Authentic Compassion

Sunday, February 28, 2010

How can it be the end of February?


Not only too rapid passage of time is disturbing --how can our baby goats be growing up so fast? I've included this unique look at an eyeball and ear (belonging to Milky Way) to explain one of the hazards of photographing kids - they are far too interested in the camera or my coat pockets or running and chasing - they do not pose properly at all. My delight with a digital camera is taking tons of pictures then being able to delete, delete, delete until one or two are usable.




Montana - mother goat in next picture isn't the best mother in the group but occasionally I can catch her letting Susannah nurse and be nuzzled affectionately.













I haven't mastered action photography but managed to capture Lulu in the midst of a wild run and jump adventure around the pens. Those ears are distinctive - reminds me of the Flying Nun (google Sally Field is that isn't familiar)






Here is Lulu slowing down to avoid hitting my legs - something doelings aren't always good about. I stay a tiny bit bruised up around my lower legs during "baby" season.








Evening comes to Buhlaland - we hear the whispers of spring's arrival - birds calling to establish territory and begin their spring rituals. It is good on Buhlaland to remember - to everything there is a season - sometimes we reflect on what roads brought us to this place. We are so grateful for both the physical place and spiritual "home" we have.

Seasons are not just markers of time passing - but times to experience. Bless you this Sunday - whatever season you might be experiencing - be assured







Thursday, February 25, 2010

Perspective - or depends on how ya look at it!

NOTE - sorry for the odd spacing - good old Blogger was not cooperative today.


Looking down on this luscious three layer coconut cake - you see such pretty primary color decorations. No particular significance to it - just yumo cake.















The other side is a dead giveaway - yep - it was a birthday cake. A Buhlaland - three layer buttery fluffy birthday cake. Was it for DH? Nope - his birthday is in January. Was the cake for a visitor? No - a permanent resident.


Hmm just who was the recipient of a cake of birthday celebration?


The chubby little blonde being held still by the best big brother in the world. Yep - it was my birthday last week. The "baby" picture was when I was one - 61 years ago. So we celebrated the anniversary of my birth by being taken out to a fabulous dinner and ice cream evening by our dear friends, The Harper family.





I like my own cakes, I baked one and shared it with our other dear friend - Carrie. She came out on Saturday unaware it was the post birthday date. We enjoyed mexican food she brought and lots of cake. We saved a slice for you! It is good to share cake on Buhlaland and it was a good birthday!





Monday, February 22, 2010

Because you can't have too many goat pictures

But would need at least one deer picture to even things out. No words today - just our beasties. It is good to have healthy animals on Buhlaland.


































Sunday, February 21, 2010

If a goat could speak - -




OH Look - the two legged ones are in the pasture.
Run - they might have food - run!










Run faster - stay together - Food they definitely have food!




















We're almost there - mamas and babies and everyone run up to them for the food -- this is very exciting!
















Oh crud - they are out here taking pictures again. Act casual and it will look like we meant to all run out here because we wanted to stand around and look smart.





It is good on Buhlaland to make up stories about what might be going on in a goat's brain - at least we enjoy the silliness.







Thursday, February 18, 2010

First Robin


DH walking our pasture fences looking for areas needing repair. He is wearing his portable oxygen tank. Sometimes I let myself be overcome by what the future MIGHT hold for us - and I become sad, afraid, unsure. God knows where we are and what we need - yesterday it was reassurance.
We saw our first robin of the year during our walk yesterday - the sunshine and beauty of God's creation gave me a sense of "all is as it should be". Easy to remove my eyes from the Creator to the mess His creations can make. Grateful for His faithfulness and watch care over us. It is good on Buhlaland - because His eye is on more than sparrows and robins.




Matthew 10:26-33

"So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Snow is good for something


Specifically snow is good as a backdrop for our Milky Way doeling - she has interesting markings and the white surrounding made her even prettier.
Will soon be no snow - which is a good thing here on Buhlaland - the cardinals let us know they were seeking warmth to begin setting up springtime households!
Happy Generic Holiday - I'm old enough to remember Washington's Birthday and Lincoln's Birthday - well I wasn't at their actual birthday parties or anything. I recall a time before the two dates were lumped together to make "a three day weekend for President's Day sales". Nothing a man who gave his adult life in service to his country wants more than to have his legacy honored with a huge mattress sale or intimate wear extravaganza. Enough - it is good on Buhlaland we aren't going to buy anything today - we have been given riches we are unable to weigh by the world's standards.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

A Kiss is Still a Kiss


It is still the same old story - but Happy Valentine's Day to all - even the goats nibble in affection and if all else fails - as time goes by - eat some cherry pie!
1 Corinthians 13:12-13(msg. version)
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.





