Tag Archives: weather

Into Every Life, a Little Lame Will Fall

Posted on May 16, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

How fortunate that it is Lame Post Friday.  For one thing, I do not have much to say.  For another, I cannot find any of my styluses and am fat fingered typing.  Yes, my fingers are as fat as the rest of me.   Additionally, I have been drinking red wine. Don’t  judge me, it’s Friday night and I go back to work on Monday!   Oh, OK, judge me I don’t care.

Yes, I return to my place of employment on Monday.  Now days of the week will once again have meaning.  It will be fine.  After all, one needs to work for a living (one being me, of course).

That will count as my half-baked philosophy for the week.  As for my random observations,  it has just gotten dark, cloudy,  and windy outside.  Yikes!  Earlier it was warm and a trifle humid.  Steven and I sat on the front porch and enjoyed ourselves quite a bit.

So now I have fulfilled the requirements of Lame Post Friday:  random observations and half-baked philosophy.  If only I could think of a good headline, I would be reasonably content.   Hmmm… nothing is coming.  Oh well, as that great philosopher Mick Jagger said, You can’t always get what you want.

Incidentally, the weather is getting loud and threatening.  Yikes!

 

2 Comments

Posted in humor, Lame Post Friday, personal and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

I Don’t Whine, I Wine!

Posted on May 13, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Did I mention that I joined a wine group on Facebook?   I think I must have (regular readers will understand that I am too lazy to go back and check).  Well, one reason I was so tired yesterday was that I spent a great deal of time driving around looking for porches to leave wine in front of.  No, I do not have GPS nor yet  smart phone I can look directions up on.  I don’t even have a local street map, if such a thing is still available (note to self: look for a local street map).

It was fun putting these together.

I fixed up six packages.  I had purchased inexpensive wine from Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer and beer from Beer Belly Bob’s in Ilion.  I also utilized the dollar store.  I re-used tissue paper from my collection.  Waste not, want not, I always say.

My first stop!

My first two stops were at friends’ places I had been at before.  And yet I drove by Kim’s house twice before making it there.

I was concerned by the lack of a roof.

I drove away from this place and drove back to take the picture.  It had stopped raining when I left the stuff there, only to start up again later.  Next time, I will cover things in plastic or pick a sunny day for deliveries.

One of the prettier porches I saw.

The above was one of the easier ones to find.  I did not get pictures of the others.  At one, the door opened before I got there.  At another, I was parked in a no parking zone and wanted to hurry.  By the last, I was just done!

It was fun to drive around, except for when I got lost, something I have rather a talent for.  I was glad to spread some cheer.  I may do it again!

 

3 Comments

Posted in humor, personal, Uncategorized and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Flower Walk Part Two

Posted on May 9, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

In lieu of my usual Lame Post Friday,  I shall share the pictures from the second part of yesterday’s walk.  I had walked to the post office, donning a mask to go in and purchase stamps (flags for bill paying, flowers for personal).  I took a long way home.  It seemed to take a while to find another photo op.

I just can’t get enough flowering trees.

This is on the path over what used to be a hydraulic canal,  a favorite spot for me to walk or run, as regular readers know.  Further up the path, I saw some chalk art.

This was one I had no idea what it looked like when I took it.

That caption is an awkwardly constructed sentence.  Never mind. The sentiment expressed in the chalk art is a good one.  I continued onto German Street.  Since there is less traffic these days, I had no problem crossing the street for the next photo op.

Yay, seniors!

I see these signs all over, sometimes accompanied by one with a picture of the graduate.  I think it’s a great way to make things a little special for the kids who had their senior year cut short.

 

Rats, you can’t hardly read the sign.

Further down German, I saw the opportunity to plug a local business.  I wonder if I could persuade Steven to spend a night in a B&B not too far from home, just for something different.  I went back across the street to get a shot of the house.

I could have gotten a better shot from the middle of the street, but traffic was not that sparse.

Back home, I took a picture of some of my yard work, where I had cleared some space where the peonies are growing.

I hope for more pictures as spring progresses.

I also took one of some forget-me-nots.  These previously grew out back under the rhododendron but are now inexplicably out front.  I guess I do not properly understand flowers.

