Sjogrens World Forums

Hi  :)

This is another thread that was run some time ago but many have left the forum since then and many more have joined.

What are your hobbies and interests - when you are feeling well enough to pursue them?

I go to a women's singing group once a week. We wouldn't dare call ourselves a choir because few of us have voices good enough to sing solo. It's like there's safety in numbers. As well as singing we don't take ourselves too seriously and we always have a good laugh which is very cathartic. The way we sound has actually improved too.  I don't know how long I'll be able to keep going because the throat dryness is now more of an issue than it was but I may just go and listen because havingb a laug is good anyway!

I also spend far too much time on Facebook playing silly games but it keeps my mind active.

Apart from that I like political arguments which are easy to have on line but - please note - I try to keep them out of this forum!!  :)

What about you?

Take care b- Scottie  :)

I have dropped out of most organized meetings including politics.

I like electronics, robotics, and computers.
Massage, reflexology, Reiki, and other alternative health care.

Now I just tend to spend my days with the TV on and on these forums so that I am not so alone.

I make costume jewelry, nothing fancy or expensive. Glorified beading is really all it is.

I also watch a lot of tv. I'm a sucker for reality tv.....Big Brother, Survivor, Say yes to the dress, Bridezillas.

I also like some of the basic cable shows, like Damages, In Plain Sight, Burn Notice.

Today, I'm watching the Phillies. I'm not a knowledgable fan, but very enthusiastic, lol!

mmmmm?

I like exercising in the pool.

Reading.

Crossword puzzles and Jumbles.

My grandchildren (most of the time).

Movies!!!!

Eating, especially out.

My friends and family (most of the time).

Planning things and doing research on the plans.

Kisses

Elaine

I love reading and writing although I am not too good at the latter. 

Road trips.  I love them! It seems like all my troubles are gone the entire time I am gone. 

I used to love day hiking but I can no longer do that. 

Cooking, especially baking.  I am into Rose Levy Beramburm's cookbooks right now.  So far, I have The Cake Bible, The Bread Bible and The Pie Bible. 

It will be interesting to see what everyone else is into now.  Maybe I will find some new interests to entice me. 

Good idea you had!

Joyce

Thanks for this thread Scottie.

My hobbies are not physical ones, but I love to read, and to send time on a couple of forums. And, for any other fan, here's a confession

I'M A DEAL OR NO DEAL FANATIC   ;D Would never have the guts to go on the show, but love to watch it.

KAthyx

Here's a few things I really enjoy doing around work and appts. for fun......

**Being on the computer playing games and of course Sjogrens World!  ;)

**Watching so many of those silly reality shows, but especially hooked on Big Brother and The Amazing Race!

**Love to do genealogy (tracing both sides of my family)

**Love my animals...I am one that seems to find all of the ones that need to be rescued!

**Music, music, music.....

I started a garden, it is close to about 7 acres,
I must of been temporarily insane. That, and I never knew I had sjogrens when I started.

I have a proporgation house to take cuttings to fill in the gaps in the garden which keeps me really busy. In fact sometimes I think maybe too busy, like more frantic. My husband built me my propagation house and finished it on mothers day.
When  asked him where my roses were, he replied, heck, I made you a propagation house you can make your pwn roses.
We have over 50 acres of land here which is my husbands dream. Just to own a bit of land and be responsible for all thats on it.
Which at the moment is over 100 ewes and over 80 lambs, 2 rams, not including the husband  ;D 1 labrador dog that Im sure is brain dead, and of course me who is perfect lol and hiolding it all together lol

Since my health problems I got back into my love for reading.

Gotta luv those reality shows -I love several,really like the shows with amazing cakes,cupcakes ect.
I am thinking about decorating a cake at the end of the month for my dad's bday

I like taking my kids to the zoo,children's muesuems. Tomorrow we are going to the CATHAVEN. A place that has BIG cat species.

I like to help in my children's classrooms at school. I enjoy teaching sunday every sunday for a class full of two yr olds:)
I used to teach a class on Weds full of 20 five to six years olds. That was to much to handle:)

Love watching family movies with the kids. And my quilty pleasure, my soap Days of our Lives

Love to travel,3 years ago I went of a 7 days cruise. Hope I can do that again that was the most relaxing time of my life:)

I love photography and scrapbooking. I have too many books to count and I like to do them as gifts for friends and family, who really appreciate them.

