Tag Archives: herkimer ny

To Trot or Not to Trot

Posted on October 13, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Spoiler alert:  I’m probably not going to trot, but I thought of that title while I was running this morning and I like it.  I wondered if I would ever do another Saturday Running Commentary, and it looks like I am about to.

I had actually thought about not running today.  I had an excellent run yesterday (I believe I mentioned it in yesterday’s post) and can certainly run tomorrow.  Additionally, I have been getting brutal headaches on Saturdays (regardless of whether or not I tie one on Friday night) (um, I mean, I never tie one on), and I fear running in cold air makes them worse.  It is cooler this weekend, real fall weather.  I love it, but my sinuses are less than thrilled.  However, I do not allow my sinuses to run my life.  Try not to anyways.

So I decided to run.  My thermostat said it was 47 degrees, two degrees above my usual cut off for shorts and short sleeves.  However, since I am not in really good running shape, I put on leggings and long sleeves.  I was glad I did.  For one reason, as I started out, I realized it was raining.  What was that all about?  I didn’t hear any rain on the tin roof outside my bathroom window!  I felt quite ill-used, but once I’m out there, I usually keep going.  Yesterday when I started out, I realized I had left on my reading glasses instead of switching to my running glasses.  I kept going for a blurry run. I remembered the running glasses today, but once they got rained on, the run was no clearer than yesterday’s.  No matter.  I could see well enough.

I debated running up a hill.  Regular readers may recall that hills are in short supply in Herkimer, NY (where I live).  I was inclined to stay off the incline (just to make a play on words).  But one must run hills to train properly, especially if one wants to run a 5K in Little Falls (which I do).  I was headed towards Main Street.  I could go up a hill there, if only I crossed German at the four-way stop.  I made a bargain with myself: if there were no cars at the intersection, I would cross.  If not, I would immediately turn down Main Street.  For one reason, my glasses were by now spotty enough that I could not reliably see if a driver was waving me across.  There were cars.  I was off the hook (don’t judge me) (oh, go ahead and judge me; I don’t run for anybody but myself).

It was not as enjoyable a run as yesterday, but it wasn’t too bad.  It got better as I went along.  I started out thinking if I only did 20 minutes it would be OK.  My longest run lately has been 28 minutes, and I have been plateaued there for two weeks.  My main goal is to do the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls in December.  I did it last year and it was great fun.  There is a Turkey Trot 5K in Little Falls on Thanksgiving Day.  I could be in 5K shape by then.  Well, not if I stayed plateaued at 28 minutes or, worse yet, went backwards (ooh, running backwards is a good way to get in shape, but I’m not talking about that).

Another reason I probably cannot participate in the Turkey Trot is that I plan to go to Rome to my Mom and Dad’s house for Thanksgiving.  I had planned to go the night before, in case they need help getting the turkey stuffed and in the oven at 6 a.m. or whenever they need to do it.  I can also peel potatoes, something I never do for myself but know how to nevertheless.  Still, I have always wanted to do a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot.  Additionally, this Thanksgiving is my birthday.  I can run 5K on the day I turn 55.  How cool is that?  But would I even be in 5K shape if I only ran 20 to 25 minutes today?  And so I debated as I ran, and that is when I came up with today’s title.

I was on my street, figuring I would at least get to 25 minutes, when I heard a voice behind me:  “I thought I was the only crazy one!”  It was a lady I had encountered on another run.

“I didn’t know it was raining till I set out,” I told her,  “and I said, ‘Oh well, I’ve got the sports bras on!'”

“It’s raining and we’re training!” she said.

Well, that kind of inspired me, and I went around the block and ended up running for 31 minutes, an increase (at least the way I did the math) of the recommended 10 percent.  I felt pretty darn pleased with myself.  If I don’t make it to Little Falls on Thanksgiving Day, I will just have to trot by myself in Rome.

 

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Cooking with Wine Tasting

Posted on October 13, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Friday Food does not have the same appeal as Saturday or Sunday Supper.  Yet, I feel I would like to make a cooking post today.  I had meant to do a Running Commentary, because I had an excellent run this morning (I posted a Facebook status of “THAT is how a run is SUPPOSED to feel!”), but, you know, things happen.

