Tag Archives: weather

Running Commentary Is Back! I Hope

Posted on March 11, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yesterday began what is supposed to be a stretch of warmer weather in the Mohawk Valley, so I threw caution to the wind (which had died down) and went running for the first time in months.  I didn’t really throw caution to the wind; I just thought it would be funny if I added the parenthetical comment, since it has been so horridly windy lately.  In fact, I dressed appropriately, stretched a little before I ran, and ran at a pace suited to conditions.

I ran in the road, although in general I prefer sidewalks.  You just can’t count on people driving to notice little old ladies like me.  OK, I’m not so little, but I may go on the South Beach Diet, and with that and running, I may shrink.  Not Incredibly, like the guy in the movie, but somewhat.  Anyways, the roads were pretty much bare, and I tried to stick to the quiet ones.

I didn’t Map My Run but relied on my Garmin, which I tended to look at a lot, hoping for encouragement. It really didn’t feel too bad to begin with.  The frisson of virtue that I was finally running and the delight of almost springlike weather helped.  I had it in my head to run for 20 minutes.  As my body started to get a little tired, I thought I would at least do a mile, because that would probably be 15 minutes.  YES, that is a damn slow mile; one has to start somewhere!

At one point, I saw a lady walking down the sidewalk toward me.  When she got closer I asked, “Can you tell I’m running or am I too slow?”

She laughed and assured me I was doing great.  My first mile was indeed over 15 minutes.  By that time I was still at least five minutes from my house, so my 20 minute goal worked out fine.

Me feeling good about myself.

Since I had not Mapped My Run to share on Facebook, I took a selfie for my Facebook Friends’ entertainment.  Naturally I had to share my triumph on Facebook.

And now I have shared my triumph with my blog readers.  I plan to run again today.  I feel more Running Commentary Posts are in my future!

 

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Walking into the Weekend Once Again

Posted on March 8, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’m pretty sure I’ve used that headline before, but perhaps my readers will forgive me.  If not, well that is a silly thing to hold a grudge over, isn’t it?  Oh I know, you’re not mad, only disappointed.  Now I’m getting silly.  I had coffee instead of tea this morning.

Do Not Enter into silliness? Say it ain’t so!

I have been getting out walking almost every day this week, so I thought a brief Pedestrian Post would keep me in the daily blogging habit for another day.  I actually took this picture some days ago.  I was on my way to the Herkimer Elks Lodge.  I joined recently and have met some very nice people.  I hope to participate in some of their projects.  If nothing else, it will make for some good blog posts.

Not as clear as I had hoped.

On another walk, I noticed some bird prints and paused to take a picture.  That extended my walk, because I dropped a glove and did not notice it till I was two or three blocks away and had to go back.

Some guys from the press conference.

Just to show you I have not only been taking walks and hanging out with the Elks, I share a picture from a press conference I covered for Sentinel Media Company.  Regular readers may recall I cover a couple of village and town board meetings for them.  I like to pretend I am an intrepid girl reporter from a 1930s or ’40s movie, although I am really none of the three.

I do not know what the rest of my weekend will bring, but I hope something blogworthy.  In the meantime, I approach 300 words and hope I have been at least mildly entertaining.  I wonder if there is any more coffee…

By the way, I fixed the headline.  It originally read, “Walking into the Weekend,” which I had indeed used before.

 

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Will It Be Spring? Lame Will Tell

Posted on March 7, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

What is with this posting every other day, me?  Will I ever get my act together?  For the answers to these and other burning questions, stay tuned. I do not promise to answer them, but you may be able to draw your own conclusions.  In any case, it is Lame Post Friday, this hot tea is not the miracle I was hoping for, and I am sitting ten-finger typing on my Chromebook and thought I could manage at least a silly post before trying to get on with my day.

Random picture to denote passage of time while I make myself a second cup of tea.

We had a couple of days where it got kind of sort of warm.  Yesterday was not one of them, as I learned after I had inadvisedly left the house without hat or gloves.  It was the bitter wind.  I guess that makes the picture a little less random, because that is what I felt like walking, although of course not as skinny.  Perhaps after a few weeks on the South Beach Diet.

Preview of Coming Attractions?

