Tag Archives: Mohawk Valley adventures

Evie at the Zoo

Posted on September 30, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I neglected to make a post about a recent visit to the Utica Zoo with some members of my family.  My sister Cheryl called and invited me to join them in celebrating my great-niece Evie’s birthday.  I was delighted to join them.  Unfortunately, most of the pictures I took of the animals did not come out very well.

I guess even the camel is a bit in shadow.

We had a nice time walking around the zoo.  I especially enjoy the paths up through greenery and around exhibits.

You can almost see some members of our group way up ahead.

We enjoyed things such as stumps you can stand on.

Evie strikes an intimidating pose.

Before I snapped the picture, Evie put her hands over her head and said in a deep voice, “I am the Dread Pirate Roberts!” Anybody who does not get that reference, I urge you to watch the movie The Princess Bride.

I walked around the post and took another shot, not back-lit.

Alas that I did not get any pictures of Sheppy, my great-nephew. Full disclosure:  I did get a picture of him and a few others impersonating owls on some posts provided for that purpose. My niece Kimi said I was not allowed to use that picture in the blog.  I wonder if she would have preferred I did not even mention it. If so, I hope she will forgive me.

I highly recommend the Utica Zoo as a nice place to spend a few hours, even if you do not have a dramatic great-niece to walk around with.

 

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Slacker, then Shout-out

Posted on September 28, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

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!

 

 

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Good Wine, Late Post

Posted on September 25, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

This post is in my drafts twice.  Twice I started to write it then stopped, because I could not find the wine tasting notes I took while I sipped.  This morning (early Wednesday to make Tuesday’s post), I said, oh, just go ahead and write the post.  Before I typed that last sentence, I thought hmmm… and looked into the notebook at my side (I actually got up early to write something entirely different, which I did, using other notes in that notebook) (I add in the interests of accuracy). Guess what I found!

I just found out today was Red Wine Day, so I poured myself a glass (I wrote in the earlier draft;  it is not Red Wine Day and I am certainly not drinking wine at 4:34 in the morning).  What a perfect time to talk about my visit to the Wine Tasting Room at Raindrops on Roses Bed and Breakfast in Herkimer, NY (really, it is often a good time to talk about wine and delightful B&Bs).

I toasted the day.

Instead of tasting, I opted for a flight, which was four glasses, each more than a taste but less than a full glass.  I could have just gotten a glass of one wine, or even a whole bottle.  A whole bottle seemed a bit much.  I was walking not driving, but still.

OK, that was all I had in the draft.  Now, from the tasting notes…

Picture of the garden at Raindrops on Roses to depict passage of time while I get more coffee.

I found a shady spot in the garden in back of the house and commenced sipping and note taking, two of my favorite activities.  The breeze was delightful and the surroundings beautiful.  The Prospect Falls Gewurztraminer (I am better at pronouncing it than spelling it) was nice, with what I call a New Yorky taste, which is a quality I treasure in a wine. I felt like I could taste the skin of the grape, in a good way.  I pronounced it a fun wine.

Next I had the Montezuma Dry Riesling.  Very tasty, and dry enough for my tastes.  Prospect Falls Merlot was next, followed by the Roaring Falls Red of the same winery.  Alas, I did not enjoy the reds as much as the whites.  I am sure it was just me or the day, because I know I have purchased bottles of these same wines and enjoyed them very much.

It is a beautiful setting.

It was a lovely interlude on a Saturday afternoon.  Alas that it will soon be too cold to sit in the garden at Raindrops on Roses.  Still, I might get there for another glass or flight before the snow falls.  I will try to make the blog post about it sooner after the fact.

 

 

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Sunday Blog Posts Are Not an Adventure; They’re Murder!

Posted on September 9, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Sorry, sports fans, but all I can manage today is a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  I don’t know why I call my readers “sports fans” when this is not a sports blog, although I think my readers are good sports about my missing posts and doing foolish posts instead of writing about Mohawk Valley Adventures, as promised.  At least, maybe I didn’t promise exactly;  I try not to make promises.  Anyways, tonight I feel ready to swoon, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead, onto a handily placed chaise lounge (I add the description for the benefit of anybody just tuning in).

Preview of Coming Attractions, maybe.

Here is a picture I took last Thursday of my great niece and nephew, Evie and Sheppy at the ARC Park in Herkimer, NY.  Their grandmother, my sister Cheryl, invited me to join them.  We had a lovely time, and I took a number of pictures for blogging purposes. They were very nice about posing.

Right now I am, big surprise (to regular readers), watching Columbo.  However, I had an interesting reason (or do I flatter myself?) for picking this episode.  I saw the actress who plays the murderess last night and today as I was watching the movie Mr. Brooks (I started it last night but was too tired to finish it).  Alas that I do not know the actress’ name.  Do you suppose I could find it online?  Regular readers know I am no hand at that.

Random picture to denote passage of time while I look.