I used to knit and crochet but can no longer do that.

I'm a sewer although am limited as to that now also. I do tackle the odd quilt still but takes me forever but much satisfaction when finished.

I'm a shopaholic although most of it is done on the computer these days. Love a bargain.

I read a lot. Mostly mysteries.

I spend time on the phone everyday with friends and family who live far away.

I do a lot of research on the net.

When I can afford it I like to do paper tole. I find it is very challenging and satisfying.

One of my favorite "interests" . . don't know that I would call it a "Hobby", is going to garage sales.  I've been going to them or having them my whole life. 

I've found some real gems (to me) through the years and am proud to point them out to visitors to my house.   :D

Another interest of mine is playing games . . whether they be board games around the dining room table, a word find book, or on-line.  My favorite kind of games are the ones where I am "challenged" against other players to hold the #1 position.  I hold that current position in several of the games I play on-line.   ;D

Bucky

I like going to garage sales too - not only for the bargains but the social atmosphere/interaction. 

I've always alway been a book worm but as a kid it was always "historical" stuff - but I developed a high vocabulary. I try to stay away from the Friends of the Library book sales as I'll end up with at least a full box to take home. You don't want to know how many boxes I Already Have. LOL

I enjoy genealogy but have eased off that for awhile due to all my overtime at work. But I mull over it every so often. I am back to 1800 proven and further on some lines due to connections with others - if their info is correct.

I volunteer for agroup that helps elderly, disabled or low income folks keep their companion pet. We take food out once a month and help w/spay neuter, vet etc when we can so I help with fund raisers too.  We are finally 501c!

I would like to take up quilting again but it takes soo much time and you ever try to quilt/sew with pesky cats?   ROFL  ;)

My cats (9 ;D) and dog, cat behavior, nature, movies, music, chocolate, gardening, my websites and photography.

Thanks for starting this, Scottie!

I love detective books - Anne Perry; Peter Robinson; Dorothy L Sayers; Robert Parker etc - and TV detective dramas. 

I keep my brain as active as possible with Kakuro and Killer Sudoku puzzles.  I'm also trying to learn how to do cryptic crosswords. 

I love reading the newspaper every morning and then emailing/texting/Skyping my children and boring them with details of what I've just read!  I get very excited about positive stories where people have made a difference; and very angry about injustice and cruelty.  I reckon there aren't enough of the first type of stories.

I love old films, especially romantic ones like Casablanca and Brief Encounter.  I'm also a sucker for war movies like The Colditz Story.  Anyone got suggestions for films you can watch when you're feeling low?  My current favourite cheering films are Speed, Runaway Jury, the Bourne films, anything by John le Carre ...

On good days I love to cook but when I run out of energy my poor husband has to do all the hard work!  I always have the radio on too - BBC Radio 3 for wonderful music, and Radio 4 for The Archers, the best soap ever!

Chickpea

Bopeep,

I organically garden ONE acre.  I can't imagine 7!

I have two dozen chickens and if egg sales go well, I will expand to 3, or 4.....heavens, you live in what I consider heaven....

All those little lambs!  Maybe a goat or two?  I have 3 brain dead labs.

I used to spin wool...on a spinning wheel, but now with the neuropathy and arthritis I cant....but, I do other things....like chase chickens.

Oh Scottie, this is a breath of fresh air. I enjoy seeing what the other are doing. I am a reader, always have been always will be. I read every time I sit down it seems. I read the newspaper and get one everyday and one once a week which is a local paper that is silly to have but you can't do without.

Also, I hit every thrift shop I can and buy used paperbacks and even some hard cover books if the price is right. I am into the books like Vince Flynn writes. There are so many good writers out there and it is amazing that they can come up with so many new story lines. WRiting is sort of like playing the piano---there are only so many keys and look at all of the wonderful music that is made.

I also crochet-- when I feel like it---afghans that are a made up pattern and just for warmth. I would like to get my house arranged so that I could make a quilt for all the grandkids. Easy ones made out of large pieces of material. I have all the quilt batting and many new sheets that I bought for backs and was going to make fronts up as I went. Here's hoping that will get done.

