Live and Learn - in a good way

A video on youtube is being circulated through emails - while we are cautious about viral videos especially distributed via the internet - well this one seems to check out. I don't believe I have EVER heard the additional verses to our national anthem. The slight mistake made by the gentleman (not the second verse but the fourth verse) doesn't diminish the dignity of his statement. No I'm not starting a political discussion. I will close comments on my blog for a while as a preventative measure because I've seen some of the comments left on other sites by those who don't believe in free speech (well they believe in their rights but don't respect the rights of others). Whoever chooses to read please take time to digest the concepts.

Bless y'all - it is good Buhlaland is in the land of the free and the home of the willing to learn.




O! say can you see by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
’Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation.
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust;”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

No Serious Damage Here

Our biggest damage in recent storms --one of the amaryllis stems blew over. We are beyond grateful to have been safe from severe storms thus far. Praying for those folks afflicted by tornadoes and flooding - life is challenging for all nations this year - good reminder "We are spiritual beings going through a temporary human experience" . Absolutely not trivializing the horror and pain -people are asking for answers to ultimate questions. Believers know the answer but to those who don't believe

"1 Corinthians 2:14 (GOD’S WORD Translation) ¹⁴A person who isn’t spiritual doesn’t accept the teachings of God’s Spirit. He thinks they’re nonsense. He can’t understand them because a person must be spiritual to evaluate them."

I regret this will sound like some sort of special club or code you have to have to grasp the Word - it isn't - it is so clear and straightforward it sounds foolish in humanistic thinking.

Bless those who are helping and those making decisions about assistance. Being prepared is the big issue - no matter what catastrophe might occur.

It is thundering here on Buhlaland but only rain predicted - the land is good with rain. Buhlaland is a good place to contemplate eternity.

Also contemplating why the combination of Google Chrome and Blogger is SO danged difficult to manipulate - but it works about as well as a free browser and website can (I guess)

Brief lifespans

Much has been said and written about the events of 9/11/2001. We see how the world has changed - and not to my eyes for the better - in the 9 years since terrorists attacked our country.
Appears we have very short memories - as a culture we do not learn from history. I cannot find a "middle way" for tolerating those who wish to destroy. We can pray for them to receive salvation, pray for protection from them and pray for leadership who seeks true wisdom not popularity or sound bites.
We all know life is short - for some - cut short by the evil actions of others. Many die young for reasons we cannot see this side of heaven.
Don't waste time being petty, nurturing grudges or imagining slights - forgiveness, grace and love are recurring themes in Christianity - whether they are practiced in an individual's life is their choice.
I had a dragonfly on my hand yesterday - wings sparkling in the sunshine and incredible colors all over. I was able to hold it because the creature was dying
from an injury - no healing could take place - how do you heal an insect? I was able to admire it's beauty, remove it from a tormentor and allow it to die in relative peace. I suppose it's life was short - adult dragonflies only live about a month - but it fulfilled a purpose for which dragonflies exist.
Check your purpose - live a life worthy of your calling.
It is good on Buhlaland - introspective but very good. Bless y'all

Independence Day

Our small town's courthouse square (which is actually a circle) decorated with flags for the holiday weekend.

Happy Independence Day - the quintessential (I love that word) American summer holiday. All about enjoying the warm season, cooking outdoors and remembering how immensely valuable is our unique form of government. Here on Buhlaland it was both a blessed SonDay and July 4th/Independence Day - we celebrated both with worship and relaxing. Hubby and I had a craving for real hot dogs - not the low fat low whatevers we eat most of the time but nice big juicy Hebrew National (we answer to a higher power) franks. In true American style - I made a run to WalMart - golly it was crowded apparently everyone waits until 9:30 in the morning to buy their supplies. Purchased salad makings, hot dogs and buns then hustled home to get pie made.

We had fun getting the grill cleaned up (what happens to that resolution we make each time we buy a nice new grill - "we'll clean it as soon as we take food off it so it'll be ready to use the next time" ? - hmmm), then timing the side dishes to coincide with the perfectly grilled franks and toasted buns (bread kind not burnt backsides!) Not too much extra on the hot dogs - mine was grainy mustard and chopped onions.

