This morning

This morning, as I'm driving to a conference in Raleigh, I'm thinking about the lovely conversation I've just had with Mom, and the pitfalls of aging, and yet how well she's doing in spite of it all, and the tragedy of lives cut short, and how much I depend on Google, and when it tells me to turn left on some winding road, when all the lemmings are going straight, but slowly because the traffic is horrendous, and I wonder if I'd be crazy to turn left on the winding road, or crazy like a fox, but I'm already late, because 10 minutes from home I turned around to make sure I'd turned off the stove,

Thankful

A few of the things for which I am thankful:

My blaze organge "Elmer Fudd" cap with fuzzy ear flaps.

Camping with Kate.

The village that raised me.

Free two-day shipping.

Deer Hunting on a Budget

One of the fun things about a new hobby is all the gear you get to buy. But when I took up hunting three years ago, I set an arbitrary goal of minimizing my costs. Here's how I did it.

First, my shooting stick. I chose a single shot 20 gauge shotgun.

OK, are you back now? 'Cause I know you've been rolling on the floor laughing.

I'm no firearms expert, but I suspect this is the least powerful/capable gun you could buy and still reliably bring down a deer. Ninety-six bucks from the friendly local pawn shop.

The Short Season

All summer long "Put deer stand in shed" has been on my to-do list. Using my normal super efficient methods, I ignored that item long enough that I saved myself the time-consuming hassle of writing "Put deer stand in woods" on my list this fall. I may have ignored a few other items on the list as well, but I'm not sure my efficiency model is going to work with "clean the gutters." I'll get back to you.

This is my fourth hunting season, and I'm beginning to find a routine.

Winding Down

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

It's been three weeks since my last post, a sure sign that wildflower season is truly winding down.

This first photo is White Turtlehead, Chelone glabra, yet another new find. This makes about 40 flowers I've found for the first time this year (not because they weren't there, but because I hadn't noticed them before).

One Hundred Plants: Isn't that a lot?

No. No it's not.

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

With this post, I have reached the one-hundred plant mark. That's one hundred different species of native plants on our small woodlot in Piedmont North Carolina. It sounds like a lot, but I suspect I've only scratched the surface. As I've noted before, I haven't even started identifying grasses, and I imagine there are dozens. There must be ten or twenty tree species and several ferns. And if you start considering insects, arachnids, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals, the diversity of life on this small parcel is mind-boggling. And it begs the question, what diversity can you find in your own neighborhood? Likely more than you could imagine, and much of it depends on native plants like these. For information about adding native plants to your own garden, visit http://ncsu.edu/goingnative/.

What We Learned When the Well Went Out

Kate and I are relatively well-prepared for a temporary loss of services (e.g. power, water). You can read more about our preparations here and here. However, there's nothing like a trial run to help you iron out trouble spots in your planning.

This past winter we lost power for the better part of a day. Having no idea how long the outage would last, I went ahead and brought the camp stove, propane heater, and propane cartridges in from the shed. The stove and heater were filthy and required extensive cleaning before use. I now keep them inside, wrapped in old pillow cases so they will be ready to go. I was also reminded that propane cartridges don't work in very cold temperatures. I had to bring them into the house and let them warm up a bit before we could use them. Again, I now keep a couple inside so they are ready to go.*

Tending Trails Through the Timber

Having a network of trails through your woodlot can provide tons of enjoyment. But without maintenance, they will quickly become overgrown with grass, weeds and vines, and blocked with fallen trees and branches. Not only does this make access more difficult, it also increases your exposure to ticks and chiggers.

Over the years, Kate and I have developed a nice network of logging roads, firebreaks and footpaths through our own property (you can read more about them here). Over time I've discovered the tools that make maintenance much easier.

Sorting Solidagos

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

Nothing puts me in the mood for fall quite like the sight of glorious Goldenrod (Solidago sp.) bending in the breeze next to the driveway. I've enjoyed them for years, and make a point to avoid them with mower and sprayer so they will proliferate. But a year or two ago I began to realize we had more than one type, some taller, some shorter, some blooming earlier or later. Sorting them all out has been on my "I've been meaning to..." list for a while, and today I crossed it off.

Just When I Thought Things Were Slowing Down...

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

Just when it seemed wildflower season was winding down, I had two brand new finds.

