Getting To Know You: Hobbies

Welcome back to the Getting To Know You linky-party! Each week we'll be posing a series of interview-style questions for you to fill out and link back up.  Feel free to include photos if you'd like - the more creative you get, the more we'll all get to know about each other.  Each week will have a different theme, so we can learn all about each other.  And, of course, if there are any questions you don't feel comfortable answering, go ahead and leave them out.  Here's how it works:

1) Copy the questions below.
2) Fill them out - be creative, we want to see the real you.
3) Include some photos if you like.
4) Grab the button to share so everyone can link up.
5) Check out a few new people and make some friends!

I'm looking forward to getting to know you all!

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Getting To Know You #2:  All About Your Hobbies

1) Aside from blogging, what hobbies take up most of your time?

2) What do you consider to be your most unusual hobby?

3) Do you have any hobbies that people might not expect you to?

4) What do you consider to be your greatest hidden talent?

5) Are there any hobbies that your family takes part in together?

6) Has a simple hobby ever lead you to a grand adventure?

7) What is your newest hobby?

8) What is your oldest hobby?
9) Is there a hobby you wish you had the time or talent for, but it just hasn't happened?


And my answers:

1) Aside from blogging, what hobbies take up most of your time?
Aside from blogging, I don't have a lot of time for hobbies.  I have a little shop where I make jewelry and electronics pouches (I'm splitting and moving the shop - keep an eye out for a grand re-launch in August).  And once in a blue moon I really love cooking and doing theater. I used to play my flute a lot, too, but I get it out maybe every 6 months now.

2) What do you consider to be your most unusual hobby?
Survivalism.  Hubby and I have watched so many apocalyptic movies and tv shows lately (have you seen Jericho?  you should) that we've really gotten into talking about (and even kinda preparing for) how we'd survive "the end of the world as we know it."  It's scary and fun at the same time.

3) Do you have any hobbies that people might not expect you to?
I'm still a newbie, but Hubby is really drawing me into the world of Sci-fi.  Anyone who knew me pre-marriage would be shocked.

4) What do you consider to be your greatest hidden talent?
I'm not sure I could call it a "talent" but most people are surprised to learn that I have a degree in acting.  I haven't had much time for shows, lately, and I can be deceptively shy.  But I've done my fair share of work on (and back) stage.

5) Are there any hobbies that your family takes part in together?
Gardening.  Going along with the survivalist theme we're doing lots of experimenting with growing food (not so easy in this 100+ degree KS heat!) and the kids love to help dig in the dirt and pick fresh veggies from the garden. 

Picking cherries, fighting over the watering can, helping prepare buckets - even baby sis wants to help dig!

6) Has a simple hobby ever lead you to a grand adventure?
I'd say most of them have.  I got to spend a whole summer at the Globe in London because of my theater 'hobby,' preparing for the end of the world has significantly changed the way I view "stuff" and how I prioritize my time and my things, and my little shop (and this blog) have led me to meet so many amazing new people!

7) What is your newest hobby?
Survivalism.  Sci-fi.  Austrian Economics.  All the stuff my husband has brought into my life.

8) What is your oldest hobby?
Theater.  I've been acting since the second grade.  My mother was an opera singer and both parents have spent significant time on the stage, so I guess I was born into it.  My sister was theater major, too (and now we're both stay-at-home-moms -- but we read a dramatic bedtime story!).   Here are some of my more recent performances:

A nun (along with my mom) and party-goer in Sound of Music, Martha Cratchit in Scrooge: The Stingiest Man In Town, Kate in Taming Of The Shrew, and Cecily Cardew in The Importance Of Being Ernest

9) Is there a hobby you wish you had the time or talent for, but it just hasn't happened?

I wish I were a better cook.  I've loved food since I was a kid (can you tell?)

I do pretty well in my little kitchen - considering that I didn't start cooking until college. I know my way around a decent bechamel and I'm queen of fancy mac'n'cheese.  I'm tackling the challenge of gluten-free-baking one moist cake at a time.  But I did actually consider going to culinary school (before we had kids) to learn how to make fancy cakes and combine unusual ingredients.  In the meantime, I'm happy to come up with these sorts of confections in my free time.

Also, I'd love to be a runner.  The idea of taking off on a 20 mile trek is so appealing to me.  But I can barely make it a half mile before I'm gasping, and my bad hip hates me the next day.  Something to work up to I guess :)