Oops I did it again

Now I'm not a Britney Spears fan at all - especially that goofy song. Tonight's oops is more - we jumped off and did something - something which wasn't what we thought we'd do. In fact was something we said we wouldn't do (no Lanny I didn't break my Lenten Discipline)

Heerrreeee's ZOE! our new little - unknown breed of dog. The pound people say Norfolk or Cairn terrier - we think - touch of Schnauzer in there. Went to the local pound - she is an adult dog, was a stray (tied to the gate of the pound when they showed up to work a week ago). She is adjusting - well except for the peeing and pooing on the floor - AARGH! DH is being very patient with her - she is a lover and became much more presentable after a bath. Conan the Destroyer thinks she is OK - smells quite interesting and certainly eats fast! We are going to really upset his applecart by putting them both in crates tonight (oh be still my heart - a bed all to our human selves??)

So - no huge dog to guard the house and fend off coyotes - just about 12 pounds of unblinking energy! It is strange on Buhlaland - we do things we didn't think we'd do (but I love her already!!!)

Thank you Lord, Thank you prayer friends

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (New Living Translation)
9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken

Thank you all for being part of my triple braided cord!
Got the results letter from Solis Women's Health (doesn't that sound exotic?) "No evidence of breast cancer or other significant abnormality". WOO HOOOO! Means the lump is likely a fatty cyst lump - yeah and hooray. I thank all of you praying for me, the comfort of your prayers made a difference in my sense of calm over this issue.




On to other things

-Conan the Destroyer has had a rough time since the death of Corey -we joked she was his seeing life dog. Anything happening in our household - Conan would look to Corey first for how to react. Now he perks up for short periods (walk to the mailbox - yes yes yes, ride in truck - lemme up there) but seems at a loss about what he is supposed to be doing all day. Our BFFs arranged a playdate for their 4 month old Bassett named Buddy and our Conan. Conan was happy to have another dog around. Being somewhat small, Coney felt it important to establish his place in the pack. Yep - our little cowardly Conan is biting Buddy's big flappy lip. Buddy yelped a little but the two sniffed, growled and postured for a good long playdate. Come back any time Buddy!

The come back any time invitation was not echoed by Moe the Barn Cat - he was appalled and chose to stay in the oak tree until Buddy, his human and their vehicle were out the gates and on the highway. Then our lovely cat came down from the tree, stalking off with his tail still quite fluffed out, we think he was muttering something about indignity of it all.

I need to get dressed in outdoor, messy clothes - going to be in the 80's today and DH got holes drilled in my containers so need to cover the holes with some shade cloth (just to keep the soil from leaking out) and put rocks in the bottom of each. Definitely time to get seeds in containers - my seedlings in the house are only doing So So -

The PakChoy are getting their first real leaves (not just the little tiny first leaves coming from a seed) and the tomato starts are also almost ready for real leaves. I may have to share some plant starts, I have a suspicion I over estimated what can go in my intensive garden system . BUT - seeds are cheaper than plants so will keep on starting stuff - I have enough seed left from last garden to start the squash and mesclun salad. I do love gardening - remind me of that statement when it is 105 degrees this summer and I have to water twice a day!

I have an ad from the local free newspaper, chicks are in at the feed store - now I need to find out whether we are serious about doing this chicken coop thing. DH might not be so inclined today - he is working hard putting our business sign up by the front gates. But que sera sera- I'm headed outside!

Update - I have never done the "give up something for Lent" thing , I was raised in a Southern fundamentalist household and generally haven't had emphasis on the Lenten season as a big part of my faith walk. While reading scripture and blogs - I think it is more than reasonable to make a sacrifice (admittedly very small but more significant to an obsessed eater like me than you realize). So I'm giving up candy - not refilling our "sugar fix" drawer in the kitchen. I think it is a good choice for two reasons - I believe it is something I will carry through to completion (not a huge thing like give up coffee and in a week be so miserably nasty I fail and hate myself for failure but this sentence is WAY TMI). Second reason - DH and I both need to regain control of our diets and health - taking care of the body given to us is honoring our Creator. OK I just wanted to make this official by putting it in writing - that whole accountability thing.

Creme Brulee anyone?

