Spring is definitely coming

Snowfall on Monday - gave Senor Cerdo (our garden flying pig ) a cold coat. I did my usual stunt and fell down in back yard while taking dogs out - but damage seems to be minor - achey and stiff no breakey!

Our weather is classic North Texas - from snow to fog to bright sunshine in 36 hours!

Warming ground and moisture coming through seems to have given us quite a bit of fog lately - picture is from the back of our yard toward house and newly constructed storage building/carport.Posts are for temporary fence (which is temporarily not being worked on.)

New carport is great and DH will work on converting attached to house garage into heated/air conditioned woodworking shop for his projects.

Working on getting other place minor repairs and needs deep cleaning before sale can be

completed - hoping and praying to close in mid March and be done with that chapter.

Fun finding out what is already here in our new home - lots of daffs appearing - I moved the toad house (which is disguised as a bird house sitting on the ground) into front area.

Seasons of life -we see changes in snow or daffodils or downsizing - all part of the Plan. Bless y'all for coming by - our much more compact and spring 'a'popping Buhlaland - it is good here too.

We are doing OK on new health plan - DH not going for a lung transplant so working hard to stay active and be humbly grateful not grumbly hateful! every day God gives us together. You will see a big change in next couple of weeks - goat heading going away - have accepted reality we will NOT be having goats now so I'm working at finding good homes for final beloved 5 very spoiled goats!

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.

I'm still here

For those of you viewing this on Internet Explorer - I know things look odd - I work on Google Chrome and Blogger looks right then so I'm just sayin' - looks odd and sometimes is - but internet browsers do strange things.
Steven Sondheim isn't my first choice for lyricist (since I tend toward hymns and praise songs as musical interests) but from the depths of my life's music listening time - this came to me:

C'est la vie.
I got through all of last year
And I'm here.
Lord knows, at least I was there,
And I'm here!
Look who's here!
I'm still here!

Not much I want to say today - we still haven't finished renovations sufficiently to move to new home. Have prayed and talked ---DH and I are both at the point of "God's will" in regards to transplant (will let you know how well I do with that after the transplant evaluation begins at the end of this month). We "did church" together this morning - this video came up on a search on Youtube for Gaithers and I like Alan Asbury's version but Ricky Skaggs does a good job.

We know many somebodies are praying us through - and it makes all the difference. For those of you who know her - please include Sandra Bennett in your prayers now. We' re still here- on Buhlaland and being kept from things we can't even see.

Some out - more IN

Today it was clear and sunny --a beautiful day to play in the garden - which is not what we did.

We did - take the carpet which was removed (by us) and put it in garage to be sold on Craigslist or given to someone who wants beige carpet. THEN we unloaded a lot of paint, 39 (yes I counted them - twice) boxes of cork flooring, a new light fixture for the kitchen and about a quart of sweat. I confess this is simply a catching up with small changes post - one big point I'd like to make - look closely at the picture of partially painted room (which will become our office/workout room once we actually move in). See the ugly dark grey tinge to what was apparently a white room? THAT my friends is what happens when you use those "one coat" paints - there is a black pigment added to a perfectly good white paint so indeed it covers most anything else but is NOT white. The white we are using is called Fragrant Jasmine (doesn't that just sound wonderful and relaxing? - still smells like paint but the name is the thing). It goes on the wall in a barely warm white shade not a cold touch of black white shade. It isn't all that noticeable until you begin to paint a real white over it - then the greyness becomes all too obvious. I'm tired - you must excuse my obsession with colors of white.

It is good on Buhlaland - because I have a great big bottle of ibuprofren and a Coke Zero over ice right here next to me. See you soon!

Cycle Starts Again

Yesterday was the moment - I didn't get to watch the butterfly emerge but early in the morning took a few pictures. Returned in about 2 hours and all that was left was husk of chrysalis - now there is another wonderful pollinating butterfly out there in Buhlaland - isn't that what we should call a miracle if were to name it?

It is good on Buhlaland to see how creatively the Creator populates our world with useful beauty.

