The Challenge-When you have looked at this picture for 15 seconds.
What are your senses saying if you:
1. stand on the pavement
2. are sitting in your vehicle
3. are dreaming
4. are having a nightmare
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One of our favorite adventures is to walk the streets and avenues of cities. This provides us with a much better feel for what it would be like to live and play if we lived in that city. The smells, the sounds, and the sights are always very memorable. This is where you find the niche shops and local restaurants that provide the real taste of that city.
New city streets and avenues, try it for yourself and enjoy the adventure!
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For a wonderful and unique coffee shop experience, make your next stop The Red Barn in Greenville, South Carolina. Located at the corner of State Park Road and Beth Drive (across from the Olive Garden) and just a quick hop off Poinsett Highway is a charming and friendly shop that will add a smile to your day!
With a unique and wide range of options available, from a very enjoyable cup of coffee and pastry, to a place to relax and sit down for a conversation, to shop for all your gaming needs, to check out artwork from local artisans, or to shop for specialty gifts. You need to stop by and check out The Red Barn!
Owners Alan and Liesel Blakeborough provide a warm and inviting atmosphere for everyone. They have been active in the local business scene for the past several years with other business ventures, and you may already know Alan from The Knights of Sienna Fencing Academies. They are both a positive part of the Greenville business community.
Liesel has years of experience helping others through learning to dance and Zumba skills, and from sharing her creativity skills in crafts and artistry. You will feel this personal touch once you enter The Red Barn.
Comfortable cozy couches and chairs are located throughout, providing you and your friends a place to relax and enjoy the wifi while you sip on your coffee!
Creativity is the main theme throughout The Red Barn. An artistic touch is added from local artisans, and specialty gifts are available to meet your needs.
Welcome is how you will most definitely feel. Take the time to speak with Alan or Liesel when you stop by. They will always feel like old friends!
There is plenty of seating for small groups, couples, or stopping by yourself.
No need to ever go thirsty or hungry, as there is a wide arrangement of hot and cold drinks and snacks.
With the movies next door, and all the shopping possibilities around, this can be an oasis of relaxation when out and about. Take your next trip around Greenville to the Red Barn. You will be glad you did!
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Now that our first big trip is behind us, we are working on improving our Stars Nest (Hoshi Chao). After a five day trip to Florida, there were things we realized needed to be upgraded and improved. Taking the trailer away from your home and out on the road is the best way to determine what needs to be made better to make it a “Home away from home.”
If you have not read the previous Versions of the story of how this fifth wheel became our Hoshi Chao, click below:
Searching for the Right One? Hoshi Chao V1.0 – Purchasing
What Have We Bought? Hoshi Chao V2.0 Setup & Cleaning
Changing it All!! Hoshi Chao V3.0 – Making it OURS
Applying some colors!!! Hoshi Chao V4.0 Putting US Everywhere
First Big Trip !~ Hoshi Chao V5.0 We’re Heading Out
We were very pleased with the working flow of the kitchen area, but realized that the desk area was not needed. We now work both on laptops and needed both more counter space and large appliance storage.
First obvious change was to make a better kitchen counter top, no need for a desk area.
There was a “dead” area between the built-in shelves and the counter that we decided to link together to make a useful area. The key was measuring all of our appliances and making certain the width of the extension would service anything that would use the space. Ended up that the width of 14″ was perfect for anything in our kitchen to sit on this long narrow surface.
Though the stove has always worked well, with the advent of the George Foreman grill and various other appliances, we needed a place to store each electrical gadget. Once the desk was removed, we realized the depth of the shelving would be almost 24″ which gave us the much needed storage area!
Small appliances need easy access and storage
Several color chips and alternative materials for the top was brought home to review. Take your time in this process and make certain you know the pro’s and con’s with each material. We ultimately preferred the plastic laminate. Though there were other nice possibilities.
