Tag Archives: Ilion Days

I Did the DooDah

Posted on July 22, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had a real Mohawk Valley Adventure Friday when I attended the Ilion DooDah Parade.  The Parade is a major event of Ilion Days, which ran from July 12 through 20 this year.  I was there to cover the event for Sentinel Media (regular readers may remember that is my part-time writing gig), but I ended up riding on a float, so I participated as well.  I took a number of good pictures, so I may have more than one DooDah post.

Cool car, nice fellow!

This was the Grand Marshall of the parade, Yasushi Takase. He was an American Field Service (AFS) exchange student his senior year in Ilion in 1975, and returned for the 50th reunion.   I got his picture after the parade, so it was good I rode on a float till the end.

The view from the front.

You can’t read it very well, but it is the post number from the Herkimer American Legion. I boldly asked if I could ride with them, and they graciously allowed me.

Other Legions were represented as well.

It was the Ilion Legion, however, who gave me a bottle of water, which I sorely needed by then. I had been walking up and down in the hot sun, taking pictures, and talking to people who were lining up for the parade.

I didn’t think the Baby Boomers had ever left.

I wondered if I should have asked to ride with this group, since I am technically a boomer.  Really the tail-end of boomerdom.  I guess I fit in better with the Legion, being as I am a Veteran.

The most colorful group!

What I really should be is a Happy Hagg! I once asked if I could join them, and they were very welcoming.  I just need to learn the dance, figure out a costume, and go to some of their practices.

Look how cute they are!

This was our view off the back of the Legion float (it was a trailer with chairs on it, really).  I’d like to have one of those sunflower hats.

I am afraid this has not been a very coherent account of my evening at the parade.  Full disclosure:  I am back from rehearsal for the play I am in (you may have read some of my blog posts about it) and I am very tired.  However, I am approaching 400 words.  I say OK.  Happy Monday, everyone!

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Community Events, humor, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Happy Lame Weekend!

Posted on July 19, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was just about to do something useful when I remembered, I never made my Lame Post Friday blog post!  OK, I probably wasn’t really about to do anything particularly useful.  Who is the arbiter of what is useful anyways?  Not me! (Ooh, I just flashed on when I was a kid, and you all yelled, “Not It!” then argued about who actually said it last and had to be It) (And how about, “Last one there’s a rotten egg, first one has to eat it!”)

So much for my parenthetical stroll down Memory Lane.  Save it for Throwback Thursday, me!  Quick, throw in a picture, because I obviously do not have much of substance to say.

See me in the back, looking like the Statue of Liberty? That was not my intention.

Here is a picture from July 2019, when I participated in the DooDah Parade in Ilion, NY with Ilion Little Theatre (ILT).  ILT did not participate in this year’s DooDah Parade, which was last night, but I was there covering the event for Sentinel Media. That is one reason I did not make my blog post yesterday.  I may make a whole blog post about that (Preview of Coming Attractions), but right now my phone is across the room charging, so I can’t transfer pictures to WordPress (First World Problems).

Who me? Drink wine?

This is a completely unrelated picture.  I include it  because it’s Saturday.  I may, in fact, have a glass of wine.  I hope you will feel free to indulge in whatever you may like and have a wonderful weekend.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, Lame Post Friday, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

I Doodah Didn’t Make a Post

Posted on July 23, 2022 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh DEAR!  Look how late I am making my Lame Post Friday post!   How did it get to be ten o’clock on a Saturday!  I know, the usual way.

In my defense, last night I participated in the Doodah Parade, part of the Ilion Days festivities.  I rode on the float for Ilion Little Theatre.  It was a fun time, but hot and tiring.  Just imagine if I would have walked!

I couldn’t decide which photo to use so include both.  These are this year’s participants of YAW, Young Actors Workshop.  For more information on that, you can go to It’s Facebook page or website, http://www.ilionlittletheatre.org.

