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Tag Archives: Mohawk Valley adventures

Remembering Ambition Past

Ambition is overrated.  Or is that sour grapes on my part, because I have none?  Last Sunday I was semi-ambitious.  Perhaps I could write a little about that in lieu of my usual Wrist to Forehead Sunday Post.

I actually did not mean to leave my water bottle in the shot.

I drove to Ilion Marina and took a walk along the Erie Canalway Trail.  It was a very pleasant interlude.  I petted a dog and found a four leaf clover.

It looks peaceful.

I did not sit on this bench but do not rule out doing so on some future date.

I didn’t park in the driveway!

After leaving the Marina, I drove down Route 5 to And Stuff of That Nature,  a farm stand I have been following on Facebook but had not yet visited.  I looked at all their stuff and purchased some basil for my hoped-for container garden (preview of coming attractions).

Pretty!

I may go back for some flowers.  They also carry honey and eggs.

The reason for my ambition was that I wanted something to write about for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  I wrote and submitted the articles. I hope they like at least one of them!

I hope to muster a little more ambition for more Mohawk Valley Adventures.  For one reason, it makes for better blog posts.  Or do I flatter myself?

 

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Back Out on Wednesday!

I had planned on going to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort this Wednesday since last Friday, when Geno (the bartender) told me Matt Grainger would be playing.  Regular readers may recall that on Friday I went to the Saalty Dawg Saloon hoping to hear him but was too early.  Today I was right on time!

It was actually a little before six when I arrived at Fratello’s.  Music was to start at six.  I saw Matt Grainger in his car.  We smiled and waved at each other, which made me feel pretty good.  I have spoken to him a couple of times; he knows I am a fan.

Walking into Fratello’s,  I encountered another Matt, my niece Kimi’s boyfriend.  Kimi was there too.  I sat on the opposite side of the bar from my usual preference, just to be sociable.

This is from a different visit.

I put in a picture of them from my Media Library, because I did not take any tonight and only one I took of Matt Grainger came put.

Kimi and her Matt were sharing Chicken Riggies.  It looked good, but after much debate with myself I ordered Garlic  Parmesan Wings and Garlic Bread with Mozzarella.  The food was delicious, and the music was excellent.

He is fine, yes.

I took notes in my adventure book about the different songs he played, but I see I am over 200 words and I am tired.  Let me just say that I had a wonderful time and greatly enjoyed Matt Grainger’s music.

I think this is better than a Wuss-out Wednesday Post,  don’t you?

 

My Cinco de Mayo

Yesterday I inadvisedly decided to do something for Cinco de Mayo, a holiday which for one reason or another I have never marked.  One reason was that I read that Matt Grainger was playing at the Saalty Dawg Saloon.  I have not heard him in a while.

I started out in some trepidation, because I have been to the Saalty Dawg once, and that time my cell phone told my friend Kim where to drive.  I no longer have a cell phone and I have never had a very good sense of direction.  Hoping for the best, I drove through Ilion till I got to the sign that said “Saalty Dawg” and pointed up Barringer Road.

And drove and drove.  I had it in my head that the Dawg was not actually on Barringer Road, but I had foolishly not written down the address.  I took two wrong turns, turned around in some dumb places, and had just about decided that I had gone too far when I found it.

Imagine my disappointment when I found out Matt would not start playing till eight.  I had a margarita and some chips with queso dip while I was there.  I admired the view and worked on a letter to a friend.

I didn’t mention that the Saalty Dawg is next to a golf course.

By this time it was after six (still too long to wait for eight), and I remembered that the Phil-Ins were playing at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort.  This is a band with Phil Arcuri and friends.  They would start at seven.  I drove there with no false starts.

Geno the bartender greeted me as I came in. I sat at the bar and ordered Sauvignon Blanc and a slice of cheesecake.  I never have room for dessert so thought for once I would get some.  I did not have long to wait for some good music.

They were great!

Unfortunately, my stomach soon let me know that the queso dip was a big mistake.  I confess to having some fears when I saw the peppers but of course I ate it anyways.  In my defense, yum.  I hoped the cheesecake would help.  It sounded soothing.

I fear it is a symptom of getting old that my stomach did not settle down.  I enjoyed some music but felt forced to head home.  I stretched out on my bed (by this time it took some effort to get there) and proceeded to feel miserable for a few hours.  That is why I did not make my Lame Post Friday post on Friday.

On the brighter side, before I left Fratello’s, Geno read me some of their upcoming musical entertainment.  Matt Grainger plays on Wednesday!

