Ships and Aircraft Display at Buffalo and Erie Military Park

Everyone has a preference when it comes to parks and recreation.  We specifically like military parks like the one we  we went to in Pensacola Florida and Corpus Cristi, Texas.  The recent one we visited is the Buffalo and Erie Military Park in Buffalo, New York.  Among the ships that were on the display include the  USS Little Rock, USS The Sullivans, and USS Croaker.  The ships in the park remain property of the United States Navy which inspects them annually.

Along with the ships, there are variety of smaller vehicles, vessels, and aircraft that are also on display at the park. These include the following:

1. Gyrodyne X-Ron 1 Rotorcycle one-man helicopter used by the US Marine Corps in the late fifties and early sixties,
2. An Army M41 Walker Bulldog tank used in the Korean War,
3. A Marine M-84 Armored personnel carrier,
4. A UH-1 Huey flown in Vietnam,
5. An Air Force F-101 Voodoo flown by the New York Air National Guard's 136th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station
6. A Nasty-class Fast Patrol Boat (PTF) used by the Navy in Vietnam,
7. A Navy FJ Fury (FJ-4) jet (equivalent to the Air Force's F-86 Sabre), and
8. A USAAF P-39 Airacobra manufactured at Bell Aircraft in Buffalo which saw service in World War II.
9. The sail and rudder of the submarine USS Boston are also on display here.

In 1976 the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency and the Buffalo Naval and Servicemen's Park requested the United States Department of the Navy to supply a decommissioned naval vessel to construct a naval park. The Cleveland-class cruiser USS Little Rock and the Fletcher-class destroyer USS The Sullivans were part of the original display. In 1988 the Gato-class submarine USS Croaker was added. In 1989 Croaker underwent a refit. - 

On December 16, 2017 USS Little Rock (LCS-9) was commissioned at the park alongside its namesake USS Little Rock (CG-4). The commissioning was the first time a United States Naval vessel was commissioned alongside its namesake. 

Pictures were taken by me.  Information source is wikipedia.org

I wish we have a big military park like this in our area. The only memorial park dedicated to the service members here is a display of old equipment but then again, our  city small.  We do however a lot of veterans that came from this area and we have so many display of their names on designated places.

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Had a mini date with my husband. I appreciate every little things we do together, it’s hard to find time but we take every opportunity we are given. Even just walking in the park, working out in the gym, or have a dinner together when the kids are with their friends, is precious to me. #relationship #marriage #CoupleGoals💑 #Dating

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Jan 7, 2019 at 9:48am PST

How To Plan A Weekend Getaway

Stress is almost guaranteed in life, but too much of it can have serious negative effects. A weekend getaway may be just the thing you need to reduce tension and recharge so that you are ready to face the next work week. Arranging a mini-vacation, however, may not be as easy a task as it seems on the surface. Here are some tips to make sure that the getaway doesn't become just one more stress to add to your list.

Set a Budget

Your trip shouldn't break the bank. That certainly won't help you relax! Before you start planning, you need to know how much you can spend. As you make decisions about where to go and what to do, decide how much you want to spend on each item as well. There are several online travel budgeting tools that help make sure you're not forgetting anything.

Choose a Destination

Decide where you want to go. What scenario do you picture when you think of relaxation? Is it Beavers Bend Broken Bow Cabins in the woods? Is it a bungalow on a beach? It may be helpful to consider how you would like to spend your time while you're there. If, for example, you want to commune with nature, consider the season and choose a destination where the weather is likely to cooperate with your plans.

Tie Up Loose Ends

You don't want to spend your whole weekend thinking about that report due to your boss on Monday morning. Finish everything you can before you leave for your trip. Answer all the important messages in your inbox. You may even find it helpful to tidy up your home a bit so that you can rest knowing you're coming back to a clean house. Do your best not to leave with a pressing to-do list.

Leave Worries at Home

Once you've cleared out your scheduled tasks, it's time to clear out the things that weigh down your mind. The whole point of a getaway is, in fact, to get away. This includes a preoccupation with any ongoing worries. If you try to leave them at home while you take your trip, you may be surprised to find that they have disappeared completely when you return.

You don't always need a two-week vacation to refresh. Planning a fun weekend away in a relaxing location can help you relieve stress and return to your daily life with renewed vigor.

Garden Of Africa at Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park

I promised to  feature the rest of the European garden  at the Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park on my next post, so here it is.  Although the park is long and narrow, you will notice as you go on from the parking lot to  the main park that this ain't your ordinary park, it will lead you to different worlds and cultures. The park has different areas that represent each of the continents, I did not see Antartica but I must have missed it if there is. Each continent’s section has sculptures and live plants that represents that area of the world.

The funding for this park  is well worth it for  generations to enjoy.

All of the areas gives a person or families to enjoy a  summer picnic.  Whether you plan to just go for a walk, jog, or enjoy an afternoon stroll with your dog, this area is perfect for all of that.  I think the most fascinating feature of this  park is the Mirrored German Sculpture, it is really a must see.