Adventures Galore

Sorry I didn't get a picture of the lights flashing and ambulance here on Buhlaland - another adventure in the life of two old folks doing whatever God puts in front of 'em. My Beloved had a stroke on Monday morning - long story short - prayer and a way which was prepared for us long before we had the need made things work out as if there is a Plan in our lives. We are already home - all testing done - some medications changed up and minimal lingering damage to speech and mobility. Both quite exhausted and happy to be in own spot on Buhlaland. New slogan for me - Fear Not. Being anxious about anything may steal away moments given to bless us not allow us to imagine bad event - each day will have enough troubles for that day but also - the strength for that day will be given. Happy to be home - thanks for visiting me on Buhlaland. Just a few pictures 'cause it is still our blessed spot of life 'til the Lord declares otherwise.

Goat on hindlegs getting a nibble of oak leaves is Butterscotch . Clever nubian goat Norman - has no horns so she gets to eat as far as she can push her head through the fences. Her yearling doe Milky Way is not so blessed - she has to be careful about getting stuck in the fences. You know what they say about grass being greener on other side - also lots more of it than on the side you share with 21 other greedy goats!

Adventures Galore Repeat

Sorry I didn't get a picture of the lights flashing and ambulance here on Buhlaland - another adventure in the life of two old folks doing whatever God puts in front of 'em. My Beloved had a stroke on Monday morning - long story short - prayer and a way which was prepared for us long before we had the need made things work out as if there is a Plan in our lives. We are already home - all testing done - some medications changed up and minimal lingering damage to speech and mobility. Both quite exhausted and happy to be in own spot on Buhlaland. New slogan for me - Fear Not. Being anxious about anything may steal away moments given to bless us not allow us to imagine bad event - each day will have enough troubles for that day but also - the strength for that day will be given. Happy to be home - thanks for visiting me on Buhlaland. Just a few pictures 'cause it is still our blessed spot of life 'til the Lord declares otherwise.

Hmmm - just signed on blogger after not being able to sign on blogger and most recent post had disappeared - will post again and hope for the best. We continue to feel better (both of us) each day but still very tired (both of us). Rest and enjoying the scenery - that's the way it is on Buhlaland.

unexpected beauty

Our neighbor has a planter made from a homemade wheelbarrow which doesn't wheel anymore.

How amazing are those flowers? Had to share - hard for some people to believe cactus are such bright beauties - for at least a short time in the spring. Isn't it great - even the prickliest, least cuddly of creations are given a time to be beautiful? - to make us stop and say - WOW. Hope you have some WOW moments this week. We are doing well on Buhlaland - medical treatments continue for DH and some side effects but so far - it is GOOD on Buhlaland.

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.
~John Muir~

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!

We're still standing

We don't believe in luck, we do believe in God's provision, hard work and the occasional dietary indulgence involving butter, chocolate with some Blue Bell ice cream. We aren't experiencing "bad luck" - a series of unfortunate circumstances perhaps? DH is doing OK - now being treated for a form of asthma ( not a diagnosis of asthma just all the medications for asthma - no it doesn't make much sense to me either). I'm recovering slowly from the fall I had several weeks ago on the dreadmill (also known to the wider public as a treadmill). Zoe Dog is on her last round of restricted activity following treatment for heartworm infestation and oh yeah - our house got hit by lightning last week.

You just have to laugh - and laugh a little more. The lightning was a tad terrifying - very loud noise, bright lights and bad smell of things burning. DH and I checked the house from attic to garage and found lots of melted wires, many non functioning electronic things and our two absolutely terrified little dogs! Now busy doing the insurance claim things. We will see when we get a settlement what will be possible to replace. Right now I'm on our Fred Flintstone level laptop computer - mine is fried. So no pictures for now - but it is good on Buhlaland when the sun shines and even when the storms come - because no storm lasts forever.

I haven't Croaked!

Terrence the Toad reminded me I haven't checked in on the bloggy world in over a week.

Buhlaland is literally crawling with toads - from smaller than a dime to critters the size of a hardball -all intent on finding moisture and bugs. Bugs we have in abundance but this summer moisture comes out of a hose or sprinkler. Don't want to rant about weather -we've been in a warmish spell (nighttime lows in the high 70's) and today saw 102 on our deeply shaded porch thermometer.

Weather and toads don't have a thing to do with why I'm not blogging. DH hasn't been well (we think he is slowly improving - not terminal just tiring) , I'm stressing about finding a job and generally ignoring the biblical admonition "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phil. 4:6 NIV

We have always had more than abundant provision. We are daily reminded of God's faithfulness in our walk with Him. My head and most of my heart knows things will work out better than I could have imagined -- my stomach and bit of my often rebellious heart keep bringing up "what if it doesn't happen this time?" BUT - we rely on God's grace He is more than enough.