 

Music and Fun at Fratello’s

Wednesday night I went to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY, because I saw that Mark Nanni was playing.  He’s awesome!  He plays keyboard, guitar, and accordion (no, not all at once, as I am sure some of you were about to say) (you know who you are).  When I walked in, one of the workers greeted me and told me Mark Nanni was playing.

“I know, that’s why I’m here,”  I said.

I love his sound.

While I waited for the music to start I ordered some food and a glass of wine.  Then I got into a discussion with some other patrons about my flowered headband, which I wore because it goes so nicely with my Beer Belly Bob’s tie-dye t-shirt.

“I was a little worried it would make me look like that lady they said killed her husband and fed him to the tigers,” I admitted.  I further admitted I never saw the popular Netflix series on the case, although I did see Dateline episode about it.  One of them looked up the lady’s name, and another shared me a picture.

This is me, by the way.

I believe the resemblance is only superficial, but it was a funny conversation.  I did wonder while I was getting dressed if I would remind people of that lady, and it seems I did, because they were the ones that brought it up.  I told them a friend said I looked like Frieda Kahlo and that they would sound more cultured if they made that reference instead.   I kind of lost them there.

I was delighted when the music started,  Nanni opened with a jazzy tune, which further delighted me.  In one song he transitioned smoothly from guitar to keyboard and back to guitar.  Nice!

It was a lovely evening.  I shall return to Fratello’s soon for more music and food, perhaps wearing a different hair ornament.

Fratello’s Pizzeria is located at 158 E. Main St., Frankfort, NY, 315-894-8484.

 

Slacker Sunday, But Here’s a Snowman

Earlier today I posted on Facebook, “Two things done.  Roughly 5,438 left to go!”  In fact, I got more than two things done today, but the backlog of things that yet need doing looms before me in a most menacing manner.  Although I have had a couple Mohawk Valley Adventures lately, I just don’t feel I can make good blog posts about them.  And so I slack.

A giant snowman might cheer me up!

I took this picture in my neighborhood yesterday while on an otherwise unremarkable walk.  I thought it would be nice to include in my Sunday blog post.  Waste not, want not, I always say.

A smaller snowman, but still cheery.

I remembered I had another picture of a snowman in my Media Library.  I even remembered it was November 2020, so my brain is apparently not completely fried.

It would take a lot of oil to fry this brain!

I venture into non-sequitur territory with The Brain from the Planet Arous.  Or is it more of a tangent, since I just mentioned brain?  I ought to know these grammatical considerations.

All this nonsense is my way of continuing my Blogger’s Sick Day.  I will strive to get my act together in the coming week.  Will I succeed any better than the last dozen times I have thought to get my act together (never mind the last 8,562 times)?  A little uncertainty will add interest to my week.

 

Dominick Street Delight

It is still Saturday and there is plenty of time for me to make my Scattered Saturday Post.  Full disclosure:  I have already had a few cocktails.  Why not?  It’s the weekend!

At any rate,  I drove into Rome, NY, earlier today to visit family.  My sister Diane and I drove to Dominick Street, which has become quite the artsy area.  We enjoyed a few local businesses.  Not all of my pictures turned out, but I will try to plug a few deserving businesses.

The first place we stopped was The Copper Easel, which includes the Superofficial coffee shop.  My pictures here did not turn out, but we enjoyed looking at some beautiful local art.

From there we went to the Capitol Theatre.  I remember going there when I was a little girl and being so impressed by the ornate decor.  We missed the guided tours, but a young man told us we could explore on our own.  We were delighted to do so.

I just love the look of a curtained stage.

After the Capitol, we went to the Keaton and Lloyd Bookstore.   I love a bookstore!

“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.” — Groucho Marx

It is a delightful bookstore. It includes a space for community events, such as author readings or book clubs.

I need to publish a book, so I can do a reading here.

After the bookstore, we went into The Balanced Chef.  Full disclosure: we went in to get a stamp, because they were doing a thing where you could qualify for prizes if you got six stamps.  However, I want to go back there when I am hungry.   It looks like a good place to eat.

Note to self: eat a lighter lunch when about to visit downtown Rome.

Next we went to Franca’s Wine Room, where I also did not get any photos.  I went there before with my friend Kim, and wrote about it for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  Hannah, the bartender, remembered me.

Hannah, in a previously taken picture,

I greatly enjoyed my Scattered Saturday,  and my sister  Diane was happy to participate in a Mohawk Valley Adventure.

 

Not Wuss-out, Shout-out!

