Tag Archives: herkimer ny

Scattered Sunday? Or Time to Swoon?

I don’t see why I should not have a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  We’re all stuck home, trying not to spread Covid-19 (such a comfort to call it by a name not shared by a beer or a typewriter).  Nobody can reasonably expect me to have a real Mohawk Valley Adventure.

In fact, I did leave the house, but I hope not in an unsafe fashion.  I went for a nice run this morning.  Later I went to a big box store (no need to name names) for yarn.  Then I went to Little Falls to take a walk along the canal.  I hope to write about it for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  I hope they like what I will come up with.  In any case, it was a pleasant walk.

After walking and taking a few pictures,  I returned to Herkimer to buy groceries.  I observed a few bare shelves, but I managed to get most of what I was looking for.  I was exceptionally happy to return home for the bra off, sweatpants on, movie watching portion of the day.

I have been enjoying my day but feel a bit guilty about not making a good blog post.  Shall I swoon onto a handy chaise lounge,  posed dramatically with the back of one wrist to my forehead?  I shall decide as time goes on.  I wonder if I could manage a selfie of same for tomorrow’s blog post.

 

Seeing the Sights on a Sunny Monday

It was a perfectly beautiful day in the Mohawk Valley, sunny and warmer than it has been in a long time.  I knew I would be happy if I got outside after work to enjoy it.  I decided to take a walk with my Tablet and take pictures for a Pedestrian Post.

I did not really know what I hoped to get pictures of.  The dirt-covered remains of snow piles?  Brown grass at last uncovered?  Bare tree branches?  The last actually sounded good.  I love to see bare branches against the sky.  I have been admiring them against whit and grey skies lately.  Today the sky was a lovely blue.

But could I get the shot?  When I finally picked a tree to try, I found I could not clearly see the screen of my Tablet because of the sun.  Oh dear.  I clicked and hoped for the best.

I just think the branches look so cool!

That one didn’t turn out too bad.  This is on the path over what used to be a hydraulic canal, a favorite place to walk or run. I took a shot of the path as well.

The painted spots invite you to step or jump on them.

Next I decided to walk by my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.  I took pictures of all four corners, but I will only the best shots.

The Courthouse is a handsome building.

I have not made it over to see this exhibit yet.

This was outside the Suiter House of the Herkimer County Historical Society,  obviously one of my favorite places.

Gravestones in front of the Herkimer Reformed Church

I continued down Main Street to Basloe Library.  Naturally I wanted to give the library a shout-out.

I love libraries!

It was a very pleasant walk.  I am SO looking forward to spring!

 

Winning Prizes to Help the Cats

So on Friday I declared I would be posting every day.  It only took me till Sunday to make a liar out of myself.  Now here it is early Monday morning and I will attempt to finish what I started last night (I am going to give myself credit for at least starting it on Sunday).

I walked from my house to the VFW  in Herkimer for the H.A.LO. Chinese Auction.  HALO is the Helping Animals Live Organiziation. It is a no cage, no kill cat rescue organization in the Mohawk Valley. Their annual Chinese Auction is huge and hugely popular.  I donated an afghan.

Tables and tables of fabulous prizes!

I had a fun time putting in my numbers for various prizes.  I put in for a print, jewelry, baskets of different things, gift certificates, and more. I ate a hot dog.  My friend Kim joined me, and I helpfully tore her tickets while she made her selections.  It was getting close to time to draw winners!  We also put in for the 50/50 and Baskets of Cheer, which included Tylenol, much to our amusement.

We got a glass  of wine and walked around again, pointing out to each other what we did and didn’t try for.  Then we went and chatted up the bartender.  We liked him.

Mark Sommer and Kim Darling.

It took a long time for the HALO people to draw all those prizes.  We all looked at our tickets and hoped! I won a tote bag donated by Weisser’s Jewelers.  Score!

Everybody hoped to be a winner, and a lot of us were!

We had a great time for an excellent cause.  Now we can look forward to the HALO Hoedown in September!

 

Snapped to Svengoolie, What’s Next on Scattered Saturday?

I guess I did enough stuff today to qualify for a Scattered Saturday post, but I did not take any pictures, so it will not be such an exciting post as it may have been.

I went for a run this morning.  I have been running all week, but I hope not to be so remiss in the future.  For one reason, I am registered to run the Boilermaker 15K in July.   Training for that will no doubt rate a Running Commentary post.  We shall see.

Later on, my friend Kim and I went to Stella’s Styles in Dolgeville, NY.  I have been there a few times, bit Kim never has.  Alas, we were so busy shopping that I neglected to take any pictures.  This means we must make another road trio to Dolgeville, right?

