Is it plagiarism?

Or is it Memorex? well since my memory is mostly an EX -- the Paraphrase Psalms 139 came from someplace on the internet - most likely someone else's blog - sorry if I'm not giving credit where it is due! I've printed this off for myself with my name inserted in the blank spaces-----apparently I must be reminded God knows what is going on - and even better how it will all turn out. Our move continues - we've slept in new place since November 21st. Still getting carloads of "stuff" moved - y'all really and truly - sort through and give away or throwaway or burn or whatever half your stuff - you don't know how much of it you have until you are forced to deal with it ALL!

With that loving warning - yes it is Christmas season even in my often Grinchish mood --- we hope/expect/plan to hear from Transplant Schedule Coordinator (all people associated with big research hospital/clinic apparently are either doctors or coordinators - FYI). At that point - we'll have some idea of the testing and examination schedule DH faces. Still no idea how/if we'll do the whole transplant experience but we are assured/stand firm on and know doggoned well- God Knows and we are living in that truth! Much love and Christmas Carols (in case you are taking a poll - I cannot abide Drummer Boy song and love Carol of the Bells or almost anything with bells and midnight clears or angels sing) and not too much shopping but TONS of being with people you love - time is short - shorter than anyone seems willing to admit. I'm praying for many of you - please remember those who have had a death/huge loss in their family this year - there is NO WAY I don't care how holy and righteous you think you are - NO WAY we can "get over it" - we get through loss - we get through pain by the Grace of God but all the perky sayings in all the perky sunshiney blogs in the world cannot ease the pain. A nice plate of cookies, a hug, a shared session of tears, those are ways to tell someone they are not alone in this world.

Random enough for y'all? I'm outta here - more moving to do and some carols to enjoy. To the wonderful person who put up this version of Psalm 139 before me - thank you and forgive my plagiarism - but we both need the same assurance. It is good on Buhlaland because ---He Loves ME still - Amen.

I, the Lord, have searched you, _____________ and know you. I know when you sit and when you rise. I know your thoughts before you even think them, _______________ I know when you go out, when you sleep and are totally familiar with all your ways! Before you speak, _________________, I the Lord know what you’re going to say. I am with you, completely and I go before and come after, keeping you, always, in My love; I hold you in My righteous right hand. I, the Lord, know all there is to know about you, yet I love you . . .still.

_______________, you cannot hide from My Spirit nor can you run from My presence. It is simply not possible. Should you go to the heavens, I, the Lord, am there. Or, if you go to the depths of the sea or depression or any other depths, I, the Lord, am also there____________, I was there before you, waiting. If you rise at dawn or settle on the far side of the sea, I, the Lord, am there and will yet guide you. I, the Lord, hold you, ____________ in my righteous right hand; you may say, the darkness will hide me and the light is the same as the dark but just because you say it, doesn’t make it true. I, the Lord, consider dark as light and because I am Light, there is no darkness to Me.

______________, I the Lord created you and, before you were in your Mother’s womb. I knew all about you. You were not hidden from me, not then and not now. All your days have been ordained by me and I, the Lord, know you are My beloved creation. If you learn nothing else as you live this wonderful life I have given you . . . know these things: I am the Lord God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and I love you, _______________ so much I sent My Son to die in your place. Why? Because I want you to return to Heaven and live with me through Eternity.

_____________, I know My thoughts are vast and you cannot truly comprehend them but choose to love Me; I will always take care of you. I, the Lord, care for you because I created you and I love you. I know your heart and all your anxious thoughts; I love you, still, ___________ love me.

I, the Lord, can be trusted with your heart.

Christmas Decorations Through the Years

Perhaps a too grandiose title for three years of Buhl houseviews in December. We like putting up lights even though only neighbors directly to the north can see them (except for Santa and low flying planes). Snowy picture was December 2009, darker picture was this morning and straight on view in twilight was two years ago. We keep design the same - white lights/around porch railings the end.

Room with lights on in all three is our office - scene of the crime of procrastination for regular bloggyinnovation. Quiet holiday planned - grateful for a safe, pleasant place to live, friends who care enough to contact us during the holidays and pleasant surprises. Christmas Day we'll go to neighbors -always fun to be included during holidays.