First though, here's Joe Pye Weed, a plant I had seen in our woods a few years back. I was fairly certain it was still around, and sure enough I tracked it down. The "official" name is Eupatorium fitulosum. It's a fantastic choice for attracting butterflies to your garden.

Repeat Performances

[At the bottom of this page there is a picture of a rat snake in a position which, I have to admit, even I find a bit creepy, and I am a huge fan of snakes!]

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

We have some repeat appearances in this week's post. For starters, we have our second showing of Goldenrod, although this is a different species from what we saw last time (I still need to get them sorted out, but the genus is Solidago). 

More Tiny Flower Pictures

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

Have to say, I worked pretty hard on the IDs this week, a couple of new finds and a real puzzler.

 

Here's the first new find, Hypericum boreale, Northern St. Johnswort. This marks the fourth Hypericum species I've found, a fact which I'm sure is of great interest to no one but me.

 

So Much Left to Discover

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

Kate and I moved onto this woodlot on a sunny April day almost fifteen years ago. On at least 80 percent of the days since, we have walked some portion of the property on an ever growing trail network. Drop either of us on any trail on any moonless night, and a bet against us making it home in 30 minutes would be a bet lost. In the winter, when the ticks and chiggers and poison ivy are sleeping, we venture far off trail in search of adventure and treasures. We have found both, and here are a few examples of the latter.

A shed antler, old bottles, a
hawk skull and an arrowhead.

It would be safe to say we know the property well.

The more I learn, the less I know

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

 

Since I first began this little project back in April, I have learned quite a bit about native plants and how to identify them. But more than anything, I've learned how little I know. Fortunately, plant ID books can compensate to some extent, and I've added a new one to my collection (A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina by Richard Dwight Porcher and Douglas Alan Rayner). Yes, the internet is wonderful, but there is something satisfying and relaxing about slowly browsing through a field guide.

Mid-Summer Update

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

 

It seems to be legume season. We'll start with Spurred Butterfly Pea, Centrosema virginianum.

 

These Are a Few of my Favorite Plants



Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

 

I've been puzzling a bit over what to include in this year-long native plant "bioblitz". For the most part I'm leaving out trees and grasses, at least for the time being, which leaves me with herbaceous flowers, shrubs and vines. But I've also been a bit arbitrary and subjective in leaving out plants that are exceptionally common or uninteresting. Does that seem fair?

 

Oh well; my blog, my rules. Let's get on with it.

I Have No idea What's Blooming in the Woods

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

 

You might be thinking that Timberwalkers is a plant ID ninja, but if so I have fooled you. The fact is, for most of the plants I photograph, I spend a fair amount of time leafing through my plant ID books trying to get it sorted out. Then, when I see it again next year, I'll go through the process all over again.

 

Even then, I'm often stumped. Perhaps even worse is when I confidently post a plant name on these interwebs for both of my readers to see, and later discover I was dead wrong. It's happened more than once. Today there are three that have me completely stumped, and one that I have finally identified at least two years after first finding it.

Weed or Wildflower?

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

In my college weed science classes, I learned that one definition of a weed is "a plant growing where it's not wanted". In my work as a horticulturist in the ensuing years, I've counseled hundreds of clients on how to get rid of those unwanted plants. However, in my recent studies of native plants I have come to the surprising realization that many of the plants we attempt to banish from our lawns, flower beds and bean fields are in fact indigenous species. I had been working under the mistaken assumption that for a plant to have "weedy" tendencies, it most likely was introduced from another country. Of course, this is true for many of the worst offenders, e.g. kudzu and microstegium. But perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to eradicate every wild plant from our yards, maybe pausing long enough to determine if they perhaps have a role to play for some insect or forest creature.

Wintergreen Blooms in the Spring

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata) is a tiny, unassuming plant that (surpise!) stays green in the winter. You might not notice it, even in bloom. Enchanting, though, isn't it? Especially when you take a close up look at the small blossoms (second picture).

Milkweed Season!

[Note that at the bottom of this post, there is a picture of an absolutely adorable little king snake. Saving the best for last!]

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

Last week I posted the first milkweed of the season, but this week they are really popping. The loss of monarch butterfly overwintering habitat in Mexico has received a lot of press, but we are losing valuable host plants in North America as well. Do your part by planting some in your garden.

Here is Variegated Milkweed, Asclepias variegata.