I am a political nut and watch a lot of political shows and listen to the talk shows on the radio. When the elections come I am kept busy. You will never know what party I am cause I don't have one. About 10 years ago when we got cable I got into this and I find it keeps my mind active knowing what is going on in this crazy world.

I am a hopeless fan of House Hunters, Propery Virgin, House Hunters International ( I love Italy) plus I like Divas, Diners and Dives. Other than that I don't think there is much on TV to watch.

This is so great. We all have our ailments, but there is a life out there and doggone it we are going to take part as best we can. Irish ;D

INGA

hehehe seems like all labs are brain dead, bless their little stupid hearts lol.

I do have to admit I couldnt do the garden without my trusty sprayer. Had I known I was this ill 12 years ago I am sure Id never of started my garden. But in saying that as Im sitting here looking out at the beautiful vista Iv created, weeds and all lol I know it was a good thing to do, and it seems the birds do as well.
This year we have a pair of phesants looking like they are going to nest in the magnolia garden. Great, but it means the garden is off limits now til the birds have left the nest.

We also think its heaven Inga. We love it. problem is anyone that comes to stay never wants to go home.  ::)

I think goats are cute but on someone elses property hehe

I also agree with  everyone else this is a great thread scottie

I'm enjoying reading about everyone too. I just remembered that someone else started a thread like this a few years ago and thought bit was time for a re-run!  :)

It takes me forever to find posts and respond, so I'm a bit behind here.

I like gardening and all that goes with it. My sister and I go to garden sales together and trade plants out - that's half the fun. And I like arranging flowers. My goal is to be able to have flowers and/or foliage all over the house, all year around, and not have to buy any at the florists or the grocery store. So I'm constantly tinkering to fill in gaps in the flower calendar. And my sister and I are both seriously thinking about chickens, now that our city allows up to 8 on a single residence property.

The other thing I like to do is Japanese tea ceremony. It's more than a hobby now since I've started teaching in the tearoom at my home.

And my husband and I like to travel together - our next trip is to Vietnam and Cambodia. In recent years we've been to Japan, India, and Greece.

Reading is great fun, but nowadays I mostly read books relating to my various interests, and cookbooks, rather than fiction. When I do read fiction, I like mysteries with interesting settings and historical fiction best, which is kind of like traveling.

Genko

     With a name like "quilt4fun", I guess it's pretty obvious what my main hobby is!!  I also sew everything from baby coveralls to curtains. 
     I like to knit and crochet,  my job allows me to do this when there are no customers in the store.
     Reading Christian novels by just about any author takes up spare minutes too.
    I used to do a lot of flower gardening- but they got sadly neglected this summer.
    My husband and I like to go camping, but don't go out as much as we would like. Have a 25' travel trailer. Lancaster, PA is one of our favorite areas.
    Also have done some geneology, traced one  family line back to King Edward( I didn't do all the work! just found that someone else had!) Also found that my husbands and my line met about 14 generations back!  Got started on this when my mom gave me old pictures and I started scrapbooking them.
    Baking is another favorite pastime, I'm told I make the best sticky buns and dinner rolls.  But I don't each much of them--too many calories. Making cookies from scratch with the grandchildren is also lots of fun, They love to run the mixer!!!! And they take most of them home .

All right folks, stand back now while I crack my fingers!  Okay then, let's see now... :)

Pictures please Bopeep!  You have a magnolia garden?  Oh.my.goodness, I adore the darn trees and would love to see what you've done with your garden.

Pisces, you are an amazing lady, and to help the old, the ill, and the low income folks keep their pets is beyond words!  Bravo, bravo!

I read by the tons (often donating books to the local library), and also love to crochet and needlepoint when I have time too.

Like Journey, you'll often find me out among nature as often as I can (not nearly enough in my opinion). 

My love of chocolate is not to be believed (it's the undiscovered food group, right? ;) :D


Patze

Of course I prepend this list with the usual "If I have the energy...." Heh.

I love the outdoors.  I finally got up enough energy to go to a state park with my husband and daughter a few weeks ago and do some hiking in ravines here in Indiana.  My husband has taken my daughter there often and I could never go because I worked 3rd shift on weekends.  Finally, I made it! And it was fantastic.