I visited here and ended up here and am still chuckling - my super hero fantasies are a tad strange. I picked the flame thrower hoping I could name my character Flambe Granny or Creme Brulee Attacker - but it doesn't allow you that much leeway in naming. I love the red glasses and toned arms - yep - that's me - a glass of sweet tea and it'd be my identical twin . . . in another dimension! A bit of housekeeping - the link doesn't work as well as simply copy and paste into your browser - so here it is just plain http://www.cpbintegrated.com/theherofactory/
It is silly on Buhlaland - time to get to bed!

Don't Give a Fig?

I can't give a fig yet- but it is budding up quite nicely!

A catchy title might make up for no excitement posting. Today was "band the boys" day. Whole process went well - no excessive screaming (from the goats - DH and I almost never scream) and didn't have to cut any bands off due to misplacement (DH has steady hands while I hold the front legs and head of the victim - I mean patient). Picture of Nubiana and her little girl I've been calling Blondie (I'm so blessed original with naming critters it is a gift -perhaps a spiritual gift?) The two kids mock fighting are two little gals - Bubbles is the brunette and the other is "remains to be named" daughter of Castena. The three very alert kids were awakened by a rushing attack from Conan the Destroyer (our very lonely rat terrorist who has become a bit of a bully with the goat babies). Flip and Snicker are the two leaning over our chain link fence to nibble the honeysuckle plant - a big reason I cannot have anything growing on the vast expanse of chain link fence - because goats feel it is their calling in life to defoliate all fence lines. Now I'm sure I've made your day - with my random sillliness - wonderfully quiet Sunday, good church service, tasty brunchy meal here at the house and quiet afternoon (watched White Fang the movie and read a book). I love days like this - if I believed in reincarnation - I'd think I was a cat in a previous life - except for the whole licking yourself and being very flexible thing. It is good on Buhlaland - but you knew that didn't you?

Menu-less?

You'd think with all these cookbooks, notebooks of recipes, boxes of recipes on cards, stacks of magazines with recipes - yep you'd think I could plan menus. I do so passionately plan for big events - company coming and I'm all over the lists with an OCD passion. I am confessing now - Linda Sue is NOT a planner. No big surprise for people who've read my ramblings - I tend to be more a pinball than a bullet. I bounce off things and then ding - on to something else. A now increasing need for exercising budgetary responsbility (in other words - quit blowing money) I am considering, seeking guidance and generally agonizing over a simple task of planning MENUS. Yep - write down what we'll eat for days in a row , as in not wait until the day of a meal and think "what sounds good", running to the store (which is such a lie - I don't run anywhere - I get in a vehicle and drive the 6 miles or so to the store) for the missing special ingredients and making more food than two people can eat in two days.

I'm seeking counsel from all you well organized, plan makin', list keepin' folks. How did you get started making menus? How rigid are you about eat this now? Please keep in mind - there are just two of us in the house, I can cook anything, won't eat liver or snails (yes I've tried them) and need to lose some weight. Picky gal aren't I?

Now we're through pretending I'm a grown up - we can go on to more interesting topics. Yes I had a lovely birthday - our dear friends once again decorated the front gate ala last year's surprise . DH took the afternoon off and we went into FW. Did some Costco shopping and picked up prepared food at Central Market and came home to a luscious dinner. Still discussing what to do about next dog. We got excited about puppies we found online at a rescue place only to discover two unpleasant facts - it wasn't really a rescue more of a front to sell expensive dogs and evidently real human people pay $900 for a puppy! Holy moley - I understand there are costs in raising puppies but I am sure most countries in the world raise CHILDREN on less than $900 for their first two months of life. Still researching and discussing. Without my dear tiny MIL in our household anymore (yes we miss her terribly) we want a large dog (couldn't have a big dog due to stairs and canine exuberance being a bad potential for injury)- perhaps a Catahoula. We are planning to see a litter of catahoulas (DH has had one before) next Saturday the 28th - praying for clear guidance from the Lord about what to add to our family. (No children means our 4 legged companions ARE family).

Today might be the day DH is done with cabinetry project he has worked on for so long. Bless his heart the list of projects around here keeps growing. I am interested in keeping egg laying, fertilizer making chickens and waiting to see if he will build a coop this year. My sweet DH is blessed with too many abilities and not enough time!

Garden season totally upon us - today it is too cold and windy to be outside (wimp , yes I am). We have many bags of soil and containers awaiting me in the side garden. Going to use everything capable of holding soil for containers this year, appears we will have a very low rainfall year so it is a good time to do containers.