Pretty!

I like doing these pedestrian posts with pictures.  I hope for more walking weather next week.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, Pedestrain Post, personal and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

More Flowers, While I Can Get Them

Posted on May 8, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Determined to have something to write a blog post about, I took my Tablet with me on my walk to the post office, and I took the long way there and back.  For another reason, snow is possible this weekend, and I wanted to get more pictures of flowers while I could.

I guess you can’t see things too well.

It was one of those bright, sunny days where I couldn’t really see the picture when I was taking it. The above was taken near my house.  I especially liked the blue chair with a plant on it.  I also liked the artwork in the windows.  I appreciate people’s efforts to decorate.

Determined flowers peeking through!

Regular readers may remember this as the house that previously hosted the Plant That Ate Bellinger Street.  A couple weeks ago I took a picture of a brave daffodil brightening the area.  Today I saw a few more daffodils and a couple tulips.  I was delighted.

I think this is my favorite tulip color.

I turned away from the post office, because I knew had seen some purple tulips on one of my morning runs.  I was going to continue along Church Street for some red tulips, but I saw a couple of kids on bicycles and did not want to get in their way so turned down Henry Street.

I was tickled pink!

I was glad I had gone that way when I saw a pink flowering tree.  I love flowering trees and have only seen white ones so far.

I like the green ones too.

One of my favorite things about spring is the delicate green of trees just beginning to grow their leaves.

Oh, OK, one more pink one.

After I took a picture of the green, I tried another of the pink.  Like I said, I can never tell which ones are going to look good.

Look at all the yellow!

As I walked down Park Avenue (ooh!) toward Meyers Park, I saw a burst of yellow in a flower bed I have photographed before.  It turned out to be dandelions, but they looked so pretty, I took a picture anyways.  These are my favorite dandelions of the year, before they turn into puff balls.  I think the bright yellow looks so cheerful.

This was the first half of my walk.  I took more pictures on my way home from the post office, but I think I will save them for tomorrow’s post.  It will save my from having Lame Post Friday.

 

2 Comments

Posted in humor, Pedestrain Post, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Sunday Stroll

Posted on May 4, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Today was so beautiful I wanted to twirl around, arms outstretched, like Julie Andrews in that movie I don’t like but everybody else seems to.  What a clumsy sentence, just because I can’t mention a movie without injecting my petty opinion.  Never mind.  I took a lot of pictures that I would like to share.  On with the post!

There are actually two bushes like this.

I first wanted to go to a house on my street that seems to be unoccupied.  Perhaps the residents are merely elusive.  In any case, I took a picture of a bush on their front lawn and made bold to go up their driveway for a picture of some tulips I had noticed earlier.

I spy some hyacinth, too.

I continued down Bellinger Street in search of a magnolia tree I had not checked on lately.  I noticed a magnolia tree in full bloom on German Street during my run this morning so felt sure the other one would be photo ready.

I took two pictures and continued down Bellinger to St. Francis Church, where I had seen the Saint himself following Covid Protocol.

I appreciate those who set an example.

I also got a shot of the tulips in front of Francis.

I positively must plant more tulips in my own yard.

I continued on through Meyers Park to take a picture of the statue of General Herkimer.

This is a true patriot.

I walked down Prospect to Albany Street, where I saw a flowering tree.

I LOVE flowering trees!

I saw a person ahead so, with social distancing in mind, I ducked into the alley behind the stores.  This was delightful to me, because it is not a route I have taken in recent memory.  Imagine my surprise to see a Christmas decoration!

I often say we must take our joy where we can find it!

I continued on up Main Street and through the park by Basloe Library.  At the beginning of quarantine,  it was only when libraries closed that I said, “Shit just got real.”  However, I was able to enjoy some perennials in the flower beds.

Tulips next to daffodils: nice!

I leaned in to get a shot of some grape hyacinths in the same bed.

 

These tulips were a little further in.

I got home without further photo ops, then proceeded to my back yard, where there are some different flowers under my rhododendron. Previously there have been forget me notes, but I do not know what these are.

At least they are pretty!