On the great debate of Happy Holidays versus Merry Christmas - I tend to come down on the Christmas side. Obviously (to me at least) in modern western society - the December holiday is about Christ's Incarnation. However - if someone were to say happy holidays to me I would not be offended. Starting to believe we Christ followers have taken up the same ugly tactic as secular world - being OFFENDED. Heaven and hell issues are about the only two issues worth standing resolute about and unfortunately we have seen lately some hell issues which have gone to wall of rational thought and pushed it down (wrong direction in my opinion). Borrowing a quote from this weeks' devotionals by Dr. David Jeremiah

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"An old prayer, purportedly from a seventeenth-century nun, says: 'Lord, you know better than I know myself that I am getting older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody, helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all, but You know, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end."

Evidently all my great thimble full of wisdom doesn't need to be "shared" with everyone I encounter - what a shame. Taking my stand for Christ and for love which trumps all.

One more quote which I'm sure I've published here before - but still really love.

"So, this Christmas season I pray that the warmth of the Savior's love will spread itself over you as never before. And that whenever and however possible, you will keep reminding yourself that there are still tiny, shivering sparrows who are too terrified to come in from the cold. Maybe, just maybe, this Christmas, because of something you do or say . . . they will." Chuck Swindoll

Bless all of us whether we are sparrows,robins, mockingbirds, doves, meadowlarks, raptors or grackles - we all need a shelter of warmth and kindness. Merry Christmas Y'all - if you need wisdom you'd best pray and read scripture. If you need a good recipe - you can ask me. If you need a place to stop, reflect on the infinite mercies and grace of our Creator - it is good on Buhlaland.
Y'all be careful out there.

Change - Not on list of Favorite Things

Throwing up a post on newly redesigned (completely unintentionally I assure you!) blog site. Dadgum -- only wanted to see what might be available - not switch up the whole thing - but once again - Blogger Bites! ::sighing:::
Whew - got that off my list of "rants I would like to make". Seem to have far too many lists of wants, whines, gripes, petty pickiness about situations,people and broken dishwashers! Picture is holiday decorating here on Buhlaland - yep - quite indecisive about decorating - hanging holly is totally out of the question. Whether to put up stockings which we won't fill or wreath (needs new fake birds) remains to be decided. Working on faking myself into it all - old saying "Fake It 'til ya make it" hasn't worked yet.


Lyrics are:

Haul out the holly;
Put up the tree before my spirit falls again.
Fill up the stocking,
I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now.
For we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute,
Candles in the window,
Carols at the spinet.
Yes, we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute.
It hasn't snowed a single flurry,
But Santa, dear, we're in a hurry;
So climb down the chimney;
Put up the brightest string of lights I've ever seen.
Slice up the fruitcake;
It's time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough.
For I've grown a little leaner,
Grown a little colder,
Grown a little sadder,
Grown a little older,
And I need a little angel
Sitting on my shoulder,
Need a little Christmas now.
Haul out the holly;
Fill up the stocking,
But we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute,
Candles in the window,
Carols at the spinet.
Yes, we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute.
It hasn't snowed a single flurry,
But Santa, dear, we're in a hurry;
So climb down the chimney;
Put up the brightest string of lights I've ever seen.
Slice up the fruitcake;
It's time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough.
For we need a little music,
Need a little laughter,
Need a little singing
Ringing through the rafter,
And we need a little snappy
"Happy ever after,"
Need a little Christmas now.
Need a little Christmas now.


Oh crud - Christmas isn't about ME?! Recognized a tendency to use capital I far too much lately - decorations schmeckorations . Christmas isn't holly(or fruitcake thank goodness) is it? -
“God showed how much he loved us by sending his only son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (John 4:9-10 NLT)

It is very good on Buhlaland - once we get our I's straighted out - bless y'all

Ending up 2009

In case you haven't noticed - I don't blog regularly - I may need some blogamucil. We've had a roller coaster year - and I throw up on roller coasters. BUT - Christmas Day came to Buhlaland - we had guests with us for brunch in our breakfast room rather than our dining area. That comment was a segue - not the thing with two wheels Mall cops use - but a method of getting from one topic to another - obviously in this case not seamlessly. I digress---

Boxes of hardwood flooring for master bedroom renovation are stacked behind the big dining table! I'm keeping it real here folks - the flooring is behind big table, right next to the oxygen concentrator - I'm just a decorating fool.

