Tag Archives: weather

Winter Walk with Pictures

Posted on February 15, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

Much earlier today, I took a walk. My intention was to get a few exterior shots of Colonial Bed and Breakfast for an article I hope to submit to Mohawk Valley Living magazine. I continued to walk and take pictures, because I thought, Hey! Pedestrian Post! Additionally, I have not been running, and I need the exercise.

One of several shots.

After snapping away, I continued along German Street to Main. On Main Street, I took a couple of pictures of buildings that always catch my eye.

It was for sale, but I guess not now.

Steven always wanted to buy it and make it into a classic movie house.

I don’t know what is in this one currently.

I continued down Main to my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners. I thought perhaps I already had plenty of pictures of the area, yet I took a few more.

This is me attempting “gallery” instead of “image.”

I turned down Church Street to Prospect and got a shot of the synagogue, Temple Beth Joseph.

From across the street.

Heading down to Park Avenue, I photographed our post office, which I love, and the church across the street.

You can tell which is which.

It was really too cold for a walk, and I was tired of taking my gloves off to take pictures. As I turned towards Meyers Park, I thought I would just go straight home. Then I saw General Herkimer wearing his winter scarf and could not resist taking just one more picture.

A nice winter shot.

I guess you can’t see him really well, but I do love the trees against the grey sky.

I was pleased with myself for taking the walk. I want to get back into running more often, though. I have not gone since last Sunday. Yikes! But it is the start of another week. Another chance to improve! I will be sure to make a blog post about it if I do.

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Cold Sunday Run

Posted on February 8, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did go running this morning, and oh was it ever cold! I thought I would make a Sunday Running Commentary Post to make it worth my while.

I have not been running during the week lately, which is very bad of me. I walked to and from work three days this past week, but that is only eleven or twelve minutes each way (yes, I look at my watch and check). Well, one does what one can. I strive always for improvement. Hence, running both weekend days and beginning the week with hope.

My thermostat said the outdoor temperature was 17, which is practically 20, so I hoped for the best. At least I found both mittens. They are really good mittens, which I accidentally stole from my sister Diane some years ago.

As it turned out, my hands were my only warm parts. And they got cold when I took off the mittens to blow my nose, which I obvious had to do a lot. Why oh why, did I have to be running into the wind? Why oh why did the wind have to change direction every time I did?

I had told myself I only had to run for 15 minutes. I ran for 20 on Saturday. There is no harm in doing short runs when I have not been running much. I have plenty of time to build up for this year’s Boilermaker 15K.

The cold was really my only problem. My legs, my back, my breathing all felt fine. I was quite discouraged by the weather, because I could not enjoy the run very much. At least the roads were mostly bare.

I kept it up for 18 minutes, which I felt was pretty good. I see this blog post is approaching 300 words, which also ought to feel pretty good. Unfortunately I fear they have been dull words, but I can’t seem to help that. Maybe the cold froze my brain. On the other hand, I can always count this as a Wrist to Forehead Sunday. I hope to see you all again on Monday.

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Short Run, Sunday Post

Posted on January 25, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have not gone running for two weeks. At my age, that is far too long. This morning, despite the cold, I ran. So how about a Running Commentary Post in lieu of my usual Wrist to Forehead Sunday? It won’t be a very long post, because it was not a very long run. What do you want from an overweight, middle-aged lady?

I had not planned on running. The roads are still covered with snow and ice, which is what deterred me all last week (it was my own laziness the week before). And it was frigid cold. Double digits, but barely. It was 11 degrees according to my thermostat, which often reads warmer than the actual outdoor temperature. I figured after two weeks it would be like starting all over anyways, so why not wait a few more days?

As the morning wore on, however, I damn well felt like it. I was, I realized, sick of not running. So I got into running clothes and went. In addition to leggings, long sleeves, a hat and gloves, I put a scarf around my neck and wore a zip-up sweatshirt.

Of course the scarf was not the miracle I was hoping for. My neck was warm, but I could not get it to properly cover my cheeks. Yes, it was face-hurting cold. Never mind, I told myself. Just go for 15 minutes. 15 minutes. Nobody could ask for more in this cold. Oh, well, I guess somebody could.

