Tag Archives: herkimer ny

Shall We Blame My Attitude?

I have long maintained that it was useless to try to get anything done on a Sunday.  Once again, I have proven myself right.

Oh, I know all about self-fulfilling prophecies.  And please do not say, “Well, you never will with that attitude.”  For heaven’s sake, by that reasoning everybody can do anything they want if they only want it bad enough.  But let me not digress into these philosophical arguments with imaginary opponents.

I went for a long run this morning up a fairly challenging hill.  My first intent was to go for a slow, leisurely run, maybe even not very long, but I changed my mind as I went.  I told myself I could just run up the hill very slowly. Not that I ever at any time run very fast.

After a shower and breakfast, I made a tossed salad for the week.  I realized once again that my weight loss goals are more like daydreams, so once again I will renew my efforts at healthy eating.  Then I went to T & J’s Fruits and Vegetables for more tomatoes to make a macaroni salad,  which eventually I did.  More calories than the tossed salad, but so yummy and seasonal!

In the afternoon, I went with my friend Kim to the End Zone Pub and Grub.  We drank wine and I ordered the hamburger I had been craving for days.  I had French fries too, especially since Kim wanted to share those.  What was I saying about weight loss daydreams?  Oh well, as they say, tomorrow is another day.

Speaking of daydreams, you may have noticed that at no time did I mention writing.  I tried but failed.  I wrote a few paragraphs in the TV Journal and that was it.  But I mean to persevere.  At least I have managed a 300 word blog post.  An entertaining blog post?  Let’s not ask for miracles, not with my attitude.

 

Scattered Non-Sequitur Thursday?

Is it Thursday?  I got a few unexpected days off from work so am a little confused (cue unkind remarks about how this is not unusual). No matter.  Since Scattered Thursday is not a thing and Non-Sequitur Thursday is, we’ll go with that.

I went for a run this morning.  Virtual Boilermaker 15K, here I come!  A little later I went to AW Greenhouse and Garden in Little Falls, because I saw on Facebook they were having a sale.  I picked out a hanging plant and a couple four-packs of annuals.  I also grabbed a hunk of Garlic Cheddar Adirondack Cheese.  Yum!

Aren’t they beautiful?

I picked it for the cascading purple,  then noticed the other colors.  Lovely!  I will share pictures of the other plants when I get them, you know, planted.

Later this afternoon I went to the Hot Spot Salon and Spa in Herkimer for a pedicure.  Yes, I am quite incapable of painting my own toenails.  I think we have gone over this before.

I’ll be spending the next few days admiring my toes.

My husband, Steven, and I spent a nice amount of time in our deck.  We admired the weather and my container garden as well as my toenails.  And now I have managed at least 200 words of a blog post.  Phew!  Happy Thursday,  everyone!

 

A Foolish Blog Post? My Foot!

We had a break in the weather and yet not a break in foolish blog posts.  Today is Wuss-out Wednesday and that’s all there is to it.

This is me relaxing.

This is the picture I tried and failed to get into yesterday’s post.  It is applicable to today, because I did spend some time lounging on the deck.  Perhaps this was not my exact view, but close enough.

I went for a run this morning.  I will soon be making more Running Commentary Posts, and talking about my plans to run the Virtual Boilermaker 15K in September.  As soon as I make some plans.  Regular readers may know that planning is not my strong suit.  In my defense,  very often when I make a plan, circumstances conspire against me and my plans come to naught.

My feet before running, just to add another illustration.

So this is turning into a kind of a feet-centered post.  I am thinking about my feet today, because I have a pedicure scheduled for tomorrow at my beloved Hot Spot Salon and Spa in Herkimer.  I hope to make a blog post about that.  I will be SO delighted to not have toe-colored toenails!  And, yes, I am quite incapable of painting my own toenails.  I have tried.

I hope to post something similar tomorrow!

Well, why not make a blog post about feet?  Most of us have two and pay little enough attention to them on a regular basis.  Tomorrow I may add a foot and make a post about my yard.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

Back at the Bar!

In lieu of my usual Wuss-out Wednesday Post, I thought I would talk more about Saturday’s visit to the End Zone Pub and Grub in Herkimer.  Regular readers may recall that I had just gotten my bald on and wanted to go out for a celebratory drink.  I contacted my friend Kim and made plans to meet.

I walked down to the End Zone.  No drinking and driving for me!  I walked in to see the bar stools spaced the recommended six feet apart.  I sat on one and ordered some wine.  I chatted up one of my favorite bartenders, Tino, and another patron while I waited for Kim.

Tino is behind the bar; I never got the other guy’s name.