Searching for another picture to pep things up, I came across this one of me in the garden at Raindrops on Roses Bed and Breakfast in Herkimer, NY.  I have been to their wine tasting room a few times and enjoyed it very much.  I would like to take some wine loving family and friends there sometime this spring or summer.  It is easy walking distance from my house.  We could walk there, taste a few wines, walk back to my house, then sit out on my deck drinking more wine, which I will provide.  Ah, more motivation to get my house clean!

But for right now…

Unfortunately, quite a bit of snow has to melt before I start thinking about gardens and deck parties.  In fact, there is more snow outside than is shown in this picture, but I did not feel like scrolling through my Media Library all morning.

I see I have rattled on for over 300 words.  I will try for a more Mohawk Valley related post later today, striving once again to become a daily blogger.  As always, I hope you will stay tuned.

 

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The Blog Marches On

Posted on March 2, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a nice Slacker Saturday post to start my Sunday off right?  I know, several things wrong with that statement.  To begin with, I have been up for hours. Went to bed early, got up early, haven’t had coffee or tea yet… I think this might turn out to be a Slacker Sunday as well.  Last weekend I was down with a cold, this weekend, I am just… down.  Not severely down, just…

Sign of the times? Or just of my life?

I quick threw in a picture to pep things up, as I like to do, and this gem from last March caught my eye.  I remind myself not to dwell on being down.  For one reason it makes a dull blog post.

Well, why not slack once in a while?

I took this picture in March 2021.  A March day when it was warm enough to sit on the front porch!  Oh do I miss porch sitting!  I have been cheering myself up lately with plans for spring.  Oh yeah, I did that in my last blog post, didn’t I?  That seems like a long time ago. Maybe I shouldn’t have skipped the morning coffee.

Doesn’t she notice the crazy eyes?

I go a different way with my third picture, because weekends are also a good time for black and white movies, especially the cheesy kind.  Many people do not consider The Bad Seed an especially cheesy movie, but I find moments of lovely melodrama, and I agree with what my late husband Steve always said, how can anybody be surprised to find out that brat murders people?

So now I have rattled on for over 250 words and said not much.  Well I will try for a Mohawk Valley Adventure sometime today to make a blog post about, or at least a Pedestrian Post with Pictures.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Pre-Rehearsal Waste Not Want Not

Posted on February 20, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am going to attempt a nice little Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post before my rehearsal for Prescription: Murder, the play I am in at Ilion Little Theatre.  I have looked over my lines, but I have just a bit of a headache (can’t get through a post without whining at least a little, can I?), so that didn’t go too well.  Sipping hot tea, which I am currently doing, may help.

Do you know this guy?

I burst right in with the most striking picture I have.  I noticed this guy when I was on my way to the read-through for Prescription: Murder.  I drove around the block to take a closer a look, then came back the next day when the sun was up so I could take a picture.  It is outside the now defunct Remington Arms factory in Ilion, NY.  A developer may be purchasing the site to, you know, develop it, so I hear.  I hope this fellow doesn’t put them off.

This was last week; there is more snow now.

Back to the subject on many people’s minds these days:  All that damn snow.  I got this shot walking by Meyers Park in Herkimer.   I tried to zoom in on the pavilion to get the pretty lights but was unsuccessful.  I was also interested in the partially buried branch.  Under the heading It Takes So Little To Please Some People.  That is a saying my brother and sisters and I used to have, when we wanted to feel superior.  I could write a whole blog post about that, come to think of it.  What is wrong with being easily pleased? It means you get to feel pleased more often!

Another attempt at the buried branch.

I do enjoy winter scenes, especially the bare branches of the trees.  I will try for a Pedestrian Post with Pictures later this week (preview of coming attractions).  For one reason, I need the exercise!

 

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It Snow Joke that I’m Tired

Posted on February 19, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did not make my Tired Tuesday post yesterday, because I was, you guessed it, tired.  I actually did less Tuesday than I did on Monday.  Monday I cleared my driveway twice.  By “cleared my driveway” I mean I took off the top layer of fluffy stuff and cleared the plow pile-up as best I could.  Also I did a shovel-width on my front walk, in consideration of pedestrians, who usually end up walking in the road anyways, but I can’t help that.

