Tag Archives: cold weather

A Walk in the Cold

Posted on February 11, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have been way too sedentary with the bad weather, so I thought I would take a walk with my phone and make a Pedestrian Post with Pictures.  For one reason, it was supposed to be warmer today: double digits at least!  I wrote a post card to an aunt, thinking I could walk by the post office, put on a coat, hat, mittens, and boots (not in that order), and set out.

The beauty part about walking through the snow is that it is more of an effort than walking on bare pavement.  Full disclosure:  sometimes I went into the road and walked on bare pavement.  I need to get out and walk more.  My legs got tired easily!

I believe the time was accurate.

This is not the first picture I took, but I thought it would look good as the photo showing when I share the link on Facebook.  It is on Albany Street in Herkimer, in front of Crazy Otto’s Empire Diner, which I did not get a picture of.  Silly me. What I would have liked to get a picture of was Meyers Park. It was a grey and gloomy day, and the bare trees looked really cool against the sky.  The gazebo looked a little forlorn, not at all how it looks when the bands are on it at the Herkimer Downtown ChowDown.  But I had no faith in my abilities, and I could not decide which angle to shoot from anyways.

Yes, I stop here sometimes; judge me if you like (you know who you are).

If I had wanted to walk with a nefarious purpose, as I did on a long ago blog post, I could have stopped at The End Zone.  Don’t think I wasn’t tempted.  It was colder than I thought it was!

Another local watering hole of note.

Likewise, I did not stop at Pete’s Tavern.  I kept walking, checking my watch to see how long I had walked.  The wind picked up, and I was sorry I had not worn a scarf.  I soon decided three pictures was enough, the walk was long enough, I was going home!  By this time I had walked far enough that the walk ended up being just over a half hour.  That seems healthy enough for me.

And my blog post is approaching 400 words.  That seems healthy, too.  I’ll try for a Mohawk Valley Adventure tomorrow.

 

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Not a Competition on Wrist to Forehead Sunday

Posted on February 9, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have been busy all morning thinking I was not getting anything done, then not getting anything done.  It is not easy being me, but it is mildly entertaining.  I pause in my inactivity for a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  It is frigidly cold out today, as it was yesterday.  I ventured out yesterday and intend to do so again today, to go to the Elks Lodge for some fellowship and perhaps a glass of wine.  I will bundle up.

Look how chubby my cheeks are!

The coat I am wearing used to be Steve’s, although he rarely wore it.  He was more of a jacket guy.  One of our rummage sale finds, I think.  I do not remember where we got the hat, but it is one of those hood-like things that wreaks havoc on your hair-do.  Luckily, I rarely do my hair.  The scarf is one I made, using up several stray balls of yarn.

The reason I took the picture is that a friend posted a selfie on Facebook of him with a winter hat pulled all the way down over his face.  Then he put glasses on and took another picture.  It was very amusing, so I got inspired.  I posted the above selfie and told him to eat his heart out.  Then I said it was just kidding; it was not a competition.

I guess that little story is no reason for me to swoon, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead.  Never mind.  It is a blog post.  I’m posting it.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Running into 2026!

Posted on January 2, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

This morning I ran for the first time since the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls, NY on Dec. 13.  People like to say, “Sometimes you just have to force yourself.”  Well, I did not force myself.  I decided to run today, and I did.  And it was great! It was quite cold, and the roads were far from bare, but I felt damn good and ran for over a mile and a half.

The sky was not that blue, for one thing.

I cannot find a winter picture of Herkimer’s Historical Four Corners in my Media Library, but that is the first place I ran.  I wanted to do a Running Commentary Post so purposefully ran by places I knew I had pictures of.  Just imagine a lot of snow.  I ran in the road for the most part, sticking to new fallen snow when possible, because snow gives you a little traction.  I did not trust the slush but did not run into any problems.

Right away I was amazed at how good the run felt, and how my body did not seem to have any problems with it.  It wasn’t even too difficult breathing in the cold.  At first there was little breeze, which was great.  Later when the wind picked up, I said, “Rats!”  But I kept going.

I do not do everything I am told to do.

I went by a couple of Do Not Enter signs, entering of course.  I KNOW they are talking about vehicular traffic not crazy old ladies.  Just let me enjoy my rebel cred.

I’ll go here later to celebrate the new year a little more.

After one Do Not Enter sign, I ran by the Elks Lodge.  Joining the Elks was one of the highlights of my 2025.  Lots of nice people there, and they do a lot of good for the community.

I kept it up for almost 26 minutes, 1.71 miles.  I was just happy my first mile was under 16 minutes.  Real runners know that is a very slow mile, but I do not apologize.  I was out there improving myself.  Never mind how much room there is for improvement!

 

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Nice Walk, But Little Spring in my Step

Posted on March 20, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Monstrous Monday post on Tuesday, Tired Tuesday post on Wednesday, I’ve done it before and I will no doubt do it again.  I took a walk yesterday after work, thinking to do a Pedestrian Post with Pictures.  I took two but passed a few places I have pics of in my Media Library.  Let us see what I can come up with.

