Hobbies

The calendar says summer is winding down and that means it's a good time to get in those last-minute excursions with the grandkids. If you like fairies (and who doesn't?), then you'll enjoy the fairy doors scavenger hunt at Holden Arboretum... with or without kids. ...

Do you know who loves all of our time at home? Dogs who need forever homes. The pandemic has led to an uptick in pet adoptions throughout the country. People have discovered that having a pet makes at-home time a lot more fun. Local shelters have had to be creative during the pandemic because many volunteer programs have been on hold while the need for help and money hasn't changed. ...

It happens every once in a while to everyone — a frustrating day at work or a day at home when nothing goes right. What to do? What to do? Head out to your garden for some restorative “garden therapy!” Kneel down in a shady spot next to your garden and grab a handful of soil, squeeze and crumble. Mmmm. Feels good, releases tension and helps aerate the soil. But that's just the beginning. Garden blogger Donna Hessel has much more to share about the healing powers of your garden retreat. ...

The real gift grandparents can give to their grandkids is the gift of time spent together, says Teece Lester, preschool coordinator at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center. Don’t manage experiences when they’re in nature—simply let them explore, touch and smell anything that interests them (as long as they’re safe, of course.) ...

Sometimes it takes a visitor to notice the interesting places in your hometown. University Circle is a good example. How many times have you driven past the Cultural Gardens, Wade Oval and other University Circle highlights, giving little more than a glance at them? They deserve more. Now there's a way to give them their proper due. ...

Playing games on smartphones and tablets has been around for more than a decade. Accessibility and the ease at which games can be played quickly probably surpass other forms of gaming and provide a common thread linking generations of game lovers. ...

Many of us are taking a new look at backyard vegetable gardens because grocery shopping has gotten more complicated as the pandemic drags on. Growing your own food isn't hard, it's just hard work — at least in the beginning. One key: getting pests under control. Our garden blogger has a few tips to battle unwanted visitors. ...

Online order hassles, masks, crack-of-dawn store hours, lousy selections. Wouldn’t it be nice to get food from your back yard instead of a grocery store? Like Victory Gardens during World War II, Pandemic Plots promise to be the go-to hobby this summer. Grab a shovel and get started. ...