Tag Archives: weather

Monday Mosey

Posted on April 23, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

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.

 

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Oh, All Right, I Shoveled!

Posted on March 24, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I decided, as I hefted another shovelful of snow onto the growing bank, that when my co-workers taunted me for saying I would not shovel again, I would say in a nonchalant tone of voice, “I was just talking smack as usual.”  They don’t believe me when I say I am going to knock them down and step on their heads; why should they believe I was not going to shovel?

Full disclosure:  I did consider hunkering down in my house and ignoring the white stuff. However, I thought it would be a good idea to at least clear a path for the mailman.  Then I thought I could use said path to take a walk later.  Additionally, I felt it would be a good idea to clear the sidewalk in front of my house as the village requires homeowners to do. At least it would be exercise, I told myself.

First “before” shot.

My next-door neighbor had cleared a path from his half of the double garage up my driveway (the driveway belongs to my house, but he has right of way to use it to get to his half of the garage.  It’s weird).  There has clearly been deeper snow to shovel in Herkimer, NY.  However, I feel we have a right to feel just a little ill-used shoveling in the last week of March.  Oh, don’t lecture me on winter/spring in Central New York; I’ve heard it all my life and read it on Facebook recently (you know who you are).

Hard to tell the depth without the snowblower path.

So I grabbed my shovel off the front porch and went to work.  I tried to lift with my legs not my back and not try to go too fast.  I also tried not to think of all the people I had heard of who dropped dead of heart attacks as a result of shoveling snow.  For heavens’ sake, I am only 60, not severely overweight and try to exercise on a regular basis.  This would be fine.

And it was.  I got the path to the road and the front walk clear.  OK, it was a narrow path. A person could fit along it.  Then I thought there was an off-chance my friend Kim would be able to get out of her driveway and come over.  She would need a place to park.  So I started to clear the driveway behind my snow-covered car.  I was managing it, but then a miracle happened.  A sweet, wonderful neighbor asked if I wanted her to snowblow.  Did I!  I explained how all I wanted was a place for my friend to pull in, and she went to work.  I kept shoveling, feeling I should take responsibility for my own snow, and the work was soon done.

“After” picture.

My neighbor went on to widen the sidewalk path a little.  I got her in one of my “after” shots so asked if I could use it in a blog post.  I further asked the next door neighbor if it was OK that he was in a couple of the pictures.  They were very gracious about it.

Sweet, wonderful neighbor!

The entire process had only taken about 20 minutes, so I felt I had gotten some exercise.  Nevertheless, I did take a walk later.  It was still snowing, alas!  I’m not sure yet if I need to shovel again.  Will I clear off my car and go to the grocery store?  Or will I walk and leave car-clearing chores for tomorrow morning?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my day.

 

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Lame Snowstorm of the Year?

Posted on March 23, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

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.”

 

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Nice Walk, But Little Spring in my Step

Posted on March 20, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

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!

 

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Blame it on the Rain

Posted on March 7, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

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!

 

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Cap Lame for Emphasis

Posted on January 13, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to another Late Lame Post Friday post.  I am hoping to have a few Mohawk Valley Adventures today but wonder if the weather will cooperate. As if the winter storm thinks to itself, “I’ll pass over the Mohawk Valley; Cindy wants to do some stuff.”

That is kind of a funny habit most people have, of endowing the weather with a personality (stand by for some of that half-baked philosophy I like to share on Lame Post Friday).  As in, “The sun is trying to peek out.”  Do we picture a little sun ducking and weaving around the clouds, like a basketball player trying to get clear for a shot?  For heavens’ sake, the sun is light years away from the clouds and IMMENSELY bigger.  But it makes my head hurt to think about these things and I already have a little bit of a headache (not a bad one and no, I did NOT tie one on last night! I had one glass of wine. Sheesh!)

While typing the last paragraph (with ten fingers on my Chromebook), I realized, I do not have a caps lock button.  There is a magnifying glass on the button where caps lock should be.  A bunch of icons pop up when I push it.  On my Tablet I can hit the caps button twice for caps lock. That doesn’t work here.  I just kept my little finger on the shift button to type IMMENSELY, in case you were interested.  I know, first world problems.  Additionally, some would say I did not need caps lock for emphasis, I could have used italics, as I am well able to do.

Sometimes I miss them.

One thing I like about this Chromebook: no autocorrect.  It underlines stuff it doesn’t like but does not, for example, change “hell” into “he’ll.”  It underlined “autocorrect,” by the way.  When it is a grammar thing, it underlines it in a different color and gives a suggestion when I put the cursor there.  For example, it underlined “caps lock” and suggested  “caps that lock.”  That gave me a little chuckle.  I gotta get my laughs wherever I can.

In the meantime, I am over 350 words.  That is more than enough for this nonsense, which I admit I have rather enjoyed.  Have a nice Saturday.

 

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Ah, Winter!

Posted on January 10, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

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.

 

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What Am I Supposed To Be?

Posted on October 27, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Prior to 5 a.m. and prior to work is not the appropriate time to make a Lame Post Friday post.  I’m just saying.  However, I am sitting here, grateful for my first cup of coffee, and determined to make a blog post so it will be at least three days in a row.  Yesterday in my title I threatened to make this blog All Lights, Camera, Murder! All The Time, but I am not yet ready to actually do so.  For one reason, I neglected to take any pictures at last night’s rehearsal.  It was not really all that memorable.  Speaking of memorable, I need to get to work learning my lines.

