Tag Archives: flowers

Flower Walk Part Two

In lieu of my usual Lame Post Friday,  I shall share the pictures from the second part of yesterday’s walk.  I had walked to the post office, donning a mask to go in and purchase stamps (flags for bill paying, flowers for personal).  I took a long way home.  It seemed to take a while to find another photo op.

I just can’t get enough flowering trees.

This is on the path over what used to be a hydraulic canal,  a favorite spot for me to walk or run, as regular readers know.  Further up the path, I saw some chalk art.

This was one I had no idea what it looked like when I took it.

That caption is an awkwardly constructed sentence.  Never mind. The sentiment expressed in the chalk art is a good one.  I continued onto German Street.  Since there is less traffic these days, I had no problem crossing the street for the next photo op.

Yay, seniors!

I see these signs all over, sometimes accompanied by one with a picture of the graduate.  I think it’s a great way to make things a little special for the kids who had their senior year cut short.

 

Rats, you can’t hardly read the sign.

Further down German, I saw the opportunity to plug a local business.  I wonder if I could persuade Steven to spend a night in a B&B not too far from home, just for something different.  I went back across the street to get a shot of the house.

I could have gotten a better shot from the middle of the street, but traffic was not that sparse.

Back home, I took a picture of some of my yard work, where I had cleared some space where the peonies are growing.

I hope for more pictures as spring progresses.

I also took one of some forget-me-nots.  These previously grew out back under the rhododendron but are now inexplicably out front.  I guess I do not properly understand flowers.

Pretty!

I like doing these pedestrian posts with pictures.  I hope for more walking weather next week.

 

Crazy Old Lame

I was about to make my Friday Lame Post when I decided to mix things up a little with a few pictures.  Accordingly, I put on some better footwear and ventured outside. A couple of neighborhood kids were riding their scooters up and down the street. I stayed out of their way. However, looking at my reflection in my Tablet before I got to camera mode, I realized I was in full Crazy Old Lady regalia. I start, therefore, with the last picture I took, just to give us all a laugh.

This doesn’t even show my sweatpants and sandals!

Yes, I have quarantine hair. Regular readers may remember I was supposed to get shaved for a St. Baldrick’s fundraiser,  only it got cancelled when all the schools were closed.  I shall patiently wait for my favorite stylist at Hot Spot Salon and Spa in Herkimer.

But I digress.  The main thing I wanted was a picture of a tree on my street which is just starting to get leaves.  I love the delicate green color.

I’m afraid you can’t see the color very well.  I will have to try again when the light is different.  In the meantime, I got a few more pictures that are worth sharing.

Preview of Coming Attractions.

This will be a tulip, if it does not get eaten before it blooms.  I also took a picture of some peonies that are just sprouting.

I think all the green stuff is daisies.

Going out back in search of more photo ops, I tried to get a shot of the sky plus a couple more trees.

I like it.

Next to our garage are some pink flowers that are coming up nicely.

We originally purchased the plant at a garden show at the Herkimer House in Little Falls, NY

These flowers have inexplicably migrated across the lawn, so I took a picture of them too.

Even prettier close up, if you’ll pardon the dead leaves.

So this is my Friday post.  I feel a little pleased with myself and can only hope the neighbors do not judge my crazy old lady appearance too harshly.

 

Cheery Pictures on Tired Tuesday

One of our talented local artists.

I thought I would open with a picture calculated to cheer myself up.  This was some neighborhood sidewalk art I took a picture of a week or more ago (regular readers know I rarely go back and check these things).  There was more artwork there recently, but it faded before I got out there with my Tablet.  I have been sitting here trying to psyche myself up for at least a Tired Tuesday post.  Sharing a picture finally got my mind moving.  Slowly, but any progress must be appreciated.

Another bit of cheer.

Here is a picture from last May, of a neighbourhood yard.  I hope to have a few tulips in my own front yard. I may purchase more bulbs to plant.  When do you plant tulip bulbs?  I’ll have to look that up.

I find this impressive.

This is our rhododendron in a previous year, just to share another picture of something I am looking forward to.  I guess this makes today’s post a Preview of Coming Attractions.

Irises are so graceful.

