Tag Archives: Mohawk Valley Living magazine

A Mention of Mohawk Mall on Wrist to Forehead Sunday

Posted on February 17, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I drag my attention away from a City Confidential on Roku TV to make a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  Most of the Mohawk Valley seems to be iced it.  I tried to shovel a layer off the driveway while sleet fell on me, laughing at my efforts.  At least somebody was feeling jolly.  There is no need to dwell on these things.  I wanted to give a quick shout-out to Mohawk Antiques Mall, one of my favorite spots, which I visited a few days previously.

I had not stopped there in a while.  Full disclosure:  I mostly stopped because I was pretty sure they would have a current issue of Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  I do not know how much longer I will be writing for them, but I had a nice story in February’s issue about Back In Time: Collectibles Plus Crafts in Richfield Springs, NY (not to self: make a post about them soon!).  After picking up the magazine, I walked over the whole store, hoping something would tempt me to buy.

I’m sure I need a hat like that.

Further disclosure:  I have to watch my money these days, and I have pretty much zero space in my house to put cool things found at antique stores.  I took a picture at a new vendor.  That is, new to me.  I think I mentioned I had not been there in a while.  One great thing about these antique malls:  you can visit again and again and almost always see something new.

Ooh, those are nice!

Another vendor caught my eye, and I thought it was clearly a local artist.  I quickly saw that this was indeed the case.

I LOVE local art!

In fact, I follow Chickadee Hollow Studio on Facebook (I follow lots of local places I haven’t been to yet), so I was delighted to see some of their stuff.  I’m afraid my pictures are a little blurry.  I must go and get better pictures.  And make more space in my house so I can purchase something!

Mohawk Antiques Mall is located at 100 E. Main St., Mohawk, NY, phone number 315-219-5044.

 

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Must Stop at the Mustard Seed!

Posted on December 23, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I let today go by without leaving the house, thus losing another chance to Christmas shop.  However, I still have some pictures of previous Christmas shopping, so I can give a shout-out to another local business, which local readers still have a couple of days to go to.

This delightful lady will be there!

This is Juli Webster, proprietor of The Mustard Seed in Little Falls, NY.  See how Christmasy she looks!  The Mustard Seed has artisan herbal goods, scents, spice blends, gluten free foods, and more.  I spent a goodly amount of time there chatting with Juli and her mother.  I even wrote an article about the place for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  It is just the sort of distinctive local business they like to highlight.

Cool decor!

The bumble bee is prominent in the store and as part of the logo.  This is because of the story of the bumble bee:  it is not supposed to be able to fly, but the rules of aerodynamics or physics or something (I remember very little of my high school science).  BUT, nobody told the bumble it couldn’t fly, and so it does!  I had heard that about the bumble bee and always liked the story.  I find it inspirational, although people have, in fact, told me I cannot do certain things.  I’ll just pretend they didn’t.

Another bumble bee.

The store is only the Mustard Seed’s latest home.  It has been a staple at area craft and vendor fairs as well as having a store in the building that houses the Stone Mill Inn some years ago.

I highly recommend The Mustard Seed as a good place to shop, for Christmas or for yourself.  They are located at 407 Canal Place, Little Falls, NY, phone number 315-823-0718.

 

 

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More Lawn, Still No Order

Posted on June 3, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did not have a majorly productive weekend, but I did manage to do some yard work today, Sunday.  That gave me a good reason to have a Wrist to Forehead moment, but I shall try not to whine.  Too much, anyways.

When mowing my lawn with the non-power mower, I have left a lot of crap around the edges.  Today I tried to clean up some of that.  One thing I learned, or perhaps was reminded of, is that wild grapevines are quite invasive.  The roots go on forever!  And the vines cling with tenacity to everything handy.  I clipped, I pulled, I hack-sawed.  I added to a growing pile of crap.

One nice thing was becoming a pricker bush slayer again.  You see, some years ago I spent a Sunday taking down a huge pricker bush behind our garage.  When Steven got home from work, he took me out to Miner’s Table at the Herkimer Diamonds Mine.  I wrote about it for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  For the article I took a picture of Steven toasting me.  When the article appeared, the caption of that photo read, “Steven toasts Cindy, pricker bush slayer.”  I may not have that word for word, but close enough.

Evidence of my pricker bush and wild grapevine slaying prowess.

I soon filled a couple of containers for yard waste pick up tomorrow.  I posted on Facebook that I had literally put my blood, sweat, and tears into my yard work.  I do have some bloody-looking scratches on my arms and legs, and I was ready to cry by the time I gave up and went inside.  I have a lot more work to do, but I felt I had made some progress.

I guess it isn’t all that beautiful.

I was thinking I should have taken a “before” picture but it was too late by the time I thought that.  So I took a picture of a section I did not get to.

