Tag Archives: writing

A Delightful Dinner

Posted on September 25, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Today I found myself in Little Falls around dinner time and decided to check out Trattoria Giorgio’s.  It is in the space previously known as Ruggiero’s Trattoria, which I always liked.  I found that it is still a delightful place to eat.

I guess it’s also known as a Tap and Tavern.

I took a seat at the bar and perused the menu.  I wanted to get a glass of wine with my meal but would not know what to drink till I decided what to eat.  I went with one of the specials:  a grilled chicken BLT.  I thought it would pair well with Chardonnay.  I don’t really know a lot about wine pairings, but I know in general white goes with chicken.

While I waited for my food I worked on a letter to my sister Diane and chatted with the bartender and other patrons.  The bar is in a U shape, which is handy for  conversation.

My sandwich was delicious.  As usual, I cut it in half and took half home with me.  It came with chips, but I figured the chips wouldn’t travel well in the same box with the sandwich.  They were not the homemade kind anyways.  But I kept nibbling on them while I finished my drink.

I was in Little Falls to attend a meeting of the Flash Fiction group at Little Falls Public Library (preview of coming attractions).  If I make that a regular Wednesday thing, I may make dinner out a regular Wednesday thing too.  There are a few more places along Main Street in Little Falls I would like to eat at (another preview of coming attractions!).  But I will make Giorgio’s a regular stop.

Giorgio’s is located at 546 E. Main St., Little Falls, NY, phone number 315-823-1414.

 

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Late Post, Even Later Pictures

Posted on September 14, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, the Mohawk Valley wasn’t lame yesterday, but I pretty much was.  I was afraid the Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival would be too much of a crowd scene, so I stayed close to home.  I did a little yard word and discovered I have another Rose of Sharon growing some distance from the original bush, and it has a few blooms on it!  I meant to take a picture for inclusion here but, alas, forgot.  I could do it now, but the sun isn’t up yet.

The crown scene in 2018.

As for cleaning the house, I made very little progress.  I managed to write my usual Saturday post cards and walked them to the post office.

A regular stop for me.

Yes, the only picture I could find in my Media Library of Herkimer’s post office was in the wintertime, January 2019 to be exact, and it took me long enough to find that.  Anyways, after the post office I kept walking.  For one reason, I had not gone running (will I go running today?  Good question).  For another, I was low on cash, and Cliff’s Local Market (might as well give them a shout-out too; they are locally owned) has an AmeriCU ATM.  From there it was little trouble to cross the street and enjoy another tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor.  They usually have them from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

Full disclosure: this is not what I tasted yesterday.

This is another photo from a previous event, but at least it is more recent than my previous pictures.  Additionally, it give me a chance to give another shout-out to one of my favorite local businesses, DikinDurt Distillery.

I guess this turned out to be a less lame blog post than I expected (or do I flatter myself?).  And I feel I should appreciate whatever I manage to get done these days.  Will I have any bloggable Mohawk Valley Adventures today?  Hard to say.  It is, after all, Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  But I do hope to make a blog post, and I hope you will stay tuned.

 

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I Thunked and I Blogged, But Not on Thursday

Posted on September 12, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

OK, I fell off the daily blogger wagon yesterday, then I failed to post first thing this morning.  However, it is still a.m. according to my clock and I could perhaps manage some semblance of a blog post.  I’ve been running a few times this week, the longest run being this morning:  44 minutes and three miles!  Mind you, they were not fast miles, and the first portion of my run was quite thunky.  That was true of Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s runs as well.  However, somewhere around the 20-minute mark, I felt great!  I love running!  I can run for MILES!  Yay!

Of course these things never least, but we must treasure them when they occur.

That doesn’t look like a hill at all!

I did not run too many nor too steep hills, but I could swear the one pictured is steeper than it looks when you’re actually on it.  Well, I will run a really intimidating hill one day soon.  As I said, it wasn’t a bad run once I got into it.  I start all these runs assuring myself that I can make it a short run as long as I get out there.  Once I get going I usually talk myself into more.

After the hill pictured, I ran into the residential area behind Valley Health.  Alas, I did not see any dogs to pet.  On previous runs this week I have petted a few.  Always a good reason to stop briefly.  As I passed various sewers, I looked for Tim Curry in a clown suit.  Most of the sewers did not look big enough, but one never knows.  Yes, I know, other actors have portrayed the clown from Stephen King’s It, but I LOVE Tim Curry.

As always, I was glad that I ran.  If I get nothing else done today, I did that.  Oh dear, I hope I get something else done today.

 

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A Letter at Lovely Little Falls Library

Posted on September 11, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have been meaning for a long time to start going to local libraries to write in a congenial atmosphere.  Additionally I have been meaning to go to Little Falls Public Library because midyork.org told me a particular book I wanted was there.  I finally got there today.  I did not find the book, but I found three others I would like to read.  I took them to a lovely space where I could sit and write.