I was supposed to be away this weekend, but those plans were derailed by a stomach bug my husband, Steven, is currently suffering.  He has not wanted to eat much, so I thought a pot of homemade chicken soup would help.  Accordingly, I took some chicken out of the freezer. It was two thigh sections, which is a good dinner for two people when baked and served with a vegetable.  I have also found that it will also make a good pot of soup

I put the chicken on to boil about 3 p.m., when I was doing laundry and waiting till it was time for a wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY (where I live).  After it had boiled a while, I used a slotted spoon to scoop some of the brown crud off the top.  I don’t think the brown stuff seriously degrades the taste of the soup, but I skim off what I can.  I was waiting for my friend Kim to pick me up for the wine tasting.  Eventually I got tired of waiting and had a small glass of white wine we had on hand (don’t judge me; I wasn’t driving).  I also thought I should progress further on the soup so peeled and crushed some garlic.  I turned off the burner under the chicken; I figured it was cooked through, and I did not want it on when I left for the wine tasting.

It was after right after this that Kim texted me that she was ready to go to the wine tasting, so I did not bother setting the timer for 15 minutes (to let the garlic breathe, remember? I’ve talked about that before).  I figured we’d be gone at least that long.   And we were.  I came home with two boxes of wine, one red, one white.  Yum!  I may do a blog post about the tasting (I have been seriously remiss in not making more posts about the wine tastings I attend).  I poured myself a glass of red and continued to cook.

I pulled the pieces of chicken out of the broth and put in the garlic.  I sliced a yellow onion, put it in the broth and turned the burner back on.   I took the chicken off the bones and put it in the broth too.  After a while I will add some frozen vegetables.  Probably some spinach (Steven only likes it in soup, dip or sauce), maybe some broccoli or corn; I’ll see what’s in the freezer.  And I will cook some pasta, probably ditalini.  Yum!

For you wine snobs out there, I will no doubt switch to white with my chicken soup.  I do not want to injure anybody’s sensibilities unnecessarily.  Anyways, this is my Lame Post Friday post for the week.  I hope you are all having a good supper and enjoying the beverage of your choice.

 

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Tie It With a Clara Bow

Posted on October 6, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

The title is, in case you did not notice, and I feel sure you did, a reference to yesterday’s title.  Clara Bow was a personality in the 1920’s, wasn’t she?  I suppose I should Google it, but it is Friday, Lame Post Friday to be exact, and I only want to type in 200 or so words and get back to Friday evening activities.  I pride myself that I am posting on actual Friday and not early Saturday morning. Who does that?  Never mind.

We just got back from the Waterfront Grille in Herkimer, NY (where we live).  We were hoping to meet some friends there but apparently misunderstood the plan (if there was one).  I had originally thought I was going to rush home from work, shower, change, go.  That did not happen.  Instead I was able to take some time with a costume piece I thought would work for my 1920’s event tomorrow, which I talked about in yesterday’s post.  Yesterday I said the velvet gown I had found in Ilion Little Theatre’s costume collection would work. I woke up at two this morning with the realization that it would not.

I have in my possession a filmy almost dress I think I could put over a sheath dress to look kind of sort of 1920-ish.  However, it is very wrinkly and has a few stains.  I didn’t even know if it would fit.  I tried it on. Then I tried to iron it.  It was so filmy, I was worried it was too thin to iron, so I used a press cloth, by which I mean a handkerchief.  Only at first I could not find a clean handkerchief.  When I finally found one, I found what I have found every time I have attempted to use a press cloth:  it doesn’t work!  No doubt I do it wrong.  However, I managed to iron the thing without mishap.

I put it on over my black sheath dress (which no longer fits so good since I have put on weight), and showed Steven, saying, “I guess this isn’t going to work.”

He said, “I was about to say, ‘Add some beads and accessories, and that’s good.  But you have to get rid of those stains.”

Long story short (too late!), I have it soaking but am not hopeful.  I still have tomorrow morning and afternoon to make this work or find something else!

In the meantime, it is Lame Post Friday, and I find this post (as well as my costume for tomorrow) lame.  Happy Start to Your Weekend, everyone.

And I am over 400 words.  Go figure.

 

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Alas and Yay on Scattered Saturday

Posted on September 23, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yes, it is that moment of a Saturday when I want to make my Scattered Saturday Post and get on with my evening.  This will be fast if not furious.  Here goes…

I slept in till after 6 a.m.  Yay, weekend!  And I woke up with a terrible headache, which made me feel distinctly ill-used, because I did NOT tie one on Friday night.  Next Friday I may drink my head off, because if I am going to have the headache anyways, I may as well have a good reason for it.  Be that as it may, I tried not to let the pain completely ruin my day.