For a change I've included real recipes and pictures of the food. We like the cauliflower salad and change it up according to what is in our pantry. Used a shortbread crust for the pie and although it tastes out of this world delicious - didn't give recipe because it absolutely wouldn't release from the pan. Will try making it again and grease the pan - perhaps use a metal pie plate instead of my ceramic one and see if it will release. Picture of pie isn't perfection but taste was astounding! Hope each and every person gave thanks for the blessing of being in a free nation - we can all complain and point out flaws but we still have far more freedom than most people in the world. Please give thanks for those giving their services to keep us free -whether military or civilian service - God Bless them all and God Bless America. It is a time for gratitude on Buhlaland - hope it was for you also. Just realized the irony of juxtaposition of a blog post about eating lots for a holiday and our new widget about world hunger - it isn't right or fair we have so much and they have so little - and doesn't take much to help - click through on the widget and at least donate the cost of a package of hot dogs and buns - at our stores that was over $8 and would really help someone else. Back to our holiday blog post.

Cauliflower Salad

1 medium head of cauliflower - barely cooked (put into boiling water for maybe 4 minutes then removed and either dunk into ice water or spray cold water over it to stop cooking process) Break cauliflower into small florets/pieces.

While cauliflower is chilling make dressing

1/4 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons sugar or two packets splenda if you need to use artificial sweeteners

1/2 teaspoon dried mustard

1/2 teaspoon Morton's Nature's Seasons seasoning blend

Whisk together in a medium sized bowl (you'll add the cauliflower and other vegetables to the dressing so need room to mix it)

3 green onions, chopped finely

1 very finely minced fresh jalapeno pepper or 2 tablespoons sweet green pepper for less heat.

3 or 4 stalks of celery chopped

In the mixing bowl with dressing, add cooled and drained cauliflower, pepper, celery and onions. Stir thoroughly - tastes best if made a little ahead of time and chilled.

Optional changes - add chopped hard boiled eggs. Add a finely chopped can of water chestnuts. Add a small jar of diced pimento. For those with a sweeter preference - add some pickle relish or diced sweet pickles instead of the peppers.

Berry Pie

1 quart fresh strawberries

1/2 pint blueberries

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

3 tablespoons pomegranate liqueur or pomegranate juice

- pour into 1/2 cup measure and then carefully fill rest of the half cup measure with water to get a total of 1/2 cup liquid

1 Baked and cooled 9 inch pie crust

Rinse berries and drain thoroughly. Remove stems and any blemished spots from strawberries. 1/4 of the quart of strawberries should be mashed up in a saucepan with the 3/4 cup granulated sugar. Place the other 3/4 quart strawberries and 1/2 pint blueberries into baked pie crust.

In a small bowl - whisk together cornstarch,1/2 cup liquid - set aside.

Bring the mashed berries and sugar to a boil stirring frequently. When they look a little like cooked up preserves - stir in the liquid and cornstarch. Reduce the heat to a simmer and stir constantly 2-3 minutes until it thickens. Cool mixture for a few minutes and pour over berries in pie crust. Cover and set in refrigerator at least one hour. Serve with sweetened whipping cream or vanilla ice cream.

Tasted great on Buhlaland today and hope it does at your house also. Thank you all for the great suggestions on our trellis issue - still working on exactly how much work and money we are ready to expend but love the ideas!

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.

What you need or what you want?

Picture of poison oak turning fall colors.Has almost nothing to do with today's blog unless you really stretch the idea of beautiful poison. I was reading Max Lucado's website and below I've inserted most of a short message about greed. (Emphasis added by me.)

"In 1900 the average person living in the United States wanted seventy-two different things and considered eighteen of them essential. Today the average person wants five hundred things and considers one hundred of them essential.
Our obsession with stuff carries a hefty price tag. Eighty percent of us battle the pressure of overdue bills. We spend 110 percent of our disposable income trying to manage debt. And who can keep up?" “Be on your guard against every form of greed.”Luke 12:15 NASB

We (here on Buhlaland) want to know the difference between what is OUR will and what is the Lord's will in our lives. We don't believe God wants us to be miserable, He loves us enough to provide a way back to Him. We do believe He wants us to love Him first and others as ourselves. Easy to see how our neighbors waste their money on "stuff" - harder to ferret it out in my spending.(speck in someone else's eye and log in mine issue!) No wise answers from this blogger - but what IS essential to you? Do we really believe there are more than ten times as many essentials in our lives than 100 years ago? It is sufficient on Buhlaland - and that is good especially when we remember to be grateful for sufficiency. It is good we have a Lord who is Jehovah-jireh - God who provides -- maybe not what we think we want but definitely what we need.

