Other hobbies besides bonsai?

JPH

JPH

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We're all connected in one way or another through our trees. But I'm curious about what other hobbies my fellow tree people get up to when they aren't working on bonsai.

Personally I have many. I think most people know that I spend a lot of time drawing. I play a bit of clawhammer banjo, and own two instruments that date back to the turn of the century. An R.S. Williams and Sons circa 1910 and an SS Stewart Universal Favorite circa 1894. Here's a pic of the Stewart (my baby). It was in rough shape when I got it, but boy did I get a deal! The "german silver" plating (nickel) was full of corrosion, and it was missing a bit of hardware. I gradually restored it, and now it's my every day player. It has a very warm tone, and I just love it.
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During my 20's, I got into collecting retro video games/consoles. It was easy back then since they didn't cost much to buy. Prices started to spike sharply in the 2010's though, so I don't buy them anymore. At the moment I have them packed away until I can set up another game room in the future. Here are a few pictures of my old set up back in my apartment in Sudbury.
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I enjoy making miniatures and plastic models. I don't have many pictures of those but here's an engine I was finishing up a few years ago.
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I also enjoy making vivariums. I even made a bioactive enclosure for a tree frog back in Sudbury.
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Coin collecting is fun. I have a box with some old Canadian coins I've been collecting since I was a small child. Nothing particularly fancy. Just stuff I find in the wild.
 
My wife tells me my only true hobby is collecting hobbies :D

Woodworking, gardening, orchids, hiking, biking, backyard astronomy: those have followed me most of my life.

Software development: I wrote my own software to process my astronomy data to look for exoplanets and variable stars in my spare time after the day job. I also used it to measure radial velocities of a couple of binary start systems.

Aquariums...fresh and salt.

Guitar...playing and building.

Robotics...mostly mentoring at the lego league and the "big boy" robots at the high school level. But some stuff for myself for the fun of it.

3D printing...mostly parts for robotics.

Photography...astro and nature.

Coaching baseball, officiating swim meets...even when my own kids weren't on the team.

I had a huge Magic: The Gathering collection that started at Revised and was nearly complete over more than a decade. The collection was worth enough to buy a really nice telescope when I finally sold it off :)

Wine making.

Rock collecting, tumbling, cabochon making. I almost got into semi-precious gemstone cutting and jewelry making...

Reading, writing...I've written a couple of novels and many short stories. Met my wife through one of my short stories in a round-about sort of way :D

Jigsaw puzzles: I've done several over 10,000 pieces.

I've never gotten into speed cubing, but I've solved all the Rubic's cudes up to 8x8x8. I also used to have a large collection of other similar puzzles.

Everything listed are things that I did/continue to do for multiple years. I've left out all the things that I tried once or twice but didn't get deep into.

I like learning and I like keeping busy :)
 
LittleDingus said:
My wife tells me my only true hobby is collecting hobbies :D

Woodworking, gardening, orchids, hiking, biking, backyard astronomy: those have followed me most of my life.

Software development: I wrote my own software to process my astronomy data to look for exoplanets and variable stars in my spare time after the day job. I also used it to measure radial velocities of a couple of binary start systems.

Aquariums...fresh and salt.

Guitar...playing and building.

Robotics...mostly mentoring at the lego league and the "big boy" robots at the high school level. But some stuff for myself for the fun of it.

3D printing...mostly parts for robotics.

Photography...astro and nature.

Coaching baseball, officiating swim meets...even when my own kids weren't on the team.

I had a huge Magic: The Gathering collection that started at Revised and was nearly complete over more than a decade. The collection was worth enough to buy a really nice telescope when I finally sold it off :)

Wine making.

Rock collecting, tumbling, cabochon making. I almost got into semi-precious gemstone cutting and jewelry making...

Reading, writing...I've written a couple of novels and many short stories. Met my wife through one of my short stories in a round-about sort of way :D

Jigsaw puzzles: I've done several over 10,000 pieces.

I've never gotten into speed cubing, but I've solved all the Rubic's cudes up to 8x8x8. I also used to have a large collection of other similar puzzles.

Everything listed are things that I did/continue to do for multiple years. I've left out all the things that I tried once or twice but didn't get deep into.

I like learning and I like keeping busy :)
Click to expand...
Dude that's amazing! I've always had trouble in math so I really admire people who can tap into that part of their brains.

