That is a great story, and I'm really glad you found the box. Now I've got a question. I always thought the "Watched Box" feature notifies you for clue updates and status changes but not finds. So what exactly happened here?

My teenaged son does the mowing at our house. Or when he is at work or marching band practice, my husband mows it. I think I have mowed the lawn like 5 times total in my life :)

Prior to his getting very sick and then dropping dead, my father did all the yard work. He enjoyed doing it, and my mom and I helped (which involved a lot of him telling me "you're not holding the bag open enough!")

After that, my mom mowed the lawn. Once in a while she's called a lawn guy, and I've offered to help pay for it (I HATE pushing a mower, especially since ours is not a walk behind and it's a lot of freaking grass, since we have an older Florida house surrounded by lawn) but she says she enjoys doing it.

I personally would like to landscape the front to native plants and less grass, but that takes money and time, and while we have the time, mostly, money is an issue. Palm trees and pretty paths and lots of Florida native plants aren't cheap, not to mention either the time to design it or to pay someone to design it all.

I received a notification in June that it had been found

Nope, that is not how the watch works. Something changed on the clue or the box status, it has nothing to do with being found.

Whoever has the most time/inclination! DH does it most, followed by teenage boy spawn. I am not comfortable with the rider yet, but learning. Girl spawn both dislike it, so tend to do other jobs instead.

Growing up, my brother and I split it--my dad actually measured out the yard and divided it equally (allowing for trees etc.) and we each did half--alternating front vs. back each week.

Maybe status went from unknown to active?

Sounds like creative, challenging fun! We have been dormant in LB-world and LTCs for WAY too long! Sign us up for this one, please!! :)

Hubby does most of it with the riding mower, but I just mowed part of the yard with the push gas mower. I do pretty much all of the yard work except for mowing and leaf pickup. I'm also a perennial gardener. It's good exercise, and I enjoy being outside.

We're just ten days away from Exploring the Seas! As the planners put the final touches on their boxes, I wanted to extend an invitation to all of you that haven't heard about the gathering or hadn't decided if you could make it. With over 100 boxes planted, you're sure to have a great time and fill your logbook! Come for the day or come for the weekend, you can't beat a day at the beach with friends.

http://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?eventId=3082

Happy Trails,
Maiden

Welcome back TBC.

I just carve the stamp - usually small to keep the micro postal stamp size down, and then use a razor to cut it in half; doesn't come out perfectly even, but good enough for the purpose --

Dad had a bad back and Mom liked mowing so she did it until she had to have her first knee replacement. 3/4 acre yard with a walk behind mower and I guess she was 70 when she had to get a yard guy. I did it for my yard up until about 8 years ago when it was so dry here in ATL. I kept getting a bad cough so I got Mom's yard guy to do mine also (we live on the same street so it's easy). I have to say, I much prefer the yard guy to do it!

Looking for some opinions.

I have had some limited time boxes that I planted as traditional boxes in the past that are now retired. Once in awhile, if appropriate, I replant and reactivate for another short time. I still continue to let people stamp them as I meet them because it is fun to share, but I don't know if creating a new listing as a personal traveler is appropriate. I don't necessarily want 20+ personal travelers.

What have you done with retired boxes that you still have in your possession?

Thanks.

Yours came to me yesterday (I am mailing it out tomorrow). It's so thin! It's also quite beautiful. I can't imagine doing that with a razor. I'd slice my hand off. I guess that's what my supplemental accident policy is for....

I say they are yours and you can do what you want with them. That being said, they do sound like personal travelers. I suppose you could even list them as "other", since it seems that they are variable.

Let's see, her fiancé is going to prison, Zoey isn't going with her to Bellview, her BBF is certainly going to wash her hands of her. . . and, for what it's worth, we don't think it was a "failed" overdose. I think they wanted us to wonder. . .

Doublesaj & Old Blue

we so wish we could have made it...hopefully next event my mom (grammyfly) will be in better health so we can attend and bring her to her 1st event :)

I've sent the stamps elsewhere in the country, or they sit in a box, collecting dust.

Howdy All!

The new boxes are in place and fun clues are being finalized. A simple clue "key" will most likely be needed and we will post that directly to all the attendees when the time is right for dancin' in the streets. It doesn't matter what you wear, just as long as you are there (but tie-dyes DO brighten our day!)!!!

This year you may be exploring new areas, none too far away but a short jaunt may be required to get to the starting locations (once you figure out where your going!) Some trails are longer than others, but we will have a variety of trek sizes and most stamps can be picked up in random order so get whatever you're up for and come back later if desired. All maps will show scale, so pick and choose what suits your crew!

