Tag Archives: writing

A Train of Ducks?

Posted on February 3, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’m afraid the best I can manage today is a Monday Mental Meanderings.  I am helped in this by something that showed up in my Facebook Memories:

I envy people who have a train of thought, even if it jumps the tracks. My thoughts are on a rickety cart on a muddy path, pulled by an ornery mule who sometimes just sits down and refuses to go (I made that one up myself; I’m rather proud of it).
It’s kind of like the one about ducks in a row, where you say your ducks are scattered about and one of them is possibly a pigeon.  I stole that one.

See? One’s a frog!

I went to the trouble of taking a photo of a few of my ducks so I could throw in a picture to pep things up.  These are the latest in my collection, sent to me by me by my friend Kim.  She sent me the purse, too (that’s what the ducks were in).  I don’t remember where I got the frog;  I grabbed her off the dresser to add a random touch to the photo.

As you see, I do not have much today.  I am trying to make some improvements in my life so I can get more done, but I seem to be quite resistant to change.  Oh well, one does what one can.   The Facebook meme says, if you can’t do the dishes, wash one dish.  If you can’t get your ducks in a row, at least take them out of the purse.  If your train of thought is stuck in a ditch, just don’t kick the mule!

As a side note, some of my ducks were in a row once, courtesy of my sister Diane.  There are several in my bathroom and she lined them up neatly along the bathtub, just so  I would have… you know.  And I did, till I knocked them over getting out of the shower.

 

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Lame is the Answer

Posted on January 31, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh dear, I wanted to make my Lame Post Friday blog post before going out adventuring today, but I sit here at my Chromebook feeling headachey and dull.  Where’s that sparkling personality I thought I had?  And here we come to the ugly truth about me.  Never mind.  I want to make a blog post and I will.   Quick, throw in a picture to lighten  up the mood.

Who could be uncheered by a snowman?

I have not seen any snowmen recently.  It has not been warm enough for the snow to pack, unfortunately.  The caption, by the way, is an homage to Winnie the Pooh.

You KNOW I am going to enter!

Here is a sign I have not seen in a while, because I have not been running.  I really want to start again, but with below zero wind chills and ice on the roadways, I keep putting it off. I have been saying I am going to run the Boilermaker 15K in Utica, NY this July but have not yet registered.  I heard open registration started, so I better get moving on it.  It will be good for a few blog posts anyways.

Bittersweet is the word.

I close on a melancholy note.  I shared this picture on Facebook this morning after it showed up in my Memories.  The mugs were a Christmas gift from my sister Cheryl, the Queen of Christmas, to my dearly missed husband Steve and me. I said that I rarely use these mugs, but perhaps I would today for a cup of hot cocoa.  I recently purchased the necessary ingredients.  Hmm, that motivates me to get out the door and get on with my errands and adventures.  I can return to a steaming mug of hot cocoa.  Maybe I’ll add a shot of moonshine from Dikin Durt Distillery, just to give a local business a shout-out.

 

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But Truman Capote Didn’t Shovel the Driveway

Posted on January 28, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did venture from my house on Tuesday but did not take any pictures.  Today I have further adventures in mind, but I spent a certain amount of time shoveling my driveway and did take a couple pictures, so I will do a Pre-Adventure Snow Shoveling post.  I guess that is not a regular feature for Mohawk Valley Girl but I beg you will bear with me.

Monday, of course, was the terrible day of shoveling, with the snow all the way up to my bumper.  The bottom of the bumper, but still.  I am just a  crazy old lady with very few muscles.  I shoveled in two parts Monday.  Today I hoped to accomplish it in one.  Really, there was a lot less snow and most of it was at the bottom of the driveway where the plow had pushed it (I know they do not do these things on purpose).  I huffed and puffed and got it done, lamenting that the road is becoming narrower and narrower as the snow banks pile up.

White on white makes it a little hard to see.

The sidewalk plow had gone by at some point, but more snow had fallen, so I attempted to make a shovel’s width, which I consider the Reasonable Man Standard (an insurance guy taught me that expression).  I wanted to take a picture of what a lousy job I did on the driveway, but I was not sure it really showed.

I ponder my experience.

I took a selfie for entertainment purposes.  Also because my Melfi’s hat gives a shout-out to a local business.  Melfi’s shoes in Mohawk, NY is where I used to get my work shoes, when I used to work.  Now I am one of those people who Just Don’t Want to Work.  You can be polite and say I am retired.  I know I am lazy.

Apparently I was not too lazy to make a blog post of over 300 words (oh yeah, like sitting here typing is such an effort) (as Truman Capote once said, that’s not writing, that’s typing).  Now I must rouse myself further and try for a Mohawk Valley adventure.  We’ll see how I do.

