Tag Archives: Frankentree

But Is It a Frankeny Blog Post?

Sh!  Don’t tell anybody, but it is Thursday morning as I do a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post.  Once again, I question why I have to call attention to my sins of omission.  Then I laugh at myself for saying, “Sh! Don’t tell anybody” when I am blaring it over the blogosphere.  Anyways, who are you going to tell?  What difference can it make to anyone if one person who calls herself a daily blogger misses a day here and there?  But this is getting into half-baked philosophy more suited to Lame Post Friday.  Quick, throw in a picture, before I got too bogged down.

Looks kind of like Janus.

Amongst the daisies which run wild in my front yard, I found a double one so had to take a picture.  I clipped it and brought it in the house, using a champagne flute for a vase.  Ooh, that makes me have a craving for champagne.  I haven’t had any in a while.

Not my tree, unfortunately.

I saw a tree like my beloved Frankentree while out on a walk and had to take a picture.  My own tree is not so Frankeny anymore since my sister Cheryl took a chainsaw to it.  In her (and my) defense, the branches she cut off were mostly brown.  I’d like to take the rest of the tree down and maybe plant one of those flowery ones in its place, but that’s for the future.

My tree now. Note the wild daisies in the foreground.

He was not a Frankenhusband.

And here is what my tree used to look like, shown with my late, dearly missed husband Steve.  But these are two pictures from the past, so I will end with one more new one.

That reminds me, I need to go for a walk.

Here is another shot of the walking trail at Town of Herkimer Park, the subject of yesterday’s post.  I have a few more pictures I didn’t share yet, so I may write more about that attractive setting.  And I will definitely go back and walk the trail.

 

A Lot of Help from my Family

A long time ago, my father did the laundry, and my mother marveled that she had been visited by the Laundry Fairy.

“The Laundry Prince,” Dad corrected her in a dignified tone of voice.

Well, the Porch Prince and two Lawn and Deck Princesses visited my house yesterday while I was at work, performing miracles for which I am very grateful.  And a little ashamed, because I feel as a homeowner I ought to be taking care of these things myself.  However, we all need help sometimes, and I am so blessed to have a family that helps me.  After all, I often quote the song,  “I get by with a little help from my friends.”  My family are my best friends!

I do not have before pictures of the porch, but it was in sorry shape.  It was concrete that had been eaten away by erosion, largely because Steve and I never replaced the gutter which the guy took off when he repaired the porch roof after we had just moved in.  One of those things we always meant to get to but really only remembered about when it rained.  I really wanted a wooden porch, and Dad had an idea to use the concrete steps as a base for building one.  My Dad can build or fix anything!

He is amazing!

My sister Cheryl, one of the Lawn and Deck Princesses, sent me pictures.  That was when I realized she was going to do something about Frankentree.  I knew she wanted to, using the chain saw she had recently purchased (and not being one to perpetuate the Mohawk Valley Chainsaw Massacre) (I add for the amusement of my horror-movie loving readers), but I had rather thought she would pick a day when I would be there to help.  She texted, “Too late!”

Who knew it could look like that?

I may have a a before picture of Frankentree.  I guess I will have to give him a new name, since he looks all of a piece now.

This is from 2020.

The tree had only gotten more out of control, with a lot of the lower branches dying off.  The lawn, also, has gotten out of control, largely because I have allowed the daisies and other invaders to grow unchecked.  Mom and Cheryl cleaned out all under and around the tree, as you can see.  They left the daisies, because some blooms remained, but I will be cutting them back soon.  Cheryl suggested that I dig them up and replant them closer to the porch.

My back deck, too, has needed some work.  It was covered with leaves from the tree which gives it so much shade.  My two Princesses performed miracles there, too.

I may actually get to deck sit this year!

My three benefactors were waiting for me when I returned from work.  They showed me everything they had done and offered suggestions for what I should do next.  If only I could think of some way to properly thank them!  They already have plenty of afghans.  Any suggestions?

 

My Blogging Aspirations Continue

Here is one problem I have with going back to being a daily blogger:  lately I do not do enough blog-worthy things.  When I occasionally do something, I neglect to blog about it.  For example, last Wednesday I went to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY with my friend Kathy and enjoyed the music of Max Scialdone along with some good food.  I not only did not write a blog post about it, I did not take any pictures for future blogging purposes.  I did not even take the usual picture with my phone which I immediately post on Facebook and invite others to come out.

Christmas decorations were still up.

I looked in my Media Library for a picture of Max Scialdone but was unsuccessful.  However, I was able to find this picture of Fratello’s.  Those same nutcrackers were there last Wednesday. I will just mention that I am still learning how to navigate my Media Library on this Chromebook.  It is quite a learning curve for me.  But what a joy to ten-finger type while lounged on my couch.

Frankentree is bigger these days.

