What's it all about?

Looking closely at our country (Butterscotch is not camera shy)

- lest we forget why we celebrated July 4, 1776

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,"

All the powers of government are from the consent of the governed - or as the great philosopher Pogo said

We appear as a country to be our own worst enemy in recent years. Americans elect people based with skewed values and when the elected officials turn out as useless (also known as without backbone, good sense or virtue) as the previous bunch - we just pick more like'em. We are not advocating Rick Perry for President - he isn't even a favorite Texas governor - but he is definitely onto something with this proclamation.Rick Perry's Proclamation

Life on Buhlaland doesn't depend on the government for our values. We don't need government telling us it is acceptable to destroy life if it isn't convenient, to defend evil and call it good, or to recreate the definition of being married. For those who are confused this election season- if you need a reference book or two - we strongly suggest the Basic Information Before Leaving Earth and on politics you might try these time tested writings. We're just suggesting - it is good on Buhlaland and with some determination, willingness to take charge again and the most uncommon of qualities - common sense - it can be good in America again. Bless y'all and if you aren't praying for rain in the southwest - well please start - we are dry as a powder keg - both precipitation wise and politics wise.

Get a snack

Wonderful service at church this morning - chance to see some friends and hug some necks. Yesterday we had warmer weather and our two male (one is and one was male) goats decided it was time to exercise their goatly male nature. Snickers (all brown looks more like a deer) is the buck and Boudreaux is our wether.

Snick believes in a long wind up challenge run - - - - leading to a forehead to forehead confrontation. Neither fellow has horns so it isn't the noisy head banging you see on the Animal Planet when they show mountain goats head banging.

Not much fight in this tussling they do. They like lots of wind up with posturing and positioning - then they will walk off together to find something to eat.

People in government could learn from my goats ,all their posturing,spouting accusations and confrontation - just go get a snack and get over your foolish pride.

I am looking forward to this week. We have goat babies due around the 24th. A birthday coming up for someone important to me. God willing, a business transaction will work out well. Looking further than our front gate I see interesting times in our nation - already hints of struggles and posturing from politicians. Politicians should read scripture for guidance - this week I'm thinking they need to read Proverbs 29: 1-2. 4, 8(The Message paraphrase)

For people who hate discipline and only

get more stubborn,

There'll come a day when life tumbles in and they break, but by then it'll be too late to help them. When good people run things, everyone is glad, but when the ruler is bad, everyone groans. (4) A leader of good judgment gives stability; an exploiting leader leaves a trail of waste.

(8) A gang of cynics can upset a whole city; a group of sages can calm everyone down.

Wisdom is not a common quality. Goats don't have wisdom. Here on Buhlaland we see goats behave as silly buddies, caring herd members and sadly sometimes we have bullies who painfully try to push everyone around. On Buhlaland we can get rid of bullies several ways ---in government it takes a public seeking wisdom.

Trusting you are seeking wisdom and you'll remember to go have a snack with someone with whom you have been butting heads. You might be surprised at the outcome of either activity. It is good on Buhlaland.

Standing

A dear bloggy friend gave a passionate explanation regarding our recent presidential election. Unfortunately due to difficult circumstances I've removed the link to the blog since for now it is gone. The large number of social, religious and financial conservatives who voted for another candidate or simply against the Democratic slate are being told in the media and often in person "get over it we won you lost deal with it". We in the blog community are dealing in our different ways. Like a tea kettle - we sometimes have to let off steam and blogs are a useful tool for steam letting.
I am philosophical about the election results (comes with age - I've seen ten presidents come and go) however I admire passion in a situation where I'm already getting the impulse to do a "whatever" . The issue of standing firmly for right is important. Abraham Lincoln said “Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”
My posting isn't meant to stir up antipathy toward Mr. Obama. He is about to enter the most difficult elected position in the world. I do not believe he is a secret Muslim or most of the strange rumors running through the internet. I do know he promised many things to many people. If he were to keep even a fraction of his campaign promises it will be quite a ride for our country. As a citizen in a civilized society I respect the office and Mr. Obama as a human. 53% of this country's voters chose Mr. Obama - not a landslide but a clear victory. Old saying "be careful what you ask for, you just might get it" means to me now people can watch the results of a one party executive and legislative federal government.


The Bible says 365 times "fear not". I'm not afraid, not as angry as some and not so pious as others. As I said the day after the election, the sky is blue and I have coffee in my cup - I also want to say I'm praying for America,for peace in Jerusalem and leaders in this world to be moved by the Leader of the eternal world.


WHEW - I got far above my paygrade (sorry that was a petty shot but I'm keeping it in) in this tirade. I'll quit vowing to myself not to talk about politics because apparently we are all not finished with our discussion in the blogosphere.


