Tag Archives: herkimer county historical society

Diamond Days are Under Way!

I just got back from checking out day one of the Herkimer Diamond Days Street Festival, and thought I would make a quick post plugging the event.

Can you read it? My Tablet would not let me zoom in.

My husband Steven and I went down to the End Zone Pub and Grub, because I wanted a cup of the Gem Juice which I so enjoyed during previous Diamond Days.

We were sitting at the table on the right for a while.

We had a couple of drinks and got some food from a food truck.  The food trucks vended from 5 to 7 p.m.  Live music began at 8 p.m. with Jenny & The Buckshot 5.  We were not there that long, unfortunately.

Where the music was going to play.

One view of the vendors.

Our view as we walked back to our car.

Diamond Days continue on Saturday Aug. 3 with food and street vendors, a dunk tank,  performances and more.  Most events take place on North Main Street.  One exception is the Herkimer Elks Lodge Car Show in Meyer’s Park.  Herkimer County Historical Society will hold their book sale and the History Mystery further up N. Main Street.  Additionally, tours of the 1834 Jail will be offered.

For more information,  you can visit the website http://www.HerkimerBPA.com or the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/herkimerspoppin/.

 

Me and the History Mystery

I had a great time today at one of my favorite places,  Herkimer County Historical Society.   I was there with my husband Steven,  sister Cheryl, niece Kimi, great nephew Sheppie and great niece Evie.  We were helping Sheppie solve the History Mystery.

Sheppie was given a pencil (he picked a green one, my favorite color!), clipboard and paper.  He had to look at various displays and answer questions.  We helped him write the answers, either by spelling the word while he wrote it or writing it in for him.  It took a while, because we were having fun looking at all the displays, not just the ones that held the answers.

Cheryl, Evie and Sheppie admire a Remington typewriter.

We explained to Sheppie what a typewriter was.  I’ll have to haul one of my collection out for him to play with one day.

Cheryl helping Sheppie spell an answer.

I had to get a shot with a smile!

Evie and her Aunt Kim.

The mystery took us upstairs.   I always stop and admire the woodwork, but Sheppie was more interested in getting up those stairs and finding more answers.

Sheppie trucked up those stairs!

Evie peeked through the banister at me.

We admired the displays in the hall before spending some time in the dollhouse room.

We were all impressed with the big wheeled bike.

Uncle Steve and Kim.

We all loved the dollhouse room.

I was delighted to introduce Sheppie, Evie and Kim to the historic society.  Cheryl and of course Steven have been there with me before.  What a wonderful source of education and entertainment!  If you have never delved into local history,  I highly recommend you make a visit to your nearest historical society.

Herkimer County Historical Society is located at 400 and 406 N. Main St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-866-6413.  They are open 10 a.m. to  4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

 

Walk to Wuss, it’s Wednesday

I had such high hopes for today.  I was going to walk to the post office, to mail something.  I was going to take my Tablet and take pictures along the way.  Alas, the sun defeated me.  I couldn’t see the screen for the glare.  I tried to get one shot.  I haven’t even checked yet if it turned out.

It does not look as striking in photo as it did in person.

Why, look, here it is.  I got my Tablet and found it.  It took me a minute, being me.  This was just a little way down my street.  A block or so later I saw a tree with some buds on it and thought, Score!  Well, I still couldn’t see the screen but was pretty sure it was in Selfie mode, and I couldn’t get it out. Just now I confirmed it WAS in Selfie mode, so at least I did not take a stupid picture of myself.  Anyways, I said to hell with it and took my walk.  I will have to do the walk and picture thing on a more gloomy day, which is my preferred kind of weather in any case.

In the meantime, blog posts must be made (because they are not there) (see what I did there?).  In the spirit of Wuss-out Wednesday, which I am indeed having, I will take this opportunity to announce that I have decided I will NOT be running the Boilermaker 15K in Utica, NY this July.  I just don’t have time to run as much as I need to with all these rehearsals.  Perhaps I would have time if I trained really hard after the play, but I can’t take that pressure.  I like to start early and build up slow.  This way, I can run purely for my own exercise and entertainment, which is what I like.  I’ll think about Boilermaker 2020 next year.