Serious computer geekyness in my house.  My husband is a software engineer and we have a gazillion different types of computers all over the house.  We do all kinds of graphic design, web site development, computer gaming and so forth.

The Wii! Oh my goodness, why didn't this thing come out ages ago?  I'm pretty good at the bowling ;) We got Rock Band 2 now and Band Hero so we have all the instruments and the whole family plays together.  Of course my daughter is the drummer.  Fantastic outlet for all that 8 year old energy.  After a couple beers, my husband can even goad me into singing.

Fantasy Football.  Oh yes. The NFL American football variety for our overseas friends.  I'm in two pro leagues, one small one and one big one with individual defense players.  And a college football one.  I'm still working hard to get the big team going.  It's a lot of work and since my brain goes on vacation every 5 seconds, I have to work about 50 times harder than everyone else to keep my players organized.  I won the Super Bowl in my small league last year!  And the college league, well, it's a bunch of us from the other two leagues and we have no idea what we're doing so it's just pure fun.

I have pets.  If a pet has a sad story, it seems to find its way to my house. I even got a cat given to me at the grocery store once! Heavens... Love 'em all though.

My husband, bless him, loves to cook. He's also from Wisconsin.  Wisconsin is the beer, cheese, sausage capital of America. Webuy the cheese, but he actually makes home-made beer and sausage.  I, of course, am the primary taste-tester.

I do dabble in art, some sewing and so forth. Halloween is coming up and it is also my daughter's birthday. Every year she gets to ask me for a costume and it's my birthday gift for her.  Some years she goes easy on me... A cat... A soldier... And then there's the not-so-easy years. Galadriel from Lord fo the Rings... and this year's masterpiece, a -dragon-. Oh boy.

It's been a pleasure getting to know everyone a bit better from reading this thread.

Scottie:

This is a happy topic, in oppose to the issues we normally see.

Yap, I am a Argentine Tango Dancer- pretty good at it too.  It is not as aerobic as Salsa or Swing- but really tones the muscles, and I do get tired afterwards.  Helps me sleep.  I do this 3-4 times/week- each time 3-4 hours until I collapse.

I use to sing in a very good choir - but lately, my voice is getting horse and having a tough time hitting the high notes (soprano)- so I quit 6 months ago.  I also play the piano.

Anyone want to go dancing with me?

Pegasus

Wow Pegasus!

Tango Dancing 3-4 times a week for 3-4 hours?? I would absolutely die!!  :D

More power to you...you go girl!

It has been fun getting to read all the post and realize that even though we all have different interests and hobbies, we all have Sjogrens in common.
My husband and I go to the mountains on some weekends, He has a hunting camp, its a dump, but we have running water and indoor plumbing.  We have 4 and a half cats.  We take Rufus and the kitten, Reuben with us most weekends.  We are teaching Rufus to walk on a leash.  It is slow going but he trusts us so he is patient most of the time.
I love reading, almost anything from history, to autobiographies, to mystrey and horror.  I also like to watch movies, My husband can't go to the theater but we get movies from Netflix.  We play card and board games. I also love to put together jigsaw puzzles, but I only do them in the mountains.  I need a room that the cats can't go in and eat the pieces.   I love getting together with family and friends.
I also love to go to wine and food tastings.  I worked at a winery for almost 30 years and I love a glass of wine with dinner sometimes.  I like Cabernets and Shiraz.   
I am starting to volunteer at out local hospital.   
Oh and I also watch Days of our lives, and House and a lot of comedies.  We love to watch Sons of Anarchy on FX.
Jules

Thanks, Scottie, this IS interesting...

1st: So glad I found this forum. It helps deter my feelings of isolation, which was getting pretty bad a few months ago. So much better now!

2nd: I actually enjoy cleaning/organizing my home. I know, I'm a freak. :) But after working so many hrs. for so many years just giving the house a little love, now I enjoy simple ways of making it look better and be cozier. Hey, I'm here most of the time so might as well be my sanctuary.

3rd: Trying my hand at quilting again, since I have the time. Gives me a sense of being creative and productive.

