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Off Topic: Other Interests-Hobbies
I love to knit, too. I dye and spin wool, too. Anything sheep is okay with me. ****Julia - are you on Ravelry.com? If not, you might enjoy it!
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And I also like travelling, but being rather expensive I do it a lot less than I'd like ;)!
Great thread!
I enjoy cooking and baking although I don't do as much as I would like. I love to cook a big roast and bake bread.
I also enjoy walking- going to the Lake District with my bf and climbing hills. I'm trying to improve my fitness so at the moment I swim and go to the gym (it's not really a hobby!). I aim to do a triathlon at done point in the future.
I love to travel as well.
I enjoy cooking and baking although I don't do as much as I would like. I love to cook a big roast and bake bread.
I also enjoy walking- going to the Lake District with my bf and climbing hills. I'm trying to improve my fitness so at the moment I swim and go to the gym (it's not really a hobby!). I aim to do a triathlon at done point in the future.
I love to travel as well.
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I'm not in nearly good enough shape for that, but I enjoy hiking in the desert and kayayaking in the bay near my home. I love to go out kayaking when it's just becoming light when all the seals are still sleeping on the moored boats and there's only the soft lap of water and creak of lines. How I miss my friend I used to do that with who moved away! But when I visit her in Oregon, we always get to do something - river rafting, skiing, or hiking.
My other hobby is going to theater (if that's considered a hobby). I usually see a play once every couple weeks.
I love doing that aswell Julia, just going on random drives. Since my other half learned to drive we've been to loads of places we probably wouldn't have went to otherwise.Besides reading travelling is probably my main interest. I always try and visit at least one new place a year and if I had more money I would constantly travel!
I write but not as often as I'd like, watch films - wish I was more into sports and exercise but I'm just not at all.
My two hobbies are drumming(hand drum; djembe) and drawing. We go to drum festivals here in Florida that are a lot of fun. There's workshops during the day, for adults and kids with classes on different styles of drumming from around the world.. Early evening musical shows that are wonderful. Then an all night drum circle! Twice a year & we rarely miss them! The drawing I find so fun & relaxing I could get lost in it for hours. I had no idea that I was actually good at it until last year. It's a great release(stress) for me.
I'd love to draw, Mari. Unfortunately I lack a creative side!
Greg- It will only be a sprint (400m swim, 20km bike & 5k run). I was signed up for one this summer but I had to pull out as I needed to move house that day. I did run a 10k in May but I've not run as much as I should since then so I've lost fitness.
Greg- It will only be a sprint (400m swim, 20km bike & 5k run). I was signed up for one this summer but I had to pull out as I needed to move house that day. I did run a 10k in May but I've not run as much as I should since then so I've lost fitness.
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Thanks! I have to actually do it now!
I do music - I'm a classical vocalist (coloratura soprano - yes, that kind of soprano) if you wanted to know. I sing choirs, but I haven't had the opportunity to do choir or voice lessons in ages and ages, and my voice has gone to pot, sadly. Instead we go to concerts, the opera (we have a seasonal subscription) and festivals.Aside from that, I love fishing when I get the opportunity, travel of all sorts, watching films (does that count as a hobby) and writing, which I do at the most inconvenient times - like before a class presentation or exam.
Chris - Yes, I'm trying to learn my way around it.... I've found alot of patterns I'd like to try as I increase my skill level.Laura - I love to swim, but haven't done any since moving to FL. Gators in the lakes and sharks in the ocean.
Heather - I'm just recently getting back into cooking. And a triathlon? You go girl!!!
Greg - Do you ever see any whales, otter, sharks?
Genia - I've never listened to or been to an opera but I have always wanted to go. And the ballet, I would love to see a ballet.
Mari - is there a website that I can search for the festivals you're talking about? My BIL is a drummer in a band and I think he would enjoy something like that.
