New Year, New Hobbies

Knitting. Soap making. Brewing. Bread making. Writing. Cheese making. Reading.

hob·by noun \ˈhä-bē\: a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation. Merriam Webster Online

I have a quite a few hobbies. Hobbies are a way of growing your skill set beyond your day-to-day career. These are ways to explore your creative side, analytical side, or adventurous side. They add a little more to your life and can give you something to focus on, maybe even obsess over.

With Christmas gifts and the start of a new year, it's a good time to start up new hobbies. Time to crack open the beginner's guide for your woodworking kit, the lesson book for your new keyboard, or the assembly manual for your cheese press. It's time to comb the internet for tips and watch instructional videos. It's time to take your current hobbies to a new level. For some, the winter months are a perfect time to stay inside and learn something new.

This year I'll be learning new origami patterns, giving my sloe gin barrel-aged and smoked flavors, and developing my stained glass techniques with Mr. K.

What do you have planned this year? Will 2015 be the year you become a kite flying master, perfect your chocolate cake recipe, or learn to grow your own vegetables? What hobbies will keep you going and add to your skill set this year?