I started out running in the road but switched to the sidewalk on German Street, which usually has more traffic. The sidewalks were snow-covered rather than icy. This was excellent, I told myself. Look how much effort it takes to run in the snow. I would burn all kind of calories!

It did not take long for that to get old, and I switched back to the road when I turned down a side street. I went back and forth between sidewalk and road, snowy and bare, as the opportunity offered. Other than my face and my hands, I didn’t feel too bad. It was worse for my hands when I would take off my gloves to pull a tissue out of my pocket and blow my nose. Sometimes, I pulled my fingers into the palms of the gloves and made fists. That’s an old army trick to get warm.

I ended up running 16 minutes, 17 seconds, 1.22 miles, according to my Garmin. I tracked my cool down walk with the Garmin, too: 9 minutes, 46 seconds, .46 miles. I walked through more effort-inducing snow on the cool down. It felt pretty good, and my recovery beverage of chocolate mild tasted really good.

For the rest of tne day, I proceeded to eat like the huge honking hogger I am, thus negating the calorie-burning benefits of the run, but let us not dwell on such negativity. I ran. I wrote a blog post. It is a good Sunday.

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Sunday Stroll with Snow

Posted on January 18, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did not go running this weekend, because I feared the roads would be slippery. However, I took walks both days. Today I took a few pictures for blogging purposes.

It looks a little mysterious to me now.

Years ago, when I did not have a car and walked everywhere, I hated the snow, because it seemed to take so much longer to get anywhere. Now that I walk for exercise and entertainment, I embrace the extra effort. I walked to Main Street, thinking to take pictures of an area I sometimes run.

Yes, I run right by the sign that says “Road closed.” They don’t mean middle-aged pedestrian ladies, do they?

Not the best shot.

The reason the road is closed is that part of it collapsed, I believe as a result of the flooding in 2013. That is how quickly they get to fixing things around here.

See? Others have been there.

I saw footprints, both human and canine, and knew I was not the only one. I tried to get a couple shots of the damage, but the snow hid most of it.

I have to admire the persistence of vegetation.
You can just see a crack.

I took a picture of where the road keeps going up, but I went another way today.

It really is a good run.

I kept walking and soon came to a street I like to take, because it says “Do not enter.” I like to feel like a rebel.

I do not always follow directions.

It was a very enjoyable walk, trouncing through the snow and pretending to be a rebel. I have not been running enough lately, but at least I got some exercise. Additionally, I think this makes an OK blog post. Or do I flatter myself?

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Cold Run! Warm Post?

Posted on January 9, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have not done a Saturday Running Commentary Post in a while, although I usually do run on Saturday. I thought I would attempt one today.

I have been watching the weather with some measure of attention (regular readers know I rarely pay much attention to anything) so knew it was likely to be cold. Accordingly, I put on long sleeves and leggings. I found an extra warm hat and mittens in the closet (which I recently cleaned, so that wasn’t too hard). I found my one pair of actual mittens, which I accidentally stole from my sister Diane some years ago, because I figured mere gloves would not be sufficient. I debated wearing a sweatshirt for the run and something warmer for the cool-down walk, but decided my road-guard vest would add another layer. I clicked “Outdoor Run” on my Garmin and waited for it to stop saying, “Wait” (I have not completely figured out this Garmin thing yet).

Off I went and immediately noticed I had forgotten my mittens. I hate stopping a run so pulled my sleeves down over my hands and drove one. It was not long before I regretted leaving the sweatshirt and not putting on a scarf to cover my face. It is a sad truth that the Mohawk Valley is one of those places where at certain times during the year, the air makes your face hurt. Never mind, Cindy, just keep running.

And run I did. Not very far, not very fast, but I was out there trying! I seriously considered running up the hill to Herkimer College. First I turned up Maple Grove (oh dear, is that what that street is called? I don’t know how to Google that) and turned onto Pine (I’m purely guessing here), where there was a short but fairly steep section. This was going pretty well, although my body was not warming up at all.