Lindsay Crouse!  When I saw her in Mr. Brooks, playing Demi Moore’s boss, it took me a minute to recognize her, because she had a different hairdo and was playing quite a different character.  She was a very sexy murderess in Columbo.  For anybody not familiar with Columbo, I did not need to add a Spoiler Alert before telling you who the murderer was.  That was the plot of almost every Columbo:  you see the murder committed and wonder how Lt. Columbo is going to figure it out and prove it.  If you are not familiar with Columbo, I highly recommend it.

I do have a happy Sunday with Columbo.

Incidentally, Mr. Brooks is also a movie where you do not have to guess who the murderer is.  I love the movie, but I fear it is not for all tastes.  Having said all that, I see I am over 400 words.  That’s a lot of words for somebody who didn’t think she could make a blog post at all.  Once again, I have to ask, what the hell, me?

 

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One More Lame…

Posted on August 24, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Here I sat thinking, oh, it will be all right if I make my Lame Post Friday post early Saturday morning; I have done it before.  Then I decided to make my post tonight.  Full disclosure:  I have had a couple of glasses of wine.  I like wine, especially on a Friday.  I like Friday.

Who me? Howl?

Here’s a funny thing:  in other posts I have looked for a particular picture in my Media Library in vain, sometimes spending a foolish amount of time looking.  Today, this illustration was in the very first place I looked, if you can believe such a thing (and why would I lie?) (when I do lie, I call it fiction).

I am not up to any Mohawk Valley adventures tonight.  I did think about going out to dinner, but once the bra was off, I was not inclined to put it back on (kindly do not say TMI, as if most of us women do not wear bras!).  So I have remained comfortably ensconced in my living room, looking at the computer then looking at Columbo and crocheting.  Yes, Columbo is usually for Sundays, but I was in the middle of an episode, so I finished that one, then there were two more on that DVD… you know how it is, and if you do not, well, just take my word for it.

My wife says…

I thought I would put a different caption from “One more thing…”  I think it would be a good idea if I started watching different DVDs so I could talk about other things than Columbo in my blog posts.  I know, more Mohawk Valley adventures would be a good idea too.  However, I can make no promises for tomorrow.  Perhaps I could reach back and make one of those posts I should have made a couple weeks ago.  But here I am blogging about what I could be blogging about.  Is that like a snake eating its own tail?  Discuss amongst yourselves.

 

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A Few Vampires Never Hurt

Posted on July 30, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Once again, I eschew writing about Mohawk Valley adventures for a Monstrous Monday post.  Full disclosure:  It has not been a particularly monstrous day.  For one reason I took off work for a couple of VA appointments.  I will not elaborate on that, because, you know, HIPAA (if I have that acronym right).

The Shadow of the Vampire?

Why not start right out with my favorite, Nosferatu (1922), that silent horror masterpiece.  I love the use of shadows.

For many the quintessential vampire.

Here is a busier illustration, the 1931 Tod Browning produced film.  My late, dearly missed husband,  Steve, was not especially enamored of this movie, but he occasionally consented to watch it with me.

Another favorite of many.

One might argue that Christopher Lee revitalized the role in the Hammer Films Dracula movies. I am not sure which film this picture is from, but I enjoy watching all of them.  Christopher Lee did not confine himself to Dracula, of course.  He memorably portrayed Frankenstein’s monster and other horror parts, both villainous and heroic.

Very atmospheric. I loved it.

To include one more vampire and get to at least 200 words, I share the poster of Dracula’s Daughter, a worthy addition to the pantheon.  Is pantheon the word I want?  Perhaps I should look it up.

Random vampire picture while I grab my dictionary.

Hmmm… doesn’t seem quite right by the definition, but it is used this way in the example.  On that note of grammar, I see I am over 200 words, so I sign off.  I hope you enjoyed another vampire post.  I will try not to let Tired Tuesday get the best of me.

 

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Cheers to the Luna Moth!

Posted on July 25, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had two authentic Mohawk Valley adventures last night with the result that I was too tired to blog about either one.  This morning I feel pressed for time, so I will put those on hold (which I hear receptionists should not do to a bomb threat), and try for a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post.

Beautiful!

I took this picture at work a couple weeks ago.  Isn’t it awesome?  It is only the second or third time I saw a Luna Moth.  I forgot to share it on Facebook (it was the end of break at the time) so thought it was perfect for a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday.

Full disclosure: He was not drinking at the time.

This is Elvis, a pourer at a wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY.  I have sadly not blogged about a tasting there in a while, but I usually mention the blog while I am taking tasting notes.  This time, Elvis said to me, “Do you want to take a picture for the blog?”  I confessed to not having used the previous picture.  Now, if he is pouring at another tasting, I can say I used one of the pictures.

I miss my adventure partner!

Here is my friend Kim on her recent visit to the Mohawk Valley.  We had paused at the Waterfront Grille, also in Herkimer, for a libation and a snack.  I suggested we take the previously obligatory pictures of each other toasting.