The gray colors blended with the white and red very well
Yes, we Love Lucy. It has been one of our favorite shows. With the purchase of the fifth wheel we already had the back splash ready. We did look at several glass and ceramic tiles and metal wall panel products, but Lucy ultimately won out!
We love Lucy!
The counter top even displayed well against the new colors. Take your time when selecting a new counter top as this a major color factor in the kitchen area. Taking the time to make certain that new elements do not make drastic changes to the feel or theme you are working towards is critical.
Still thinking about the right side of the stove for a different texture
The refrigerator and freezer worked well once we were home and even on this side trip, though we knew this was eventually going to need repair. Sometimes I drag my feet a little longer than I should.
Gray , red, black and white looking good together!
Even the television blends with the color scheme
The setup for the fifth wheel was becoming very comfortable. With time, and practice the backing up and connections become more of a second nature. We decided to take a quick weekday trip near our home to enjoy our Hoshi Chao and checkout life on the lake.
Setup at Cedars Creek State Park
Notice we are now flying our Marine colors ~ OORAH!
Our outside gear worked so well with the lake setting .
The lake is just off in the distance with the geese and ducks our morning visitors
Setting up camp and getting ready for the first evening is so special. We have started to realize that the first night makes a big impact on your trip. Focus on what you are wanting to achieve for the evening and work together!! Once we arrive my beautiful adventurer prefers to sort out all of the breakable items that we pack away safely into totes before we travel, while I handle getting the utilities connected, the relaxing gear setup and awning extended.
Getting ready for our first night, seeking romance…
Once you have worked so hard to make a place your own with decorations and paint, you feel such a sense of pride! Nothing that can take that away!! This project taught us a lot about ourselves, but it gave us something we did together.
Looking back towards the family room, bath and bedroom area
The bedroom area became such a comfortable area that we relax and sleep so well. Find your comfort items that are near and dear, then make certain to include them in your design.
A few candles, some low lights, and a few pillows
Bathroom area with no changes, doesn’t this photo look rustic with the bad lighting?
Okay, so I am a romantic, and had to photograph the areas with candles instead of lights. Doesn’t it feel nice!!! Now we are all ready for the first night on the lake.
Watching King of Queens with my baby!!
The counter top extension provided a nice surface for the candles
Who left the fan light on?
Continuing on with our project means only making it better at this point!! If you are not up to speed please check out the previous Version of the articles to understand our whole journey from initial purchase to where we are now. Keep reading, there are more versions to come as we keep fine tuning and making it better and better!!
Check us out at JenGaryNewAdventures.com and follow us on Pinterest.
Guess where we are? 🙂 I will give you a hint. We are visiting a mouse! Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, being so established with so many amenities, proved to be a wonderful place for us to start learning how to travel in our Hoshi Chao.
This is the continuing story of how we took the journey of traveling in a fifth-wheel. Starting with purchasing an older model trailer and enjoying turning her into Hoshi Chao, which is translated Chinese for “Stars Nest”. Our little nest as we begin traveling around this wonderful United States. Many lessons learned as we headed out, and patience being the best thing in our toolbox!
If you have not read the previous Versions of the story of Hoshi Chao, click below:
Searching for the Right One? Hoshi Chao V1.0 – Purchasing
What Have We Bought? Hoshi Chao V2.0 Setup & Cleaning
Changing it All!! Hoshi Chao V3.0 – Making it OURS
Applying some colors!!! Hoshi Chao V4.0 Putting US Everywhere
These sites are great! Every one is level, spacious and clean. There are variations of of coquina shell sand and pavement, depending on Disney’s level of amenities and pricing.
The first lesson I had to learn on this trip happened as soon as we left the driveway. Notice the truck tool box in the back of our truck? Well, the distance from the center of the ball to the edge of the toolbox was not as great as we needed once we turned a corner and immediately our first repair happened. The front bottom metal received a ding, crimp and trear, which I fixed the first day in camp. Yay!!! Learn from my mistake. Make certain you can have a tool box. Each truck is different in the length of the truck bed and the center ot the rear axle. I found out I could not have a tool box, the hard way!
