Take 6 Minutes

Would you do me a favor?
Help a friend out?
A solid?

Would you take a look at my newest video post? 
Would you take six minutes of your day and view the story?

It will take just a few minutes and you just might enjoy it.

Thanks.

http://austinsacre.net/2012/02/24/picking-teams/

It's Lonely Without You

A quiet Randolph County road circa 1981.

It might have been a while since you've visited Austin's Acre - The Website!  It might have been a month or two since you followed the link and caught up on the happenings.

Now's your chance.  www.AustinsAcre.net is running full speed ahead. Stop by and stay a while.

Catch up on Life According to Hoosiers.
Spend a little time making your life better at The Change Challenge.
Work on your shopping skills and Christmas Spirit.
Learn the importance of keeping your child close.

Whatever your reason for stopping in, we're glad you came and hope you return often.

Curt

Where Did The Days Go?

Sometimes it is all I can do to make it through the door at the end of the week because of how much I've accomplished.  I drag myself over the threshold with my last bit of energy.

Other times I am amazed at how quickly the week flies away.  I start a Monday with so many expectations and before I know it, it is Friday and I haven't accomplished a thing!

God Bless this past week and give me wisdom for the next!

www.austinsacre.net or www.austinsacre.com

Changes Keep Happening

Hey, I put my new shoes on and suddenly everything is right.

Life keeps throwing new changes and challenges at us every day.  And that isn't always a bad thing.  For instance, I received a new pair of shoes for Christmas.

Read about the exciting changes in my life (more happens on the Acre than just new shoes) at Austin's Acre!

www.austinsacre.net or www.austinsacre.com

We'll see you there!

Need More Ideas?

Shopping for those hard-to-buy-for friends and family?  Here's a little more advice from an expert!

AustinsAcre.com

 http://austinsacre.net/2011/12/06/austins-acre-christmas-shopping-advice-day-2/

Shopping Hints for A Busy Season

Here is some very good advice as you work your way down your Christmas shopping list!


Austin's Acre

Always there for the consumer!


http://austinsacre.net/2011/12/05/austins-acre-christmas-shopping-advice-day-1/

Reflecting on Friday

I would never camp out for a TV.
I would never punch someone in the face for a bundle of towels.
I would never pepper-spray a line of people to get the first Wii console.
Perhaps that is the reason I'm not cut out for Black Friday shopping.

Read more about it at Austin's Acre!

Checking In

Every-so-often it is important to review our progress.  Are we doing well or are we stinking up the place?

We have to determine if we are succeeding or slipping: Whether it's the balance of our banking account, our the contents of our pantry shelves, the level of our car's oil or the progress in the Change Challenge.

How are you doing?  Why not check in today?

Austin's Acre

A Reader's Question: Starch or More Starch?

Dear Austin's Acre,

It is that time of year again when my husband's family will join us for Thanksgiving dinner.  Every year I slave away making the Turkey, salad, corn, beats, creamed peas, glazed carrots, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied sweet potatoes and stuffing.  They bring their addition to the meal, a can of jellied cranberry.  For 37 years I have said nothing but if I have to listen to the sound of that mass of gelatinous goo sucking its way out of the can and plopping on my fine china one more year I think I'm going to lose it!  On top of that, they simply cut it into slices and put it on the table as if it was some great master piece!

I use to like these people but their lack of effort and poor judgement when it comes to side-dishes is about to send me over the edge.  They think I've started serving wine to be more classy.  I serve it just to make it through the day.  What do you suggest?

Signed, One Cooked Turkey

Dear Turkey,

Your frustration is understandable but let's start by looking at it from their point of view.  You might just be the problem and you've never had anyone point out the obvious:  You serve too many starch-based foods in your meal.

Seriously. You want to point fingers about SIDE DISHES? Either Yams or Mashed Potatoes.  NEVER serve both at the same meal.  Corn AND stuffing?  And what's with all the glazed carrots and creamed peas?  I mean, really...you are just asking for troubles with this.  Haven't you ever heard of a jello salad, a wonderful green bean salad in a light vinaigrette, or, God forbid, celery sticks?

The problem isn't the cranberry salad that they've worked so hard to prepare after traveling all day.  The problem is that, for the past 364 days, they have been dreading the coma they will find themselves in after consuming your tryptophan-laden bird, 13 lbs of starch based food, and your boxed wine!

Get with the holiday spirit.  Cut your in-laws some slack.  This season is about family...not your need to control everyone and force-feed them into a diabetic, drug-induced stupor.

Thanks for writing and Happy Holidays from all of us at Austin's Acre!

Taking Holiday Action

This year is different.  In the past, I would start the Christmas season a day or two after Thanksgiving, when our family would pull down boxes of ornaments and lights from the garage shelves.  Only after the last piece of Turkey was swallowed were we allowed to put up the tree and hang the stockings.

This year, I'm making an all-out effort to enjoy every moment of the holiday season and to make it start as early as possible and last even longer.  I'm hanging the Christmas lights outside (in-part just to bug my neighbor and in-part to make the neighborhood festive).  I'm putting out a new section of lights each week.  First the main fence.  Next the deer.  After that, the front yard.  This weekend I'm lighting the rest of the house!

This year I'm watching Christmas movies.  "It's a Wonderful Life", "Christmas with the Kranks", "The Grinch", "Miracle on 34th Street" (original and newer version), and any other holiday film that is remotely connected to the season.  I'm going to watch until I can't watch any more!  

This year I'm listening to Christmas music.  Michael Buble's "Christmas", Josh Groban's "NOEL", Vince Guaraldi Trio's "A Charlie Brown Christmas", and so many more! The tunes are ringing in my ear during each waking moment.  My Pandora Christmas Music station is red-hot with holiday melodies.

This year I am more generous!  I'm paying for strangers' lunches.  I'm donating food.  I'm assisting the elderly.  I'm petting cats.  I'm going all out!

In general, I'm doing my darndest to be festive and spread Christmas Cheer by singing loud for all to hear (ELF).

This year, my Christmas will be different.  It doesn't matter that my son needed new tires for his car and I wanted to spend the money on something else.  It doesn't bother me that someone stole my daughter's laptop from her car.  It doesn't matter that my job is requiring a lot of time and effort (I mean, really...what do they expect?).  I'm going to make the most of this season!

So, "HO, HO, HO!!" and MERRY CHRISTMAS!  and God Bless Us, Everyone. 

The Pianos In Your Mind

Have you ever struggled with a burden that is too big to lift on your own? 

Today at Austin's Acre, we talk about making the burdens in others' lives a little lighter; one friendly gesture at a time.

http://austinsacre.net/2011/11/16/the-change-challenge-make-it-lighter/

Car Sales R Us

We are now one car lighter. 

Read how I did it here:  Austin's Acre.

http://austinsacre.net/2011/11/13/how-to-sell-a-car-without-really-trying/

World Next Door: An Apple In My Pocket

A horse can make all the difference in the life of a disabled child.

One of the work crew for this year's Weekend of Service ventured to Agape Therapeutic Riding Services and I followed along.

You can read my story at World Next Door.

Enjoy.

A Prayer for More

A prayer for when enough just isn't enough!

Austin's Acre

Enjoy.

This is the next great CD! 

I've reviewed the album at Austin's Acre!

www.austinsacre.net