Current Activities
My illness has greatly limited my activities. I used to be outgoing and athletic. Now getting out of bed is sometimes exhausting. I generally have to avoid crowds and noisy places, and I have to limit the length and intensity of any activity. The bottom line is that I cannot do much, but these are the activities in which I have been able to participate and enjoy:
- Sea World
- Quilting
- Collecting
- Home Projects
- Feeding Raccoons
- More Animal Activities
- Movies / Television
Sea World
I love to visit Sea World in San Diego, California. It is a place where I can get out, walk around as much or as little as I can, and interact with beautiful animals. John and I have annual passes, and we go as often as possible. The winter months are the best because the crowds are minimal which causes the animals to be more friendly and the trainers to be more accessible. I have met several of the killer whales, and the Shamu Show is my favorite. (I was chosen to be a volunteer once!) Wild Arctic is a great place to sit down, relax and just watch. We've seen the polar bears jump, swim and play. They are incredible. The new Manatee Rescue is another good resting spot. And the feeding areas are fun... dolphins, bat rays, seals and sea lions. There is a new activity called the Dolphin Interaction Program where a limited number of guests learn about dolphins and then go into the water with them. I'm hoping to do this sometime soon, but the cost is a bit high.
Quilting
I began quilting in early 1998. My symptoms often prevent me from driving so I am stuck at my home needing something to do. I can generally cut and sew easy patterns so I make quilts. I like making baby blankets. They are cute, small, and easy to manage.
Collecting
I enjoy collecting
Swarovski crystal figurines. I am a member of the Swarovski Collectors Society, and every year I purchase at least the limited edition annual piece. I have nine of the twelve annual editions. (I didn't purchase the first three.) And I have many other pieces. My favorite piece is the falcon head.
To expand my Swarovski collection, I recently began collecting Barbie Dolls. Several of the new Barbies are wearing gowns adorned with Swarovski crystals. I try to limit this collection because it takes too much money and display space, but I've been very tempted lately with a new
Faberge Porcelain Barbie. She is beautiful, but she has a huge gown and costs $400.
Home Projects
John and I are always trying to find little projects that we can do together. These are projects that require John's help but also keep me busy. Our first project was designing and building a coffee table. John personalized the project by carving "For Karen" on the inside of one of the doors. We also refinished a dresser. One of the more fun but less successful projects was planting flowers. We covered the bare spots of a hill behind our home with wildflower seeds. They started to grow, but then the gardeners chopped them down. We didn't get the desired blanket of flowers, but at least a few are still standing. We also filled clay pots with flowers and tomato bushes, but they became the target of the neighborhood raccoons. We would have gotten mad at the little rascals, but they are so cute!
Feeding Raccoons
As noted above, we have neighborhood raccoons. An enjoyable and relaxing way to spend the evening is feeding the raccoons on our back deck. We put out dog food and water and watch the animals clean their food and eat it. Sometimes they even lay down and hang out. We fed a pregnant one, Moma, for a while. Then one day she came back with three babies! We have had up to six raccoons on the deck at once. We usually watch through our glass door, but we've also sat outside with them. We are careful not to get too close to them unless the glass is between us. Our cat, Mookie, gets to watch only through the glass. He seems to like them and tries to play with them.
Visit my Photo Gallery to see photos of all my activities!
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- Sea World
- Quilting
- Collecting
- Home Projects
- Feeding Raccoons
- More Animal Activities
- Movies / Television
Sea World
I love to visit Sea World in San Diego, California. It is a place where I can get out, walk around as much or as little as I can, and interact with beautiful animals. John and I have annual passes, and we go as often as possible. The winter months are the best because the crowds are minimal which causes the animals to be more friendly and the trainers to be more accessible. I have met several of the killer whales, and the Shamu Show is my favorite. (I was chosen to be a volunteer once!) Wild Arctic is a great place to sit down, relax and just watch. We've seen the polar bears jump, swim and play. They are incredible. The new Manatee Rescue is another good resting spot. And the feeding areas are fun... dolphins, bat rays, seals and sea lions. There is a new activity called the Dolphin Interaction Program where a limited number of guests learn about dolphins and then go into the water with them. I'm hoping to do this sometime soon, but the cost is a bit high.
Quilting
Collecting
To expand my Swarovski collection, I recently began collecting Barbie Dolls. Several of the new Barbies are wearing gowns adorned with Swarovski crystals. I try to limit this collection because it takes too much money and display space, but I've been very tempted lately with a new
Faberge Porcelain Barbie. She is beautiful, but she has a huge gown and costs $400.
Home Projects
Feeding Raccoons
I began quilting in early 1998. My symptoms often prevent me from driving so I am stuck at my home needing something to do. I can generally cut and sew easy patterns so I make quilts. I like making baby blankets. They are cute, small, and easy to manage.
I enjoy collecting
Swarovski crystal figurines. I am a member of the Swarovski Collectors Society, and every year I purchase at least the limited edition annual piece. I have nine of the twelve annual editions. (I didn't purchase the first three.) And I have many other pieces. My favorite piece is the falcon head.
John and I are always trying to find little projects that we can do together. These are projects that require John's help but also keep me busy. Our first project was designing and building a coffee table. John personalized the project by carving "For Karen" on the inside of one of the doors. We also refinished a dresser. One of the more fun but less successful projects was planting flowers. We covered the bare spots of a hill behind our home with wildflower seeds. They started to grow, but then the gardeners chopped them down. We didn't get the desired blanket of flowers, but at least a few are still standing. We also filled clay pots with flowers and tomato bushes, but they became the target of the neighborhood raccoons. We would have gotten mad at the little rascals, but they are so cute!
As noted above, we have neighborhood raccoons. An enjoyable and relaxing way to spend the evening is feeding the raccoons on our back deck. We put out dog food and water and watch the animals clean their food and eat it. Sometimes they even lay down and hang out. We fed a pregnant one, Moma, for a while. Then one day she came back with three babies! We have had up to six raccoons on the deck at once. We usually watch through our glass door, but we've also sat outside with them. We are careful not to get too close to them unless the glass is between us. Our cat, Mookie, gets to watch only through the glass. He seems to like them and tries to play with them.
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