If I had a picture of a nice frog - then I could use the acronym Fully Rely On God and be all clever. So you have to accept my word for it - FROG works.

The sweet doe (I suppose she is sweet - she hangs around here and has beautiful eyes - for all we really know - she might be the head of the Mean Girls in her herd!) still hangs around our place. Saw her and her fawn a week or more ago - trotting along in our front pasture and then leaping over a 5 foot tall fence as if it were nothing.

So little real news, the toads and I decided to check in with the blog world. It is hot, quiet and healing on Buhlaland and that is good. Ribbit--ribbit

Quick Hi Y'all

I may be hitting the wall blog-verbially speaking (making up words is one of my few creative endeavors). Cannot seem to find a reason to post other than I want to stay in touch with my wonderful blogospheric friends. The roses are now serving as buffets for thrips. Insecticidal soap to the rescue!
Fence picture is example of with goats (on the left) and non goat pasture. Fencing is between our pasture and property of our beloved neighbor to the north. Advantage for us - no mowing. Advantage for him - lots of wildflowers. Ooh - just realized - advantage for us - seeing his wildflowers and not having to mow -- woo hoo!










Last picture is my feet - I know you've been waiting for this moment for ages - NOT. Odd loop in the right corner of pic is camera strap - I'm so professional in my photography (point, shoot - shoot lots more and find a good picture out of dozens - publish any picture if none are good - now you know full repertoire of photography tricks).


Crocs are as close to barefoot as I go when outside - yesterday we had an unseasonable heavy rainstorm. On my way out to goat pens I stepped in a low place in our lawn and was tremendously refreshed with a flow of cold water through the holes in my shoes. Grateful for nearly 2 inches of rainfall in past 36 hours and we didn't have any serious wind damage.






Appreciating the blessings of downpours this week on Buhlaland. If something comes to mind I'll definitely be back to post. It is good here, muggy, but good on Buhlaland.

Eating my words will be easier than my bread

I'll make something else. I made a loaf of pannier - which I must assume is a fancy word for moist and heavy cakey bread. So I won't be posting a pannier recipe here. Here is a picture of the loaf - little green specks are bits of chopped fresh rosemary. The shape of the loaf is unfortunate, it might have looked better baked in slightly smaller pan but as we say around Buhlaland - that's the way the pannier crumbles.

Here is a hint on what I will be doing as a substitute, correct guess could be a stretch for most of you but maybe it is enough hint. NO it isn't ham!

Love to keep you guessing - we'll be cooking and posting soon here on Buhlaland. Right now we are praying for those in the path of Hurricane Ike which includes us. Ike should be a tropical storm or just a very heavy rain and wind when it reaches North Texas but still preparing for possibility of electrical outages.

Keeping it real here on Buhlaland and enjoying the results of a day spent cleaning the kitchen (Murphy's Oil Soap smells SOOOOO good). Next I attack the master bath and bedroom - woo hoo! Housecleaning is my life (that is sooooo not true).

Oh my stars and garters

What does the phrase Stars and garters mean? Not a clue until I googled - I simply recalled it as a safe exclamation which wouldn't result in getting my ears thumped for being "naughty sounding"when I was a whippersnapper! All that rabbit trail to lead me into ----I realize I have been absent from the bloggoworld for a week now - - very bad - almost like missing church - the next time you think about missing gets easier and easier.
Is it hardening my heart or numbing my conscience? either way I don't want to go there anymore.

Nothing phenomenal going on around here, DH is working far too hard (such a normal situation I wavered about whether to mention). The weather has gone from hot summery to nearly unbearable heat wave - Oh wait - I lie - here is photographic proof it is cooler today (in Texas temperature terms like cooler or HOT are relative not wholly reliable - a little like some of my relatives - but I digress ). You can see - a mere 100.5 degrees fahrenheit on our trusty completely shaded thermometer. We registered 109 the other day but were so heat stunned didn't think to take a picture. So what has this got to do with anything important? At least a little something and definitely not just nothing. (messing with you there - yes that didn't make sense and you are so SMART to notice!)