It is good on Buhlaland and we wish you extravagant love today - and for eternity!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Nope - this isn't spring

Update - tv weatherguessers have announced this is a record breaking snow event - 9 inches of snow many places and still falling. Glad to be in the record books -and start thawing soon! Chickens made their way into the coop - we'll make repairs tomorrow (or the next day?)

We awakened to unexpected heavy snow in North Texas. Wasn't sure our spoiled herd was industrious enough to dig beneath snow for hay - but apparently HaySicle is all the rage now for goats.

Still snowing heavily on Buhlaland and it isn't our favorite form of precipitation. DH and I are warm in our house. The awning over our chicken run is collapsed due to the weight of this "we don't get weather like this" wet snow. Hope the cluckers stick around but I don't think we'll be chasing across the frozen pastures if they decide to go feral!
It is good on Buhlaland - very white, wet, cold but good. Not at all sure enduring snow storms earns us any part of a crown in heaven - but we know our troubles to be momentary!

2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all
.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

GBN - Goat Baby Network


All goats all the time - or at least that is how it seems when we download the camera! Appears possible we are already done with birthing season. Sweet little goofy face in my hand is the To Remain Unnamed little male born to Castena - goofy little guy was trying to find something to nibble on the tree trunk.





First born were the twins Lantana and Fantana - or Lanny and Fanny - inseparable and irrepressible!


Next - the fabulous face of Susannah - doeling of Montana. Susannah is a little shy and her mama isn't the most attentive but she has buddies with the other kids.







Easily described as the favorite this year - Milky Way is the doeling of Norman and is the official greeter of the Class of 2010. New kids and any person or critter walking into her vicinity warrants a good nibble and snuggle.












Lulu is deceptively sweet in this picture - she is a real pistol - very active and not sure she wants to mess with people. Lulu is the daughter of Lucky.





















Last kid born was Caramel - doeling of Flip. Flip is the alpha female in our little herd. Caramel is very sweet and active. Her older sibling - Butterscotch from the Class of 2009 isn't sure she is fond of Carrie yet but Carrie keeps on trying.


Very long poem I'm adding but it is lovely and I could not find a youtube video of the hymn- which was attractive(as in where did they find so many screechy sopranos???) I deleted repeats of the refrain - refrain was the first four lines which were also used in the title of the famous James Herriott stories of a country veterinarian.

All Things Bright and Beautiful...

Author: Ce­cil F. Al­ex­an­der, Hymns for Lit­tle Child­ren, 1848

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.

The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
He made them, high or lowly,
And ordered their estate.

The purple headed mountains,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning
That brightens up the sky.

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one.

The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water,
To gather every day.

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.


Amen and on Buhlaland is it very good to have all types of creatures - right now reveling in the caprine babies!




Thursday, February 4, 2010

Somebody got cheated!



It was evident when looking over recent postings - Milky Way had been done a wrong. She was born two days before the new little doe and never got her moment in the spotlight. Milky Way's dad was named Snickers (so she is a similar candy bar name) and her mama is our beloved doe named Norman.













Milky Way and the yet to be named doeling of Lucky's are turning out to be best buddies. Lucky's girl is actually heavier bodied than her older cousin. So all is even for now - the twins Lanny and Fanny have each other and Milky and new girl are buddying up. It is always good to have a playmate.



In the last goat picture Milky is sniffing the very fence post her goatkeeper/ blogger person ran into and fell onto Saturday night. Most likely Milky is thinking "how weird can you be to fall over something this big?" and I confess when I look at it in the daylight I think the same thing!

Here is a rare self portrait - no makeup and no earrings - obviously vanity is not MY name woman! A bit bruised and tender here on Buhlaland but healing and grateful no worse injury - face, some body bruises and a huge blow to my "rugged farm gal" image!! Y'all will be getting more timely goatzee updates. No Kidding - well actually more kidding would be correct. It is good on Buhlaland - blessed with new healthy lives and protection from our own clumsiness!






Wednesday, February 3, 2010

The New Girl

My mama's name is Lucky my big sis is Lucy and these humans haven't decided on my name - but I can tell you I have an opinion about the taste of this hay - yuck! I'll take what mama offers for a while.
The second picture is me - being charming - it works 'cause the humans pick you up and snuggle you under their warm coats!
Yep - we now have 4 healthy beautiful little doelings on Buhlaland and that is VERY good.

What do you do on a wintry afternoon?

If you are a goat - you sleep - in fact that is one of the sure things in goat behavior - sleeping - sometimes curled up with your mom. Sleeping with one eye open to make sure nobody is going to interrupt your sleep and sometimes - standing up with your head buried into mom's warm neck. Today on Buhlaland - it was good to have a sleeping buddy no matter where you ended up with your nap.
People did a little napping too - but we don't train our goats to take pictures of us asleep, that would be boring. Goats asleep on Buhlaland - what an exciting post - gosh - makes you yawn a little and -- zzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz