Tag Archives: winter weather

Lame Snowstorm of the Year?

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.”

 

Still Working on that Daily Thing

Is it time to admit I am no longer a daily blogger?  Say it ain’t so!!! (My Chromebook does not seem to have a caps lock, and it is too much trouble to hold down the button) (I get lazier by the day).  Where was I?  Ah yes, early Monday morning, ten-finger typing (got the Chromebook back on; did I mention I was having trouble with that), and not having much to say.

My crooked path, as a writer and in life.

When in doubt, throw in a picture.  Snow has returned to Herkimer, NY, but I have not gone for a walk so do not know if this wavy path is back.  Foolish of me not to walk.  It can benefit one’s physical and mental health, but one must be regular about these things.

I have not been having many Mohawk Valley Adventures lately.  I drove into Rome on Saturday to visit my parents, but Route 49 is not a big thrill.  A convenience, yes, but nothing to blog about.  After I returned to Herkimer, I got together with my friend Kim, but we merely ran a couple of errands then stopped at Asteroga Ale House for a little food and drink.  I suppose I could have written about that interlude, but I neglected to take any pictures.  I am kind of addicted to pictures since I added them to the blog in 2016.

I just can’t get enough skeletons.

This is one of the first pictures I shared in October 2016, when I first figured out how to do so.

OK, last week’s storm was not that bad.

It was not until the following January that I learned how to download pictures from the internet (usually Facebook) for blogging purposes.  My husband Steve (miss him so much) found this gem.

Ooh, look, I am over 300 words.  That works for a placeholder post, I think.  Once again, thank you for tuning in.

 

Like the Plague

So I did not make my Thursday blog post on Thursday.  Never mind why; explanations are tiresome.  I had meant to write it “about” something, you know, a Mohawk Valley Adventure or some such, but you know what they say about good intentions.  Something about some road to somewhere being paved with them.  I really should avoid cliches, but sometimes they are oh so tempting (as Oscar Wilde once had a character in a play say, I can resist anything except temptation!).

Where was I?  Nowhere I guess, except perhaps leading into a Throwback Thursday post, and another opportunity to work with my Media Library on this new computer (scrolling issues aside, I do love to ten finger type while lounged on the couch).

I don’ think they have taken the lights down yet this year. Must check.

I first throw back only a year to Janurary 2023 and a shot of the pavilion in Meyers Park in Herkimer, NY.  I walk by or through this park many times and enjoy how the seasons change its appearance.  I believe there is a similar amount of snow there now, as we have had snow then rain.  The rain is dreary, but it clears away some snow so I don’t have to shovel, so I count my blessings.

Look how cute he is!

Now I go back to January 2017 (my Media Library began in November 2016) and a shot of Spunky.  That basket was given to me by my sister Cheryl to put yarn in, but Spunky took one look and claimed it for his bed.  I naturally gave him his way.  One side is still caved down where he used to climb into it.  I think I still have the crumby sneaker I forgot to remove before taking the picture.  This is one reason why I am not a professional photographer.

Scary!

Here is a throw back a bit further, 1963’s The Bird, directed by the late, great Alfred Hitchcock.  The picture was in my Media Library in January 2018.  I mentioned the movie in a Facebook On This Day post, mentioning that Steven (my late, great husband) and I were watching it.  I always thought it strange that there seemed to be no cats in Bodega Bay, where the movie takes place (I add for the benefit of those who have not seen the movie), especially since Annie Hayward clearly should have had a few.  Annie (I also add for the benefit of etc) moved to some dumb little burg with nothing going on just to be near a guy who didn’t want to date her any more.  “That friendship means a hell of a lot to me.”  Yeah, right!  You were hoping he’d change his mind!  But I digress.  Before I finish digressing, though, in the interests of Judge Not, I will confess that I may have done something similar, probably based on mixed signals which I would have interpreted in the best possible light for me.  Many years ago when I was young and stupid(er).  There I go, continuing to digress.

Holy cow, my digressions have gotten me over 500 words!  My blogs never run that long!  Oh well, I guess sometimes.  Is exaggeration (which you have told me 1,000 times not to do) as bad as cliches? Points to ponder.

 

Ah, Winter!

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.

 

My Blogging Aspirations Continue

Here is one problem I have with going back to being a daily blogger:  lately I do not do enough blog-worthy things.  When I occasionally do something, I neglect to blog about it.  For example, last Wednesday I went to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY with my friend Kathy and enjoyed the music of Max Scialdone along with some good food.  I not only did not write a blog post about it, I did not take any pictures for future blogging purposes.  I did not even take the usual picture with my phone which I immediately post on Facebook and invite others to come out.

Christmas decorations were still up.

I looked in my Media Library for a picture of Max Scialdone but was unsuccessful.  However, I was able to find this picture of Fratello’s.  Those same nutcrackers were there last Wednesday. I will just mention that I am still learning how to navigate my Media Library on this Chromebook.  It is quite a learning curve for me.  But what a joy to ten-finger type while lounged on my couch.

Frankentree is bigger these days.

This is a shot from 2018.  I wanted one of snow, because winter has returned to the Mohawk Valley with a winter storm (I guess; I don’t know from meteorological designations) yesterday evening.  I will need to do some shoveling today.  I hope I can find my shovel.  I wonder how interesting I can make a blog post about my old creaky body trying to clear my driveway and sidewalk.  I imagine it will be at least as interesting as me whining about how I am not blogging and have little to blog about anyways.  As always, I hope you will stay tuned.

Pre-Coffee Post

I am still at my Mom and Dad’s house, and I never got around to making my Saturday blog post.  It is early Sunday morning.  Everybody else is still abed (damn my insomnia!).  I am lounged on the love seat, pecking away with the borrowed stylus, and wishing I had a little more to say.  I am also wishing I knew how to use the Keurig.  I have a drip coffee maker at my house. Yes, Dad has shown me how to use the Keurig.  I just don’t remember what he showed me.

I always use the caption, “One more thing.”

Once again, I throw in a picture to pep things up.  I started to watch an episode of Columbo last night, but it was the one episode I absolutely do not like, the one where his niece gets kidnapped.  Don’t get me started.

I hope I don’t go home to this!

I add a snowy picture, because I spent a good portion of the day looking out the window at the snow coming down.  I fear when I get home I will not be able to get into my driveway.  I got hung up getting out of it Friday morning.  That was painful, although I did make it to work on time.

I am having a really enjoyable visit, there is just not a whole lot to blog about.  Perhaps my pre-coffee brain is to blame (why in the world  would autocorrect change pre-coffee to pre-order?). In any case, I am over 200 words.  Maybe I could make myself a cup of tea.

 

All I have for my Saturday Evening Blog Post (You, know, like Saturday Evening Post, only I stuck in Blog) is a few pictures of a great big icicle hanging off my roof.

Can you see how big it is?

Steven noticed it earlier this week and warned me not to park my car directly underneath it. Naturally I wanted to take a picture but did not get a chance till much later.

Can you tell?

I had gone out to meet my friend Kim and when I got home I paused for a few shots. I got one where you can see it is at least as long as a window.

I stood in the road to get that one.

iI suppose it does not make much of a blog post, but at least I find it more amusing than yet another post about Not Making a Blog Post Today. I hope at least for tomorrow I can make at least some semblance of a Post. As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

Has Wrist to Forehead Sunday Become a Cliche?

A winter storm, or at least winter weather started hitting the Mohawk Valley this morning.  I went running well before the precipitation, although it was frightfully cold.  It turns out I don’t mind running in cold weather. If I had gotten on here earlier and made a Sunday Running Commentary post,  I would be all set right now.  Oh well, that ship sailed, as they say (I have many times observed that one can often get away with using a cliche, if one adds “as they say” or “the proverbial”).

Where was I?  Ah yes, indulging in cliche and trying to make a blog post. I think we can legitimately call this a Wrist to Forehead Sunday. I am feeling a bit swoony on the sofa and I don’t care who knows it.

