Tag Archives: Rome NY

Still Over 400 To Go!

During the Fall Fest Saturday at Bellamy Harbor Park in Rome, NY, I deserted my sister Diane’s booth a couple of times to take a walk along the path.  For one reason, we were in the shade where it was a little cool for me. A walk in the sun warmed me up.  For another reason, I needed the exercise.  To recap for those just tuning in, my sister is independent author Diane E. Young, and she was at the first annual Fall Fest to sell some of her books.  You can check them out at her website, authordevy.com.

A lovely view.

The first thing I noticed was a lovely older couple, walking slowly and enjoying the scenery and each other’s company.  Full disclosure: it was my parents, and I thank God every day that I still have them with me.  I caught up with them long enough to say hello but did not intrude upon their romantic walk.

A nice bridge.

I did not go very far after I crossed the bridge.  For one thing, my back was hurting me.  I probably should not have helped Diane move her table after all the books were on it, but we do not always think of these things at the time.

Ducks or geese? At least they were not in a row!

Naturally I took a picture of the birds on the water.  It was a nice walk, less than a mile, but I took another walk later, so I had a full mile towards my goal of 500.  I walked a little more on Sunday.  And so we reach our goals, a little at a time.

 

Fun at Fall Fest

AAAaaaand it’s back to late posts as I sit here after 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning making a post from Saturday.  In my defense, never mind my defense, explanations are tiresome.  But I pause to put on more hot water for another cup of tea (still have not replenished my supply of coffee, if you can believe such a thing).

Picture to denote passage of time while I put on tea water.

When in doubt, lead with a beautiful blond, that’s my motto.  In this case, it is my sister, noted author Diane E. Young.  This is her table at yesterday’s Fall Fest at Bellamy Harbor Park in Rome, NY.  Some 22 vendors gathered on a beautiful fall day.  Most of the vendors offered treats for kids that showed up in a variety of Halloween costumes, and a fun time was had by all.

The trees cooperated, too!

I walked around and looked at the various vendors.  I was especially taken with Yardzee at one of the wood-working tents: giant dice in a five gallon bucket for an outdoor version of the game.  I took a card.  Wait, I must find it and plug that business.

Another picture to denote passage of time while I look for my purse.

John’s Rustic Arts.  It seems he has a Facebook page too.  I don’t have another picture to share while I look for that.  I purchased a stone skull at another booth, where I stupidly did not get a card.  Maybe I can poke around Facebook and find out who that was and plug them in a future post.

In the meantime, I am over 250 words and must get on with my Sunday.  I hope to do a Sunday post today and be caught up again, but no promises.  I hope you are all doing well, and as always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

Caffeine Can’t Help Me Now

Well, here it is, a post without any pictures. I forgot to take any, and Richfield Springs is too far to drive this morning to rectify the omission.  I mean, I could find other things to do in Richfield Springs and make another trip there, but I have to go to Rome for a VA appointment at 10 and wanted to make my blog post before then, blah blah, woof woof, oh, just get on with the post, Cindy.

Have some more coffee, me!

I put in a picture anyways.  In fact, I have had a couple cups of coffee, but I used up all the oomph in that caffeine writing my story about last night’s Herkimer Town Board meeting for the Daily Sentinel.  Full disclosure:  I broke the mug pictured the other day by not paying attention when I thought I was setting it safely on the counter.  It was one of Steve’s favorites!  Only the handle broke, though, so I will glue it back together and display it on a shelf.

That was a distraction.  I was going to write about breakfast/lunch at Cassidy’s Diner at Richfield Springs, NY with my swimming group yesterday.  Some of us had breakfast, some had lunch.  It was quite delicious.  I think the best thing for me to do is to return to Cassidy’s, have another delicious meal, take pictures, and write a blog post exclusively about Cassidy’s.  I shall bill this as a Tired Tuesday post and scurry off to my VA appointment.  I wonder if I can get some advice on how to make the effects of caffeine last longer.