The most relaxing part for me was  this grassland area surrounded by tall blowing grasses reminiscent of the African Savannah. 

This area reminds me of my childhood.  We have a similar grass which we called "talahib", a grass that was used initially for roofing and  broom back in the day.

Places like this really bring joy to my heart.  I remember how happy I was exploring the Spring Garden at Point State Park in Pittsburgh.  I find it fascinating to learn the different uses of plants.

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Once again I can boost that the Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park is a great family friendly place to go. It doesn't cost you anything to explore as it  is free and parking is available in an adjacent lot.  It's an educational place to explore with the whole family.  You get to learn  some parts of the world by reading all the infos available in the park.

In with New and Out with Old

The weather temperature has reached 2 degrees this morning.  Our car's engine would not start  so my husband was not able to go to work.  I am glad that my kids are off from school in lieu of the  Martin Luther King's day.

I was able to do some cleaning done early this morning and replaced some of the old throw pillows with the new ones in our living room couches.  Hubby thinks I am obsessed with pillows since I always buy some whenever I see something that I like.  Anyway, I put away some of the old ones that I use during holidays. 

 Our family room's theme is Asian so to tie it with the  living room look, we bought this accent chair.

 Last year's winter affected some of my indoor plants but this year, they seem to be doing  alright.  Some of them are well-established  now that even though the heater is on, the plants doesn't mind.  The big window in our living room  helps the plants to catch some sunlight.

 On another note, I finally succeeded in growing  orchid.  I have been trying for years  but it always end up dying.  Orchids reminds me of my Mom because  she has different varieties of orchids at her home.  I wanted to grow some so I could  look at it every time I miss my Mom who live so far away from me.

I bought the orchid above last summer and I am so happy to see it bloom this winter.  I also found the one below on clearance at Lowe's a couple of weeks ago.  It was wilted already and very dry but I though I could give it a try since it was only $3 so if it dies, not a big loss.  The cashier  even asked me if I have a green thumb, she didn't think this will survive.  I'm happy to say that it is alive and looking very healthy, it just need some watering and of course TLC.

I think my indoor plants have finally adopted to the  temperature, all of them are looking good.  Daughter accidentally dropped this succulent and the pot broke so I used the chipped tea cup for it.

 Another plant that I am obsessing is succulents but so far I have no luck with it.  The only one that seems to do good and like my care is the jade, it never disappoint me.  Everytime, I do some cutting and plant it in a new pot, it continue to grow.

 This zamioculcas plant was also on clearance at Lowe’s. It’s normally more than ten bucks so I don't buy it but I got it for $3 so let the fun begin, hopefully it survive.

 Most of my indoor plants are purchased on sale.  I love the satisfactory feeling when I can revive a plant that is almost dead like this mini palm.

 This peace lily is now blooming.

 I bought different kinds of succulents last summer but this is the only surviving one.

 Mighty pineapple is standing tall and proud, hopefully it blooms soon so I can show my children how the crown of the pineapple that we planted becomes one new plant like this.

 My calamondin tree wilted  a little bit when I brought it inside the house but glad it is now slowly coming back to life.

How to Build Your Own Outdoor Shed

An outdoor shed is a fantastic way to create an extra area of storage for the things that you need most when spending time outside. Whether you need a place to keep your lawn mower and snowblower, or you need a space for your garden supplies and various other things that you don’t have the room to store in your home, the right shed will be able to withstand the elements and protect your belongings throughout the year. If you’re ready to build your own shed for your lovely backyard, check out the tips below to get started.

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First, Consider the Materials

Before getting started, think about the materials that you want your shed to be made of. Sure, you could head out to a local hardware store and purchase one of those premade plastic sheds, but those aren’t always the most unique or aesthetically pleasing. An alternative would be a steel shed like those sold online by Armstrong Steel, which you can build yourself by assembling the parts rather easily. These are also durable and Armstrong Steel offer the option to customize it to your preferences, so they offer a lot of flexibility in terms of how you can use them. Or, you could go the more traditional route and use wood to construct your one-of-a-kind shed all on your own.

Set the Foundation

First, you need to set the foundation for your shed, ensuring that the ground is totally level. The use of cinderblocks around the perimeter of the foundation can help keep animals out, but if you are planning on adding electricity to your shed, be sure to carve out the channels for that as well. This can get complicated, so you might need to hire experts if this is the route that you’re planning on taking and you aren’t sure how to route the electrical components into the shed.

Create the Frames

Using plenty of 2x4s, the next step is to build out the frames for the walls and the roof of your shed. Once all of these are set in place, you will be able to attach the actual walls and roof to them, so take your time to figure out how big you want your shed to be, and carefully space the 2x4s so that they will provide the structure with strength. Make sure you leave room for your door, as well as any windows that you would like to have in the shed.  Steel sheds are again easier here as they come ready to assemble.