Clearly this is not me, but I know just how she feels.

I really am sorry to be making yet another post about not being able to make a decent blog post.  I’m afraid it has become the rule rather than the  exception.  On the other hand, I am making my Sunday post on Sunday. That has to count for something, doesn’t it?

Oh dear, is “has to count for something” another cliche?  I would hang my head in shame, but I am pretty sure that IS a cliche.  I bet it is also a cliche to promise to try to do better tomorrow.  How embarrassing!  I’ll have to sprinkle “the proverbial” over this post out of a salt shaker!

But Happy Sunday, everyone.

 

Tale of a Tired Tuesday

I am sitting on my couch listening to sleet hit the windows and somebody plow out the neighbor’s driveway.  They are taking a long time about it, I must say.  I am going to talk about the weather for my Tired Tuesday post.  “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it”  (said in an airhead tone of voice).

The weather people were threatening a winter storm for today.  I kept saying, ” They don’t KNOW, they’re just guessing.” Of course, it is a highly educated guess.  I don’t know as much as the weather people do.  My bunions are far from accurate, as are the headaches I get from barometric pressure (yes, I’m just guessing about that).  At any rate, it did start to snow right around 10 a.m., as predicted.

I told Steven I was going to come home, park in the street, and shovel out the end of the driveway so I could back in.  He said, “Come home, pull in, and come inside.”  I made no promises.  When I left work it had already switched over to sleet, rather than waiting till five or so as predicted (so you see the weather folks were not completely accurate).  As usual, I appreciated my perverse sense of humor which leads me to laugh at bad weather.  I giggled and chuckled even as it felt like sharp pebbles were striking my cheeks.

Wind had been blowing, so some cars in the parking lot were more snow-covered than others.  Based on my usual luck, I predicted my car would be one of the covered ones.  It was, but as I approached, I saw that somebody was already cleaning it off!  It was my work friend, Kathy, who usually parks near where I usually park.  Her SUV was already clear.

“What a sweetie you are!”  I started the car and grabbed my own brush.  My little car was soon clear. I thanked my friend profusely and got going.

The drive home could have been a lot worse. As it was, roads were either snow-covered or icy, mostly the former, so that was OK.  I knew I would do no shoveling when I got home.  Sleet is painful!  When I got home, Steven met me at the door, prepared to forcibly prevent me from shoveling if need be.  There was no need.

So this is the extent of my Tired Tuesday post.  I did not think to take any pictures of the snow outside before it got dark, so you must use your imagination, if you are so inclined.  In the meantime, Happy Tuesday, and I hope to see you all on Wuss-out Wednesday (or whatever kind of a Wednesday it turns out to be).

 

Weather or Not I’m Lame

Did you know that Tuesday is the first day of spring?

I particularly like the bare trees.

This is the view from my front porch.  I stepped out with my Tablet to capture a graphic demonstration of why I forgot that it is almost spring.

I’ve seen bigger snowbanks, but still.

Here is a view in the other direction.  My only pleasure is to see the bare sidewalks.  I have not been running lately and want to start again.  Perhaps tomorrow.

I love my tree.

This is not the best shot of this tree, I see now.  I thought as I took it that it might be better to move off the porch, perhaps even across the street.  However, I was in my slippers.  Hey, I bestirred myself to get off the couch.  I only have so much oomph on Lame Post Friday.  Or any other day.

Earlier this afternoon, my friend Kim and I went to a wine tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor.  We were not best pleased with the cold temperature, and even less so when it started snowing.

“Who ordered this?” she demanded.  I denied responsibility.  At least the wine tasting was good.  Perhaps I can write more about it in another post.

For right now, though, it is Lame Post Friday, and the best I can do is share these pictures and gripe about the weather.  You would think I would be in a better mood, if you thought about me at all, which I do not seriously expect.  Actually, that last sentence gave me a chuckle, which improved my mood.  Finishing my blog post improves the mood even further.  I hope to see you all again on Scattered Saturday, even if it does snow.