I also hope to see my irises again.  I really must plant more perennials.  Then I will have even more to look forward to in the future.  In any case, I have cheered myself up, and I hope I have done the same for you.

 

Signs of Spring

On today’s walk to the post office, I took a few pictures, so today won’t be a complete Wuss-out Wednesday.  It was cold but sunny, and I found a few signs of spring.

On a previous walk I had taken a picture of a lone daffodil trying to grow where last fall an invasive plant was growing.  That picture did not turn out well, but today I saw a couple more blooms so tried again.

Previous home of The Plant That Ate Bellinger Street.

 

Full disclosure: It did not eat the whole street.

Here is a picture of the invasive species, taken last August (perhaps you read my blog post about it).  It could have grown into horror movie proportions.  Maybe.

After dwelling fondly on memories of what might have been (meaning my ambition to write a horror novel), I turned around and tried to get a picture of the red buds on the trees nearer the road.

They looked prettier in real life.

I continued down Bellinger Street until I saw some lovely flowers in a front yard.

I positively must plant more perennials.

After mailing my correspondence (only one letter today), I continued my walk, hoping for more photo ops.  Then I remembered I wanted to get a shot of Olivia’s Happy Tails’ new location.  Full disclosure:  I have not patronized this business (I SO want to get a dog!), but they have sponsored Herkimer County Historic Society’s murder mysteries.

In the former home of the Evening Telegram!

I continued down the street and up Washington, where I thought I might as well give a shout-out to another local business: Carney’s Corners.  I have enjoyed many good subs and salads from Carney’s.

This may be a good idea for dinner tonight.

I decided to go by my favorite Historic Four Corners.  As I went, I saw a woman further up Washington singing on her front porch.  I did not get a picture, but I waved to her and she waved back.  Then I saw a tree with white flowers.  I love a flowering tree.

 

Pretty!

I said a prayer as I went by the funeral home, for those that cannot say a proper good-bye to their loved ones because of social distancing.

Spring flowers are such a comfort.

Back home, I remembered to walk out back to see if our daffodils had done anything.  They had.

I felt better for having taken a walk, and now I feel pretty good about sharing some spring time pictures.  Happy Wednesday, everyone!

 

Attempt at a Pedestrian Post

I saw a couple of things on my run this morning I wanted to take pictures of.  Since people tend to like my Pedestrian Posts with pictures,  I set out this afternoon with my Tablet.  I wore my crazy old lady hat, which has a wide brim, and my prescription sunglasses.  It was one of those walks where the bright sun made it hard to tell if pictures were any good.  Luckily, I think I have enough for a good post.

I hope you can see the buds.

The first thing I saw was a magnolia tree with buds that looked close to blooming.  I do love a magnolia tree.

The picture doesn’t do them justice.

Next I saw some daffodils.  My own daffodils have yet to make an appearance, but once I got my crocuses, I feel hopeful for everything.

These were right near the daffodils.

I continued down German Street towards Valley Health, where some miniature daffodils had caught my eye.

Aren’t they pretty?

What fascinated me about these blooms was that they were surrounded by dried crap from last fall.  Nobody had bothered to cultivate them, so it seemed, yet they were determined to spread beauty and happiness.  Or do I credit flowers with more thought processes than they actually posses?  I don’t really know about these things.

A longer view.

I tried to get a shot of the tiered beds that held the daffodils, but I don’t know how successful I was.  But you can see all the brown competing with them.

And now a note about writing:  a common piece of advice is do not worry about mood; start writing and the mood will follow.  It is not always true.  As I write this, each word is getting just a little bit harder.  I feel I should not share that, because, well why bother you with my petty problems?  And yet, other writers may find it comforting.

Or not.  In any case, I am over 300 words, and I still have enough pictures for tomorrow’s post.  I’m going to call this a Tired Tuesday post and drive on.

 

Walking on Wednesday

I took my Tablet with me on today’s walk to the post office.  For one reason, I had noticed a couple of cheery sights on my runs, and I like to share a cheery sight.  I found a few other cheery things to photo as I went.   As usual, the sun made it difficult to know at the time if the photos were any good.  Let us see.

I must find some paint suitable for rocks.

These were across the street from me.  I also saw rocks painted like bugs outside of Valley Health but have not yet walked up there with my Tablet.

