Saturday, February 19, 2011

I need another hobby like I need a hole in the head.

Seriously. I have a few holes in my head—one ear pierced twice, one ear pierced three times, my nose pierced. See, I don't need any more holes in my head.

And I have even more hobbies. I knit. I crochet. I read. I make soap. I make candles. I make jewelry. I want to play guitar. I do genealogy. I geocache. I volksmarch. I garden. I enjoy photography. Yeah, I need more freaking hobbies.

It's not like I ONLY do hobbies, either. I have what amounts to two full-time jobs. I am a web designer and a published author. I'm also actively involved in the local writers group, a local business networking organization for women, and three (yes, three) fraternal organizations.

I seriously don't need any more hobbies!!!

BUT, I seem to have two more. I now spin and raise honeybees. Well, in all fairness, the honeybees won't arrive until April, but we've ordered them and the hive and all the jazz that goes with them. It's part of our families commitment to start living off the land more.

So, even if I don't count honeybees as a hobby, I'm now spinning. I mentioned once to hubby that I would like to learn how. I should have known better. There's honestly nothing I've even mentioned I wanted to do or have that (eventually) hubby hasn't gotten for me.

A few months ago, I mentioned to him that I would like to learn to spin. I thought it would be fun. For Christmas, then, he got me a drop spindle and some roving and a gift certificate for the LYS (Local Yarn Shop for those how aren't familiar with the acronym).

So I started with the drop spindle. It was fun and portable and I honestly am not very good at it. Even though I'm not that great with the drop spindle (I haven't even finished the first batch of roving, and I know I'll get better), I was having a great time doing it.

And then came the wheel. It's a Kromski Minstrel and it is beautiful. It's also really easy and even more fun than the drop spindle.

I took it to the spinning group yesterday and the lovely ladies at the LYS helped me get started.

I'm still not done with the first batch of roving on the wheel, but I've made a great start, as you can see. I was even able to spin some last night while I watched television. I don't have any illusions that this first batch of yarn will be perfect for lace socks or anything, but I do think it will be usable for something.

So I've officially added another hobby to my repertoire and I couldn't be happier!

However, I have no plans to add any additional holes in my head.

Me