Tag Archives: weather

Winter Waste Not Want Not

Posted on January 7, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Under the heading Nobody’s Perfect, I missed making my Monday blog post.  Rather than resort to a late Monstrous Monday or an on-time Tired Tuesday (I am a little tired, but never mind), I shall skip ahead and make a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post.  For one reason, I found three pictures in my phone I have not used.

I have been walking a lot lately.  I find it safer than running, since you never know when ice is lurking beneath the snow.  The beauty part of snow is, it gives you more traction than ice while slowing you down, so you burn more calories with every step.  At least, that is the thought with which I comfort myself when it seems to be taking me forever to get anywhere.  The beauty part about walking is that I can pause to take a picture when something catches my eye.

I did not try to go ice fishing.

I don’t know if this is an actual brook or just a kind of a drainage ditch.  Drainage ditch sounds awfully dirty, and this does not seem unsanitary to me.  I always like to see running water as I walk along.

I would find that cold.

On one walk, I saw this beautiful dog not on a leash.  I took a picture, thinking I should post it on Facebook or something.  However, the pooch did not seem to be wandering, so I knocked on a door and asked the lady who answered if she knew whose dog it was.  She pointed out the house, and I knocked on that door and warned them their dog was loose.  It was my good deed for the day, I guess.

One of my favorite views.

Relaxing after a walk, I enjoy two of my lovely Christmas presents from my parents:  fuzzy socks and soft slippers.  What a delightful thing on a cold winter’s day.

Ooh, look, I am over 300 words and have not once whined over having nothing to blog about.  It can be difficult getting out and about in the winter, but I shall manage something.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Running into 2026!

Posted on January 2, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

This morning I ran for the first time since the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls, NY on Dec. 13.  People like to say, “Sometimes you just have to force yourself.”  Well, I did not force myself.  I decided to run today, and I did.  And it was great! It was quite cold, and the roads were far from bare, but I felt damn good and ran for over a mile and a half.

The sky was not that blue, for one thing.

I cannot find a winter picture of Herkimer’s Historical Four Corners in my Media Library, but that is the first place I ran.  I wanted to do a Running Commentary Post so purposefully ran by places I knew I had pictures of.  Just imagine a lot of snow.  I ran in the road for the most part, sticking to new fallen snow when possible, because snow gives you a little traction.  I did not trust the slush but did not run into any problems.

Right away I was amazed at how good the run felt, and how my body did not seem to have any problems with it.  It wasn’t even too difficult breathing in the cold.  At first there was little breeze, which was great.  Later when the wind picked up, I said, “Rats!”  But I kept going.

I do not do everything I am told to do.

I went by a couple of Do Not Enter signs, entering of course.  I KNOW they are talking about vehicular traffic not crazy old ladies.  Just let me enjoy my rebel cred.

I’ll go here later to celebrate the new year a little more.

After one Do Not Enter sign, I ran by the Elks Lodge.  Joining the Elks was one of the highlights of my 2025.  Lots of nice people there, and they do a lot of good for the community.

I kept it up for almost 26 minutes, 1.71 miles.  I was just happy my first mile was under 16 minutes.  Real runners know that is a very slow mile, but I do not apologize.  I was out there improving myself.  Never mind how much room there is for improvement!

 

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I Can’t Be Tired of Winter Already!

Posted on December 31, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’m afraid I’ll have to make a Tired Tuesday post.  I left the house twice today, both times to shovel the driveway.  I didn’t mind that, only I inadvisedly watched a video on Facebook of a doctor explaining, with illustrations, exactly why shoveling snow can give you a heart attack.  This was not happy viewing for my over 60, overweight self.  Yes, yes, I am trying to do something about the overweight part, it is not helpful of you to remind me (you know who you are).

My favorite Tuesday meme.

Some may feel this is not an appropriate meme for me to share, since I no longer have a Monday through Friday job.  And yet the days of the week retain meaning for me.  For a lot of people, this week is chaos anyways, with the holidays, especially for those lucky enough to be off work.  Anyways, I just wanted to throw in a picture to pep things up.

I was supposed to be covering a town board meeting tonight, but after all my efforts on the driveway and car, it was cancelled.  That goodness the town clerk was nice enough to email me and let me know!

It looked a little like this.

I did not take Before and After pictures, but here is a Before picture from a previous winter.  The roads are a little more covered today.  I would take an After picture now, but it is getting dark.

Quite frankly, I was all geared up to go someplace.  While I am relieved not to have to drive on what I understand are terrible roads, I would kind of like to be out and around people.  Oh well, common sense will rule tonight.  I’ll put on some comfy clothes and tune in to Dateline.  And hope for a bloggable Mohawk Valley Adventure tomorrow.

I might as well use it, since it’s in the Media Library.

