Ended Official BYC Mini-Contest - What’s Your Hobby

[DogAndCat36]

I notice that you live in Maine -- have you ever been to mount Apatite? Though, I think that you're further from it than I am.
It used to be a mine, for I think quartz and tourmaline. Now people can visit for hikes or rockhounding, as long as they don't dig deeper than two feet.
I've gone there a couple of times. The last time that I went, I founds some smoky quartz shards and a couple chunks of stone that might have tiny garnets in them. Also lots of mica -- that stuff can be found in lumps upon lumps.

I've never been there. I'm so jelous!

 

[Araucana Nest]

I've been into dairying with cows and goats for 15 years. I'd say I'm between a beginner and an expert depending on what part of dairying is being discussed. I make soap, cheese, butter, yogurt and feed my dogs raw clabbered milk and yogurt. While I've had Jerseys, Guernseys, Norwegian Reds and a cross bred cow, my preference is for the Jersey cow. It's a smaller and hardier breed and the milk is creamy. As far as the animals though, they have all been amazing: smart, great mothers, sensitive.
Primarily I love the connection with the animals and being able to provide for myself while not contributing to a cruel industry. The commercial dairy industry is heartless. When a cow or goat is in milk, milking takes up a little time but not too much. I use a milking machine- so clean up takes longer than the actual milking. Storing the milk and using it for whatever purpose takes more attention to detail than time. Making cheese can be laborious but I prefer fresh cheeses so again, it isn't too bad. I'm up early to care for the animals early and finish milking before the warmth of the day begins. By 10 am I'm usually finished if I begin at 7. I also only milk once a day and the babies are left on mother until she kicks them off, LOL.

I've made a lot of sacrifices to be able to dairy. It's a hobby for life. It's a way of life that connects me to the land and to the animals and allows me to take responsibility for part of my diet (same with chickens for eggs). It's a 365 day a year hobby whether or not the animals are in milk. I sell yogurt for dogs and soaps for humans. I raise bottle heifer calves with extra milk and sell them as tame herd animals later. Healthy, tame cows are in demand for families who are moving away from cities and desire to go back to simpler days (and a lot of hard work, LOL). My hobby provides a little income but if I really wanted to expand on it I would need to invest thousands into USDA licensing in Florida and then always be worried about a profit. I want to keep it at the hobby level. where I can indulge my cows. The past two years I've reduced my goat herd and now have only two does one of which is barren. I won't be breeding goats again and will focus on my cows. I prefer cow milk/cheese and yogurt etc. anyway.

 

[AgnesGray]

Entry 2
One of my longest hobbies has always been reading...I started reading when I was four so I can't really remember NOT reading... I especially love older books...that smell when you open the pages...
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This is one of my bookshelves

Nice! Read on, fellow Austen fan!

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

I've been into dairying with cows and goats for 15 years. I'd say I'm between a beginner and an expert depending on what part of dairying is being discussed. I make soap, cheese, butter, yogurt and feed my dogs raw clabbered milk and yogurt. While I've had Jerseys, Guernseys, Norwegian Reds and a cross bred cow, my preference is for the Jersey cow. It's a smaller and hardier breed and the milk is creamy. As far as the animals though, they have all been amazing: smart, great mothers, sensitive.
Primarily I love the connection with the animals and being able to provide for myself while not contributing to a cruel industry. The commercial dairy industry is heartless. When a cow or goat is in milk, milking takes up a little time but not too much. I use a milking machine- so clean up takes longer than the actual milking. Storing the milk and using it for whatever purpose takes more attention to detail than time. Making cheese can be laborious but I prefer fresh cheeses so again, it isn't too bad. I'm up early to care for the animals early and finish milking before the warmth of the day begins. By 10 am I'm usually finished if I begin at 7. I also only milk once a day and the babies are left on mother until she kicks them off, LOL. View attachment 2422569
I've made a lot of sacrifices to be able to dairy. It's a hobby for life. It's a way of life that connects me to the land and to the animals and allows me to take responsibility for part of my diet (same with chickens for eggs). It's a 365 day a year hobby whether or not the animals are in milk. I sell yogurt for dogs and soaps for humans. I raise bottle heifer calves with extra milk and sell them as tame herd animals later. Healthy, tame cows are in demand for families who are moving away from cities and desire to go back to simpler days (and a lot of hard work, LOL). My hobby provides a little income but if I really wanted to expand on it I would need to invest thousands into USDA licensing in Florida and then always be worried about a profit. I want to keep it at the hobby level. where I can indulge my cows. The past two years I've reduced my goat herd and now have only two does one of which is barren. I won't be breeding goats again and will focus on my cows. I prefer cow milk/cheese and yogurt etc. anyway.
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I’m moving to your house!

If I had cows, they would be a 3rd hobby. Love those giant puppies.

 

[Bantambird]

And now I've exposed my age. Lol

Probably my age.... Lol

 

[jolenesdad]

I love the @Bantambird and @CluckNDoodle gaming convo!

#2 Backpacking/Hiking
I love anything nature related.View attachment 2422365View attachment 2422366View attachment 2422367

Where is this? It’s gorgeous. I love waterfalls!

Cartoon drawing. I'm only a beginner but I hope to get better ^v^. I'm also selling merchandise with some of my drawings on an online store.
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This last quail is ADORABLE! I love it!