I had to stand up, because I was back-lit. No, I wasn’t lit!

My picture also gives a shout-out to Herkimer College, previously (and to some always) known as HCCC or H-Trip-C.

As I approach 300 words, I sign off on another late post.  Full disclosure:  there is every possibility today’s post will be late too.  But how appropriate for a Non-Sequitur Thursday post.

 

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Where Did I Put My Brain?

Posted on July 22, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Here I am back again at Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  One would think I could make a good post at this point, but I must ask, which one is that?  I mean, which one would think that, not which good post can I make, I feel obligated to elucidate.  My Mohawk Valley Adventures are in the increasingly distant past, and I feel not capable of writing about them.

My brain? Not likely.

As I like to do when I am feeling particularly brain dead, I share The Brain from Planet Arous.  It is quite the cheesy movie.  I have a cheesy movie playing now, but I am not paying the last bit of attention to it.  It is The Beast of Yucca Flats, starring Tor Johnson, if you wanted to know.  I may have an illustration of the movie in my Media Library, but I am not at all sure of that and dread more searching.

Ooh, here’s a creepy one!

I looked through a couple of months to see if I could find a picture of a movie I have seen recently or am inclined to see now and came across this shot from Mr. Brooks.  My late, dearly missed husband, Steve, and I went to the theatre in Georgia (where we lived at the time) to see Mr. Brooks when it was first released.  We appreciated it but thought it was not one we would care to pop in on a regular basis.  Fast forward to the early 2010s (I think) when a cousin of mine was selling some of his DVDs.  Steven bought a few, including Mr. Brooks.  I found it was, in fact, one I could enjoy multiple viewings of.  I especially felt this after my husband’s passing.  Make what table-top psychology of that you like.

In the meantime, I have gotten over 300 words. As regular readers know, I find that respectable, especially for a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  I shall sign off now and look for the DVD of Mr.Brooks, since The Beast of Yucca Flats ended as I typed.  I hope you are all having a pleasant end to your weekend.

 

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Lame As I Ever Was

Posted on July 13, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello, blogosphere, I am back!  What, blogosphere isn’t a word yet? I hear it all the time.  Perhaps I have it misspelled.  In any case, I am back on the blog after losing a few days to technical difficulties and my usual malaise which makes it a major effort for me to do anything.  I finally got back on my Chromebook. Phew!  I know, I could have posted from my Tablet, as I used to do all the time, but that, too has become problematic.  When I finish the post, I can’t type in a headline at all, and when I try to add categories and tags, the screen jumps every time I hit a key.  For the last post, I got on my phone to add headline and tags.

Now I feel a little ashamed for not going through such a rigamarole again (but I KNOW rigamarole is a word!  It has been a word for years!).

Random picture to denote passage of time.

I found it in my Webster’s dictionary.  “Rigamarole” is another spelling of “rigmarole.”  I think the extra syllable adds to the expressiveness of the term.  I recently read in an English history book about the origin of the word.  Of course I cannot remember it now, but I know which book it was in, and I will look it up for use on a future blog post.

My bestie, Kim, is coming to visit today.  Regular readers know she moved away early this year, to the detriment of my Saturday adventuring.  I’m sure we will have a lot of fun today, although I am a little concerned at the forecast of high 80’s.

This has been me and many of my co-workers all week.

I had actually been looking for a Mohawk Valley adventure picture to share, but I found this one and couldn’t resist.

 

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Tired But On Time!

Posted on June 26, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

At least it is the end of the day Tuesday.

I promised myself I could use this picture if I made my Tired Tuesday post on Tuesday.  Bribery often works with me.  Unfortunately, just because I log onto WordPress and start typing does not mean I have anything to say.  I know, when has that ever stopped me?

I typed that in (I once again quote Truman Capote: “That’s not writing that’s typing”) then could not think of another word to type.  Perhaps I should not have put both the play and dinner in the same blog post for Sunday.  Perhaps I should be having more Mohawk Valley adventures to write (type) about.

They were pretty.

I threw in a picture before I got any more bogged down in “shoulds.”   This is a shot of my Black-Eyed Susans from August 2018.  The patch has since overgrown with weeds and stuff.  Not a yellow bloom to be seen. I plan to cut the whole thing down and start over again.  Not today, of course, but possibly by the weekend.  Then I can have another Lawn Order post.

 

Where will the road lead me?

Another kind of post I have not made lately is a Running Commentary.  For one reason, I have not been running.  I hope to begin again soon.  In the meantime I have been walking every morning.  Perhaps a Pedestrian Post is in order.

For today, however, I am over 200 words.  It will have to do.  Full disclosure:  I have been fighting a vague headache most of the day, and I think it is winning.  However, it is the end of the day.  We shall see what tomorrow will bring.  I hope you will stay tuned.

 

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