Tag Archives: weather

Only 485 Miles To Go!

Posted on September 8, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

My well wishers will be pleased to hear I am walking again and attempting to do so on a regular basis. I keep meeting with setbacks, like having a cold or digestive upsets, and you know how these things are: you miss a day and it is so easy to miss two or three.  I have walked for the last six days in a row, so I will make bold to do a Pedestrian Post in lieu of my usual Monstrous Monday.

I had meant to do a Pedestrian Post with Pictures so took my phone with me, but I was soon so absorbed in walking that I was disinclined to stop and take pictures.  I do enjoy the act of walking, and when I can look around and enjoy the scenery and weather, it is even better.  I suppose it would make a better blog post if I could share the scenery with you, but we can’t have everything.  I will, however, explain my headline.

Earlier this summer, when I put aside my crutches, I started to think I could go back to walking.  As I pondered the idea, the song started playing in my head, “And I will walk 500 miles, and I will walk 500 more!”  Regular readers know my love of keeping journals.  I could keep a 500 mile walking journal!  Considering I would not even be able to walk a mile to begin with, this journal would no doubt last me a long time.  I found a large notebook I had not written anything in yet.

Oh dear, this does not seem to go with the preceding paragraphs, does it?

I started to get uncomfortable looking at all the prose with no pictures so threw in the one I did take on my walk.  I was walking with a bottle of water and in the direction of the spring, so when I finished the bottle I was all set to get a refill.  So I guess this is a Pedestrian Post with One Picture.

Regarding my grandiose dream of 500 miles, I hate to have to tell you when I started towards it, because the miles sure are adding up slowly.  In my defense, I point to the aforementioned setbacks.  Also, I do not count all my walking, for example when I walk to the post office or the Elks Lodge.  This is because I have a tendency to forget to turn off my Garmin on these walks, so they do not get counted correctly anyways.  The beauty part about that is, my body still benefits from the walk.

I petted one sweet dog on this morning’s walk.  I want to start taking my walks as soon as I get out of bed.  Maybe I will be watching the sun rise soon.  I wonder if I can get a good picture of the sunrise.

 

 

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The Summertime Lame

Posted on September 5, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I bet you thought I was going to make my Lame Post Friday blog post on Saturday morning (you know who you are).  I’ll tell you what, it may yet happen, because I got nuthin’. Quick, throw in a picture and say something about that!

Oh my goodness gracious.

This was me in August of 2022, in LiFT (Little Falls Theatre Company)’s production of Love’s Labour’s Lost.  Oh how I miss summer Shakespeare!  But it is not summer any more.  Well, technically it is, officially and unofficially.  Officially it is until Sept. 22.  Unofficially we have until Monday.  Outside it is hot out to me.  Feels like summer.  I’ll call it summer.

Wait a minute! I thought he was my boyfriend!

Here is a rehearsal shot from that play.  I do not remember what was going on, but doesn’t it look dramatic?  I must get involved in another play.  My body seems to be behaving.  I’ll ignore that new little pain in the hip.  Uh, I mean, I don’t have a new little pain anywhere.

Plenty of time left to relax in the warm weather!

To avoid this being an entirely theatrical post, I share a picture of me relaxing.  I loved these sneakers so much I completely wore them out.  Now I am in the market for a new pair of flowered sneakers.  Oh yeah, I was going to clean my house before acquiring any new clothes.  I guess I’d better be less lame about cleaning.

 

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No Monsters, But Monday Mosey

Posted on August 10, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

My well-wishers will be pleased to know I started walking again.  Today I took my cellphone with me so I could do a Pedestrian Post with Pictures in lieu of my usual Monstrous Monday (no promises about Tuesday).  I had neglected to charge my Garmin so paused for a cup of tea before I headed out.  I was still well ahead of the heat of the day.  I strolled down German Street, feeling pleased that I could.  I must say it is so wild to me to feel perfectly capable of walking down the street when two months ago I couldn’t make it to the bathroom without lying down halfway and taking a break (for those of you who thought I was done whining about my aches and pains, I do not know why you got your hopes up).

