Tag Archives: monsters

What Kind of a Wednesday?

Posted on February 13, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I waited till quite late in the day on Wednesday to make a blog post and I am wondering if I should go for a Wuss-Out Wednesday, a Way-Back Wednesday, or a Mid-Week Monsters post.  Regular readers (if I still have any) are probably betting on the Mid-Week Monsters.  I do love my creepy crawly friends.

Aren’t they fun?

Here is a multi-purpose picture.  It is Monsters, obviously, and it is Way-back, since it is from October 2016, AND it is a shout-out to a local business, because it was taken at Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit, NY,one of my favorite places.   I mean Pumpkin Junction, not Sauquoit although I am sure Sauquoit is a perfectly nice locality, although my computer seems to think it is not a word.  However, my quarrels with autocorrect are well known and we will not revisit them at this time (good God, is “autocorrect” usually underlined?  Why do I not remember these things?)

I’m thinking that fellow does more coffee than treats at the So Sweet.

Here is another picture from 2016 from another local business.  The So Sweet Candy Shoppe has moved to Clinton from Utica, but they still offer a delightful variety of treats.  I just don’t imagine the skeleton is there now as their Valentine’s Day decorations are probably up.  Still, I thought he fit in with the post.

I am in general not a fan of multi-tasking, preferring to concentrate on one thing at a time in hopes of doing it right (not always likely when I am involved), but I have included monsters, pictures from the past, shout-outs to two local businesses, and I have even wussed out to a certain extent.  I think this blog post has done more than its fair share of work.  If it has entertained anybody as well, I am more than content with my efforts.]

 

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I’m a Sucker for Vampires

Posted on January 21, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

It has been a while since I made a Monstrous Monday post.  Of course that happens when I go days and days without posting.  I am trying to be better about that.  I am trying to be better about other things but with indifferent success.  One must persevere (one being me).

He’s scary!

I throw in a monster, before I get bogged down in justifying my lack of success and begin to wonder how hard I am really trying.  A nice creepy silhouette of Nosferatu from the eponymous 1922 silent movie will take my mind off my shortcomings.  I mean, my problems.  There is a new Nosferatu in theatres now, and I have been thinking about making a trip to New Hartford, NY to see it.  I know, I know, it is cheaper to stream, but I don’t know how to do that.  Additionally, it is more of an event to go see a movie on the big screen.  And there are some great eateries around the cinema, so one could make a day of it.  If only I still had a husband to drag along.  Oh dear, that sounds like I am feeling sorry for myself, which perhaps I am.  Quick, throw in another monster!

It says NO SMOKING, but he is smoking hot, yes!

Here is a different vampire, Blackula.  I rather enjoyed that movie.  I once started to watch the sequel, Scream, Blackula, Scream.  I do not remember why I did not see all of it.  Perhaps it was a DVR malfunction.  Alas that it has never come my way again.  I really must learn to navigate Roku TV.  I would imagine there are any number of movies I would like to see available for free (I am a widow on a fixed income, you know) (yes, more whining; judge me if you are so inclined).

Somebody offer that vampire a napkin!  And some Visine!

I searched my Media Library for another vampire and found the incomparable Christopher Lee.  He looks as if he was interrupted mid-bite.

The man that set the standard.

I felt I should include Bela Lugosi, who many consider the quintessential Count Dracula.  My late husband, Steve, always found this movie a little slow.  I see what he means, but I enjoy it.  I guess I’m just a sucker for vampires (see what I did there?).  Ooh, that would make a good headline!

 

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Naturally I Blog About Monsters

Posted on January 9, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Once again I suffer from the type-it-in-backspace-it-out disease.  I thought I could make at least a Mid-Week Monsters post.  I am kind of sort of watching Dateline on Roku TV as I type this.  It is an episode I have seen several times, about a case I have seen covered on other true crime shows.  Murderers are real-life monsters, I think, although that is some half-baked philosophy more suited to Lame Post Friday.

A murder not covered on Dateline.

Here is one of those real-life monsters, a famous local case, Chester Gillette’s murder of his pregnant girlfriend Grace Brown.  He looks awfully handsome for a monster, but murders often do.

Here’s a scarier looking killer!

Here is another real-life monster, a man-eating shark!  One could argue that the shark is merely following its nature; it is unfair to blame it.  Regular readers know, I am no hand at argument.  By the way,  this may not be a real shark but Bruce, the mechanical star of JAWS, I add in the interests of accuracy.  One could then argue that this is not a real-life monster after all, but one of the movie variety.  I feel this is merely quibbling, because there are in fact sharks that actually kill people.  Or at least bite their legs off, which I consider pretty monstrous behavior.