4th: Yep, love some reality TV. Amazing Race, especially. I love seeing all the countries. Also gotten hooked on Home Hunters and Hoarders...that one gives me motivation to clean and organize! I also watch football with the hubby.

5th: Love music and books.  I am new at this extra time thing, since just stopped working in Feb. So many things I didn't take the time to really enjoy before I try to look at with a new appreciation. I'm still adjusting to the "new me" and still get frustrated sometimes when I can't accomplish what I want to, but I guess it's a process I can work on each day.

This is an older topic from last year, but we've had so many newbies that I thought it would be fun to bump this back up to the top of the list to see if we can add any more posts to this thread.

From what I've read in others posts on the forum - we have a talented group of people here!   ;D

Several of our members have run marathons, are crafty, dancers, teachers, etc. - what do you like to do in your spare time?  (Or, maybe it's a paying job for you . . all the better.   ;D)

There are a lot of different things I would "like" to try - but, most every hobby or interest costs money and is too expensive for me. 

Looking forward to reading what is added to this thread.

Bucky

I keep telling myself I want to get some lessone and start playing my violin again - that I have not played for years!  But I've just never got around to it ::)

Can you tell I love hiking?  The Rocky Mountains is my backyard, my goal is to do a "14er" ie a mountain peak that is 14,000 ft or more, before my Sjogrens gets any worse, so hopefully this summer...

Have always been a reader; when I was a kid I had my favorite tree to read in, combining reading with my love of the outdoors.  I was doing a garden with the kids at one of my schools but haven't had the energy lately, am cutting back my schedule so hope to restart.  My animals are guinea fowl (a never ending source of amusement and they eat grasshoppers like crazy) and barn cats.

I love to meditate, it is so calming.  I don't watch much tv, my interest right now is in paring down my possessions so I can focus on relationships.  It is harder to do than I thought, especially since I love a good garage sale like the rest of ya, fortunately there aren't many around here to tempt me!

hikerknees

Glad you brought this one back around, Bucky!  So many new people to find out more about.  ;D

Pisces, playing the violin sounds wonderful! Maybe you can make some time for it soon?

hikerknees,
I enjoy your posts. I hope you get to that mountain peak sometime this summer. We visited Pike's Peak with an older aunt when I was a child, and she hustled up the last steep part to the lookout much faster than me or my parents. She was in her early 70's then!
You have guinea fowl; those must be interesting. I think my mother's family raised them, too.

Hope to hear from lots more people. Tell what your interests are!

READING! My favorite thing to do since I was a kid and still is  ;D

I also enjoy doing anything with my daughter: cooking, gardening, swimming...(oh yea, my husband too, hehe)

I used to run everyday and did half-marathon races until I had my first flare in 09  >:( I still can't find something that makes me feel the way running did but I've been swimming a lot and enjoy to walk.

I have a Great Dane/German Shepard dog that we rescued last year and she's fun to play with, a real gentle giant.

I like to can (jam, veggies) just made 40 jars of strawberry jam.  Next will be blueberries and my favorite, blackberry!  We have tons of bushes on edge of our woods.

I have watched "Days of our Lives" since I was 8 and would cry if it ever goes away! Addicted to "House Hunters International" now too

I like to go to garage sales and auctions

I would love to learn how to :  1. knit  2. do yoga  3. learn Reiki 4. play the guitar

Carie

Most of my time is spent with my daughter, and getting the hours of every day to suffice... But, when I DO have time to do me-things, I:

1) take care of the garden we have at our summerhouse in the norwegian woods close to the sea... I have lilacs, blueberries, redcurrants, raspberries, a huge stone-bed with loads of different flowers and plants...and the forrest, we take down 2-3 huge pines or birches every year!
2) read! Always have at least 2-3 books going (working in a publishing agency, I guess it's mandatory...  ;) )
3) knit! Sadly, my arms and fingers have not been able lately!
4) sew, especially girly dresses for my daughter...will be so sad the day she no longer appreciates her mothers home-made clothes!  ;D
5) chat online! I have several forums I attend to, as well as Facebook... This hobby tends to get last call, though...
6) work out. Not favourite hobby, but needs to be done!  :P ;)
7) watch tv/movies... Nothing like curling up in the sofa in the summerhouse after a long day outside, putting on a dvd, glass of wine in hand...  8) ;D

I find this topic very inspiring!!! A lot of the things I love doing just don't get done! But seeing other people doing them, makes me want to as well!!! Thanks!!!  :D

Okay, I will come clean if I must. While I had a lot of hobbies before this disease, they are now changed.

