Extracurricular Activities -- okay flist, what do YOU do for fun and games?

[paragraphs]

So, was talking to sanginmychains about knitting today. And yesterday. And over the last month. Slowly but surely, she is somehow tickling my curiosity enough to give it a try. I think. She's even found me a good knitting store... oy oy oy! (And, I agreed to check it out during lunchtime this week!! oy oy oy!)

This is the darn thing that started it all, when I got it in the mail:

Isn't it gorgeous? You know you think it is. I do. I have it sitting in a clear baggie next to my monitor so I can pet and admire it.  But really, this isn't what it was meant to do with its life.  

This has got me to thinking.  I have not indulged in a hobby in a long, long time. I used to do all sorts of things creative--from painting to drawing to gardening and even cross-stitch.  I loved it all, but...I don't do any of it anymore.  Sure it is a lack of time but also, there is always so much to do I don't take time for pure creativity  (see previous post's whine).  Oh and I am not talking about writing, which I am making time for (not enough, but working on it, and today I was really good about writing, and also getting some crit work done woo) and reading.  I am, actually, about to finish reading a book I started only Monday. Whoa.  

But, I'd like to open my mind to the possibility of something else.  And yes there is knitting, but that is a rather solo endeavor, which may just work out.  I'm curious though what my flisters like to do with their free time.

So! Flisters!  Do tell me!  What do YOU guys do for fun? Outside of lj, outside of work, outside of school, outside of writing.  What creative world do you dive in? I'd love to know.  Who knows, you may inspire me like Sang has.  You never know....

C
 

Comments

[blue-fjords.livejournal.com]

Hello, new friend! :)

I like to cook. And bake. Basically, anything w/ food. I got a Chinese cookbook a few years ago and have thoroughly adopted about six recipes from it to put into my menu-rotation and have tried lots of others. For baking, every year at Christmas (I celebrate Christmas) I make: Christmas butter cookies, gingersnaps, scrumptious layer bars, seven layer bars, reese's squares, Christmas M&M cookies, black forest cookies and Scandinavian almond bars and give them away to my co-workers and friends. Oh, and I make snowball cookies, vegan cupcakes and apple-walnut tarts for the vegan co-workers. And Christmas bread (braided bread stuffed w/ cinnamon and sugar; it's over a foot long) for M's family. It's one of my favorite things to do! I went on this weight-loss kick two years ago, so Christmas is basically the only time I get to bake anymore. And I work for a vegan organization, so I am expanding my repertoire w/ vegan recipes on occasion. Have also dabbled in gluten-free stuff, but my good friend w/ celiac's disease moved to London last year and I have not had an excuse recently.

Other things: I work for an animal protection non-profit, so occasionally do volunteer-y stuff for animals (although more phone banking than hanging out w/ doggies, but sometimes I do get to hang out w/ doggies). I have two dogs and a cat, and like to spoil them rotten.

Also, hiking (more like walking, actually, it's not all that rugged). I live on the corner of a State Park, so it's easy to get to and I don't have to take M's car.

I like to travel when I have the money. Haven't had it in awhile, but my brother lives in the Middle East and I really like to visit him.

So them's my non-fandom hobbies!

[fictional-one.livejournal.com]

Do you belong to the those two adorable puppies in your icon? Too cute.

[blue-fjords.livejournal.com]

Yup! And this is the cat. She is Queen of All.

[fictional-one.livejournal.com]

Pretty. Our cat was abused before we got her. 13 years later she's still Queen of All Under The Bed.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

LOL I love to cook too, but this year have worked hard to drop 40 lbs. and keep it off, so cooking fun things (baking) is out. I like making cookies now and then though. (I actually discovered in all this that staying away from wheat products made me feel better--that is tough, being gluten intolerant. I'm not, don't think, but--I just skip that stuff now).

Animals--oh I am a sucker for them. Love your puppies! My two are in my user pic--the black and white is Maddox, he's my boy, and the red and white is Shelby, who Nick officially adopted as his. I have a Springer Spaniel too, Claire. Had a second Springer but Scotty passed away from old age this past fall. He was 15, a really grand age for a Springer.

Travel, oh that is a given!!! (Is saving madly for Wales!)