Tag Archives: Mohawk Valley adventures

But Truman Capote Didn’t Shovel the Driveway

I did venture from my house on Tuesday but did not take any pictures.  Today I have further adventures in mind, but I spent a certain amount of time shoveling my driveway and did take a couple pictures, so I will do a Pre-Adventure Snow Shoveling post.  I guess that is not a regular feature for Mohawk Valley Girl but I beg you will bear with me.

Monday, of course, was the terrible day of shoveling, with the snow all the way up to my bumper.  The bottom of the bumper, but still.  I am just a  crazy old lady with very few muscles.  I shoveled in two parts Monday.  Today I hoped to accomplish it in one.  Really, there was a lot less snow and most of it was at the bottom of the driveway where the plow had pushed it (I know they do not do these things on purpose).  I huffed and puffed and got it done, lamenting that the road is becoming narrower and narrower as the snow banks pile up.

White on white makes it a little hard to see.

The sidewalk plow had gone by at some point, but more snow had fallen, so I attempted to make a shovel’s width, which I consider the Reasonable Man Standard (an insurance guy taught me that expression).  I wanted to take a picture of what a lousy job I did on the driveway, but I was not sure it really showed.

I ponder my experience.

I took a selfie for entertainment purposes.  Also because my Melfi’s hat gives a shout-out to a local business.  Melfi’s shoes in Mohawk, NY is where I used to get my work shoes, when I used to work.  Now I am one of those people who Just Don’t Want to Work.  You can be polite and say I am retired.  I know I am lazy.

Apparently I was not too lazy to make a blog post of over 300 words (oh yeah, like sitting here typing is such an effort) (as Truman Capote once said, that’s not writing, that’s typing).  Now I must rouse myself further and try for a Mohawk Valley adventure.  We’ll see how I do.

 

After the Snow, Adventures?

I had meant to make a post yesterday (Monday) about my adventures in snow shoveling (yes, I did try to PUSH the snow when possible, don’t judge me), but I neglected to take before or after pictures, and then, well, time got away from me.  I managed to NOT give myself a heart attack.  Note to self:  do not watch Reels on Facebook that explain with illustrations just how easy it is for a woman of my age to do that.

Where was I?  Ah yes, on Tuesday morning, hoping to make some semblance of a blog post.  Quick, throw in a picture to pep things up.

Random snow shot from a couple of years ago.

Most things have been shut down around here since Sunday.  I think they are back open today, so it would be a good idea if I got out and gave a local business some, you know, business.  I can’t keep the local economy going all by myself, but I can spend a few dollars here and there and give some local places a shout out.

Maybe I could buy myself a Valentine.

This is a decoration from Home Town Diner on Main Street in Mohawk, NY.  I’ve already eaten breakfast, but I will be hungry for lunch before I know it.  I could also stop by To Niche Their Own in Herkimer.  I don’t think I have ever taken decent pictures there nor given them a proper shout-out, but I did purchase some excellent Christmas presents there last month.

Will I make it to Little Falls?

And there is my new favorite bookstore, Athenix Books and Brews.  There are a number of good places in Little Falls: Venture Fourth, Chickweed Boutique, the Mustard Seed… I’m sure to leave somebody out.  Oh dear.

So now I have cheered myself up to the tune of 300 words of blog post and plans.  I hope everybody has their parking lot plowed out by now!

 

The Evil Pork Loin

I thought of that title when I purchased a pork loin at the local grocery store for $6.66.  I mentioned to a worker who was stocking the meat case that I did not know how to cook a pork loin.  Then I saw instructions on the package.

“I am hooked up,” I declared.

I could not resist the price.

When Saturday was predicted to be one of the coldest days, I thought it would be an excellent day to run the oven.  That would be my Saturday blog post!

Of course it wasn’t.  I cooked with wine and went to bed early, having enjoyed a couple delicious slices of pork loin. It is now Sunday, and I am thinking that my cooking a pork loin, even an evil one, is hardly a blogworthy activity.  So now I am having a Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  It seems everyplace is closed in anticipation of the terrible storm we are supposed to be getting.  What can I do but sit home, watch Columbo, and eat leftover pork loin?

Not the Columbo I am watching, but a good one!

While searching my Media Library for a picture of Columbo, I came across some pictures of Prescription: Murder, the play I was in last year at Ilion Little Theatre. It was a great experience.  I need to audition for another play.  And organize another murder mystery.

A great group of people!

I close with a shot of the cast with the director and assistant director.  I would love to work with any or all of these people again.  So I end my Wrist to Forehead Sunday post on a positive note, perhaps a Preview of Coming Attractions.