 

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The Evil Pork Loin

Posted on January 25, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of that title when I purchased a pork loin at the local grocery store for $6.66.  I mentioned to a worker who was stocking the meat case that I did not know how to cook a pork loin.  Then I saw instructions on the package.

“I am hooked up,” I declared.

I could not resist the price.

When Saturday was predicted to be one of the coldest days, I thought it would be an excellent day to run the oven.  That would be my Saturday blog post!

Of course it wasn’t.  I cooked with wine and went to bed early, having enjoyed a couple delicious slices of pork loin. It is now Sunday, and I am thinking that my cooking a pork loin, even an evil one, is hardly a blogworthy activity.  So now I am having a Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  It seems everyplace is closed in anticipation of the terrible storm we are supposed to be getting.  What can I do but sit home, watch Columbo, and eat leftover pork loin?

Not the Columbo I am watching, but a good one!

While searching my Media Library for a picture of Columbo, I came across some pictures of Prescription: Murder, the play I was in last year at Ilion Little Theatre. It was a great experience.  I need to audition for another play.  And organize another murder mystery.

A great group of people!

I close with a shot of the cast with the director and assistant director.  I would love to work with any or all of these people again.  So I end my Wrist to Forehead Sunday post on a positive note, perhaps a Preview of Coming Attractions.

Have you eaten any pork loin lately?

 

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Cloudy with a Chance of Lame

Posted on January 24, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have the most horrendous case of I Just Can’t Even!  I feel it is not terminal:  I did manage to take a shower and find something to wear, even putting on earrings.  Earlier today I wrote a story about a Frankfort Town Board Meeting and emailed it to my editor at Sentinel Media.  OK, that’s all I did.  But can I also do a Lame Post Friday blog post?  We shall see.

Bette mourns my dead hopes and dreams.

I wanted to throw in a picture to pep things up.  Here is the goddess Bette Davis in Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte. It is an excellent movie of the so-called Hagsploitation genre.  Or do I mean Psycho-Biddy?  I believe both terms are acceptable. I am old enough to be a psycho biddy myself. Watch out, world!

Is he pointing at me?

A little back-lit, but here is the statue of General Herkimer in Myers Park in Herkimer, NY.  I walk by this park on a regular basis.  However, I do not know if I will do so in the near future.  It is supposed to be extremely cold over the next couple of days.  I felt rather ill after my long walk on Thursday.  Oh, these colds hang on and on at my age.  No wonder there are so many psycho biddies out there!

How I might look if I had a wood burning stove.

I end with another psycho-biddy, our beloved Joan Crawford in StraitJacket.  I fear my headline is not necessarily reflective of this post, but let me reassure you.  My head is feeling quite cloudy, and I am, without a doubt, lame.

 

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Couldn’t Hurt, Might Help

Posted on January 23, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I was feeling better, but it turns out not so much.  I don’t like to go days and days without making a blog post, so I will attempt a Throwback Thursday.  Or maybe a Non-Sequitur Thursday.  No, that’s no good; I can never think of a good headline for those.

Snow, snow, snow.

I have left the house in the last two days, taking walks through the snow but not pausing for pictures.  I really felt I had spent too many days lounging around doing nothing and thought a couple short walks would help.  I guess they kind of sort of did.

It really was a dramatic moment.

I veer into theatre throwback with a shot from 2019.  I may be getting involved in some new theatre shenanigans soon.  I received an email about auditions for Ilion Little Theatre’s next production, Good-bye. Charlie.  Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 16th and 17th at the theatre at 6:30 p.m.  I probably have a meeting to cover on Monday, but I can probably make it on Tuesday.  I like to be in a play.

If only I don’t get snowed in!

I have not had this much snow in my driveway for a long time.  I can only hope for the best for the rest of the winter.  At least I have gotten over 200 words of a blog post for today.  I apologize if I seem less articulate than usual.  I feel sure another couple of good nights’ sleep will put me to rights.

 

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Lame Road to Recovery

Posted on January 17, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I think I am on the mend, but I certainly am not up to any blogworthy activities.  Lucky for me it is Lame Post Friday.

The long road to recovery?

I throw in a picture because I ran dry of words.  I actually still have quite a bit of a headache.  The reason I feel I am on the mend is that I have been able to sleep, at least a little.  I apologize about going on and on about my health.  I try not to be so tiresome.

A more squiggly path.

I think my brain is becoming even more squiggly.  Tomorrow I might try a walk outdoors if the weather is not too bad.  For one reason I have to mail my usual Saturday morning postcards.  I hope I can think of something more cheerful to write than, “I feel so sick!”

A regular stop for me.

I have not taken a walk since Tuesday.  That is unusual for me; I try to walk or run almost every day, although I have not been running much since the snow fell.   Actually it is the ice that bothers me more than the snow.  However, one advantage of being ill is that once I get better, I will be so sick of not moving, I will probably be delighted to go out and take a run.  It will at least make for a better blog post!

 

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Still Ill on Throwback Thursday

Posted on January 16, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well friends, it is another Blogger’s Sick Day, but I think I can manage a Throwback Thursday post.  I spent most of the day trying unsuccessfully to sleep.  Perhaps I will be better enough tomorrow to get some exercise, which I would think would help me sleep.

He was so cute and sweet!

This is from January 2017, our second dog, Spunky. That basket was not meant to be a bed for him but a container for my crochet projects.  However, he went right over and made himself at home.  How could I deny him?  I am thinking about getting a dog, for company and for a reason to go for more walks.  We shall see.

 

My reason for attempting a blog post.

My brain truly does not want to write today.  I attempted something earlier and managed a page of nonsense.  By my rules for me, Any Writing Counts.

A fun theatre memory.

Since it is Throwback Thursday, I share a picture from rehearsals for Rubbed Out at Ruby’s, the murder mystery LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company, did at the Overlook Mansion, back when it was a Bed and Breakfast and Destination for weddings and other things.  It was a 1920’s setting, and I am dying to do another set in that period.  I started to write one that I hoped to do at Salisbury Grange.  I could work more on it.  When my brain feels a little bit better.

In the meantime, I am over 200 words.  Score!  Maybe some more hot tea with lemon and honey would help.

 

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Return to Athenix

Posted on January 5, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I got to thinking about Athenix Books and Brews and The Keep and decided I wanted to join.  Also, I had not purchased anything on Jan 2 , and that is no way to support a business.  I am not extravagantly well off, but I can afford a purchase or two.  Accordingly, I drove to Little Falls, NY.

Cool sign!

This time I remembered to take a couple of outside pictures.  I went in and greeted the owner.  He pointed out his two daughters, after whom the store is named, he was holding one and the other was relaxing on a nearby couch.  I looked around to decide what to purchase.  A number of people were browsing, so it was difficult to see everything.  What a good problem for a store to have!  Alas, no books caught my eye.

My purchases.

I had said yesterday that I did NOT need another coffee mug.  Unfortunately, when I was doing dishes the morning, my Dyn’s Cider Mill mug broke.  I don’t know when I will get to Dyn’s again (they are probably closed for the season).  In the meantime, another Little Falls mug can fill in the gap.  Um, yes, I did already have a Little Falls coffee mug.  But this one is purple!  When I went to pay for it, I fell in love with an adorable ghost pen holder (full disclosure:  at first I thought it was just a ghost and had to be told it was a pen holder).

It took a little while, since I was joining The Keep and because, well, I always talk too much.  I apologized to the woman behind me.  She said that was fine, she was enjoying looking around.  She asked the owner what if somebody wanted to buy one of the books hanging from the ceiling.  He said there would be a $100 surcharge for hauling out the ladder.

The outside is decorated with books, too.

We are all looking forward to the opening of the cafe.  I want to sit there and sip coffee and write.  Maybe I can finally finish that novel.

 

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No Brews Yet But Books!

Posted on January 4, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Athenix Books and Brews in Little Falls is a great addition to the Mohawk Valley.  I went to their soft opening yesterday and was enchanted.  Alas, I did not get any pictures of the outside of the store or the logo.  That is another reason I must return.

Brews refers to brewed coffee, not beer, and they intend to open a whole cafe.  I have been following Athenix on Facebook, as they chronicle their progress, fixing up the space and getting ready. Only the book section opened Jan. 2, but for book lovers and lovers of local like me (oh, how alliterative, “lovers of local like me), that is enough.

SO going to buy a shirt!

In addition to new and used books, local jewelry, candles and other merchandise is available.  When I was there, a lot of people were browsing the stacks and making purchases.

I spoke to the owner, who my sister Diane Young had previously contacted.  A couple of stores in Liverpool carry her books, and she would love to expand her reach to Little Falls.  She had meant to come to the opening with me but was not feeling well (these colds that hang on and on, ugh!).  He said she should come see him when she is in town, and bring copies of her books.  My sister the author.  I really must up my writing game.

Who me? Buy another coffee mug?

For a monthly fee, you can join The Keep.  You get 10% off most purchases plus additional member sales, and you get a free monthly t-shirt.  Wow!  I want in!  I stupidly did not join yesterday.  However, since I plan to make it a regular stop, I’m sure I will have the chance.

Athenix Books and Brews is located at 624 E. Main St., Little Falls, NY.  They are open daily from 9 to 6.  I encourage you to follow them on Facebook.

 

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