Tag Archives: herkimer ny

Shout-outs After Slacking

Posted on September 20, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I end out the week with a late Saturday post on Sunday morning.  It was rather a Slacker Saturday.  I wrote my usual Saturday post cards and took a walk, and that was about it, unless you count a Facetime conversation with my bestie, Kim, and watching some Columbo while knitting.  Maybe a little bit of cleaning.

A long ago adventure with Kim.

Kim and I both lamented that she now lives far away and we can no longer go adventuring together on a Saturday.  This is her at Asteroga Ale House in Herkimer, NY, although it was so long ago it may have been Belly Up Pub at the time.  I was just reminiscing about Belly Up Pub at the Hot Spot Salon and Spa the other day.  The lady who owns the Hot Spot used to own Belly Up Pub.  It was a great place to go.  Asteroga Ale House isn’t so bad either.  And I got a nice hair cut at the Hot Spot, so now I have given a shout-out to two local businesses.

Another nice stop.

Just to give another Saturday shout-out, we also used to go to the End Zone Pub, and I still stop in there once in a while. It is handy walking distance from my house, and they have outdoor seating for the nice days.

I see I am over 200 words.  That will have to do.  I wonder if I will start my week out right by making my Sunday blog post on Sunday.  We can only hope.

 

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Remembrance and Hugs on 9/11

Posted on September 11, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Earlier this morning I drove up to Herkimer County Community College (HCCC) for a 9/11 Memorial.  I found out the college has gone back to its original name and is no longer known as Herkimer College, as it was for a while.  I never keep up on these things.

At least they always keep “Herkimer.”

I got there extra early, because I was a little confused over the times.  Also, I like to chat people up before an event.  I was there not only to remember but also to cover the event for the Daily Sentinel.  I wore my good sneakers, in case I was standing the whole time.  I had thought of walking up to it but knew I would want to drive back down and get my article written and emailed out in a timely fashion.

Veterans Memorial Park.

A few guys were setting up chairs and getting the microphone in place.  I helped set up chairs.  Eventually people started arriving, and I chatted with a lot of them.  Some remembered where they were when the planes hit, others had not been born yet.  All were agreed that it was important never to forget.

My new favorite guy!

The president of the college and the mayor of Herkimer both gave nice speeches about courage, compassion, sacrifice, and unity. However, I felt the best speaker was impromptu.  There were a few minutes before the designated moment of silence, so they invited anybody to go up and say something.  Yes, I went up and said a few not very memorable words.  Then Sintral got up and talked about community and spreading positivity.

“Hug somebody today,” he said.

I went to get his name so I could include it in my article, and I gave him a hug.

I hope we can remember the lessons of unity, compassion and service that were talked about at the Memorial this morning.  I shall do my best.  Also, I hope I can find somebody else to hug.

 

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A Fancy Stop

Posted on September 10, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

After my lunch at the Java Shop yesterday, I stopped at Dream Boutique & Gifts, which I had not been to since the Shop Crawl last spring (perhaps you read my blog posts about that).  I have been thinking of treating myself to a fancy new outfit, maybe spending more money than I usually do (regular readers know I love the thrift and consignment stores).  This was in the nature of an initial foray, just checking out the territory.

It’s a sweet little shop.

The shop is small but well stocked.  I had a nice chat with the proprietress when looking over the goods.  In addition to clothing she has jewelry, purses, and many gift items.

“I have far too many coffee mugs already,” I remarked.  “So I’ll probably buy that one with all the cats on it.”  However, I refrained from doing so yesterday.  I had sniffed all the fancy soaps when the salt and sugar scrubs caught my eye.  I do love a fancy exfoliant!  I purchased a salt scrub with a margarita scent.  I thought I could use it before going out for margaritas some night.  Actually, I rarely indulge in margaritas, but that is no reason not to use the scrub of that scent.

I was quite pleased with my little self-indulgence.  I may return for more, and I will certainly keep it in mind for Christmas shopping.

Dream Boutique & Gifts is located at 232 Mohawk St., Herkimer, NY.  You can follow her on Facebook, where she often posts videos showing her wares.

 

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Yet Another Stop at the Java Shop

Posted on September 9, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I got a late start this morning but stopped for an early lunch at the Java Shop.  I had thought to make it a late morning snack and get an Everything Bagel with cream cheese but decided to go lighter with a Caesar Wrap Sandwich with grilled chicken.  To drink I had an iced Dalgona with almond milk, which the lady at the counter told me was lighter than whole milk.  Then she told me the sandwich came with either chips or a cookie, and light when out the window. I chose an almond and white chocolate chip cookie.  She put it in a paper bag, so I could save it for later, which I did.