You can’t even see the killers in this shot. Sorry about that.

As long as we’re into killers in nature, I conclude with this picture from Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds.  Of course the birds in this movie do not behave the way most birds do in nature.  I think this is pretty good news for most of us.

I see I am approaching 300 words, which is also good news to me.  I hope this post has not been too monstrous.  Perhaps I should have gone for a Wuss-out Wednesday post instead.

 

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Late But Making with the Monsters

Posted on December 3, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh dear, it feels as if it has been days since I make a blog post.  Time is so weird.  Part of me is wondering how it got to be December already while another part feels it has been at least three weeks since Thanksgiving.  However, that is half-baked philosophy more suited to Lame Post Friday than a late Monstrous Monday post.  Let’s make with the monsters, shall we? (We shall!)

Creepy, yes?

I thought I would open with a monster seldom used (is that like the road less traveled?  Discuss amongst yourselves).  I have no idea where I got it; I downloaded it back in 2017.  I would like to make my front lawn look like this, although I do not have a similar amount of space, nor as much cool stuff.

Quite the fashionable skeleton.

I thought I should get a little Christmasy, since it is December, as noted earlier.  This, as regular readers know, is Bonita, our skeleton who likes to dress for the season.  She does not have her Christmas togs on yet this year.  I’ll have to work on it.

Now there’s a Christmas monster!

Boris Karloff is the ONLY Grinch for me; I don’t care how many re-makes they do.  I also like to watch movies where Karloff uses his real voice (as opposed to when he is Frankenstein’s Monster, who is fairly inarticulate).  He says all these creepy things, and I hear in my head, “Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot…”

And now I have babbled on for over 250 words.  Score!  Will I try for a Mohawk Valley Adventure to write about later today or stay home and clean the house?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my morning.

 

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Maybe I Should Write About Monsters

Posted on November 26, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yes, it is a Monstrous Monday post, and I am mostly happy that I am making it on Monday.  I had thought to do a Running Commentary post, and narrated in my head during most of my run this morning.  Then I neglected to make the post until now, Monday evening.  Judge me if you want to be that way.

Poor guy. What if his nose itches?

The first monster picture I found in my Media Library was this shot of Frankenstein’s Monster.  I say “Frankenstein’s Monster” for purists who don’t like to shorten it to just “Frankenstein.”  But if Dr. Frankenstein was his father, wouldn’t the Monster’s name be Frankenstein too?  We could argue this for days, but I am no hand at argument.

Are you calling me a monster?

Thanks a lot, Franz, for the compliment!  In fact, I am writing, if you can count a Monstrous Monday blog post.  I suppose Truman Capote would say, “That’s not writing, that’s typing.”  I did write some notes on a novel earlier, and did some reading on what might turn out to be a play.  Also I wrote a letter.  I like to write snail mail letters.

I’ve been called worse.

To conclude:  there are various kinds of monsters.  Some are created by mad scientists out of spare body parts.  Some we create ourselves by not fulfilling our destiny.  Ooh, didn’t that sound profound?  I should save such half-baked philosophy for Lame Post Friday.  Or is that more of a Monday Middle-aged Musing? Discuss amongst yourselves.

 

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One Monster for Good Measure

Posted on October 8, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to yet another late blog post from me, Mohawk Valley Girl.

Having typed that, I feel myself disinclined to type any more. If I was not ten-finger typing on the Chromebook, I would be tempted to give it up as a bad job.  I know, I know, one must not wait for inspiration.  Sometimes one prefers to at least wait till the coffee kicks in.

Picture to denote passage of time while I get another cup of coffee.

That is one of my favorite pictures.  I have seen some really gruesome rotting pumpkins but have not had anything to take a picture at the time.  The scariest are when the inside starts to mildew and the mouth becomes a black hole!  Not the most sanitary decoration, but I must appreciate beauty where I find it.

I hope to take a drive to Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit, NY tomorrow (preview of coming attractions).  I can get a pumpkin, maybe some lights for my porch, and at least I can walk around and enjoy looking at everything.  I have a bit too much to do today to contemplate the expedition.

A veritable Halloween Mecca!

I can’t say I have made strides in getting my house decorated for Halloween, but I have taken steps.  Maybe they were baby steps, but one does what one can.

I see I am over 200 words.  I guess I can bill this as a Monstrous Monday post, since it is a lot about Halloween.  I’ll just close with one monster for good measure.

 

 

Don’t know who he is, but I like him!