Have you eaten any pork loin lately?

 

Slacking But Still Blogging!

I am going to make a Slacker Saturday post before I continue to slack.  Full disclosure:  I slack many days.  I have always been kind of a lazy bum.

NOT a slacker.

I am looking at an episode of Columbo, which I found on Roku TV recently.  Regular readers know how much I love Columbo.  Earlier today I went on a two mile run, and after I finish this post I will walk to the post office with my usual Saturday post cards, which I have already written.  I am afraid that is the extent of my productivity today.  Well, I might work on a letter as I go.  No promises.

Good place to eat.

Maybe I will treat myself to dinner later.  There are several good choices in Herkimer. This is the first one I came to in my Media Library.

I could never do my hair this way alone.

How vain of me to share a picture of myself.  It relates to the post, however, because this is from the Ilion Little Theatre production of Prescription: Murder, the first episode of Columbo, which was also a stage play.  I was the murder victim, and I think a lot of people were happy to see me go.  It was probably the only way to shut me up.

It is easier to shut me up from blogging, and I will sign off now.  I hope to have a Mohawk Valley Adventure soon to write a blog about.  When I am done slacking.

 

A Few Pics, A Brief Post

So I am not doing so good at the daily blogging stuff.  I will at least try to make a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post, using a few photos from my cell phone.  This may also serve as a Preview of Coming Attractions, if only I follow through!

Nice local business.

I went to a wine tasting at Ann Street Liquors in Little Falls, NY.  They do not have tastings as often as Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, but I try to attend when they have one.

Great family grouping!

Here are a couple cousins, a sister and a nephew at an art event I recently attended in Liverpool, NY.  Why I did not write a blog post right away about the happening, I do not know.  At least, maybe I could think of a reason, but it would be so unflattering to me, I hesitate to do so.

A very cool place.

This is a picture from Cobblestone Castle, a place I visited with my sister Cheryl recently.  Once again, I blame myself for not blogging about it sooner.

I may as well as admit, my depression and grief keep me from doing the things I like to do.  However, sometimes I manage to post something.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

The Rest of my Pixley Pics

I guess I can call this a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday and share the last three pictures I took at Pixley Falls, which I visited last Friday with my sister Cheryl.  As I mentioned a few Pixley posts ago, they are actually the first three pictures I took, since I felt I could keep track of them better if I shared them in backwards order.  The way my mind is (not) working lately, I have to make things easy on myself. OK, maybe it has always been that way; let us not dwell on the past.

A little stream at least!

As I mentioned, there was not as much water as we have seen previously.  I wonder if Monday’s rain made things any better.

That’s a big rock.

I like the rocks as well as the trees and waterfalls.  I’d like to have a rock garden in my back yard but do not know where I would find the rocks and am quite certain I lack the strength to transport them.

And there they are!

I close with a picture of the big falls themselves.  It would be awesome to stand under the water on a really hot day, I thought.  Last Friday I did not care to try.

Regular readers may remember that I had planned to clean my house on Friday when my sister Cheryl called and invited me to join her in a trip to Pixley Falls.  Full disclosure:  My house is still a mess but I have made some progress.  I wonder if Cheryl will interrupt my cleaning for another adventure soon.  Maybe I need to come up with something to interrupt her housework.

 

Pause for a Peek at Pixley

I pause in my Scattered Saturday gyrations to make a fast blog post about Friday’s adventure.  Fair Warning:  I took lots of pictures so will probably make multiple posts about Pixley Falls.

I had meant to spend Friday usefully employed in cleaning my house, but when my sister Cheryl called and invited me to join her in a trip to Pixley Falls, I changed my plans.  I hadn’t been there in years.  As we feared, the falls were less spectacular and the leaves less glorious due to the dry weather which has inflicted the Mohawk Valley this year.  However, we enjoyed being out in nature and had a lovely time.

I love the rocks.

I should perhaps mention that I put the pictures from my phone into WordPress in backward order, so today’s pictures are from the end of the walk.  You see, I am in kind of a hurry (more adventuring to be done and I am not properly dressed) and I am quite tired from this morning’s East Herkimer Fire Department 5K, and I just could not make myself sort through the pictures to pick the best ones.

Here’s a stairway to Heaven!

There were several upslopes on the path we walked, many of which had stairs put in with wood or stones.  We appreciated them, as well as nearby trees to grab onto.

A little falls!