Note: Our grandbabies and daughter have already started their artwork with chalk. The art we appreciate the most!
Once Hoshi Chao was set up and leveled, it was time to relax. We decided to NOT bring our computer with us, which really made it clear that our “desk” idea was not that good to function as a kitchen extension. Too many levels, so plates, cups and accessories had a hard time using that corner. Seemed like a good idea at the time…
Second item requiring repair appeared on the second day when the refrigerator quick working properly. For several months in our backyard it worked great. The freezer was keeping cold, but the fridge was not cold at all. We had to pull out our old cooler and work in that mode. Not a vacation killer, but when you are geared up to have a fridge it means storing things differently and getting ice daily. This will be repaired after this trip.
The “working” side of the trailer with the water, seweer and electrical connections and storage bins. Everything worked well, no concerns with hookups or panels.
I would recommend to all adventurers that you consider purchasing one of these folding, extendable ladders. They are great for just about anything you need to access you trailer, and fold down so small and convenient.
A closer view of the sewer hose and connection. Making certain it is secure and sloping properly is a key element to a carefree vacation. This is something you want to take care of when you are setting up and packing away. Do a good job so you do not have issues while you are camping.
A little glory shot of our truck and Hoshi Chao, so proud we are out on an adventure!
The awning looks much better than before, but there are many tiny holes in the fabric that we worked on throughout the stay at Fort Wilderness Campground. Duct tape is a beautiful thing, especially in colors that match! Our outside setup was comfortable and convenient for the two of us, our daughter and her three children. Plenty of room to move around and tables to sit and store items.
We purchased a lazy susan for the corner spice cabinet, and could not have been happier. Look around your trailer and I can bet there are locations one could make finding things much easier.
Hope you enjoyed seeing the images from our first learning experience. It was quite different than camping out in our backyard. Sure there were a couple of fails, but those can be fixed and hopefully not repeated! All in all a very wonderful time together, very happy with our fifth-wheel. Hope you are enjoying the ride!
Check us out at JenGaryNewAdventures.com and follow us on Pinterest.
We love to P A I N T- Picking out colors is so much fun! What a fun time as a couple, paint, paint brushes, seeing our little place transform before our eyes. This is our freshly painted room.
Now, we need to say that some of these photos are from a poor quality cell phone and you will see what we are talking about.
Sorry for these and this is the last article we will apologize.
If you have not read the previous Versions of the story of Hoshi Chao, click below:
Searching for the Right One? Hoshi Chao V1.0 – Purchasing
What Have We Bought? Hoshi Chao V2.0 Setup & Cleaning
Changing it All!! Hoshi Chao V3.0 – Making it OURS
Back to the story…
We started adding my little frogs in to our Beachy Florida theme. One is a frog vase that my second daughter and her husband got me about 5 years ago for my birthday. We like to keep incense sticks in it.
See my little green frog on the right, my dad gave it to me as a gift, so sweet, memories.
Notice the two colors selected in the blue-green color hue?
Remember all of those little wall mounted storage racks, and, of course picture frames? They are all getting a makeover in our new colors! Everyone and everything needs a makeover once in a while.
The kitchen theme became roosters and chickens, with the colors being white with red cabinets. Oh my, we kind of struggled with the red. Painting with no mistakes is very hard since red is unforgiving.
The little vintage refrigerator got a fresh color uplift as well. Sorry NASA, she is OURS!
Looking back from the kitchen you can see the Florida beach theme colors of aqua and green we used for the highlighting.
Being creative with the paint was a lot of fun. We did step in a drop of paint and walked it on the carpet, but quickly tried to clean it up! *Note, always keep rags, drop clothes and whatever cleaner nearby. The bathroom closet wall cleaned up great!
The wall mounted television worked out great and is at the just the right height. Notice how much brighter the overall space is with the ceilings painted a fresh white?