I went running, which makes three days in a row.  Alas, three was not the charm, because the run was not fun and did not feel wonderful.  Still, I did it, so I could feel good about that, at least.  A shower felt good, and Steven and I pondered our options for the day.  Tentative plans changed after a phone call to my Mom.  She said my sister had been going to call me to ask that I pick up rolls for a family gathering on Sunday (baptism of my adorable great-niece, Evie.  Yay!).  Suddenly a trip to Heidelberg Bakery was on the agenda.

Just to make things perfect, I saw in the Utica OD that a church in Middleville was having a rummage sale.  We love rummage sales!  Our plan was set:  breakfast at Heidelberg, then on to Middleville for the rummage sale.  That was fun, but, alas, my headache did not go away.

Back home, I laid down with my face thing on (I have this thing my Mom got me; it has herbs or something in it, you heat it up in the microwave and lay down with it on your face), and took a nap.  That helped.

After the nap and a cup of hot tea (yay cooler weather!), I went with my friend Kim to a Lambrusco tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer.  I knew Kim would like Lambrusco, because it is sweet.  She is all the time going to tastings with me where nothing but dry is available, so I was happy to go to a tasting she would like.  Then we walked all over the store looking for a bottle wine that would be appropriate to bring to the cast party of Shattered Angel.  Could we find anything with an angel on the label?  NO, of course not!  We finally settled on a bottle of Dr. Frank Konstantin Riesling, because the accused in the play was examined by DOCTORS.  Also it was a nod to our dear friend, Julianne Allen, recently deceased, who was supposed to be in the play and who loved Riesling.

Next we went to Asteroga Ale House for a drink.  Steven joined us, so that was an enjoyable interlude.  Now I am at home, looking at Forensic Files in a desultory fashion and soon to begin the movie watching portion of the evening.  I hope all my readers are also having an enjoyable Saturday.

 

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Scattered Halloween Movies?

Posted on August 26, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is that dreadful moment on a Saturday when you know you must make a post but you have already started drinking and are not at all sure you have anything to say.

So what else is new?  At least I have had a fun Saturday, so I will attempt a Scattered Saturday post and hope it does not sound too foolish.

I got up at a sort of normal hour (for normal people, which we all know I am NOT one of) and went running.  After a shower, some food,and an attempt to return to normalcy, I wrote a few postcards and walked to the post office to mail them. Steven nicely walked with me.  It was lovely weather and a lovely walk with my husband.

Much later, I got together with my friend Kim.  Our original plan was to go to Ilion Little Theatre to look for costumes for Shattered Angel, the play being presented by Herkimer County Historical Society in cooperation with Ilion Little Theatre.  Instead we went to New 2 You Consignment Shop in Ilion where we each found some great things for ourselves.  It was fun.

Then we picked up my husband Steven for a wine tasting at Ilion Wine and Spirits.  After some sipping and buying we went to downtown Herkimer.  We got a couple slices at Papaleo’s Wise Guys Pizzeria and took them to End Zone Pub across the street.  We had a delightful time eating, drinking, and chatting with folks.

Now we are home, watching Halloween movies while I make my blog post.  The best thing about that was a Freudian typo of “Scatterday” instead of “Scattered Saturday.”  I may use that next week. In the meantime, Happy Saturday, everyone, and I hope you are all enjoying Halloween movies soon.

 

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Interrupted Scattered Saturday

Posted on August 5, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’m watching a Dateline on my DVR, but in a rather desultory fashion, because I think Steven might want to watch it with me later, and I thought it would be a good time to make my Scattered Saturday post.  For another reason, I want to stay on the computer in case a couple of friends message me about returning to the Diamond Days festivities downtown.  The vendors are leaving at six, but music continues till midnight.  And I would imagine I could get another Gem Juice at the End Zone Pub and Grub (see yesterday’s post).

That was as much as I had typed in earlier when my friend Wayne messaged me that he was down there already.  OF COURSE we wanted to join him!  We met at the End Zone.  I had another Gem Juice.  We sat and drank and visited.  Eventually we got a table outside.  A long time later our friend Kim joined us.  I only had one Gem Juice, but then I had two gin and tonics.

