Tag Archives: local business

When In Doubt, Add Coffee

And now my headache is back.  I begin my Lame Post Friday Post with a whine.  It is too early yet for wine, which might help my headache but could also cause a worse one tomorrow.  Ah, the trials and tribulations.

Random picture to denote passage of time while I go put on coffee.

I had tea instead of coffee earlier this morning, which is usually fine.  I had a headache, which got worse after I ate breakfast and took some Migraine Relief (with the magic ingredient caffeine, as a boss of mine used to say).  After lying down for a while, my head felt better, so I went for a run.  I did not run yesterday due to a back ache (YES all I do at my age is feel pain in various parts of my body.  Either you know what I am talking about or you eventually will).

Where was I going with this?    What a dull, boring post!

 

The inspirational bumble bee.

I looked for a more exciting picture to pep up the post and found this from The Mustard Seed in Little Falls, NY, thus adding a shout-out to a local business.  The bumble bee is part of their logo, because of the story that aerodynamically speaking, the bumble bee should not be able to fly, but somehow does.  Thus, the owner of the Mustard Seed never lets anybody tell her what she can and can’t do but somehow does what she does.  I have not been to the Mustard Seed in a while, but it is a very fun place to shop.  There are several fine places to shop in Little Falls.  I must take a drive there soon.

Don’t I look like a little devil?

I close with the wine I mentioned in the first paragraph.  I was wearing that shirt and drinking white wine yesterday, but my hair does not look like that these days.  I started to grow it out when I knew I was going to audition for the play I’m in (perhaps you have read my blog posts about that).  It will probably not stay long.

However, this blog post has gotten a little long for a Lame Post Friday post, approaching 400 words.  And I think the coffee I put on earlier is done.  Can headache relief be far?  In any case, I thank you one again for tuning in and hope I have managed to be at least mildly entertaining.

 

I Like Art

Sometimes I get a little culture.  For example, last Saturday I went to the Renaissance Pub in Little Falls for a Meet the Artist with Frank Wilcox.   The Renaissance periodically hosts local artists in cooperation with Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts.

I am acquainted with Frank from being in a play with him (Strike Story written by Angela Harris), and I have seen his work in several area venues.  Full disclosure:  my original plan was to write about the Renaissance (or the Ren as it is sometimes called) for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  I missed the deadline for the February issue, so I will try again for a future issue (unless another writer beats me to it).  In the meantime, I wanted to give the place a shout-out, and give folks a chance to go see some of Frank Wilcox’s paintings.

I can’t quite get a good picture of behind the bar.

Of course I sat at the bar and had a glass of wine.  One must support a venue that promotes local artists.  Unfortunately the kitchen was not open yet, because the food there is very good.

It’s hard to take good pictures of pictures.

I was there early enough that it was not too crowded yet, so I did not have to worry about asking a bunch of strangers if it was OK if they were in the picture.  I did not take too many pictures in any case, because they did not seem to be turning out very well.  Therefore, I encourage all local readers to go to the Ren and take a look for themselves.

Erynn Lowery and Victoria Cheney

I was fortunate enough to get a picture of the proprietress and bartender.  Unfortunately Victoria, the bartender, was moving soon.

You really should go see this one.

I took a picture of my favorite painting.  I was happy to get a chance to tell Frank how much I liked it.  Unfortunately, there are no walls in my house big enough to properly show off a picture that big.  As I type this, I look around at all the nice pictures on my walls now, which include at least a few by local artists.  That was my husband Steven’s talent, hanging pictures and interior decoration.  Still, I could retire a couple of pictures if I acquired any more art.  I certainly hope to attend more Meet the Artists at the Renaissance.

The Renaissance Pub is located at 550 E. Main St., Little Falls, NY, phone number 315-556-1006. Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts is located at 401-403 Canal Place, Little Falls, phone number 315-823-0808. You can Like them both on Facebook.

 

A Shout-out and a Snowman

I thought I could manage a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday Post.  I have a couple of seasonal photos, including a shout-out to a local business.

There’s no place like Yetty’s for the holidays!

Yetty’s Pizza and Pasta is one of my favorite places to stop for a snack, lunch, or dinner.  On a recent visit there, I admired their latest decoration, painted by the owner and chef.  I must do a full post about Yetty’s soon.  That will be a good excuse to treat myself to dinner there again.

I’m sure he or she has melted now.

I got a picture of this snowman on a walk I took on the first of December.  I am not sure if those are teddy bear ears or frog eyes on the head, but I like it.  Most of the snow is gone now, with the rain that has been pounding down all day.  Oh well, at least I don’t have to shovel rain.  I would probably be too lazy to make a snowman anyways.

The sad thing is that I only have two photos to waste not.  Then again, a short blog post is better than no blog post at all.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

Yetty’s  Pizza and Pasta is located at  109 Mohawk St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-866-4201.

 

Tired Post, Late Shout-out

Why am I always too tired to do my Tired Tuesday post on Tuesday?  Am I getting old or am I just unhealthy?  I know it is not that I am working too hard, alas.  But enough about me, how about a blog post?