I did not take a picture of me in my silly outfit.  Everybody else was in Western wear, because the theme of the parade was Doodah Rides Again.  I do not own anything appropriate except for a pair of cowboy boots my sister Vicki gave me.  It was so hot, I considered wearing the boots and nothing else, but, you know, sunburn.  Then my friend Kim (who originally wanted to go as Lady Godiva) pointed out that witches ride brooms.  I threw together an outfit that did not include black. I really should have taken a picture.

So we’ll call this a Post About Why I Didn’t Make a Post Yesterday, and I will attempt to make my Saturday post while it is still Saturday.  But no promises.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, Lame Post Friday, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Another Theatre Throwback

Posted on July 24, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I meant to go to a Mohawk Valley business today for my blog post, but it did not work out.  I am having some serious problems with energy and motivation these days.  Yes, yes, I know:  motivation follows action.  If I do something, anything, I will find my motivation.  The fact is, I had a very enjoyable day reading a book then watching true crime shows on television.  Judge me if you are so inclined.

However, blog posts must be written, at least my blog posts by me, according to my rules for me.  Maybe I could do another Throwback Thursday Post. Or perhaps some Mid-week Monsters.  I’ll look in my Media Library and see what moves me.

Here’s a fun bunch!

Here are some members of Ilion Little Theatre, about to participate in the Doodah Parade last July.  Alas, there were no Ilion Days this year, but let us not dwell on sad things.

I cast a spell on you!

As long as I am remembering the Doodah, here I am, about to participate in the 2018 parade.

A dramatic moment.

I do not seem to have any pictures from the 2017 Doodah Parade,  but here is a picture from July 2017 of The Tempest, presented by LiFT,  Little Falls Theatre Company.  Oh, it has been too long since LiFT has done Shakespeare!  A group of us was trying to revive things in 2020, but it was not to be.

I miss my theatre friends.  Perhaps one day soon we can get dramatic again.  In the meantime,  I see I am over 250 words. I call that respectable, and I’ll see what I can do about having some New Mohawk Valley adventures soon.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, Throwback Thursday and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Dressing Up For Throw Back Thursday

Posted on August 30, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a Throw Back Thursday post?  For one reason, I am once again brain dead.  Full disclosure: I had a moment earlier when I considered waiting till tomorrow morning to make today’s post.  However, as I wait for my husband to NICELY fix dinner (he is such a keeper!), I thought, I can do this.

I would look so good in that dress.

I went to the first month I used pictures in this blog and picked this one.  It was a costume display outside of Boscov’s at Sangertown Mall in New Hartford, NY.  We don’t get out that way very often, but this was definitely worth the trip.

We were ACTING!

Since it is currently August, I went to August 2017 and found this wonderful cast photo from Shakespeare’s The Tempest, as performed by LiFT, the Little Falls Theatre Company.  I’m the one in the purple cape and yellow tights. I just love a colorful costume.

This was a post-parade pic.

Going to August 2018, I found this gem, actually taken in July 2018.  It is a member of LiFT  who participated in the Canal Days Parade in Little Falls, NY. She was also in  The Tempest,  a truly delightful young actress.

A more recent picture.

This last photo only throws back to July 2019.  I was looking for something with more costumes, and came across some shots of Ilion Little Theatre at the Doodah Parade,  which was part of the Ilion Days festivities.

I hope you have enjoyed my stroll (or was it more of a hop scotch?) down Memory Lane.  I personally am looking forward to my next opportunity to put on a costume.  I hope somebody will take a  picture that I can include in a blog post.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, Throwback Thursday and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Doing the Doodah

Posted on July 21, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

We do the Doodah!

I open with a picture, because this post is going to be heavy on the illustrations,  light on words.  I am one tired blogger, but I hate to miss a day, so here we are on Slacker Saturday.  At least I didn’t slack out of being in the parade.  I did, however, slack to the extent of riding on the float instead of walking behind it.

For those of you just tuning in, the occasion was the Doodah Parade, part of the Ilion Days festivities.  I participated, as I have for the past three years, with Ilion Little Theatre.

Here’s a colorful pair.

