Tag Archives: claw machine

My Two Duck Day

Posted on August 21, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that title this morning, when I told a stranger it was a two duck day for me.  But let me back up and lead with a very silly picture of me.

Enough bling even for me!

I met my Elk friends for breakfast this morning.  Bonnie was returning from a trip to Disney, and she had brought presents!  I was quite delighted with my sparkly Minnie Mouse ears, although I fear I will need a whole new outfit to really do them justice.

We met at the Friendlys on Burrstone Road in New Hartford, which has one of those claw machines with little ducks in it.  I had gotten a little duck the last time we had breakfast there.  My friend Michele said she was going to give me money to get her a duck today.  Alas, the machine with the little ducks was out of order!  I told her the next time I was in Ilion, I would stop by Colonial Laundromat, where they have a claw machine which is try till you win.

“Only they don’t just have ducks; they have other little animals,” I warned her.  “So I might not get a duck.”

Spoiler Alert! I got a duck!

I impulsively drove through Ilion.  It was hardly out of my way.  It was a good thing that machine was try till you win, because it took me a while to get that duck!  Still, it was the exact duck I wanted.  I can’t wait to give it to Michele.  A lady doing her laundry congratulated me on my win.  Then I saw a vending machine with all ducks for 75 cents.

Who could resist a little squishy duck?

“It’s a two duck day for me,” I told the lady.  And just like that, I had my blog post.

 

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High Temperatures, Lame Blog Posts

Posted on July 4, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh crap, I forgot to make my blog post earlier!  AND I already used my “I’m MELTING!” picture earlier this week.  Who knew I would be melting even worse today?  I guess anybody who was watching the weather reports, which in fact, I have been.  Anyways, it is Lame Post Friday, so I am just going to rattle on for 200 or so words, perhaps indulging in a few random observations or some half-baked philosophy. It is Friday; I checked.

There are wine tastings on Fridays.

This is a picture from last week at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY.  Full disclosure:  It may have been Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.  They have tastings all three of those days.  I believe they do not have a tasting tomorrow, on the Fourth. I did not attend yesterday’s tasting.  I am thinking of going to today’s tasting, which has already started.  It runs till six.  I have time. I just have to put my pants back on (do NOT say TMI) (you know who you are).

I do not have mine in a row, by the way

I throw in a duck, because who doesn’t love a duck (if it is you, I believe you have come to the wrong blog, because I love ducks and often include them)?  That is a duck I won in a claw machine in Boulevard Diner in Whitesboro and subsequently presented to my friend Michele on her birthday.  I won a spangly blue duck in a claw machine at Friendly’s in New Hartford yesterday.  It is presently residing on my coffee table, which really needs cleaning.

It is, in fact, too hot for me to worry about cleaning my house right now.  Perhaps I can get something done after the heat of the day today or before the heat of the day tomorrow.  Will it be worth a blog post?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my weekend.

 

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Potato Pancakes for Breakfast at Boulevard

Posted on March 21, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

My group of friends that meets weekly for breakfast decided on Boulevard Diner in Whitesboro, NY this week.  I had been there once a long time ago, and I know it has a very good reputation, to I was happy to go there. I knew right where it was, too.  No problemo!

Of course, just because I know where it is does not mean I know how to get there.  In my defense, things  can get a little confusing in the greater Utica area.  It was 2011 when I stopped driving in that area on an almost daily basis.  Also, I have a terrible sense of direction in addition to not reliably knowing my right from my left (that’s a thing, you know, it’s not just me).

Cool clock.

My friends were already there when I found the place but had not ordered yet.  I had no idea what I wanted but found several tempting items on the menu.  I ordered last, which turned out to be a good thing.  Bonnie, who ordered just before me, got Potato Pancakes.  Potato Pancakes!  I didn’t see that, and I don’t remember ever seeing it on a breakfast menu.  I got that, too.  They were delicious.

Before we left, I had to try to win a duck out of the claw machine.  My late, dearly missed husband Steve was really into those machines, so I give them a try once in a while in his memory.  I put two quarters in, realized it needed a dollar, could not find two more quarters. I went back to the table where Michelle nicely gave me two quarters.  I won a duck!

I didn’t have a striped one!

I told Michelle the duck was half hers, but I took it home.  I think she was as pleased as I was that I won it.  Later that day I found I did so have two more quarters, so returned her investment.  Maybe the next time I win a duck in a machine, I will give it to Michelle.

The Boulevard Diner is located at 24 Roosevelt Dr., Whitesboro, NY.

 

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