We are working on getting our place more energy efficient. Both the astounding rise in utility rates and our desire to be good stewards of our resources propelled us into these big projects. Primary goal is to make our home as low cost to maintain and run as we can manage. First act in the project will be having solar screens installed - we did a southern engineer style test. DH made two large window screens for our west facing breakfast room windows - you can see in the picture they aren't pretty but they did prove a point - the temperature inside the breakfast room was lowered about 15 degrees! Woo Hoo. Above the nook is a window in the second story - remember that one 'cause I'll mention it later. Finishing up in the breakfast room/kitchen area we'll be putting a ceiling fan in that bump out area to keep air flow moving - right now I use a fan sitting on the floor and it is unsightly and a hazard. At this time we will also get screens on the window I mentioned on the second story - this side of the house faces literally and totally DUE WEST - as in the sun shines brightly on my beloved Texas home and hotly too!



Now we move around the back - in the left side of the picture you can see a corner of our AC unit - about to be replaced in stage two. But you should pay attention to our stunning view windows - the whole back of our great room looks out into the backyard and woods behind. Unfortunately - they have absolutely NO real protection against heat gain despite being that E glass - DH and I don't care much for curtains so those are some BIG bare windows - good view - big windows. Soon they will be cloaked appropriately in 90% blockingofsun'sdamagingraysscreens.
Total of 15 windows will get the screen treatment.
August 11th we are scheduled to have the new HVAC system installed - a super duper (for our budget) 18 SEER unit with variable speed air handler - don't ask too many questions or I'll have to send you links to what I believe we are buying.
Next stage will include some work around the foundation of our house - laying lines for constant moisture to prevent soil movement hurting the foundation. Also planning on pulling up the carpet at least in our bedroom and staining the concrete then sealing the floors. Even more exciting will be the addition of a HUGE storage space next to our master bedroom - facilitating the total makeover of the master bathroom - yeah we tend to send over the top entire DIY concept.
We have a 6 month plan in the works (Lord willing) and I'll update as we go. Here for my bloggy buddy Paula I'll include two sky pictures and end this rambling. Sunsets can be breathtaking here on Buhlaland - all this and heaven too - we are blessed. BTW please don't call us "green" - not doing our energy saving measures due to political pressures or secular culture's concept of ecologically sound living - more because we believe in being good stewards of our blessings and I'm tired of deciding whether to be comfortable or frugal! It is good in Buhlaland - even better when it isn't sweltering! Oh that last picture - not photoshopped at all - just an alien happy face peering down at sunset - even the aliens are happy in Buhlaland!

First step

Hey there blogernets (still working on the terminology). Lord willing and our finances hold out - we may actually renovate (read that word FINISH) the master bath. While putzing around at a home improvement store I found this light fixture on the clearance table. I like it - a lot - so it is planned for over the bathtub in the alcove next to the new window we have yet to build. First will be a large bumpout on the master bedroom so we can have a closet to truly organize (HUH?) my life.
But this light fixture is a commitment - especially since it is still in the box sitting in our home office. Talk about an elephant in the living room - this is the renovation reminder in the office space! Probably going to do beadboard ceilings like we did at the little rock house, Italian style plaster and waxed walls, not sure about tile versus wood floors and after that it all gets blurry. I'm not a person who plans a heck of a lot - I'm a lot more - build me a house around this doorknob gal. So you are looking at the doorknob (metaphorically speaking) of my master bath. What do you think? You doing any big projects in the next few months? We are always doing projects but this time it'll be mostly for US not for money. Woo Hoo says the Lady of Buhlaland - it is GOOD here and we are grateful even for a cool metaphorical doorknob type inspiration. Y'all have any good door knobs out there??

A Hoooooooooooooooo!

I felt like howling at the full mooooooonnnnnnn a bit. Took this picture last Monday but didn't feel moved to post it until tonight. The delay and the idiocy of my title says something about the week we've had. Work challenges to the max, some interpersonal stuff(relational no not my marriage - it is veryfinethankyouverymuch), a sad diagnosis for our beloved Corey dog and winding up with --- ta da - a wonderfully quiet Sunday.

I'm feeling stressful pressure from too many sources and getting reminded continually I am not in this alone. He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world. So what's the end line on this? We are doing OK. Corey is responding to her medications pretty well. Right at this moment she is laying in the chair with DH - her head on his lap.

We aren't promised tomorrow, trying to living in the past is a waste of today. I was told by a fairly wise person, anxiety and worry is paying interest on a debt you don't even owe. We can choose to dwell on the negative or not. We pick NOT. It is well in Buhlaland and even without a full moon - try howling it is amazingly relaxing!

Coming attractions?