Trees are so cool!

I had noticed the branches of this tree on a previous walk and thought it would make a good picture.  I’m nobody’s photographer, but for purposes of this blog, I will have to do.

Alas, that you probably cannot read the sign.

Just to give a plug to a local business, Raindrops on Roses Bed and Breakfast.  They also have a wine tasting room with a garden (perhaps you read my blog posts about it).  They sometimes have music in the summer.  I know this, because they recently had to cancel one due to weather.  I must watch for another.  For one reason, it would make a good blog post.  For another, wine.

I do like to see running water.

I paused to take a picture while going over the bridge which was recently replaced there.  Very nice.  It wasn’t such an inconvenience going around while they were working on it, but it is always nice when these projects are finished.

Still known as HCCC or H-trip-C to locals.

I also took a picture of the college sign.  I took other pictures as I continued to walk, but I see I am over 300 words now.  I thought as I was going that more than three would be too many but also thought I could always use them in a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post.  It is nice to have plans for the rest of the week.

 

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A New Start? Or Another Lame Step?

Posted on August 1, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Sometimes doing something, anything different can help you get out of a rut.  For example, making my Lame Post Friday blog post ON Friday, which I have not done in a number of weeks (yes, I know, one is a number) (some say it is the loneliest number, but that is rather a cliche, is it not?).  Where was I?  Ah yes, all week I have been making a post in the morning, as early as I could manage, for the previous day.  It is now Friday afternoon (by my clock if not by my WordPress timestamp), and I thought I would make my Lame Post Friday post.

Go ahead and fail me, feet; it’s Lame Post Friday.

This is a shot from 2019, and it is not very accurate to right now.  My toenails need repainting badly, but I don’t think I could stand a full pedicure.  Also, that pair of sandals broke ages ago.  I am hard on sandals, I suppose.  I may try to paint my own toenails and forgo the pumice stone.  Then I’ll take another feet picture.  Oh, and if the caption doesn’t make sense to you, it is a reference to an old saying, “Feet, don’t fail me now!”

My mood if not my weather.

Looking for another picture to illustrate my post, I found these dark clouds.  It is, in fact, a nice sunny day right now.  My current outlook is gloomy, but I will try to perk myself up.  I know what!  I will walk to the Herkimer County Historical Society and purchase post cards.  Then I will have something fun to send family and friends.  In sending them some cheer, I will manufacture a little cheer for myself.

 

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In the Midst of Writing, I Blog

Posted on July 28, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Thunder outside reminds me that I have not yet made my Monstrous Monday blog post.  It is Tuesday, not so early in the morning (for me).  I am actually in the middle of writing my article on the Ilion Village Board meeting for the Daily Sentinel, and I am having trouble with it, so thought I would take a break.  I do enjoy the thunder, but I think it is going away.  Now I can hear the rain, because I have both doors open.  Ooh, no, another rumble.  Yes.

Oh, sure, that’ll make a good blog post.  Just talk about the thunder, Cindy.  They’d never guess you already had some coffee!

It’s this dark in my head.

This was my attempt at a shot of a full moon one early morning some time ago.  I have not been out walking in the dark in a long time (and regular readers know running is way beyond my current abilities).  It is dark in my house now, but not that dark.  I just grabbed the picture, because I did not want to waste copious amounts of time scrolling through my Media Library as often happens at times like this.

Great movie!

In the spirit of not scrolling, I grab this picture which just happened to be right there.  This is a really fun flick, featuring a really creepy performance by the inimitable Peter Lorre.  Actually is it correct to say “featuring” when he is the star?  Discuss amongst yourselves.

As for me, I approach 250 words, and I must go back to struggling with the activities of Ilion Village Board.  I have dealt with the Mayors Comments and the Public Comments, now I am on to the 2026 Organizational Meeting, Department Reports, and New Business.  Does it sound exciting?  It’s not bad.

 

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Some Random Blog Post

Posted on April 24, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was about to type in a whiny-ass excuse about how I am doing a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday blog post when I remembered:  Today is THURSDAY!  What a maroon!  Well, I already transferred my random pictures from my phone to WordPress, so I am going to make some kind of blog post using them.