The Colorful Woods of Late Spring

[Heads up: There's a picture of a sweet little ring-necked snake at the bottom. You've been warned]

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

The woods often seem to be cloaked in rather dull shades of green and brown. However this time of year, if you are willing to look close, you will find lots of bright colors.

Yes, we have a cactus in North Carolina, Prickley Pear (Opuntia humifusa). It is stunning in bloom.

8 Factors to Taking a Great Photo, Weighted

Here's what I think it takes to get a great photo:

20% - An amazing subject

20% - Photographer's talent and technical expertise

15% - Being in the right place at the right time with a camera (i.e. keep it handy as often as possible)

15% - The right lighting

10% - Framing/composition

10% - Taking several shots of the subject and picking the best

5% - Judicious image editing

5% - A nice, expensive camera (although yes, a better camera will take better photos, all other things being equal)

This means amateurs like you and me have 75% of what it takes to get a great shot! Get out there and take some pictures, folks!

A Busy Week in the Woods

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find.

I'll start out this week with Arrowleaf (Peltandra virginica). This is a new find for me, although it's probably been here all along. That's the blossom in the second picture.

 

I was surprised to find I had no prior record of this lovely little flower. It's called Venus' Looking-Glass (Triodanis perfoliata) and with a name like that I'm pleased to have identified it! Didn't even notice the cute little beetle when I was taking the photo.

The Woods Wear White in May

Not only does the Chionanthus continue to look stunning (see previous post) it's delicate white blossoms have been joined by a host of other white flowers.

First we have one of the Hawthorns, species unknown, but in the genus Crataegus.



The Wildflowers of Early May

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

Many of the wildflowers I see have small and fairly inconspicuous blossoms. I find them fascinating nonetheless.

This is one of my favorites, called Heart Leaf. Not sure of species, but it's in the Hexastylis genus. That's the blossom on the lower left, and it's often covered by the leaf litter. I believe it is pollinated by ground insects such as beetles.

How to Find Native Wildflowers, and Recommended Guidebooks to Identify Them

Find a large wooded piece of property near your home that has a good trail network and which you can visit conveniently. State and county parks are excellent candidates.

Alternatively, buy a large wooded piece of property and put a house in the middle of it. Fifty to one-hundred acres is a good minimum. The property should have a good trail network. If not, build one.

Buy two or three wildflower identification guidebooks. Here are a couple of my favorites:

• Wildflowers of North Carolina, 2nd edition, by Justice, Bell and Lindsey
• Forest Plants of the Southeast and Their Wildlife Uses, by Miller and Miller
• A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina, by Porcher and Rayner

Walk the property on a regular basis, at least three times a week from March through October. As you walk, scan the woods around you, focusing on the forest floor within ten feet of the trail. Scan extra carefully around stream banks, ravines, bluffs, rock outcroppings, and any other noteworthy terrain.

Just Another Camping Trip

Kate and I are just back from a camping trip, this time to Staunton River State Park in Virginia, a short hour and a half drive away. We call it camping, but some of you might beg to differ. Our camper has a microwave, queen sized bed and air conditioning. In the evening we may sip hot cocoa, but instead of relaxing to the flickering flames of a campfire, we watch Psych reruns on the flatscreen.

It was not much different from the other fifteen or so trips we've taken since buying our little travel trailer a year and a half ago. Long hikes, good food, nice views, time to relax. Same routine, different park. Camping takes us far away from the day-to-day stresses of our jobs, but also from the pull of endless chores that would nag us on even the most relaxing weekend at home.

All the good stuff, pure joy.

You might think that was all there was, and certainly that would be enough, and ample motivation to plan our next trip as soon as we return from the last. But there is more, so much more.

More News from the Woods

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

Here is a catalog of what's been blooming since my last update from April 19.

The azalea in your yard likely originated in the orient, but you can find an NC native version in the woods right now (Rhododendron periclymenoides). 

What's the Best Vehicle for Woodlot Access?

Both of my regular readers (love you Mom and Dad!) will recall that Kate and I own a small woodlot and take an active role in managing the property. There are always chores to be done, such as harvesting firewood, clearing access roads and footpaths, maintaining stream crossings, and controlling brush and invasive plants.