I took all my pictures before the parade, as we milled around waiting to get started.  It was very warm and humid, but at least it had stopped raining.

My friend, Kim, looking gorgeous as usual.

Ilion Days’ theme this year was Clowning Around Ilion, so we had a circus-themed float.  However, we were invited to dress any way we liked.

We had a variety of get-ups.

I see now  I did not get as many pictures or as good pictures as I should have.  However, you’ll have that, especially when you’re dealing with me.

A lot of the kids had red noses.

A candid shot.

And another group shot.

I took this group shot, then the guy who drove the truck said I should be in the picture,  so he took the picture at the beginning of the post.

Ooh, look at this, I am over 200 words.  Maybe I’m not such a slacker after all.  Oh, I probably am.

 

3 Comments

Posted in Community Events, humor, personal, Slacker Saturday and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Pre Parade Post

Posted on July 20, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I decided to do the Doodah.  Somebody pointed out to me the 5Ks are plentiful, but Doodah Parades are few and far between.

I am sitting on my couch, thankful for fans, trying not to sweat too much.  I have a rather foolish costume on, one I made up at the last minute.  My main criteria was that it be light colored and light weight.  It is a stinking hot humid day.  Seriously,  the meteorologist and anchor on this morning’s news agreed the word for today’s weather is “gross.”

No matter, I will enjoy the parade, and I hope the parade viewers will enjoy me.  I intend to ride on the float, in shade if possible, and give the beauty queen wave to all.

I suppose you are all wondering what my costume looks like.   Well, I am terrible at doing selfies.  Maybe I can get somebody at the parade to get a shot that I can include in a post parade post.  Oh well, maybe I could try.  Let me get my tiara back on.

My arms aren’t long enough to get the whole outfit.

You can’t see all the fringe.  If anybody asks what I’m supposed to be, I’m going to say I’m a member of the Lunatic Fringe.  Oh, I also still have on my reading glasses, not my fabulous pair.

Anyways, I see I am over 200 words.  And it is Lame Post Friday.   On to the Doodah!

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, Lame Post Friday, personal and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

To Doodah or Not to Doodah

Posted on July 19, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that title while I was running this morning, and I like it.

The Doodah Parade is part of the Ilion Days festivities in Ilion, NY.  Full Disclosure: the Days have been going on since July 13, and I have missed them all so far.  What the heck was I doing last weekend? Probably drinking wine.  Judge me if you so choose.

Anyways, for the last three years I have participated in this deliciously named parade with Ilion Little Theatre.   Last year I was a wizardry witch.  That is, I wore the silly wizard costume I had worn in May for a March of Dimes event but paired it with a silly witch hat I have had for some years.  And I had two wands, because my friend Kim gifted me one that day.

Me at last year’s parade.

 

The previous year I dressed as Dorothea Doodah, a character of my own invention.  The first year I participated I dressed as a pirate.  I don’t have any pictures of the other Doodahs, but I may have one of me as a pirate, when I revived the costume for a parade in Little Falls.

I’m the one on the right.

Clearly my main problem with being in the parade tomorrow is that I must come up with a costume. Of course it is perfectly acceptable to repeat a costume, but it is more fun not to.  I could probably come up with something.

Also on the Don’t Do It side is my desire to run in a 5K in Ilion on Saturday.   Many people can do both.  I am not of their number.   Again, judge me if you will. I felt after my run this morning that I am in fine 5K shape.  And so I dither.

My silly wizard costume, which I include for your further entertainment.

I have really been enjoying running lately.  But I always enjoy dressing up in a costume.  Could I do both?  Will I end up doing neither?  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

2 Comments

Posted in Community Events, humor, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

About That Parade…

Posted on July 22, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

As promised, here are a few pictures of the Doodah Parade, part of the Ilion Days festivities in Ilion, NY.  As a matter of fact, they are not of the whole parade but only of the Ilion Little Theatre contingent.  During the parade, I could not take a decent picture, because I was riding in the back of the pick-up truck.  I had enough to do to keep my own balance (with one epic fail).  Oh, I know, I could have sat quietly in the lawn chair, like I did last year.  But I was a wizard (in a witch hat).  It was more fun to wave my arms around casting spells on people.

