Randomization is the pattern here

Trying to keep blogging although I still have trouble finding something worthy to say - last day of November 2009 - we had turkey vegetable soup from final chunk of Thanksgiving turkey breast .

Last week we waved a fond and rewarding farewell to 13 of our goats - 2 more to be sold this week. Will have at least 9 or 10 new kids in January or February. We are deliberately trying to keep the herd much smaller. Market isn't that good and we are needing to cut back on expenses (hay round bales are currently $60)

Freeze warning for this week so I cut all the remaining peace rose blossoms - can you believe it - this bowl of fragrant flowers on November 30!?

On the walking website I use Walker Tracker- I participated in a challenge - the reward of the challenge was for each ranking (from least steps to most steps walked during a specific time) to send a home made craft, art work or baked item to the person finishing ahead of you. I was blessed with this nifty knitted dishcloth from a walking pal in Norway! You can see the pattern of a goat's head knit into the cloth. Pretty cool huh?

Next is a picture of my beloved DH - working in his shop to install a new (larger) pet door for our barn cat Moe. The sparks were pretty impressive - Moe didn't stick around for this part.

So that's it - from soup to nuts - or goats to grinders! It is good on Buhlaland - God has blessed us with a beautiful place and the sense to enjoy it! Hope it is good where you are too.

"Worry doesn't empty tomorrow of it's sorrows, it empties today of it's strength." Corrie Ten Boom

Don't worry - be healthy!

Beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Very quiet Thanksgiving on Buhlaland - still "quarantined" due to suppressed immune system for DH. He was out yesterday putting some decorations on the gate to our place - we have lights on the porch of our house but you cannot see them from the road. Still mild weather here - very long autumn which is fine by us!









Recipe experiment for Fresh Cranberry Scones turned out to be a new family favorite. Little more complicated but oh my the results were worth a bit of effort. Yes they are outrageously rich - mini sized ones are perfect with a cup of coffee or your favorite hot tea. I use freshly grated nutmeg - isn't much trouble and the flavor is fabulous.

Cranberry Scones

2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter, chilled and diced
1 cup fresh cranberries roughly chopped
1/3 cup white sugar
Grated zest of one orange or about 2 teaspoons of dried grated orange rind
½ cup chopped nuts – we used pecans but walnuts would be good too
¾ cup half and half cream or heavy
1 egg

Preheat oven to 375 degree F (190 C)
In a large bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, nutmeg and salt. Cut in the butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbles.
In a separate bowl, toss the chopped cranberries with white sugar; add to flour mixture along with orange peel and nuts. Mix lightly.
In a large measuring cup – beat together cream and egg, slowly pour into dry ingredients. Mix with a rubber scraper until dough forms. On a well floured board, knead dough 4 or 5 times being careful not to over handle. Divide dough in half. Turn out onto lightly floured surface (sprinkle a little more flour if necessary on board you were using) Shape each half into a 6 inch circle – slice each circle in to 6 wedges (although we liked the ones I sliced into smaller wedges best) Place scones on a lightly greased baking sheet and bake until golden browned – about 20 minutes.
While scones are baking – mix together a glaze of 2 cups powdered sugar and enough orange juice to make a moderately thin glaze. When scones are done – put on a platter or wire rack and drizzle glaze over hot scones.
It is yummy and beautiful on Buhlaland this week - that is very good! Hope you all had a blessed holiday - with family or sweet memories of family times - the Lord has given us so much for which we should be giving thanks. I'm thankful for the wonderful new friendships in the blogosphere!

Peace to You

Galatians 5: 22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other



Peace is a topic I'm thinking about a lot lately - working on staying in the Spirit and not so much in the flesh. Even though we were supposed to have a hard frost last night - these Peace roses are still blooming this morning in our side garden. Although it isn't the hardiest or loveliest rose plant - I love the Peace rose. It's name evokes the calm a garden can bring. Fruit of the garden is like the fruit of the spirit - it must be cultivated, tended daily and kept with an eye on the future.
Life on Buhlaland is moving along - we are learning a new "normal" with occasional reminders our lives will never be the same as before. Before what? well in this statement I was referring to a serious health issue facing my husband but it can also be viewed in a spiritual way - our lives have never been the same as before we received salvation. It is very good on Buhlaland to stop and smell the Peace roses and appreciate the beauty of our created world -in constant awareness of the Creator.

Hope to post more often - hard as it is to believe - I've run out of words! Keep the peace rose in your hearts this holiday season - don't be frazzled and unhappy because you aren't Martha Stewart (remember she has a STAFF who actually do all that gardening and laundry!) be grateful for the people in your life - Bless y'all - it is good and rosey here on Buhlaland.

Yep - it is autumn

Tried to find some clever theme for blogging today - not feeling clever but have been reveling in the beauty of our little bit of Texas recently. We've had unusual rainfall for September and October - resulting in a November

of rare autumnal color. We often have brown and beige autumns - after a long dry summer the poor trees are just wanting to shed those leaves sucking the sap out of them and heal over the winter. This year - looks more like the trees want to hang onto their finery a while longer.

We haven't had a frost yet - cool nights and mid to high 70's in the days. Good it isn't like this all the time - we'd be over run with people moving to Texas! As it is - here on Buhlaland it is GOOD to be enjoying autumn - we're grateful.