So

I started this blog in 2004. 

It could be argued that I move at somewhat of a glacial pace. 

So.  The plan is to blog about some of the projects we do here to simplify our lives, create income and at the same time transition to making a lot of what we would go out and purchase.   The hope is it will be a running tally of all the collective making, aka "the projects that pay."   They will either save you money, create money or, my personal fave . . . eliminate the need for it. 

I was curious to see just how much time I spent on the DIY projects and if I saved money, what the relation was to "time spent" to "money earned or saved."  Admittedly, many of these projects have been flops and time vacuums and I chucked them.  However, I began to notice in some small areas, I was downright frugal and it didn't take that much time.  Plus the children were really enjoying making,  growing and raising things too.  They had real work and their energy and confidence soared, they discovered their own niches in workload and even the work itself became more satisfying.  I also noticed we had more down time.  In fact, in many cases, it took considerably less time to make something then going out and getting it.  And most certainly less than earning the money, then taking the money and spending more money to fuel a tank, drive with five little people (who tend to get hungry -- more $$) to exchange the money for the thing(s) I could have made at home in a fraction of the time and cost.  Now there are times that sanity dictates and I go through a drive throughs,  I purchase plenty, but the goal remains. 

So here I hope to document projects that take up 20 hours a week, making, earning and replacing what is the equivalent to a net $30,000 year job.  Oh, and that 20 hours is divided by an entire household   (Yay to the large families)  So these are working crafts...but many of these projects are less utilitarian and are just plain fun.


One last thing . . .  I am not a Luddite - I am blogging after all.  I enjoy surfing, electronically hoarding on Pinterest  and utilizing all the forgotten knowledge as well as current.  But I try to apply them to those things that should be unchangeable.  Things that we cannot and should not improve on -

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or as Dr. Malcom puts it.

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So, I am glad you are here and my hope is that I can either inspire you with our journey, or at the very least be a cautionary tale.  Either way, your informed.

Pax Christi  -Kirsten :)