Add the Walls, Roof, and Door Before Painting

When you are ready to add the walls, you can either use plywood and nail it into the frame securely, or use a premade steel kit. The same can be done with the roof, which you can add shingles to in order to protect it from the elements. The last part would be to install the door and add the windows. Then, it’s a matter of painting the shed and customizing the interior with shelves to make it easier to store everything you need in an organized fashion.

As you can see, there are several steps involved in building a shed for your backyard, but once you’re done, you’ll be so proud of the work that you’ve completed.  

New Furniture for our Front Porch

We used to have  a wicker set of outdoor furniture on our front porch but it's design is for a bigger  space so we moved it to our back porch.  My husband grabbed the opportunity to get the  glider that he wanted from the Amish furniture store.  

We got the double glider and two single ones.  The name of the store is Swiss Country Lawn & Craft and it is located in Walnut Creek, Ohio.   They have  large collection of the area’s finest Amish-Made lawn furniture such as  gazebos, swing sets, and garden decor.  It's a perfect place to get the things in beautifying outdoor living areas. 

It is a bit pricey but the quality of their product is  really good.  The double gliders has a foldable  cup holders and space to  lay  plates or any snacks you may have. I love  that this kind of material is very easy to clean.  The product is made of composite material which I prefer more than wood.  We paid $1, 331.94 for all the three  pieces including  sales tax ($87.14) and delivery fee of ($202.80).  The gliding chair cost $216 each and the Settee glider is a bit expensive ($610).  The delivery fee could have paid for one more item but we didn't have the means to pick it up.

This set of furniture was our anniversary purchase.  Hubby and I no longer  buy each other gifts on our wedding anniversaries but rather we buy something that we can both enjoy using.  We agreed to have this one for our 15th.

We have a big porch at the back and I want to enclose it with glass windows in the future if budget permits.  I love hanging out at the back because it's a lot fresher there because of the trees but my husband likes sitting out front as he says  hello to our passing neighbor.  I like my time to be quiet lol.  

Anyway, these bright pattern pillows will be  of great addition to the  back porch furniture next year.  Right now, it is covered to  protect it from the harsh winter.  Bright colored pillows are great accent to add  a pop of colors in a space like our old porch.  I hope that when our kitchen remodeling project is done, we can do something  for our back porch.  I would like to enjoy my  grey old days in there, it would be nice.  

Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  I was provided with the complimentary product/s mentioned  for testing purposes and to help me  facilitate this review but  opinions are my own.

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We picked these Amish furniture set for our front porch to replace what we had. The old one is perfect for our back porch. #furniture #AmishFurniture

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Dec 13, 2018 at 3:21am PST

Five New Hobbies You Could Try This Month

Variety is the spice of life, and as such we should all be trying to gain new experiences and learn new skills. Yet, life can be busy and there’s not always time to dedicate to finding new hobbies in your local area.

Chances are, there are many more activities right on your doorstep than you’re aware of — it’s easy to be blinkered and only see what you’ve seen before. Why not set yourself a challenge to try one or two (or more if you can!) If you’re stuck for ideas, here five new hobbies you could try this month…

Get crafty at an art workshop

Now, you might be thinking: “I’m not an artist.” However, everybody is creative in some way, and perhaps you’ve just not found your personal channel for this inventiveness as of yet.

Looking in your local area, you’ll find plenty of different art and design workshops run by competent and friendly teachers. While some of them may be set up as six-weekly courses, there will also be others that are taster sessions, lasting only a few hours, to allow you to dip your toe in the water.

Take up a new sport

Joining a sports team — whether to play for fun or competitively — is an ideal way to exercise, have fun and make new friends in your neighborhood. Perhaps you played a lot of soccer as a kid, now may be just the time to reconnect with your past sporting prowess! Look for local fun leagues and head along to a meetup, just to see if you’re still game.

Explore your musical talents

If you were less of a sporty kid but enjoyed playing music, you could look to reconnect with your musical interests.

There’s no denying that learning a new instrument costs money; guitars, drum sets or any other instrument doesn’t come cheap. Luckily, some music teachers will provide an instrument for you to practice on first, so you only need to invest in the hobby should you wish to take it further.

Another great way to get back into music is by attending a concert. Check listings to find a ticket sale for an event in your nearest stadium or concert venue.

Give back by volunteering

If something a little more altruistic piques your interest, you should ask around for volunteering opportunities in your neighborhood community. You could do anything from teaching children to read, helping out at a soup kitchen, working in a community garden or befriending an elderly, isolated person.

school volunteers

Stretch your green fingers

Whether you’ve got a backyard or not, these days there are lots of mini gardening setups to grow your own fruit and vegetables around the house. Not only might you find it fun, but you’ll also be saving money on your weekly grocery bills — plus, eating food you grow yourself always tastes better! If you manage to yield an abundance of crops, you could invite friends over for dinner made entirely from your new hobby, or offer some of it around to your neighbors. Again, another great way a new hobby can bring friends together!