Ramble much? Yes I do thank you very much. Wanted to express my gratitude for being blessed with reasonably good health at my age, working on spiritual growth and reducing physical growth so much! I have faith, a very good husband, a home I love, great friends and though I see decrease in my abilities each year I am:

Taking Heart
2 Cor.4: 16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

'nuff said - I'll appreciate any menu starting ideas - just keep that liver stuff to yourself OK?

Update

Thank you so much - each of you praying for me. I won't get results of this morning's mammogram for 5-10 business days. I have already gotten the results of prayer. Apparently there is a fund for women in our county to get free screening mammograms - how cool is that? I'd tried several avenues to reduce the out of pocket expenses but they required going into Fort Worth and complicated paperwork resulting in still costing more than $100 and one ranging to nearly$500. I'd gotten frustrated and decided to go to clinic here in town and pay the price. So woo hoo - free is the perfect price!

Beautiful day here on Buhlaland -temperatures supposed to reach in the 70's and truly feels like spring. I'm headed to town to buy containers and soil - time to get garden going! My bok choy seedlings are up and tomato plants are spouting from seed - I'm not great at growing from seed indoors so we'll see what gets strong enough to transplant! The picture is our huge rosemary plant in the yard - blooming! My fingers smell wonderful - I was pulling off some branches and now my hands smell like rosemary (and lavender too - was trimming up the french lavender plant). Life is good - whatever the illnesses and problems are down the road, I have assurance of my eternal destination with pleasant stops along the road. "Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart—Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;Thou my best thought, by day or by night—Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. —Irish hymn"

I'd appreciate

Dear Bloggity Buddies, acquaintances, and passers by - I would appreciate prayer. Having a mammogram tomorrow for what is probably nothing but right now is a small lump under my left arm. No panic no fear - but I do know I appreciate prayer.

Matthew 6:33-34 (New Living Translation)
33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

What's your tune?

Our pastor had this video played at church today - fun with a good point to make.

.

True Love

Happy Valentine's Day - hearts and flowers and Hallmark worthy sentiments - stress and guilt - all the components of an American holiday about expressing true love. While reading this morning I went from here to TRUE love . Don't read these two articles if you need to be chipper and cheery. They deal with authentic deep eternal love - not the stuff of Godiva chocolates, cute teddy bears and a dozen roses.
Many of us say we walk in faith - Amy Welborn's total dependence on God after the sudden loss of her husband is terrifying (to those of us with a spouse or loved one we fear losing), deeply comforting and a lesson in what it is walking in faith looks like.
Faith - it's not just for Sunday school you know.
"If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”Psalm 139:8 NIV

Appreciating true art

Nothing to add to this - beautiful sky courtesy of the Creator . We had this over Buhlaland today - I'm sure you had some equivalent beauty bestowed on you. There is no painting as alive and meaningful as the sky.

Some too cute and some not so much!

Baby goats (kids) are absolutely adorable - frisky and curious about everything. The mamas are interesting - it has been 2 years since we had babies so some of the first timers are actually 3 years old. Most are doing a great job - not sure what I'll do with the one who rejected her very healthy little buck baby. He is in the pictures of a frantic mouth seeking the bottle - you need to know ,when the pictures were taken - he'd already had more than a full bottle. Gluttony becomes the ruler when he doesn't have mamas attention.











Beautiful little reddish brown doe needs naming - I've put it off because I needed to see who was staying and which ones we'd sell. I think she is staying - her mother's name is Blackie (really original of us don't you think?)

The black eared mama is a first timer named Montana (yes daughter of Hannah) her baby is exceptionally sweet and also nameless thus far. The two little bucks in a picture together - one is my bottle boy and the other is Kaj (now named Josiah) who was sold last night to a little girl for her 4H project.

Sunsets are so peaceful - the trees are budding up but still bare limbs silhouetted against the sky - it is good on Buhlaland and we are grateful for each day.

Psalm 134 (The Message)
A Pilgrim Song 1-3 Come, bless God, all you servants of God! You priests of God, posted to the nightwatch in God's shrine, Lift your praising hands to the Holy Place, and bless God. In turn, may God of Zion bless you—

God who made heaven and earth!

All God's people said -----Amen!