For a long time I have coveted some motorized conveyance to carry me and a chainsaw into the woods. For years I've mostly used a good pair of hiking boots, but oddly it becomes more tiresome each year. There are many options, and I've considered them all. I'll review them here, mostly to further convince myself that I really need to buy the 1987 Ford Bronco II I found on Craigslist.

Granted, I already have a compact four wheel drive utility tractor, and while it's amazingly versatile, it's a bit of overkill for those simple jobs where you just need a chainsaw.

Things We Saw in the Woods Today

This is the first entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

[Warning: Picture of large snake at the end]

Today, like most Sundays, my sweetie and I headed into the woods with our two pups for a hike. As usual, I carried my trusty Nikon Coolpix L610, a basic point and shoot with a macro setting and a 14x zoom. As always, I was on the lookout for native flowers and wildlife. Here's what we saw.

For starters, the Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) was in bloom. This is a common forest tree, and the small fruits are enjoyed by wildlife later in the year.

Visiting Grandma

Growing up my sister and I were fortunate to have two grandmothers who showered us with love.

Memommie, my Dad's mom, lived in a small eastern North Carolina town her whole life. Our trips to see her often coincided with visits from cousins, and the old house came alive with tall tales and corny jokes from beloved uncles, the storm door swinging as we explored the house, yard, and great big world beyond. It was the house my dad grew up in, little changed, and full of his stories.

We climbed the longleaf pine trees in the backyard, named one "Mayflower", and tied ribbons around her branches.

There was a low wall by the garden where we practiced our balance, daffodils popping up from the sandy soil in spring, and oftentimes kittens to feed and play with.

After fall visits we came home with grocery sacks full of pecans. As I got older I became the official tree shaker, which meant climbing high in the branches to shake the nuts down.

Most visits we would walk downtown to the "dime store" and I would return to the house with a new toy car or a balsa wood airplane or a few plastic "army men".

Sometimes we would make the trek to Magnolia Lake, which in my eyes was about like a trip to the Amazon, but was really just a big pond a couple miles down the road.

The upstairs of the old house was a bit mysterious, and we would have to dodge monstrous Eastern NC wasps in the summer. But up the steps we went, which were too short and awkward to climb. There we found an old trunk, and the cut off ends of fabric rolls, who knows whence they came, but they were good for tying up bundles of newspaper and made nice ribbons for pine trees.

As with most family gatherings, food was an integral part, but at that time and place much of it came from the garden not the grocery. Pecan pie, biscuits with pear preserves, butter beans and field peas graced the table, along with fried chicken and sweet iced tea (those last two items being required by town ordinance).

Memommie, like many in her time, was a quilter, not out of a desire to create works of great beauty but to make something that would keep you warm at night. I think she made one for each of her grandchildren, and while mine would not have won a ribbon at the County Fair, it was made for me and I loved it.

She dealt with her share of tragedy. One of her sons had a mental disability at a time when services and understanding were thin. She lost another in the Great War, and her husband died just a couple years after my birth, much too soon. I know too little about her life growing up and raising a family during a time of great hardship for our nation, but even if her only gifts to the world were utilitarian quilts, home cooked meals, and love for her grandchildren, it was a life well lived, and her passing about three decades ago hit me harder than I could have guessed.

"Grandmother" was what we called my mom's mom and, in spite of the more formal title, loved us just as dearly. My granddad died just a year or two before my birth, and Mom has always lamented that we never met, certain we would have loved each other immensely.

After being widowed, Grandmother moved to a duplex in Durham and rose to the challenge of handling household finances for the first time in her life.  The apartment was tiny, but the memories of our visits take up a big space in my mind. It's funny what you remember about a place; a box of toys, a wooden step stool in the kitchen, the "rocket" slide in the park down the road. And of course the cuckoo clock. Rumor has it it was passed down to one of my dear cousins, and I envision it hanging in their kitchen or hallway, waiting to intrigue their own grandchildren when they come to visit.

Like my Dad's family, we had a small but loving assortment of Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. Though we all lived some distance apart, regular visits were an integral part of my childhood and youth and I have rich memories of trips with them, to the beach or Tweetsie Railroad or the Air and Space Museum.

Grandmother was a passionate and talented crafter, making afghans, scarves, ceramics and pretty Christmas tree ornaments from lace or beads. Her ornaments still find a prominent spot on our tree, and no doubt hang from my sister's and cousins' as well.