This is a shot from 2018.  I wanted one of snow, because winter has returned to the Mohawk Valley with a winter storm (I guess; I don’t know from meteorological designations) yesterday evening.  I will need to do some shoveling today.  I hope I can find my shovel.  I wonder how interesting I can make a blog post about my old creaky body trying to clear my driveway and sidewalk.  I imagine it will be at least as interesting as me whining about how I am not blogging and have little to blog about anyways.  As always, I hope you will stay tuned.

A Little Snow, A Little Post…

I shall make my Throwback Thursday Post on Thursday.  I hope.

Some call it the four letter word that begins with S.

I go to November 2020 in my Media Library to find some snowy pictures to share.  The Mohawk Valley got its first snowfall of the season on Wednesday.  At least, it is possible that some areas already saw a flake or two in the air (cue bad jokes about me being a flake), but I did not hear about them.  Wednesday morning I went for my first snowy run since last spring.  It was not too bad, but I did not take any pictures.

He’s so cute!

This jaunty snowman stood in a yard on German Street that November.  I have not made a snowman in years.  Perhaps I will make one this year.

At least the sidewalks are bare.

Here is a shot from March 2018.  By March most of us are heartily sick of winter.  Right now, to me, it is kind of fun.  I know some people are in despair already.  Sorry, guys (I use “guys” in a unisex manner).

The Abominable Frankentree?

I think our Frankentree looks a little scary covered with snow.  One might argue that I look for monsters everywhere.  My reply us, “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”  Maybe I am just wishing I had done a Mid-Week Monsters Post.

 

Halloween Decorations: Part Two

I think sharing a few more pictures of my Halloween decorations will make for a delightful Monstrous Monday Post.  It will be delightful for me at any rate.  Also, I am too tired to think of much else (I fear I am becoming tiresome with all these complaints about feeling tired.  I’ll have to work on that).

“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”

I used that caption before when I shared a picture of this guy, but I think it is funny so I dare to use it again.  I shook things up by putting him on the other side of Frankentree from where he was last year.

She looks so cheerful.

Witchie was the first decoration I put up after hanging the lights.  All I had to do was take off her angel costume (which I put on her for Christmas) and put her on a table.  Yes, she has been sitting on our porch all year.

He could use some more white drapery.

I used Witchie’s angel dress to make Santa’s ghost costume. I picked up the mask at a garage or rummage sale some time ago.

We only have one railing.

Going back up the porch stairs, I will show you what else is on the porch.

For the mail carrier’s entertainment.

OK, this is the last picture.  It was a pick in a flower arrangement I was given some years ago.  I stuck it through the hole in the mail box and said, “I am done decorating! ”

 

Halloween Decorations: Part One

Regular readers know I do not have my act together but hold the hope that I may have at some future date.  We will not consider how forlorn that hope may be.  I did do one thing today that I have been meaning to do (regular readers also know that Do One Thing is kind of a mantra of mine):  I put some Halloween decorations out on my front porch and yard.

First view of Frankentree.

I actually have quite a few pictures so may stretch this out over two or three posts.  In this picture you can’t really tell why this is a Frankentree and not just a regular one, but here are the first few decorations I put on him.  I thought I was done but found a couple of scarecrows and a Broomhead and decided they could go on the tree, too.

Here you can see a little more of the tree’s Frankenness.

I decided to stick the scarecrows in as if they were being eaten by the tree.  I am afraid they look a little too cheerful to sustain the illusion, but one does what one can.  Quite frankly, it was the easiest thing I could think of to do at the time.  I had already been up,and down the stepladder unhanging and hanging lights and was ready to be done.

Sorry, Lady Scarecrow.

I had not meant to leave her hanging like this, but when it happened I thought “Hey, That’s kind of scary.”  It reminded me of a scene from a movie we saw recently on Svengoolie, I think it was called Gargoyles.  A lady was left hanging upside down on a telephone or some such pole.  The funny thing about that was, I swear I can remember seeing that scene one Saturday afternoon or evening roughly a hundred years ago when my siblings and I used to try to find scary movies on television (back when cable got you about seven channels, including the major networks).  But I digress.

I’m so glad I found Broomhead!

Full disclosure:  it No longer looks like the dinosaur is about to bite Broomhead’s arm.  The dinosaur fell off and I tried to stick him back on more securely.  I’ll have to take another picture.

First, though, I have other pictures from today to share.  I hope to get to them tomorrow.

 

Can You Picture Me Taking a Walk?

I was too tired yesterday to make even a Tired Tuesday post.  I did, in fact, type in one sentence:  “I am SO TIRED!!!”  I did not save it so do not know why I feel compelled to re-type it in and share it now, but that’s me for you.  I went for a walk this morning but am not sure it will make a good Pedestrian Post, due to my inability to take good pictures.  However, I shall try.