1. Meditation: I do this for many hours per day to manage pain.
2. Listening to and sometimes watching TV.
3. Massage and Reflexology to reduce my pain.
4. Reiki to help family, friends, and myself to be calm and heal.
5. Posting on this forum and answering emails.
6. I am trying to reduce this bad habit of visiting doctors.

:) :)

Interesting topic. I would break hobbies into two times of the year.

Springtime:

Forecasting then watching tornadoes and severe thunderstorms!

Rest of the year:

- Computer things unrelated to what I do at work, Facebook, photography, SciFi, reading history, watching football, and learning about almost any science

ScienceGuy, Don't you just love the square root of a negative one and its translations as they relate to SciFi!

Hi Scottie,
I'm new to the site. I love to read! I do it all the time. My daughter bought me this great pillow that holds the book so my hands don't get sore from holding it. I belong to two book clubs. They each meet once a month. I go whenever I can. I try to limit my activities when a meeting is coming up so I'm sure I'm well enough to go.  They get me out of the house and engaged with other people. It also offers some much needed brain stimulation! I highly recommend book clubs to other site members. One of mine meets at a local book store, the other at my church.

Take care everyone,
Bels

Penguin hockey, steeler football, reading here, try to work on my old jeep when my arms let me,
Watching the hummers come to the feeder in the summer,
Seeing al the baby birds come to the feeder with there parents to get fed,
Yelling at my doxie, for doing the same bad thing over and over,, I might as well try to teach a zebra to balance a beach ball on its nose,,

Awww One and Only, you got to let the Doxy think that its his idea or he won't do it....very stubborn those hound pups can be! :D


Patze

Hi One and Only,

Just had to add that I am huge Packer fan. Gotta love those Super Bowl Champs! I hope there is a season to watch this year!

Bels

Hi again  :)

It seems like a long time ago I started this thread but it's great to see it's still going. I've just put out a bit of money on a new pastime. I think a bit of me is planning for stopping work - although I haven't done anything about that yet.

I've bought a digital 'craft cutting machine' and various items for either cardmaking or scrap booking. I've made a few cards for people and am going to make logos for T-shirts in the workplace.
If I stop work I think I'll make scrap book embellishments and sell them on Ebay.

I'm still singing!   :)

Take care - Scottie  :)

That sounds wonderful Scottie!  

Wow, what will the lovely "little tykes" do with out you to guide them?  ;) :D

And please let me know your addy so I can order stuff from you too (wish I was as talented)! ;D


Patze

This is an older topic started in 2010, but we've had so many newbies that I thought it would be fun to bump this back up to the top of the list to see if we can add any more posts to this thread.

From what I've read in others posts on the forum - we have a multi-talented group of people here!   ;D

Several of our members have run marathons, are crafty, dancers, singers, painters, teachers, etc. - what do you like to do in your spare time?  (Or, maybe it's a paying job for you . . all the better.   ;D)

Looking forward to new replies of what your hobbies and interests are.  Maybe, some of the older posts here have added new interests or hobbies too.   :D

It's always good to have something you are interested in and takes your mind off of Sjogren's for a while. 

Bucky

I love going to yard sales, flea markets, estate sales etc. I have found so many bargains and items that I might not see in the stores where I shop. I like to mingle with the people.

I like reading. I have found that audio books are nice to listen to, especially if read by the author.

I like to bake and decorate cakes. I used to do this for a living at one time.

I like taking walks. Intertwining with nature makes me feel real good. I have a dog and two parakeets too.

Now that I have more time. I will discover other interests. I won't focus so much on my ailments. I still have to remind myself that I cannot over-do any of these.


Duchess

I just wrote a whole list, and hit something I didn't mean to so it is gone into cyber space.

I love to sew/quilt/craft, watch humming birds, other birds too, have fun with our 4 dogs, and 1 big white cat, drive on country back roads where we usually see a lot of wildlife.

