Got a Hobby?

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By Diane Forrest

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When my husband became injured and was no longer able to work, he became very anxious.  He loved his job, and the interaction with his customers, and being home alone was a big change for him.  With nothing to do beside watch TV, he became bored.  I had read about a football player who began to knit during the off season, so I suggested that my husband take up some sort of hobby.  I knew he would be unable to knit, I couldn't teach him, since I didn’t know how, but I did know how to do latch hook.  That was something I would do while I was in my dorm room at school.  So I got him a kit, and got him started, but that activity was not for him.  He did like to do the painting by numbers, but his leg spams made that activity difficult.  Then he discovered baking.  He would make the most wonderful brownies and Italian Cream Cakes every week.  He would bring them to the hospital where I worked and share them with my coworkers.   He was happy for a while, until I was eating all the results of his hobby and told him he might want to learn how to do something else.  He got some birds, and enjoyed training them how to talk, but the mess they made became too much for him to clean.  Then we moved to a new house, and our next door neighbor taught him how to do woodworking.  He would beam when he finished making a wooden bowl and present it to a friend.  Many fortunate people have a project he made for them, and still treasure them today.

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When he passed away, I found myself needing something to occupy my time, so I began baking, only I didn’t eat my hobby, instead I sent it to friends and family and let them enjoy it.  Then I began to make cards.  I could never find a card that said what I was feeling, so I thought, why not make my own.  I love finding just the right picture, and lace and ribbons to place on them to make each one special and unique. I have even done a few wedding invitations party invitations and all occasion cards.

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A hobby is defined as an activity that is regularly undertaken for pleasure, typically during one's leisure time. Some examples include sports, crafts, collections and games.  Some of Terry's hobbies include Genealogy, playing cards, reading, watching sports and playing golf, and feeding/watching the birds.  And lately home remodeling. I still enjoy baking and making cards, and also love to play cards or other games.  This month is national hobby month.  If you don’t have a hobby you enjoy, why not find something you think you would like to do, and begin working on it.  Not only is it a great stress reliever, you may find that you could turn it into a lucrative business such as photography, woodworking, making stained glass or picture frames, baking cakes or painting.

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What are some of your hobbies?   
Leave a comment and let us know.

Share the Love

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By Diane Forrest

Redneck Valentine Poem

Collards is green,

my dog's name is Blue

and I'm so lucky

to have a sweet thang like you.

Yore hair is like cornsilk

a-flapping in the breeze.

Softer than Blue's

and without all them fleas.

You move like the bass,

which excite me in May.

You ain't got no scales

but I luv you anyway.

Yo're as satisfy'n as okry

jist a-fry'n in the pan.

Yo're as fragrant as "snuff"

right out of the can.

You have some'a yore teeth,

for which I am proud;

I hold my head high

when we're in a crowd.

On special occasions,

when you shave under yore arms,

well, I'm in hawg heaven,

and awed by yore charms.

Still them fellers at work,

they all want to know,

what I did to deserve

such a purdy, young doe.

Like a good roll of duct tape

yo're there fer yore man,

to patch up life's troubles

and fix what you can.

Yo're as cute as a junebug

a-buzzin' overhead.

You ain't mean like those far ants

I found in my bed.

Cut from the best cloth

like a plaid flannel shirt,

you spark up my life

more than a fresh load of dirt.

When you hold me real tight

like a padded gunrack,

my life is complete;

Ain't nuttin' I lack.

Yore complexion, it's perfection,

like the best vinyl sidin'.

despite all the years,

yore age, it keeps hidin'.

Me 'n' you's like a Moon Pie

with a RC cold drank,

we go together

like a skunk goes with stank.

Some men, they buy chocolate

for Valentine's Day;

They git it at Wal-Mart,

it's romantic that way.

Some men git roses

on that special day

from the cooler at Kroger.

"That's impressive," I say.

Some men buy fine diamonds

from a flea market booth.

"Diamonds are forever,"

they explain, suave and couth.

But for this man, honey,

these won't do.

Cause yor'e too special,

you sweet thang you.

I got you a gift,

without taste nor odor,

more useful than diamonds...

IT'S A NEW TROLL'N MOTOR!!

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When I was in elementary school, one of my favorite holidays was Valentine’s Day.  Everyone would make a box to place on their desk, and during our party, we would take turns and walk around delivering out cards to each student.  Then we would have cupcakes, cookies and other delicious treats. I couldn't wait to get home to open my cards to see what the boy I had a crush on put in my mailbox.

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I remember waking up every Valentine's Day, and sitting on my bedside table would be a heart shaped box of candy from my parents.  One of the saddest Valentine ’s Day was my first year at college.  There was no box of candy by my bed, or even in my mailbox.  The day was saved the next day when a nice big box of candy from my father came in the mail (after I called him crying of course).

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I have always loved passing out cars.  When I was working in the hospital, I would get the box of school valentines, and pass them to everyone I saw.  I would love picking out the perfect card for my husband, and I would always remember to put a heart shaped box of candy by my son's bed.