Her husband worked for the Weather Service, and they moved him around several times. I still don't have straight all the places my Mom lived growing up. But they have some roots in Warrenton, a quaint town where through sheer chance I now work, funny how life comes full circle. They are both buried there in a beautiful small town cemetery, full of moss, oaks and faded tomb stones.

In spite of Granddad's (is that what I would have called him?) professional career, money was scarce for their family. Yet they managed to feed three kids and instill in them the value of education and hard work, all went on to have successful careers and loving families of their own.

My grandmothers were far from perfect, each with their own idiosyncrasies and failings. Thankfully, as children we seem to see past those things quite easily and are rewarded in abundance with a deep and abiding love. What a difference it made in my life.

Question Template: Describe Your Work Habits & Productivity Tools

Every week the Lifehacker website posts interviews with noteworthy people who share insights into their work life. They share their secrets to being productive, as well as information about the tools and software they use. For kicks, I decided to answer the questions myself. You can read my answers here, or even better, click here to read about people who are actually, you know, interesting. Even better than that, answer the questions yourself (listed below) and post them for the world to see!

Location:
Current Gig:
One word that best describes how you work:
Current mobile device:
Current computer:

What app/software/tools can't you live without? Why?

What's your workspace setup like?

What's your best time-saving shortcut/life hack?

What's your favorite to-do list manager?

Besides your phone and computer, what gadget can't you live without and why?

What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else?

What do you listen to while you work?

What are you currently reading?

Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert?

What's your sleep routine like?

Fill in the blank: I'd love to see _____________ answer these same questions.

What's the best advice you've ever received?

Is there anything else you'd like to add that might be interesting to readers?

How Does Timberwalkers Get His Work Done? [another question no one asked, finally answered]

Every week the Lifehacker website posts interviews with noteworthy people who share insights into their work life. They share their secrets to being productive, as well as information about the tools and software they use. For kicks, I decided to answer the questions myself. You can read my answers below, or even better, click here to read about people who are actually, you know, interesting. Even better than that, click here for a list of the questions and post your own answers!

Location: Henderson, NC
Current Gig: Ag Extension Agent by day. On nights and weekends I raise pine trees, cut/haul/split firewood, take pictures, write random blog posts, and edit vacation videos.
One word that best describes how you work: Anxiously
Current mobile device: iPod Touch, Generation 5
Current computer: On my desk at home I have a base model Lenovo laptop running Windows 8. For personal travel I have a circa 2005 Toshiba laptop running Ubuntu. At work I have a 12" MacBook Pro, which I love, but frankly I'd be happier if it ran Windows.

What app/software/tools can't you live without? Why?
I'm firmly entrenched in the Google-verse. I use the calendar, productivity software (Drive), blogging platform, maps, and Gmail. I like how they are interconnected/integrated. Also GIMP and Paint.Net, which are free but powerful image editing apps for the desktop.

What's your workspace setup like?

Home workstation

At home I have laptop set up on a stand on my uncle's old writing desk. It's connected to a 15" monitor, giving me two screens. Keyboard is Logitech K120, basic but quite nice. Mouse is wireless, a Logitech M310. My Creative Inspire T10 speakers are quite adequate for filling the living room and kitchen with tunes, and JVC Flats headphones are handy when a certain special someone is watching TV (i.e. ALL THE TIME). At work I plug my MacBook into a second monitor, an Apple "Chiclet" style keyboard and wireless Logitech mouse.

What's your best time-saving shortcut/life hack?
Using Google Calendar to organize and keep up with my schedule, since I can access it from any computer, tablet, etc. I can also "share" it with co-workers so they can keep up with where I am.


What's your favorite to-do list manager?
For personal chores and tasks I use Evernote, which, like Google Calendar, I can view from any computer or device. For work I use this very cool notebook with "re-positionable" pages.

Besides your phone and computer, what gadget can't you live without and why?
My tablet (a 1st generation Kindle Fire). Also my chainsaw. And while I could technically live without it, I absolutely adore my Seiko 5 self-winding watch. When the zombie apocalypse comes and you can't charge your phone, I'll be the guy everyone comes to for the exact time.

What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else?
Felling trees. I've dropped scores of trees and am finally starting to figure out how to sometimes make them more or less fall where I want them to. It's extremely satisfying when it actually happens.

What do you listen to while you work?
Silence. Or the sound of a chainsaw muffled by ear plugs.