When Kim got there, I moved a bar stool from beside the wall to a table that was opposite the bar.  This put Kim close enough for conversation but still socially distanced.

She had Moscato; I had Chardonnay.

We had a great time hanging out and talking.  I have missed going out!  Talking on the phone or via computer is not the same as in person socializing!

I also took a shot of Tino and Kim, for good measure.

End Zone Pub and Grub is located at  129 N. Main St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-219-5796.  They are open from noon to 2 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to midnight Sunday, and 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday.

Blooms, Bald and Booze

I don’t know if anybody noticed that I did not post on Saturday or Sunday, but I totally had enough for a Scattered Saturday Post.  Perhaps I could do that now, instead of my usual Tired Tuesday.

I got up and went running.  Then I wrote a couple of postcards and called my parents.  It is nice to talk to Mom and Dad almost every day.  I did not talk long, however, since I wanted to get out early and get to Houle Flower Farm in Little Falls while they still had a lot of flowers for sale.  I did not need to purchase any; I was hoping to get some pictures to submit with my article for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.

I almost bought another bouquet.

After I got back home, I had my bald appointment at the Hot Spot Salon and Spa in Herkimer.  I blogged about that yesterday.  After I was bald, I met my friend Kim at the End Zone Pub and Grub, which had just re-opened the day before.

Of course we practiced social distancing.

The above picture is Kim.  After the End Zone we went to Asteroga Ale House, but I did not get any pictures.

It was a very fun Saturday, and I apologize for not blogging about it right away.  These things happen.  I hope you will all tune in again tomorrow for what may or may not be Wuss-out Wednesday.

 

Where Is Nosferatu?

I felt so happy when I realized I could make a Mid-Week Monsters Post today.  I am feeling so tired, and not for any good reason, but I do so love to be a daily blogger.  I also love monsters.

“Aaaaah! A monstrous mid-week!”

I open with my favorite,  Nosferatu.  I love this shot of him, because I think it looks like Canal Place in Little Falls.  Perhaps in reality it does not, but how awesome would that be if Count Orlock joined LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company?

Are we monsters? Or do we just play them on stage?

Here is a shot of the building I think Nosferatu is standing in front of.   It was taken at a rehearsal for The Tempest three years ago (yikes!  Has it really been that long?).  I’m the one in the middle, with the big hat.  I can’t remember who took the picture.

Hmmm, no. These windows are different.

This is not a monster, but I think it is quite possibly haunted.  It is the Lorraine Billings School in Herkimer, NY, a sadly derelict building.  I noticed it while searching my Media Library for more monsters.  I wondered if the windows were similar to those in picture number one.

“Hey, wasn’t this post supposed to be about me?”

Back to Nosferatu, and I do not believe I have any other pictures of such an arch.  Perhaps that could be a mission for me on a future walk:  to find a similar local setting for a future Monster Blog Post.  In the meantime,  I am over 250 words.  I call that OK, and I hope my readers were reasonably entertained.

 

 

Remembering Their Sacrifices

In honor of Memorial Day, I offer a few pictures of memorials in Herkimer, NY.

As it says, freedom is not free.

In past Memorial Days, I have run up the hill to Herkimer College to this little area.  It is located right outside Wehrun Stadium.

Then I backed up and took a shot of the rock and tree.

A view of the park from the road.

I like that they list the names.

Another view, to give as idea of the size.

I appreciate seeing all the names.  Each soldier has a story of why he was there, of loved ones left behind, and of all the years unlived.  To me, it is all about people.

One more shot as I left.

As I was driving through town to the other memorial I knew of, I saw one I had never noticed before.  At least,  I remember seeing all the flags, but had not really thought about why they were there.  I quickly found a parking spot and went for a closer look.

Right on Mohawk Street, a nice little spot.

And a little closer view.

And here is the stone.

I sat on the bench and took one more picture.

Next I went to a memorial I drive by many days after work, as well as on days off when I am out adventuring (when I could go out adventuring).  It is where Herkimer meets Mohawk.  I pulled into Moves Ambulance Services.

Yes, we will remember.

A full view.

Other villages have memorial parks, too.  I must visit them for future blog posts.  In the meantime, to all our fallen soldiers and their loved ones, I offer a slow salute.

 

Lame but Happy on Friday

Almost my sentiments.

Today is my first earned Friday in a long time.  I worked 40 hours.  Yes, yes, many folks worked more than 40 hours and I am sure many worked harder.  I bow to their superior dedication and motivation, and yet I feel that I have earned the glass of wine I am currently enjoying.