Although not frugal - fresh flowers make me feel the house is more festive.

This year we put a Christmas swag on our office doors - you can see through the door to my computer desk - DH's desk is to the right.
Now you have a visual for the scene of the crime.

The day before Christmas DH finished redoing our little bathroom - color I bought believing it would be a dusty rose is more of a terra cotta rose' - not as orangey as in the photo but intense. Yes that's me taking the picture.

We got a pair of coasters from a sweet couple - we loved the verse and look of them so much we made one into a wall hanging for new bath decor.

North Texas has had an unusual amount of snow - don't care much for it but complaining has yet to change the weather so we trudge through and feed the goats a lot of extra grain/alfalfa. Picture is our neighbor's biggest longhorned steer - LHB - he looked almost majestic in the snow.

We were visited by a doe and her fawn who have been around here since early summer. Doe had a badly sprained or broken left front leg when she first showed up. Hoping to keep her quiet and avoid more damage - we kept the goats out of the pasture she settled in. DH threw hay and grain in for her and there was a trough for water. As summer went on - we saw a little speckled fawn with her. Now she is still appearing here regularly- we know it's her because she limps when she tries to run. A blog friend named the doe Prince - my friends name things strangely (witness my favorite goat - a doe named Norman).

We have officially been here ten years - moved onto this land December 13th, 2000. Unbelievable to me a decade has passed. DH and I were married on January 1,2000 (I was his Y2K Bug). We'll be celebrating our Tin/ aluminum anniversary - somehow that doesn't sound as romantic as Silver or Gold but makes picking a gift a lot cheaper - here you are my beloved- a roll of aluminum foil to acknowledge our love and commitment! Oh goodness. Now you know why I'm not blogging - my mind is skittering around like water drops on a hot griddle.

Wind made quite a sculpture of the snow -- Buhlaland can change so much from day to day. Our personal challenges are temporary --life is but a mist and gone. Enjoying the misty world this week - it is good on Buhlaland and I pray it is for you also. Happy New Year -

Question 1: What is the chief and highest end of man?
Answer: Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.
From the Westminster Catechism

John 1:1-5 NIV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

In a dark room - it is totally dark - but light one candle and the darkness no longer covers the light has pushed darkness back. I pray you seek the light and shun the darkness.

Bless y'all - may God

Bless you, your loved ones, and may God Bless America.

Good Intentions Poor Results

First - merry Christmas Eve morning (such a confusing concept - I'm told by my European blog pals they have different words for these days leading up to Christmas, sounds good to me - simpler is better even if it takes more words and y'all know I like my words in quantity!)

The picture is yesterday morning here on Buhlaland - clouds,humidity and temperatures in the 70's . Today's picture would be rainy, turning to snow with a predicted accumulation of 2 inches ! Texas weather - ya gotta love it.

I know I promised recipes - actually made a new one and took pictures - then tasted it and went BLAH! so I thought you probably didn't want a BAD recipe. Have some cooking to do today - a Tres Leches Cake for our BFF's and dinner rolls for neighbors. Not so much cooking for the two of us - going to be a joyously quiet Christmas. Our lives are blessed with the continuing providence and mercy of our Lord. Rather than Jingle Bells this year - we are more in the mood of Mark Lowrey's Mary Did You Know?




If I manage to make something special you can bet I'll be back to post a picture and recipe - there are so many wonderful resources on the internet for good recipes yet I find myself digging in a couple of old cookbooks (how old you ask? one was an award for being president of my 9th grade home ec. club! that is a LONG time ago) and a little box of recipes written (scribbled?) on 3 x 5 notecards. Comfort in what is familiar in a world which at times feels so alien. It is good on Buhland - being content in one's circumstances has become a mission for us - knowing when enough really is enough.

I believe I have posted a short reminder from Chuck Swindoll before but it still touches me - we pray we will have an opportunity to reach out to a sparrow or two - bless y'all
Wishing you a Warm and sharing Christmas
Linda Sue and Skip

"So, this Christmas season I pray that the warmth of the Savior's love will spread itself over you as never before. And that whenever and however possible, you will keep reminding yourself that there are still tiny, shivering sparrows who are too terrified to come in from the cold. Maybe, just maybe, this Christmas, because of something you do or say . . . they will. "Chuck Swindoll

Gear up for Grits!

