Tag Archives: front porch

The Blog Marches On

Posted on March 2, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a nice Slacker Saturday post to start my Sunday off right?  I know, several things wrong with that statement.  To begin with, I have been up for hours. Went to bed early, got up early, haven’t had coffee or tea yet… I think this might turn out to be a Slacker Sunday as well.  Last weekend I was down with a cold, this weekend, I am just… down.  Not severely down, just…

Sign of the times? Or just of my life?

I quick threw in a picture to pep things up, as I like to do, and this gem from last March caught my eye.  I remind myself not to dwell on being down.  For one reason it makes a dull blog post.

Well, why not slack once in a while?

I took this picture in March 2021.  A March day when it was warm enough to sit on the front porch!  Oh do I miss porch sitting!  I have been cheering myself up lately with plans for spring.  Oh yeah, I did that in my last blog post, didn’t I?  That seems like a long time ago. Maybe I shouldn’t have skipped the morning coffee.

Doesn’t she notice the crazy eyes?

I go a different way with my third picture, because weekends are also a good time for black and white movies, especially the cheesy kind.  Many people do not consider The Bad Seed an especially cheesy movie, but I find moments of lovely melodrama, and I agree with what my late husband Steve always said, how can anybody be surprised to find out that brat murders people?

So now I have rattled on for over 250 words and said not much.  Well I will try for a Mohawk Valley Adventure sometime today to make a blog post about, or at least a Pedestrian Post with Pictures.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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A Lot of Help from my Family

Posted on June 13, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

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?

 

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Was That You, Steve?

Posted on May 2, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I really like the idea of Waste Not Want Not Wednesday, even if I make said post early Thursday morning with one ear tuned to the coffeemaker (come on, fella, bring me that magic elixir!).  I am seriously tired these days and not really sure why.  Could I be working too hard?  Doubtful, but my employer is welcome to think so.

Can you see it?

When I first looked at this photo in my phone, I wondered why I took a picture of part of my car and the street in the rain.  Then I looked at the solar lamp and remembered:  When my friend Kim and I were sitting on the front porch last Sunday, we saw a beautiful cardinal.  This time I had my phone handy and took a picture, three in fact.

He’s on the porch railing this time.

I think I am showing these in reverse order of when I took them.  I was unable to really zoom in, alas.  Still, I was happy to see him.  I love the legend that cardinals represent loved one who have passed (I suppose “gone over the rainbow bridge” is just for pets, although I like to think that Steven has been reunited with our beloved poochers).  I wonder if maybe the cardinal is not the loved one himself (or herself) but a messenger sent from the loved one.   That lets the cardinal be his own person as well, or I guess his own bird.  If you see what I mean.

In the middle of the railing on this one.

It was very comfortable sitting out on the porch Sunday, watching the rain fall and talking.  If the cardinal was sent by my late, dearly missed husband Steve, I am not surprised.  He loved to sit on the front porch, and if he could have joined us, no doubt he would.

 

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No Rainbows, No Husband, But It’s Sunday

Posted on April 29, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Here I am making, or at least attempting to make a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  Full disclosure:  I have had a few drinks. The first was in the nature of Hair of the Dog, since I indulged yesterday (judge me if you will; I had a murder mystery!).  The following were because the first tasted so good.  Oh dear.  It sounds as if I could use to go to one of the them there 12-step meetings. Never mind.  Tonight I will merely try to get a blog post done.

Oh dear (I say it again), this is terrible. I wanted to download a picture of the murder mystery we presented to benefit the Salisbury Grange yesterday, and I can’t seem to do it.
What’s that all about, Chromebook?  I was hoping to share the pictures as a valid excuse for me to not have a decent post today.  Oh well, my excuses are not always valid at the best of times, so let me get on with the post.

Not today, alas!

Since I could not find what I wanted in my Media Library I at last settled for this shot taken from my porch in September 2022.  I spent some time sitting on m porch today with my friend Kim.  The headache was somewhat in abeyance, and I wanted some companionship.   We got some rain but, alas, no rainbow.  Still, it was nice to sit out on the porch with my friend.

We were having a fine time!

I wanted one more picture to end with and found this one of Steven, my late, dearly missed husband, busting a move at the Mohawk American Legion to the tuns of The Posers, our favorite local band.

I see I am over 250 words.  Score!  I hope you all had a delightful weekend and look forward, as I do, to a lovely upcoming week.

 

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The Blog Post Isn’t Perfect, Either

Posted on March 26, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to another Monstrous Monday post typed in early Tuesday morning.  I really must start finding new monster pictures for this feature, but for right now, let me go to my Media Library and see what I can find.

Isn’t she sweet?

I went back to 2016, when I first learned how to add pictures to the blog.  Till then I told myself it was all about the words, thus excusing my lack of technological expertise.  I still lack said expertise (hence no new monster pictures when I post from the Chromebook) but I improve by dribs and drabs.  Anyways, this is Witchy, who graces my front porch much of the year.  I brought her in last Christmas instead of dressing her as an angel, which I usually do.  She currently stands in my dining room, awaiting further developments.

It’s scary!

I go from sweet to scary with a shot from the 1922 silent movie, Nosferatu, one of my all time favorites.  I like to tell the story of how my mom and her colleague borrowed it from the library to show my elementary school when I was in 6th grade.  It was a fun Friday night thing the school was doing.  They thought, a silent Dracula, how scary could it be?  They found out.  It was years before I saw the whole movie.  They had to stop it, because the younger kids were crying.  I felt really bad for Mom and her friend.

Me too, but I lack the dramatic hair-do.

Under the heading Nobody’s Perfect, I end with Bride of Frankenstein.  I use this as my Facebook profile picture sometimes.  I think it sums up a lot of us.

 

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This Blog Needs a New Plot

Posted on November 4, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, this is embarrassing.  It seems I have had almost an entire Blogger’s Sick Week.   In my defense, I have been ill with some unnamed, unhappy malady (oh, come on, autocorrect!  “ill” is a word; you don’t have to change it to “I’ll”!).  However, my purpose today is not to get bogged down in my tiresome ailments but to get back to blogging with a Late Lame Post Friday post.

That was as far as I got on my Tablet, curled up comfortably at the end of my couch, pecking in one letter at a time with the stylus.  Now I am ten-finger typing on my dining-room-table-top and kind of missing the predictive text thingy.  Oh well, one can’t have everything after all.  I do have coffee and that will have to suffice me.

Aren’t they cute?

I thought I would throw in a picture to pep things up.  These are some of our fall decorations from November 2017, ones that can count for Thanksgiving as well as Halloween.  The two larger scarecrows are sweethearts, and the little one is the younger brother of the boy scarecrow.  The big boy scarecrow wishes his little brother would go away so the sweethearts can be alone, but the girl scarecrow thinks the little guy is adorable.  See, I make up plots for everything.  I have probably shared that one before and ought to make up another one for these three.  Incidentally, they are not out this year, and I have no idea where they are.  That is the kind of year I am having.

Looking behind to look ahead.

You can accuse me of rushing the season all you like; I will admit the fault.  This is a shot of my late, sadly missed husband, Steve’s nutcracker collection in December 2019.  The collection has grown since then.  The reason I wanted to share a picture of the nutcrackers is that they are still on the buffet and I can look straight at them while I type.  I have thought about packing them away any time since last January, but now it seems more appropriate to let them stay and perhaps be my only Christmas decoration this year.  Um, except for a couple of thing we keep out year round.  Full disclosure:  I do not remember if I put those nutcrackers out in 2022 or an earlier year.  I daresay regular readers will not be surprised.

A toast is always seasonal!

I looked around for a good picture to end with, and this nice shot of Steven caught my eye.  It is one of our many happy times hanging out on the front porch.  In the background, you can see another scarecrow peeking around the post.  I suppose she is spying on the neighbors, but I do not judge her for that.  I love hanging out on the porch, but it might get boring for a scarecrow to be there 24/7.  Full disclosure:  she is there 24/7/365.  She is out there now.  I may make up a new plot for her later.

It is good to be blogging again.

 

 

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Cinema, Scattered, Silly? At Least It’s Still Sunday!

Posted on October 2, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Sundays are for Columbo and silly blog posts.  I usually indulge in a Wrist to Forehead Sunday Post, swooning while posed dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead.  However, I am feeling unusually contented this evening.  I don’t know why.  We do not question these things; we just enjoy them while they last.

Tonight’s episode features Johnny Cash.

Earlier today I watched a few movies from my collection of 50 Horror Classics. I just love those old black and white, often cheesy flicks.

This was a scary one!

After watching a couple of movies with George Zucco (the booklet of movie descriptions says he is “marvelously theatrical”), I moved on to Bela Lugosi.

I also spent some time on my front porch, enjoying the beautiful weather and writing.  I have not had much success at writing lately, but I think I may have have turned a corner and will be able to get something done.  At least I will continue to put pen to paper.  It is so wonderful when words come out.

Earlier I took a walk.  I have been trying to walk every day, for my physical and mental health.  I will have to do a Pedestrian Post with Pictures right along here.

In the meantime, I am over 200 words for today’s post.  I am not sure what to bill this one as.  However, I will not dwell on the problem or I may end up swooning, dramatically posed etc.

 

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I Do Not Labor For My Pre-Labor Day Friday Lame Post

Posted on September 2, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Can I make my Lame Post Friday post while it is still Friday?  Let us see.

My headache was gone when I arose this morning, only for my back to be stiff and painful.  What the hell, body?   I had to go to work; if you call in sick just before a three-day weekend, they do not pay you for the holiday.  Still, I find a backache easier to deal with than a headache, so I counted my blessings.  Then the backache abated before I left for work, so Score!

Work was not heinous.  It rarely is, so I have that going for me.  After work, I enjoyed wine on the front porch with my friend Kim.  I continued to sip a little indoors after Kim went home.  I also enjoyed a DVD of Columbo. Who doesn’t love a little murder and mayhem to start the weekend right?

Love that raincoat.

Looking forward to my three-day weekend (don’t hate me, those of you who do not get one; I too suffered years of such abuse), I wonder what I can do that will make a better blog post.  I can think of a few possibilities, but I make no promises.  I may spend my time watching cheesy movies and drinking champagne.  I have a couple of bottles in the fridge for just such a contingency.

One of my favorites!

Incidentally, this is far from the worst movie ever made.  Have I written a blog post about it?  That might be a worthy labor on Labor Day weekend.

 

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A Relaxing Interlude

Posted on March 26, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

It was unseasonably warm today, and I was delighted I left work early enough to enjoy it. I was too lazy to go for a run or a walk, but I spent a lovely hour or two sitting on my front porch.

I was the picture of leisure.

I had been saying at work that I was either going to go for a run or have a beer on my front porch. A co-worker was puzzled by what she saw as two things which cancelled each other out.

“It’s just two different ways of making myself happy,” I explained. As you can see, I opted for the latter. I changed a clunkier pair of shoes for a light canvas pair. I am so delighted to wear my little canvas sneakers again. They offer my feet zero support, but I love them so much.

The view I enjoyed.

I took a few pictures from where I sat. The lighting was not the best, but I can’t control the sun.

Frankentree obscures the view.

We discussed how we may need to deal with Frankentree, as he becomes more and more of a monster.

Not the best view of the pumpkin or the trees.

Steven told me not to take a picture of him, so I shot over his head. I was hoping to get the pumpkin hanging from the porch and the trees down the street.

A depiction of my relaxation.

I took one more shot of my cute shoes. My father made me the footstool. It is also handy to stand on to reach things. When I am not relaxing.

So was this a better blog post? I let my readers be the judge. Judges. Happy Thursday, friends.

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Wuss-out Wednesday, What’s Not to Like?

Posted on July 30, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Here I am, ready to make my Wuss-out Wednesday Post.  Full disclosure: I have had a couple of glasses of wine.  In my defense… OK, I have no real defense.  I just felt like having a little wine.

Steven and I decided to enjoy a little time on Front Porcherico, just for a change from out time in Back Deckahama.  Yes, we are embracing our time at home.  Full disclosure:  I have had some drinks and food at area attractions.  It is so difficult to strike the balance between keeping any germs to myself and still supporting local businesses.  I am pretty sure I usually do the wrong thing.

I love to watch the sky!

Showers were predicted, and we watched some dark clouds move in.  I tried to get a shot worthy to share to our local news’ Facebook page.  What do you think?

View from the garage.

I went out back, following the clouds.  Then I went back out front, to get a shot of Steven offering a toast.

Was he drinking to me? I like to think so.

He is a little backlit, and the sky in the background is not that distinctive.  Still, this is my guy, enjoying a glass of wine with me.  What’s not to like?

So this is my Wednesday Post.  At least I shared a couple of new photos.  Happy Mid-Week, everyone!

 

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