By the time I had turned a corner and was headed towards Lou Ambers Drive, still debating about the hill to the college or some smaller hills in the residential area I call “the suburbs” in my head. Steven had told me there was little wind, but he was mistaken. Damn it was cold! How long was I going to run, anyways? I did not have to do a super long run in this cold, did I? Then it occurred to me: it is windier at the tops of hills. I turned down Lou Amber Drive and headed back to the village proper.

Oh, this was much better. My body felt… not warm, but not as freezing cold. That continued on and off for the rest of the run, as the wind picked up and died down according to its own caprice. Lately I have been running just to keep in the game, not to build up or meet lofty goals. There is plenty of time for that after I register for the Boilermaker 15K. What, did I say I was never going to run the Boilermaker again? Quite possibly I did. Was it a lie? When I do it, it is called fiction.

I see I am over 500 words. That is the beauty of Running Commentary Posts. Before I know it, I have gone a long way. I wish the runs themselves were like that, but you can’t have everything. Now I must get ready for the rest of my Saturday. My friend Kim messaged me wondering if we were to continue our, as she puts it, reign of terror in the Mohawk Valley. I’m up for that. First a little house cleaning? Let’s not go crazy over here! Happy Saturday, everyone.

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Monday Mosey in the December Dark

Posted on December 15, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yesterday wasn’t too bad of an evening weather-wise, so I thought I would take a walk. I brought my phone in case of any photo ops.  I have mentioned how I hesitate to take pictures of people’s houses without their permission. One Facebook friend told me I could take a picture of her house, but, alas, her lights were not on when I went by.   Still, I found a few things to snap.  I discovered after I got home that my pictures had not turned out very well.  Under the heading Waste Not, Want Not, I decided to use a few anyways.

A lot of houses are beautifully decorated, so I was enjoying my walk quite a bit.  However, I adhered to my rule of not photographing other people’s houses without permission.  Then something in a tree caught my eye.  It was a ghost!  Not, I imagine, the Ghost of Christmas Past, but I suppose you never know.

It IS still Halloween!

I decided to walk by my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.  As I approached, I noticed a village decoration on a street lamp.  First I wanted a shot of a lighted tree in Herkimer County Historic Society’s Suiter House and Herkimer Reformed Church.

It looks a little like the Haunted Four Corners in these pictures.

I must get a closer view of this.  For one reason, there is a graveyard.

Oh Christmas Tree!

I crossed the street to get a shot of the County Courthouse.  As I look at all the reflections in these pictures, all I can think of is the “orbs” in other pictures that people say are ghosts.  I’m pretty sure these actually are reflections, but considering the ghost in the first picture and in the spirit of the season, I am willing to keep an open mind.

This building is also supposed to be haunted.

I wasn’t sure that would be a good picture, so I tried to take one from the middle of the road.  Naturally I picked a moment when there were no cars.

You can almost see the colors. Kind of sort of.

I had to hurry back across the street as another car came along.  I took a picture of the jail from the same side of the street.

Does the ghost of Roxalana Druse haunt here? I have never encountered her.

I tried to get another  shot of the church before continuing down Church Street.

I turned down Prospect Street to make my walk a little longer, since I had not been running since Saturday.  I saw some nice lights in front of Bruce Ward Realty.  I was sure a business would not mind being shown in my blog.

These lights are way more colorful in real life.

My real goal was Meyers Park, where I had previously noticed the gazebo (or is it a band stand?) was lit.

You can see the colors in this, but, alas, not as well as in person.

 

Another shot.

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I Walk, I Blog, I Interview

Posted on November 19, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Winter returned to the Mohawk Valley, as regular readers may have noticed. I did not go for a run this morning, because I heard streets would probably be slippery. Additionally, I had a job interview. I walked to the job interview and multi-tasked to the extent of taking a few pictures for a blog post.

Isn’t he cute?

Full disclosure:. I did not intend to take any pictures till the snowman caught my eye. How could I resist?  I had left my house with plenty of time, so I paused to take a long shot down German Street.

