I am not sure how it came up in conversation, but many people know that New York State has many official 'things.' The official snack is yogurt, the state bird is a bluebird, the state beverage is milk (why it's not hard cider or wine is beyond me) and the state fruit and muffin are the apple. 

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Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash
Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash
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The State of New York Has An Official "Bug."

Yep, cannot make any of this up as it is a part of the Official State Record of New York. So, what is our bug, and why is this 'bugging' me? For the months of October and November, I was removing about 3 or 4 of these little insects from my house each day. I don't know how they managed to make it into the house, but I did my best to make sure they left it. To be clear, I didn't kill them, I re-homed them by moving them back outside.

So when I found out that the Official New York State Insect is the Ladybug, I was instantly relieved that I didn't kill any of them.

When did the Lady Bug become the NYS Bug?

Photo by Dustin Humes on Unsplash
Photo by Dustin Humes on Unsplash
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According to the New York State Library, the Lady Bug (can also be ladybug) was adopted at the State Insect in 1989. The bug is actually a friend of most gardeners because they eat aphids, mealybugs, and other 'crop destructing' insects. It is also pretty common to see ladybugs being released at wineries as a part of 'organic pest management.'

So the next time you see a ladybug, recognize its contribution to New York State.

READ ON: Good Thing These Bugs Aren't Tops in NY, So Creepy

10 Upstate Ice Skating Rinks to Take Your Family To

Winter in Upstate New York means winter sports. Ice skating has been around for as long as Upstate has been around. Today we find rinks at resorts, in civic centers, in city parks and in open fields. Here is a list of 10 great places to take your families to this winter for a bit of fun on the ice! And as a bonus some of these rinks are in the most beautiful of places, like at the top of the mountain behind Mohonk Mountain House resort in New Paltz, or spread out along the frozen canals near downtown Buffalo. All are great. Have fun!

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Here is an eclectic collection of 13 homes that have wonderful back stories to them. Several are grand mansions, several are museums, one is basically a cabin, and one is attached to a lighthouse. Take a look at these "unknown homes of Upstate New York." And the best thing is that...they are all open to the public for tours!

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