That’s what I’ve been doing today–making soap. 
Am I talking about the wonderful artisan type of soap, using lye and herbs and all the rest?
No. This is the kind where one buys the basics at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby and melts them in the microwave, adding scent and color and pouring into beautiful molds bought on eBay and Etsy. I have some lovelies–a mama horse and her baby, an angel, a sheep, which always reminds me of my Lael heritage. You see, my grandfather, Jacob Daniel Lael, raised sheep. Yes, sheep. Contrary to Western movies, sheep and cattle CAN co-exist, and quite nicely, thank you very much. Grampa employed many during the Great Depression, and I have always taken pride in his strength, his independence, his honesty and his tough determination. His plan? Keep going. Put one foot in front of the other. When others suffered grievous losses, Grampa wrote a check to help out–even to the man who accused my grandfather, quite falsely, of burning his haystack. Grampa was a Christian, in the truest, rubber-meets-the-road way. He always tried to do the right thing, and this is a tradition I cherish, one that makes me proud to be a Lael.
I also worked on the new story–the beginning is always the hardest part–and read your comments with interest. I was fascinated by your hobbies–loving grandchildren, reading. You’re inspiring, every one of you!
My own hobby? Art, mostly artist trading cards, but also journals and the occasional painting. Am I good at it? Definitely not. Do I love it, YES. I love to slop color onto cards, canvases, etc. I make no money on this. Zero. But it truly restores my soul–I so enjoy the sense of discovery, of experimentation. When something works, I am overjoyed. When it doesn’t, I revel in learning something new. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Time to call it a day, my friends. Thanks for being you.
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Good for you finding time for a hobby!!!
Bill and I are watching Gordon Ramsey Hell’s Kitchen
And I love your blogs!!! If I could pick up a former
Hobby it would have to be art in the form of
Drawing or painting
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You’re a doll. I love watching Gordon Ramsey, too–better yet, I love eating in his restaurants.
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Beginning a book is the hardest, you say, hmmm I wouldn’t have thought that. Is this new book the last of the Parable series or the first of another? You never seem to run out of ideas – but that’s a good thing :). I’m really enjoying rereading The Man From Stone Creek. Love me some Sam, Mr SO’B !!
Blessings,
SherryNan
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This book, “Big Sky Secrets”, is the last of the series, although there may be some Christmas books in the future, featuring the characters’ ancestors.
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I seem to have used up my hobbies!
I used to crochet dresses for Barbie-type dolls. I crocheted afghans and baby sweaters. One of my hand-made porcelain dolls still stands in the corner of my front room and I’ve dabbled in pencil sketching and painting. Horses and dogs were always at the top of living hobbies.
The two things that will always stay at the front are reading and writing. Those interests have always been scrunched between the others and have never been pushed aside due to space and/or time restrictions.
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I am so envious. I just love angels and have them all over my house. Where do you get that mold?
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I buy them on eBay and Etsy. Since the seller didn’t put their name on the mold, I can’t tell you which one I have exactly. However, if you search ‘silicone molds’ and then ‘angels’, you’ll find dozens.
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Linda, so ebay is where you get your molds at for your soaps, i have never bought any thing from ebay how safe is it?
Norma Stanforth
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my hobby is reading. i read everything. i wish i had a talent driven hobby such as painting or knitting, or even cooking!some call me the animal whisperer, because animals seem to want to please me(don’t think that’s talent)