I like to read, watch House Hunters, Property Virgins, House(not sure why), an occasional Waltons, and Little House on the Prairie (there I admit it).

I have a guitar that I need to take some time to learn. I also have a small organ that I haven't played much yet.  I use to play the piano pretty good.

I have a passion working with all age children (the former teacher in me).

I want to learn how to make cloth rag type dolls to give as gifts, and to donate to other children.

I just love these days looking at the good in the simple things now, and I love it.

I also stay glued to talk radio. I love when I can to do extra things in our home to make it more cozy too. It is a slow process for me though. (but that's ok)

I LOVE COFFEE!!!!  I will never give up  coffee. We both enjoy it first thing in the morning until it is empty, in the afternoon until it is empty, and all the way until bed time.

I have always wanted to write a book, but something holds me back.

well, that's all for now folks.

susanep :)

susanep :)

Like most mind depends on if I'm up and about or stuck in bed for days on end and of course the time of year. Shesh never realized my life was so complex lol

I LOVE Nascar.... I also LOVE Football! To bad my hubby doesn't like either one  ::) Football is almost over so that means nascar is right around the corner! And so is spring lol See this is how I keep the seasons in line.

I do like to read but I'm very picky. My favorite Author is VC Andrews.

Playing games on facebook - so addicting!

I like to make candles, felt type things (lately it's cupcakes) I also like to bake and cook home made when my body says it's ok to do so :) I tried to garden last year but I couldn't deal with the humidity so it turned into hubbys job lol I want to start making jewelry... I'm sure hubby is already rolling his eyes saying "more junk"  ;D

I'm not one to actually watch tv or movies but I also can't go without it in the background :)

And my animals, they are my company when hubby is at work. We have a Great Dane/Collie Mix, Hairless Chinese Crested, 3 cats and a big tank of Angelfish that I just enjoy watching swim around. They are such a pretty fish :)

At my "sick" times it's a laptop and a few animals in bed with some books around :)

I enjoy spending time with my 2 children, especially during school holidays.

I enjoy cooking and recently have become interested in baking and enjoy my children getting involved.

I love eating nice meals especially Indian food and eating out.

I also like reading especially biography.

I love the theatre and have watched some amazing shows.

Reading has always been my all-time favorite hobby.  So nice that I don't have to give that up!  I never thought I would, but I bought a Kindle Reader before a trip to Ireland last year.  As much as I love the feel of a book in my hand, the Kindle has been a Godsend.  No more pain from holding thick books & it slips easily into my purse so it goes to appt's & such without bulk & heft.  My favorites are historical fiction, southern fiction and suspenseful mysteries.

I used to oil paint.  I haven't since being diagnosed.  Must do something about that.

I love any type of crafting/art.  I have the unfortunate & expensive habit of seeing something & thinking, "Hey, I can make that!"  I then buy all the supplies, make it for a while & then move on to something new.  Craft & fabric stores are very, very dangerous!

Photography - especially landscapes & children.

Nights on the screened in porch with music, wine & good conversation.

Any other bass clarinetists out there? I'm in 6 different bands, three with the Shriners (concert, swing and German) and 3 community bands.

Plus the usual suspects: reading, writing, making silk flower arrangements, petting my dogs, cooking, not too much gardening, some embroidery and mending. \
Sharon

Ah Sharon, you aren't busy enough are ya?  Wow lady, you have a tough schedule!  And I'm sure that you love every minute of it too! :D


Patze

Well, now that I'm not working and I actually have time to think about my interests...lol

I (like so many of us here) love to read.  And I write, too.  I published 3 books so far.  Nothing big, just 2 books on how to do stuff, and a children's book that I also illustrated.  My novels are imcomplete at this point.  I do have one other book that is finished but I am so emotionally involved in I am almost scared to publish. 

I absolutely love anything artistic.  Up until 3 months ago (when this all hit me and I swear I had a stroke), I was in the Art Institute for animation.  I can't wait for the brain fog to clear and the dust to settle so I can go back!  I also have my own face painting business and a mural painting business.  I also make charcoal and pencil reproductions of black and white photos.  I am more of a replicator than an original creator, but I'm working on the creative part!  :P  I also like to invent things.  I've invented some of the greatest things you've never heard of!  I am also the lead developer in a non-profit group where we redo the bedrooms of children with cerebral palsy into stage sets of their favorite places as a means of escape for them  :).