The blooms last such a short time.

I LOVE blooming trees!  I want to take down what is left of Frankentree in front of my house and put in one that will look all pretty for a short time in the spring, like this one.  When I was younger, I dreamed of getting married in an apple orchard.  I forgot all about that when the actual time came, which is just as well, because I would have probably tripped on a fallen branch or had a bird poop on me.

Another random tree. 

As I took this picture, I thought, “And I’ll take a picture of this random tree,” because I liked it.  I was walking around the path at Town of Herkimer Park on Pine Grove Road in East Herkimer, taking a few pictures to accompany my article on the Herkimer Town Board Meeting for Sentinel Media.  It is a very nice little park.  I may go walk or run that trail again soon.

In case you get tired of walking and want to read a book.

This Little Free Library is along the trail, too.  I love these things.  I always look if there is a book I want to read but so far I have not brought any books to leave.  However, many of them are quite full already so perhaps I will need to wait for a good chance.

I have been enjoying the nice weather, getting out walking and running a lot, in addition to just being outside when I can, for example when getting pictures for my news writing endeavors.  I know I had promised some more Mohawk Valley Adventures, and I hope to get to those soon.  In the meantime, thank you for staying tuned.

 

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Too Lame for a Running Commentary

Posted on April 11, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had meant to make a Running Commentary Post today, but these are best made soon after the run.  It was some hours ago that I ran (by a very generous definition of the word) up the hill to Herkimer College (affectionately known as HCCC or H-trip-C).  It is a pretty good hill.  I would like to say I ran it triumphantly, but feelings of triumph were to follow.  At the time I felt pretty damn miserable.  But here I am runningly commenting when I decided to do a Lame Post Friday post after all.

Non-sequitur illustration.

I took this picture yesterday, I think.  I was delighted to see buds on the tree, and it looked so pretty against the blue sky.  I have not been running enough, but I manage to get in at least a short to medium walk almost every day.

Pretty!

I paused on my cool-down walk to take a picture of these crocuses.  Some people may roll their eyes and say, “We KNOW what a crocus looks like!”  I explain to them, “Shut up.”  (That is a line from S.J. Perelman, ” ‘Shut up,’ the policeman explained.”)

I zoomed in a little closer.

I confess I stepped a few feet onto these people’s front yard.  Nobody came out and yelled at me nor fired a shotgun.  You never know around here.

One white crocus to make me happy.

I was across the street from my house at the end of my cool down when I saw a couple patches of white.  A crocus?  Don’t get your hopes up, I told myself;  it is probably garbage.  Well, one of the white spots was, but the other was a crocus.  Yay!

So this is my blog post today.  Not quite a Running Commentary, and a little bit of spring.  I hope you are all having a lovely Friday.

 

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Last Wintry Run?

Posted on April 8, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of this title as I was walking my cool-down and watching the snow return.  I woke up with my usual case of I Just Can’t Even, thinking tomorrow would be just as good to re-start my Boilermaker 15K training program.  Ha-ha, like I have a program!  I just try to run a little further each week and not miss a bunch of days in a row like I recently did.  The weather gurus at WKTV News assure us that today is the last day of winter like weather.  Will they be accurate?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my week.

The flowers say it’s spring!

I ran near this patch of purple flowers which I took a picture of last week and thought, oh good, at least I will have one appropriate picture.  I was pretty pleased with myself for getting out there and moving, the more so since I had washed the dishes first.  Full disclosure:  I only washed the dishes first because I had neglected to charge my Garmin so needed to give it some time to come back from the dead.  Now I am happy the dishes are done.  If I can do a little laundry, I will really feel like the happy homemaker.