Backyard astronomy always sounds really fun to me, maybe I should look into it? There's very little light pollution to speak of this far north.

Rockhounding is something my wife and I do together whenever we get a chance. Nothing serious. There's tons of interesting fossils here.(Cambrian?/Precambrian?). Small things like crinoids, corals, nautiloids etc... I also have a thing for omarolluks. Here's a bit of my collection.
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This has been very interesting so far! I'm enjoying this a lot!
 
LittleDingus said:
My wife tells me my only true hobby is collecting hobbies :D
Click to expand...

My buddy told me the same thing, haha. I have some half dozen collections of things

I think it’s the thrill of the hunt that I enjoy

I have solved 2x2- 8x8. My 9x9 sits scrambled because it looks cool. I’ve solved a number of other puzzles as well
 
BeepBeepBonsaiSheep said:
My buddy told me the same thing, haha. I have some half dozen collections of things

I think it’s the thrill of the hunt that I enjoy

I have solved 2x2- 8x8. My 9x9 sits scrambled because it looks cool. I’ve solved a number of other puzzles as well
Click to expand...

I don't own a 9x9 yet :(

I almost got a cheap Chinese made 21x21 just to have. I can't image a high quality one being practical to use. The cheap one had lots of reviews about falling apart if you look at it wrong!

I should also add that I've taught myself how to solve them. I don't even solve them in the layer by layer method taught in how-to guides. I solve opposite sides.
 
LittleDingus said:
My wife tells me my only true hobby is collecting hobbies :D

Woodworking, gardening, orchids, hiking, biking, backyard astronomy: those have followed me most of my life.

Software development: I wrote my own software to process my astronomy data to look for exoplanets and variable stars in my spare time after the day job. I also used it to measure radial velocities of a couple of binary start systems.

Aquariums...fresh and salt.

Guitar...playing and building.

Robotics...mostly mentoring at the lego league and the "big boy" robots at the high school level. But some stuff for myself for the fun of it.

3D printing...mostly parts for robotics.

Photography...astro and nature.

Coaching baseball, officiating swim meets...even when my own kids weren't on the team.

I had a huge Magic: The Gathering collection that started at Revised and was nearly complete over more than a decade. The collection was worth enough to buy a really nice telescope when I finally sold it off :)

Wine making.

Rock collecting, tumbling, cabochon making. I almost got into semi-precious gemstone cutting and jewelry making...

Reading, writing...I've written a couple of novels and many short stories. Met my wife through one of my short stories in a round-about sort of way :D

Jigsaw puzzles: I've done several over 10,000 pieces.

I've never gotten into speed cubing, but I've solved all the Rubic's cudes up to 8x8x8. I also used to have a large collection of other similar puzzles.

Everything listed are things that I did/continue to do for multiple years. I've left out all the things that I tried once or twice but didn't get deep into.

I like learning and I like keeping busy :)
Click to expand...
Do you ever sleep?;)
 
LittleDingus said:
I don't own a 9x9 yet :(

I almost got a cheap Chinese made 21x21 just to have. I can't image a high quality one being practical to use. The cheap one had lots of reviews about falling apart if you look at it wrong!

I should also add that I've taught myself how to solve them. I don't even solve them in the layer by layer method taught in how-to guides. I solve opposite sides.
Click to expand...
MoYu and ShengShou have some I think. They’re pricey though

I mainly solved 3x, but also did 2 and 4 and square 1… which ended up becoming my favorite and focused on that for a while

I just haven’t have much time to cube so pretty much stopped back in Sep. And time cubing could be spent learning Spanish, so that was another factor
 
My goal in life is to be horrible to mediocre at EVERYTHING.

But mostly I like random projects done with garbage and odds and ends. MacGyver type stupidity.
Like I just set up a 20 gallon aquarium for my kids'goldfish. Dug and cleaned sand ourselves, then I built a dual filtration system out of an old pond pump, a 2L soda bottle and some coffee cans. Was talking to my brother about it, and he just gave me an old, dead server he salvaged from work, and I'm going to rebuild it into a cyberpunk style fishtank.
Here's the tank we have so far before I finished filling it and moved the fish in. Water is much clearer now.
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I'm thinking I might be able engineer a self-powered filter that bobs up and down like a Cartesian driver using a bell syphon.

