Tag Archives: herkimer ny

Where Would I Have Walked?

Posted on August 31, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought that instead of making a Tired Tuesday post, I would take a nice walk, take some pictures, and do a Pedestrian, such as I have not done in a while.  Unfortunately, it started raining just as I was about to start my walk.  It has not stopped yet.  There is every chance I will take a walk in the morning, but it will still be dark, making pictures ineligible (I’ve tried).  Perhaps I could share a few pictures from previous walks and talk about where I would like to walk to next time.

Graveyards are always interesting.

Here is a picture from August 2020, taken at my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.  It is Herkimer Reformed Church.  I am fascinated by the graveyard.  Old gravestones are always so evocative.  Many of my walks and runs do take me by the Historic Four Corners.

I love a grey sky!

Here is my own neighborhood in August 2021, on an evening similar to tonight.  This picture, of course, was taken before the storm.  If I had gone for my walk earlier, I might have taken such a picture today.  However, it is a useless exercise to pine for what might have been.

I think it is looking a little worse these days.

This picture is from August 2018.  I often walk or run on Washington Street and see this former school.  I am always so sad to see a building go to waste.  Wouldn’t it be nice if somebody bought it and made it into something fun, like an arts center or antique mall?  I have neither the wherewithal nor the business expertise for such a project.  I don’t even know if the building is in good enough shape for any use, but it is fun to speculate.

Pretty!

I close with a picture from my own backyard in August 2018.  The Black-Eyed Susans are still there, although there are some other uninvited  plants growing there as well.  Perhaps I can get a picture of them tomorrow.  I would also like to cut a few to put in a vase in my house.

In the meantime, I am over 300 words and hope my readers have been at least mildly entertained.  I hope to go for a real blogging walk soon.

 

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I Run and Blog on the Same Day!

Posted on August 25, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I would attempt a Running Commentary Post in lieu of the threatened Wuss-out Wednesday.  For one reason,  I ran.  As regular readers know,  what I do is called running only by the most generous definition of the term.  Then again, generosity is an admirable quality, most of the time.

I was a little later getting started than my usual after-work runs, because my husband, Steve, and I had to drop my car off to be inspected (luckily for me, they are not inspecting it for lack of clutter, but I digress).  However, I did not talk myself out of it but put on running gear and set out.

And right away could not make up my mind of where to go.  I started to turn right onto German Street but saw a group of pedestrians ahead so turned around and headed left.  This set me up for my old faithful weekday run:  down German to Caroline Street,  then across Park Avenue (ooh!) to Margaret, up Margaret back to German, down Henry, and eventually back home.

When I got to Caroline, I changed things up by crossing the street and continuing on German.  I don’t usually do that, because it tends to be a busy intersection.  I don’t imagine anybody would hit me, but I like to give myself every advantage.

It was not bad weather for a run, but I found it much more pleasant in the shade. After hooking around German Street near the high school, I chose which streets and which side of the street based on where the shade was. I had it in my head to run for 20 minutes.  I am up to 33 on my weekend runs but have only managed 17 during the week.  You see, I am building myself back up slowly and gently.

I managed 20 minutes without too much trouble, which makes me feel encouraged about future runs.  I might be ready for a 5K by September, if one comes my way. Dare I dream of the Utica Boilermaker 15K in 2023?  It’s a possibility!

In the meantime,  I am over 300 words and am making my Wednesday blog post ON Wednesday!  I feel inordinately pleased with myself.

 

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At Least I Voted

Posted on August 24, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

Once again, my blog is degenerating into late post after late post, whining about how tired I am.  But, hey, when I make a late post, I often do it on the laptop (dining room table top, as regular readers may recall), and I am reminded how much fun ten-fingered typing is.  I must purchase a new laptop.  That might be worth a blog post.

Be all that as it may, I was indeed too tired to make a post yesterday, and I was too tired to go for a walk this morning.  If  I was being less kind to myself, I could substitute lazy for tired, so you may may what judgements you like.  I got home from work tired but had things I needed to do.  Of course I did not do all of them, but I showered (an absolute necessity, given my job and the summer weather) and did a load of laundry (also a necessity if I did not want to wear dirty pants to work) (they are just going to get dirty again, but you’ll have that). Then my husband, Steve, and I headed to Basloe Library in Herkimer, NY to vote.

