Tag Archives: walking

Wuss then Walk

So I wussed out on Wednesday by not making a blog post (except for Tuesday’s, of course).  Big surprise there.  I had hoped to make a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post, although the only picture I had taken but not used was a cute skull in a neighbor’s yard, taken on a cool-down walk after a run.

I do enjoy skulls and skeletons.

This morning, I overslept, not by much but small blocks of time can mean a lot in the morning, so decided to take my walk while my coffee dripped.  I did not take a walk yesterday due to rain.  I hate to miss a day.  I thought, I can walk by the skull and use that picture in a Pedestrian Post with Pictures (here is a Freudian typo:  I first put “Pedestrain,” because sometimes it is a strain to walk).

However, when I left the house, it was foggy.  I wanted to climb a hill to enjoy the sight of the fog so turned toward Valley Health.  It is not a huge hill, but I could get somewhat of a view.  Also, it is good exercise to walk up a hill.  I was using my phone to Map My Walk (the app is actually called Map My Run) but figured I would not have many photo ops in the dark.  My phone does not take good pictures in the dark, as I found when I tried to get a shot of the full moon.  Anyways, I reasoned to myself, how can I take a picture of the fog?  It obscures vision; how can I take a picture of what I can’t see?  I pondered how I could post a white square and pretend it was a picture of the fog by ultimately decided to use a screenshot of the map of my walk.

I walked a mile, but not in somebody else’s shoes.

The map did not come out the shape I had hoped.  I was picturing the body part narrower, like a worm or a snake.  But it was a pretty good walk.  I felt better after I had taken it than before.  I feel better yet now that I have had coffee and made my blog post.  Once again, thank you for tuning in.

 

Three Pictures in a Post

I am instituting a new feature: Waste Not Want Not Wednesday.  I thought about it earlier, because I recently made a post with that title using pictures I had taken for blogging purposes but not used yet.  For once not too lazy to look back, I searched previous posts and found out I have published three posts with the title, “Waste Not Want Not.”  It is one of my favorite sayings and a rule I try to follow.

When I made my Pedestrian Post with Pictures the other day, I did not use two of the pictures I had taken.  I was fairly happy with how the post ended without them, so I let them stay in my Media Library for the time being.  They were two pictures I took in my own yard at the end of my walk.

Preview of coming attractions?

Steve (my late husband, for anybody just tuning in) and I never planted any tulip bulbs, but since we first moved in, one yellow tulip has graced our front yard. This year I thought it had failed along with the daffodils (which in fact I did plant).  Imagine my delight when I saw green leaves and a bud.  It is not in the same place the tulip was previously, so I can’t be sure it is the same tulip.  Nevertheless, I am delighted to see it and hope it blooms before something eats it.  Then again, bunnies gotta eat, too.

They’re kind of hard to see.

After I took the picture of the tulip bulb, I noticed my peonies had started to come up.  These magically appeared after Steven had finally conquered the blowsy day lilies that had been there.  He just kept mowing them down till they got discouraged. The first year the peony was one stalk, but it bloomed. It has increased yearly, so yay!

Today after my run, I noticed one little forget-me-not raising its pretty blue head.  Unfortunately, I did not get a picture, but I have one more shot to share.  I do like to use three pictures in a post.

I confess, not the best picture.

I took this one yesterday, when I went for my walk prior to 5 a.m.  I had overslept and decided to go for my walk while the coffee dripped, to make sure I took one.  I was feeling less than enthusiastic about the exercise till I saw the full moon.  Cool!  I was using my phone to Map My Walk (the app is actually called Map My Run, but it works for walks too), so I had it handy to try to get a picture.

Wow! I am over 400 word.  Good thing I wasn’t going for a Wordless Wednesday Post!

 

Monday Mosey

Earlier this evening, I sat here, logged in and looking at a blank “Add New Post” screen, with a mind equally as blank.  Finally I decided to go for a walk with my phone and take some pictures for a Pedestrian Post.  I did not have as many photo ops as I had hoped, but I did manage to get a few.

