Horns and hides

Wanted to return to our excursion on Saturday - to the ITLA show. Our neighbor and his two teenagers showed animals and they did well. First picture is Big Jo (the son) and his dad fluffing Gladiator's tail getting ready to show. According to what they told us, there is great emphasis on the animals being as natural as possible (well not all the poo and mess usually on an animal at pasture), size of horns (or on younger animals the horn base size showing potential) as well as overall conformation are important. The colors are so varied I wanted to share some of the pictures with you.
The rather distant shot of the show ring and judging includes cow/calf exhibitors - the small calf is two days old! Was born at the show and accompanies the cow during the showing on a small soft halter - although after a few minutes the calf was worn out decided to lay down. Young exhibitor had to carry the calf for the judging!


Next is a good sized set of horns - and interestingly enough this steer was from Maryland!

A few shots of "backstage" - a place you have to be careful when taking pictures - I made sure my flash was off, some of the animals are new to being shown and a little nervous. You do not want animals weighing a ton or more being nervous! Another cow and calf - taking it easy.

The steer with it's back to us is an unusual color the exhibitors said is called gorilla colored. Most people like multi or speckled coloration on their longhorns but I though this one looked like a weimaraner mutation!

The big brindle is the last I'll put up - impressive animal all the way around - if you want to know more about what is desirable or the history of long horns this link tells quite a bit.

Blog posts totally different this week - but on Buhlaland we are blessed with friends and neighbors who bring love, challenges and variety to our lives. It is Good on Buhlaland today - especially since the furnace is working (chilly in Tejas today!) And That's No Bull! (lame joke - I know!)

Saddest Verses in The New Testament

We are still not able to go to traditional (as in at a building with hundreds of other people) church services due to DH's immune issues. We watch and are blessed by the teachings of some preachers (both on television and internet) but sit in jaw-dropped amazement at the total lack of scriptural authenticity in others. Today in our devotionals we read a section in Matthew which struck me as the saddest verses in the NT - now don't come at me saying verses around the crucifixion are sadder - we know Christ's sacrifice was for a purposeful plan the Father had to give us a way back to Him.

The Narrow and Wide Gates NIV Matthew 7:13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

I've read these verses at least a hundred times in my 6 decades of life- but this morning those words "only a few find it" hit me so hard. Jesus taught clearly to thousands a truth which the world wants to ignore. MOST will choose the easy road and be led to destruction. Following the teachings of some spiritual leaders will not get you to that narrow gate.

Just a few verses later it is clear how the end will be for those who deliberately misconstrue His words and teachings- (the Message paraphrase)Matthew 7:21-23"Knowing the correct password—saying 'Master, Master,' for instance— isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, 'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? 'You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.' "

I realize, dear readers, we are all at different stages in understanding. If you haven't been reading the Bible regularly I highly recommend it as a daily activity. We believe the Holy Spirit reveals to us when we are ready - when we have "ears to hear". Apparently I am at a point where I need to realize not everyone we love is going to choose the narrow road - we'll continue to pray for opening their eyes to the truth , for their hearts not to be hardened - but it isn't up to us. So it is good on Buhlaland - we have the blessing of scriptures to read and eyes to see and ears to hear - even when those eyes are shedding tears.

As an editorial note - I'll enable comment moderation for this post - seems to be a number of folks out there with particular demons to exorcise in their minds who like to post comments.

Who you lookin' at?

Almost nothing needs to be said - this steer wasn't thrilled to be forced to stand up while I took pictures - several pictures - but this shot expressed it all - get the Marty Feldman eye? We had a good time OFF Buhlaland land today - visiting a long horned cattle exhibit/show with friends. It was good and I grin every time I see "Big Gus" and his ticked off look (he is really a mild mannered fellow for weighing in the range of 1000 lbs!) Oops - I checked and Gus weighs in over a ton so sorry big guy - I was shorting you a bit on the total body weight!

It is autumn on Buhlaland

Tap Tap Tap -- pecking on screen to get attention? anybody in there???

yes we are around - little going on other than day to day life. Cluckers continue to provide 6-8 eggs a day but DH beginning to grumble about the work involved (putting them up at night and now we put a load of sand in the run because they are digging to China in there!) so I'll enjoy them while I can.