I am not really adept with my cell phone.

After we voted, I took an ussie, specifically for blogging purposes.  I was truly sorry to leave the library without pausing to look for a book or two, but we were hungry.  Accordingly, we went to Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant.  Steven got a bacon cheeseburger while I, tempted by the special, got a calzone with three toppings.  I picked meatballs, mushrooms, and black olives.  The reason I went for the meatballs was that I knew we would have a large amount leftover and Steven likes meat on pizza and such-like (isn’t a calzone just a folded-up pizza?).

Back home, all I wanted to do was sit on the couch and watch an episode of Dateline (love that Keith Morrison).  At least I crocheted while I watched, so it was not completely unproductive.  I really must up my crochet game and make more things than afghans, but that is for another day.

In the meantime, I see I am over 300 words.  I call that more than respectable for a late Tired Tuesday post.  Later on, I will strive not to Wuss Out on Wednesday, but as usual, no promises.  And just as an aside, why did I not dub it Wimp-out Wednesday?  Any thoughts?

(Ooh, 400 words! Score!)

 

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I Loves Me Some Posers!

Posted on August 16, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

For one reason and another, I have not made it to the Herkimer Downtown Chowdown this summer.  I was moved to remedy the error when I heard the Posers were playing tonight.  I had to at least stop down and listen to a few tunes.

The pavilion makes a good stage.

The first thing I did when the music started was to take a picture of the band and post it on Facebook, inviting folks to come one down.  I sat at one of the picnic tables with a couple of other fans and settled down to enjoy.  I must say, Herkimer really has it going on for its food truck night.  The picnic tables are handy, and the trees provide shade which I really appreciate.

Full disclosure:  I did not get anything to eat.  I was there for the music!  I saw a table at which a lady was selling sunflowers of various sizes and colors.  Of course I don’t know from flowers, so perhaps they were not actually sunflowers but some sort of cousin.  This is the sort of thing I only could have gone over and asked, but, well, sorry, my bad.

I tried to get all three front men.

I was soon tapping my foot and chair dancing (picnic table bench dancing?), but I had to get up and boogey down to “Stuck in the Middle With You” (is that the title or just the lyrics?  No matter, if you know the song, you know what I mean).  Yes, I was the only one dancing at the time.  Hey, I don’t let it stop me in the supermarket, I am not going to let it stop me when it is one of my favorite bands playing!  I also danced to a Tom Petty song, “Listen to Her Heart.”  Announcing that one, the guy said, “We tend to play a lot of music by dead people, so in keeping with that vein, here’s one by Tom Petty.”  I loves me some Tom Petty!

And how could I neglect my favorite bass player?

 

The drummer is pretty awesome, too!

I did not stay as long as I would have liked to, but I am feeling rather tired.  I was happy I got to hear what I did, though. I might return on future Mondays to hear other local musicians.  I know I have already missed some good ones!  Also, I would also like to purchase a couple of those flowers that look like sunflowers.

The Herkimer Downtown Chowdown runs through the end of September, Mondays from 4 to 8 p.m.in Meyers Park.  You can check out their Facebook page to see who is playing.

 

 

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Never Mind Monday; How About Monsters?

Posted on August 2, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

Mondays are problematic for me. Oh, who am I kidding? Every day is a problem for me.  I’M a problem for me!  However, I am sure regular readers are aware of this.  I shall get on with my Monstrous Monday Post.

Reap away, buddy!

This was a decoration at a Halloween party we attended at the Herkimer VFW last October.  He looks like he is giving a little bow.  In greeting?  Acquiescence? Acknowledgement? There is not enough evidence to draw an accurate conclusion.

I think he is just so cute!

This adorable skeleton was a present to me from my husband, Steve.  I named him Bonaparte.  The mug advertises a murder mystery we put together to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  I need to finish writing one we plan to put on in September (preview of coming attractions).

Mine is definitely not that big.