Back in Herkimer, we went to my house to pick up my husband, Steven.  While we waited for him to get ready, Kim drank a 1911 Hard Cider which Steven and I had purchased after a tasting at Beer Belly Bob’s Route 51 Discount Beverages in Ilion, NY.  I sipped a glass of Black Ink Red Blend, purchased at Ilion Wine and Spirits.

When Steven was ready, we went to Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant in Herkimer for a yummy dinner.  We love that place!

Now we are sitting here watching Snapped.  We may move on to a DVD’d episode of Svengoolie.  In any case, at least I have over 200 words.  We’ll try for some pictures tomorrow.

 

I Dig DikinDurt!

We recentlyenjoyed a tasting of DikinDurt Distillery of Herkimer at Valley Wine and Liquor,  also in Herkimer.  We have enjoyed DikinDurt Moonshine on many other occasions and were happy to sip a little more.

Good stuff!

We also had a nice time chatting up Elizabeth Stack, one of the proprietors of  DikinDurt.  We have met her at numerous tastings as well as at the distillery itself.  You know me, I am always ready to taste!

I had to persuade Elizabeth to let me get a picture of her and Steve.

Of particular interest was their bourbon, a non-moonshine choice.  I have only recently started to like bourbon, and I quite enjoyed this one.  Elizabeth gave us some recipes, using the bourbon and the various flavors of moonshine.  Perhaps a moonshine cocktail party is in our future!

Sometimes I like other things than wine.

We purchased the Honey Buzz Moonshine, which is made with local honey.  I am looking forward to making a few hot toddies with that!  We also talked about making another trip to the distillery.  For one reason, I would like to bring my sisters there.  I think they would enjoy the moonshine and the bourbon.

DikinDurt Distillery is located at 115 Smith Rd., Herkimer, NY.  Their tasting room is open 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday.   You can also purchase their delicious product at Valley Wine and Liquor, 326 S. Caroline St., Herkimer.

 

Tastes Like a Non-Sequitur Thursday to Me!

So I did not make a Wuss-Out Wednesday post and now it is late (for me) on Non-Sequitur Thursday (and my predictive text function seems to have forgotten everything I have ever typed in, what’s that all about?).   I thought I might try a Throw Not Very Far Back Thursday and share a couple of pictures of tastings we recently attended in the area.

He was nice, the cider was nice, we liked it!

This is a picture from a 1911 Hard Cider tasting at Beer Belly Bob’s in Ilion.  Unfortunately,  I cannot find my notes from the tasting.  I know we tried three kinds, liked them all, and purchased one.  We hope to visit 1911 in Lafayette, NY (don’t ask me how I remembered that) sometime in the future.

Aren’t they pretty?

Here are Elisha and Danielle, pouring Beringer Wine at a tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer.  Danielle is a regular rep at these things, and Elisha was a new trainee.  We were happy to see Danielle again and to meet Elisha.  The wine was pretty good, too.  We bought a bottle of Red Blend Aged in Bourbon Barrels.

Facebook pages usually keep us up to date on local tastings.  I just love to try before I buy.

Route 51 Beer Belly Bob’s Discount Beverages is located at  70 Otsego St., Ilion, NY.   Valley Wine and Liquor is located at 326 S. Caroline St., Herkimer.  You can find both on Facebook.

So I guess I haven’t said much about the tastings or the businesses. I hope nonetheless this will be an acceptable post.  And tomorrow is Lame Post Friday!  Won’t that be nice?

 

Not Much Run, Good Lunch, a Couple Drinks

I wanted to do a Saturday Running Commentary post, but the fates conspired against me.  I ran, but not for very long.  In my defense, it was single digit temperatures.  I guess I am really only good to 10 degrees or better.

Later in the day, my husband, Steven, and I drove to Little Falls and had lunch at the Cafe at Stone Mill, at the site which previously held Ole Sam’s Creamery.  It was a delicious lunch.

I must write more about this place later.

Returning to Herkimer, we stopped for a drink at the Waterfront Grille in Herkimer.  I texted our friend Kim to meet us there.

Kim and Steve looking happy.

Of course I got Kim to pause for a picture.

And here is our delightful bartender, Barbie.

I asked our bartender for a picture, too.  She was a doll!

One of the best things about Waterfront is the view.

We admired the water, and look forward to cruises on the canal this spring and summer.

I guess there isn’t a whole lot more to say about our Saturday.  Was it enough to qualify for a Scattered Saturday post?  I don’t know.  I am not the arbiter of these things.  But I hope it has been reasonably entertaining as a blog post.

 

Pre-Valentine Shenanigins

I guess we didn’t really have any shenanigans,  at least none worthy of the word, but we did have a pleasant evening.

I did not get Steven a Valentine’s Day present.  YET.  I still have time. But Steven set the standard and got me one.

Please excuse the busy background.