 

An Artistic Interlude

Yesterday when I was in Rome, NY I enjoyed coffee and a scone at the most delightful cafe, Superofficial on West Dominick Street, right next to the Capitol Theatre.  It is actually Superofficial and the Copper Easel Art Gallery, so I enjoyed art and atmosphere as well.

I especially liked the guy shooting the red stuff in the shed, but it does not show up here very well.

I did not want to eat too much, so as not to spoil my lunch, but after much debate I had to try the scone with Rosemary, figs, and goat cheese. It looked more substantial than what I had in mind, but it just sounded so different.  I also had a cup of regular coffee.

You can’t really read the menu, but that’s OK. I understand it changes weekly.

The scone did not disappoint.  The coffee was good, too.  While I ate, I looked around at the art on the walls, all of which was by local artists.  Then I laughed out loud, because I saw a skeleton sitting on the counter.  I love skeletons!

It looks like he’s laughing out loud too!

There were several other customers, most of them looking rather artistic themselves.  Some were working on computers.  I wondered what creative endeavors they were working on.  I myself worked on a letter to a friend, which I believe my friend will appreciate.

Cool logo.

I felt I was in a very artsy spot, and wished there was such a spot in Herkimer (where I live).  Maybe somebody will open one.  In the meantime, I will try to feel creative in the coffee spots I live near, and make sure I stop by Superofficial when I am in Rome.

Superofficial and The Copper Easel are located at 216 W. Dominick St., Rome, NY.  You can find them both on Facebook.

 

Does Anybunny Still Read My Blog?

So I did my Saturday post Sunday morning and now it is still Monday morning as I attempt to make a Sunday post.  Late morning if you must know (you know who you are).  I hope my readers are still tuned in, and I hope to get into more Mohawk Valley Adventures soon.  I’m afraid I have been hoping that for a long time, but sometimes miracles happen.

Hippity hoppity!

I confess I do not have much to blog about, right now perhaps because yesterday was Easter Sunday.  I drove to Rome, NY to my parents’ house and saw a number of family members.  We had a lovely time.  I took three walks in addition to the short run I took before I left Herkimer.  I’m still fat and out of shape.  Go figure.

Anyways, the cake you see is the bunny cake my mother made.  She has been making bunny cakes for Easter since I was a little girl and she saw how in a magazine.  We do love our bunny cakes.

Luckily not all 40 candles.

This bunny cake doubled as a birthday cake for my nephew-in-law Dan.  I never know when anybody’s birthday is, but my mother happened to mention it to me earlier in the week, so I brought him a Batman duck. He got better presents from closer family, but I thought I would give him a little token.  After all, I rarely give birthday presents at all, and I don’t like to show favoritism.

I am feeling rather tired after my celebrations and numerous walks yesterday, but I do not despair of doing anything blogworthy for Monday’s post.  Will I make it Monday?  Will I make it Tuesday?  Regular readers could probably hazard a guess.

 

A Few Things That Caught My Eye

I thought I would do a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday.  It is still Wednesday, so I have that going for me.  I am also looking at a Dateline with my favorite, Keith Morrison.  I have seen it before, but I do not remember whodunnit.

Bonita is buried!

I begin with a Halloweenish picture.  It is our skeleton Bonita, and it gives some idea of the volume of clutter in my house.  I am working on excavation.  Then I may be able to decorate for the holiday.  I would like to put Bonita and Burt the Birt-day Gorilla in Halloween garb.

I think it is cool.

This is a sight I have often wanted to take a picture of and finally did.  I love stuff painted on the side of buildings.  I never did get a picture of  “Mungers” on the side of a building on Main Street.

Too dark? Or can you see it?

Here is a shot taken last weekend, when I was in Rome, NY.  My sister Diane and I took a couple of walks and observed some of the damage from the tornado that happened some weeks ago (too lazy to look up the exact date).  We were sad about a lot of the downed trees.

Can’t see this one too well either. Oh dear.

This one was taken during the daytime, but the cool part is in shadow.  There are two little windows on the side of the stump, like it is a little hobbit house.  Or maybe a house for a troll or faerie.  I am not up on these fantasy creatures.

