Ed MacMullan and a fresh batch of ciabattaPhoto by Angie Bradford Hobbies sometimes rise out of unusual circumstances. Take Ed MacMullan and his discovery of his love of baking bread. MacMullan is a 64-year-old Eugene resident who retired three years ago after 28 years as an economic consultant, among other duties, at ECONorthwest, a consulting firm. He was busy enough with volunteer work, including service on the Governor’s Earthquake Advisory Council and being a stepfather to a high school-aged girl. Still, something was off in May 2020, the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was the isolation,” he notes, not being able to chat openly with his tight-knit Whiteaker neighbors.