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My son grew up a little more cynical, he hates Valentine’s Day.  He accuses it of being a conspiracy between the card makers, the florists, and candy shops.  But Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be expensive.  I have started making my own cards, and making my own candy, and cookies - and passing it out to people in my life.  You can also send an email valentine card Its hard this year not having a Valentine to share the day with, but I get some joy in spreading the love to many people.

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So, if you don't have a special someone to share your day with, make a card and send to an elderly aunt or uncle, kids or neighbors.  Knowing that you put a smile on someone else's face will warm your heart too.  Happy Valentine's Day!!

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Card Playing Day

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By Diane Forrest

I love playing cards; in fact, some would say I'm a Spades Junkie.  I would spend hours at a time playing spades online.  However, since they changed the format on the site I play on; I haven't played in a while.  I still play solitaire most every day on the program on my computer.

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I have always grown up playing some type of card game.  That was before video games were invented.  I played Old Maid, Go Fish, War, Crazy 8's, Uno, then I moved on to games like Spades, Poker and Solitaire when I couldn’t find anyone to play with.

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Today is Card Playing Day.  If your kids are out of school and you still have family in town visiting, but don't have anything to do, break out a deck of cards and play some of everyone's favorite games.  It’s a great way to spend time together, and form bonds, and interact with your family instead of playing a video game.  It’s a free source of entertainment, and doesn't require batteries!

It’s Games Day

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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Had a very shiny nose,

And if you ever saw it,

You would even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer

Used to laugh and call him names;

They never let poor Rudolph

Join in any reindeer games.

By Diane Forrest

Have you ever wondered what kind of games Reindeer play?  I always wondered until I saw the cartoon of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.  They were having fun tossing a ball around, playing hide and seek, and having races.

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Well you don't have to be a reindeer to play games today.  Today is Games Day.  The first Games day was held in 1975 in England. The convention was important because there were few outlets for gamers to meet each other and play, and Games Workshop used this in their efforts to build the gaming scene in the U.K.  Today the Games Day convention is held regularly in the United Kingdom at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. It draws enthusiasts of Games Workshop's three main games (Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer, Lord of the Rings). Not just a commercial venture, gamers go to play their games. However, the event also includes presentations by special guests from the Games Workshop's head office in Nottingham.

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However, you don't have to be a video game enthusiast to participate today, you don't even have to travel to England!  You can pull out some old board games and play with your family, or you can even break out a deck of cards and play solitaire.

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Today on Game Day, just have fun, and play, relax your mind and get rid of the stress from taking care of all your holiday duties.

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Send a Card to a Friend Day

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By Diane Forrest,

Every year during all the holidays I had a great aunt who would always send greeting cards.  I always thought how great it was that she remembered us during those times.  When I got married, my husband would occasionally pick up a card when he went shopping...just because.  When my aunt's husband passed away she began sending cards to my husband.  By that time he had been injured, and was not able to get out.  Those cards were so special to him, made him realize that someone had been thinking of him, and that was the best feeling in the world.

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While I was grateful to my aunt for making my husband's day brighter, there was also a bit of guilt there.  I had never been a card person.  I love getting them, but have always been on the bad side of sending them.  When my son started college, I would try to find some "Thinking of You" cards, and then I had to send some to my stepsons too.  There were also the birthday cards, holiday cards and get well cards too.

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I did get better with the wonderful invention of email cards.  I was able to send cards to all my friends and family regularly with just a click of the mouse.  However some of my family members do not have email, so they got neglected.

It was not until my husband passed away a year ago, that I had for the first time spare time on my hands.  When the time came to write thank you notes for the flowers, memorial gifts, food and visits after my husband's death, I couldn't find anything appropriate.  The funeral home supplied me with those little cards. Where you write in the name, but since my handwriting is atrocious, I decided to try my hand at making a card, and typing my sentiments.  It wasn't as hard as I thought, and the results were fantastic.  After that I decided to try my hand at more cards.  I made Valentines, Mardi Gras, Easter, Memorial Day and July 4th cards, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Each time improving on the design and adding ribbons, lace and vellum paper.  Now I can send friends and relatives handmade cards to let them know that I am thinking of them, without spending a fortune, and who doesn't like getting something in the mail besides bills?

Today is Send a Card to a Friend Day.  Greeting cards can be traced back to the 15th century.  The Chinese would hand deliver congratulations on the Chinese New Year, and the Egyptians would deliver handwritten sentiments on scrolls of papyrus.  In the early to mid-15th century, Europe started sending Valentines; the oldest is on display in the British museum.  By the 1850's greeting cards were relatively inexpensive to make, and the introduction of the postage stamp made it easy to send greetings.  Today there are many types of cards available.  From a simple post card to a musical card to an electronic card, the sender has a wide choice.

So today, send a greeting card, and brighten the day of someone you know.

Here are some good web sites (Google list over 36M hits):

Blue Mountain http://www.bluemountain.com/

Hallmark http://www.hallmark.com/online/?mc=T_S_G_ED_HM_BRAND_MAIN&gclid=CKa5kcbSia4CFYeK4Aod9yc45w

American Greetings http://www.americangreetings.com

123Greetings http://www.123greetings.com/ 

Pacprod http://www.pacprod.com/