You can’t really see how lovely the green is.

 

It was a beautiful sunny evening.  Unfortunately, the sun was in a bad place for some of the pictures I would have liked to take.  Maybe I could have gotten some evocative back-lit silhouettes (holy crap, I spelled that right at the first try!), but I am not such an artsy photographer, especially with my cheap-ass phone.  I tried to capture a tree with the leaves just unfurling, with not much success.

I just now learned how to rotate a photo!

 

As I walked up Maple Grove, I saw a commemorative stone where a house used to be, till the flood of 2013.  I did not think it would be commemorating the house, which was not an historic structure.  I guess it marks the project of flood abatement.  Anyways, I took a picture.

My main purpose was to walk by the spring.  I was drinking out of a bottle of water that I wanted to finish and refill.  I am feeling rather dehydrated today.  Too much salty food, I suppose.

One of my favorite places to stop during a walk or run.

I continued my walk, trying to take a couple of different turns from previous walks I had mapped.  I like to post the map on Facebook and my friends say what they think it looks like.  Sometimes I make a psychological analysis or prediction based on what they see.  Analyses and predictions for entertainment purposes only, I hasten to add.

Things are more interesting when I go on longer walks and runs.

I went for a run this morning but did not map it.  I just re-started running on Sunday (after beginning again then stopping again etc).  I feel pretty well exercised for the day, I suppose.  And I have made a blog post of over 350 words.  I call that not bad for a Monday.

 

Too Tired to Post on Scattered Saturday!

Well, I broke my streak of days in a row posting by neglecting to post anything yesterday.  In my defense, I have no defense.  These things happen, and we must make the best of them.  I took a nice long walk yesterday, ending up at the End Zone pub in Herkimer, NY, one of my favorite watering holes.  I confess to enjoying a daytime libation on a Saturday.  Anyways, I wasn’t driving.  I did not take any pictures, but perhaps I have one in my Media Library.

Here’s one!

This, unfortunately, was not the bartender yesterday.  It is Tino, son of the owner and somebody I am always happy to see, though, so I felt free to share the picture again.  My friend Kim joined me at the End Zone.  After she enjoyed a glass of Moscato, we went to a wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor.  Ooh, I think I took a picture of the pourer on my phone.

She was nice!

Her name was Leigh, and she was pouring all sweet wines, so Kim was happy.  I personally prefer dry wines.  We were especially taken with some carrots she had as decorations. She laughed and said for things she had picked up at the dollar store, they had gotten more attention than the wines.

I must get to the dollar store, although I have far too many decorations in my house as it is.

After the wine tasting, we went to Heelpath Brewing in Frankfort, NY (was it a Freudian typo that I first put “Hellpath”?  My obsession with Halloween and horror!).  It was such a pretty, sunny day, I wanted to sit in a place with lots of windows to look out.

Cheers, Kim!

This is a picture from a different visit, but we sat in the same seats.  We had a very fun afternoon, and I am only sorry I did not write about it yesterday.  But I think you for tuning in today!

 

Two Walks and a Library Visit

Two Walks and a Library Visit

I did not make a blog post early this morning, because I went for a walk.  I brought my phone with me, in case I saw anything I could take a picture of, but, alas, no photo ops.  It was the first time I had walked since Saturday, though (today being Wednesday, although I wonder if this should count as my Tired Tuesday post), so I was glad I made a bit of an effort.  I took another walk this evening (afternoon?  Kind of a grey area) (the sky was grey, too).  This was a walk with a purpose, as I went to Basloe Library to print out my work-in-progress murder mystery, Deadly Night Life.

One of my favorite places.

As I walked down my street, I saw a male and female cardinal.  Steve and I had seen a cardinal couple a few times while sitting on our front porch.  I wondered if it was the same couple.  Steve always loved cardinals.  Whenever I would see one when I was out running, and I often did, I would tell him, and we would speculate about which departed loved one had paid us a visit.  Now I wonder if Steve is the one sending the cardinals to say hello.  It is a comforting thought, anyways.  Alas, I did not think to pull out my phone and get a picture.