In case any one is stopping by Buhlaland today - I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day taking at least a little time to remember those who have served our country. We are doing work around our place today - DH working on that automatic gate opener. He got the solar panel installed over the weekend. I am not sure which overwhelming task I will accomplish today - weeding garden, ironing, cleaning house or going to Costco. One thing I hope to do is cook something good - so check back later and it might be Tres Leches Cake and some baby back ribs - pretty sure I'll do a squash casserole since my dear friends the Harpers brought us a big bag of summer squash from their garden. Woo Hoo for friends who share! Hope the sun is shining on your personal solar panels today - bless y'all - it is Memorial Day on Buhlaland and we are grateful for a change in our daily work and blessed to be able to enjoy our freedom.

Bloggity stuff

Who's a blogger and why do they open themselves up to the blogosphere? I started a blog because a friend who is in the mission field in Mexico had a blog. A friend who was going through a terminal illness had a blog. Much to my surprise, Google had a free deal (free is significant to me - being a good steward of our blessings is a biggie). A thought snuck up on me with unintended consequences dragging behind it. I could blog,if they could blog I could blog. We had a digital camera and a relatively high speed Internet connection - yep blogging I could do. A blog is more than a public record of events and thoughts. Even the most mediocre blog can introduce you to a world of people and ideas and a form of relationships.
Why blog? I live a modest life with no international significance whatsoever. I'm not a great writer, accomplished musician, high achieving athlete, interesting artist, famous cook or great beauty. All those disclaimers in place - I wanted to blog about the bliss of ordinary, the joy of monotony, the blessing of sameness . Putting our life into words and pictures (here comes one of the unintended consequences) showed me - I like my life, I'm blessed and a few people responded.
Updating you, my good reader, I'm going to redesign the blog and put in more links to other blogs. Linking is putting a live link (web address you can go to merely by clicking on the words) on my blog to encourage the 5 to 9 people a day who view my words to try a different blogger.
Whew - that was a lot of verbiage for telling you - look at the links and try them out - there are many clever, interesting and passionate people in the blogosphere. Also - watch for a new look - not sure how it will settle out but I'm thinking spring colors and more room (sounds like the design for our master bedroom - hoping to show you that project when we start).
What are we doing on Buhlaland? The best we can do, most days. Most days we work hard, occasionally we goof off with the animals, you just never know - DH on the tractor getting ready to mow and Snickers stuck in a tree. Yep that's Buhlaland.

One Hundred It IS!

I'm a team player (playing on the name of our real estate company - Team Buhl). According to weblog etiquette on the occasion of my 100th blog post I'm supposed to list 100 things about myself. So far I've worked at this for five days (obviously not around the clock! I can take only short sessions of thinking that much about myself).


Grab your kleenex, diet coke and a comfy seat:




100. I've been divorced, widowed and married (not in that order)



99. Proud cum laude graduate of Humboldt State University - B.A. degree in Psychology



98. Miss Sierra Blanca 1966.



97. Was sitting in the library of Ruidoso High School when I heard that JFK had been assassinated.



96. Salutatorian of the Class of '66 - literally gave my speech, got my diploma and left town the night I graduated.



95. My first car was a '65 Comet Caliente.




94. Favorite pet as a child, our Toy Fox Terrier named Tiny Sue Lin.



93. Love various shades of purple but mostly dress in black or red.



92. Fight against a tendency to be paralyzed by fear of failure. I fight by failing a lot but getting back up afterward. It works - causes a lot of bruises but it works.



91. My Dad was in the US Air Force, we moved a lot during my childhood.



90. Costco versus Sam's - totally Costco.



89. Birkenstocks versus Crocs - yeah Crocs - washable and cheap!



88. I've lived in Florida, Kansas, Idaho, California, Texas, Colorado, Vermont, Illinois, and New Mexico.



87. Diet Coke Zero - carbonated beverage preference.



86. Iced Luzianne Tea for general cold beverage.



85. Black coffee at home, coffee with cream in restaurants.



84. Can't stand to eat okra, sweetbreads, or liver.



83. Dogs or cats? Both - if forced to choose, probably a dog since DH prefers canine to feline.



82. I have scars on my left palm from a severe burn sustained when I was about 3 years old. Embarrassed me during elementary school years - kids said I had worms in my skin. Grateful for total use of the hand, docs told parents I'd have nerve damage - no sign of it in over 57 years!