I should have gotten a shot of the ceiling.

I wrote a post card to an aunt and finished a letter to a friend.  I want to write things such as novels, plays and murder mysteries, but one must write what one can.  While I wrote, I kept pausing to look at the ceiling, furnishings, and woodwork surrounding me.  Part of the library is an historic home.  I forget who lived there, but I think I knew at one time.

What a staircase for an entrance!

No admittance upstairs, which is too bad, because I would have loved to go up those stairs.  My staircase at home is so boring!

I especially like the mirror with the marble seat.

I did not get an outside shot of the library, because I would have had to cross the street to get a good one, and I wanted to be on my way.  No matter.  I will go to the library again.  I mean to make going to the library a thing, like when I lived in Rome and went to Jervis Public Library all the time.  Only now I have several local libraries I can go to.  Maybe I’ll get some of those novels, plays, and murder mysteries written after all!

Little Falls Public Library is located at 10 Waverly Place, Little Falls, NY, phone number 315-823-1542.

 

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A Little Bloom, A Little Blog

Posted on September 8, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

In the interests of once again becoming a daily blogger, I offer a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  I swoon with the back of one wrist dramatically poised to the back of my forehead, usually because I do not have a good subject to blog upon today.  If only I had a chaise lounge to swoon upon, my life would be perfect!

Please send me flowers!

I add a picture in hopes of pepping up the post.  These are some brown-eyed susans in my back yard I had meant to take a picture of sooner. These flowers came with no effort on my part, so I appreciate their presence in my back yard.

It’s the little things.

Earlier today I did a little yard work, cutting down some wild grape vines and pricker bushes.  I filled another container for green waste pick-up on Monday (I filled one for last Monday, but it was a holiday so was not picked up)  As I pulled the bin up through the back yard, I saw one little bloom.  I went back to take a picture of it this afternoon, just to include it in the blog post.

I must up my yard work game.  Then again, I must up a lot of my games:  writing, blogging, house cleaning, crochet, etc.  Well one thing at a time. I made a Sunday blog post.  I thank you for tuning in.

 

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NoBLOG Oblige

Posted on August 31, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

That second word is pronounced Oh-bleezh.  You know, like Noblesse Oblige.  The title was suggested to me some years ago by one of my more intellectual friends.  I am finally getting around to using it.  I see that I last posted on Tuesday.  That is not as bad as I thought it was; I thought I had gone a whole week.  Still, four days without posting after a six-day streak (as counted by WordPress; I have no idea how it would go by my calendar) is not good for a would-be daily blogger.

No BLOB Oblige?

I throw in a picture to pep things up.  I have mostly been sitting around like a blob.  I wake up every morning determined to change. As the day wears on, I find I am still the same stinker.  I try to do a few things here and there, though, so maybe I can make a little progress.  Oh dear, have I written the same blog post before?  I fear so, numerous times.

He was the best adventure partner.

Here is a picture from October 2016, when I figured out how to add pictures to my blog.  That is my late, dearly missed husband Steven at Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit.  I feel an October picture is appropriate, because today feels SO fall-like, right down to my allergies making me miserable.  Yet there is comfort in allergy misery, because I love fall.

Janus Daisy?

Looking for a third picture to round things out, this two-headed daisy caught my eye.  I look ahead and I look back.  Today I will strive to look ahead and move on with things, particularly moving on to making more substantial blog posts.

 

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Still Tuesday, Still Tired

Posted on August 27, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am having a Tired Tuesday and may be able to make my blog post before it is over.  At least, it may be Wednesday already according to my WordPress timestamp; it is still Tuesday according to, I don’t know, reality?  That’s too all-encompassing.  Let’s say Herkimer, NY time.

Can you do “He loves me, he loves me not” with these?

I throw in a picture to pep things up.  These were my Black-Eyed Susans last August.  I noticed some Brown-Eyed Susans blooming near my back steps yesterday and meant to take a picture.  It is too dark now, but maybe tomorrow.  I spent a couple of ambitious days doing yard work week before last then petered out.  I do not despair of getting back out there, although any real yard and garden plans will have to wait till 2026.

Oh, OK, I’ll try again.

I mentioned this quote in a letter to my sister Diane earlier. It is from the movie Galaxy Quest in case you didn’t know. I think I was lamenting my difficulty writing, but it may have been my difficulty cleaning.  I don’t suppose it is too late, even at my age, to improve at these things.

Substitute my cell phone for the candle.

 

They do say tomorrow is another day.  Of course they also say same shit, different day. I can’t worry about these things now.  I have made some semblance of a blog post.  Now I will try for some semblance of sleep.