On a totally different note - this song has been playing in my head for several days - in my head I sound just like Selah does singing it -- too bad in the physical world I sound more like one of my silly cluckers! Sit back a minute and revel in the wonderful merciful Savior.

All the beauty of the created world and heaven is promised too! It is good on Buhlaland and we are continually amazed by the mercy of our Savior.

Still a tad moist!

No words for this - unusual and unseasonal don't even come close! Wet webs in rosemary, cluckers in muddy run, shortstack of fungi on oak stump, droplets of water on the culinary sage - yep - it is wet in North Texas and Buhlaland is good - soggy but good. For those of you who are loyal (or not) readers - you know we've had some serious health challenges. God is so faithful and good -

doctor's appointment on Monday gave us both some much needed reassurance and sleeping SO much better. Not trying to be mysterious - if you have a real interest leave a comment and I'll send a link to our health site for fuller information Honestly - I feel as if our lives have become such an open book - sometimes a comic book and sometimes a mystery thriller - but read on friends read ON!

Ready for sunshine!

Texas isn't known for chilly wet Octobers - we often wear shorts to the State Fair and for that matter - have been known to plan on shorts for Thanksgiving barbecues! We have been experiencing more rainy, cloudy, sunless days than I can recall. I realize our current health issues don't help my outlook on how blah these sunless days are. When I went out to let the cluckers out of the Coop Mahal two mornings ago - these fascinating tiny umbrella fungi were all

over the ground near an old tree stump.

How cool is that? The rosier mushroom was from a couple of weeks ago - before the ground became truly soggy. The brightly lit one is back under a clump of oaks - had to use the flash on camera because it is SO DANGED dark all day. In what feels like miserable weather - we get interesting growing things here on Buhlaland - that's good 'cause I'm working at not being grouchy with all the mud mess. Not succeeding too well but it is Monday morning (I started this post last week - am I a slave to procrastination or merely a skilled practitioner?)

On a less frivolous (and whiney!) note - Max Lucado has a way with words - and today I decided to end this bit of foolishness from Buhlaland with something from Max:

Faith is trusting what the eye can’t see.
Eyes see the prowling lion. Faith sees Daniel’s angel.Eyes see storms. Faith sees Noah’s rainbow.Eyes see giants. Faith sees Canaan.Your eyes see your faults. Your faith sees your Savior.Your eyes see your guilt. Your faith sees His blood.Your eyes see your grave. Your faith sees a city whose Builder and Maker is God.Your eyes look in the mirror and see a sinner, a failure, a promise-breaker. But by faith you look in the mirror and see a robed prodigal bearing the ring of grace on your finger and the kiss of your Father on your face.

With that attitude adjustment - I can venture out into this drizzly foggy morning - and know there will be sunshine again on Buhlaland - I have faith. It is good

FTC to Regulate Blogging

Bloggers who write reviews or give away products are going to have to pay attention to the new rules - I am not big enough potatoes to warrant receiving freebies to promote on my blog - but some of y'all might be so read the article and make sure you understand - fines are substantial!


FTC to Regulate Blogging - Science News Science & Technology Technology News - FOXNews.com

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It is small potatoes on Buhlaland and that is just perfect to us!

Autumn Bounty

The local outdoor market displayed their fall merchandise this week - familiar smell of ristras (the dried red peppers hanging from ceiling) and wild versions of gourds - the one white with orange one looks like it has spider veins (some of us are more familiar with that beauty of aging than others!). We don't be doing a fall display - partically because nobody sees it (we live off the road) and also because the basic pumpkin in the big display goes for $5.95 upward to $25-30! Lots of money when they aren't even good for pies! I've posted a picture of the pie pumpkins display - $2 each or 3 for $5 .
What does all this have to do with Buhlaland? - well we like the fall weather we are having - cooler and more rain in the forecast and we get a kick out of the decorating lots of people are doing. God created beauty for us -





from Genesis we see God making things beautiful - for the sake of beauty
Genesis 2:8-9 (New Living Translation)
8 Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. 9 The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

So for enjoying the fall colors and decorations - we can say thank you to the Creator and appreciate - it is good and feeling autumnal here on Buhlaland.