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Greg - I still wouldn't go diving in... as you said if there are seals, there are probably sharks. I didn't realize that GW Sharks were found as far north as New England along the eastern seaboard, or that they came into the Gulf of Mexico. I just learned that last year on Shark Week - one of the best weeks for TV, just sayin'
I love collecting and making bookmakers! If you want one let me know I'll try and make you won as a surprise!!
Some fabulous hobbies here! I play classical piano - favourites are Chopin, Debussy, John Field, Fanny Mendelssohn.
And in recent years I have started to make jewellery (metal, wire, stone, wood, shell, my hand-made beads, macrame, shamballa, fabric - no plastic!) I love to choose my stones individually as they are each unique in colour and pattern. I make individual pieces for friends, family, and friends of friends. I did sell some once but don't like to do that really as it seems to spoil it somehow, and so I just charged what the materials cost.
I try to made the right style and type - a one-off piece designed just for them, whether male or female. I think of their favourite colours, whether they'd like a young trendy piece, a masculine piece, a finely-crafted dainty piece or a chunky, earth-mother piece etc. I put my pieces in proper jewellery boxes. And for any New-Age people I can match the crystal properties and esoteric aspects. For others, they just appreciate the beauty. People seem to love them :)
Lei - What do you make them from? I just usually use a subscription card from a magazine.
I love to cook, in the winter I make all kinds of soup. I also love to travel. In years past we usually took three vacations a year but the last couple my health has not been the best. This last summer we only managed a small 4 day trip.
cardboard decorated or with more time cross-stitch a name. stickers, decorations etc. Nothing big
Aside from reading my other obsession is watching anime. When I'm not reading, I'm most likely watching something. I also like to play videogames, tennis, soccer, and some chess (though I'm pretty bad at it).
Jean - I don't wear jewelry, but I love the look of wire jewelry. Right now I'm into knitting, which I love, but once I get better at that I would like to try my hand at a couple more crafts, jewelry making being one of them.Diane - I LOVE soup. I can eat a good soup 24/7. My favorite is avgolemeno, it's a greek lemon soup.
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Like Heather and Diane, I like to cook. I make almost all the bread we eat. My recent creation is a Parmesan rosemary focaccia. My husband's favorite is cinnamon raisin walnut bread. I also collect cookbooks.
My other hobby is my dog Charlie. I spend a lot of time with him, and he's often my motivator to get outside and walk with him at least twice a day. This has helped my physical and mental health. I also actively play with him at least 3 times a day, and he always makes me laugh and smile.
Jean, my younger son Kevin has a degree in music theory. He plays keyboards of almost any kind and also the cello. His father is also a musician. (Unfortunately I'm tone deaf, though I do love music.)
My other hobby is my dog Charlie. I spend a lot of time with him, and he's often my motivator to get outside and walk with him at least twice a day. This has helped my physical and mental health. I also actively play with him at least 3 times a day, and he always makes me laugh and smile.
Jean, my younger son Kevin has a degree in music theory. He plays keyboards of almost any kind and also the cello. His father is also a musician. (Unfortunately I'm tone deaf, though I do love music.)
I love singing (mostly oldies) and like collecting my favorite songs in my Youtube channel. I would sing along while playing the videos. On my Hong Kong home visits, I would get a chance to sing with my old schoolmates at karaoke sessions. Recently I've taken up the hobby of creating my song videos for uploading to my YT channel.Link to all my uploads: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
Heather wrote: "I'd love to draw, Mari. Unfortunately I lack a creative side! Greg- It will only be a sprint (400m swim, 20km bike & 5k run). I was signed up for one this summer but I had to pull out as I needed..."
Sounds very impressive to me; I couldn't run further than the bus stop! ;-)
Greg wrote: "I'm not in nearly good enough shape for that, but I enjoy hiking in the desert and kayayaking in the bay near my home. I love to go out kayaking when ..."
Lovely to be out like that, to see the seals and enjoy the quiet when no-one else is around. I love early mornings like that.
