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!

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!

Tart and tangy and uses lots of eggs!

Pie glorious pie - it deserves much more adulation than it usually gets. Most people think pie = homey dessert but nothing to get worked up over like tiramisu or creme brulee. Lemon Meringue Pie is pie perfection - tangy, tart with the sweet airiness of meringue answered by a good buttery flakey crust. For Labor Day (I know I know - I am irreparably far behind in blogging - work with me people) we had a couple of dear friends over for ribs and salads and quiche. We have had an absolute GLUT of fresh eggs. The cluckers have been busy producing deliciousness daily. We get 8 eggs every day - unfortunately a couple of the hens have decided to stand UP when dropping an egg - dropped eggs -even fresh well cushioned nesting box eggs - will have a tendency to crack when they hit a hard surface. So some days it is 6 eggs and other days I find a surprise egg hiding under the rail which leads to the nesting boxes (somebody in too much of a hurry - waiting her turn and blam - too late).

It is fun having fresh eggs to share with people. End of September and the days are getting shorter,this week unseasonably cool for Texas --we are thinking about when to start leaving on the coop light. 2009 is our first year as chicken keepers is the term chicken tenders? - (no that is what I order at the joint on Main St with extra gravy) or chicken wranglers? (mental picture of chickens strutting around in blue jeans?!) I guess the right term for us -- people who have 8 egg laying chickens in the Coop Mahal. Returning from the rabbity trail down which I just led you dear reader--the goal was to illustrate how we have plenty of eggs and when I want to be extravagant with egg whites it is perfectly fine. Used 6 egg whites for the meringue and 4 yolks in the lemon pie filling. It was tasty - yep - tasty indeed. My photos don't do the pie justice but you'll have to take my word on it - it was GOOD on Buhlaland on Labor Day (and pie the next morning for breakfast wasn't a bad thing!).

Picture of my hand holding regular sized Buhlaland egg and one whopper (turned out to be a double yolker) comparing with credit card sized donor card - an attempt at educational photography.

Ah the cluckers - they seem to conspire and murmur cluckity thoughts when I am out with the camera - I can no longer wear crocs in the chicken run - they peck through the holes at my feet! It is good to have eggs, chickens, pie and holidays here on Buhlaland.

I think it is possible that in addition to angel food cake and manna - we'll have lemon meringue pie in heaven.

Nosey Goats

Our goats grow up with me taking pictures of them - so it seems they LIKE to have their pictures taken. How spoiled are they? well I walked up to the fence and here they came pushing their heads through just in case I had treats available! Goats lead a pretty nice life here on Buhlaland - but then so do the people.

Biggest picture is our sweet wether - Bandit - amazing eyelashes huh?

Then we have Pearl - a middle aged doe who had twins this year.

Ellie is an aunt to Bandit - she was the mother of Bubba (rejected him at birth so he was a bottle boy).

Bubba the ham - bottle raised goats are such babies.

Then we have a few shy goats - the buttery colored one is Butterscotch - she doesn't let us touch her at all.

Then we see Blackie - a doe about the same age as Pearl and one of Blackie's twins - a doeling named Fawn who is beginning to let us touch her.

It is good on Buhlaland when there is plenty of grass to graze and goat antics to watch!

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.

Absolutely more than you ever wanted to know

Dropped by One Thing and she had posted a life reporting blog game thingie which was along the lines of" y'all don't know enough about me so here is more." I think it is just the right post for me this Friday evening .
If I've done an item - it'll be in bold letters - exciting - oh yes it is!


1. Started your own blog (this one is kind of a DUH? this is my blog )
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (I choose to interpret this as sacrifical giving so I'm saying yes - although what I give obviously I can afford.)
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo ( no unless you count what my Dad used to say - singa so low nobody can hear you).
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child ( no but we sponsor through Compassion's Child Sponsorship )
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill(not proud of this one but I'm keeping it real here on Buhlaland)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping -started to explain and decided the explanation was absolutely TMI

27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29 Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (almost every day)
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33 Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (times 3?)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60 Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64 Donated blood, platelets, or plasma (every 58 days - easiest good deed in the world)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (again - not a proud declaration and mostly done by stupidity not intent)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (but I can honestly say I did not enjoy it)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74.Toured the Everglades
75.Been fired from a job (I sorta quit about the time they were firing me - very bad match)
76. Seen the changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79 Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (by donating blood I'm claiming this one!)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one(times more than I want to count)
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
I cannot imagine how intense this experience has been for you! I'm laughing as I type so can't be all bad. Also watching Bruce Almighty on tv which always makes me laugh. Great end to a day which has been a challenge - beautiful weather, some physical pain (I'm getting better it isn't a big deal I promise) and a mental fog which seems to be lifting. The picture of a tree in our back pasture shows wintry bare branches of an oak tree - dramatically beautiful even without leaves - at least that is how I saw it on Buhlaland today.

Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. " amen and amen

Chicken Little might be right!

I'm not an alarmist at heart. I tend to avoid looking at problems way past the time they should have attention (maybe I have a streak of government in my soul huh?!) However - I have been taking pictures of the sky for a couple of years now and am seeing a frequent feature. Look closely - there are cracks appearing in the sky! Honest. The first picture probably shows most clearly right at the bottom of the picture - there it is - a long crack in the SKY. I've documented variations on this cracking phenomenon.
Some are vertical and some don't go all the way across the sky - but I'm getting a sneaking feeling - something's happening here. - Could be the sugar overload from the most recent handful of Jelly Bellies (sizzling cinnamon if inquiring minds want to know) affecting my ability to think clearly and rationally.

Aww - any sane person would realize those cracks in the sky are contrails from jets - probably. I don't have to be concerned about the sky cracking. I'll find something else to worry about - or not. Just a trip through the briar patch folks - end of the year crazies hitting me. :::sigh::::: it is good to be here on Buhlaland - nobody notices the crazies and I can see the sky cracks from my porch.

Playing with the camera

I was messing around with my camera and decided to see if I could take a picture through a different lens - as in the lens of one of the kaleidoscopes we put out for the holidays. All I did was put the camera smack up against the eyepiece of the kaleidoscope and point the 'scope toward a bright window. Isn't this pretty? Nothing deep here - just playing and thinking it was fun. Not everything is a big deal - but it was definitely a good day on Buhlaland - a very good day.