It was cold.  With Mother Nature’s macabre sense of humor, she gave us spring-like weather last week and winter weather on the first day of spring.  I dressed accordingly, wearing a lovely red cape/coat I picked up at a rummage sale but have rarely worn.  Searching for a hat worthy of it, I found one that had been crocheted for me by my dear friend Heather (I had sent her baby afghans for her beautiful newly-adopted twins) (oh, I also sent her a scarf I knitted; maybe the hat was in thanks for that) (and here I am bragging about stuff I send other people. What an ego!  What have I done for anyone lately?) (that last was a rhetoric question).

Where was I?  Ah yes, taking a walk.

Two venerable buildings.

I walked from my house to German Street, eventually turning down Main Street, where I passed my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.  I continued down Main past the former Christ Episcopal Church, which I used to attend.  It is no longer a church, and the For Sale sign is gone.  I wonder what the future will bring for that lovely building.  The other building in the in the picture is the Herkimer County Courthouse.

There was a bank on the side of the road I was on.  I noted a Do Not Enter sign on the drive-thru. Regular readers know that I just love to enter when they say not to.  No cars were currently using the drive-thru, so I walked through it the wrong way.  I took a picture to commemorate the event.

I maintain my rebel cred.

The wind picked up as I continued my walk, so I cut things short.  I went through the park by Basloe Library (must make a trip there in the near future), went by a No Not Enter sign onto Bellinger Avenue and thence home.

I KNOW they mean cars, not old ladies walking; let me enjoy my little rebellions!

I took a selfie when I got home, thinking to post it on Facebook, so Heather would know I am still wearing her lovely hat.  I take terrible selfies.  They remind me that I am not nearly as cute as I like to think I am.  Then again, we are none of us the best judges of our own looks.  And I tell myself, “For heavens’ sake, how cute does a sixty-year-old lady have to be?”

Don’t look at me; look at the hat!

My walk ended up being 20 minutes, just under one mile.  I was and am glad I took a walk.  Exercise is a potent anti-depressant, and I need all the help I can get!

 

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Was It a Self-Indulgent Run?

Posted on March 30, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I would do a Running Commentary Post. For one reason, I went running. As I freely admit, what I do is called running only by the most generous definition of the term. However, I was out on the sidewalk moving my feet and putting in effort. I feel I deserve some credit at least.

It was a pretty afternoon with bright sunlight and bare pavement. The temperature was less inviting, but I put on leggings, long sleeves, gloves, and a knitted headband. This would be fine. I set out with modest goals and high hopes of meeting them.

I had reckoned without the wind. Where did that come from? And did it have to be right in my face? Apparently it did, because it seemed to change direction almost every time I did. I don’t think I felt it at my back the entire run. I know this is not logical, but how do you explain it? We all know I do not run fast enough to create my own wind resistance.

The best I could do was to keep plodding along as best I could. I decided 15 minutes would be acceptable. It was more than a mile. Stop judging me! I told you in the first paragraph I run slow! My cool down walk was also shorter than usual, eight minutes instead of ten.

As I walked my cool down, I told myself I could feel good about getting out there at all. Then, being me, I questioned whether I was being self-indulgent or at least unambitious. Was I, in essence, giving myself one of those despised Participation Trophies? As I type this in now, I feel these questions are best left for Lame Post Friday, the proper home for half-baked philosophy.

In the meantime, I have made my Tuesday post on Tuesday. At the risk of being self-indulgent, I say, “Yay, me!”

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Better Lame Than Never

Posted on January 29, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am pretty sure I used this title (too lazy to go back and look). I don’t even have a good excuse for not making my Lame Post Friday post on Friday. And I don’t have much to say now, either. But let’s see what I can come up with.

Our year round ghoul.

I put in a picture of Elliott Ghoul, because he said something as I typed in the previous paragraph. We put him in the window one Halloween, and I enjoyed him so much, I insisted he stay. We added the hat for Christmas, and you can see the reflection of Santa Claus on the window. Santa is still out there, but I think the hat is gone (again, too lazy to check).

Today promises to be a frigid cold day with wind chill and everything. Steven vows not to leave the house. It does not bode well for Mohawk Valley Adventures. Oh dear, will I be reduced to cleaning the house? SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!

Pretty!

Feeling blank of anything to say, I sought another picture. I settled on the crocuses, because many of us are longing for spring. However, I try not to wish too hard for what patience will bring me. I am a big believer in trying to enjoy Right Now. I am not always successful at it, but I think it would be a good idea if I was.

Will I enjoy today? I certainly intend to. I hope to write a blog post about it. My Saturday Post on Saturday? A little suspense adds interest to my day.

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Is This Not a Lame Blog Post?

Posted on January 15, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to another Lame Post Friday post. Full disclosure: I am feeling particularly lame and brain dead this evening. However, I have had enough late posts lately, and there is no guarantee I will be any less brain dead in the morning.

I think I am finally going to have a weekend of NOT running around doing stuff. Of course a lot of the stuff I do is fun, or supposed to be (after all, everything can’t live up to expectations). It is supposed to be dangerously cold tomorrow, and we plan to spend the day at home not getting frost bite.