Grits are not a gelatinous slab of pale goo on your plate - only the worst of southern cooks make grits which are not a tasty, basic corn dish adaptable in SO many ways.
I'm showing a spoon of freshly baked cheese and jalapeno grits. Wonderful side dish for brunch or supper. For a bit fancier presentation - bake in individual ramekins (also know as those little baking dishes).


1 cup quick cooking grits

2 cups water

2 cups milk

1 lb. Breakfast sausage – cooked and fat drained off

2 teaspoons Lawry’s season salt

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 15 ounce can cream style corn

¼ cup butter

3 beaten eggs


Preheat over to 375. Grease or spray with Pam a 13X9 inch baking dish. Bring milk, water and salt to boil and stir in grits. Cook grits over lowered flame stirring occasionally – until thickened but not stiff. Turn off heat, whisk in cheese, butter ,cooked sausage( and/or chopped jalapenos), cream style corn, then add beaten eggs. Bake in prepared baking dish for 45 minutes or until slightly puffed and browned on top.

NOTE: use “quick cooking” grits – not instant and whatever cooking directions are given on the box - use half water and half milk. For a kickier taste - add finely chopped jalapenos - I used about a tablespoon of dried jalapeno but you can add minced fresh or pickled jalapenos to your taste. Be careful - easy to get carried away and need a fire extinguisher at the table.

Try it - let me know if you like them. Highly adaptable dish - use chorizo instead of sausage or your favorite easily crumbled up meat (cooked bacon, venison sausage - almost anything goes)

We began making this dish while we owned a Bed and Breakfast in Colorado - because so many people have negative ideas of grits -we would tell them it is a ground corn dish! - worked because we had people from all over the world eat grits and love 'em.
It is comfort food on Buhlaland. I'll be back with more Christmasy cooking but have been wanting "real food" lately - sweets are coming soon!
Still cold here - ready for a burst of warm weather so we can do some fencing - goats got out last week and we've had to close off one of the pastures until the fencing can be done. Goats don't mind too much - they are getting extra rations of alfalfa to make up for less grazing area!
It is good on Buhlaland, the Lord provides such a bounty - for our eyes, stomach and heart!
From David Jeremiah “He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus” (2 Corinthians 4:14). Our future is filled with optimism and hope because we know that someday we will be like Him. We cannot lose heart and settle for a bag-lunch life when a heavenly feast beyond all imagination awaits us!"
Now THAT is a feast worth celebrating - May your Advent days build anticipation for the coming of the King.

Coziness Rulz

We live in Texas because we don't mind hot weather - we very much love mild weather. DH and I like to wear shorts and sweatshirts in the fall and warm winter days. I don't own woolen sweaters or dresses - we buy cotton.
All those statements lead up to the unpleasant truth ---we don't like cold weather! Instead of gritching about our unseasonably cold weather--we have worked hard on being cozy, comfy, snuggly as a buggly in a ruggly (whoa - getting far too cutesy here). Ahem - I mean - we are appreciating the beauty of a wood fire, wonderful bright Christmas flowers, sunshine coming in our big windows and warming the couch for napping. All that rambling done with - I am posting because it is pleasantly warm in our office, dogs are wrestling on the rug, hubs is talking on his cell phone - it may be 36 degrees outside but Buhlaland is both inside and outside. Inside we are comfortably warm - enjoying a quiet day and knowing all is good on Buhlaland.
I promise to be back with a recipe or two - wouldn't be Christmas without cooking!

Christmas Morning!

Merry Christmas! Beautiful cool morning here on Buhlaland - a tiny sliver of moon still visible as the sun was rising. Fire in the fireplace, bacon, eggs, OJ and cookies for breakfast - Life is exceptionally good here on Buhlaland - hope it is for you wherever you may be and whatever your plans for today take time to appreciate the glory of the day. After an unbelievably lazy day - DH and I took a walk around our property - the fenceline to the southeast looked almost like a tunnel. Temperatures in the 60's and mostly sunny today - perfect Christmas day hope it was for you also.

4 Words of Christmas

God is WITH us - Merry Christmas and know that the name Emmanuel is the name to change your life - know that God IS with us. He is with us here on Buhlaland - and wherever you are either physically or spiritually - God is with US. Merry Christmas and it is good on Buhlaland.