The witch’s hat, sunglasses, necklace and bracelet were new additions to the costume since I wore it for the March of Dimes March for Babies.

The utterly fabulous red dress you can see in the background is my friend, Kim, who I stupidly did NOT get a picture of.  In my defense, it’s hard to take pictures with a Tablet in the bright sun;  I can barely see the screen.  But I got a few snaps.

Aar, mateys!

Alas, I don’t know how to crop, so the pirate family cannot be centered.  When I used to work for a newspaper, we cropped with an Exacto knife and a ruler.  That’s how old I am, in case you needed a reminder.

Luckily I got the shot before the balloon blew in front of her face.

I don’t know if you can tell how fabulous this costume was from the picture, but I liked it.  The lady wearing it said it was not too warm, despite being dark, because the fabric was lightweight.

Just a couple of candid shots.

Despite appearances, she did not float away.

This was after the parade, when we took all the balloons off the truck.  Last year, the girls got into letting them float away in memory of loved ones who passed.  I did not like to discourage them at the time, because it obviously meant a lot to them to do so. However, this year before anybody got that idea, I pointed out that it is very bad for wildlife and the environment.  So this sweet young lady ended up with all of them.

Of course we were properly identified.

This is last year’s banner, but it worked perfectly well.  It is a little wrinkly, because it was in the backseat of Kim’s vehicle as we drove to the parade grounds, and I could not keep from leaning against it.  Her car was a bit crowded, but I was grateful for the ride.

So one more Doodah Parade is in the books for Ilion Little Theatre.  I hope some of the people who enjoyed our “float” come to see some of our shows.

 

1 Comment

Posted in Community Events, humor, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Can Hercule Poirot Solve My Doodah Dilemma?

Posted on July 19, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is Wednesday, isn’t it?  It’s that day when you want to be happy that there is only one more day between you and Friday (if you are fortunate enough to have weekends off, which I do and I am grateful for) (don’t hate me if you don’t), only you’re not, because you just realized you ARE going to do a theatre thing on Friday that you thought you were not going to do, so you only have one day to get a costume together.

Yes, it’s always drama with me.  It’s not even a real theatre-y thing I have to do: merely, Ilion Little Theatre is marching in the Doodah Parade as part of Ilion Days on Friday, July 20.  I don’t even have to march: my friend Kim said I could ride in the truck.  I don’t even have to wear a costume.  I could wear my t-shirt from Roxy, a play I was in a few years ago (perhaps you read some of my blog posts about it).  However, I am the sort of person that when I CAN wear a costume, I DO.

What to wear, what to wear, what to wear?  Something bold enough to show up as a costume from the truck, but something light enough to not kill me in 88-degree weather.  Maybe a hat.  Maybe an umbrella.  I’d like to wear my tiara, but I don’t have a fancy dress.  I have one day to get to a thrift store!  How do I get myself into these things!

In the meantime, I just spent some two hours sitting crocheting and watching Murder on the Orient Express (1974) with my husband, Steven.  I can’t even begin to tell you how delighted I was that I could work on an afghan in comfort, in between hot flashes, even if I had to have the fan on me to do it.  At least I can pep up my Wuss-out Wednesday post with a picture.

Hercule Poirot tells them what’s what.

This was the first star-studded Agatha Christie romp Steven and I enjoyed together, back in the 1990’s.  He had seen it in the theatre when it came out in 1974.  We need to see the newer Kenneth Branagh version.  Perhaps I’ll write a blog post about it when we do, although I usually write about older movies, preferably the cheesy sort.

In the meantime, I see I am close to 400 words.  That’s respectable for a blog post, especially on Wuss-out Wednesday.  Anyways, now that the movie is over, I have to get back to having my panic attack over what I’m going to wear to the Doodah Parade.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, Wuss Out Wednesday and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
← Older Posts
→