A favorite stop.

While I waited for my drink and food, I worked on a letter to a friend and looked at a screen on the wall that showed ads from local businesses.  Of course Mohawk Valley Girl loves to support local businesses.  I made plans to stop at a couple more between my lunch and my physical therapy appointment that afternoon.

The sandwich was delicious!  I ate both halves.  Normally I like to eat half and take half with me, but since I was on foot and planned additional stops, I thought it would travel better in my stomach than in a to-go container.

I show the flower box outside again, just for the sake of having another picture.

I greatly enjoyed my lunch, and the little frisson of virtue that comes with patronizing a local business.  Also, I did eat the cookie later in the day.  It was yummy.

The Java Shop is located at 404 Mohawk St., Herkimer, NY.

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Pre-Adventure Post

Posted on September 5, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I would make a quick blog post before setting out on whatever adventures I happen to have today.  I really do not know what I intend to do.  They should put my picture in the dictionary under “indecisive,” although somebody else would have to pick which picture.  I know, nobody uses dictionaries these days, they look it up on their phone.  I actually own a dictionary that was given to me by a friend in the late ’80s (the 1980s!  I am not that old!) (I know somebody made that joke, don’t pretend you didn’t).

One possibility for today.

I threw in a picture, because that was getting kind of bogged down.  I might make my way to Valley Wine and Liquor where Sugar & Milk is doing a pop-up from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Of course I will also go inside for the tasting.  There is one from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and one from 1 to 4 p.m.  Who, me, get there right around one and attend both tastings? Kim and I used to do that every Saturday, when they almost always had two tastings.  We were their best customers.

Either would be worth a stop.

Basloe Library was where I had thought to stop for their book sale.  Yes, I have far too many books as it is, but I don’t have to keep what I purchase; I can pass them on after I read them.  The more potent argument is that once I start reading a book I cannot put it down and get nothing done for the duration.  It is a dangerous addiction.  However, looking for a picture of Basloe, I found this one which also features the sign for Exiled Games.  I stopped there on the Spring Shop Crawl, and they are very nice.  They have some delightful crocheted animals.  One cannot have too many crocheted animals, can one?

Well I have babbled on for over 300 words and plugged a few local businesses, so I shall call this a blog.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Not Exactly Guns n Roses

Posted on September 3, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I would do a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post so looked in my phone for a few pictures I have not used yet.  I picked three.

I got this one while the gettin’ was good!

This was one of the pictures I took to go with the story I wrote for the Daily Sentinel about the Ilion Village Board meeting on Monday.  The chair of the Ilion Marina Committee said this sign would not last the winter so they would like to relocate it to the Ilion Fish and Game Club, who will undertake to restore it and display it there.  Remington, unfortunately, is no longer in existence.

Nice!

Here is a picture from Herkimer, taken on a walk I took last Friday.  There were several flower boxes in front of The Java Shop, which I have also written blog posts about.  I do like to see flowers planted around town.

More pretty flowers!

Speaking of flowers, here is an attractive indoor display from my sister Diane’s house, taken when I visited her last week.  She cut some blooms from her hydrangea bush then some of her oregano which had gone to flower and combined the two.  I did not know oregano had purple flowers, but then I have not had an herb garden in some years and cannot recall if I grew oregano when I did have one.

I do like to take pictures just because something catches my eye, so I have something for my Waste Not Want Not Wednesdays.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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My Monday Mood

Posted on September 1, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I just got hit by a bout of “Here I Am! Take Me Or Leave Me!”  It actually feels pretty good.  First I posted it as my Facebook status, then, having very little else, I decided to write my blog post about it.  Let’s see if I can get 200 words.  I can bill it as a Monday Mental Meanderings.  I can’t call them Middle-aged Musings anymore, unless I live to be over 120.  If so, I will leave instructions in my will for somebody to go back and re-categorize accordingly.  Perhaps I could do it myself on my deathbed.  I probably will not have much else to do at the time.

Yes, I am feeling a little silly.

I need more bling in my life.

Regular readers may recall the Minnie Mouse ears given to me by a friend recently.  She gifted a few other friends with different colors.  We are all going to wear them to the Herkimer Elks Lodge one day soon while Jack makes ice cream drinks.  Yum!

Politics must intrude.

I got hit with my merry mood after taking a shower kind of late in the day and putting on a cute outfit (or do I flatter myself?).  I have to cover the Ilion Village Board Meeting at 5:30.  These meetings have been lively lately, because many residents have attended to protest an AI Data Center which is proposed for the former Remington Arms building.  Remington Arms, for those of you who do not know, was a large gun manufacturer for over 200 years.  It was a terrible thing for the village when they closed.  I worked there for almost 10 years.

