New Hobbies?

[Soul Queen]

So I've been kind of blah lately. It always happens this time of year when crappy football season starts.

So any suggestions for new hobbies for me to explore?
Anyone read anything that was fantastic?
Movies to check out? (other than what has been noted)?
Video games they loved?
...............

[JVO]

Watching football is a good hobby.

[poofdogg]

Watching football is a good hobby.

oh yeah....good call! (just kidding)

[Soul Queen]

:fu:

[Soul Queen]

Guess that was a little harsh. Thanks for the NON help. :D

[paul]

You should learn to make some liquor! Beer, wine, spirits... there's tons of things out there to make, and you can use any fruit, grain, seed or other ingredient you like.

Mead and wine are especially easy. All you need is a big glass bottle, a funnel, ingredients, and a few months to let it sit.

[thatsmyDJ]

Use every football Sunday as an opportunity to create a perfect chili recipe. I'll share a chef tip with all you novices working on making chili. Good chili takes at least a twelve pack of Modelo beer, but you have to use it all. 1 to 3 oz. per serving goes into the chili.

[Soul Queen]

Hmm. Somehow all of these hobbies sound like they are intimately related to football watching. They also sound like hobbies in which 007 will greatly benefit.

Note, I will not be watching ANY football. All hobbies should benefit me!!!!

Thanks though.

*note, 007 makes a pretty mean chili. Though he doesn't use beer. We need a chili taste-off!

[Ag Au]

i like paul's idea of making spirits. i know a few people who a variety of spirits and it is something i have thought of doing. yumm - limoncello...........

and if you are looking for a good book i recently finished barbara kingsolver's "animal, vegetable, miracle". i think you and 007 would both enjoy that. it is about her family eating locally for a year. she talks a lot about the politics of food and the plight of the american farmer, but without being at all preachy or judgmental. her realism and honesty was very refreshing. (there are also some good recipes included.)

[Soul Queen]

and if you are looking for a good book i recently finished barbara kingsolver's "animal, vegetable, miracle". i think you and 007 would both enjoy that. it is about her family eating locally for a year. she talks a lot about the politics of food and the plight of the american farmer, but without being at all preachy or judgmental. her realism and honesty was very refreshing. (there are also some good recipes included.)

I just finished this book the other day. I really enjoyed it! Thanks for the tip.

I picked up a new book called THe Worst Hard Time about the Dust Bowl. I hope it picks up. Its been a little dry so far. But I'm interested in the history of it. Surely there is more to the story than GIANT DIRT CLOUD HOVERS FOR YEARS. I could be mistaken.

Since I take public transportation I find that I have read more this year than I have in a long time.
Thanks for the reading suggestions everyone!

[Ag Au]

yeah, public transportation rocks for getting much reading accomplished. i always travel with a book. the kingsolver book was a little heavy though, no? or is it in paperback now? i find my large hardbacks get left in the dust when it comes to reading on the go. that's the only drawback.

i'm glad you liked the book though. are you getting used to what foods are in season in your area yet? any surprises? i think you are pretty lucky to have all that great produce in your region. new york is really great too, but we don't have yummy things like avocados.

[Soul Queen]

007 and I have a little chart of what is in season. We try to keep to the schedule. Right now the grapes, pears, apples, pommegrantes and strawberries are the fruit in season. There are plenty of veggies also. 007 experimented with some butternut squash the other day. It was good.

Eating seasonally is pretty easy during the summer. Its winter that becomes more difficult. As you know I grew up in the country so I am used to eating items mostly that are in season.

I'm definately looking more closely at where items are originally shipped from.

Do you try to eat seasonally in New York. What items are in season there?

[Ag Au]

i've been trying to eat with the seasons for a while now, but of course i'm not super restrictive. if i really feel a need for a banana, i will have one. i think its just more trying to be a conscience consumer than anything. we belong to a csa and supplement with trips to the farmers market, both of which are local and seasonal. and we aren't disappointed with the fare. grapes and apples are astoundingly good right now, and last week we got a bunch of the most beautiful carrots i have ever seen, and they taste good too. everything is bountiful right now, and we are just trying to enjoy the last of leafy greens and tomatoes before frosts set in.

[Soul Queen]

i've been trying to eat with the seasons for a while now, but of course i'm not super restrictive. if i really feel a need for a banana, i will have one. i think its just more trying to be a conscience consumer than anything. we belong to a csa and supplement with trips to the farmers market, both of which are local and seasonal. and we aren't disappointed with the fare. grapes and apples are astoundingly good right now, and last week we got a bunch of the most beautiful carrots i have ever seen, and they taste good too. everything is bountiful right now, and we are just trying to enjoy the last of leafy greens and tomatoes before frosts set in.

Me too! I'm always sad when tomato season is over.

[The Girl]

I picked up a new book called THe Worst Hard Time about the Dust Bowl. I hope it picks up. Its been a little dry so far.


Anybody else see the humor in this? :D

[whyvon29]

I thought you were looking into taking a photography class? or are you looking for something completely new? or what about taking classes at your local community center/adult education center? they usually have cooking classes, or wine tasting or something like that which you might enjoy and you might meet some new peeps. since you're so close to Napa I'm sure they'd at least have some wine tasting classes and it probably wouldn't be too expensive. just a thought. :wave:

[thatsmyDJ]

Me too! I'm always sad when tomato season is over.

My tomato plants are setting tomatoes again thanks to the extended warm weather in the south. My cherry tomatoes are blooming like spring is here.