My Toshiba Satellite
& Seiko 5

What are you currently reading?
I have trouble finding books I can stick with, but read lots of articles about current events and technology. I also enjoy reading many of the long essays written by bloggers in the Gawker Media domain (e.g. Gizmodo, Lifehacker, Jalopnik, etc.).

Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert?
Introvert, but I can fake extrovert when needed, and actually find it enjoyable for short bursts.

What's your sleep routine like?
Asleep on the couch by 9:30, in bed by 10 or 11, up by 5 or 5:30.

Fill in the blank: I'd love to see _____________ answer these same questions.
Anyone who reads this. Also, Neil Young or Norah Jones.

What's the best advice you've ever received?
This isn't so much advice, but this is what comes to mind. My Dad showed me by example that you can fix and build things yourself. Following that example has encouraged me to tackle many profoundly satisfying projects (building a shed, end table, countertop, etc.) and saved me thousands of dollars in repair costs. My Mom somehow nurtured my sense of exploration, which has led to many hundreds of exciting adventures, from exploring the woods in the neighborhood, to visiting foreign lands.

Is there anything else you'd like to add that might be interesting to readers?
One of the things that has shaped my life is the realization that big projects are comprised of hundreds or thousands of tiny steps over a long period of time. That has given me the confidence to tackle things that I probably had no business tackling.

The Steps to Building a Tiny Fortune

Kate and I have managed to accumulate a small fortune, and by "small" I mean tiny, miniscule. These are the things we've done to get there.

• I have packed my lunch for well over 20 years. Kate has packed hers for nearly 15.
• About 15 years ago we realized that if we saved a little each month, in less time than you think it can add up to a decent little sum.
• About 15 ago years we started keeping an emergency fund for unexpected expenses (see above).
• We never had kids. That helped a lot with the two items directly above.
• We buy used cars and put a lot of miles on them.
• I've learned how to negotiate a reasonably good price when buying cars (thanks Dad!).
• I sell our old cars on Craigslist, rather than trading them in.
• We've either paid cash or made significant down payments on land, homes, and cars, and have never been "upside down" (loan balance > asset value).
• We've never borrowed money except for land, homes and cars. Well, there was an awfully nice tractor that I REALLY needed.
• We recognize that where you bank makes a difference. Doing so can save beaucoup bucks on fees, interest rates and penalties. Clark Howard recommends a small community bank or credit union. You might find a credit union here: www.ncua.gov
• We've managed to get good interest rates on car loans and mortgages.
• Almost every electronic device we own (e.g. computers, tablets, cameras, etc.) was purchased either used or refurb, and they are kept for a long time. They are a notch or two below "top of the line".

Home workstation: refurb base model
Lenovo laptop, used monitor.

• We haven't paid credit card interest in many years, and use reward cards to get a little money back.
• Neither of us spends much money on clothes or jewelry. This is probably the most surprising fact in this list, since we are widely admired as trendsetters in the fashion realm.
• We have non-contract cell phone plans. She has a flip phone, I have a "feature" phone.
• All our homes have been smallish. We lived in a single-wide trailer for 7 years (and loved it!).
• We almost never eat out or go to movies or shows.
• I comparison shop and deal hunt obsessively.
• We both have good jobs with decent salaries and good benefits. 
• We both went back to school later in life to enhance our job skills.
• Our furniture is either homemade, hand-me-down, a Craigslist purchase, or inexpensive "assemble yourself".

A table I made. And a cat.