You can’t see the snow on the trees as well as I’d like.

I confess to enjoying the winter wonderland.  I further confess to the fact that I was walking because I did not want to brush off and scrape my car.  I guess I am up to admiring but not actually dealing with.  So sue me.

Ooh, this one came out better than I thought.

I was early enough that I decided to walk around the block.  I had run down this street recently, and I soon encountered a vine I had almost run into.  Naturally I took a picture,  as you see above.

Black-eyed Susans!

I thought I was done taking pictures, but these remains of Black-eyed Susans tempted me.  I’ll have to get a shot of my own flower patch.

I was still early for my interview, which seemed to go very well.  Of course that doesn’t mean I got the job, but at least it was a pleasant experience.  So I continue to count my blessings,  and I’ll keep you posted.

 

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Not Much of a Walk

Posted on November 17, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl
I walked to the post office twice today.  On the second trip, I thought I would take a few pictures for a Pedestrian Post.  It turned out to be not such a pleasant stroll, but I did take a couple of pictures, so I’ll see if I can manage a few words.

I don’t know why that entire paragraph is indented.  I’m on the Classic Editor, dammit!  I tried to fix it but cannot.  Never mind, on with the post.

For the first walk I wore a sweatshirt under a rain jacket.  It was a comfortable combination at the time.  Unfortunately,  I was having a hot flash when I left the second time.  This rain jacket is too hot!  Take it off!  So I did.  A block away from my house I wished I had not but continued my walk, hoping for another hot flash.

 

This is a good one!

I always admire snowball bushes after the season.  They turn brown so nicely! I paused to take a picture of one I particularly liked.

The wind picked up, and I began to really regret leaving the rain jacket home.  What the hell was I thinking?  Why do I do these stupid things?  Thus I rendered my walk even less enjoyable.

Smaller but still nice.

I paused to take a picture of another bush, then got myself home as quickly as I could without giving myself shin splints (which is just the sort of stupid thing I am likely to do).

As you may guess, I am not having the best of days today.  Of course it is my own fault.  Operator Error, the story of my life!  No matter.  We can only do the best we can and hope for a better day tomorrow. 

 

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Two Walks, One Picture, Don’t Judge

Posted on October 14, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

In fact, I expect some people will judge me whether I give them permission or not.

I hope the picture conveys the astonishing color.

I brought my Tablet on both walks, hoping to take a few pictures for a fun post. However, before I got any photo ops on the first walk, it started to pour rain. As I am not sugar (you may have noticed), I am in no danger of melting. However, devices are notoriously averse to liquids.

On my second walk, to the post office to mail a letter, some color caught my eye. I went a few steps out of my way to take the picture.

This is rather short and insubstantial, even for a Tired Tuesday Post. But I shall let it stand and hope that tomorrow I can come up with something better than a Wuss-out Wednesday Post. As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

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By the Way, It’s Raining Again

Posted on August 30, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh dear, I have the Type It In Backspace It Out Disease.  However, I want to make a blog post, so let us see what I can come up with.

I loves me some dark clouds, yes!

I took this picture of the sky outside my house while waiting for my friend, Kim, to pick me up.  We have had an off and on rainy day.  I felt a few sprinkles when running this morning and heard a downpour earlier this afternoon.  I got the front lawn mowed before the downpour, so that was one thing in my favor.

Not quite pumpkin time yet, but…

Kim and I had a nice lunch at Salvatore’s in Herkimer, NY.  This is a picture from October 2019.  They do not have the fall decor yet, but I hope to see it soon!

A more recent picture.

This is not a picture from today, nor yet a picture from Salvatore’s.  But it is my friend, Kim, having a glass of wine, so I feel it is apropos.

Also not a recent shot.

I went through my Media Library looking for another picture to share and found another shot of storm clouds moving in.  I do so love a thunder storm!  Perhaps we will get one tonight, and I will have a chance to watch a scary movie!

In the meantime,  I am over 200 words.  Phew!  I’ll see what I can come up with tomorrow, on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  Or will I have a Severed Head Sunday?  A little suspense adds interest to my evening.

 

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