I've always had a thing for landscape architecture too, but that's a bit harder to play with when I rent.
But then there's woodcarving, gardening, camping, etc. I used to write stories, but then I discovered how psychology linked that was with drinking for me, and now I'm working on that along with the drinking. Hiking has been tough since my dog died.
 
BeepBeepBonsaiSheep said:
MoYu and ShengShou have some I think. They’re pricey though

I mainly solved 3x, but also did 2 and 4 and square 1… which ended up becoming my favorite and focused on that for a while

I just haven’t have much time to cube so pretty much stopped back in Sep. And time cubing could be spent learning Spanish, so that was another factor
Click to expand...

My primary set is V-Cube. My understanding is they invented and own the patent on the technique that allows cibes past 4x4.

Company Profile

Verdes Innovations S.A. was founded in 2008. We are the sole producer of the V-CUBE™ products, a superior range of high quality rotational puzzle cubes manufactured under the unified V-CUBE™ technology, invented and patented worldwide by Greek Engineer Panagiotis VERDES. V-CUBE™ technology made...
www.v-cubes.com www.v-cubes.com

For a number of years no-one knew how to build working cubes beyond 4x4. Panagiotis Verdes solved that and his technique allows for any sized cube though there are manufacturing and usage limits still! I try and stick with them for the standard cubes as much as I can. They make a 9x9 now...I just haven't bought one yet.

But they use stickers which are tiny on the larger cubes and slide off very easy :( I also have a set of transparent sticker less MoYo cubes. They are a speed cube but mostly I like the transparency. They only make to 7x7 though...and never made a 6x6 for some reason??
 
JPH said:
I've never had a dog but I'd like to try once the kids get older.
Click to expand...
Youth is NOT WASTED on the young; it's the only way they survive youth!
Same goes for dogs. It'll survive the kids better if you get a puppy now.😜
 
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LittleDingus said:
My primary set is V-Cube. My understanding is they invented and own the patent on the technique that allows cibes past 4x4.

Company Profile

Verdes Innovations S.A. was founded in 2008. We are the sole producer of the V-CUBE™ products, a superior range of high quality rotational puzzle cubes manufactured under the unified V-CUBE™ technology, invented and patented worldwide by Greek Engineer Panagiotis VERDES. V-CUBE™ technology made...
www.v-cubes.com www.v-cubes.com

For a number of years no-one knew how to build working cubes beyond 4x4. Panagiotis Verdes solved that and his technique allows for any sized cube though there are manufacturing and usage limits still! I try and stick with them for the standard cubes as much as I can. They make a 9x9 now...I just haven't bought one yet.

But they use stickers which are tiny on the larger cubes and slide off very easy :( I also have a set of transparent sticker less MoYo cubes. They are a speed cube but mostly I like the transparency. They only make to 7x7 though...and never made a 6x6 for some reason??
Click to expand...
Sometimes companies only do the odd puzzles first, then fill the gaps later. Odd numbered layers are easier to design I guess
 
does anyone have experience with stained glass? I want to make a few wardian cases and it seems like that process will be the most analogous. This is a very diversified group - figured I’d see if anyone has any pointers on where to start.
 
hampton said:
does anyone have experience with stained glass? I want to make a few wardian cases and it seems like that process will be the most analogous. This is a very diversified group - figured I’d see if anyone has any pointers on where to start.
Click to expand...
Don't know anything about stained glass, but my brother used plexiglass/acrylic to make parts for a cosplay some years ago. I can ask him about that if you're interested.
 
I have a few hobbies.

I'm a PC gamer. I mostly play indie, rouge-likes, city builders, and strategy games. I am a gardener. I grow a variety of plants with a heavy lean towards herbs and fruits. I'm making use of my bonsai grow tent to overwinter my peppers as they didn't grow much due to our cold spring last year.

I also read (mostly) Sci-fi books with an almost complete collection of the Expanded Universe Novels for Star Wars. I think I'll start working on the comics once that is completed. I haven't thought too much on it.

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This is an old picture from before I was sent on a work trip. They are much more filled out.
 
I like to dabble in woodworking. We are in the process of remodeling our master bathroom.
Today I ordered 3 black walnut live edge "slabs" for shelves on one bathroom wall over the tub.
The book matched pair is Pacific Claro black walnut.
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She wanted floating shelves that had recessed lighting, but I think this will be
a bit more in your face, statement. AAaand, she has no clue what to put on the shelves yet:rolleyes:
 
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