I turned on the dining room light to put on my sneakers and left it on, because I was wondering how well our ghoul, Elliott Ghoul, looked from the street.  Elliott Ghoul is one of the Halloween decorations we keep up year round.  I like to keep his sound on too, but Steven turned it off, because Elliott kept waking him up when he takes a nap on the couch.  Outside, I observed that Elliott does show to passersby, although he can be blocked by Frankentree.

He looks even more spooky when he’s all blurry!

I tried to take a picture from the sidewalk.  First I zoomed in, which I can sometimes do.  Other times, I think I am zooming but instead I change it to selfie mode.  I hate it when that happens!

You can see one of Frankentree’s branches on the left.

I zoomed back out to show part of the porch, then started on my walk.  I usually walk the same way in the morning:  to the spring on Lou Amber Drive.  It is good for me, because I carry a bottle of water and drink it while I walk to the spring, then I re-fill it and continue to sip. It makes for more hydration than I usually get first thing in the morning.

The only exciting thing that happened on this morning’s walk was when I encountered a skunk on Church Street, as I headed home with my spring water.  Yikes!  I was luckily a couple of houses away when I saw what was clearly NOT a cat or bunny.  I quickly crossed the street then wondered if I dared keep walking in that direction, which was still toward the animal.  I took a few hesitant steps.  He (or she) turned and walked up a lawn towards a house.  Phew!  I did not take a picture.

However, on a walk last month, I took a picture of the full moon that I will now share.  It was not a fully successful picture, which is one reason I have not shared it thus far.  I had a thought of using it in a Pedestrian Post with the title, “No Moon Shot,”  but I could not get my act together to the extent of writing said post (what a surprise: me not have my act together!  Say it ain’t so!).

I guess it isn’t so bad. Or do I flatter myself?

Pedestrian Posts with Pictures are clearly more successful when I take my walks in full daylight.  I will attempt another of those in the future. For now the important thing is, I have made a blog post.  At least, it is important to me.  Once again, thank you for tuning in.

 

Thank You, Media Library

I shall try for another Throwback Thursday Post, hoping for some cooperation from my Media Library.

A note of hope!

Here is a cheerful picture: a crocus in my yard in 2018. I had a few crocuses in my backyard, before the Monday/Tuesday nor’easter hit. Tuesday afternoon, after I took my walk, I spied a lone purple crocus in my front yard, defying the snow. I took a picture with my phone, which, alas, I am unable to share at the current time.

Scary tree?

Another view from 2018: Frankentree in our front yard. He is even bigger and more monstrous now, but there is considerably less snow.

Now this is a scary tree!

This is the tree which dropped a major portion of itself on the power line, causing the outage which enlivened (or made hideous) our Tuesday/Wednesday. Thanks a lot, tree! I always liked you!

These will cheer me up!

I usually content myself with three pictures, but I wanted to end with flowers. The daisies will not arrive for a while yet, but I hope they grow in a similar profusion when they do.

I guess some would say 2018 is not throwing back very far. Then again, sometimes last week seems a very long time ago and second grade feels like yesterday. What’s that all about? A question, perhaps, for Lame Post Friday. As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

Can’t It Still Be Halloween?

Do I have to keep apologizing for making late posts? Am I just calling attention to my own deficiencies? Perhaps a better question would be why do I keep making late posts? Or posting at all? This is getting too deep for me. Let us continue with a Throwback Thursday Post.

For those of us who can’t let go of Halloween.

This was our front porch in 2016. Look how small Frankentree is! But even then he had his unusual hybrid quality.

Spooky, yes?

I’m not sure how long ago this was. I went to my Tablet’s pictures and the was where I got tired of scrolling (it just seems to take so long!). It is a neighborhood house. It looked a little different this year.

See? I let people borrow my clothes!

One more Halloween Throwback picture. Santa did not wear that shirt this year. Our Halloween decorations this year did not measure up to previous years, but you’ll have that.

My ambition now is to make my Lame Post Friday post ON Friday. Will I succeed? A little suspense adds interest to my day.

Is This a Frankenpost?

I need a new approach to blogging, but today is not going to be it. Today will be a common or garden Slacker Saturday Post. I have often been offered the good advice of don’t post every day; post when you have something to say. It is, as I say, good advice, but quite frankly, Homey don’t play dat. I have to try my best to post every day.

“Not post every day? Back off, Satan!”

Since that first paragraph was so long, I thought to add a picture. This is Peter Cushing, fighting vampires. I have been enjoying several Hammer Horror films featuring Cushing. He is fine, yes.

Another Hammer icon.

Here is Christopher Lee, as one of the vampires Cushing was chasing. Last night was Dracula, tonight was Frankenstein. Alas, I do not have any pictures of Hammer Frankenstein. Other Frankensteins, I have a few.

Here’s one!
And there is always FrankenTREE!

I am not sure where the above picture of Frankenstein is from, but Frankentree is in my front yard. When I am back on my laptop, I will look for pictures of Hammer Frankenstein. In the meantime, Happy Saturday and stay monstrous!