81. Classical or pop music- definitely classical.




80. Emergent, evangelical, charismatic or mainline protestant? hate labels for being a follower of Christ - have begun to put that in religious preference - Follower of Jesus Christ.



79. Reading - love it - bookstore - Mardel's. Thrilling to find good books so cheap ( I prefer real books not paperbacks).



78. Favorite authors - primarily Christian thriller or legal stories , Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker,Randy Alcorn, Randy Singer and Alton Gansky.




77. If I could only have one book - Bible.



76. If time and/or money were not barriers I would love to travel in Australia and New Zealand. Would want to explore coast line and the vast variety of sub climates.



75. I own 137 cookbooks.



74. Least favorite body part - stomach (as in belly not internal digestive parts).



73. Favorite body part - ankles.



72. TV shows NCIS, Survivor, Amazing Race, Dancing with the Stars, news , So You Think You Can Dance? !



71. Traveled in 4 foreign countries on two continents.



70. DH and I sponsor two boys in Bangladesh through Compassion International - best thing we do! They are named Elius and Bipul.



69. Despite a painful and long time period I was frantically pursuing pregnancy, never had children and I trust God's plan for me in that.



68. I understand there is genuine artistry behind hip hop and rap - not a fan.



67. People I learned to appreciate as I've aged, Johnny Cash, my Mama, Adrian Rogers, The Gaithers, real cowboys and anyone who is kind to me.



66. Least attractive celebrities to me - Madonna and Tom Cruise. I don't even consider those sad young women referred to on Fox as "pop tarts".



65. Favorite movies, The Princess Bride, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Independence Day, Men In Black, Sleepless in Seattle, Terminator, Night at the Museum (in memory of my friend Ellie)-this list always changes - at one time I'd have said Blazing Saddles or Young Frankenstein by Mel Brooks - just not there right now. Oh and the Bourne movies series - lotsa action.


64.Don't mind being alone much of the time, it is how I've lived and I'm used to it.



63. I deeply appreciate and have affection for different kinds of people, find them endlessly interesting but I'm not a good woman friend. I don't "do lunch", shop for amusement,don't like to chat endlessly about my personal problems ( or things I seem to think are problems) or exchange very personal tidbits (can you tell?)



62. I most admire people who don't make a big fuss over their pain - everyone has pain whether physical or emotional. Wearing pain so everyone has to see it doesn't make it better. I often remind myself of this - because it is easy to slip into doing it.



61. The best dog I've ever had was a mutt - cocker and Lhasa apso mix named Mr. Smiley Dog. His ashes are buried with my late husband. No offense intended to my current duo of canine companions - they are different dogs and this is a different time in my life.


60. I was convinced that my DH is one of the kindest people I'll ever know when he drove 120 mile round trip to take my dog to be cremated. Many people might have done that for medical treatment but once the dog was dead he drove him to a nearby town in a heavy snowstorm so I could take Smiley's ashes back to Texas with me.



59. What did I think I'd be when I grew up? A lot smarter than I am and I truly thought I'd have a bunch of kids and live on or near a college campus (first husband was a professor).



58. I accepted Christ as my savior when I was about 7 years old. I did not make Him Lord of my life until the past decade.



57. What do I most regret in my life? I have so much to regret but have begun to accept when the Lord puts it as far away as the east from the west - I don't need to dwell on things.



56. Favorite cereal - Kashi Heart to Heart .



55. Best location described in the Bible - Revelation 22: 1-5 (Msg paraphrase) I love that the Tree of Life will have leaves that are for the healing of the nations.



54. Worst advice from a wife in the Bible was from Job's wife "curse God and die". Her attitude isn't supportive is it?



53. Best time of day - early morning - very early.



52. Favorite flowers - roses - not the florist kind but the growing kinds. Roses are closely followed by lilacs - in Vermont there were hedges at least 20 feet tall of lilacs - when they bloomed it was a fragrance beyond description. Lilacs don't really do well here - so I substitute crepe myrtles and lilies - but nothing smells like springtime lilacs.



51. Worst subject in high school - algebra.




50. First computer - a radio shack thing my husband put together for us - with the two floppy disks so you could have the operating system on one disk and run programs with the other.



49. Praise heavens I'm half way through this! See - I'm easily thrilled.




48. Best thing I've ever done, anonymously help people - love to be God's hands and feet without the burden of someone knowing about it.