Last week I finally drove to Dyn’s Cider Mill in Richfield Springs.  I was in search of popcorn.  They have the best popcorn!  Popcorn is an excellent source of fiber, I have read.  Of course, with the amount of butter and salt I put on it, I cannot consider it a health food.  Still, it goes great with the movies I like to watch.

I love this place!

It was a bright, sunny day, which can be a little difficult to drive in.  Luckily I have polarized prescription sunglasses, a relic of when I used to work in the eye care industry.  It would have been a prettier drive had I gone earlier in the fall, but I can’t do everything (or even many things) in a timely fashion.  I still enjoyed the scenery and kept an eye out for any remaining bits of color (while still paying attention to traffic and bends in the road, I promise!)

I purchased two bags of popcorn and a half dozen donuts.  I know, donuts are far from a health food.  But they were freshly made and yummy!  Now that I have eaten them and they are gone, perhaps I can refrain from buying more and can begin a more healthy eating style.  No promises.

Dyn’s Cider Mill is located at 7915 NY-28, Richfield Springs, NY, phone number 315-858-2078.  You can find out more on their Facebook page.

Slacker, then Shout-out

It’s that awkward moment when you realize this is your best chance to get your Saturday post on Saturday, yet you can think of nothing to write about nor have you any of your adventure books handy.  Adventure Books (yes, I like it better when I capitalize both.  I believe I have never used the phrase in the blog) are the cute little blank books I buy when I see them cheap.  I sometimes start to use them for a specific purpose, which usually peters out, and often end up carrying one or another with me when I go adventuring.  I realize I should use one, fill it, then move on to the next, but anybody who expects such organizational miracles from me is doomed to disappointment.

At wine tastings, the pourers are often surprised and delighted when I start taking tasting notes.  Taking random notes is also comforting when I am out alone or bored waiting someplace.  I try never to leave without a notebook or at least an adventure book.

OK, so I guess this post started as a Slacker Saturday then went to babbling on about my writing habits.  I’d better throw in a picture to make things look good.

A fun memory!

Here is an adventure I definitely took notes about:  a ride on Richfield Springs Scenic Railway.  This, of course, is my late lovely husband Steve.  So now I have also given a shout-out to an area attraction.  I wonder if I can link to their website so readers can check them out.

Looks like it worked!

 

 

Tired Is As Tired Does

One way I can tell I am getting older is that physical ailments, my own and others’ but of course mostly my own, become of increasing importance.  As I puttered around, getting ready to make my Tired Tuesday post (early Wednesday morning, judge me if you are so inclined), I was narrating in my head about the headaches I have had during the night lately that sometimes go away in the morning but not today…

How dull! Quick, throw in a picture to pep things up!

Now I am just a witch.

I kept scrolling down my Media Library till I got to a different mug from the last one I shared.  I hope.  Once again, this is not the mug I am currently using.  I am currently using my mug from Dikin Durt Distillery of Herkimer, NY, just to give a shout-out to a local business.  Note to self: see if I have a shot of this mug in the Media Library and if I do not, put one in.  For years now I have been thinking of making an index of my Media Library.  I could save it on a document that I could just pop up whenever I want to use a particular photo.  How do the other bloggers do it?

Well, that was annoying.  There I was, typing away on my Chromebook, and I accidentally hit something that signed me out of the whole thing!  Not just out of WordPress, but out of Chromebook, and I cannot remember my password.  What a dope I am.

However,  I see I am over 250 words (oh, I am on my Tablet, pecking in one letter at a time with the stylus, by the way).  Regular readers know I find that respectable (my predictive text thingy suggested “rude and selfish”!  When did I ever type that?).

And now I am over 300 words.  Woohoo!  Once again, thank you for tuning in.

 

Too Tired to Post on Scattered Saturday!

Well, I broke my streak of days in a row posting by neglecting to post anything yesterday.  In my defense, I have no defense.  These things happen, and we must make the best of them.  I took a nice long walk yesterday, ending up at the End Zone pub in Herkimer, NY, one of my favorite watering holes.  I confess to enjoying a daytime libation on a Saturday.  Anyways, I wasn’t driving.  I did not take any pictures, but perhaps I have one in my Media Library.

Here’s one!

This, unfortunately, was not the bartender yesterday.  It is Tino, son of the owner and somebody I am always happy to see, though, so I felt free to share the picture again.  My friend Kim joined me at the End Zone.  After she enjoyed a glass of Moscato, we went to a wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor.  Ooh, I think I took a picture of the pourer on my phone.

She was nice!

Her name was Leigh, and she was pouring all sweet wines, so Kim was happy.  I personally prefer dry wines.  We were especially taken with some carrots she had as decorations. She laughed and said for things she had picked up at the dollar store, they had gotten more attention than the wines.

I must get to the dollar store, although I have far too many decorations in my house as it is.