Hmmm…. It seems I plan a negative weekend: not running around, not getting frost bite. I wonder what else I will not do. There is a good chance I will not clean my house. I will probably not go running, because, you know, frost bite. I feel certain I will not fight with my husband, because I almost never do. I will not stream any videos, because I do not know how.

Those are things I might have been reasonably expected to do. Now I am thinking I should mention a few silly things. I will not enter a beauty pageant. I will not try to get a suntan.

I will not make any more foolish blog posts? No promises.

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Was I Chilling Out?

Posted on January 12, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’m back to my old tricks of late, foolish posts, but, as a co-worker likes to say, you’ll have that. At least, with this blog you will. I make no apologies but mention it with perhaps a bit of sheepishness. I intend to bill this as a Tired Tuesday Post, because I was in fact too tired to attempt event anything foolish.

Yesterday was the coldest day so far this winter. How the times have changed! I remember when Steve and I lived in the North Country (Norwood, NY to be exact). We would have stretches of days when the temperatures did not make it above zero. Oh, how happy we were when we got a heat wave of 2 degrees, and when we got to double digits — woohoo! And when we had to or wanted to leave the house (apartment), we damn well did and made no bones about it.

So much for the trip down memory lane. As the cliche goes, that was then and this is now. My point in bringing it up is that I blame yesterday’s tiredness on being cold all day long. My place of employment is not well insulated, and there is are large doors that open and close at irregular intervals. YES, I am happy I have a job! Please don’t start with the Just-Be-Thankful-Thats. You know who you are, and I find it a singularly annoying thing to hear.

Anyways, I have blathered on for at least 200 words (over 250 by the time I get to the end of this paragraph). Perhaps I should apologize about the dull content of the post. Bitching about winter weather in Central New York. How singularly unoriginal. I’ll blame it on brain freeze.

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Rocked the Run, Not the Post

Posted on March 8, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I know from reading my Facebook “On This Day” that I can rock down to 10 degrees. At least, I read that I once posted, “Turns out I can rock down to 10 degrees.” I would not post such a thing if I had not in fact rocked 10 degrees on a recent run. I thought about that as I shuffled through yet another cold run.

You must not judge me for shuffling. In the best of conditions my middle-aged shuffle is the best pace for my middle-aged chest, even with the best of sports bras (do NOT say “TMI!”). When there is ice on the road, the shuffle is an important safety precaution.

Today was one of those runs where, when I started out, I thought it was too cold, a 20 minute run would suffice. But I ran for 34 minutes. Additionally, I do not require myself to run hills on bad roads (I recently wiped out walking up an icy sidewalk). However, I ran up two minor hills. Best of all, I ran by four signs that said “Do Not Enter” and entered.

Only there was snow.

This is an earlier picture of one of my “Do Not Enter” signs. I like to feel like a rebel. I know, I know, they mean cars not middle-aged shufflers. Let me enjoy my small triumphs.

The run started to feel pretty OK as I went. Of course I long for bare roads and warmer temperatures, but one must make do. I’m afraid I must make do with a kind of a dull blog post as well. It was not that exciting of a run. I felt pleased with myself as I ran uphill, as it became increasingly clear that I was going to run for a decent length of time, and as I came across another “Do Not Enter” sign to thwart.

But I cannot recall any specific thoughts or moments to make this a true Running Commentary Post. Still, it is a post, and one I am not typing in at 5 or 6 o’clock Monday morning, I’ll call that a win. Happy Sunday, everyone.

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Cold Sunday Run

Posted on February 8, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did go running this morning, and oh was it ever cold! I thought I would make a Sunday Running Commentary Post to make it worth my while.

I have not been running during the week lately, which is very bad of me. I walked to and from work three days this past week, but that is only eleven or twelve minutes each way (yes, I look at my watch and check). Well, one does what one can. I strive always for improvement. Hence, running both weekend days and beginning the week with hope.

My thermostat said the outdoor temperature was 17, which is practically 20, so I hoped for the best. At least I found both mittens. They are really good mittens, which I accidentally stole from my sister Diane some years ago.

As it turned out, my hands were my only warm parts. And they got cold when I took off the mittens to blow my nose, which I obvious had to do a lot. Why oh why, did I have to be running into the wind? Why oh why did the wind have to change direction every time I did?

I had told myself I only had to run for 15 minutes. I ran for 20 on Saturday. There is no harm in doing short runs when I have not been running much. I have plenty of time to build up for this year’s Boilermaker 15K.

The cold was really my only problem. My legs, my back, my breathing all felt fine. I was quite discouraged by the weather, because I could not enjoy the run very much. At least the roads were mostly bare.

I kept it up for 18 minutes, which I felt was pretty good. I see this blog post is approaching 300 words, which also ought to feel pretty good. Unfortunately I fear they have been dull words, but I can’t seem to help that. Maybe the cold froze my brain. On the other hand, I can always count this as a Wrist to Forehead Sunday. I hope to see you all again on Monday.

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