I like walking, though I'd definitely class it as walking rather than hiking (low intensity, moderate distance; 4-12 miles usually); however I don't get out as much as I'd like these days (need to change that). My main interest is wildlife, with my background interest in history growing somewhat over the last year. My brother and I tend to go on wildlife walking holidays around the UK (particularly around Suffolk and Norfolk) but through the year I like walking my local area to keep an eye on the local wildlife, trying to spot patterns in where and when animals appear throughout the year and looking for interesting behaviour, plus seeing if anything unusual turns up. It's nice sometimes to go out and be able to predict things like that a certain bird will appear and sing on a particular bush or that Wheatears passing through on migration like to spend time perched on a particular manhole cover at the edge of the field (some of the town drains pass through here), because it's slightly raised and they get a good view while still being low to the ground, which they seem to like.
Jean wrote: "Some fabulous hobbies here! I play classical piano - favourites are Chopin, Debussy, John Field, Fanny Mendelssohn. "
I wish that when I was younger I'd actually learnt the piano but I didn't have the dedication to do more than just mess around with it. I love the sound of the piano - it must be lovely to be able to play one properly Jean.
This is a fascinating thread. Thank you so much, Julia! Who would have thought our "other" interests would be so diverse?I arrived at my jewellery-making from an Art background, which perhaps explains why I resist selling them or making more than one of anything. (I dread people saying, "Can you make me one like that?" Fortunately it doesn't really happen that way.)
Because when younger I used to dislike Crafts, I'm wondering if others too have found their hobbies changed over time. I suppose often an active sort such as kayaking - and even walking to some extent - lessens, and something else pops up to take its place. I know a few people who used to play sports, but now just seem to watch them!
But I don't know where my jewellery-making sprang from really, All my family used to do something - be keen knitters and needleworkers, and an uncle did marquetry, carpentry and watercolours. My brother has always been a better pianist than I am. We used to have a lot of silly fun playing duets when younger, but I would usually dissolve into giggles as he seemed to pinch all my notes! And then tip off the piano stool as it was only really meant for one ...
Perhaps the truth of it is we find our own niche ;)
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Laura - Laura - I love to swim, but haven't done any since moving to FL. Gators in the lakes and sharks in the ocean."
ARG! You've left only swimming pool - and they're not so appealing as the sea!
@ Julia... The festival I primarily go to is called Paralounge, it's twice a year in Oct. & May in the Ocala Nat'l Forest. The website is www.paralounge.net. There's a few others, but nothing quite like that one.@Heather... I started drawing by using step by step books and It happened to be something I am good at. I took a few years of art in school, but nothing had developed from that. Give it a try! It's fun!
What I love most is working outside. I do it as much as I can. It can be raking or picking up pine cones or leaves or pulling up a few huge weeds. Working outside makes me happy. I breathe better when I come in and I sleep better at night.
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Mmmm. Greg, you simply HAVE to read Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants. I am 100% sure it will impress you. When you get around to it....Yeah, one hesitates when you first go out, and drag on your boots and think "I gotta go out there", but soon you are happy. I swear by it.
LauraT wrote: "ARG! You've left only swimming pool - and they're not so appealing as the sea! ..."
LOL.... I do not swim in the ocean, thank you very much JAWS. In NJ my aunt & uncle had a 20-40 pool and I was in it all the time, but I don't have a pool here in FL. I've been getting out trying to get out and do some walking every day after work, but that doesn't always seem to work out. I do like Pauls idea though, of going on a local trek to discern local wildlife patterns. That tweaks my interest to try harder to get out and stretch the legs....
Julie, if you want to go see an opera or ballet and never done so, you should. I'm sure there is something available on the local level in your area, and, though people have the odd conception that tickets are prohibitively expensive, unless you choose to go for the best seats in the house, they are not. A decent seat at the gallery can cost as little as $20-30 and is entirely affordable.
Genia - I've been looking on line and there is an opera program in Tampa. I'm not going to be able to go this year, but I've been looking into early next year. Thanks for tips on the tickets also.