Something to look forward to.

My father gave me some advice on getting my power mower going, and offered to come over and work on it if I continued to have troubles.  So I may be making more progress on Lawn Order soon.  In the meantime, I have to be pleased with what I was able to get done.  I can only hope it made an entertaining blog post. Once again, thank you for tuning in.

 

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I Can Only Do So Much on Tired Tuesday

Posted on April 17, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Did I mention this would probably be a Tired Tuesday Post? I think I did.

Always a favorite meme.

I drove to work thinking that Tuesdays, like Mondays, must be endured.  I remembered a saying I had back in the ’80’s:  “Today is a bad day.  Yesterday was a bad day.  Tomorrow will be a bad day.”  It was my angst-ridden pose, I suppose.  I told my work friend Zach about my saying, and he said, “Now you sound like Eeyore.”  I replied that I have always identified with Eeyore.  Oh, quit playing those miniature violins.  I’m not in a gloomy, angst-ridden mood now, and I am certainly not feeling sorry for myself.  I am merely tired.  Hence, the Tired Tuesday Post.

Earlier this evening, I finished and emailed my submission to Mohawk Valley Living magazine for May.  I hope they like it.  I always say writing begets more writing, but sometimes I am only good for so much per day.  Perhaps if I began to lead a healthier lifestyle, I would not feel so tired in the evenings and I could write more. I must research healthy lifestyles. I am afraid vegetables will be involved.  Cue jokes about how I am already a vegetable.

There’s something healthy

I thought I would throw in a cheerier picture to end with.  I see I am over 200 words, which regular readers know I consider respectable, especially for these nothing posts.  As usual, I will try for something better tomorrow, and hope you will all stay tuned.

 

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Blame it on the Rain

Posted on March 7, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Sporadic posting.  It’s a thing now, at least with me.  As a matter of fact, I would not be posting right now, except that it is raining, and I do not want to walk in the rain.  I have walked a mile (but not in somebody else’s shoes) Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week before breakfast (today being Thursday, despite what my WordPress timestamp may say).  I believe it has made a positive difference in my mental if not physical health, although I am sure it has not hurt me physically, either.  So my usual morning blogging time has at least been positively spent.

In the meantime, I allow precious time to escape when I would like to be writing. Whatever happened to me writing after work?  For that matter, whatever happened to me writing on breaks at work?  These days I obsessively work on pencil puzzles such as crosswords and cryptograms.  I struggle to finish a letter to a friend, and I totally owe my last two sisters in law letters

So here I am in the middle of a blog post about not making blog posts, and about not writing in general.  A fellow writer once pointed out that writing about not writing is still writing.  Truman Capote once pointed out, that’s not writing, that’s typing, not about me, of course, but I think it may apply here.  Then again, ten finger typing is fun (I am on my Chromebook, in case you were wondering).

Me, pondering my fate.

I threw in a picture to pep things up.  This is from a visit to the Arc Park in Herkimer, NY, with my sister Cheryl and her grandkids, Sheppy and Evie.  I wrote an article about it for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  Evie made the cover.  I need to work on my article for next month.

The thing about writing, as with many things in life, is you just have to do it.  I observe this and have mentioned it about my MVL articles:  I can’t write the article, I can’t write the article, I can’t write the article, I sit down and I write the article.  I just have to figure out how to get to the last clause sooner.  Likewise with my blog posts.  Thank you for tuning in while I blather on for,wow, over 350 words.  Let’s hear it for the rain!

 

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Another Glass of Lame?

Posted on June 17, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was going to put off making my Lame Post Friday post till Saturday morning but decided to pour myself another glass of Sauvignon Blanc and do it now.  What are you shaking your head at (or your finger or your booty) (you know how you are)?  It is only my second glass of wine.  And it is Friday night!

I am kind of sort of watching The Ape Man with Bela Lugosi.  I found a DVD set I had forgotten I had:  The Best of the Worst.  I already watched Manos the Hands of Fate and Track of the Moon Beast, both of which have been featured on Mystery Science Theatre 3000.  Again, kind of, sort of (the me watching part, not the MST3K featuring part).  I have been looking at Facebook or doing puzzles in a puzzle book.  I need a new puzzle book, by the way.

My current viewing pleasure.

This is not the best picture.  Then again, some of the movies are not the best prints.  I love buying these collections for cheap.  Sometimes I get the same movie two or three times, but that is OK with me.  The Brain That Wouldn’t Die, The Terror, and others bear multiple viewings.

For the record, I have not been completely useless tonight.  I finished two articles for Mohawk Valley Living magazine and got them emailed out.  I hope they like at least one of them.

I see I am over 200 words.  Time to stop babbling on and pay more attention to what is happening to Bela.  Happy Friday, everyone!