Not given a spirit of timidity

On Buhlaland we love visitors, like to feed them special treats and make them comfortable in a way that makes them feel right at home-- the Mi casa es su casa vibe.

Yesterday our BFF(s) brought Buddy, the basset, to visit us. He is an early Christmas present from Kathy to her DH. Buddy is a 6 pound bundle of sweet velvety puppy. Buddy felt pretty confident while being held by Kathy, posing for my camera and then -- he noticed the Rat Terrorists were jumping up and down inviting him to play.

Buddy immediately wanted down to join in reindeer games (oops combining stories - listening to too much Christmas radio this week). I meant to say - to join in doggy fun going on around everyone's feet. Our sweet Corazon - Alpha female - decided to teach that pup a thing or two. She bared her teeth and snarled ferociously --while Conan (who must be watching too much CSI)made an identity check in case Buddy was someone he'd met before. Our little hero Buddy decided to be a Timothy 2 kind of guest and not be timid - in fact he put Corey on the defensive by jumping up and making puppy snarls. Soon - wild running and puppy exhausting fun ensued. Yes a glad time was had by all (except for Corey but she is grouchy - she may be a Rat Terrorist Grincher). Buddy will visit again and Miss Corey will find out how fast little cuddly Basset puppies become big husky dogs! But we' trust he will show the quality of love and if not self discipline - we know his family will help him have good manners. Wish we could honestly say our own animals had some discipline:::sigh::::: a dog's got to do what a dog's got to do. On Buhlaland it is a week before Christmas and all through the house - it was dogbedlam!

2 Timothy 1:7 (New Living Translation)
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

2008 Christmas Home Tour

You know you are in Texas when the welcome is warm, the jokes get corny and we display a rare CandyCane Longhorn - legend is they are bred at Santa's place somewhere near Abilene. Cowboys like the green Christmas tree brand but can't figure out how to tattoo an ornery steer.

Come on in - the gates are opening for your visit to Buhlaland at Christmas.

If you want mistletoe to take home maybe someone brought along a kiddo who can shinney up an oak and cut a chunk - we've got more than enough for kissing mania.












We don't do a lot of outside decoration - the front door spray and a few lights around the porch railings --our neighbors across the pasture are the only ones who can see the lights (except for Santa of course) .













Just inside the front door is our hall tree . The poinsettia is in a barbed wire basket given to us by my brother and sister in law several years ago .The cowboy Santa has a snowman sidekick - with our changeable weather in Texas a snowman doesn't have a long life expectancy!-















Our Christmas tree is decorated without any theme other than if it is something we have been given or like - it belongs on our tree.











Among the treasures are a small string of sleigh bells from MIL. She gave us the bells and attached a note saying they were from the Kiehler farm(where she grew up in Michigan). MIL also made the little colorful cross . The sand dollar was a gift from the family of a lovely woman who stayed in our Colorado bed and breakfast one year. A mission group in Haiti sent us the shiny angel. We have the infamous dill pickle ornament, MIL was certain it was some kind of German traditional ornament, but nobody we met in Germany had heard of it! The crafted snowflake ornament originated with my Aunt Dorothy, then MIL went wild and made a dozen or more for us. A little bling on the tree makes it sparkle more.



































The nativity set was made by New Mexico native American artisans, we like it because it isn't the traditional European Renaissance styling.

Our holiday food treat is Coconut Scones - the recipe was originally published in Sunset Magazine but I've modified it a bit over the years.










Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with a large square of parchment buttered generously or sprayed with Pam. In a large bowl combine 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut, 1/2 cup dry oatmeal (not cooked!), 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add 1/3 cup cold butter, cut into chunks. With your fingers or a pastry blender, rub or cut in butter until mixture forms coarse crumbs.

In a small bowl, beat 2 large eggs, 1/2 cup cold milk and 1/8 teaspoon Almond extract. Stir the liquids into flour mixture just until evenly moistened - don't get too energetic or you'll make the scones tough. Scrape dough onto a floured cutting board and pat into an 8 inch round (please measure this - it makes a big difference in the results if you make them too thin). Carefully slide the round onto your greased parchment on a baking sheet. Cut into 8 wedges,don't separate the wedges to bake leaving them in place. Brush the top of round with a mixture of one egg and two tablespoons milk. Sprinkle the tops with sugar ( I used decorator sugars\ sprinkles to get a glistening effect on the tops). Make a 1 inch diameter depression on top of the wide end of each wedge and fill with a generous teaspoon of pineapple(or your favorite flavor) preserves. Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven, re cut and separate wedges. Serve warm. If you like a brunch treat with more of a sweet roll taste, pour a glaze of powdered sugar and milk over the wedges.
That's it! For the tour of homes visitors from BooMama I've worked at keeping it short knowing there are many many blogs to visit and this time of year is busy. Remember the reason we celebrate. Be kind to one another and yourself .