We are still working on the shelves for the electronics and display area. Ultimately, this was our decision to hold all of our needed items for the TV, but to also give us some area to decorate. The difficulty was that we wanted open space, so we installed only what we needed!
The bedroom started to get new themed mirrors and reconditioned hooks for hats. We moved these curtains in from the other room. On the to-do list is to make new curtains that will make the room pop (wonder what Version will be included)!
More themed and decorations mounted on the walls. In the bedroom we elected to paint the ceiling the dark aqua and it is so calming at nighttime.
The bathroom walls cleaned up wonderfully with a fresh coat of paint. We wanted to change the beautiful yellow shower plastic (yuck) but ultimately realized that since it was not broken , no need to fix it! A new shower curtain will cover the entire front, so move on………
The iron hooks were found at our local community center and reconditioned to match our theme. Notice, how using the two colors of blue and green in the bathroom gave the room some dimension in a rather small space.
This was just a little plain nightlight. We have a lot of shells from living in Florida. By gluing on a whole sand dollar it really blossomed!
We initially sanded and reconditioned the counter tops white. Insider note, in an upcoming version this has since been changed. For the initial time though this provided a solid look and kept our budget in check. Don’t you wish you did not have to have a budget!? I will say though, the two red sink covers did not last long.
The netting was from a large piece of decoration we took from our home. It once belonged to Moby Dick, but that is another story entirely…
The netting received hot glued shells on it and the reconditioned picture frames with ocean and beach designs really came together.
Our colors are slowly getting pulled in. We found a Welcome Mat that has the blues and greens to match our theme.
So beautiful when you step back.
Oh yes, we decided to keep the the couch. In the end it came close to our beach theme colors, functioned well as a fold out bed, and it was not broken. With the original finishes inside, we truly did not appreciate it at all, but funny how changing the other elements made it work out fine. Below is a photo of the couch folded out to make a bed with a red quilt.
I love my little pantry. Pulled out here and ready to fill. Then you slide it back in. DO NOT forget to latch it. Yes, we learned the hard way (lol). We traveled and got back in to find food all over the floor. Doesn’t our little old frig look amazing in red! Also notice how well the range hood cleaned up and painted in a gloss black. It matches the new microwave.
Here is an inside photo of the refrigerator and freezer, just right for us now.
I found a Happy Camper! Still making a few repairs, but most of our decorations are being placed around. Notice how nicely the computer area and rolling office chair works.
Our mirrors arrived! They look so classy. We could not hang them right away. Our weather was too cold and they would fall, not holding to the adhesive. There was room left for both of them to allow for a little decorating and storage shelf.
We found a perfect pic for the bathroom. Thank you Herb Alpert! She is covered in bubbles! Tried the use of the white jewelry mobile rack. My advise is NO. Most of her jewelery found its way out of the plastic through the traveling process and thus, we own it no more!
Love our bedroom! Total transformation from brown country to blue beach Florida. We have our quilts with Stars. They go with the title Hoshi Chao. Bet you hadn’t figured that one out did you?
Looking good! Still working with the sink and plumbing, one of life’s little joys. All i nall though it was starting to come together. Notice the completed shelving on the left below the television?
I take my own pics sometimes. Goof ball.
First time hanging baskets of flowers, wind chimes, and lights!!
We decided to try the zero gravity chairs and we love them. Plus the color goes nicely with our outside colors. Our wind chimes were fun to pick out as we traveled to Florida. Have you ever noticed once you get close to Ocala all the places to get souvenirs? This one has a turtle on the top, hust right for the Turtle Man.
Getting the books onto the bookshelfs, and towels into the center cabinet on the lupper left.
We tried to somewhat hide a Ron Jon sticker. We have so much fun in Cocoa Beach, shopping there, spending time in the surf. The desk chair has proven to be a plus for not only working at the counter, but rolling over is a comfy chair to relax next to the couch.
Do not dismay, this is only the beginning of the finshing touches. The next couple of Versions will cover taking Hoshi Chao on her first trips and the minor changes onces we began to live in her while on the road. Hope you are enjoying the ride!