This is a small hobby, but I like to make matchbox books. They all have very random subjects. Here's my most recent one, about gargoyles:
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I also sew and embroider a little

My hobby is coin collecting and feather collecting, and I normal do this hobby when (A) I see a coin I can trade/Buy or (B) When I see a cool feather from one of the chickens. I don't really make sacrifices for my hobby, and I cant really rank myself for it (Armature maybe???) … No, I cant have this hobby as a job/income unless I sell some of my feathers/Coins. Overall I really like this hobby, Its fun to see the coins and feathers I can get!
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Here is the basic run-down of the photos (I am not good at placing photos, sorry they are backwards order...)

1: Basic rundown of what my collection looks like.
2: A really cool Frizzle Goose feather
3: Turkey tail feather, compared to a ruler. (So big!!!)
4: (The list of all the feathers I have, and Its rubber band color
5: What My coin album looks like
6/7: A really cool ?Singapore? seahorse coin
8: Euros have really cool designs on them!

I like that you document what they are. I’m taking notes on all these fun collections!

I have several hobbies, but I think that my favorite is probably baking/decorating. I've been helping out in the kitchen for as long as I can remember, and while cooking dinner and stuff is fun, I've always liked the sweet side of food.
Cooking is also a way to help manage my Type 1 diabetes, as I can better control the carbs and such that are a dish. I tend to snitch when I'm cooking -- especially baking -- but... well, I've been getting better at self-control.
Decorating, especially, is a blast.
So --
Hobby #1: Baking/decorating:
I mostly use buttercream icing for my decorating -- I'm not as good with fondant, gum paste, or marzipan.
Cake made for a party thread:
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My own birthday cake from the summer:
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A birthday cake for BYC's own CarpCharacin:
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And a small little flight-of-fancy done on a cake that was made in a dove-indented gelatin mold:
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(I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't trying to show off a bit, sorry. I don't know where I fall as far as skill level goes, but it took me years and lots of practice to get here -- experience and practice will do the same to anyone, so if this in any way made anyone feel daunted, please keep decorating; it's a joy, and is very rewarding to know that those patterns and designs in icing and fondant are your work, your touch! Good luck!)

Those flowers are stunnnnning!!!

I've been into dairying with cows and goats for 15 years. I'd say I'm between a beginner and an expert depending on what part of dairying is being discussed. I make soap, cheese, butter, yogurt and feed my dogs raw clabbered milk and yogurt. While I've had Jerseys, Guernseys, Norwegian Reds and a cross bred cow, my preference is for the Jersey cow. It's a smaller and hardier breed and the milk is creamy. As far as the animals though, they have all been amazing: smart, great mothers, sensitive.
Primarily I love the connection with the animals and being able to provide for myself while not contributing to a cruel industry. The commercial dairy industry is heartless. When a cow or goat is in milk, milking takes up a little time but not too much. I use a milking machine- so clean up takes longer than the actual milking. Storing the milk and using it for whatever purpose takes more attention to detail than time. Making cheese can be laborious but I prefer fresh cheeses so again, it isn't too bad. I'm up early to care for the animals early and finish milking before the warmth of the day begins. By 10 am I'm usually finished if I begin at 7. I also only milk once a day and the babies are left on mother until she kicks them off, LOL. View attachment 2422569
I've made a lot of sacrifices to be able to dairy. It's a hobby for life. It's a way of life that connects me to the land and to the animals and allows me to take responsibility for part of my diet (same with chickens for eggs). It's a 365 day a year hobby whether or not the animals are in milk. I sell yogurt for dogs and soaps for humans. I raise bottle heifer calves with extra milk and sell them as tame herd animals later. Healthy, tame cows are in demand for families who are moving away from cities and desire to go back to simpler days (and a lot of hard work, LOL). My hobby provides a little income but if I really wanted to expand on it I would need to invest thousands into USDA licensing in Florida and then always be worried about a profit. I want to keep it at the hobby level. where I can indulge my cows. The past two years I've reduced my goat herd and now have only two does one of which is barren. I won't be breeding goats again and will focus on my cows. I prefer cow milk/cheese and yogurt etc. anyway.
View attachment 2422592

So dreamy. I love cows.

 

[Bantambird]

I would absolutely LOVE to go there!!! I love rock hounding!

Hey if you swing through Montana hit me up, I know where to hunt agates, fossils, quarts, amethyst, possible rubies and you won't see another soul all day, peace and quiet.

 

[AgnesGray]

My oldest hobby is probably reading and sewing a close second. My husband and I love trying to make new recipes and I would say food has become a hobby, too.

In the last few years I've added the yarn sports as we call them. Knitting and crocheting.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Hey if you swing through Montana hit me up, I know where to hunt agates, fossils, quarts, amethyst, possible rubies and you won't see another soul all day, peace and quiet.

OMG! YES PLEASE! There is nothing as exciting as hunting for your own beautiful stones. The pieces I find myself are always that much more special. I have family in Idaho, that's close enough for me to take a little detour!! lol! Road trip!!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I love the @Bantambird and @CluckNDoodle gaming convo!

lol, Isn't it funny when you've been chatting with someone for over a year and you discover something new about them! That's something I love about these hobby threads. You get to learn so many new things about your fellow BYCer's!