 

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Is It Monday Already?

Posted on August 25, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

OK, late posts are the thing for the foreseeable future, as I sit here Monday morning making a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  In case you didn’t know, this is when I swoon, the back of one wrist to my forehead, onto a handy chaise lounge or other surface.  It made sense on a Sunday when I worked a Monday through Friday job: one cringes from the approaching Monday.

Is that Monday creeping up on him?

This is not Monday whispering in the driver’s ear.  It is William Hurt as Kevin Costner’s inner demon in Mr. Brooks, a creepy movie that grows on me more each time I see it.  I need to get a new DVD copy of it, because the one I have freezes up in a couple of places.  I couldn’t find a Monday meme in my Media Library, but this picture caught my eye.

So I guess I’m getting a little non-sequitur over here, but that hardly matters.  It is another placeholder post as I strive to regain my daily blogger mojo.  I need to get a lot of mojos back these days:  writing, running, cleaning… OK, I never for one day in my life had any cleaning mojo.  As it happens, I seem to be making strides in regaining my running mojo (see what I did there).

You wouldn’t think these feet could move very fast, would you?

I was looking for a more cheerful picture to end with, but all I could find was my feet encased in running shoes.  No doubt I will be making a Running Commentary post soon.

 

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It’s My Parasol

Posted on August 24, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Is anybody surprised I did it again?  I posted yesterday for the day before, and here I am today posting for yesterday.  These things happen, especially to me.  Right now my only question is was it the right morning to substitute tea for coffee?  I’m on my second cup.

Yesterday I could not make up my mind what to do.  I wrote a letter to an aunt, finished a letter to a friend, and wrote my regular Saturday post cards.  The post cards I sent were of different states; my friend Kim sent me a set of 50 from the thrift store she works at.  I wrote on one, “I am in a state of indecision.”  Eventually I decided to walk to the post office.  It was quite sunny, so I took an umbrella.  I have found that an umbrella makes a nice little bit of portable shade.

As I walked, I thought of things I could say to people who remarked on my umbrella:  “It’s my parasol.”  “I am protecting my dewy completion from the sun’s ravages.”  Nobody said anything.  After mailing the letters, I decided to walk to Mohawk Antiques Mall.  For one reason, it was Customer Appreciation Day and they were serving hot dogs.  Also, it is a very fun place to walk around, as there are lots of vendors.

One thing they definitely have is post cards!

I was so glad I went!  I found three packs of 40 different post cards each for a very good price.  I enjoyed a nice burnt hot dog, too, while listening to a lady play old tunes on the piano.  I did not spend much time walking all around, though, because I found the post cards right away.

Back out on the sidewalk, it was even warmer.  The wind made it more comfortable but wasn’t so good with the umbrella.  I have not spent a great deal of time out in the sun this summer, and yesterday I was reminded why.  I start to feel a little ill.  Additionally, I had neglected to put on good sneakers, and the walk to the Antiques Mall was lengthier than I had realized.

Still, a walk is a walk.  I enjoyed looking at houses I passed and the canal as I walked over the bridge.  I went by a friend’s house and petted his dog (I didn’t know he lived there; he just happened to be sitting on the front porch with his dog at the time).  I felt rather tired at the end, and my feet hurt.  I fear I do not treat them very well.  I neglect my blog, I neglect my feet, what a bum!

In the meantime, I have gotten to over 450 words.  Will I make a Sunday post on Sunday?  My hopes are not high.

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Is It Halloween Yet?

Posted on August 23, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yesterday I thought surely I would be able to make a Lame Post Friday Post (I don’t mind it when I call myself Shirley). And here I am, Saturday morning, wondering why I didn’t.  Then again, sometimes “why?” is not a particularly helpful question to ask.  Far better to go ahead and just correct the error to the best of one’s abilities.  At least I have coffee.

A friendly face with a friendly beverage.

I just scrolled through my Media Library till I found a coffee mug.  I am not using this lovely mug today, a favorite of my late husband Steve’s, but I do not scruple to use it year round.  In fact it is almost time to start using Halloween mugs since for me the Halloween season begins immediately after Labor Day.

Speaking of Halloween, I need to start cleaning my house more thoroughly.  My sister Cheryl suggested I throw a Halloween party, as I have been known to do in the past.  That is, Steve and I threw them, but I feel sure I  am capable of hosting a party on my own.

Witchy would be happy to welcome folks to my house.

There are other reasons to get my house cleaned up and my act together. I will not list them here, although they may constitute some half-baked philosophy suitable for a Lame Post Friday post.  However, I see I am over 200 words.  I feel a Lame Post is best kept brief.  I shall strive for Some Sort of a Saturday post later.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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