Check us out at JenGaryNewAdventures.com and follow us on Pinterest.
First order of business-Removing all the built-in cabinetry in the eating and family areas. Once that began, the carpeting needed to go, as it was outdated and in worn condition. The removal of the bench seat and carpeting made it clear there was a leak from the outside access storage hatch.
As the hatch was not needed any more, that was closed, locked and sealed around the perimeter. Then replacement of the damaged wood supports and subfloor could take place.
If you have not read the previous Versions of the story of Hoshi Chao, click below:
Searching for the Right One? Hoshi Chao V1.0 – Purchasing
What Have We Bought? Hoshi Chao V2.0 Setup & Cleaning
A little better picture of the extent of damage from the water leak.
When you are looking at an older trailer, take all the time it requires to check all outside walls, especially at connections of outer walls to the roof, penetrations from equipment and pipes, and any openings on the sides. Better to know and ensure that these areas are all secure and sealed. If you need to re-seal now is the easiest and cheapest time to repair!
Minor cleanup at the couch location. Be careful of the gas and water lines that run behind and along your areas. A little damage can go a LONG way down the road when everything is back in place.
The resilient flooring was acceptable for now, while we determined what type of flooring materials we wanted for the lower level. The carpeting was kept on the bathroom and bedroom areas as the sun had not faded, nor were there worn areas as in the kitchen and family areas.
This is where there was cabinetry and shelving for the small TV. So much better to open up. We looked at several ideas online and were weighing the options for what fit our needs best.
Still-Undecided on what to do with the couch. It was not at this time something that we loved. We began looking for options and also, to determine what theme would be used in each area. So important (And Fun) to match all items to the theme!
I think NASA might have wanted the refrigerator and freezer, but we elected to keep. SORRY NASA, you can’t have it! I don’t think the silver will stay though…
We removed the cover to the over stove cabinet and measured to find that new microwaves require more space than back in the 1980’s! Who knew?
The range hood came off easy, and the disgusting look was mostly from surface rust. Time to spend cleaning, sanding and painting. Then Magic. Looks brand new!
The old microwave location proved to be a whatever type of space. It did not have a door, and we were uncertain if we wanted to install one. Time again where we started thinking of what would serve best up in this space. That is the fun of working together and taking your time. At this point we are really just removing the old, repairing or replacing, so, who knows what it was to become!
The cabinet space continued to be amazing as we opened each door and realized how they would function. We didn’t think we would use all of them, but trust me, we did! A girl can not have too many cabinets in her kitchen 🙂
This phase of the repairs and renovations took a few weeks as our evenings were just too busy. That actually made it so much better for us to take our time and work on areas together and discuss the potential. I encourage you to not rush through this phase either, once you know what you want the finishes move fast, but this is where you make it special.
Her is one of our little ones, bless all of them, they love to be close to us. Our beautiful granddaughter was a tremendous helper and she loved to dance to the music while we worked (lol).
This is the state of our awning. We kept it rolled out so that the sun could dry it and take away some of the stain. We reviewed various options from replacement to repairs and thought it best to see where the overall budget fell before making any final decisions. Thankfully, with some minor taping and caulking, most of the leaks are sealed and with some cleaning it looks much better.
This is fun! We are in the process of staging the walls for new paint. Picking out colors together!
Our thoughts at this time was for a computer/work area on the front left where the old bench sat, using an office chair with rollers.
More preparations filling holes and cracks. Take your time, it is so easy to miss a few here or there until you have the paint brush in your hand!!
The leak in the kitchen floor was fixed, dry and getting ready for new flooring. Still working on the final touches for the outside wall cover paneling.
The computer/work shelf was a nice addition, unfortunately, for me, I spent too much time gazing out the side window (lol).
We started to cover the entry area wall in the family area, still thinking through what we felt was needed. There are so many possibilities for storage and decorating your home. Shelves, bins, cabinets, or nothing at all! Since we took the time to remove the original, we wanted to be very certain before adding back into the space.