For anybody not in the area, I just mention in passing that the Mohawk Valley has been pummeled with snow and ice since… I was about to say Saturday, but it got bad before Saturday.  Things were also bad on Thursday, because my rehearsal was cancelled (regular readers may remember I am in a play at Ilion Little Theatre), but I can’t remember other than that.  Listen to me whine.  I’m in a house with power, sipping hot tea while my furnace works away, and I don’t have to go to work.  Let’s count our blessings, shall we?

This was in March 2017, but you get the picture.

I throw in a picture to pep things up.  My deck actually looks different now, because I did not put the things on it away in the fall.  In my defense, my life fall apart in 2023 and I have not yet picked up all the pieces.  The ones I do pick up, I keep dropping.   I do not mean this as more whining; only, I try to cut myself a break sometimes instead of beating myself up, which has ever been my habit.

On the other hand, some might argue I deserve, maybe not a beating, but perhaps a stern talking to sometimes.  For example, Monday and yesterday I toiled mightily trying to get the ice off my front steps, at least for a wide enough space for me and the mailman to get up and down safely.  In my head I kept saying, “2005, Cindy.  You’ve had since 2005!”  2005 was when we moved in and had the porch roof replaced.  Steven and I are (were) big porch sitters.  The roof fellow did not put the gutter back.  I felt sure we could do it.  Perhaps we could have.  Perhaps I still can.  These thoughts did me no good as I managed to clear some for the ice.

I was relieved there was no mail on Monday.  Tuesday when I heard the mailman, I stuck my head out the door, quickly remembered I was in slippers and the porch was covered in snow, craned my neck around the door and asked were the steps OK and assured the mailman I tried, I tried!  He said I did great and it was a losing battle.  I thought that was very nice of him, because I really had not cleared all that wide a space, and his feet are bigger than mine.

Somebody got some fun out of the snow!

I close with a jolly picture, to give us cheerful thoughts.  It has not been warm enough for snowman building, and the wind chill has been prohibitive, but weather changes eventually.  If I manage to build a snowman, I will certainly write a blog post about it.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Slacker Saturday due to Snow

Posted on February 16, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am not doing very well as a blogger these days.  Right now I fear I shall not be able to make a decent post.  And yet one must try (one as usual being me).

I think the snow is even deeper this year..

I add a picture to pep the post up.  I found this picture in my Media Library in February 2021.  I have been experiencing some discouragement over the amount of snow these days.  Of course I must be grateful for help I have received in clearing my driveway and getting my car un-stuck (perhaps you have read my blog post about such experiences).  Well, one can feel different ways at the same time.  It’s called multi-tasking, and I hear it is something we are supposed to do.

“One more thing.”

I change the subject with another picture from my Media Library.  I was supposed to have a rehearsal for the play I am in at Ilion Little Theatre, Prescriptio: Murder,  but it was cancelled due to weather.  The play is the first episode of Columbo, so it is one I was very interested in being involved in.  I will be mentioning it in many future blog posts no doubt.

Performance dates are March 28, 29, 30 and April 4, 5, 6, Friday and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.

 

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I Blow it at Blogging and Shoveling

Posted on February 10, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Once again I went the weekend without making any blog posts.  Alas!  I did some writing of post cards and letters both Saturday and Sunday.  I sometimes wonder if that is not my real writing mission, because people seem to enjoy hearing from me, despite my often atrocious handwriting.  I feel any small comfort or pleasure we can give another person is worth the effort.

Different neighbor, same favor, greatly appreciated!

Speaking of giving to others, I have the best neighbors.  Yesterday I woke up to more snow than I have seen at once this winter.  I have been pushing off the top fluffy layer as it falls, so out I went, feeling I would be up to the task.  I may have been, but a fellow across the street was snowblowing his mother’s driveway, and he came over and did mine!  The above picture is from last year, when a different neighbor came to my rescue, because I did not take a picture yesterday.  People are wonderful!

My Chromebook is underlining “snowblowing,” which I find odd, because what else would you call it?  However, it reminds me of a question I had when I went to post on Facebook about my good fortune.  Should I say he snowblew?  Snowblowed?  Both are underlined.  I believe my Mom usually says, “Dad got out and snowblowed.”  A Facebook friend who is a college English professor posited, “Snowblought.”  Another completely sidestepped the issue with, “Provided snow removal.”  These are the things that occupy my mind.