After the wine tasting, we went to Heelpath Brewing in Frankfort, NY (was it a Freudian typo that I first put “Hellpath”?  My obsession with Halloween and horror!).  It was such a pretty, sunny day, I wanted to sit in a place with lots of windows to look out.

Cheers, Kim!

This is a picture from a different visit, but we sat in the same seats.  We had a very fun afternoon, and I am only sorry I did not write about it yesterday.  But I think you for tuning in today!

 

More Phil at Fratello’s!

I think it has been a while since I blogged about a visit to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY, one of my favorite places to go for music, food and company.   As a matter of fact, I had not intended to go last night.  My stomach has been bothering me, I’ve been in a poopy mood, I have chores to do at home, etc etc, blah blah woof woof.  However, when I saw that Phil Arcuri was playing, I wavered.  Then I drove home through a snow squall and thought, “Oh no, staying home.”  Once home, I did a couple of chores and noticed it had stopped snowing.  A sign?  Did I deserve a reward for doing a few things?  I texted my friend Kathy and she said she would join me.  I was going to hear Phil!

Oh dear, I think this was Christmastime.

This is a picture of Phil from my Media Library  the only ones I took last night were a couple of blurry ones from my phone.  Why does my phone take such lousy pictures?  Probably operator error, because it doesn’t always.

I guess this one is a little blurry, too.

Phil was happy to see us.  I am a regular fan of his.  He has many regular fans, of course.  As I always mention, he is a great musician and obviously takes such joy in performing, it is a pleasure to watch and listen.  When he sang “Margaritaville,” I said it was my fault during the first chorus (you know:  “Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame, but I know, it’s my own fault”).  He ended the the song with, “It’s Cynthia’s fault.”

When I got up to use the ladies room, I danced my way there, much to the amusement of everybody.  How could I help it when he was playing, “Brown-Eyed Girl”?  When we left, I danced my way out.  I usually do that.  I told Kathy is it kind of expected of me.

We both had a great time and were glad we went.  There are, of course, many chores still waiting for me at home.  But I think music and friends are more important.

 

Monday? Tuesday? Anyways, Here Are Some Monsters

Since I feel I am making a late post for the day before when I make a blog post early in the morning, I will feel free to make a Monstrous Monday Post on Tuesday (today).  I am on my Chromebook, enjoying the ten-finger typing but concerned about my difficulties navigating my Media Library and (so far) inability to download pictures from elsewhere on the internet.  I know, first world problems.  Then again, any blogging problems are bound to be of the first world variety.  Let me stop complaining and get on with the post.

This is one of my all time favorite memes.

Now I am a little non-sequitur-ish or is it time-warpy?  I am pretending it is still Monday yet had to share a Tuesday meme.  I loves me some Bela and Boris.  That is Lugosi and Karloff, for the sadly uninitiated (at least, I am sad for you if you do not know them; it may cause you little or no distress).

I don’t know him, but he looks fun.

I have no idea where I got this delightful picture, but I wish my front lawn looked as good.  Maybe I can work on that.

“Just a little off the top. And put some product on it, would you?”

I appreciate a well turned out wolfman, don’t you?  I recently got a haircut at the Hot Spot Salon and Spa in Herkimer, NY, but I did not start out that hairy.  I was shaggy enough that I wanted a cut, though, and I was very happy with the results.  So I have now given a brief shout-out to a local business.  I guess I can multi-task in a blog post.

That puts me over 250 words, so I say Score!  As I am unable to multi-task outside the blog post, I will stop blogging and fix my breakfast and lunch.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

I Say Better Lame Than Never

I just remembered again that I have not yet made my Lame Post Friday Post.  Can I do it now?  It is at least prior to lunch time on Saturday (which reminds me that I am hungry!).  But what can I blog about?  All week all I have been doing is babbling on, with a few illustrations.  I do not know how much longer I can get away with that, but I hope for one more post at least.

Spoiler alert: It really didn’t, although it tried,.

Since I like to have a Monster Movie Matinee on, well, almost any day of the week, I thought I would share a cheesy poster from a cheesy favorite.  Unfortunately, I think I only have this one on VHS, picked up at a rummage sale (I love rummage sales, as regular readers know).  Yes, yes, it is not Monstrous Monday or even a day for Mid-week Monsters.  But I love monsters every day!

Alas, poor Benny!

I switch to a Mohawk Valley Adventure, with a murder mystery that LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company, did at the Overlook Mansion (when it was still a B&B) in 2017.  Rubbed Out at Rubies, where we were concerned with the murder of Bennie the Bootlegger and possibly of Ruby VanRenssalaer.   I do love doing murder mysteries.

Is a trip here in my future?

The other thing I love is patronizing local businesses, such as Ruggiero’s in Little Falls, NY.  There are several good eateries and watering holes I like to go to on a Saturday.  Will I make it to any today?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my Saturday.

In the meantime, I have gotten over 250 words.  Score!  I hope you all had a lovely Friday and I wish you an even better Saturday.