The picture above shows a picture our friend Tracy gave Steven for his birthday one year.  At the time, we all lived in the same town and went out almost every Friday night.  Steven and Tracy’s husband, Ron, worked at the same place, which had payday every other Friday.  Sometimes, they would come up with variations on TGIF.  Their favorite turned out to be Thank God It’s Friday And Pay Day.

I just now took that picture of the plaque.  Then I backed up and took a picture of the wall it is on, just because we have a lot of things on our wall.

I may need to take close-ups of some of these.

Steven and I spent some of our Friday sitting on our front porch.  It is lovely to be home with my beloved husband.  And yet, I will be delighted when it is safe again to go out and sit at a bar, enjoying my friends as well.

Like this!

Here are Tracy and I at the Waterfront Grille in Herkimer, NY.  Here’s hoping she can return one day soon for a repeat performance!

On the same visit.

And here is a picture of Tracy and Steven, taken the same day.

So this is my Lame Post Friday.  Happy memories of Friday’s past, hopes for happy Friday’s in the future.  That is a common theme these days.  However, I would like to say that today is a happy Friday, too.  I hope it also is for you.

 

Sunday Stroll

Today was so beautiful I wanted to twirl around, arms outstretched, like Julie Andrews in that movie I don’t like but everybody else seems to.  What a clumsy sentence, just because I can’t mention a movie without injecting my petty opinion.  Never mind.  I took a lot of pictures that I would like to share.  On with the post!

There are actually two bushes like this.

I first wanted to go to a house on my street that seems to be unoccupied.  Perhaps the residents are merely elusive.  In any case, I took a picture of a bush on their front lawn and made bold to go up their driveway for a picture of some tulips I had noticed earlier.

I spy some hyacinth, too.

I continued down Bellinger Street in search of a magnolia tree I had not checked on lately.  I noticed a magnolia tree in full bloom on German Street during my run this morning so felt sure the other one would be photo ready.

I took two pictures and continued down Bellinger to St. Francis Church, where I had seen the Saint himself following Covid Protocol.

I appreciate those who set an example.

I also got a shot of the tulips in front of Francis.

I positively must plant more tulips in my own yard.

I continued on through Meyers Park to take a picture of the statue of General Herkimer.

This is a true patriot.

I walked down Prospect to Albany Street, where I saw a flowering tree.

I LOVE flowering trees!

I saw a person ahead so, with social distancing in mind, I ducked into the alley behind the stores.  This was delightful to me, because it is not a route I have taken in recent memory.  Imagine my surprise to see a Christmas decoration!

I often say we must take our joy where we can find it!

I continued on up Main Street and through the park by Basloe Library.  At the beginning of quarantine,  it was only when libraries closed that I said, “Shit just got real.”  However, I was able to enjoy some perennials in the flower beds.

Tulips next to daffodils: nice!

I leaned in to get a shot of some grape hyacinths in the same bed.

 

These tulips were a little further in.

I got home without further photo ops, then proceeded to my back yard, where there are some different flowers under my rhododendron. Previously there have been forget me notes, but I do not know what these are.

At least they are pretty!

I close with a shot of my one hyacinth, taken previously and inexplicably not used in a blog post yet.

SO delighted it came up again!

I understand the weather is not expected to be as delightful in the coming week.  However, I feel I can rejoice that I sufficiently appreciated today.  Happy Sunday, all!

 

Looking Back at and Forward to Mohawk Valley Adventures

How about a nice Throwback Thursday post?  I only hope I do not repeat something I have recently thrown back to.  As usual, no promises.

Hubba, hubba! Or do I flatter myself?

This is from April 2017.  These are my friend Kim and I at a Prohibition Party at Gerber’s 1933 Tavern in Utica, NY.  I have some better 1920’s clothes and accessories now.  I hope for a chance to wear them sometime.

Same place, different hotties.

And here are my friend Phyllis and I at the same place a few months later.  It was a delightful interlude each time.

So Sweet! And not just the people.

Here are my husband Steven and our friend Margaret, at Margaret’s business, the So Sweet Candy Cafe in Utica.  You can get lots of yummy sweets and treats there!

Another shot of favorite people at a favorite spot!

Here are Steven, our friend Thom, and Kim at Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant in Herkimer.  I have mentioned this place many times and will no doubt plug them again soon.

I may be biased, but I think we’re a handsome couple.

Once in a while I get a selfie to turn out right.  This was taken one evening at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort,  where we had gone to eat good food and enjoy good music from local musician Phil Arcuri.

I can’t wait to go hear this guy again!

I feel happy now, looking forward to enjoying more good times at local businesses.  Of course I will stay home and safe — and keep others safe! — for as long as it takes.  But how happy I will be when I can go Mohawk Valley Adventuring again!