Corazon

Squirrels in heaven - you'd better watch out. The rat terrorist of squirrel (and bird) chasers is coming. Had to say goodbye to our dear Corey yesterday - the struggle had become about medications keeping her heart beating and trying to reach a balance of drugs to avoid seizures while still breathing. In other words- it wasn't her life any more. So now it is much quieter in our household, the other little dog, Conan the Destroyer, is very confused and still looking for his pal. But a page has turned and that story ended. It's my blog and this is self indulgence at it's peak - I wanted someplace to acknowledge my 4 legged friend - she loved us, guarded us and made us laugh. Thank you little heart - and we miss you.

We may have to stage an intervention

I CAN NOT STOP TAKING PICTURES OF BABY GOATS! - now I've confessed it and y'all can choose to accept me as I am or condemn me for the goat fool I've become. I was out in the pen this morning feeding our bottle boy and the little thief of milk, laughing out loud (like a total loony). All 18 baby goats are running, jumping, colliding with one another, checking whether the other does will let them stop for a snack (nope). It feels like a wave of joy in being alive when I'm with them. Our weather helps also - winds are out of the south - humid, warmer and the smell is a perfume to this gal. Our air smells all earthy, full of promise and teasing with hints of flowers to come. Yep - it is GOOOOODDD on Buhlaland today. If you can't stand goats any more - I'll try to find something else to talk about. I must admit - having had a heavy heart for several months now it feels as if I'm given a spiritual caffeine blast. How can I be sad when proof of God's intense love for all His creation (and creatures) is literally at my feet? 'nuff philosophy - I need to get busy with some human work so I can sneak out there one more hour to take -- pictures of baby goats ----aaargh!

The Thief of Milk

Flip is a large, dominant doe who had healthy reddish baby girls two days ago. When we brought them into the shed pen ( goats spending the night outside on pasture are called coyote bait). Flip was concerned with being sure she had her girls and nobody was bothering her. While we were watching - a little buck (son of YoYo) who was born the first day we started our kidding saga snuck in and helped himself to an open meal port! It took a while before Flip realized what was going on. Now we are aware of his tendency we've noticed The Thief of Milk makes it a practice to sneak in behind the mamas and slip up for a little snackerooni before the mama can do a quick head count of the "right" diners. We are laughing out loud here on Buhlaland - - he is a clever little rascal - the Thief of Milk.

Not Goats - really

A blog posting with no goats! I'm not sure I remember how to do a recipe, I actually cooked today and it turned out well. Our main dish was a variation on turkey tetrazinni with a simple salad and bakery so called "artisan" bread (good crusty french bread). Dessert was a butterscotchy almond bar cookie.

Picture with several ingredients shows what I thought I was using and the picture with the flour, butter and nutmeg shows what I forgot to put in original picture - so DUH I don't remember how to do this! Today has been a beautiful warm winter day - great church service today and as usual - on Buhlaland it has been good. Perhaps a little fattening but good.

Turkey and Penne Pasta Bake

12 oz. box Penne Pasta (cooked and drained per package instructions)
¼ cup butter
Melt butter in a medium sized saucepan. Remove from heat and whisk or stir in
¼ cup flour ,
½ teaspoon white pepper ,
¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg ,
1 tsp. salt,
½ teaspoon dried tarragon .
Return to medium high heat and whisk or stir in
2 cups chicken broth and
1 cup heavy cream,
1/3 cup dry sherry.
Bring to a boil and stir until smooth, thickened slightly.
Remove from heat - stir in 2 cups cooked turkey,
One 4 oz. jar diced pimento ,
Two cups coarsely chopped re-hydrated wild mushrooms ,
½ cup grated Parmesan,
½ cup coarsely chopped Italian flat leaf parsley .
Stir together and spread into a 9 X 13 inch baking dish which has been sprayed with olive oil
Sprinkle ½ cup Parmesan over the top of pasta
Bake covered with aluminum foil at approximately 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Recipe can be adapted to use ham or cooked chicken, mushrooms can be fresh and sauteed or canned, I used probably an extra ¾ cup of turkey because that is how much I had in the package from my freezer. Of course you can use an equivalent amount of any favorite cooked pasta - I used a whole wheat penne.

Almond Butterscotch bars

Preheat over to 350 and grease an 8x8 baking pan.

Melt 1/4 cup butter

Stir in 1 cup brown sugar (packed)

1 egg

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup sliced almonds

Bake for 25 minutes - don't overbake! Cut into bars while still warm.