Ooh, you can even see my pinky sticking out while I snap.

I was delighted to see some sidewalk art.  I took a few pictures of it.

A little too much shadow on this one.

 

I especially liked this image.

 

And the walk leading up to the house.

I took a longish way to the post office and found a few more photo ops.

You can just about see the “egg.”

This house had other Easter stand-ups, but I was trying to get the little gold ball next to the chick.  It looked to me like a leftover Christmas ball, but perhaps it was meant to be an Easter egg.

I love, Love, LOVE crocuses!

I walked up these people’s driveway to get a good shot of their crocuses.  I am SO going to put down more crocus bulbs in my yard this fall!

There by accident or design?

I think this was an artificial flower and possibly blew there from somewhere else, but I liked it, so I took a picture.

I think the idea is to walk along the snake. Looks fun to me!

This is on the path over what used to be a hydraulic canal.  There are other fun areas painted, but this was the easiest to photograph today.  Someday I hope to bring my great nephew and niece on the path.  I’ll be sure to make a blog post about it when I do!

In the meantime,  I am enjoying my solitary walks.  I highly recommend exercise in the fresh air when possible.

 

The Pictures Are Not Sick

Yesterday was an actual Blogger’s Sick Day. I came home from work early, went straight to bed and pretty much stayed there.  I got up at one point, thinking I would not be able to sleep for more than 12 hours anyways, but no luck.  I couldn’t even read much (OF COURSE I read, who do you think you’re talking to?). I won’t go into gory details except to say that even without sleeping, the best place for me seemed to be in bed lying still.  I hope I’m better now.

But I have not much to write a blog post about and very little brain with which to do it.  I know what: I’ll throw in a couple of pictures and call it a post.

I send myself flowers.

The Susans, Black-eyed and Brown-eyed, are just about over now, but here is a shot I took earlier in the season.  Pretty!  And the Brown-eyed magically appeared with no planting on our part.

Who doesn’t love a big, weird tree?

In continuation with the yard theme and in keeping with the Halloween season, here is Frankentree, so dubbed by our friend Eva.

Who could be uncheered by a smiling vampire?

Since I segued to Halloween with Frankentree, I end with a picture of one of my favorite Halloween decorations.  My dear friend Marsha sent me the pot.  I added the orange (it’s a t-shirt) and vampire.

Ooh, look, over 200 words, and I only whined for the first paragraph.  Score!

 

 

It’s Blooming Friday!

Hello, all, it is Lame Post Friday and I thought I would share a couple of pictures of my lawn and call it a post.  For one reason, our Rose of Sharon finally has a blossom and we are quite happy about it.

Look at that sweet bloom saying hello!

I walked around to the side to get another view, and saw that we have at least two more buds.

Can you see them?

I am utterly delighted to have some flowers on my Rose of Sharon.  We are also seeing more blooms on our Black-Eyed and Brown-Eyed Susans.

Here are the Black-Eyed!

I took two of the Brown-Eyed Susans.

Look how nice they are

 

There are more than two pictures can show.

Steven said he thinks he mowed down some of the Brown-Eyed Susans in previous years,  not knowing what they were.  That is entirely possible.  However, there is little point in dwelling on the past. We have flowers in our yard today.  I am going to call that a win.

I see I have not yet reached 200 words, my usual criteria for a respectable blog post.  That is unfortunate.  I don’t know if I have any other flowers I can take a picture of.   Full disclosure: this is Lame Post Friday and I am disinclined to try. But I believe I have reached 200 words while dithering about it.

Happy Friday,  everyone!

 

Picture-filled Pedestrian Post

I finished a letter to my sister, Diane, and thought I would take a walk to the post office with it.  For one reason, I neither ran nor walked this morning and I need the exercise.  For another reason, I could take my Tablet with me and take pictures for a Pedestrian Post.

I actually started out with some trepidation.   After all, I have walked this way many, many times, at least a few with my Tablet.   Could I find anything new to take a picture of?  I decided to trust my luck and set out.

The plant that ate Bellinger Street?

I have been noticing these prickly bushes taking over what used to be a nice front yard garden.  I’m not sure if anybody currently lives in the house, but if anyone moves in, I hope they have clippers!