The wine box was from our Christmas present from my sister, Diane. The dinosaur is one we have had for a while.  I put him in the bag I bring to work yesterday, just for the amusement of the security guard that has to look in it.  This morning I left the house before Steven got out of bed, so I put the dinosaur by the coffee maker, to greet him.  So Steven thought it would look nice near my present.

A great name for rum!  The dinosaur likes it too!

I have been noticing this bottle in Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer for a while now.  I told Steven we needed it.  It will probably last us a long time, because we are more into wine than liquor, but what an appropriate bottle for Steve and Cindy Q.

After admiring the rum (but not sampling it yet), we went to Salvatore’s in Herkimer for dinner.  Steven won a large cheese pizza on a Facebook contest, so we got that.  We also got a shrimp appetizer from their special Valentine’s Day menu.  After looking at the entrees on that menu, I am seriously considering going back to Salvatore’s tomorrow.

My WordPress timestamp probably says it is Valentine’s Day already.  That is OK with me.  Dinosaur, present, dinner… I am feeling quite romantic already!

 

 

Not Too Crappy to Contemplate Murder

I feel less crappy than yesterday!

But crappier than tomorrow!

You know,  to the tune of “I love you more today than yesterday.”   I didn’t know that was a song for the longest time.  I noticed that lots of people (girls, mostly) (not to buy into gender based stereotypes, but such was my observation) would use it in the Valentine messages you could put in the newspaper.  Imagine my surprise to learn they were quoting a song.

Be that as it may, my aching head is saying, “I can’t write a blog post!”  Yes, in a pathetic, whiny voice.  I am sufficiently disgusted with myself.  And I know for a fact that it isn’t so.  I just kind of sort of wrote something.  I could probably share it here.  For one reason, it would up my word count.

You see, our friends at the Herkimer County Historical Society asked us (meaning me and my murderous actor friends) to revive a murder mystery we did some time ago at the Herkimer Elms Lodge.  I think Caryl referred to it as “the one with Tucker and the bugs.”  Kind of sounds like an episode of Friends, doesn’t it?  Today she messaged me asking for a few specifics for their newsletter.

First I had to find the script, which I had unaccountably not saved in the same place as the other murder mysteries in my laptop.  It too some clicking, but eventually I located it.  Luckily I had already been thinking about some modifications to make the script more suitable for the historical society.  Here is what I managed to send to Caryl:

Eric O’Chevsky, who describes himself as an organizer and community builder (although some call him a shady wheeler dealer, or so I have heard), has discovered that the Herkimer County Historical Society recently received a major grant. He organized this dinner for his associates to pitch their ideas for good uses for the money. Some of their ideas may seem to have a tenuous connection to local history, but you know, people have to follow the money.

The people vying for a donation are:

Meryl Barrymore, a community theatre actress, wants to do a historical play (assuming she can find one with a glamorous enough lead). Flora Fortenza, who is something of a flower child, wants to plant lots of flowers around the Suiter House and perhaps all around the Historic Four Corners. Phoebe Larkspur wants to place bird houses all around, perhaps patterned after historic buildings. Dudley Turnbull wants to place poop bags for people walking their dogs. Isn’t that corner a popular dog walking place? Harold Greene, an environmentalist and brilliant scientist, is partnering with Dudley’s project and wants to invent a biodegradable poop bag. Renwick Spaulding is hoping to mount a display of bugs. Historic bugs of course.

The title is Donate to Murder.  It will be presented on March 27 at the Travel Lodge in Little Falls.  More information to follow!

Looks like a suspicious bunch to me!

 

 

Judge Me If You Are So Inclined

TGILame Post Friday.   I am sitting on the couch in my living room, wishing for another glass of wine and wondering what I can say for this week’s Lame Friday Post.

We had a delightful evening:  wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer followed by dinner at Salvatore’s in Herkimer.  Yes, an entire Herkimer post.  Judgy types might be happy that I did not drive too far while imbibing.  Or they may judge me anyways, merely for imbibing.  I cannot control how other people judge.  I can only assure those concerned that we tasted a small amount and enjoyed only a glass or so with dinner.  Hence my desire for more wine now.

Oh dear, now I have been talking about my wine intake, and that will imply that I am taking in too much.  I have taken quizzes on “Are You an Alcoholic?” and there were questions like “Have you been upset about people asking how much you have been drinking?”  and “Have you gotten defensive about people saying you are drinking too much?”

Alas, bringing up the subject at all will make some readers believe I am quite the lush (you know who you are).  All I can say is:  For heavens’ sake, it’s Friday.  Why can’t I have a drink and talk about it in my blog post?

Ooh, look at that.  I am over 200 words.  I call that OK.  Happy Friday, to those who drink and those who do not.