47. Favorite meal, steak, enchiladas, salad and a really good red wine. Creme Brulee with raspberries for dessert.



46. Biggest travel adventure - went to Costa Rica alone for a vacation (it was a tour thing but only one couple in the group and we definitely went our own ways).



45. I had my identity stolen on AOL about 12 years ago - somebody ran up hundreds of dollars in charges and I ended up having to pay about half. Harsh lesson but good one - there is no inherent evil in the world wide web - it is like living in a huge city - some good places and some places you shouldn't even drive through.



44. Favorite car I've owned so far, Mitsubishi Diamante - a V6 with a moon roof and leather seats - I love to drive that car. Not so expensive but fun and comfortable.



43. On a hot dog - the more the better - I love mustard, onions, kraut and a touch of relish.



42. The blog through which I was motivated to begin a weblog was Foodie Farm Girl -http://www.foodiefarmgirl.blogspot.com/ Susan combined photography with explaining about real life in a rural setting. It didn't seem to be so "techie" so I thought I could do this. Then my friend Rachel Chapman started blogging about her mission work (see side bar for Redeemed for His Glory) and I was hooked.



41. I attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, The University of Vermont in Burlington, and graduated from Humboldt State University with my BA. Then got a teaching certification from University of Texas Permian Basin (called UTPB). Big whoop huh?



40. I have a college degree, am a notary, real estate broker, have had a NASDAQ license (no longer), have had an insurance license and a teaching certification in secondary level social sciences. Big whoop again.



39. Hardest habit to break - using "colorful" language. It was easier to quit smoking than to quit saying things I knew I shouldn't. Yes I quit smoking almost twenty years ago after doing it for 20 years - cold turkey - quit smoking by not putting them in your mouth or lighting them - simple enough?



38. My sister in law is the best crafter I have ever known - she can make anything with a hot glue gun, beads and feathers and silver. Sort of the MacGyver of crafting!



37. My brother knows trivia - when the Trivia board game was popular he was absolutely the best partner for a killer team. He has a Master's in history so made a career out of knowing when and who and where. I used to wish he'd go on Jeopardy and have a blast!



36. I've met Rock Hudson, Ruby Keeler, Jack Gilford, Patsy Kelly, Max Lucado, and Robert Duvall (he was not a good experience) . I don't think the few who are still alive would remember me.



35. My brother was an only son who has one son, who has one son, who has a ----daughter.



34. DH used to work for a company that transferred personnel a lot - between the two of us we've owned 23 homes!



33. I prefer to use the name Linda Sue (it is my real name) but rarely does anyone actually say my full name - hey you, yo mama, baby, sweetie, and Linda are aliases to which I'll reply.



32. DH and I spent two wonderful weeks in Germany visiting friends near Frankfurt - what a gift that time was for us. All the cliches about Germans and their cleanliness,promptness and loving a good party - true and fabulous!



31. I love being a Texan - it is irritating to a lot of people that some of us feel a unique spirit in Texans - incredible diversity and usually an attitude of "sure we can do that". Of course there are fabulous people all over the globe - being a Texan is part of MY identity and it is fun.



30. Greatest fear - dying without making a difference for the good of someone's soul, comforting someone else since I've been comforted so much by God - slogan on DH's computer is "God does not comfort us to make us comfortable but to make us comforters". A version of pass it forward. Less dramatic fear - claustrophic - do NOT like tight places.



29. Greatest guilty pleasure - a chance to lie in the sun and do absolutely nothing.



28. I have never gone to a single reunion of high school or college and I don't recall any real famiy reunions.



27. Accountability for exericse - http://www.walkertracker.com/ - pedometer website.



26. Hair color - without color it would be mostly grey but hasn't been "natural" for so long - who knows? I'll continue to color it until I mature enough not to have that one tiny vanity or it falls out. I used to answer the question "is your hair naturally blonde?" "yes - I'm from Texas - I'm over 50 so naturally I'm blonde".



25. I'm a good baker and cook. Not fancy any more - DH and his mother are not fans of elaborate cuisine - but cooking is a skill - I'm not over endowed with skills so wanted to list this one.



24. Sports - not a huge fan - like to watch football with DH, occasionally follow some golfers and live sports are fun.



23. No cable or satellite tv in our house - we quit years ago and don't miss it at all.



22. Best sandwich in the world - turkey on whole wheat, mayo, leaf lettuce, cranberry sauce and very thin slices of sweet onion. IMHO



21. Biggest surprise about getting older - it isn't all that bad - everything takes longer to heal, digest or complete - but age has it's advantages.



