I have always been an avid reader. I have a childhood memory of not having a new book to read and being so desperate I picked up the A encyclopedia and just started reading. Perhaps this was the beginning of my love for non-fiction? Buying books for a new semester of college was a heavenly day for me. Yes, I read my textbooks! Hubby and I have dates where we spend a couple of hours roaming a Barnes & Noble. My favorite kinds of books are those similar to Disciplines of a Godly Woman, biographies, and theology. I am finding that I enjoy reading historical narratives, too. Hubby is a big influence in that department.

I started running in high screwl. I enjoy competing in the local street races, but I am not fast. I have some long-term running goals that include a marathon, but, again, I’m in no hurry. This Tuesday there is a meeting for the local TnT running group. I may go. Then again, the meeting is at the same time as my book discussion group…

One day, a couple of years ago, talking on the phone to a friend I confessed that I was feeling blah. Her advice to me was to get a hobby. My first hobby choice was stamping. I bought a bunch of rubber stamp sets and ink pads and paper and set about making cards for everything. It was fun making cards, but I’m not all that creative, so it became a real chore to come up with a good idea for a card. I learned that I am very good at copying someone else’s idea. My favorite part was cutting out the rubber stamp and sticking it to the wooden block. The last six months I have not done one thing with this hobby. I realized I could really use the space this equipment was taking up, so I sold it all on ebay. Apparently, there is a huge demand for stamping supplies around North America. I made back a significant amount of the money I spent on this hobby.

I have also attempted to take up sewing and needlework. I would love to be able to make dresses and things for my girls, but I am a long way from doing this. Sewing is something I should have learned many moons ago, but I avoided home-ec like the plague. No self-respecting feminist (as I was) would ever take home-ec. I even rolled my eyes at the girls who were learning to make clothes and showing off their designs. And here I am, frustrated to no end that I cannot teach my daughter valuable skills. I am enjoying the couple of aprons I recently made for myself. I like the instant gratification sewing provides. I am working on a pretty needlepoint project to hang in our bedroom, but since I can only work on it on the weekends I may be a long way off from hanging it up. It will be worth it, though.

My latest hobby is blogging. You can see the results of this right here. My hobbies don’t take up much space in our home. Our book collection is always growing, but I love to see books all over the house. This also fosters a love for reading in our kids. I do want them to love good books! My blogging hobby is the ONE thing that I do that has rubbed off on Hubby. He started his blog, Noneya, last week. He says, “This blog is about stuff I like. Everything else is none of your business.” He has written a rather humorous post about his most irritating hobby. If you love Star Wars, or are married to someone who does, then you will appreciate this. In the very least, feel my pain.