I really enjoyed our walk/hike through the woods. I suppose a real hiker would call it a mere walk, but an old lady like me who is used to sidewalks will flatter myself by calling it a hike.

Stay tuned for more about Pixley Falls, and more pictures. I am hurrying back to my Saturday adventures.  Wish me luck on finding something to wear!

 

Up the Ski Lift!

Wednesday my sister Cheryl and I went to Old Forge, NY and up the ski lift at McCauley Mountain.  It was awesome!  We got there early, and it was not at all crowded. It was sunny, but the wind made it cool.  Luckily we had both worn sweatshirts.

Oh deer.

We saw some deer on the way up.  I was also admiring the rocks.  I confess I enjoyed riding the ski lift almost as much as I enjoyed looking at the views.

Is that Moose Lake? I suppose I should look these things up.

The colors were not as widespread and vivid as we had hoped.  We speculated that the dry summer was to blame.  However, there was still some color to be seen, and I enjoy looking out over a wide vista whatever the time of year.

On the way back down.

Going both ways on the ski lift, I greeted everybody going the other way.  There were more people going up as we went down than coming down as we went up. They all returned my greetings in a friendly fashion.

We spent some time at the top, even hiking a short trail.  I took more pictures, but regular readers know how I like to spread these things out (preview of coming attractions).  We had a lovely time and may make it an annual fall adventure.

 

Good Apple Stuff!

Last weekend (before all the dog stuff went down), I had the pleasure of tasting the wares of Beak and Skiff at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY.  They were offering only a fraction of their many products, and I am now anxious to try more.

The first thing I tasted was the Honeycrisp Vodka.  Vodka made from apples instead of potatoes?  Interesting!  I liked it.  When I said it was seasonal, because of the apples, Kyle, the pourer, hasted to assure me it was available year round.  I am not a big vodka drinker, but this one could change my mind.

Kyle and I had a fun time tasting. Of course I did most of the tasting.

The same vodka with blueberries added was also good.  I also enjoyed the Pommeau, a French drink combining brandy and apple cider.  There was one wine, Honeycrisp Apple Wine.  I found it a good middle of the road wine: both dry and sweet wine drinkers could enjoy it.  The last thing I tasted was the Bourbon Cream Whiskey, 75% cream, 25% whiskey.  Yummy!  That would be so good in a cup of coffee!

Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards is located in Lafayette, NY.  Of course Mohawk Valley Girl was even more delighted to find she was sampling local products (yes, I talk about myself in the third person sometimes).   Lafayette being closer to Liverpool than Herkimer, I envisioned a visit to my sister Diane in the near future.   I think she would be delighted to visit Beak and Skiff with me and see what else they have to offer.

 

Apples and Music, Yes Please!

Before my dog rescue adventure yesterday, I had a lovely time at Windy Hill Orchard in Cassville, NY.  I had thought about going as soon I heard that my favorite band The Posers was going to be there.  Then my friend Jerry posted on Facebook that he was going and was looking for people to join him.  Naturally I volunteered for that.  Turns out, Jerry wanted to go to get apples, being a long time  patron of Windy Hill, and only after he thought of going found out about the Posers.  Needless to say, we both greatly enjoyed both music and apples.

We should have had either Jerry or me standing next to the sign.

We got there while the band was doing their sound check.  Food was available, so I got a hot dog while Jerry got sausage and peppers.  Soon the band was playing.  I had to get up and dance.  Nobody took a picture, which was probably been just as well.

They Rock!

We ate and listened till Jerry’s daughter and son-in-law joined us.  Then we got bags and walked into the orchards to gather some apples.

I got some good walking in at the time.

Jerry had told me there was a beautiful view at the end of the orchard, and it did not disappoint.

I’m afraid my camera does not do as good a job as a fancy camera.

There was a photo op area, so I asked to get a picture of my friends.

Every adventure is better with friends!

Full disclosure:  I did not get any apples, but the others filled two bags. This was conservative.  Jerry said he went a little crazy last year and got almost 40 pounds of apples.  He made apple pie, apple sauce, apple crisp, and he still had too many apples!  I must say he behaved himself on Saturday. While they went to pay for them, I went back to hear more music.

This is the shot where you can kind of sort of see the bass player.

I took a couple more pictures.  I always feel bad that I can see the three front men pretty good but rarely get a good shot of the bass player and drummer, who are also awesome.

This one almost shows the drummer.

Jerry danced with me for the last song we were there for.  It was a lovely time, and a lovely drive there and back.  And if Jerry makes any apple pie with the apples he gets, maybe he’ll save me a piece.