I finish with a movie monster, The Brain from Planet Arous.  I have not come across this fellow in my media library in a while.  I like to use this picture when I am feeling particularly brain dead, as I often am these days (cue jokes about how I am mostly brain dead most of the time).

I see I have gotten to 200 words. Score! I hope to see you all again on Tired Tuesday.

 

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Not Monsters, Mosey!

Posted on July 26, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

Despite all the adventures alluded to yesterday, I content myself today with a mere Pedestrian Post.  For one reason, I took a few pictures when I walked on Sunday.  For another reason, I thought of that alliterative title as an answer to any readers expecting my usual Monstrous Monday Post.  In fact, I set a fairly brisk pace, since I was walking for exercise. But you know how I love alliteration.

I did not avail myself of the seat.

The first thing that caught my eye as I left the house was this comfy-looking couch, sadly abandoned.  Why can’t people donate these things?  Perhaps there was something wrong with it that I could not perceive.

Lots of bunnies around here.

This bunny hopped away while I was fumbling with my phone, but I managed to get a shot when he paused.  I like bunnies.

It feels steeper when you are on it.

This hill is short but fairly steep.  I do like to go up hills, although you can get too much of a good thing.  When I got to the end of the street, I impulsively turned right and went up to Herkimer College the back way. I felt pretty proud of myself for doing it.  It was not so easy to get a picture, since there are curves, but I tried.

I think this was more than halfway up.

Going down Lou Ambers Drive was a snap.  Ah, when gravity is my friend!  When I paused at the spring to refill my water bottle, I took a closer shot than the other one I shared.

I thought you might like to see the stones.

I did not take a walk this morning, due to a thunder storm.  Quite frankly, I enjoyed sleeping in.  Tomorrow, however, I hope to be back out on the sidewalks again.  Will I write another Pedestrian Post or cover one of last weekend’s adventures?   A little uncertainty adds interest to my day.  In either case, I hope you will tune in.

 

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Pedestrian Pictures Part 3

Posted on July 20, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

On this morning’s walk, I purposely walked by places I took pictures last Saturday, so I could use the last three in today’s post.  Of course it was dark when I walked today, but pictures don’t turn out so well in the dark.

Sometimes there are flowers.

Walking or running (Oh, WILL I ever run again?), I usually try to see the temperature on the sign in front of Trinity Lutheran Church.  That is how I know I can rock a run down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.  This morning was warmer than 59 degrees.  It was muggy too. I anxiously await a break in humidity.

It feels steeper when you are on it.

This is the infamous Hill By Valley Health.  I capitalize it, because I often refer to it when logging my runs and now walks. It is by no means as formidable as the hill up to Herkimer College (previously known as HCCC), but I found it took some effort to get up it this morning.

I LOVE the spring!

Every morning, I carry a small bottle of water, drink it while I walk, and refill it at the spring.  It is what I used to do one my longer runs, when I was getting up to 50 minutes, or mornings I felt particularly dehydrated.  I feel particularly dehydrated most of the time these days. I don’t know what that’s all about.

It was not a bad walk. Few of my walks are.  Of course, walking is much easier than running, and you don’t always need to shower afterwards.  I will have to start making some more interesting observations, though, if I want to continue making a lot of Pedestrian Posts.  For today, however, I’ll just bill this as a Tired Tuesday and drive on.  Once again, thank you for tuning in.

 

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Where Was I on Saturday?

Posted on June 12, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I missed Thursday, posted lame on Friday, then missed Saturday. Right down the line, I did better earlier in the week than later. Not that I did so hot earlier last week, now that I think about it. I guess I have set the bar for myself kind of low.

Anyways, here I am, lounged on my couch on Sunday morning, pecking in one letter at a time with the stylus, trying to make some post, any post, for reasons I feel unable to articulate.

Yesterday (Saturday), I went for a walk, since I still feel unable to run. Later, our friend Kim picked up Steve and me, and we went to the Pride festivities in Little Falls, NY. We enjoyed some musical performances from a few fabulously dressed Queens, and I purchased a rainbow fan.

