Tag Archives: Shop Small

Just a Couple of Christmas Stops

Posted on December 18, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I pause in my Christmas shopping to make a blog post.  Then I am out to tackle the season once again.  How brave that sounds.  In fact, I paused for lunch, to read a book for a while, take a Facebook break, and do an  anacrostic puzzle (my computer thinks “anacrostic” is not a word, and in fact PennyPress calls them “crostics”) (which the computer also does not like).  Where was I?

Ah yes, beginning my Christmas shopping.  In fact, I think most members of my family would not notice or care if I did not give them presents, except for the great nephew and niece, and OF COURSE I am going to get them something nice!  But I like to give presents, at least small tokens of my affection. Additionally, as Mohawk Valley Girl, this is a golden opportunity to shop at many of the little stores I love and with which the Mohawk Valley is blessed.

Accordingly, I drove to Little Falls this morning.  My first stop was at Chickweed Boutique on Main Street.  There was a wonderful handmade sled on the front porch.

Beautiful!

Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, there is no space in my house for such a thing.  Chickweed has a lot of great stuff for Christmas, though:  jewelry, clothes, books, art, and more.  I found… well, I can’t tell you what I found, can I?  Some members of my family read this blog.  I continued down Main Street to Venture Fourth, a fairly new business in Little Falls but one I had not visited till today.

As I came in I confessed to the man behind the counter that most of the people on my list were not super outdoorsy.  Still, he did have some things that looked nice for anybody.  Candles, coffee mugs, and clothing.

I may need to buy some of this stuff for me!

I further confessed that I did not plan to spend a whole lot per present.

“After all, I’m just the crazy old aunt,”  I said.  He said I didn’t seem that crazy to him, but then again, he had just met me.  I found a couple of items to purchase, and we had a lovely conversation about the area and small businesses, etc.  It really is one of my favorite things about shopping small:  the interaction with the shop keepers.

Anyone can use clothes!

As I left Venture Fourth, I felt tired and hungry, and remembered I had to go grocery shopping. That led to the pause I alluded to in the first paragraph.  Now I have a blog post of over 400 words.  Score!  I think I’ll hit a couple places in Herkimer next.

 

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Just a Little Local

Posted on July 3, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I saw on Facebook that Monday was Shop Small Day or the whole week was Shop Small Week or some such.  You know I never pay attention to these things.  In any case, for Mohawk Valley Girl, EVERY day is Shop Small Day.  Unfortunately,  I cannot shop every day, and I cannot always go small for what I need.  Well, we none of us can live up to our ideal (and if you are sitting there smirking because YOU always do, all I can say is that you probably need some better ideals) (you know who you are).

Where was I?  Ah yes, attempting to shop small.  One of the pages I follow encouraged us to share on Facebook pictures of our purchases.  I went to T&J’s Fruits and Vegetables in Herkimer earlier this week, but those vegetables are already cut up and in a salad.  Maybe I have one tomato left.

I’ll probably put it in an omelet or sammich tomorrow.

I also went to Valley Wine and Liquor,  also in Herkimer.  I am sipping a little wine as I type this.

Of course I use my Halloween glass year round! What did you expect?

To add a little more local, I got that awesome glass from Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit.

Today I drove to Little Falls, NY.  I had seen there was to be a new gift shop opening near The Cafe at Stone Mill.  I went to the Cafe first for a cup of coffee.  I cannot convey how much I have longed to sit in a cafe, sip coffee, and write.  I worked on a letter to my sister.

It is yummy coffee!

I thought about getting ice cream instead, since it was so hot out, but the lower calorie count won.  To tell myself it was not really ice cream but frozen yogurt would be mere quibbling.  Additionally, this is coffee by local roaster Joseph Putrello, and it is excellent coffee.

I already have one of those coffee mugs.

I did not purchase anything in the gift shop but intend to return.  After checking it out, I drove to Burke Park for the weekly Fresh Market.

It’s already on my calendar for next Thursday.

I spent more time at the market, and took more pictures. I hope to write more about it later.  In the meantime, I see I am approaching 400 words.  That seems good to me.  I hope to do more local shopping and buy more stuff soon.  And write blog posts about it.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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Ready to Relax after Scattered Saturday

Posted on December 2, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Even after my tipsy night last night, I managed to have a fairly active Scattered Saturday.  As I am anxious to get on with the sitting on my couch, crocheting and watching television portion of the day (I have already reached the sweats on, bra off stage) (do NOT say TMI!) (you know who you are), I am going to make a fast post and hope to cover a few of the activities in greater detail in future posts (preview of coming attractions).

We slept in till almost 6 a.m., and I confess I had a bit of a headache.  I comforted myself with the thought that I have had worse headaches on less wine and got on with the day.  After a cup of coffee and some Gatorade, I felt ready for my run.  I think I have made up my mind to run the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls next Saturday, and I had not run since Wednesday, so I knew it was a good idea to go.  It was a pretty good run, and I petted two cute dogs along the way.

The rest of the morning was spent in a leisurely fashion, but eventually we bestirred ourselves and got out the door and into Mohawk, NY.  For non-local readers, that is a village right next to Herkimer (where I live).  Regular readers may recall that we went to Mohawk Village Market on Shop Small Saturday.  While there, we entered a drawing for a $25 gift certificate.  Steven won!  We spent the whole amount and then some, and I picked up a Donald Westlake book I have never read in their little library.  Score!

Next we drove to Ilion, which is right next to Mohawk, and went to the Medicine Shoppe to pick up a prescription.  More I cannot tell you, because, you know, HIPAA, but the Ilion Medicine Shoppe is a good place to fill your prescriptions.

After going home to put away our groceries, we got back in the car and drove to Little Falls, about six miles away, in case you didn’t know.  Our goal was the Open House of Joyfuls Vintage Designs, which had moved to a new location, 616 E. Main Street.  I had never been to nor in fact ever heard about this place.  What an awesome little business!  They refurbish and re-purpose vintage items and furniture.  The results are beautiful and show such imagination and creativity.  I will definitely write more about them and include pictures.

We decided to take a stroll down the rest of Main Street.  We admired several businesses along the way but did not stop anywhere till we got to Ed and Bud’s.  There we saw a sign advertising Tom and Jerry’s.  This is, of course, a traditional Christmas drink.  We made a special trip to Ed and Bud’s to have one last December.  We succumbed to the temptation.  Yum!

So we had a pretty fun Saturday. Lots of Mohawk Valley adventures!  We may sit quietly at home on Sunday.  Then again, there is Christmas in Meyer’s Park on Herkimer and the tree lighting in Weller Park in Mohawk.  Scattered Sunday, anyone?

 

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