• It's not that I know how to fix a lot of things, but I'm not afraid to try and can often figure it out. I change the oil in both our cars [this, in my opinion, is a basic skill that everyone should have].
• Instead of zipper seal bags, I use fold top sandwich bags and clip them with a close pin. This saves me about 50 cents per month. In ten years, that's $240 dollars!!!
• For many years we have bought mostly generic brands at the grocery store.
• We have a highly refined system for grocery shopping.
• We don't buy expensive gifts for each other.
• I always shop from a list.
• I recently called the satellite TV company when they yet again raised our rates, informed them I was ready to switch to the OTHER satellite company (and I was) and they matched the price, saving us $700 over the next two years.
• We've never been to Europe, Hawaii, or on a cruise. We did buy a second home on wheels, but it's 14 years old and we paid cash.
• We get cheap haircuts and neither of us spends much time at the spa.
• Both of our parents have generously helped us out from time to time.
• Over 20 year ago I read Your Money or Your Life and it profoundly changed my thinking about money and consumption. Later I read The Millionaire Next Door and The Automatic Millionaire (note that it's rather unlikely that we will ever be millionaires, but the lessons were useful). I have listened to literally hundreds of hours of podcasts of the Clark Howard Show.
• Things we've never bought: silk sheets, expensive art, appliances by Cuisinart, audio equipment by Bose.
• About 15 years ago we began making automatic deposits into retirement accounts (I think I started at $10/month), and have gradually increased the monthly contributions over the years.
• We never had kids.
• We've never had to pay for childcare, piano lessons, summer camp, pediatricians, 529 funds, or car insurance for someone under 18. We have paid for some high end dog food and a fancy vet, but I'm pretty sure we came out ahead on that deal (looking at it from a strictly financial standpoint).

My tractor. Splurge? Or necessity?
Admit it, you want one, too.

Ultimately I believe it's possible for someone to make significant changes in their financial situation by making many small decisions over a period of a decade or two. Of course, income level may place significant constraints on the degree of that change. That said, I don't believe it's bad to splurge on things that provide great joy, be it silk sheets, Caribbean cruises or top of the line electronics. Certainly both of us make occasional splurges (but let me tell you, that tractor is SWEET!).

Nor is it to suggest that personal circumstances or crises can't blow it all to hell, in spite of one's best efforts. I hope there's not a hint of judgment here. There are also many times I regret the "not having kids" thing, and I am deeply envious of the joy and love they bring to those of you who chose differently. My goal is just to say that we've made a modest accomplishment, and these are some of the things we did to get there, but I realize that a lot of it is due to the luck of circumstances [June 2021 update: It's also clear to me now how the unearned privileges of being white have benefited us profoundly].

But in any case, here's a pair of cheap earbuds that sound decent: http://www.cnet.com/products/panasonic-ergo-fit/

You're welcome!

Burning Wood

For most of you, if you are feeling a little chilly you walk to an LCD panel on the wall and press the "up" arrow a few times. We have that option too, and choose it often enough, but we also have another; build a fire.

Several times a week we choose the latter, burning wood we harvest from our own land.

It's messy, dragging firewood into the house and ashes out. It's also time-consuming. From the time I notice a chill to the time the temperature begins to rise, a good half hour has passed. The cutting, hauling, stacking and splitting takes a minute or two as well. Although I've never tabulated, I suspect I spend four or five hours a week through the winter dealing with fires and firewood.

I have delusions of frugality, and love the concept of a free source of heat. And besides a bit of gas for the chainsaw, the wood we harvest is completely free. Just a little diesel in the tractor. Well, there was the hydraulic wood splitter I bought, and the basket for the back of the tractor to haul wood out of the forest. A few miscellaneous tools. And I'll need a new chainsaw soon, got my eye on a nice Husqvarna. So yes, basically a free source of heat.

You might wonder if it's worth it, and I sometimes wonder as well when those of you with gas logs can just turn a knob. And in fact I completely missed the terms "Vent Free Fireplace" written on the house plans. Fortunately, the contractor asked us early on about where to place the LP tank, and realized we would need a chimney instead. [You do just turn a knob, right? Because there is a nice spot behind the house for an LP tank.]

We have four racks of firewood (about a cord altogether). Each winter as we empty a rack, I cut down enough wood to fill it back up for the NEXT winter. I'm fairly confident with a chainsaw and I've gotten pretty good at felling trees (where "pretty good" means most of the time the tree falls where it wants and usually gets hung up on the way down).

I split it as we burn it, about a wagonload at a time, and yes, by "wagonload" I'm referring to the Radio Flyer variety. That lasts us about a week.

Most winter evenings we have a fire after work, and usually can warm the main living area to 71 degrees or a little higher. The furnace doesn't kick in until well after we've gone to bed. A space heater in the bedroom gets that room warm for bedtime.

These tasks add a rhythm to our days and months and year.

Or we could just go to that LCD panel on the wall and hit the up arrow a few times.

But burning wood connects us a little more solidly to the forest that surrounds us. It keeps us in tune with the world outside. It warms the home in a way that a heat pump never could.

Mostly, though, we do it for the dogs.