Some eye-rolling at myself ensued when I was getting ready to leave.  I picked up the arm band I put my cell phone in (I use Garmin and Map My Run, which should surprise no one who is acquainted with me), then thought I needed a hat and gloves.  After I found gloves and thought a headband might do instead of a hat, I said, “Where did I put that armband?”  Of course I could not find it.  I retraced my steps about eight times, finding a hat in the process but no arm band.  Finally I said to hell with it, I will hold my phone in my hand!  I got everything else together: tissues tucked in sleeves, sweatshirt to wear on cool-down walk, bottle of water (I had to fill a second one, because I misplaced the first), Garmin on, cellphone in hand, go to the door…

There was the armband!  I had sensibly put it near the door before looking for the hat and gloves!  Who knew I would ever do the sensible thing!

I contemplate my experience.

I did not take a selfie after the run, but here is one from April 2020, on a similarly cold day.  My hair is about as wild, and perhaps a little longer.  I guess I haven’t really talked much about the run itself, but I see I am over 400 words.  I must get on with the rest of my day.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Spring Makes Me Feel Less Blue

Posted on April 2, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I would do a Waste Not Wednesday post. today.  I actually have a number of pictures I could share but settled on a few for today.  I should mention that I am feeling rather tired and down after my (not very serious) medical procedure today.  Then again, I feel tired and down many days.  I am not a young woman, and I could live a healthier lifestyle than what I do.

Am I blue?

Yesterday as part of my colonoscopy (the aforementioned procedure) prep, I was required to drink GatorAde.  I chose my favorite flavor, blue.  To make things more enjoyable, I chose a fancy glass.  This also gives me a chance to give a shout-out to Woodland Farm Brewery in Marcy, NY.  I went there some years ago with my husband Steven and sister Cheryl.  I think somewhere in my Media Library is a picture of Steven and I toasting, but of course I am too lazy to go look for it now.  I must return to the brewery one day soon.

Ah, the promise of spring!

Yesterday was a nice warm day, warm enough for some porch sitting.  My sister Diane, who came out from Liverpool to drive me to the colonoscopy (I do keep harping that, don’t I?), sat out with me for a while, while I drank the blue stuff.  At one point, I went into the backyard to see if my daffodils had bloomed. They had not, but imagine my delight to see some crocuses.  Every fall I neglect to put down more bulbs, but every year a few come up to brighten up the place.

This was the biggest patch.

As I said, I have more pictures but felt I would only be up to a three-picture post, and so it is.  I really am feeling not too bad, and I have to give a shout-out to Little Falls Hospital, where I had my procedure done.  Everybody was so nice, and things were accomplished must faster than I had imagined (of course I slept through most of it).

Well, I feel a bit better having managed a post of over 350 words.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Has Spring Sprung? Or Is It Lame?

Posted on March 28, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yesterday I went for a walk in the 60 degree weather, hoping to make a Pedestrian Post with Pictures.  Not only were there no good photo ops, it started to rain on me!  I guess I could have continued to walk in the rain and changed clothes when I got home, but I just wasn’t feeling it.

I only hope they continue to survive!

Before going inside, I went out back where I had previously seen some daffodils, complete with a couple of buds!  My sister Vicki gave me the bulbs some years ago.  After letting them sit in my garage over the winter (which will not surprise regular readers who know that my act is something that I definitely do NOT have together), I planted them and hoped for the best.  Most years they come up.

Bravely trying to bring joy.

I was delighted to notice some snowdrops nearby (I think they are snowdrops). I never planted these.  I wonder if a squirrel or the wind dropped some seeds at some point.  In any case, they are welcome in my yard.  I did not see any crocuses, alas.  Then again, my yard is covered with the leaves I never raked up last fall.  I read on Facebook it was good for wildlife to leave them set till spring.  I always follow advice that tallies with what I felt like doing anyways (but I am not one of those people who goes around asking advice till I hear some I like) (don’t you hate it when people do that?)

The weather took a turn for the colder overnight and currently hovers in the 30’s.  However, it is bright and sunny, so there’s that.  This is the time of year when Mother Nature gets a little bipolar, so I will just hang on and enjoy the ride (was that mixing a metaphor?).

In the meantime, this is my Lame Post Friday blog post.  I want to take a walk while the sun shines, I have to drop my car off for an oil change and inspection, I hope to get to the wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor later.  All kinds of stuff on my plate!  I hope you are all having a lovely Friday.

 

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