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I Have No Defense

Posted on December 17, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, I did it again.  I went three whole days without posting. In my defense…

The three words that best describe me are as follows, and I quote…

I guess it isn’t really a defense, but I have been running around like I have health, energy, and ambition (I bet you thought I was going to say, “like  a chicken with its head cut off”) (you know who you are).  Saturday I ran the Reindeer Run 5K on unreliable streets in Little Falls.  After returning home to shower, I went to Ilion to take a picture of the Frosty Forest at their Municipal Hall, a fundraiser for Hoffman Wellness Center.  I wrote a quick blurb for Sentinel Media (must also do a blog post), which I emailed out.  Next I went to the cookie sale at Herkimer County Historical Society, because, well, cookies.  I had a very nice visit there with a couple of my favorite volunteers.

Finally I went to the Elks Lodge where I donated a few canned goods to Feed Our Vets and watched part of the Army/Navy football game. I wore my Army shirt, just to harass a couple of Navy vets I’m friends with.  Once of them did an end run around me, though, and wore Army stuff.  He served in both branches.

Sunday I was up early and off to Herkimer High School to volunteer for the Elks Hoop Shoot, a nation-wide foul shot contest.  That was a little nerve-wracking, because I had to pay close attention as one of the score-keepers.  I am not so good with numbers.

So it has been a weekend of lots to blog about but no time to blog.  You may be tempted to point out that today is Tuesday, and I had all day Monday to write numerous blog posts.  You are, of course, at liberty to point out whatever you would like.  I did a few things Monday, as it happens, but I feel I have blathered on for long enough.  I am going to bill this as a Tired Tuesday post and feel justified in doing so.

Bunny looks interested in hearing whatever I have to say.

I close with a picture of the bunny from Herkimer County Humane Society, because I like that bunny.

 

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I Run in the Slow Lame

Posted on December 13, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to another Lame Post Friday post.  I went for a short run earlier this morning (ooh, it is still morning; I have not wasted away the whole day).  Am I ready for the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls tomorrow?  Was I ever going to be?  No matter.  I have a new theme song that goes:

We do what we can do

And if it’s not enough

Tough.

I sang it to myself during the latter part of my run.  It was quite snowy.  I meant to take a picture after the run to show what I was dealing with but was feeling rather defeated at the time and could only go in the house.  I was happy that I made the effort, though.  I am sure my body will feel better tomorrow because of it.

Preview of Coming Attractions?

That was me after I ran in 2018.  I was thinking of going to a dollar store and getting some garland to drape myself with this year but do not know if I can muster the oomph.  I find I have a very short supply of oomph these days and a whole reservoir of I Just Can’t Even.  That the hell, me?

I return to my theme song.  What I can do today, it seems, is a lame blog post.  I wonder if I can find a fun picture to close with.  Come on, Media Library, don’t fail me now!

Cheers to the season!

How about a very nice picture of my dearly missed husband, Steve.  He loved Christmas as much as I did, and he was proud of me for running a 5K, even if I was pretty slow about it.  I treasure warm memories, even as I search for a little more oomph.

 

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What Would Rudolf Do?

Posted on December 11, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh dear, I missed another day of blogging (I still think blogging is a silly verb, but then blog is a silly word) (then again, I am a particularly silly person, so everything fits in).  I have no excuse.  I did pretty much nothing all day.  Now I am up early-ish, looking at WKTV News, where Eric Gage is telling me to drive carefully.  I am going to meet friends at Java Shop for breakfast in a bit, but I intend to walk.  It will be good exercise and marginally safer than driving.

Must get a better picture of the sign.

I have not been running since Monday, which does not bode well for the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls this Saturday (the day after tomorrow, yikes!).  At my age, I cannot afford to take many days off.  I took a good-ish walk on Tuesday (in my defense, it was really cold!).  As I walked, I thought I should have run, because the roads were fairly bare.  They are not so now, and not likely to be so in the foreseeable future.

I can run in the snow!  I’ve done it before!

I don’t know why I feel worried.  I’ll show up, I’ll run, I’ll be slow, I’ll make jokes along the way. I’ll write a blog post about it.  It’ll be great.

As for today, I’m going to bill this as a Non-Sequitur Thursday, also known as At Least It’s A Blog Post.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Ready for the Reindeer Run?

Posted on December 9, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went running in the cold yesterday, thinking to make a Running Commentary Post, but then, well, got distracted.  This morning I realized, it is just about time to make this blog All Reindeer Run 5K All The Time.  The big race is THIS SATURDAY!  Am I ready?  I guess I have to be.

One of my all-time favorite pictures.

This was taken before the race in 2017.  I will probably wear that same T-shirt but do not know where my Santa hat is.  I suppose I could pick up another one at a dollar store, but I have another alternative in mind.

I was pretty proud of myself at the time.

In 2018 I visited a dollar store before the race and picked up the garland and bells to enhance my ensemble.  The hat was enhanced with a few things I had around the house.  I happen to know where the hat is but would need to search for the bells and garland.  A co-worker urged me not to wear the bells, saying it would drive my fellow runners crazy.  I argued that it would encourage them to run faster.  In fact, most of them run faster than me with no encouragement on my part.

Wardrobe suggestion for after the race.

Rather than share another race photo, I offer this from December 2016.  I still have the gold lame top.  I have the high-heeled boots, too, but question my ability to walk very far in them.  Some people would say, suffer to be beautiful.  I don’t know that I will dress up and go out after the run, having few places to go and nobody anxious to accompany me.  Then again, I am not shy about going places alone.  I usually find somebody to talk to, and it often makes a good blog post.