I say there are worse things to dwell upon.  Earlier today I got to thinking about a character in a book who I suddenly felt so sorry for.  There are days when I just feel bad over every sad thing that ever happened.  It is not very productive.  So I will continue my snowblowing meditations (please tell me why my computer does not consider “snowblowing” a word, when “snowblow” is certainly a verb) (oh dear, my Chromebook just underlined “snowblow”).

 

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Prescription: Auditions

Posted on February 7, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I just got back from Ilion Little Theatre, where I auditioned for Prescription: Murder.  I have not auditioned for a play since late summer 2023, so it was kind of a big deal for me.  After my bad experience on Sunday ( blog post titled “The Real Dangers of VD”), I parked on the street.  As I walked up to the door, trying to step in others’ footprints till I got to the shoveled part, I saw a friend scattering sand.  Phew!

Check out the raincoat!

Prescription: Murder was the premier of Columbo, who regular readers will recognize as one of my heroes.  I think I did a good job in my readings, but there were a lot of talented people there.

The set was from the previous play.

I asked people if they minded if I took pictures for blogging purposes, and they were very gracious about it.  Everybody was nice, clapping after each scene was read.

They were plotting!

If I don’t get a part, I hope to work on costumes, props, or backstage.  I just love community theatre and hope to become more involved.  Like the song says, there’s no people like show people!

Auditions continue tomorrow, Friday Feb. 7, at 6, if any local readers are interested in auditioning.  Performance dates are March 28, 29, 30,  April 4, 5 and 6, with Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.

 

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The Real Dangers of VD

Posted on February 5, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yesterday I meant to blog about my snow adventure on Sunday when I wanted to attend a matinee performance of The Dangers of VD at Ilion Little Theatre.  I shall correct the omission now.

Spoiler alert! I did get to see the show!

I arrived early, in hopes of getting a cup of coffee before curtain;  I was in need of a stimulant. Also, I hoped for a chance to chat with some theatre friends I have not seen since December.  I love my theatre peeps!  My favorite parking spot, at the end of the little traffic circle underneath a tree was available.  I would be a little in the snow, but that would be OK..

No it wasn’t.  I got stuck very easily.  The two friends I was meeting, Kelly and Lisa, parked sensibly in the lot as I got out and surveyed the damage.  Kelly offered to push, but I suggested we go inside and see if more muscle was available.  Our friend Bob happily came out to help, assuring us this was more to his taste than working box office (I don’t blame him; of all theatre jobs, I hate working box office!)

Mere pushing did not help, but eventually we found a shovel.  Bob dug, we pushed, or rather they pushed; I was very little help.  For one reason I was wearing clogs.  I thought, house to car, car to theatre, let me wear comfy shoes!  Silly me!  Eventually another hefty young man helped push, and my little car was free. Yay!  Still time for my coffee!

I moved into the parking lot which turned out to be not as well-plowed as it could have been.  There was one space left.  There was a little snow, but surely it would be OK.  You can call my Shirley if you want, because I got stuck again!  Luckily Bob had not gone back into the theatre, so he dug and pushed again.  He was so nice about it!  I tried my cardboard under the tires trick, which had availed on Saturday, but all that happened was the spinning tires pulled the cardboard from back to front

Finally a nice young man came out of one of the houses across the street with some stuff to put under the tires.  Then a friend of his pulled up in a car and jumped out to help.  With the help of the three pushers, I was free!  I had the window down so they could tell me when to gas it, so I called out my profuse thanks as I carefully backed out of that benighted parking lot.  Part of me wanted to just drive home and cry, but I did want to see my friends in the show, so I drove around the block to park in the street.

Alas, there was no time for my coffee!  The director was giving the curtain speech as I walked in.  She politely inquired about my stuck car.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I said, which got a laugh.  Kelly and Lisa had saved me a seat, which was good, because it was almost a full house.  I enjoyed the show very much; I sure needed the laughs!  And at intermission, I finally got my cup of coffee.

 

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