NOTE: If possible, BRING YOUR MOUNTAIN BIKES!!!

As an added bonus this year, the majority of boxes are planted on Mountain Bike friendly trails! Not the dare-devil, rock jumping type of trails - more like the smooth forest fire roadways. Of course the adventurous soles can try the harder terrain, but we'll let you know which trails are easier to manage. Keep in mind, there will most likely be times when you'd be safer walking your bikes through certain hazards or less hospitable terrain - that's just a part of the mountain biking experience. Give it a try! If you can't bring one on the plane or fit it in your car, rest assured that you will still have fun hiking the trails - we planted on foot! Also, you may find a friend who will let you ride their bike when not in use.

As in previous years, there will be a BYO picnic lunch on Saturday in the big field at Camp Lorraine. We will have a small door prize drawing for those in attendance. If you can contribute something, all donations will be GRATEFULLY appreciated!!! Just drop off your gifts beforehand on Grateful row or bring it along. There will be an LTC swap there for anyone interested, and lots of music and merry frivolity! Lawn games are encouraged, and we would like to have a decorated bike parade back on Grateful row (or anywhere around the campground). Be creative and show your Grateful side!

Everyone should be registered for a campsite or the group site by now. Day trippers please check in with Zess to be put on the "all-day/night" list. Last I checked we still had plenty of room at the group site if people are still in need of space to set up their tents. If you have any questions or need any additional assistance, don't hesitate to contact the administrators. Some of us will be away "Playing Dead" in Chicago this weekend, but all will return with smiles aglow early next week! Time to turn up the FUN-o-meter!!!!

Remember: "You can't go back and you can't stand still......... if the thunder don't get you then the lightening will!"

Have a Jerry Grateful 4th of July! That's certainly OUR plan - YOU do the same!!!! ;o)

Pete

I unfortunately have seen our 13 yo dau. and our 12 yo son do the lawn and it was not pretty. 12 yo recently broke hubby's push mower. I wish I had the money for a lawn person.

She said she started to mow ours but decided we had too much stuff in the yard. I have a bird bath that might be in the way and that's about it. Oh well I'll do it sometime, dr appt in morning, trip to lowes(an hour east of us) and church tomorrow night and Thursday we have friends coming to help with the house and 12 yo has an endocrin check up in OKC which is two hours away one way.

As a finder, this is exactly why I would like to have an click-box option on every traditional box listing to count/not-count in my F-count; the default being "count," but having the opt-out to not count boxes I didn't find along the trail.

It occurs to me, that if you don't need to end up with two pieces, just use a 4U gouge on the back side of the material. With a bit of practice, you could make long, even cuts across the material, and end up removing half the thickness. A bit more wasteful than getting two useable pieces though.

Hi All,
I will be in Florida for a few days in July-August. I have created a mini-meet event and would love to meet any of you that can make it....the details are on the event page.
Hope to see you there!!
Turtlelove

Just curious as to why you would want to do this....

Thin stamps can roll up like a map or hide in unexpected places. ;)

That will be the backup plan. I am pretty sure I could shave it down thin with that method.

I am so excited I can hardly stand it. :)

I am so jealous I can hardly stand it ;)

Welcome to Purdue-land! Me and my wife, Rnfrog, live near Lafayette, and I work in Lafayette. We'd be glad to meet you if the day and time are right. Just let us know when you have more details. Rnfrog (mostly) and I have planted in Delphi too so you might think about boxing there for a few hours. It is about 20 minutes north of Lafayette.

There are not a lot of letterboxers in Lafayette. More live in the Indy area. We box with the Boston Terrorists, who have 3 kids and 2 Boston Terriers. They live in Avon near Indy. If you have a chance someday, Crown Hill Cemetery is a neat place to box in Indianapolis.

Let us know when you'd like to meet! Go Boilers!

Joe Boxer and Rnfrog

[...] just use a 4U gouge on the back side of the material. [...] and end up removing half the thickness.

Or you can go the easy way and use plumbers gasket. You knife carvers would be happy because you can carve all of the way through, as long as you keep it all connected. You can always glue it to a piece of cardstock to keep it all together.

The stuff I bought locally is thinner than the one above, but I didn't find it on their web site. There's always this that is 1/16" thick. Once you carve your stamp glue it to another piece of the same stuff to hold it together.

Me. It's a push mower, so I have to be careful what time of day I do it in the summer. A riding mower would be so nice!