I am home now.  I am still feeling tipsy.  We had a delightful time in downtown Herkimer.  I am in no condition to make a good blog post about it. I am only happy I can type in this much. Happy Saturday, everyone.  I hope to see you all on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

 

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Diamond Daze on Lame Post Friday

Posted on August 4, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

So Herkimer Diamond Days kicked off this evening.  I noticed folks setting up for a chicken barbecue and food trucks while I was running this afternoon (short, muggy run, not worthy of a Runny Commentary post). I got home and told Steven what I had seen.

“I wanted to get a beer and sit in front of the End Zone Pub,” I told him.

To my surprise, he said, “Let’s do it.”

We did.  Our friend Kim joined us.  What a fun time!

The End Zone’s kitchen was closed, but Kim and I got beers and we sat down at a table on the sidewalk.  Steven checked out that food trucks and one that offered hot dogs (I foolishly did not get its name).  He has been craving a hot dog.  He got a hot dog and french fries.  It looked so good that I went and got a hot dog for myself.  Yes, I ate some of Steven’s fries, don’t judge me! We settled down and watched the crowd.

Steven got a drink after he got his food.  After Kim and I finished our beers, we wanted to try something called Gem Juice.  For one reason, you got to keep the cup.  In fact, the cup was only a plastic one with a beer logo on it.  I was hoping for something about the Diamond Days or at least the End Zone.  However, the drink was damn tasty.  It was gin, run, vodka and clear fruit juice.  They told me the exact proportions, in case I wanted to make it myself at home, but I do not remember what they were.

“I can just add more to taste,” I suggested.  I am more fond of gin than of vodka.  On the other hand, I am not at all sure I will be trying this recipe at home any time soon.

Full disclosure:  the Gem Juice gave me a bit of a buzz.  I don’t drink much of the hard stuff lately, I guess it goes right to my head.  The point is, we had fun.  And it is Lame Post Friday.  I hope your Friday is equally as fun.

 

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Good-Buy to Books

Posted on August 2, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

This afternoon instead of having a Mohawk Valley adventure I could blog about, I spent some time routing around in the extremely messy room we call our library looking for books to donate.  As a result, in lieu of my expected (by me anyways) Wuss-out Wednesday post, I will give a brief plug to a community event I hope to go to on Saturday, a book sale hosted by the Herkimer County Historical Society.

The sale will also include history books from the society’s gift shop — I KNOW there are one or two of those I want but have not purchased yet — and post cards — regular readers may recall that I love to send people post cards.  The society has been on Facebook asking for donations.  Of course I love my books.  I like to own books and re-read many of them multiple times.  On the other hand, I have a lot of books.  I seek out book sales, used and new book stores, rummage sales, thrift stores, anywhere you can buy books. And sometimes people give me books they’ve finished with that they think I might like (or that they just want to get rid of).  I LOVE BOOKS, there, I’ve said it.

So I gathered a few books to donate.  Some thrillers, some romance novels, a couple of true crime stories… Steven will bring them to the society tomorrow, I think.  The sale will be Saturday, Aug. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Eckler Building, 406 N. Main St., Herkimer, NY.

My only worry now is that I will return from the sale with more books than I donated.  These things happen.  In the meantime, I may try to do something about that extremely messy room, because, you know, removing those books to donate did not help much.

 

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Waste Not, Want Not

Posted on July 27, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

As I have mentioned many times, when I run, I narrate in my head, as if I am writing my running commentary as I go.  Sometime later, when I sit down and type in my Running Commentary post, I never use all the good stuff.  I usually remember it later and say, Damn!  Well, since today is Non-Sequitur Thursday, I’m going to share a couple of stories from different runs that did not make it through my porous mind into the post that day.

During a recent run in what I call The Suburbs, I had a nice canine encounter (that is an expression I just now made up, “canine encounter,”  do you like it?).  “The Suburbs” are not really suburbs, of course.  I don’t think Herkimer is large enough to rate real suburbs. It is a nice, hilly residential section behind Valley Health Services.  There are no sidewalks, which I prefer to run on, but there is not much traffic.

Regular readers know that when I run, if I see a nice dog, I always ask if I can pet him or her.  On this particular run, I met a lady walking two cute little ones.

“Can I pet your dogs?”