I should have known I would wuss out on Wednesday.  I had to work late (for me).  But never mind that.  Instead of another post that is not really a Post (autocorrect decided to capitalize that, and I think I like it), I will share a couple more pictures from my Saturday adventures, thus giving another shout-out to a local business.  I have used this headline before, but I guess I am wussing out on coming up with a better one.

Aren’t they cool?

This is from Rose Quartz Stand in Herkimer, NY, who recently moved next door to a larger space.  They have all kinds of gems and minerals, but I am particularly fascinated by the geodes.  How do the geologists (if those are the ones that find them) know which rocks to crack open?

Very pretty!

I have purchased several of these angels for friends.  Who couldn’t use a little blessing?

There are also some delightful animals carved from stone.  I have a small collection, which I usually add to when I stop there.

Rose Quartz Stand is located on the corner of Mohawk and South Main streets in Herkimer.  315-868-5199. They are open Tuesday and Wednesday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.,  Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday.  You can also Like them on Facebook.

 

At Least I Have Been Adventuring

I really, truly, totally meant to make my Saturday blog post on Saturday.   Then I thought for sure I would make it early Sunday morning.  Or maybe later Sunday morning after my run.  Predictably,  here I am Sunday evening,  hoping to make some semblance of a post.  No promises.

On the brighter side,  I am better off than I have been some weekends when I just quietly did not post at all Saturday or Sunday.  I have to congratulate myself on the small wins.  I can only hope that one day they will lead to larger wins.  Or maybe to getting anything done at all.  But let us not ask for miracles.

New digs for one of my favorite places!

Here is one of the pictures  I took Saturday in hopes of doing a Scattered Saturday Post.  It is Rose Quartz Stand, one of my favorite stores.  They recently moved next door, to the corner of Mohawk and South Main streets in Herkimer,  NY.  It is a larger space and very nice.  I must write a longer blog post about it.

The downstairs is open!

Another blog post I need to make is one about Mohawk Valley Community Market,  on North Main Street in Herkimer.   They recently expanded.

Look at all that fun stuff!

One more shout-out on this post-that-is-not-really-a-post:  A Little Touch of Country on South Washington Street in Herkimer.  What a lot of really nice stuff!

As you may guess, I did a bit of adventuring on Saturday.  Isn’t that often the way:  when you do a lot of stuff, you are too tired to make a blog post; when you are not too tired to make a blog post, it is because you have not been doing anything worth posting about.

However, I see I am approaching 300 words.  I call that good on what is often a Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  I hope you all had a lovely weekend.

 

Lost My Train of Thought?

The reason I did not make my Lame Post Friday post on Friday was that I flatly had no time to do it.  I rushed home after work with just enough time to get ready to go to the Richfield Springs Scenic Railway.  And I only had enough time for that due to diligent pre-planning and preparation,  which regular readers know is not my strong suit.

Yes, the cars originally belonged to Frontier Town.

I suppose I could have, in fact, made my post after I got home or even early Saturday morning.  Oh well, I did not, and it is too late now.  However, I had a marvelous time on the train, as did my husband, Steve, and our friends Kim and Rob, who joined us.

Kim and Rob, excellent adventure companions.

This morning I wrote an article about the railway for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  That is how we got hooked up with tickets for the excursion. How awesome was that?

Steven, getting on the train.

My sister Diane, who I spoke to before I wrote the article, suggested I cut and paste from the article for my blog post.  It is not a bad suggestion, only I typed the article into my dining-room-table-top and I am currently on my Tablet.

OK, one more picture.

However,  I hope this will do for my blog post.  For more information on Richfield Springs Scenic Railway, you can visit their Facebook page.

 

Oh, Who Needs a Brain, Anyways?

So here I am, trying to make a Pre-Rehearsal Post. I am feeling somewhat better today, at least well enough to make it to rehearsal. I am happy I have a ride; my friend Kim is picking me up. But do I have brain enough for a blog post? Do I ever? At least I usually do not let the lack stop me.

Did something eat my brain?

I throw in an illustration to pep things up. I wish I could find my picture from The Brain from Planet Arous, but you know my struggled with my Media Library. Anyways, I did not intend to make a Mid-week Monsters Post.

Now that I think about it, I do not know what sort of post I intended to make. I have had a dearth of Mohawk Valley Adventures for some time now. However, unlike my apparent lack of brain, this is a lack I can correct. Not in time for this post, and perhaps not in time for tomorrow’s. However, I will try to do something soon.

So this is my blog post for tonight: yet another post about how it is not a very good post. I wonder how many of those I can get away with. I hope at least one more.