The picture of the Basloe sign, by the way, is from my Media Library.  I do like to have some sort of illustration.  It was a pleasant visit to the library.  The kind ladies there helped me get my script printed out.  We chatted about the need to see physical pages for some editing chores.  I did not take the time to look for a book, unfortunately.  Then again, now I have a reason to return to the library soon.

 

Lame Snowstorm of the Year?

I had hopes of making my Lame Post Friday post ON Friday, but alas, they came to naught.  It is not so early Saturday morning (for me), and I am on my second cup of coffee as I contemplate a rather bold statement I have been making recently.  I said if it snowed again, I would NOT shovel.  I would wait it out.  I look out the window and see that Mother Nature has called my bluff.  Oh well, I had planned to have a Stay at Home Saturday.  I do not rule out clearing part of my porch and a path to the road, so the mailman can deliver and so I can get a walk in.  That is for the other side of coffee and breakfast.

I don’t think it is this bad.

This is a picture from March 2017.  I had a husband to help me shovel in those days.  These things are so much better when you do them together.

This picture brings up a topic suitable for Lame Post Friday: pictures of snow.  Some people on Facebook snark, “We all know what snow looks like! You don’t have to show pictures every time it snows!”  I say, “Why the hell not?”  I like to share the everyday lives of my friends.  I don’t mind pictures of food; I like pictures of sandaled feet with a beer nearby (although I admit to being jealous of those shots sometimes); I especially like pictures of people’s pets, even if they are not doing anything particularly noteworthy at the time.

Substitute glass of wine for beer.

That reminds me, I need to get a pedicure soon. Perhaps a call to Hot Spot Salon and Spa is in order (just to give a quick shout-out to a local business) I feel certain sandal weather will soon arrive, and I do so enjoy seeing a little color on my toes.

I see I am over 300 words.  Score!  I do not expect any real Mohawk Valley Adventures this weekend, although I still have a few past ones I have not written about yet.  That is for the future.  A Saturday post on Saturday?  Time will tell.  I always say, Time is certainly a blabbermouth.  But as my sister Diane says, “Time is relative.  Not our relative.”

 

Nice Walk, But Little Spring in my Step

Monstrous Monday post on Tuesday, Tired Tuesday post on Wednesday, I’ve done it before and I will no doubt do it again.  I took a walk yesterday after work, thinking to do a Pedestrian Post with Pictures.  I took two but passed a few places I have pics of in my Media Library.  Let us see what I can come up with.

It was cold.  With Mother Nature’s macabre sense of humor, she gave us spring-like weather last week and winter weather on the first day of spring.  I dressed accordingly, wearing a lovely red cape/coat I picked up at a rummage sale but have rarely worn.  Searching for a hat worthy of it, I found one that had been crocheted for me by my dear friend Heather (I had sent her baby afghans for her beautiful newly-adopted twins) (oh, I also sent her a scarf I knitted; maybe the hat was in thanks for that) (and here I am bragging about stuff I send other people. What an ego!  What have I done for anyone lately?) (that last was a rhetoric question).

Where was I?  Ah yes, taking a walk.

Two venerable buildings.

I walked from my house to German Street, eventually turning down Main Street, where I passed my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.  I continued down Main past the former Christ Episcopal Church, which I used to attend.  It is no longer a church, and the For Sale sign is gone.  I wonder what the future will bring for that lovely building.  The other building in the in the picture is the Herkimer County Courthouse.

There was a bank on the side of the road I was on.  I noted a Do Not Enter sign on the drive-thru. Regular readers know that I just love to enter when they say not to.  No cars were currently using the drive-thru, so I walked through it the wrong way.  I took a picture to commemorate the event.

I maintain my rebel cred.

The wind picked up as I continued my walk, so I cut things short.  I went through the park by Basloe Library (must make a trip there in the near future), went by a No Not Enter sign onto Bellinger Avenue and thence home.

I KNOW they mean cars, not old ladies walking; let me enjoy my little rebellions!