I close with a shot of my one hyacinth, taken previously and inexplicably not used in a blog post yet.

SO delighted it came up again!

I understand the weather is not expected to be as delightful in the coming week.  However, I feel I can rejoice that I sufficiently appreciated today.  Happy Sunday, all!

 

7 Comments

Posted in humor, Pedestrain Post, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Signs of Spring

Posted on April 16, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

On today’s walk to the post office, I took a few pictures, so today won’t be a complete Wuss-out Wednesday.  It was cold but sunny, and I found a few signs of spring.

On a previous walk I had taken a picture of a lone daffodil trying to grow where last fall an invasive plant was growing.  That picture did not turn out well, but today I saw a couple more blooms so tried again.

Previous home of The Plant That Ate Bellinger Street.

 

Full disclosure: It did not eat the whole street.

Here is a picture of the invasive species, taken last August (perhaps you read my blog post about it).  It could have grown into horror movie proportions.  Maybe.

After dwelling fondly on memories of what might have been (meaning my ambition to write a horror novel), I turned around and tried to get a picture of the red buds on the trees nearer the road.

They looked prettier in real life.

I continued down Bellinger Street until I saw some lovely flowers in a front yard.

I positively must plant more perennials.

After mailing my correspondence (only one letter today), I continued my walk, hoping for more photo ops.  Then I remembered I wanted to get a shot of Olivia’s Happy Tails’ new location.  Full disclosure:  I have not patronized this business (I SO want to get a dog!), but they have sponsored Herkimer County Historic Society’s murder mysteries.

In the former home of the Evening Telegram!

I continued down the street and up Washington, where I thought I might as well give a shout-out to another local business: Carney’s Corners.  I have enjoyed many good subs and salads from Carney’s.

This may be a good idea for dinner tonight.

I decided to go by my favorite Historic Four Corners.  As I went, I saw a woman further up Washington singing on her front porch.  I did not get a picture, but I waved to her and she waved back.  Then I saw a tree with white flowers.  I love a flowering tree.

 

Pretty!

I said a prayer as I went by the funeral home, for those that cannot say a proper good-bye to their loved ones because of social distancing.

Spring flowers are such a comfort.

Back home, I remembered to walk out back to see if our daffodils had done anything.  They had.

I felt better for having taken a walk, and now I feel pretty good about sharing some spring time pictures.  Happy Wednesday, everyone!

 

2 Comments

Posted in humor, Pedestrain Post, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Attempt at a Pedestrian Post

Posted on April 8, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I saw a couple of things on my run this morning I wanted to take pictures of.  Since people tend to like my Pedestrian Posts with pictures,  I set out this afternoon with my Tablet.  I wore my crazy old lady hat, which has a wide brim, and my prescription sunglasses.  It was one of those walks where the bright sun made it hard to tell if pictures were any good.  Luckily, I think I have enough for a good post.

I hope you can see the buds.

The first thing I saw was a magnolia tree with buds that looked close to blooming.  I do love a magnolia tree.

The picture doesn’t do them justice.

Next I saw some daffodils.  My own daffodils have yet to make an appearance, but once I got my crocuses, I feel hopeful for everything.

These were right near the daffodils.

I continued down German Street towards Valley Health, where some miniature daffodils had caught my eye.

Aren’t they pretty?

What fascinated me about these blooms was that they were surrounded by dried crap from last fall.  Nobody had bothered to cultivate them, so it seemed, yet they were determined to spread beauty and happiness.  Or do I credit flowers with more thought processes than they actually posses?  I don’t really know about these things.

A longer view.

I tried to get a shot of the tiered beds that held the daffodils, but I don’t know how successful I was.  But you can see all the brown competing with them.

And now a note about writing:  a common piece of advice is do not worry about mood; start writing and the mood will follow.  It is not always true.  As I write this, each word is getting just a little bit harder.  I feel I should not share that, because, well why bother you with my petty problems?  And yet, other writers may find it comforting.

Or not.  In any case, I am over 300 words, and I still have enough pictures for tomorrow’s post.  I’m going to call this a Tired Tuesday post and drive on.