 

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Remembering Ambition Past

Posted on May 22, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

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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Not Too Tired for Columbo

Posted on May 17, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Time for another Tired Tuesday Post.  Only I am having trouble concentrating on it, because I am playing an episode of Columbo which I have never seen.  Hmm… wasn’t that the case on another recent post?  Oh dear.

I meant to go running today so could have done a Running Commentary Post, but it was deadline for Mohawk Valley Living magazine, and as usual I did not have my act together with an early submission.  Perhaps next month.

I’m just happy it isn’t Monday!

Earlier today I remembered that tomorrow is Wednesday and felt happy.  I don’t know why it matters to me.  Weekdays aren’t really so bad.  My worst moment is when I have to get out of bed just when I feel I can get some good sleep.  I am sure many people suffer from that phenomenon.  Weekends bring their own problems, but there is no point in complaining.  It is mostly first world problems or else operator error.

Just to throw in a little real life murder.

Just to let you know I am not watching only Columbo (All Columbo All The Time?), the other day I popped in A North Woods Elegy:  Incident at Big Moose Lake, a documentary about the murder of Grace Brown by Chester Gilette. It is a very famous case around here, since the trial took place in Herkimer.

During the trial Gilette was incarcerated at the 1834 Jail. 

I enjoyed the documentary, because it was like the true crime shows I used to watch all the time on cable.  I miss those shows!

“One more thing!”

I thought I should also include a picture of Columbo, since he is mentioned in the headline.

 

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The Post Is Certainly Scattered

Posted on March 5, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was all set to do a Scattered Saturday Post, but I guess I was too scatterbrained to actually do it on Saturday.  My bad.

It was not a super good day for me.  I started out having problems with my cable.  Instead of going on a run, I got some exercise by attempting to shovel my driveway.  In this I was helped by an anonymous neighbor who snowblew the end, a path to the front steps, and the walk in front of the house.  So that was a very nice thing.

The cable problem wasn’t complete frustration, either.  They were actually able to send a tech on a Saturday morning, he showed up when they said he was, and he was very nice and helpful.  I only have trouble feeling grateful for it now, though, because I got up this morning to the same damn problem!  It must be operator error, because the guy gave me a new cable box and replaced some outside wire.  I talked to a guy on the phone this morning who concluded that an inside wire is to blame.  He is sending me a replacement, but I can also drive to New Hartford, NY, and pick one up for free.  That way I will not have to wait and will have a spare in case it happens again.

I Don’t Know About My Saturday, But This Post Is Certainly Scattered.

I just typed that into the title bar then realized it was far too long for a title.  Under the heading Waste Not Want Not, I copied and pasted it here.  Now I am too lazy to change the capital letters to lowercase (but apparently not too lazy to spell out “capital letters” when the rest of the world just says “caps”).

Anyways, the rest of my Saturday was spent with my friend, Kim. She met me at the End Zone Pub, where I had gone after  I walked my post cards to the post office (that makes it sound like the post cards walked too, like they were my pets that needed exersise).  We enjoyed a libation, and I took a picture, since I had it in mind to do a Scattered Saturday Post.

They posed and approved the shot.

Next Kim took me to my house to pick up an afghan to donate to the HALO Chinese Auction, which was being set up at the Mohawk American Legion.  We stopped on the way to the Legion at Mohawk Antiques Mall to pick up a copy of Mohawk Valley Living magazine.

Lots of good prizes to try for!

Local readers, if you see this in time, I encourage you to go to the auction.  It is today, Sunday, March 5, 2023.

 

Easier the trying to type in the info. Did I mention I was lazy?

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Monsters or Memories?

Posted on February 14, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am having a difficult time getting myself to do anything.  However, I persevere in trying.  I paid a few bills today, worked on organizing papers, took a couple walks, and drove to Cherry Valley, NY, in search of something to write about for Mohawk Valley Living magazine (preview of coming attractions).  But it doesn’t feel like I got a whole lot accomplished, and I spent a good deal of time feeling unmoored. Never mind that last sentence, let me get on with attempting some semblance of a blog post.

“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”

This is how I feel, only not so skinny.  I have put on a few pounds recently.  I have not been running or walking.  In addition to having a nagging cold, I fell down my front steps and hurt my back.  The back is feeling a little better, though, so I may ignore my cough and try a run tomorrow.

This was a great evening.

I move from monsters and moaning to memories with a shot of my recently dedeparted husband, Steve, on Richfield Springs Scenic Railway.  I would like to go on that again.

Isn’t he cute?

Here is a monstrous memory:  Steven in costume at the Halloween Party at Herkimer VFW in October 2021.

So this is my Monday blog post: a couple monsters, a couple memories, and a little moaning about my ills. As always, thank you for tuning in.

 

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