New Question, something to think about... (houses, how many, buying, furniture)

[kimmieyky]

Ok guys - Grammy has inspired me - and I want to pose a question of my own (a happy topic - unusual, for me, I know).

What are your passions in life? Do you know? Have you ever thought about it in those terms?

I was thinking about this today after reading through some of the posts. We have so many diverse people here, so much intelligence and so many dreams. We all were brought here together for some unknown reason, making friends and seeking advice. Sometimes simple questions about cities and towns - sometimes tougher ones about life, love and losses.

But what about passions? Grammy got the ball rolling with her thoughts on what title would we give a book if we wrote our life story. I have always been a writer at heart. As far back as I can remember, I kept a diary and wrote short stories as a child when I should have been doing my homework.

As I got older, I lost it for a while, but drama brought me back to the pen and paper to pour out my heart, and along with it came new passions. I love photography (haven't commented on that thread yet) - black and whites are my favorite, and I wanted my own dark room once upon a time. I have some great shots of my beloved farm - the home I lost several years ago. I treasure those.

While falling in love with that funky old farmhouse, I discovered my passion for interior design. I knew I was doing something right when my then 16 year old son, Alex, had friends walking in the door commenting on how beautiful the house was. How many 16 year old kids care about design? Especially the design of a friend's house! I have to admit I thought they were just being polite - but I loved it.

I carried that feeling into the house I am in now. Even though it belongs to my mother-in-law (and I am reminded of that fact every day), I took painful care in choosing colors, textures and arrangement of furniture. I built walls, created bedrooms and did mosaic tile work in both bathrooms from scratch. I was lucky to find a large bucket of tiles at a yard sale for $5.00 and grabbed them! My 'taste' is 'just me'. I really can't describe it except to say it includes family antiques over 100 years old, and encompasses modern details such as pieces of local artwork and suede rugs mixed with orientals and Bamboo Roman Shades. I am currently on the hunt for a Flokati rug I can afford, and, have ceramic tile ready to be installed on the first floor.

Something I must confess my children hate about me - I am a nut for junk piles. I mean literally stopping on garbage day when I see furniture thrown out! I always know what I am looking for, and anything upholstered is not a consideration but...I have collected mirrors over 6 feet tall, vintage wicker chairs with absolutely no faults, and pieces of wood that looked like they made something and... turned out to be a very nice bench - which I sold at yard sale for $20.00! Okay, the garbage thing may be a little over the top.

Recently, as many of you know, I have been designing my own jewelry. I watch QVC and search the net for the hot new designs, and change them to suit me. I use metals, shells, glass and anything I love. I start with vintage jewelry many times, and dress them up. Solid bangles are beaded and gold chains become imagination! So far I am stuck on purse charms (did not know they existed - thought I invented them - and after making several, searched 'Macy's' site at Christmas and found some on clearance!), but am branching out to necklaces and bracelets as well.

So this is me. Just some of my passions. Along with talking too much and always thinking I can solve everyone else's problem when I cannot seem to tackle my own.

What do you love? It's time to share!

KimmieyKY

[gizmo980]

I have many passions in life... too many, I sometimes feel, since I can be a tad "scatter-brained".

Animals: Always loved animals, ever since I was a child... my parents wouldn't get us a pet when we lived in Maryland (until age 6), so I "adopted" a number of creatures in the yard - squirrels, birds, caterpillars, frogs, etc. When we moved to California, I was adopted by the neighbor's cat, and she became my first REAL pet. I've had at least 2 in my home ever since... now it's a dog & 2 cats, but I'm sure the number will grow eventually. I wanted to be a veterinarian as a kid, though unfortunately I turned out to have zero scientific talent.

Music: My mother is a musician, so I guess it was destined to be... but my sister and brother aren't really into it (brother sort of is), just me! I started on violin at age 7, took up viola at 12, then oboe/english horn, piano, clarinet, and finally the recorder. Viola is my main instrument, and I still play with a few local orchestras & random paid gigs. I was briefly a music education major in college, but switched to English after freshman year... hated the theory and music history classes too much, lol. I perform mostly classical-type of music, though my main orchestra does lots of contemporary stuff, but I enjoy listening to ALL genres. My absolute favorite group has always been REM, so you could call them a passion too!

Writing & Literature: I've always been an avid writer, and used to write my own "books" when I was little. As mentioned above, I became an English major in college, so this was mostly what I did in my studies. Poetry was one thing I loved to write, but it wasn't my strongest point... I did manage to get one poem published, in a small e-zine up north (Seattle). I'm not that great at creative writing in general, but give me any topic, and I'll pump out a research or editorial paper in a matter of hours!!

