Are we there yet?

I'm ready for spring gardening, ready to get plants started under the clever grow light set up DH made for me last year. Ordered heirloom veggie seeds and looked longingly at some nice concrete planters. North Texas was cold today with wind chill in the 20's. I spent time out in the pens with goats - possible birthing activity beginning. We fed alfalfa for a y'all come into the pen and get locked up snack. I'll go back out once more before bedtime for humans on Buhlaland - not because goats can't deliver babies without humans but because it has been two years since we had kids and I get excited. Being around new born creatures renews my spirit. I make a definite promise you'll see cute baby goat pictures . I'm looking forward to warm weather, moonflowers opening while we stand in the garden watching the stars. Can hardly wait to taste new varieties of vegetables including purple bok choy,dark brown cherry tomatoes and white cucumbers (seeds are cheap - I can experiment!). It is daydreaming time on Buhlaland, a good time only surpassed by living the dreams.

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

Besame mucho!

Nubiana and her daughter Ellie Skees are just such lovin' gals - Nubie looks all puckered up and ready for a big smooch. (A loose translation of besame mucho is generally kiss me lots or kiss me again and again). However "things" may appear one way and turn out to be another. Her lips are swollen from working over the molasses and minerals bucket. The mineral lick is fairly hard stuff and meant for licking not biting- but several of the gals have sore faces. We'll pretend she is smooching up here and Ellie is encouraging a big old kiss for everyone.







The Youtube is a guitar version of the charming song Besame Mucho . Google for Sungha Jung if you are interested in more about this talented young man. He is my new YouTube obsession - it is melodic here on Buhlaland and I'm liking it a lot!

On top o'the world

Our barn cat, Moe, has found a new favorite napping spot - oh I am corrected - Moe feels it is incorrect to call what he does napping. It is actually "casual vigilance" - ok so much for listening to a cat.
Before you dismiss his feat of being casually vigilant on top of a haybale - check out the smaller picture. Moe is a long way off the ground here!

Our temperatures today are reaching almost 80 degrees and we have a slight breeze - yep - just about perfect for casual vigilancing and anything else we can find to do outside. I love Texas - it is warm and I'm trying hard not to be lazy on Buhlaland today !












DH and I have started through the bible again - we read an organized plan through the entire scriptures each year. It may sound to some people like a huge job - going through the scriptures in 365 days (actually we add Sunday readings to Saturday since we go to early church on Sunday). Right now we are in the early chapters of Genesis - where Abraham and Lot left Haran . I was caught by the description of Abraham and Sarai lying about their relationship and being rewarded for this sinful behavior with huge material blessings. What's up with that? DH and I talked about it and my understanding was the Lord gives us examples to show how He loves us -all us lying, prideful humans. I'm sure there are theologians who have other explanations for many rascals being dear to God's heart. In my scripture interpretation it seems God draws to Him people who have messed up because we are so grateful for His mercies. No condemnation to those straight and narrow folks - wish I'd been one. I needed to hear Grace today - I've been quite down on myself for a long while now and needed a clear reminder. God made me, He knows how I'm going to turn out, knows how sorry I am for my sinfulness and loves me right here and right now. Grace is truly amazing .
Whew - from cat pictures to my take on God's grace in a few paragraphs - that's the rabbit trail trekking here on Buhlaland.