It is good here on Buhlaland- sunshine, goats well fed, DH and I both healthier. I pray it is the same for you. (maybe not the goat thing - I realize that's a tad too specific!)

The Day AFTER

We didn't stay up watching tv results and not happy with several of the election outcomes but --- hmmm got outside early this morning. Yup - sun is shining, sky is blue, I have coffee in my cup and internet access. Life after November 4th is simply - November 5th. Don't like many of the results of votes cast yesterday but as Abraham Lincoln said “I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.”

I'm going to bake something wonderful and do a few more loads of laundry - life goes on and we continue our need to pray, seek God's will and rejoice DH's eye injury wasn't serious (piece of sawdust scratched his eye - relief that it wasn't a big problem - thank you God). If the baking goes well - I'll share recipe and picture of results. Obviously - my life on Buhlaland is based on faith, work and liberal amounts of butter!

UPDATE Sorry friends you have no idea how much I thought about posting an update saying I was wrong - the world was crashing to a heap of rubble but you should know by now - I don't get all that worked up. Real reason for update is : no baking today - long appointment with potential clients and overwhelmed with sneezing (dratted ragweed). Something soon though - I promise!

Depends on how close you are

From a distance - fall colors look like sweeps of color, groupings of identically shaded leaves.

But really close - you see the individual leaves of varying shades and shapes. Each is beautifully and intricately made.




Life can be like that - you see someone else's life and it looks so good or not good from a distance. Get up close and you'll see the veins and shapes and colors. Sometimes it will be a good thing - you'll get to know someone and form a connection. Others will be a disappointment, something looking so good from afar looks quite unreliable or phony up close.

I'm posting this about people, elections and trees. We try to look closely, not just see the blur of colors but really understand how a tree is up close. Some people and issues are not going to survive looking closely at them. Others will become even more precious - here on Buhlaland it is usually good when we can get close. I think in America - not so much right now - too many things won't survive real inspection. Trust you all voted and prayed. No matter what happens - look closely at things you usually hurry through or past - it all matters.

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Sick of political race? you are not alone!

This rarely political blogger gave us a great heads up about a funny blog entry written by a staff member of Anderson Cooper's 360 . I am giving her credit for finding it and wanted to share with any of you who are also past the point of nausea with political races in general. Seems there has been a run for the 2008 elections since 2004! Millions and millions of dollars (which could certainly be used in more constructive ways) being spent to campaign - and tell us things we know either are blatantly untrue, ridiculously improbable or plain don't want to hear. I love the commercial on TV about firemen taking over congress -seems like such a good idea - stop all the bluster and posing - we want secure borders, good roads, clean water and less interference in our every day lives. Such radical notions might seen innovative except they were introduced in "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America".
Unless something just outrageously funny or truly world changing happens I promise this is my last politico blog post - somehow I think the new tub, recipes, goat and flower pictures and possible changes in my closets might be of greater interest and usefulness to you dear readers. Here on Buhlaland - it is hard sometimes to forget all those years of college I wasted -perhaps I meant invested in a political science degree --- ahhh the olden days. Trusting in the only capital T truth I know -"Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." The Linda Sue translation says "y'all can fool some of the world maybe even a majority - but the Lord God has the final say - no hanging chads or recounts on judgment day". Enough - end of rant - off to exercise and then into town to find the Holy Grail - or more realistically - tile for the bathroom. It is good on Buhlaland and if I rant to you - DH gets to have a quieter morning!

Ever think things are just a little "off"?

I was deleting some picture files and stopped at this one. It is of a bathtub in a rental unit we manage - look closely at the drain and the faucet - yep - off by a good bit! Glad to have my perception of the apartment confirmed by a picture - t'ain't straight. Reading and hearing from our western culture that I am wrong in my beliefs for many years now - I am becoming cautious about stating firmly - "this is SO". One friend and I decided our lives must be part of a fable. Remember the Emperor's New Clothes ? Much of the world is nekkid as a jaybird and seems compelled to declare my insistence on truth old fashioned, ignorant or only looking at one truth. If you have a drain that is not aliged with the faucets by a good ten inches don't tell me it is my perception. The Bible tells me people will call good evil and evil will be called good. Deciding to call a lie the truth still doesn't make it true!

An illustration I heard when living in Vermont was that being born in Vermont doesn't make a person a Vermonter. A cat could have kittens in the oven but that don't make'em muffins.

It is good in Buhlaland, blessed beyond belief and truly tired already of the pundits, news media and candidates - it is a LONG time until November y'all. I'm going back outside and tend my tomatoes. Curmudgeoning along the way - I won't be like this later on - simply letting it get posted because maybe someone else is seeing a Naked Emperor.