The weather proved to be fantastic! Beautiful, sunny, hot summer weather. Windows open, fan on, and music playing. Prepping and sanding the walls for paint.
Whatever type of furniture we felt would cover these pipes and duct.
Once we determined where the wall mounted television would be installed, additional plywood wall backing was installed. These exterior walls are really not sturdy enough to hold that much weight, so plan ahead when remodeling yours. Remember the old corner cabinet up there, so much cleaner!
The medicine cabinet was removed, not something Jennifer wanted, and we decided to order custom mirrors to fit both sides. We kept the cute little sink and cabinet below as is.
The wall paper was decided to stay, and we would paint over. A test area was completed and it looked great, so why bother removing and having to patch?
This is the corner shelf that was in the family room minus the front screen cover. It was too nice and handy to toss. Jennifer needed a little more storage, (who knew),:) so it is in our room.
The previous owners had replaced the roof, but the damage from before needed to be remedied. We utilized for all the ceiling areas Kilz paint. This paint is great for painting over areas where there is a discoloration or mold.
Not much to do in the bedroom corner.
All of the little storage knick knack (is that a real word?) items and things to hold small items were taken off the walls and set aside to recondition once we determined the themes and colors.
We hope you are enjoying these articles on our journey to make this fifth-wheel Hoshi Chao, OUR star’s nest! Version 4.0 will be coming soon with the application of the themes and colors!!
Check us out at JenGaryNewAdventures.com and follow us on Pinterest.
From V1.0, we explained how the name Hoshi Chao is taken from Chinese traditional language, meaning “Stars Nest.” This is the continuation of the story of how she came into our lives and what it has meant for our adventures!
If you have not read V1.0 please take the time so you can get up to speed. Now that she is home, we are getting very excited and can’t wait to start working on her. As promised earlier, these photos are going to really impress the look and feel of the original vision. Continue reading
Ever thought about traveling as a way of life? Not waiting until retirement, but as soon as possible, heading out to new and exciting places!! Changing the seasons by moving around the country? Seeing more of this great land and the entire world we live while we still are able and full of energy.
How would you want to travel? Do you fly and hotel it everywhere? What about taking your own custom home with you? To feel the freedom of travel and adventureand still have the comforts of home!!
An adventure into New York City’s Chinatown for some upscale Cantonese-style dining. Yes, it is time for a trip to the Golden Unicorn.
Located at 18 East Broadway in New York, is an upstairs delight. Opened in 1989, as one of the early upscale restaurants in the area, the Golden Unicorn is a warm and inviting dining experience. Take either the stairs or the elevator to enter a dimly lit area with several round tables for either a private meal, or a group dynamic.
Photo courtesy of Google Earth 
Photo courtesy of Golden Unicorn website
The Golden Unicorn (please click) offers delicious dim sum steamed, deep fried or baked. During this dining experience, our group included four of us who selected several varieties of foods as they were brought around for our approval.
Photo courtesy of Golden Unicorn website
A variety of beverages were available for selection including beers, soft drinks, and cold or hot teas. The service was kind, polite and quick to offer assistance. Though they would rather not offer you a fork (lol).
Photo courtesy of Golden Unicorn website
For a few in our group the dim sum experience was a new adventure in dining. If you share this lack of experience, do not let it keep you from trying your hand at making good selections. First, the staff was very helpful in taking the time to show each of us what each basket contained, and second everything was delicious!
Named one of the five best restaurants in New York City in 1996 by Food & Wine Magazine, we were all very pleased with our experience.
Though open and spacious, the noise level was fine, allowing for low level conversations. This helps when sharing with others how to hold chopsticks!
Photo courtesy of Golden Unicorn website
The Golden Unicorn proved to be everything we had heard, and more! Make this restaurant one of your top five when in New York City and your adventures will be one of very good memories.
Check us out at JenGaryNewAdventures.com and follow us on Pinterest