I think a professional company does the flowers.

I decided to take a picture of Saint Francis, in front of the church of that name.  He is a little backlit, but we can just pretend that’s his halo.  I continued on through Meyer’s Park.

You can’t see the school seals, but you can read the poem.

As I walked across the park to take a picture of the 9/11 Memorial Garden, I noticed this bench I had never seen, donated by Herkimer High School Class of 1959.

Another shot that didn’t turn out as well as I had hoped.

And here is the Memorial Garden.  You can’t read it, but the bench says what it is.

I don’t think I have shared a picture of this before, but no promises.

After mailing my letter, I decided to get a shot of the Methodist Church across the street. Then I thought I would stroll over to Washington Street and take a picture of the old Lorraine Billings School. I found a couple other photo ops first.

I hope to write more about this place eventually.

This was the Baptist Church but is now the future home of the Business and Professional Association of Herkimer.

Pretty flowers.

Next I turned around and took a picture of some Queen Anne’s Lace I had noticed.  I have some of that in my lawn, but not as many blooms.  When I was a kid we used to pick it and put it in water with food coloring.

When it was for sale, they advertised it as a “Brick Bonanza.”

I’ve always been rather fascinated with this building.  I do not know who currently owns it or what might eventually happen to it.

Good subs, among other tjings.

Just to throw in a plug for a local business,  I took a shot of Carney’s Corners.  We often get take-out or delivery from them (but for beer, I go to Beer Belly Bob’s in Ilion).

I’ve been here many times.

I decided to turn down Mary Street and take a picture of the Elks Lodge.  I have performed there with LiFT, the Little Falls Theatre Company,  in Shakespeare plays and murder mysteries.  I wonder if they’ll have us back soon.

The DMV is here.

Continuing up the street, I got a picture of the county office building.  Next was Christ Episcopal Church.   I know I have taken pictures of that, so I took one of the sign and surrounding flowers.

The Episcopal church is very welcoming.

Turning up Main Street, I soon found myself at my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.  Rather than photographing the buildings, which I know I have done, I took a picture of the historic marker in front of the 1834 Jail, again including some flowers.

Again, you probably can’t read it, but I’ve written about the jail and will no doubt do so again.

After that, I headed for home, ignoring any further photo ops.  I was afraid my post would be too long, and I see it is beyond my usual length.  Thank you to whoever has stayed with me till the end!

 

Wednesday Walk

I went running this morning in hopes of making a Running Commentary post. Also for the physical and mental benefits, of course, which is good, because my brain did not want to cooperate on the blog post.  Adhering to my rule of Any Writing Counts,  I finished a letter to my sister Diane (YES, we write snail mail letters to each other; it’s fun, you should try it).  After finally talking myself into walking to the post office with it,  I decided to take my Tablet and get a few pictures.  So here is your Mid-week Pedestrian Post.

It was not as warm out as I had feared, because clouds covered the sky.  A few raindrops were falling, but I hoped for the best. So far so good when I saw some daisies I thought I’d take a shot of.  They looked almost as good as my daisies.

Hmm… not as good a picture as I took of mine either.

I had hoped to get a shot of some peonies in Meyer’s Park, but they were past peak.  I petted an adorable little dog but did not ask if I could take a picture,  because raindrops were falling again (did anybody else just flash on “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head”?) and I figured her person wanted to get home.   Then I thought to take a picture of the sign that makes me flash on the climactic scene in Poltergeist.

“You son of a bitch, you moved the gravestones but YOU DIDN’T MOVE THE BODIES!!!”

At the post office I paused as usual to look at the fliers of local events.

Preview of Comings Attractions

On my way home I paused at three large rocks.  I would love to have a few such boulders for my own meager attempts at landscaping.

Cue jokes about how the rocks in my head are probably as big.

I also got a shot of a front yard garden I particularly admire.

It would be even better if I had a shot of how overgrown this yard used to be.

The raindrops had been starting and stopping,  but I got home before the downpour began in earnest.  I paused to take a picture of our dinosaur-looking tree.  I wanted to document its progress.

It’s so unusual.

The rain is pouring down now, and it is the movie-watching portion of the day.  Happy Wednesday,  everyone.