In the meantime, I have reached 300 words on this topic.  Score!  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Some Semblance of a Sidewalk, Some Semblance of a Blog Post

Posted on November 29, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that title while I was running this morning.  More snow had fallen in the night, but I did not want to go yet another day without at least an attempt, so I got my stuff on and off I set.

Photo taken during cool-down walk.

These are my actual footsteps.  I see that it looks more like a walk than a run, but at no time do I claim to run very fast.  I looked at the plowed road askance (I don’t think I have ever used the word “askance” in a sentence.  Cool!).  It looked wet, slushy, and potentially slippery.  Snow, on the other hand, offers a bit of traction.  Additionally, plowing through the snow takes much more effort than running on a bare road.  Extra calories burned is an excellent idea on Thanksgiving weekend.

And then it got deeper.

Some of the sidewalks had been cleared yesterday and been re-covered,  so it wasn’t too bad running.  I prefer sidewalks anyways as being safer than roads.  Sometimes.  After a while I got to some sidewalks that had not been touched since the snow started to fall.  That was a little tougher to plow through.  I saw where the road had not been plowed as thoroughly and moved out, running in shallower snow.  I kept looking for more partially cleared sidewalks.  That was when the expression “some semblance of a sidewalk” occurred to me.

It was not a long run, but I was glad I went.  I thought I would look for a couple of photo ops on my cool-down walk.  When I got to the second picture, I thought I would walk in the road.  Then a snow plow turned onto the street.  Eek!  I walked back the way I came.

I should get a plant like that.

I do like the look of a dried plant with snow on it.  Then I saw that some people still want their yard waste picked up.

Stick ’em up!

I confess to still not feeling 100% from my illness, so I do not know how much I will participate in Shop Small Saturday.  The beauty part about running the morning and then blogging about it is that I can feel that I have at least accomplished something.  I hope you are all having a delightful weekend.

 

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I’m 61 and I Still Run

Posted on November 13, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that rhyme as I walked my cool-down walk after today’s run.  I’ve been 61 for over 11 months, and this is the first time I thought of it.  What the hell, me?  However, waste not, want not: I’m still 61 and I can use it for a headline for a Running Commentary post.

I did not run for the last two days, so I really felt obligated.  In my defense, yesterday it was snowing and I just couldn’t trust the roads.  I walked later in the afternoon and couldn’t trust all the sidewalks, but it is less of a problem for walking.  I did not trust the sidewalks today but stuck to the roads for the most part.  In general I prefer to stay on the sidewalks.  I like to give myself every advantage of not getting run over by a car.

I often run by the Court House.

Full disclosure:  This picture is from February 2021, but it shows a landmark I ran by and it shows snow.  Regular readers may recognize this as part of Herkimer’s Historic Four Corners, a favorite place for me to walk or run by.  I was on the second half of my run by this time.  I was using the Map My Run app on my phone, making a lot of turns in hopes of mapping out an interesting shape, and saw that I was just over a mile.  Go, me!

I was holding the phone in my hand, because I could not find the strap I hold it on my arm with and was too impatient to look for it.  It made it not so easy to blow my nose as I ran, but you can’t have everything.

Also not taken today.

I could not find the picture I wanted to share but came across this one.  I was wearing that headband today.  I purchased it in Niagara Falls while on my honeymoon with my beloved dearly missed husband Steve in 1990.  My hair is not that long, but it’s growing.

My run was not too bad.  I went almost two and a half miles in 33 minutes, which while slow is faster than my recent runs.  I did not pet any dogs, although I saw a couple nice ones.  I did get to pet one of my favorite doggy friends, Pugsley the morkie on my cool-down walk (it was right after I thought of today’s headline).  I may be ready for the Reindeer Run 5K in Little Falls this December.  I hope they have one.

 

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I Stumble in my Blogging Journey

Posted on November 3, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I started my November of posting every day by, you guessed it, not posting on November 2 (today is Nov. 3 by my calendar, although my WordPress Timestamp may say Nov. 4; I don’t properly understand these things).  However, it is only a little after 5 a.m. (ah, the miracle of Fall Back).  I had quite a stretch of making my posts late, in the morning, before I left for work.  We’ll pretend this is one of those days.

As it happens, I no longer work.  Except for almost every night when I am asleep, I dream I am at work at various places.  I must find a book on dream interpretation and see what it means, although I might scare myself.  Who wants to be inside my head?

A little fall color, at least.

I throw in a picture to pep things up.  I have fallen off the running wagon for one reason and another (explanations are tiresome), but I have tried to at least walk.  This shot was from a walk I took while staying at my sister Diane’s house last weekend.  I liked the look of the dark green against the bright yellow.

The road less traveled?

This is a picture I took in Ilion last week to possibly go with my story for Sentinel Media about the Ilion Town Board meeting.  It is one of the entrances to Russell Park, a good place to take a walk.  I may go there for a walk one day before it gets too cold.

So I guess this is another nothing post, but one does what one can.  I shall try to continue with a better blog post later today.

 

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