Went to our Symphony's Holiday concert last night and they were wonderful. It's a smallish orchestra made of community volunteers, students/faculty/staff from the university, and the occasional paid professional. Last night there was a guest violinist who played pieces based on a gypsy theme. The way his fingers played was superb. The soloist received a great standing ovation and the orchestra itself received a well-earned standing ovation. The pieces they played were holiday based and at the last couple of pieces were decidedly Christmas pieces. The orchestra just keeps getting better and better!!
Do you have any other interests / hobbies in addition to reading?I train and compete in dog agility with my Bearded Collies. I have been doing this for 13 years and it is what I enjoy most.
I love to dine out and cook all sorts of things but lately am trying to stick to healthier recipes. My sweet tooth continues though and is always tempting me.
During the Winter when there aren't many agility trials, I enjoy painting.
Beth - I'll be heading off to the Euckanuba National Championship this coming weekend. They do have agility on an indoor course. I love to watch it. My nephew wants to get his dog started in it, any tips?
Hi Julia,How fun! Are you competing or spectating at Eukanuba?
Tips for your nephew ... find a school/instructor who believes in thorough foundation training before jumps and contact obstacles. Also, make sure the teaching techniques are positive so it is a good experience for the dog/handler.
We'll be spectators. We usually only go for the meet the breeds, but my nephew wants to see the Sat night group judging. I've surprised him by booking a room near the convention center where the event is being held so we can stay overnight, and then on Sun we'll attend the meet the breeds event. Thanks for the tip on how to get started. I'll pass the info on to him and his mother.
Beth, my life too is around dogs (and books of course). Are you going to believe this? I promise you it is true. Here goes. My daughter had an English Cocker Spaniel. He was sooooo cute. A black, brown and white one. She trained him in agility. We lived in Stockholm. To get to the training ground you had to go out the door and hop on a bus. So, one day we were all eating dinner and Hobson was missing. That is the dog, and he LOVED food so he was always at our feet at meals. Where was he? The apartment door had been open. He snuck out and tried to get alone on the bus. We picked him up at the nearby police station where we were told that a lady took him there because he hopped on the bus and she knew that was wrong. I know it sounds unbelievable, but it happened!
Fun hobby.
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It is not always easy to find good things though Genia. Around where I live you have to wait for the two world of Spoleto or go to Rome or Florence. Of course Milano's Alla Scala or the Arena of Verona are renown, but too far away
Hmmm... I guess bird-watching and cooking are probably my two main hobbies, although last year I started knitting again after a 15-year hiatus! Knitting is a great activity for audiobooks :) I have in the past been a hiker/backpacker and a white water kayaker but I am not so active anymore. Now I prefer to walk through the woods with my binoculars (and often my Audubon guide as well).
Leslie, do you walk on different paths or are they usually the same ones? I like walking too, with Oscar. I do it every day.
Chrissie wrote: "Leslie, do you walk on different paths or are they usually the same ones? I like walking too, with Oscar. I do it every day."Around home, I walk the same paths mostly although not every day! In the summer, I try to walk more often and in more varied locations -- I get too cold to enjoy walking much in the winter. Or perhaps that is just a convenient excuse, as I am a lethargic person :P
Leslie wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Leslie, do you walk on different paths or are they usually the same ones? I like walking too, with Oscar. I do it every day."Around home, I walk the same paths mostly although no..."
Dogs get one out of the house
All About Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Babette’s Feast (other topics)Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Donna Kato (other topics)Rex Stout (other topics)
Karen Blixen (other topics)
My BF and I love to go out fresh/salt water fishing. We try to get the lines wet a couple times a week. And b/c we live in FL, we can get out to the inter-coastal and do some salt water fishing. We've seen dolphin and manatees several times.
We also enjoy day-tripping. If the weather allows, we hop in the car and head on out, no specific destination in mind other than someplace we haven't been before.
The women on my mothers side of the family all have rheumatoid arthritis, and my mother suggested that I take up knitting or crocheting to try to keep my hands limber. I am enjoying it alot more than I thought I would. My goal is to increase my skill level so that I can make a cable knit sweater.