I love that our phones take pictures, so we can shoot any little thing that catches our eye.  We also get a lot more pictures of people we love. I may share a few of those tomorrow.

 

When Will I Return to Rome?

I had hopes of making my Throwback Thursday (or some other kind of post) Post on Thursday, but it was a true blogger’s sick day.  I left work with a migraine and spent the rest of the day having a headache.  Migraine sufferers know, sometimes that is all you can do.  But never mind my health woes.  It is early Friday morning (woohoo!) and a Throwback Thursday Post is just what I am in the mood for.  Media Library, here I come!

Isn’t she cute?

I thought I would throw back to previous Mohawk Valley Adventures.  Here is a place I would like to visit again: Franca’s Roma on West Dominick Street in Rome, NY.  They play jazz music!  They serve great wine and great food!  What more could Mohawk Valley Girl ask?

Did somebody say books?

Near Franca’s is Keaton and Lloyd Bookstore.  The Franklin Pangborn Parlor hosts readings and other such events.  Who doesn’t love an independent bookstore?  Oh, I suppose some people don’t, but I think they are wrong.

Books and Groucho Marx? Yes, please!

Here is another view of the bookstore.  In case you can’t read the quote, it is, “Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend.  Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.”

Regular readers know I live for the theatre.

I close my Roman memories (memories of roamin’ in Rome?  Nah, too cutesy) with an evocative if a little dark shot of the Capitol Theatre, also in the area.  It is a beautifully restored 1920’s theatre.  I myself performed on the stage and in the orchestra pit roughly a hundred years ago.  But we needn’t throw back that far for this post.

There are other delightful destinations on West Dominick Street in Rome.  I really must plan another trip there soon.

 

Lots of Fun on Scattered Saturday

Oh it has been a Saturday!  It has in fact been the sort of Saturday in which I often wait till Sunday to make my blog post.  Judge me if you are so inclined.

I began the day as a pretty much Scattered Saturday.  I went for a run. I had a video appointment with the VA.  I drove to Rome, NY to my parents’ house. I helped my mom and dad with a few lawn and garden chores.  With their help I loaded their bottles and cans into my car.   I returned said bottles and cans with  my friend Kim (plus more of my own and hers).  I had a late lunch with Kim at Yetty’s Pizzeria in Herkimer. We went to a wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor. I came back home, made some popcorn, and started watching cheesy horror movies.  Have I left anything out?

He is so cute!

At Yetty’s in Herkimer, NY, we had Piel, a bartender we have had before and loved.  He is so fun and nice!  We had a delightful time.

I loved her hair!

After our fun time at Yetty’s,  we stopped at Valley Wine and Liquor for a wine tasting of Glenora Winery of the Finger Lakes.  Gabby was the poured.  She graciously agreed to let me take her picture.

I see I have attained 200 words or more.  Score!  I hope you are all enjoying your weekend.

 

Make Lunch, Not War!

I just got back from Rome, NY, where my family was celebrating my mother’s birthday.  I believe she is 29, same age as my older sister.  OK, I do not really believe that, but I don’t see that it is my business to go blabbing other people’s ages across the internet.  I am just really, really grateful that both my parents are around and in reasonably good health.

After driving to Rome from Ilion (where I work),  having a lovely time with family,  then driving back to Herkimer (where I live), I am tired.  However, I was hoping to make my blog post before I sleep.  I figured I could manage a Non-Sequitur Thursday Post.  Hence, the headline which does not appear to have much to do with the post.

To explain:  I said it to myself this morning.  The coffee had not kicked in yet,  and I was trying to get all my stuff done.  “Make your lunch,” I told myself.  Then I thought of “Make lunch, not war.”  I felt it was so clever, I put off making my lunch long enough to post it as a Facebook status.  I daresay I flatter myself.  Driving home from Mom and Dad’s house, I thought it might be a suitable title for a Non-Sequitur Thursday Post.

Agree?  Disagree?  Please feel free to comment, and as always, thank you for tuning in.

 

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.