 

4 Comments

Posted in humor, Pedestrain Post, personal, Tired Tuesday and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Wednesday Walk, With Trees

Posted on March 26, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I took a longer walk yesterday, but I took a few pictures today.  I think I’ll try for a Wordless Wednesday post, although with me, I’m afraid there will always be words.  Yesterday when I walked, there was snow in the air and on the ground.  Today, Steven and I were vindicated for our decision not to shovel, because most of it was gone.  I reveled in the almost warm temperatures and looked for signs of spring to photo.

Look! It really is spring!

The first picture-worthy thing I encountered were some flowers sprouting up in front of St. Francis de Sales Church.  I love to see a little green in March!

And here is St. Fran the Man.

I backed up a little, to show where the sprouts were.  It was one of those days where I couldn’t properly see what I was aiming at with the Tablet.  I just clicked and hoped for the best. Would any of the pictures be usable?  The suspense added a little interest to my walk.

You see the best of dead and living this time of year.

Across the street from the church, I snapped a picture of a tree dried out from last summer.  Some of these dried plants are beautiful.  I must get a few for my own yard.

One of my favorite views.

As I walked, I continually admired the bare trees against the sky.  I’m afraid my Tablet does not capture the look, so you will have to take your own walk, if possible.

Just the possibility of a tree, so far.

On my way home from the post office, I noticed some recently planted trees on Bellinger Street.  I took pictures.  My hope is to take more as the year progresses so we can track their progress.

You can see buds on this one!

 

This one, not so much.

 

And here are several at once.

I am thinking I can continue to photograph these trees as the years go by, and we can all watch them grow.  How’s that for a bit of optimism,  thinking we’ll all be here for years and years so we can look at trees? What better reason to stick around?

 

5 Comments

Posted in humor, pedestrian post, personal and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Just Another Day of Quarantine

Posted on March 25, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

After logging onto WordPress at least three times, I found that no blog post was forthcoming.  I know, I know, blog posts don’t just happen; you have to WRITE them.  Well, here I am, early Wednesday morning, trying to do just that.

My sister Diane approved Monday Punday and further suggested Tuesday Cruise Day. I could take a walk, run or ride, and blog about that.  That would have the charm of rhyme over my usual features of Running Commentary and Pedestrian Post.  Accordingly,  I went for both a run and a walk.

My walk was to the post office, because I had written a few more post cards.  I took a long walk before arriving home.  I put my Tablet in a bag.  It was a lovely shoulder bag purchased at Paca Gardens in Little Falls, NY, just to throw in a plug for a local business. Alas, it was snowing and I got no pictures.

Returning home, I read a book, looked at Facebook, watched some movies.  I called Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant in Herkimer for dinner.  Yum!  Later I heard it was National Take-out Day.  We got delivery, so perhaps it did not count.  Perhaps we should do real take-out tonight, just to be sure.

I see I am over 200 words, so I guess I’ll call it a Tired Tuesday post and hit Publish.  We’ll see if I can do better than a Wuss-Out Wednesday post later today.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, Tired Tuesday and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Porch Sitting Preview

Posted on March 21, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

The Mohawk Valley really warmed up today, with highs close to 70!  Steven and I actually sat on our front porch for a while.  I took a few pictures.

I LOVE grey skies!

We did not know how long we would be able to sit out, because ominous storm clouds were moving in.

These are even better!

As I moved off the porch to get this shot, I reassured a couple of kids playing soccer that I was photographing the sky, not them.  They were not too worried about it.  Then Steven said, “Take a picture of the soccer players!”  I asked them, and they said OK.

They had some pretty good moves, but I was unable to capture any.

We enjoyed sitting watching the clouds move in and the kids play soccer.

The porch roof kind of blocks this one.

 

The clouds moved in further…

 

And further!

Eventually it started raining.  We kept sitting on the porch, even when the rain blew in on us.  We did not get too wet. Then it stopped raining, and we felt vindicated.  When the wind started to feel a little chilly, we came back inside.

It was wonderful to sit on the porch in warm temperatures.  The weekend is supposed to be cold, but we know the overall trend will be warm.  Come on, spring!

 

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, Lame Post Friday, personal, Uncategorized and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
← Older Posts
Newer Posts →