The lady said that the boy dog would let me, but the girl might not.  Sure enough, one dog walked right over, wagging his cute little tail.  I tried to greet his sister, too, but she backed off.  He was an adorable black and white dog.  He reminded me of our much missed Spunky.  Considering the resemblance and since I do not run with a camera, I’ll share a picture of Spunkman.  I think illustrations add punch to a blog post.

How I miss my poocher!

The nice dog I petted did not have Spunky’s underbite.  I ran on, turning here and there, choosing some hills and avoiding others.  Soon I saw that I was approaching the lady and her two dogs again.  I thought I would not bother her by asking to pet them again.  However, as I got closer, my little black and white friend started walking towards me.

“He says, ‘I’ll take more pets!'”  the lady said.

“I’ll give you pets, you friendly fellow,” I said.  I love dogs!

I can’t believe I left that little story out of my running commentary that day.

The other story concerns a cool-down walk.  Regular readers know I always walk around the block, drinking water after a run.  I usually take about ten minutes.  I figure, my metabolism is all kicked up from the run, so I burn more calories walking around the block than I would otherwise.  Also, it feels awesome to walk after a run.  Well, I was about a block and a half away from home when I saw a folded piece of paper on the sidewalk, so I picked it up and unfolded it.

Well, who doesn’t?

I brought the note home and gave it to Steve.

“I think your girlfriend dropped this before she had a chance to give it to you,” I said.

He did not deny it.

 

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Cleaning the Church for the Community

Posted on July 23, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

A handsome building, indeed.

I have felt sad every time I pass the former First Baptist Church in Herkimer, because it was closed and the building for sale. It is such a lovely building, and I feared it would go to waste and ruin.   I was delighted to hear that the Business and Professional Association of Herkimer had acquired it. It will be their headquarters and a multi-use space available for all sorts of groups and community events.  However, the building needs a lot of work, and the association needs volunteers to help.  Naturally, I said I would volunteer.  Of course, I am not clever or capable about carpentry or anything like that.  However, I don’t mind dirty, tedious jobs.  I figured there would be something I could do.  This morning, I did something, at least for a short time.

The first thing I had to do was sign a waiver, which I was happy to do.  I understand that organizations can’t be too careful these days.  I wandered into the church part (I’m not sure what that is called and Google was no help).  I saw some nasty looking dark spots all along the walls.

Gorgeous stained glass, BUT…

“Is that mildew?”  I asked.  It was.  I have a mildew allergy.  Well, maybe it would not be too bad to stay for a while.  I could leave before I actually started to wheeze.

This is actually after we cleaned a bunch of stuff up.

It is, I fear, typical of me that I went into the basement to help.  I knew the mildew would be worse in the damp basement, but, well, I said I would help with the dirty jobs and this definitely fit the bill.  The area pictured above was covered with wet tiles that had fallen from the ceiling.  Two guys and I gathered them up with shovels or gloved hands and stuffed them into garbage bags.  We had to use the shovels to knock a few stunborn tiles off the ceiling.  I know the guys did more than me.  For one reason, I was flatly incapable of carrying the full bags up the stairs.  But I helped.

LOTS of stuff to be cleaned up here!

Another room in the basement was even worse.  I was starting to have a little trouble breathing so went upstairs.

Another volunteer hard at work.

Another volunteer was placing plastic to protect the carpet prior to squirting bleach onto the walls.  I squirted some bleach.  I was ready to apply some elbow grease, but the other lady suggested I just spread the bleach around and leave it to soak in.  Yes, sometimes time is better than effort.  That is the principle I apply when I leave my dishes to air dry.

Unfortunately, I soon realized my breathing was not getting any easier, despite a break of going outside for a few minutes.  I had been there a little over a half hour, but there was no point in giving myself real problems.  I told them I would come again another time and put in another half hour or more if I could.  I like to think every little bit helps.  Then I had the bright idea of going home and getting my Tablet to take a few pictures and make a blog post.  I could help with a little publicity!

So this is where the bags of tiles I couldn’t carry went.

 

It’s a little blurry, but you can see what a beautiful church it was.

 

Another outside view.

The reason we’re working in the mildew and mess!

As you can see from the above picture, you can go to www.herkimerbpa.com for more information about the Business and Professional Association of Herkimer. You can also Like their Facebook page.  And if I get to volunteer again, I’ll write another blog post.

 

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