20. OK I'm SOOO running out of things I'm willing to post here - my reticence in revealing too much is also coupled with the fact that I don't think talking about my life is quite the pinnacle of blog journalism.

19. Church - prefer contemporary worship but occasionally would like to have a liturgical traditional service again.



18. Best surprises - not ever surprise parties but I do love getting a personal note or small gift for any reason or NO reason at all.



17. Most fun person who worked with me - probably Heather E. She is still a friend and has great faith and skills. or Mad Skillz per BooMama nomenclature.



16. First thing in the morning, I make coffee then after emails and devotionals I check a list of blogs - every morning - well except Sunday - we go to 8:30 am services so read our scriptures on Saturday am so we don't get behind.



15. My Dad was born and raised in Wyoming. His family lived in a log cabin - literally - with dirt floors. Their land was on the Little Big Horn River (yep - General Custer's final stomping grounds).



14. My Mom was born in Oklahoma but raised in the area of Cleburne, Texas.



13. Least favorite household chore - cleaning! I love to do laundry and cook but aaargh I hate the basics of vacuuming, washing floors, washing windows - that kind of thing. I pick up so it isn't cluttered, and when I do clean - it is a manic event with me tearing up everything and scrubbing behind under and over it all!



12. Favorite Holiday - Easter - I love the springtime and full religious significance of the resurrection of the Savior. We sometimes have as many as 45 people here for a buffet brunch and enormous egg hunt in the pastures. Then DH finds plastic eggs all summer by hitting them with a mower!



11. Hymn - How Great Thou Art - I remember hearing it when I was a child - sung by George Beverly Shea in a stadium in California at a Billy Graham rally. I don't recall many specific events in my childhood - it is mostly a pleasant general memory -but I recall that music so specifically.



10. Home Stretch now - jobs I've had - worked at a Dairy Queen, an ice cream shoppe, baby sat for a jockey and his horse trainer wife, worked at the college newspaper office doing layouts, worked in a college transcript office, worked in a medical clinic in records, intake clerk in an emergency room, secondary level school teacher, college bookstore textbook clerk, cook and server for a catering company, sales rep for an office furniture company,veterinary assistant,photography studio manager (worst job I had) real estate agent and broker, cook and kitchen coordinator for a church! Ta Da! Lots of jobs in lots of cities across the country - following husbands and heart and family.



9. People I most want to meet in heaven - in addition to my family of course - Ruth Graham Bell, Esther, Abel, Job, Rahab - I'm sure once we're there the list will change because there will be people we never heard of nor dreamt - but for now that is my list.



8. Biggest lie I tell myself - that I am doing the best I can all the time.



7. Love zoos - zoos and aquariums. That would be a great world tour - go to all the great zoos and aquariums of the world!



6. Used to have 5 aquariums largest was 125 gallons and smallest was 20 gallons. All fresh water with live plants. I was in an Aquarium Society in West Texas.



5. I like online better (usually) than in person because I can edit what I say - don't have a functioning delete button in my brain when I'm IRL.



4. Biggest peeve --smoking - hate the smell so much it makes me ill. Embarrassed that I smelled like that for almost 20 years!

3. Don't like confrontation -have just edited out 5 different explanations and figured - I'll just leave it alone,I don't like it.
2. Blogging gives me a chance to connect with people in a unique way - people all over the world. I like that - although far from a "one world" person politically - I have always had a strong interest in how people live - and deeply know that we are all just people.

Number one - numero uno - the final thing in this far too involved with myself task. TA DA!
For those who haven't seen me- I begrudgingly post this picture taken about two weeks ago! I'm waving at y'all - I really do love having you visit me and tell me about yourself too!










If you've read all this - God bless you and I'm not writing anything personal again.

100th Blog post will be soon!

Apparently that is a big deal - 100 blog posts. Seems like I've gone on about most everything but I'm sure that I'll find something to post - tonight I put up numbers 95 and 96. What kind of blogo madness could ensue with #99 to 100? In Buhlaland ya just never know - could be fun though!

A scripture verse in honor of a friend ministering in Pakistan who like Paul is ". . .hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 nd letter to the Corinthians chapter 4: 8-9. Asif(just read this again - the person's name is Asif - I'm not saying As If) we are praying for you, Paul went on to say "All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." amen and amen