Just Visiting : Hamburgh Holidays

Alright, so sometimes there's an interesting event in your own backyard that's worth mentioning. And for me I'm throwing out Hamburgh Holidays. This is a series of events that celebrates the various winter holidays in the town of Hamburg, NY. But why is it interesting enough to mention? I love when people ask that part.

Hamburgh Holidays is an event that kicks off this month on what they're calling "Green" Friday(Black Friday to most shoppers aka today), continuing through December 31st with a variety of events for the whole family. I'm particular interested in seeing the Santa Claus Parade on Saturday November 25th, maybe I'll find someone who wants to go with me.

Anyway check out the calendar below, and if you decide to go to the event, let me know what you thought. Have a magical weekend and I hope you found what you were looking for.

Just Visiting : Timken Museum

So it's been a little bit since we told you about anything that there is to see or do. So today We want to share the Timken Museum with you. There are a few different reasons that we can recommend you go to the museum. One is that it has a variety of older art pieces. Another is that it isn't going to be an expensive stop.

The museum is home to a variety of artworks. From various artists around the world, and spanning a large amount  of time. There are some gorgeous religious paintings, as well as some beautiful pastoral scenes. In the American paintings area, the nautical theme is wonderful. Not to mention a lady holding a viper in her cup. It made me pause to wonder what the painter was trying to say.

There is even a Rembrandt painting in the collection. It's very dark, but it's still a lovely painting to get to see. It's not every art museum that has one. It's the kind of thing that's nice to be able to tell people that you got to see. At least, if you're interested in more classical art and history.

The people that supervise the museum are also very knowledgeable. So if you have a question they might have the answer. The museum does do special exhibits. So make sure to check their website, they may be showing a "new" painting you haven't seen before. This helps to offer different pieces for viewing and appreciation.

The Timken Museum is open with free admission 10:30am - 4:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday.  So don't bother trying to get in on a Monday. They're also closed for major holidays.'Located in Balboa Park in downtown San Diego, it can be found near a number of other destinations of interest. While admission is free, they do appreciate donations as a way to help keep the paintings and art pieces available for public viewing.

Timken Museum of Art
1500 El Prado
Balboa Park
San Diego, California 92101

Freedom's Lost

Freedoms are no longer free
they all come with a cost.
people have become unwise
common senses lost.

There is a certain hunger
driving common man,
looking for a wealth
without a cause to understand.

Freedom once meant flying
on wings of fancy free
now our wings are clipped
and the skies only to be seen.

Kept grounded from our purpose,
lost in others dreams.
things are more confusing
our own ripped at the seams.

but even in this madness
and the sadness that we see
there is still a chance there
that we all yet can be free

The chains may yet be broken
of the grounding we have gained
if we realize and see now
That we are the ones to blame.

By giving others power
over the choices we may have
we've given them our freedoms
Becoming societies slaves

They take away our reason
leave us barely to survive
but even as they grieve us
they leave us yet alive

Ours eyes can see
our ears still hear
our days go moving on
The time is marching swiftly
As the years fly seasonally on

Don't despair of freedom
there is no true loss you see
you're only ever as free
as you believe yourself to be

k.m.b. 2013

Studies : Child Nutrition and Cooking

So today is Saturday. This week was the second week of the online course I'm participating in on cooking and child nutrition. I know that there is a lot of different ideas about how to cook for kids, and what they will enjoy. The idea of this specific course is to bring families back to the table together. As well as open peoples eyes to what they're eating.

Why is this something that I'm interested in? Well for one thing what you feed a kid isn't really any different than what you'll feed yourself. You want your food to look good, taste good, and be good for you as well. This course intends to help us learn how to prepare a meal that is nutritious as well as balanced.

The course has gone over a few different topics so far. The teacher posts videos and explains how different things can be used to improve taste as well as create a healthier meal. She advises that it's better to use some butter rather than use an excessive amount of margarine. Another thing that was interesting to learn was how fresh garlic and onion can be used in small amounts to add a nice flavor to the food.

Some of the topics this course has gone over include: Egg, Six Ingredients, Vegetable Stir fry, Smoothie, Balanced Meal, Oatmeal, Pasta, and Almond Cake. How is the material presented? It's presented in a series of short videos in this course. What kind of work do you need to do for this course? You take small quizzes, and you are asked to complete one meal during the week following some specifications from class. (I made a salad and french toast to meet these so far.) So it isn't really all that difficult.