I took a selfie when I got home, thinking to post it on Facebook, so Heather would know I am still wearing her lovely hat.  I take terrible selfies.  They remind me that I am not nearly as cute as I like to think I am.  Then again, we are none of us the best judges of our own looks.  And I tell myself, “For heavens’ sake, how cute does a sixty-year-old lady have to be?”

Don’t look at me; look at the hat!

My walk ended up being 20 minutes, just under one mile.  I was and am glad I took a walk.  Exercise is a potent anti-depressant, and I need all the help I can get!

 

Blame it on the Rain

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!

 

Not a Particularly Monstrous Walk

How monstrous of me to be late making my Monday blog post.  I am semi-lounged on my couch, ten-finger typing on my Chromebook and sipping coffee.  Coffee is a wonderful thing to those of us who enjoy it.  I took a walk yesterday, thinking to make a Pedestrian Post instead of a Monstrous one, but took few pictures.  I was just disinclined to take any.  I eventually took two and just now tried to upload them to WordPress from my phone.  When I went to log off WP on my phone, it told me changes had not uploaded yet.  I looked at my Media Library and said, “But there they are.”  The app had no reply, not surprisingly.

Love the one, don’t know the other.

I found my first photo op as I cut through the parking lot behind Basloe Library.  I love libraries and mean to start going to them more often.  Exiled Games is a business I have never been to, but I feel as Mohawk Valley Girl, I ought to check them out and write a blog post about them.  I mainly took the picture to remind myself to do so but thought it would also be good to put in the blog post.

I like whoever shoveled this.

I came across this wiggly path towards the end of my walk.  How fun is that?  I never wiggle when shoveling my own sidewalk but may have to consider doing so in the future.

So here is my Monday blog post, brought to you Tuesday morning (although my WordPress timestamp may disagree).  For anybody who is disappointed that it was not a Monstrous Monday, cheer up, there’s always Mid-Week Monsters.  In the meantime, I will close with a monster, if I can find one in my Media Library.

I think it is a little scary.

OK, it’s not exactly a monster, but I think it is a little monstrous.  I took it on a walk last November.  Mother Nature provides us with some gruesome delights, if we will only notice them.

 

Ah, Winter!

I mentioned that winter had come to the Mohawk Valley (too lazy to go back and see what I actually said, but I am quite certain I mentioned it).  I had an adventurous drive home this evening.  It could have been worse, of course, and I do not mean to complain.  It was snowing but not yet blowing.  According to this morning’s weather report, the snow will change to rain, and damaging winds are possible.  However, the report said winds would start around 1 p.m., and that did not happen at least where I was.  I personally am hoping the rain clears away some of the snow so I do not have to shovel my driveway in the morning.

Sunday I shoveled my driveway for the first time this winter.  Of course I counted my blessings that January marked my first snow shovel.  I can’t say that made it fun, but one does what one can.

You see, it could have been MUCH deeper.

I remembered to take a “before” picture.  Full disclosure: I only shoveled behind the car, not the whole driveway.  I can only do so much.  I also cleared the sidewalk in front of the house about a shovel’s-width.  I figure that meets the Reasonable Man Standard, which an insurance man once told me about.

I don’t think it really shows how hard I worked.

I did not take an “after” picture of the sidewalk.  Why do I feel that I shoveled a whole lot more than the pictures show?  At any rate, it took me almost 40 minutes, which I think is a pretty good work-out.  I would prefer not to have many of such work-outs this season, but obviously I have no control over that.

I ponder my experience.

I took a selfie before I went inside, thinking to use it in the blog.  In addition to the work-out of shoveling, I took a walk.  The snow is certainly pretty, and walking in it takes more effort than walking on bare sidewalk, so no doubt it burns a few more calories.  Look at me, looking at the bright side.

Instead of another snow picture.

As I have typed this post, I have been listening to the wind pick up.  I hope nobody comes along and drops a house on me.  That happened to a sister of mine once, and then the person who did it stole her shoes!  I loved those red shoes!  But that’s another story.