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I’m a Monstrously Bad Blogger

Posted on August 28, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I attempt once again to make a blog post today and then one tomorrow etc.  I do not, unfortunately, attempt to make a blog post about one of those Mohawk Valley adventures I keep promising to report on.  I guess I’m going to play the widow card again.  I am having a hard time getting my act together, but I try every day to do a little something.  Sometimes that something is just to get through the day.  I hope to up my game.

An oldie but a goodie.

I was thinking about this meme today, because I wore a shirt that I usually wear on Friday.  I was, of course, aware all day that it was not Friday.  I was only happy that it was also not Monday. One must count one’s blessings, after all.

“But… you said it wasn’t Monday!”

Having missed Monstrous Monday (as well as Saturday and Sunday), I thought to share a couple more monster pictures.  Of course I include my favorite, Nosferatu from the eponymous 1922 silent movie. I think he looks a little bit surprised in this shot.

See? I’m not the only one.

Jumping around, I found this profound caption with Elsa Lanchester as The Bride of Frankenstein.  It is true I have many good intentions:  to blog every day about the Mohawk Valley, to clean my house, to write a novel, to get my act together.  Will I fulfill any of these intentions?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my week.

 

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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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Late Monsters, Love Coffee

Posted on July 23, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

A late post is better than no post at all.  This week I am either back to late posts or no posts and I choose late posts.  Hello and welcome to a Monstrous Monday post made early Tuesday morning.

Random monster to denote passage of time while I go get coffee.

Everything is less monstrous with coffee.  Coffee drinkers will agree; non-coffee drinkers may substitute the beverage, comfort, or wake-up aid of their choice.  I am feeling a bit monstrous this morning for no particular reason.  At least, there may be reasons, but it would be dull to get into them.  Could I be getting old?  SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!

At least I am not toothless. Yet.

Yesterday I heard music wafting up from Meyers Park, where the Herkimer Downtown Chowdown was taking place, just to give a shout-out to a local attraction.  The Chowdown is the food truck event that runs Mondays in Meyers Park in Herkimer, NY.  They have some great musical entertainment.  I did not walk down yesterday, though.  I may stay home all week.  Judge me if you are so inclined.

He is watching you.

However, I do plan to go for walks this week.  I went for one yesterday morning.  Unfortunately (or fortunately, because I am feeling tired and lazy), it is raining this morning.  I hope it will not be too hot or raining this afternoon when I get home from work. If I do walk, there is a good chance I will walk by my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.  One of the corners is the 1834 Jail, seen in the picture above.  I feel free to include it in Monstrous Monday because of the cut-out of Chester Gillette, a real life monster.  He only committed one murder in his short life, but if he had gotten away with it, I’m thinking he would have done away with other inconveniently pregnant girlfriends.

Ooh, look, I am over 300 words.  Score!  Let’s see if I can do my Tired Tuesday post later on ON Tuesday.  I am pretty sure I will be tired, but thank you for tuning in.

 

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Monsters I Have Known

Posted on June 25, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

The late posts continue as I sit here Tuesday morning hoping to at least do a Monstrous Monday post.  I am sipping re-heated coffee from yesterday (waste not, want not), which is never as good but will surely do (there I go again, calling myself Shirley).  I almost felt like putting on a sweatshirt this morning, as we got a break from the excessive (to me) heat but said to myself, “Don’t worry; as soon as you start drinking the coffee you will get a hot flash.”  Sure enough…

Never mind all that, on with the monsters!

He looks like a friendly fellow.

I open with an unknown monster I found somewhere on the internet back in 2017.  It is a pretty cool scene.  I wonder if it is somebody’s house or an attraction one can visit.  I may never know but enjoy speculating.

He is scary, yes!

I move on to a better known monster, my favorite guy Nosferatu, from the eponymous 1922 silent movie, arguably the scariest movie ever (although I do not argue it myself, because I almost always lose arguments).

Here’s a creepy one!

Perhaps a lesser known monster, here is the unnamed menace from Carnival of Souls.  Is he death?  Is he the devil? I got the picture from the Carnival of Souls Facebook page.

Another low-budget delight.

They may look human, but they are witches, thousands of years old in Haunted Hotel, also known as City of the Damned,  although both are misnomers, as I believe I have pointed out before, because it involves an inn in a village.  Speaking of known and unknown, the guy in the middle is a young Christopher Lee.  I did not recognize him the first time I saw this movie (I have it in one of my DVD horror collections), but it was before I became acquainted with Hammer Horror films.

I see I have rattled on for over 300 words.  Additionally, my coffee has gotten tepid.  I do enjoy making a Monstrous Monday post and hope my readers do as well.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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