There are a number of free courses to be taken in Coursera I definitely recommend having a look. It doesn't hurt to see what is available. Educating yourself, whether for college credit or not is still good. Many of the free online courses offer a certificate stating that you completed it. So give it a look, maybe you will learn something new.

Just Visiting : Balboa Park Botanical Building

Today's Just Visiting installment is about the Balboa Park Botanical Building. This beautiful building has a wide variety of plants available for viewing. As well as an interactive touch and smell garden. This is a beautiful building to do photographs in, as well as a kid friendly educational area. Many children will enjoy the touch and smell garden, and the chance to view the carnivorous plants.

The Botanical building was originally built for the Panamerican Exposition which opened in 1915. It was billed as the largest Lath House, as well as being called the Lath Palace. It has a rather unique place in history in the way that the Lily pond in front of it has been used through the years. But that's a story for another day. We just wanted to let you know that this beautiful building exists.

I highly recommend it as a a place to stop if you're visiting in the balboa park area. It's beautiful, and the plants smell lovely. Not to mention the large Koi in the Lily ponds in front of the building. It's an all around lovely stop. It is also located close to a number of other museums in the park.

Botanical Building
1549 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101

Open Daily from 10:00am - 4:00pm (Closed Thursdays and Holidays)
Admission to the Botanical Building is Free

Just Visiting : The Albright-Knox Art Gallery

The Albright-Knox Art Gallery is an interesting place to see, for both visitors and the people that live in the City of Buffalo. Like many art galleries it has visiting art pieces, as well as a number of pieces that are constantly on display there within the building. They tend to have selections that are modern and contemporary available for viewing.

During M&T FIRST FRIDAYS the gallery is open from 10 am–10 pm. These happen on the first Friday of each month. What's special about these days? Admission to the Gallery is free. And if I'm correct that means that today is the first Friday event. ( I know this one is a bit late in it's posting for planning, my bad.)

For those wondering what the current exhibits are in the Gallery (besides the ones that are there all the time);
Agnes Martin: The New York-Taos Connection
Dennis Maher: House of Collective Repair
Kelly Richardson: Legion
Looking Out and Looking In: A Selection of Contemporary Photography
Artworks in the Knox (Education Exhibition)
=REMEMBER THAT EXHIBITS CHANGE=

What's the address?
Albright-Knox Art Gallery
1285 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14222

Just Visiting : Buffalo Historical Museum

The Buffalo Historical Museum has been documenting and caring for the history of the Niagara Region since 1862. The museum itself offers a number of displays and activities. These include activities aimed towards younger guests to the museum. That said it is a recommended destination for those visiting or living in the Buffalo area. A beautiful place for pictures, as well as full of fascinating exhibits and collections.

Exhibits at the museum include :
Community Gallery
Bflo.Made! (an exhibit displaying and showing off inventions, products, and artifacts made in Western New York)
Neighbors : The People Of Erie County
Native American Gallery
Street of Shops
John R. Oishei Pioneer Gallery
Spirit of the City : Imagining the Pan-American Exposition

Some of their Collections include displays of :
Iroquis
War of 1812
Erie Canal
Lives of Three Presidents
Industrialization
Immigrants
Aviation and the War Effort
Textiles
Paintings
Glass and Ceramics

The Buffalo Historical Museum offers free admission to visitors on the third Friday of every month. The doors open at 10 am and close at 5 pm, unless otherwise stated. They sometimes offer tours, as well as other exhibits. Some exhibits may require a separate viewing fee to enjoy them.

Buffalo Historical Museum
One Museum Court
Buffalo, NY 14216.

The Dates for the Third Friday's for the rest of the year are as follows. Hopefully this can help you plan your trip if you're interested in seeing the museum, and are there during the times listed you can enjoy it free or at a discount.

April 19th                   
May 17th
June 21st
July 19th
Aug 16th
Sept 20th
Oct 18th
Nov 15th
Dec 20th

Everyday Magic

Everyone is looking for something different to do or see now and then. Now, back in Buffalo our Disney stores closed down and aren't around anymore. So one of the things that I was curious to find out was if there was one around here in San Diego. And there is. When we hopped off the trolly they had a giant key behind the counter, and I was curious as to what it was for. The salesperson explained that every morning they use the key to start the day, opening up the imagination. Also she said if you come it's possible to get your own key to imagination if you're chosen to use the key.

Hrmmm... now where is everyone and why is it so quiet?

See Proof! We were there!*points at Polke a Dot in the picture near the key hole*

Lucky Little kids ^_^