Then we adjourned to Rock Valley Brewing, where we ordered drinks. After dithering with my phone for a few minutes, I just walked over to Mangia Macrina’s to get a wood-fired pizza. Previously I have ordered by text, but yesterday I was so indecisive, I thought in-person was a better way to go.

Returning to Herkimer, I remembered that there was a wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquors, so we made a quick stop. I love wine tastings.

I realize that I could easily have made a Scattered Saturday Post when we got home. Instead, I watched a DVR’d episode of Svengoolie. In my defense, Vincent Price.

So here is my Saturday post, posted Sunday morning. Will I make my Sunday post on Sunday? A little suspense adds interest to my day.

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Fun with Friends at Salvatore’s

Posted on June 1, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

I missed making my Tired Tuesday Post for a good reason. We were meeting friends for dinner. Oh, OK, I could have come home and made a blog post before bed. I did not. Judge me if you are so inclined.

Our good friends Bonnie and Marty were up from Florida. They attended a wedding elsewhere in the state and took the opportunity to visit other family and friends, including us. Yay! We were happy to introduce them to one of our favorite places, Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant in Herkimer, NY.

We were invited to sit where we liked. We selected a table near the window but almost immediately switched to one across the room, more in the shade.

“They will not mind if we switch tables,” I said. They did not.

On looking at the Specials board, I had immediately decided on the Chicken Wrappini with spinach, feta, and raspberry vinaigrette. It was as delicious as I had hoped. Bonnie got a calzone, which I may have to get next time. Marty had a Meat Lover’s Pizza, which also looked good. Steve had chicken tenders. I may eat his leftovers.

We enjoyed catching up while we ate, and we had a lot of laughs. I love taking my far away friends to our local treasures!

Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant is located at 650 1/2 W. German St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-866-2600. They are open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

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The Post Is Longer than the Run

Posted on April 2, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

It was not a long run. It is never a fast run. But I am going to call it a run.

I just posted that as my Facebook status and thought it might make a good lead for a Saturday Running Commentary Post. So here I sit, prior to shower (ew!), sipping my recovery beverage (chocolate milk, yum!), blogging (a silly verb, to be sure).

When I said I ought to go for a run, my husband, Steve, said, “If you want to.”

“I don’t want to,” I confessed, but as usual I was glad I did.

It was still dark out, so I wore my reflective vest (road guard vest, we used to call them in the army) that my sister Cheryl gave me for a long-ago birthday (thanks, Cheryl!). Another good thing about the vest is that it has a handy zipper pouch for tissues. My nose runs better than I do, especially on chilly mornings like today.

The temperature wasn’t too bad, although I was glad of my hat and gloves. I ran up to German Street, turned right and headed to Main. I wanted to run down Main Street to check the hours for the can and bottle return place.

A deserted Main Street is a little spooky in the dark. I like that. I continued down to Basloe Library and ran through the little park to the Prospect Street parking lot. I detoured to the library door to check their hours too, although I already knew when they open.

I crossed Prospect so I could enter where it says “Do Not Enter” on the last block of Bellinger Avenue. I like to pretend I’m a rebel, although actually left side facing traffic is the proper way to run. Emerging onto Bellinger Street (yes, there is an avenue and a street, don’t get me started), I turned left and ran to and through Meyers Park. The park is closed from dusk to dawn, so once again I felt like a rebel.

I enjoyed watching the sky as I ran. It was not completely dark when I started and it gradually lightened as I went. As I left the park, it was pale grey with patches and streaks of blue. Was the grey clouds and the blue sky peeking through or vice versa?

My modest goal for the run was 20 minutes, but I wondered if I shouldn’t try to improve myself a little more. After all, I might want to run a 5K or something. Last week I had run for 22 minutes, just over a mile and a half. I decided to not worry about how long I ran (my usual criteria) but to go for 1.75 miles. I made it In 25 minutes. Yay me!

As I walked my cool down, I observed that the grey sky was almost entirely clouds, with most of the lighter blue patches being contours of same. It was kind of fascinating to look at, almost like an Escher picture.

Wow, this blog post is over 500 words! I guess I do run on.

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