tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post549123625324249892..comments2024-03-27T22:01:59.919-04:00Comments on 5 Acres & A Dream: Time Versus MoneyLeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-62764448825374793742016-04-29T20:40:43.219-04:002016-04-29T20:40:43.219-04:00Clearwing, I think you are absolutely correct and ...Clearwing, I think you are absolutely correct and I really appreciate reading your story. It's interesting to look at the thought changes over the generations. My grandmother was very happy being a wife, mother, and homekeeper. My mother was discontent and kept pushing me toward a career. My generation tried to have it all and discovered it wasn't all it was promised to be. My daughter's generation are now proudly SAHMs. <br /><br />I commend you for taking the steps you have and for making your son a priority. In the end, the stuff fades away, but the relationship with our children is long lasting. I've never regretted staying home with my children and not following the way of the world. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-50257562110350474552016-04-29T20:36:26.274-04:002016-04-29T20:36:26.274-04:00Aart, I can't tell you what your comment means...Aart, I can't tell you what your comment means to me. You absolutely made my day. So nice to meet like-minded folks like yourself!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-31092130143364020302016-04-29T11:52:22.889-04:002016-04-29T11:52:22.889-04:00I think more people are going to be staying home w...I think more people are going to be staying home with their kids and that society might be on its way to a reversal of what you described: assuming staying home means that one parent can't afford to work. <br /><br />Growing up, I always assumed I would work full time after having children, but after learning it would cost 1100-1200 dollars a month (or 2/3 of my wages) to put a 3 month old in day care so that I could work a retail job I did not love, my perspective quickly changed. I also wanted to be with my son. <br /><br />Our family helped us out by watching the baby while I transitioned to part time work. I work evenings and weekends only now so that my son is always with one of his parents. My pay pretty much equates to either the mortgage or the cost of our family health insurance. Unfortunately, we can't really economize further on those. Clearwinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05217248509334038088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-70080970257781193262016-04-28T17:25:01.393-04:002016-04-28T17:25:01.393-04:00Just read your 'Book', chose this recent p...Just read your 'Book', chose this recent post to respond to because of the Farmer Boy reference-more on that later, someone handed it to me as something that would interest me(not them tho) and I thought 'oh, geez *another* homesteading book'. I was *very* pleasantly surprised at it's overall tone of Reality over Romance, the details of options in each category, awareness of doing more with less instead of merely consuming-agrarian vs industrial, the wide breadth of view between current popularity of 'green' terms vs the 70's ecological/economic awareness...and your 'voice' and use of language. A thoroughly pleasant read, partly because we are probably close in age with similar life and cultural experiences. <br /><br />I commenced to read quite a bit of your blog, mostly the chicken stuff-about the only grow your own food I do, and look forward to reading much more. The Farmer Boy reference made me really smile, a favorite book as a kid I reread it a couple years ago just to see how/if it still clicked and realized it's an excellent, simplistic yet pretty thorough, years overview of *truly* homesteading.<br /><br />Anyway, Thanks for writing 'The Book'!aarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08417076876238078877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-76568768401877495482016-04-25T05:17:19.029-04:002016-04-25T05:17:19.029-04:00I think life is simpler when the ability to simply...I think life is simpler when the ability to simply buy, buy, buy is removed. Dan and I find that having no money forces us to be creative and simplify. Your farming background should serve you well in years to come!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-26666327768233342912016-04-25T05:15:57.185-04:002016-04-25T05:15:57.185-04:00I keep telling Dan the same thing!I keep telling Dan the same thing!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-13474228228565486592016-04-24T17:07:20.863-04:002016-04-24T17:07:20.863-04:00Hi Leigh! This is a good post! I'm in the sa...Hi Leigh! This is a good post! I'm in the same boat Ed above was. I have a few more years at the "day job" before I can retire, so money is easier to come by than time. I grew up on a small farm so I know what it is to have it the other way around. At least from my child and teen perspective, life seemed SO much simpler when we fixed everything that could be fixed, grudgingly purchased the things we couldn't, and enjoyed the time and things so much more. I'm looking forward to those times again!Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08343134852881572900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-75793169284994254292016-04-24T17:06:30.593-04:002016-04-24T17:06:30.593-04:00There really is, but then my wife keeps telling me...There really is, but then my wife keeps telling me I'm going to kill myself if I carry on - I doubt it, it makes me stronger I think! Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-59984050419960172112016-04-23T05:35:35.876-04:002016-04-23T05:35:35.876-04:00Thanks Nancy! That was a decision I've never r...Thanks Nancy! That was a decision I've never regretted. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-7222261228769396822016-04-23T05:34:52.675-04:002016-04-23T05:34:52.675-04:00Kev, you sound like you lack a little confidence i...Kev, you sound like you lack a little confidence in yourself! But your blog is filled with such great homesteading experiences and material. In the end there's a sense of personal accomplishment in doing it oneself, don't you think?Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-12704415799529333242016-04-23T05:31:56.543-04:002016-04-23T05:31:56.543-04:00No, it isn't the same! I think a lot of folks ...No, it isn't the same! I think a lot of folks don't get that, don't understand the satisfaction that comes from doing something yourself. There's something rewarding in being personally involved with the basic aspects of living. It seems so many jobs don't give folks any sense of purpose and self-satisfaction nowadays. No wonder they are frantically chasing after gadgets and gizmos. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-40661672838395898822016-04-23T05:29:44.126-04:002016-04-23T05:29:44.126-04:00Katy, experience is so key! It really forms and mo...Katy, experience is so key! It really forms and molds our ways of doing things. I've mentioned that our experiences in hiring others has not been encouraging. Obviously that's a huge factor in the choices we make now.