A few others... photography, helping/teaching youth, ice skating (used to compete, now just enjoy watching & teaching), movies, traveling, playing games (board & electronic) and of course, spending time with my loved ones.

[lookingfortheperfectplace]

My first passion is to be a great Mother and to raise my son and other children to come, into great adults.
Second is to have a no kill animal rescue shelter. Get all the animals out of the kill animal shelters and horse auctions and find them good homes. I hope to start this when I have more land and when my child/ren are older. I don't want strange dogs,etc. around young children, so this dream will wait for 10 or so more years.
Another is interior design and photography.

[kimmieyky]

I can identify with the animal thing, too. I also was not allowed a pet as a child - even though we had a chihuahua when I was a teenager. The dog belonged to my mother, not me.

During my first marriage, I was allowed animals, but they always had to stay outside. We were sort of in the country, so they usually ran off.

I have now had two dogs and two cats(or more) in the house at all times for the last 10 years. The dogs can be a pain, but are my shadows and I love them, the cats own me - especially my fluffy, solid black cat, Sebastian - and she knows it.

I wanted to do a pet shelter, too when we lived on the farm. We did foster a few cats from time to time for the Shamrock society - but we usually ended up keeping them because we got attached. They always wanted out, and became outdoor cats by choice, plumping up in the barn on the field mice!

Had horses for a while, but ended up letting them go to better homes - they were just like children and very BIG dogs, and I was working so much then I couldn't do it all. Those were the days when I worked 40+ hours, cleaned the house after work, took care of the farm mowing 3 acres, and raised the boys. I do not know how there were enough hours in the day!

But I was young then too. 40 is absolutely different than 30!

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by lookingfortheperfectplace

My first passion is to be a great Mother and to raise my son and other children to come, into great adults.
Second is to have a no kill animal rescue shelter. Get all the animals out of the kill animal shelters and horse auctions and find them good homes. I hope to start this when I have more land and when my child/ren are older. I don't want strange dogs,etc. around young children, so this dream will wait for 10 or so more years.

That has always been one of my dreams, to start an animal rescue... I want to purchase some land in Oregon (either near Eugene or Hood River area), and build a few barns to house different types of animals. Might never happen, but it's so nice to think about. I also dream of having horses one day, but I totally understand Kimmie's comments about raising them... I have a friend with 2 horses, and she puts SOOO much time & money into them!! But oh, to be able to ride my own horse through the countryside - wow.

[kimmieyky]

Giz - the funny thing???? It took so much time and effort to take care of EVERYTHING while we had the horses - I never had time to ride!

The boys did, but not me.

Would love to see Oregon. Heck, would like to see farther west then Idabel, Oklahoma! And further North than Ohio/Indiana.

Oh, wait. I did fly into New York City one time to meet and stay with a friend for the weekend. Arrived Friday night LATE, stayed in the Bronx, drove into the city the next morning and walked from I do not know where (Maybe Wall Street) St. Patricks Cathedral. Not sure how far that was, but I was in my late 20's and had the time of my life. Have never been back since.

I believe, somehow, you are just the person to make that dream of yours come true. Animals are so helpless - and I get so angry when they are mistreated.

[grammy164]

I haven't forgotten about you, kimmieyky. I have been thinking about this question. There are many things I enjoy, but I'm not sure if I would call them passions. I keep thinking "maybe that's my passion--to find something I feel really passionate about?"

[rdbeard5]

My passions are:

Raising money for the families of Police Officers killed in the line of duty.

Motorcycles - if you have to ask you won't understand.

[cassy1]

My passions are:

Animals - I too would like to have a no kill shelter. I should have been a vet but I did not take my studies seriously when young.

Buying houses and fixing them up - Yep, I love to remodel a home, and my style is all my own.

Reading - I have to admit that I prefer fiction over fact. Too much negative on news, I prefer to forget while reading.

Shopping - Oh my gosh - I love to shop bargans and "yard/garage sales". Yep, I could be a professional shopper, and my husband will second that!

Exploring - We are new to NC so everywhere I go is a pleasure (well within reason).

I used to write, lost it somewhere between changing diapers and seeing kids through college. Maybe............

[BlueWillowPlate]

Don't know that these are passions, but they're important:

listening to music--daily

good food cooked with *fresh* ingredients (nothing out of a can or box)--daily

travel--whenever we can afford it

kimmie, I am no photographer, but I too like the classic look of black and white photography