Me, too.
Very nice.

I found this really, really late. I can't wait to see the whole path all put together! What I can't figure out is how the heck Dave & Trish have time to play games, run the websites, make stepping stones, take care of worms, have a farm, cows, garden, cook, eat, sleep, bathe, & do that for 5 children! Sheesh! I'm tired just thinking about it!

LOVE the new stones!

Can't wait to see them all and yes, the tutorial will be wonderful!

flaflwrgrl said:I found this really, really late. I can't wait to see the whole path all put together! What I can't figure out is how the heck Dave & Trish have time to play games, run the websites, make stepping stones, take care of worms, have a farm, cows, garden, cook, eat, sleep, bathe, & do that for 5 children! Sheesh! I'm tired just thinking about it!

For starters, we don't spend time watching TV and you'd be amazed how much time that frees up.

I don't watch TV anymore either. Yes, lots more time but still I don't have the time or energy you guys do. You must have special blood. Want to share some?

The stepping stones are getting really nice. I love the dry creek as well. I was going to ask about the time thing but glad someone else did. Probably just a matter of priorities. Lots of people waste time "waiting" for this or that, if you take that out of your life, you do have lots of time today. I so often see people that are waiting till they have time, money, etc to do something. I used to but gave it up....lol. I didn't have time for it.

It's really hard to answer a question like that because I think it is more of a lifestyle than one or two secrets that can be shared, IYKWIM.

We've chosen to make home (including farm) and family the priorities, so everything gets filter through that. We don't leave very often because I found that it was stressful and hectic to try to run a home (farm) and not actually be home. I do most of my shopping online, even.

Activities we do, we do as a family most often. That keeps us all together, and allows us to do more because all of us are working on the same stuff. Speaking of, we all work together. It is amazing how fast the two oldest children and myself can weed the garden! While we do that, the two youngers flit around being go-fers, or helping Dave do something else. We can get an amazing amount of work done in an hour.

Another thing for me is the multitasking, and filling in time holes productively. I knit while listening to new readers work their way through another day of phonics. In between students, I throw laundry in. I'll answer mails when there is a moment of pause. Right now, one of my clean up projects is cleaning and rearranging the pantry. I've been working on it in the times when there isn't anything else (like while I'm waiting for dinner to cook). I've been working for about a week on it, and it might take another week, but slow and steady it gets done, whereas if I waited until I had time, it would never get done, or be such a huge job that that would be all I would get done for a day.

And we sleep very well at night!

When I was thinking about those 5 children I forgot that they also can help. Go-fers are not to be underestimated as to time saving value. And the 2 oldest helping weed.... well, that's downright positive. We see all too little of that these days. That's the way I think most of us at ATP were raised but have seen so little of those values being instilled in the current generation that I at least, tend to forget there ARE some people out there raising their kids with good values. THANK YOU for being responsible parents! And I truly mean that.

I am so behind in this thread! I got confused. Great moderator, huh??

Rebecca, I LOVE that link. Now I want to make a big patio like that with the rocks.

Dave and Trish, the stepping stones are tuning out great...how fun to have those forever and someday your farm will be filled with grandchildren that walk along those same stones their parents created. I am sentimental!

I'm sentimental like that too, Becky!!

*dabs eyes*

Trish!

Trish on one of the threads (I can't find it now), you said you wouldn't get to some of your projects until your a grandmother. And I thought to myself, Awesome, grandchildren are the best go-fers there are. They love getting things for Maw maw. So, you see Trish, you'll still have plenty of helpers.

LUV the dry creek bed stone

http://garden.org/articles/vie...

Be sure to check out Dave's stepping stones!

Dave & Trish, have you gotten around to asking Randy if he has gotten any unusual mail? Like a gazillion post cards? We were wondering what his reaction might have been...

I keep meaning to do this, but I have not been to Randy's store in many months. I need to just make a special trip to see him.