So, this Christmas season I pray that the warmth of the Savior's love will spread itself over you as never before. And that whenever and however possible, you will keep reminding yourself that there are still tiny, shivering sparrows who are too terrified to come in from the cold. Maybe, just maybe, this Christmas, because of something you do or say . . . they will. Chuck Swindoll

Merry Christmas

and a peace filled New Year.

Beware - Not a fluffy cute Christmas Blog Post!

I'm big on being forewarned - so y'all can just click on out if you don't want to read my current state of heart. I've held onto this blog post for a while now. Today I'm fighting a minor cold, writing cards and loving our beautiful spot in the country. My corner of the world looks and smells and feels a lot like Christmas. Unfortunately in America millions of people aren't feeling it. I've decided to post and let the chips fall where they may. My apocryphal references can be obscure or funny - what I'm presenting today is not funny. We are hearing many people (in person and in the media) complaining about shopping, parties, or gaining weight from the holiday treats. The one getting me most are the folks casting stones at the gingerbread houses of others for not being as righteous about how to celebrate, grumbling about Christmas in America and it bothers me - a lot. We live in a country blessed with abundant food, freedoms unimagined in much of the world and incredible freedom to worship. Christmas, whether secular or religious, is about giving --sharing ourselves,our resouces, our time, gifts, cookies - whatever is the norm for you. Maybe norm needs to be goosed a bit and widened in scope.
The story which follows is one received in an email from our respected friend - Waverly Parsons of Race Track Chaplaincy . Yes it is a little predictable, but if we used chances to speak up maybe more people would begin to "get it".
WHO STARTED CHRISTMAS?This morning I heard a story on the radio of a woman who was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable --and after hours of hearing her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids. She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season time of the year. Overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming,taste all the holiday food and treats, getting that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, making sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card.Finally the elevator doors opened and there was already a crowd in the car.She pushed her way into the car and dragged her two kids in with her and all the bags of stuff. When the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and stated, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strungup and shot."From the back of the car everyone heard a quiet calm voice respond, "Don't worry -- we already crucified him." For the rest of the trip down the elevator it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.Don't forget this year to keep the One who started this whole Christmas thing in your every thought, deed, purchase, and word. If we all did it,just think of how different this whole world would be.-- Author Unknown

Which leads right into this video


For ideas about how to change up holidays - visit the folks who made this video Advent Conspiracy . I feel a little load off my heart. We are making cookies and treats and giving small gifts but the reason for this season is giving. Tomorrow, late, I'll blog with Boomama's Christmas tour and it will be all about hoopla - today it is my heart. I sound full of myself - if you think I'm tooting my horn, I obviously missed the mark with this whole thing. But then - it isn't about me is it? Bless y'all

What do YOU think about these burning issues?