It is nice to see people getting involved with local issues, and they are not only talking about the data center but about other issues.  However, this blog is intended to be “totally fun,” so I will probably not write about them here.  I merely mention them in passing.  I will write about them for the Daily Sentinel, a paper out of Rome, NY.  That is my side hustle, a freelance reporter.  Doesn’t that sound cool?

I see I am over 300 words.  Score!  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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A Walk of Some Lame

Posted on August 28, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I would do a kind of a combination Lame Post Friday and Pedestrian Post this morning.  When I discovered I had left my Garmin plugged in overnight, I took that as my sign I should walk right away.  It was prior to 8 a.m., an excellent time for a stroll.

Regular readers know I have not been walking as much as previously and I have not been running at all.  I recently started to get back into a routine of walking every morning, only to come down with a nasty cold or sinus thing that sidelined me, followed by a stomach thing more recently.  Yes, I am whining a lot, stop playing that miniature violin (you know who you are)!

The wreckage of my running dreams?

I felt delightful this morning, and moreso as I began to walk.  I decided to walk downtown and try to check the progress of the demolition of a building on Main Street.  The above picture was taken a week or more ago, when the building had just come down.  They are hard at work clearing away all the debris.  There is another condemned structure, but apparently the village lacks the funds for more demolition.

Another view.

I did not bring my phone with me so did not take a picture of what is currently there.  Perhaps later when I go to have a drink at Pete’s Tavern or the End Zone.  Uh, I mean when I go down to shop at Collis Hardware or Mohawk Valley Community Market (see how I slide in plugs for local businesses?).

I walked for a mile and a quarter and it felt great.  Now I have blogged for over 250 words, and that doesn’t feel too bad either.  Time to get on with my Friday!

 

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A Post Before Swooning

Posted on August 23, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

As I approached the turn to Main Road in East Herkimer yesterday, I thought I saw the outline of a classic car.  Yes!  It was!  I love classic cars.  Then it dawned on me: that car was headed toward Community Day at Town of Herkimer Park on Pine Grove Road.  I had completely forgotten the day’s festivities included a car show.  I love car shows!

I loved the power blue convertible!

I am always a little disappointed when the hoods are up, because I love the lines of the old cars.  Such style!  But I say that every time I write about car shows.  Sorry to repeat myself.  Then again, today is Sunday and I am not known to overexert my body or brain on Sunday (cue unkind remarks on what is my excuse the rest of the week).

Not classic, but still pretty cool.

These were not part of the car show, but had been brought over by the Highway Department for Touch a Truck.  I personally did not touch any of these, but I admired them from afar.

Full disclosure:  I am only making my blog post right now because I am dreadfully sick to my stomach and wanted to occupy myself while I sipped a hopefully medicinal cup of hot tea.  I have several things I was hoping to get done this morning.  Will I actually get them done or will I swoon, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead, as is my usual habit on a Sunday?

I have other pictures and things to share about Community Day, but these were the only two to make it from the phone to my Chromebook this morning (once again technology eludes me). Still, I am approaching 300 words.  I say score!  I return to sipping tea and thank my readers for once again tuning in.

 

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Slack Before Scatter

Posted on August 22, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I might try to make my Saturday blog post before I left the house and got caught up in a whirlwind of activities.  Doesn’t that make me sound ambitious?  In fact, all I plan to do is go to the Town of Herkimer Park in East Herkimer to attend Community Day and write about it for the Daily Sentinel.  I may avoid the inflatable obstacle course that was at the Wellness Fair.

Who could resist?

I took this picture at the Wellness Fair back in May.  Yes, I  went through the obstacle course after finding a friend willing to hold my bags while I went.  I got a nice scrape on my elbow for my pains, but it was fun.  I think it is supposed to be at the park again this afternoon.  I feel I have nothing to prove, but then again, I did not go through it before to prove anything;  I just thought it looked fun.

After I check out the Community Day, I may stop by Valley Wine and Liquor for their tasting:  Tequila Rose Strawberry Cream and Five Farms Irish Cream from 1 to 4 p.m.  Sounds fancy.  I was fancy yesterday, wearing a silky-looking red top.  I kept pointing out to people that I was wearing my fancy shirt.  Some of them were suitably impressed or humored me by pretending to be.  I like it when people humor me.  I am not dressed fancily today.

Oh dear, it seems I am babbling on to no purpose.  Well, my title did say I am slacking before leaving the house for my Scattered Saturday.  At least I have made a blog post of over 250 words.  Mohawk Valley Adventures await!

 

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