I love gardening, but only things that I can eat.  I have a 900 square foot garden and I grow food for our family and I give the excess to neighbors, friends, and the local food bank.  My husband is the mayor of our town and I am trying to persuade him to take a chunk of land that is at our local community center and make a garden to sustain the local food banks fully.  We have lots of volunteers to make it and work it, it's just keeping the hoodlums out of it that's the problem...

I love to dance.  I used to teach tap, jazz and ballet, but took lyrical and Fosse too.  Tap was my favorite, but it hurts too much now.  When I drink (once or twice a year) I think I'm a latin dancer, but no one else thinks so... :-[ except my poor rhythmless husband who also thinks he is a great latin dancer   :o So you could say we're just two peas in a pod  8)

We live on the water so I also love to fish, crab and just look down into the water to see what's running around in there!  I love anything alive really.

I do a lot of charity work, but it never feels like charity.  Mostly for kids with stage 4 cancer.  We put on a big benefit every year to raise money for a specific child to get the treatments they need.  Our first little girl (4 years old) did 7 chemo treatments and the 8th had less than 1.5% chance of working so the doctors initially said it wasn't worth it. She got so sick every time they did the treatments.  Her parents wouldn't give up, so we started the foundation because of her.  We raised the money for her to get it done and she is now cancer free :)

If all that wasn't enough, I have 3 wonderful little girls, an amazing husband, a very stinky breathed old chocolate lab whom I love, a rescued baby bunny rabbit who thinks she's a dog, and 5 zany ferrets!

Who has time for Sjogren's???

Scottie that sounds great with scrap-booking etc. The cutting machine your talking about sounds great. It really does help to have something to get our minds off things.

I have joined a quilting board since my sewing. Have even joined in a activities where before Christmas everyone that wanted could turn their name in and their likes, and then each got sent another's name and address, and sent a package to the other with some store bought things (but kept to little things), and something we each made (pin cushions, etc.), and most sent a piece or more of material to their secret partner.

It was so much fun. Then I am going to put together a scrap book of these things and the places they came from. Even though I didn't have to leave home, except to go to the post office, I felt like I had been with a group.

Nice hearing everyone's interests.
Welcome all New Folks
susanep :)

This is a long lived thread. So many people here to share their activities and hobbies.

I haven't been interested in the scrap booking but I have a grand daugher who is doing it some.

I have to add that I am now back to my crocheting. I had a big doilie or white crocheted round tablecloth that I must have started about 15 years ago. I am now trying to finish the last rows. How big around it gets depends on how uch thread I have. It has a nice pattern and probably will give to my grand daughter.

I am also working on crocheting dish cloths. It is so much fun cause you can just make up the pattern and do anything you want. There are also so many patterns online to download and print. I also have another project going that is a rouond baby blanket. I had never seen this pattern before. I think it is called "Jacobs Ladder" and you use the varigated smaller soft yarn. It isgoing to be something a little different.

If I have good luck with this baby blanket I will try to make one for each of the grandkids.

I have a question to ask people. How many of you have trouble doing any of the folk art painting these days. I would love to start in but cause I have some wood items that I could finish. My hands shake now and it sort of ruins my ability to make a neat flower, etc. This is really a bummer.

Keep those craft ideas coming. Internesting stuff. Irish ;D

I used to salsa dance a lot, but haven't been able to do this for a while.  Occasionally when I feel OK we push the rug back in the house and dance in the living room.

I love my Kindle!!! ;D I read a lot! it saves me when I feel sick during the night.

I am part of a book group, we meet once a month to discuss a book we choose to read.  I love hearing everyone's different opinions.

I like to socialise with my friends, I save energy up by resting as much as I can when not at work.  My friends bring so much joy to my life.  We all have different interests and hobbies, it is nice to be able to drop in and out of activities when I feel able.  It has also taken some pressure off, as when I don't feel great my husband still has a big group of people to go to the movies/dinner with.  Our relationship has grown stronger because of our great friends support.