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-10764324553023243482016-04-23T05:28:03.365-04:002016-04-23T05:28:03.365-04:00Tom, you life and prospects are truly exciting rig...Tom, you life and prospects are truly exciting right now. And you're hitting an important nail on the head - attitude! You were able to see opportunity in what others would see as disaster. Thankfully you had the makings of a new future available. I'm really looking forward to your getting your new website up and running. I think it will be exciting to see how Star Homestead works out.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-66538593936978464992016-04-23T05:23:12.434-04:002016-04-23T05:23:12.434-04:00Thanks Ed! I wonder if you concept of money has an...Thanks Ed! I wonder if you concept of money has anything to do with growing up on a farm(?). Farmers and their families are so much closer to the source that I can't help but think it would effect their understanding of what real work really is. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-16467089492754263872016-04-23T05:21:29.057-04:002016-04-23T05:21:29.057-04:00Well put! Your experience is exactly what I'm ...Well put! Your experience is exactly what I'm talking about. It's interesting how much less money we really need when we don't have a job to support. Dan and I have found that frugality forces us to be more creative, too, and I like that. I think we make much wiser choices too, because there isn't an option to simply buy another or buy more. We have to get it right the first time. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-89987321186555656322016-04-23T05:14:58.470-04:002016-04-23T05:14:58.470-04:00Very true. I used to make my own clothes to save m...Very true. I used to make my own clothes to save money, but somewhere along the way the do-it-yourselfer became the new cash cow and costs of patterns and fabrics skyrocketed. Now it's cheaper to buy poorly made mass produced clothing. And one no longer gets what one pays for! Expensive stuff rarely seems to be any better quality nowadays than the cheap stuff.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-5517570267085084432016-04-23T05:11:38.431-04:002016-04-23T05:11:38.431-04:00I think the Amish have an excellent system for com...I think the Amish have an excellent system for community help and work. Their attitude toward material things is admirable as well. <br /><br />I have to say that now that my kids are grown and on their own, I never once regret staying home with them and teaching them. I would make the same choice if I needed to. And what did we "miss"? A bunch of stuff that is now so obsolete that nobody would give a plug nickle for it. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-48017128703092427672016-04-23T05:08:06.672-04:002016-04-23T05:08:06.672-04:00Quality has been one a huge reason why we rarely h...Quality has been one a huge reason why we rarely hire a job out anymore. Our experiences have been pretty frustrating and results have been poor. We've also experienced a lot of disrespect of our property by so-called professionals. Obviously others have better experiences and results than we've had, but it hasn't helped us have confidence in that option!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-59251184033620236412016-04-22T22:17:42.292-04:002016-04-22T22:17:42.292-04:00Great article. I am a believer to stay home with ...Great article. I am a believer to stay home with kids if possible also. Nancy Cozy Thyme Cottagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933769393226611441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-23460921112214271662016-04-22T16:58:36.038-04:002016-04-22T16:58:36.038-04:00I constantly look at things in this way, but then ...I constantly look at things in this way, but then I'm terrible at letting anyone else do anything. All I do is think it would be better for someone else to do something and then end up doing it myself! I'll learn one day! Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-25280658478036628592016-04-22T15:59:33.939-04:002016-04-22T15:59:33.939-04:00Excellent post, well said!! It's the same rea...Excellent post, well said!! It's the same reason I bust my butt to grow my own veggies and put them up at the end of the season. Yes, I could buy them....but it's not quite the same, is it?Debbie - Mountain Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18401931842031353732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-18987838189957524312016-04-22T15:14:48.343-04:002016-04-22T15:14:48.343-04:00oh yes.. time, cost, quality, speed of the work, i...oh yes.. time, cost, quality, speed of the work, is it all worth it in the end? it doesn't help when your goals don't seem really set in stone, either. The best laid plans and all that - I am a fatalist now about planning. I think of it is a joke. Eric still thinks planning is a good thing. Probably because some of his planning yielded him gains when he was younger, so he assumes that it works.<br />I have yet to have that experience. lol.Katyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14880982615521740741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-75558442630308632602016-04-22T11:12:38.060-04:002016-04-22T11:12:38.060-04:00Leigh,
Your so right! As I told you in my e-mail, ...Leigh,<br />Your so right! As I told you in my e-mail, I had just lost my off the Homestead job. And at the time I though OMG, "What do I do now"?<br />It took a few day's for me realize that this was a GOD sent! As I now have the time to work on the Homestead, which I did not have as I was sleeping a day, So I could work all night!<br />I do not have the Money from that job any more, But I have the Time to grow my Homestead business of raising Chickens and selling Eggs.<br />I have plans to put in a garden this year and trying my hand on building "Farm House Table's" to sell.<br />Also the Homestead is a mess right now and I can work on getting that taken care of now.<br />And you know that I'm working on getting a WEB-SITE of my own with a Blog so I can get back in touch with my BLOGGING Friends like you!<br />TomAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16521535943830916981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-70743564398075791072016-04-22T10:08:25.190-04:002016-04-22T10:08:25.190-04:00I look at time as money. Back when I had a job, I ...I look at time as money. Back when I had a job, I never had enough time to do all those things I loved. I had money but no time. I even offered at one point to take a pay cut if they just gave me more time off but it was always declined. Finally after leaving the nine to five world, I now have all the time I want to do those things I enjoy. For me, time has always been more important than the money. It helps that my lifestyle and hobbies require little in the way of money and I could care less about what my neighbors buy with their money.<br /><br />Excellent post!Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13214319366049620074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-88959492750856141052016-04-22T09:52:52.539-04:002016-04-22T09:52:52.539-04:00AMEN! I so agree with you.AMEN! I so agree with you.Renee Nefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08167893445846427824noreply@blogger.com