Borrowing a meme from my pal over at Fraker Farm - feel free to use the questions if you are searching for a blog topic this week. Isn't it funny we like to know odd facts about one another? Maybe it gives us one of these moments "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: 'What! You, too? Thought I was the only one.'" (C.S. Lewis) I would bet I'm not the only one who might make similar answers - so now we're bloggy friends. Who is a friend ? No not just someone who really knows you and likes you anyway. King Solomon wrote about having a trusted friend in Ecclesiastes 4: 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! I'm grateful here on Buhlaland-- I have treasured friends who have helped me up more than once. It's good on Buhlaland to thank my old friends and welcome new ones. Read and realize - this is for grins not theology, doxology or even chronology - just a smile on a Tuesday.
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate - with a sprinkle of cinnamon!
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Sit under the tree - especially the years when I got a doll - to see my new doll all beautiful and perfect waiting for me - woo hoo.
3. Colored light on house/tree or white? Colored lights are my preference but this year we are trying to do the frugal thang - so new lights are all white LED
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No and I should because I bet we have bushels of the stuff in our oak trees!
5. When do you put your decorations up? Usually the first week of December but this year - as mentioned in a previous post - I needed Christmas WAY early.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Squash casserole or the ever reliable green bean casserole - I mean when you exclude desserts an entire section of my holiday menus is gone - pooff!
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Being at my grandparents farm in Texas with all the cousins and aunts and uncles - my cousin and I both getting beautiful dolls an uncle brought us from Italy. Even went with Grandpa and cut down a cedar tree for Christmas - being a military brat we rarely were with extended family on holidays and that one was special
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I think from my big brother but not clear on the details - I wasn't devastated I remember that much - Santa is more the feeling of generosity and miracles of Christmas (and we all know the miracles are from God)
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Definitely
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Ornaments of every size, origin and description - lights and a handmade star - not garland or tinsel because it covers up our ornaments.
11. Snow. Love it or dread it? Dread it - I live in Texas and love it we don't get much snow or cold weather.
12. Can you ice skate? Yes - used to be halfway good at it.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Probably the pearl and diamond (chips folks not rocks) ring I got -- seemed to mark the moment when my parents thought I was grown up enough to get real jewelry. Still have that ring and I'm not a terribly sentimental person about possessions.
14. What is the most important thing about the holidays for you? Time to recall the Reason for the Season - and the wonderful mood most people are in - so much more open to one another and loving.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Cookies - oh my yes cookies!
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Going to church on Christmas Eve.
17. What tops your Christmas tree? A star - dear Mother in Law Ethel made our current star.
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Love to give presents - don't mind receiving but currently DH and I are not much into the presents thing - our gifts are our home and our faith (sheesh that sounds corny - but you get away with cornball when it is Christmas)
19. What is your favorite Christmas song? Joy to the World -
20. Candy Canes. Yum or Yuck? Totally Yummy - any kind - I love peppermint but the fruit flavored ones can be tasty too - I don't have canes on the tree yet because I walk by and eat them off and it is too soon before BooMama's tour!
21. What do you want for Christmas? A good day with people I love
22. Do you attend an annual Christmas party? Not really - our church has a special evening program and dessert party - but not a traditional Christmas party party.
23. Do you dress up for Christmas Eve or wear PJ's? We go to church Christmas Eve -I don't think our fellow congregants would appreciate my jammies - we dress but not formally - jeans and a sweater.
24. Do you own a Santa hat? Yes but I'm looking for a new one.
25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with? My dear and precious husband.

Newsflash or Hotflash - take your choice

Newsflash it IS autumn in Texas - I love the oak trees turning red colors instead of our normal green to brown sequence.

The up close and personal of a rose leaf is because I'm still loving the macro - takes a lot of motivation for me to practice something and the macro - it is doing it for me. Look at those dewdrops - so perfect and crystalline.

I think we have a winner in the contest( voting rights limited to DH, Linda Sue and our guest consultant from Montana but your opinions are always welcome!) for colors of paint in master bathroom renovation - crisp celery come on down. Dark wood stain on ash (type of wood not burnt stuff) is for the bathtub apron (whatever is not not tub or tile) and double vanity to be built by my super skilled DH. Tile is - well it is the tile. Accent color will be aubergine (I love that word! It is fancy schmancy for dark but bright purpley).

Christmas decor planning and purchasing resulted in artificial greenery for two door sprays (artificial greenery is practical in Texas - real stuff costs a fortune and dries to flashpoint fire danger in a week). Going with cardinals and semi natural looking decorations (we actually have cardinals who are on Buhlaland but I cannot convince our feathered friends to pose for an entire holiday season -or even to stay still long enough to have a picture taken!) Yes I know the Santa Cowboy is a little corny but you should know my corn level can be quite high. Garden Ridge has their usual 50% off sale and Michael's had a lot of mark downs. I'll go back this weekend (Michael's not GR) for more cardinalishness and perhaps a strand of nifty bells for our over the fireplace wreath.

About the hot flash thing - not in years but I thought it might be comforting to younger women readers(and random fellows who check blogs) truly the passage of years will make it better ! It is fun this week on Buhlaland - even the idjit goats getting stuck (actually only the one - Violet - constantly getting her horns stuck in the fence wire) results in laughter not irritation.

Nothing deep here and that is another item to add to my List of incredible things for which I'm grateful to God about.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18