I somehow feel that I should have more than one picture.  Hmmm….

A toast to Wuss-out Wednesday?

This is a rehearsal shot from A Trivial Murder, the murder mystery we presented this past Saturday to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  I think they are actually toasting a dead guy, but let’s pretend they are toasting me.  Now I think my Wuss-out Wednesday is veering into Non-Sequitur Thursday territory, which is ironic, since I am actually posting this on Wednesday (by my own clock if not my WordPress timestamp).  I’d better quit while I’m ahead.

 

Post Before Murder

I keep telling myself that a few nerves before a performance are a good thing (good things?  Is each nerve good?  Discuss amongst yourselves).  That said, why do I feel as if I am having a full-blown panic attack?  I said it in a recent post and I will say it again, what the hell, me?  This is not my first rodeo, as regular readers know.  Additionally, I know how many things can go wrong and a performance still be entertaining and appreciated.  These heart palpitations have got to stop!

For anyone just tuning in, and for those who cannot keep all my gyrations straight (indeed, why should you be expected to when I cannot keep them straight myself?), tonight’s performance is A Trivial Murder, an interactive murder mystery presented to benefit Herkimer County Historical Society. We are rehearsed.  We know our lines, we know our characters.  We know where we are going and what time to be there.

I will feel better after I am completely ready.  My costume is not laid out but what I want to wear is in my head.  If the shirt I am thinking of is dirty, there are other candidates in my closet.  I even found my rubber gloves so I can put the purple in my hair (not a necessity, but I think it will add a nice touch, and I did find the bottle earlier).  Enough heart-burnings! (Ooh, that’s it: I have heartburn because of the egg sammich I ate earlier to tide myself over till dinner) (yes, I like to spell it “sammich”).

Perhaps I will do a post-murder post tomorrow.  Or it will be Wrist to Forehead Sunday, as I hurry on to my next theatrical endeavor.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

Witless But Deadly

Well, I spent another day NOT writing a blog post while on breaks at work.  In my defense, my light-headed-ness continued.  In my — what? accusation? prosecution?  Somebody get me a thesaurus! — it was not as bad as yesterday.  Well, these things happened, and blog posts must be made.  Why, you may ask.  I say, because they are not there.  See what I did there?  Thus, mildly pleased with myself, I continue with this week’s Witless Wednesday post.

She is cold, yes.

First I throw in a random picture, so this can be a kind of a Wordless Wednesday as well (not that I am every completely wordless).  Here is Bette Davis, committing the murder that begins The Letter (1940).  I thought a picture from a murder movie would be appropriate, because the rehearsal I am about to go to is for a murder mystery.  Unfortunately, the murder in The Letter is no mystery.  At least, not unfortunately for the movie; it’s a great movie.  Unfortunately for the picture being entirely appropriate.  I did mention this is Witless Wednesday, did I not?

Judith Anderson and Vincent Price.

Here is a picture from an authentic murder mystery, Laura (1944).  In my mind, this is the real romantic couple of the picture, never mind Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews.

I don’t imagine it was trivial to the victim.

The murder mystery we are rehearsing is A Trivial Murder, an interactive dinner theatre to be presented March 23 at the Travel Lodge in Little Falls, NY, to benefit Herkimer County Historical Society.  Doors open at 5, dinner starts at 6. Cost is $25 per person.  For more information, contact the historical society at 315-866-6413.

 

Post Rehearsal Post

I thought for a change I would do a Post Rehearsal Post. I know, I almost always have a Lame Post Friday, but for one reason, I have had a number of lame posts lately.  For another, I would like to begin plugging A Trivial Murder, the interactive dinner theatre we are putting on to benefit Herkimer County Historical Society.  Regular readers might remember that mystery was originally scheduled for last October but was postponed.  It has been rescheduled for March 23, and we are in rehearsal mode.

Full disclosure: there was actual wine in those glasses.

The mystery begins with a toast to Jack German, the previous host of Who Knows Herkimer History? He died under mysterious circumstances.  Somebody claims to know something about those circumstances. Will he or she meet with an untimely end?

 

One taking notes, one grief-stricken, one blase. Which is sincere?

 

The plot thickens!  Of course, I cannot tell you much about the actual plot, since I am hoping to entice local readers to attend the murder mystery.  I think it is going to be highly entertain, but perhaps I flatter myself.

Accusations fly!

A Trivial Murder is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, at Little Falls Travel Lodge, doors open at 5 p.m.  Tickets are $25 for dinner and the show.  For more information, contact Herkimer County Historical Society at 315-866-6413.

 

Murder Mystery Memories

How about a fast Throwback Thursday post instead of the flustered Non-Sequitur Thursday post that I really feel is more along the lines of what I am capable of at this moment.  I am soon to hurry to a rehearsal of Morning’s at Seven, pausing on the way to drop off a script for A Trivial Murder.  Everything will be fine.  I don’t have to be off book tonight.

You may remember these suspicious characters.

Here is a good murder mystery memory: A G.R.A.V.E. Murder, which we presented in October 2017 to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  I am looking forward to A Trivial Murder, which is also for the historical society.

Don’t you just love my hat?

And here is another murder mystery memory:  Donate to Murder, which LiFT, the Little Fall Theatre Company, presented at Herkimer Elks Lodge this past September.  I hope they invite us back.

I may wear those same shoes for Morning’s at Seven.

I like these pictures so much, I think I’ll share a couple more.  Here’s me and Steve and our buddy, Tucker, in the middle.  I wrote Tucker’s character especially for him, after he told me what sort of person he would like to portray.  I think I’ll close with a picture of the character, Renwick Spaulding.

“You wanna see my bug collection?”

Happy Thursday, everyone!

 

I Print, I Type, It’s Wuss-out Wednesday!

I just can’t do it.   I’m sitting here in front of my laptop but typing into my tablet, one letter at a time with the stylus.   I can’t get the printer to work, and I think I made things worse by trying.

OK, back on the laptop (SUCH a relief to type with all ten fingers!).  I do not use the printer often enough, so I usually screw it up the first several tries.  Once I got it working, I realized I was almost out of paper. Yikes! I really think there is a partial ream hanging around somewhere, but I could not find it.  By virtue of searching for stuff I could print on the back of, I got everything I need printed.  A trip to Hummel’s Office Plus is in my near future (just to sneak in a shout-out to a local business).

All this by way of introduction to my usual Wuss-out Wednesday post.  Sorry, readers, but I’m afraid any number of lame posts will be forthcoming in the next month or so.  Then it will be all posts about Morning’s at Seven till May.  Still, even a lame post must be made, so here I sit, typing.

I spent most of my breaks at work trying to learn my lines for Morning’s at Seven.  Next I will have to worry about A Trivial Murder. Learning my lines, that is.  I’ve already written that one.  Other than that, all time must be spent on Murder by the Book, the one I will soon complete writing (as soon as I figure out who did it) (only your really organized writers know these things before they start, you know).

For anyone tuning in late,  A Trivial Murder is an interactive dinner theatre to be presented to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society at The Travel Lodge in Little Falls on March 23 (Yikes, that’s soon!).  Murder by the Book, also an interactive dinner theatre, will be at the Morning Star Church in Ilion on April 6. I wrote both murder mysteries. Morning’s at Seven by Paul Osborn is a full-length regular play I am in at Ilion Little Theatre, to be presented the last weekend in April and first weekend in May.  On the third weekend in May, I will have a nice, quiet nervous breakdown.

 

 

 

Monday Mail Meanderings

This is not a Monday Mental Meanderings but a Pedestrian Post.  I walked to the Post Office to mail the post cards I usually send out on Saturday.  I took my Tablet along to take a few pictures, thinking to make a change from my usual Monday Monsters (don’t worry, monster lovers; no doubt I will resort to my frightening friends later in the week).  I thought of this alliterative title as I walked home.

I put the Tablet into a soft bag I got at Paca Gardens in Little Falls (just for a little more local color).  I did not trust myself to carry it the whole way, especially not in its case.  I was only a little worried I would not be able to see the screen properly, because it was quite sunny.  I put my prescription sunglasses in the bag, thinking I might need them.  Not neglecting to also put in the post cards, I set out.

Right away I saw what I considered a cool-looking tree.  I love the look of bare branches against the sky. I got the Tablet out of the bag and tried to log in without the stylus.  That didn’t work, because I was wearing gloves.  So I got out the stylus and promptly dropped in in the snow.  It is a combination pen/stylus given to me by Herkimer County Historical Society after Shattered Angel, the play they put on at Ilion Little Theatre last fall.  It says “Shattered Angel/Ilion Little Theatre” on it (see? more local color!).  It is a very cool thing.  I brushed it off as best as I could, logged into the Tablet, and could not get the picture. I include the story of me trying, because it is just so typical me.  I walked on.

As I approached St. Francis de Sales Church, I thought I would get a shot of the statue of St. Francis wearing a red scarf, as he does this time of year.  I worried it would be back-lit, but it did not turn out too bad.

He looks saintly, does he not?

After I crossed the street, I tried to get a shot of the whole church.  That one turned out too shadowy, so I do not include it here.  I walked on into Meyers Park, where I knew I could take a picture of the statue of General Herkimer.  First, however, I saw the stone bench I have often admired but never sat on.

I was hoping the inscription would be legible.

Beyond the bench is a statue, only I do not know who it is. However, according to the inscription, he was instrumental in having women work for the government. I’m all about good jobs for women!  I was worried I had cut his head off, but I see now that I did not.

It seems they engraved his signature but did not print out the name.

I also got a shot of the pavilion, which is always a pivotal location when the park hosts community events.

It may not look like such a much now, but the potential is there.

I think my picture of General Herkimer is just a little back-lit, but in a blog about a walk in Herkimer, I feel I should include the General.  Here he is, in the iconic pose, directing the battle though morally wounded.

I see he has a similar scarf to St. Francis’.

On the other side of the park, I walked by the Methodist Church and decided to get a shot of that.  It turned out better that the one of St. Francis, so I include it.

Perhaps I should learn how to photoshop out power lines.

I was happy to get a shot of the post office.  I think I had a post card of it but already sent it to someone.  I do love sending local post cards.  In fact, I am not sure if the post card was of this post office or Little Falls’.  They are similar buildings.

My weekly destination. I do love post offices.

I had meant to talk more about the actual walk, over the ice and through the snow.  However, I see I am approaching 700 words.   Do my readers want to read over 700 words on a Monday? I hate to try people’s patience.  Additionally, Dateline is on OWN as I type.  So I say Happy Monday, and stay tuned for monsters later in the week.

 

Another Pre-Holiday Post

My pre-holiday weekend continued today with a few indoor chores and a couple of outside stops.  Full disclosure:  I was going to have a Lame Post Friday, even though technically Wednesday was my Friday this week, and I make no promises about how lame this post will be.  Then again, do I ever?

It was pouring rain this morning, so I did not go running.  I know, some people run no matter what the weather, but I sometimes let myself off the hook.  Later on I went for a walk, which was nice.  It is much easier to dodge around the puddles and not get sopping wet from the thighs down if one moves at a slower pace.  So at least I got some exercise.

Before my walk, I got out to a couple of non-local non-distinctive stores, hoping to beat the crowds.  I guess I did to some extent, although I kept getting in people’s way.  They were all very nice about it, which I chalked up to the time of year, although I have observed that many people in this area are nice at all points in the year.  At home I did a load of laundry and made a couple of Christmas treats  Further full disclosure:  many indoor chores remain to be accomplished.

Later on, Steven and I went to the Herkimer County Historical Society, one of our favorite places, for further Christmas shopping.  From there we drove down Main Street and parked in a handy space to go to three cool places:  Rose Quartz Stand, the European Deli, and Click’s Cakes.  I’ll have to write better blog posts about all four of those places (preview of coming attractions).  Then we drove to Asteroga Ale House, because we were hungry and wanted food.

After re-fueling we went to Valley Wine and Liquor for a wine tasting.  I do like to try new things. After that, we were ready for the bra off (me) sweats on (both of us), TV watching portion of the evening. We are looking at an obscure offering called Stalking Santa  (2006).   We found it when one of the local movie rental places went out of business (oh how I miss movie rental places!).  I highly recommend it.

I guess this blog is about to become All Christmas All The Time, but is that such a bad thing?  If so, comment, please, and let’s have a discussion. In the meantime, Happy Friday.