 

It’s hard to get a shot of the whole band.

My dilemma today is what to wear tonight.  My friend Kim and I plan to go to a Halloween Party at Ilion Elks Lodge, featuring our favorite band, The Posers.  That shot is from an evening they played there last January.

I usually have little problem coming up with a costume.  I have a large collection of costumes and costume pieces from previous Halloweens and plays I was in, in addition to a lot of stuff I have picked up along the way, just waiting for the opportunity to use them.  Tonight, however, the temperature is supposed to be unseasonably warm.  The Elks Club, with all the people sure to attend the party, will probably be steaming.  Even if not too bad, once we start boogying down to the great sounds of The Posers, I will no doubt begin to sweat.  The black velvet gown and red-lined cloak, which is my go-to costume as a common or garden ghoul, will not be that comfortable.

If only I had a long enough blond wig, I could go as Lady Godiva (I just said that with the devilish intention of giving some of you an unfortunate mental image) (you know who you are).  I suppose I could wear what I wore to the DooDah Parade some years ago.  As I recall, I mentioned in a previous blog post that I put that outfit together merely with the intention of keeping cool.

Bonus! I could wear my tiara!

My problem with that is, people would ask me what I was supposed to be, and I do not know what I could tell them.  On a float in a parade (I always insist on riding in the Doodah Parade), viewers are forced to draw their own conclusions.  Being me, of course, I suppose I could make something up.  So my assignment for today is (1) figure out what I am supposed to be in the above get-up or (2) come up with something else.

In the meantime, I have (pre-1) come up with a respectable-length blog post for the third day in a row.  I like to celebrate every small win.

 

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All Lights, Camera, Murder! All The Time?

Posted on October 26, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Full disclosure:  I would not have made a blog post this morning, but my attempt to walk was foiled by rain.  Yes, I know, some people like to walk in the rain.  I personally do not mind it but did not want to either change my clothes or show up for work in a sodden state, although in a general sense I am not especially fastidious (I just wanted to use the word “fastidious” in a sentence. How often to you get to do that?).

Where was I?  Ah yes, making a blog post.  I think I will begin with a plug of our latest murder mystery, Lights, Camera, Murder! to be presented Saturday, Nov. 11 at the Herkimer Elks Lodge for the benefit for the Herkimer County Historical Society.

May be an image of text that says 'HERKIMER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND CYNTHIA QUACKENBUSH PRESENTS LIGHTS.... CAMERA... MURDER!! CAN YOU SOLVE THE MURDER BEFORE MURDERER IS REVEALED? SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11th Elks Club 112 Mary St. Herkimer, NY Doors Open at 5:30pm Dinner at 6pm Basket Raffles & 50/50 Raffle Dinner catered by PK Pubs Tickets $40.00 per person Tickets are available at The Herkimer County Historical Society 406 North Main St, Herkimer 315-866-6413'

Wow, that turned out big!

I am a little embarrassed they put my name up there in big letters.  I think I should give my little murder group a name like “Q Mysteries” or “Murder for Non-Profit” for such situations.  We have rehearsal tonight.  Perhaps I can get a few pictures for blogging purposes.  In the meantime, why don’t I finish out this post as a Throwback Thursday (or late Way-Back Wednesday) and share a few shots from previous mysteries.

She is always fabulous.

Here is my friend Kim in Fabulous and Fatal in 2019.  She is in the new one, and I expect she will be equally as fabulous.  It is always good to have a tall, gorgeous blonde in the cast.

He is fine, too.   I need to get the other one in a murder mystery sometime!

This is not from a murder mystery but from Love’s Labour’s Lost presented by LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company in 2022.  That is local author C.T. Avis, who is cast as Jarod, the screenwriter of the movie in Lights, Camera, Murder!  He asked if he was being typecast as a writer.  I said that actually I gave him the role on the strength of his portrayal of the lovelorn Don Armado (he was in love with Jacquenetta, played by me, I add modestly.  It was so flattering!)

I will try to show a couple more cast members after tonight’s rehearsal.  I don’t promise any hints about the plot, though.  I want any local readers who decide to attend to be surprised.

 

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Yummy at Yetty’s!

Posted on August 27, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

About mid day today (Saturday) I was faced with a decision:  either go to the store ANF purchase groceries or go out to lunch.  I think you can guess which I chose.

I walked to Yetty’s Pizzeria and Pasta in Herkimer, because I needed the exercise.  I am taking a break from running but wish to continue walking.  It did not take me long to realize that it was much hotter than it was last Saturday.  Oh dear.  Never mind, I told myself.  Get to the air conditioning!

Soon I was sitting at the bar, sipping ice water and waiting for a Muffaleto sandwich.  Kim’s and my favorite bartender, Piel, was on duty.  I was only sorry Kim wasn’t there.

We love Piel!

When I wasn’t chatting with Piel, I worked on a letter to a friend.  Eventually I ordered a glass of Chardonnay to go with my sandwich.  After all, I wasn’t driving!

Such a flattering sign!

I was quite taken with the Specials board.  I quite agree with the sentiment:  it is all about the people!  I enjoyed hanging with Piel, and it will be even better when Kim and other friends can join me!

Another fun view at Yetty’s.

I took another picture as I sat there, enjoying my sandwich and the air conditioning.  It was a very enjoyable lunch, and I took leftovers home to enjoy tomorrow.

Yetty’s is located at 109 Mohawk St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-866-4201.  They are open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

 

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