I have a brainstorm for you AMHD persons. I need a hobby :D This is what I like, my cats, my dog, my rabbit, I like to read (when I am not cleaning, working 8-5, or laundry.)

I feel I would be a more happy person if I had a hobby. I live on an acreage, which I moved to for my husband. I enjoy it, but I have no civilization to talk to except my son of 9 and my stepson of 18. I enjoy the kids, but feel I would like something for myself, sometimes I feel I get frusterated with them because I feel my life revolves around everyone but me. (Sorry if that sounds selfish)

I have rhematoid arthritis, therefore; my activity level has to be limited. I do walk about every other evening (if schedule allows) I had someone suggest scrapbooking... errrrr that is not me! As you can read, I enjoy the outdoors mainly, because I work inside from 8-5. I would love to get a horse, but funds are limited right now.

This may be completely impossible, but I thought I would throw it out for suggestions. I am at a brainlock, maybe all of you are thinking something I have overlooked.

Thank you in advance!

How about Genealogy? With the availability of online records and resources, you might find it very rewarding.

Frankly, I'm hooked on it. I'm up to nearly 12,000 names in 1000 surnames and thousands of pics and records:
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi...i?db=ricknlida

Another idea. A personal/family website. Your hosting and domain will run you about $100 a year and you can get decent software for about $100. You can show family pictures, have a forum for family members to keep in touch, etc...

Just a couple thoughts...

PS - I'll add a couple more that I and my family love:
Fossil hunting and cataloging
Stargazing (small telescopes are inexpensive)

OK... preferably outdoors, low cost, not too much activity... hmm!

1. Gardening, I do love my garden.
2. Grow your own vegetables if successful it may even save you money and possibly generate a small income
3. Grow flowers from seed, again if successful may even give a small income

None of the above are difficult, a little reading on what flowers like what soil, water and feed regularly, etc

If none of the above, how about genealogy (family history). Indoors, but it's interesting. Tracing back yours and your husbands relatives amazing how many cousins you find. In my case a few black sheep as well.

Good Luck

Oops... I did not read the outdoors part... but a big part of genealogy is traipsing old graveyards and old locations of ancestors homes.

... sorry I did not give stuff that better fits what you're looking for.

I like the genealogy idea, and the traipsing graveyard idea. I like to go into old graveyards and read the stones. That is interesting.

Thank you. :)

I do like the flower reading. I do like the plant flowers, maybe I could read over the winter so I could get better ideas for plants around our acreage. I have planted a garden in the past... I need to learn how to can... any suggestions on where to find out how to do that? Can you believe I am 40 and don't know how to can... :rolleyes:

Thanks!

Whatever you decide on, enjoy it. GenoPro is free for download, www.genopro.com. I'm sure that there are other softwares as well

Sorry what is "to can"?

Sorry... Like canning tomatoes.

Hi BIM -

Gardening is a needed hobby I think. I devoted as little as reading one good size gardening book & have a green thumb ever since. You can even purchase a gardening book in Walmart or a book store.

I sent some pix to my sister-in-law in Pennsylvania. She wanted to see what we grow down here. Got to love those purple Lily-of-the-Niles, the crape murtles, & the magnolias in bloom. A little trial & error so hold off on any expensive trees at first.

Hint: If a plant doesn't do well & with a little help, don't try to bring it back. Throw it out & don't get that kind of plant again. Pay attention to the ones that seem to do well or flourish. :)

Thank you! I have a hasta(sp?) The leaves seem to turn brown at the tips any suggestions. Are they a shade plant or a sun plant?

Hostas are for shade. Very important to know the plant's basic requirements before buying them. In the meantime, move those hostas to shade!:)

Looks like we got a couple of winners! Go enjoy

How about bird watching or skywatching at night ,all you need are a pair of binoculors. And a funny hat.

You like the outdoors - how about gardening?

I am attempting a porch veg. garden this year. I am recovering from a slight stroke. Nothing is more frustrating, than to start moving and run out of energy...
So, sofar... I've planted strawberries and there are 4 of them on the plant so far. I am so proud.

I am truly sorry to read about your troubles pea. I am glad that you are trying to find ways to work around it. Congrats on your strawberries! With small accomplishments come great victories. Keep up the good work. I hope you are doing a bit of physical therapy to aid you in your recovery. I don't know the extent of your stroke but, working on a simple needlepoint pattern or rug hooking, can be quite therapeutic and get your hands and fingers coordinating with your brain. The needles are large and blunt, easier to work with. There are some very basic ones in both hobbies. They are made for beginners to teach them how to do it. The pattern is already set. You match the thread to pattern. You might want to consider it if you are limited in your mobility and need something to occupy your time.

Bim, for me, getting a garden started and flourishing is quite fulfilling. The only tomatoes worth eating are the ones that are homegrown. I like the Beefsteak and Jersey Big Boy varieties myself. Canning is not that difficult. Google it. There are plenty of websites around that will give you step by step instructions. Also, of course, cookbooks.

I hear what you are saying about the isolation. I know this thread is old so I hope you see pea's and my input. You may want to learn about starting and maintaining your own composting "pile" to aid you with gardening. You can Google that too to find out how to get started. You may want to buy a couple of books on how to recognize wild edible plants. I have a friend who is very good at identifying wild mushrooms. Late summer she and I walk my property and go mushroom hunting/picking. Since that seems to be an art unto itself, I would never eat a mushroom that I couldn't easily identify, sticking with other wild plants is much safer. It is fun and satisfying to find things you can throw into a salad or cook up with your meals. Once you locate something, Google it and find ways to serve it.

Another idea is, you may want to check and see if there are any rescue groups or shelters in your area. Volunteer in the evening or weekends helping out. Foster cats or small dogs in your home. Learn training techniques and rehab them for adoption. Or, since you love horses, do some research and find out if there are any horse rescue groups in your area. Find out what it takes to foster for them. Most of the time, they pick up the bulk of the expenses.

You could also build yourself a duck pond, a Koi pond, or frog pond. Those are fun and don't take up all your time with constant maintenance.

Everything I have suggested you can start researching online.

For winter projects, next year, see if you can locate classes in your area now for photography, jewelry making, pottery, stained glass. If you start learning now, by next winter you will be comfortable with what you are doing and can continue these things on your own.

Check some of your local schools and see what adult courses they are offering. There may be something that you are interested in that no one who doesn't know you would think about suggesting.

Start picking up the local and regional papers and find auctions, estate sales, yard sales to go and haunt on the weekends. Lots of fun. You may meet "regulars" in your area if you go to enough of them, and make some new friends.

Well, that is enough for now. My hobbie for today is cleaning, laundry, and paperwork.:)

Hello Bim:

Try this:

http://users.skynet.be/fa926657/files/B29.wmv

excon

Wow! Now that's what I call a cool hobby!

You would like a horse, is a shame that you cannot set up a riding school if you had the acreage, this would give you, your horse, fun, pleasure and the money to upkeep it. Just a idea. Take care, love and peace anne x