that whiskey grains made the cows happy, but I suppose that is just a bit of fantasy on my part.

I tasted a blended whisky, a rye (making reference to “good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye”), bourbon, and some single malt.  I like them all!  I am not much of a booze hound these days, being more of a winer (and and regular readers know, something of a whiner), but I got a bottle of the blended whiskey.  It will make for some good hot toddies if I get hit with a cold.  Or if I just feel like having a hot toddy.  Maybe a shot in a cup of coffee.  Or just on the rocks.  Oh dear, maybe I will become a booze hound after all!  Don’t worry: I won’t drink and drive!

I may, however, take a drive to Cooperstown Distillery (preview of coming attractions).  There are a few other things in Cooperstown I could check out.

 

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