Happy and PROUD Independence Day

Flying the flag every day here on Buhlaland, we are proud of the principles upon which country was founded. "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." The Declaration of Independence is a clear and well stated document. We challenge you to locate clarity or logic in anything coming out of Washington (or state capitals) in 2009.

The Creator endowed us with rights - not a government. We heard a recorded sermon given by the late Adrian Rogers reminding Americans what the government gives - it takes from us. Government has nothing to give until it takes it away from it's citizens. Government doesn't give us freedom, justice or safety - it doesn't possess them to give. Tea Parties are being held in hundreds of towns- people gathering to state the obvious - government cannot spend our country into prosperity. Please pray this holiday weekend for elected officials to exercise a sense of responsibility and reasoned action.

Enough of the heavy stuff - here on Buhlaland it is hot - going to be hotter. Watermelon in our fridge and a turkey is defrosting for weekend feasting. Below is a quiz I found online and reproduced here - hope you find it fun, instructional and you can trot out some interesting facts at the family barbecue this weekend! Stay safe - be grateful for our liberties - freedom has never been free - whether for a country or our eternal home-the cost has been blood. We are blessed and grateful here on Buhlaland.

American trivia: How much do you know?

THE DATE
1. Which three presidents died on July 4?
2. Which president laid the cornerstone for the Washington Monument on July 4, 1850?
3. What was the title of the 1969 Broadway musical, written by Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone, that told the story of the founding of the United States?
4. What city in the American South fell to Ulysses S. Grant and Union forces on July 4, 1863, after a short siege?
5. What twin advice columnists were born on July 4, 1918?
6. In one of the wildest baseball games of all time, the New York Mets beat the Atlanta Braves, 16-13, in how many innings on July 4 (and 5), 1985?
THE FLAG
7. When was the Stars and Stripes authorized by Congress as the national flag?
8. The flag has 13 stripes. How many of them are red?
9. Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the Star-Spangled Banner after witnessing what?
10. Where and when was the first 50-star flag flown?
11. On the first U.S. flag, why were the stars displayed in a circle?
12. True or false: When the Pledge of Allegiance was published in 1892, the words "Under God" were not included.
THE PRESIDENTS
13. Which president served the shortest term?
14. Which president, to show his disdain for ceremony, would greet ambassadors in his pajamas?
15. Which president was the first to throw out the season-opening pitch for professional baseball?
16. To whom was the first telephone call made from the White House in 1878?
17. At 5 feet 4, who was the shortest president?
18. Which president's pet parrot had to be ejected from his funeral for screaming obscenities at mourners?
19. Which president had the most children?
20. Eleanor Roosevelt made news in 1939 when she served what dish to visiting King George VI and Queen Elizabeth?
21. Which president, when short of funds, offered White House china as the ante in poker games?
22. Which president's election was marred by charges of electoral vote corruption in Florida and other states after he lost the popular vote to his opponent?
23. Which well-dressed president was rumored to own 80 pairs of pants?
24. Who was the first chief executive to appear on television?
25. Which two presidents were signers of the Declaration of Independence?

Answers
1. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams (1826) and James Monroe (1831)
2. Zachary Taylor. He became ill with cholera that night and died five days later.
3. 1776
4. Vicksburg, Miss. It came a day after the Union victory at Gettysburg, marking a turning point in the Civil War
5. Ann Landers and Abigail Van Buren (real names: Esther "Eppie" Lederer and Pauline Phillips)
6. 19 innings. The game ended at 3:55 a.m., and the Braves then fired off their Independence Day fireworks, leading many local residents to believe the city was under attack.
7. June 14, 1777. This date is observed as Flag Day.
8. Seven.
9. The bombardment of Fort McHenry
10. Philadelphia, 1960
11. So no one state would be above another.
12. True. The phrase was added in 1954.
13. William Henry Harrison, who died of pneumonia shortly after his inauguration. He served only 32 days, from March 4 to April 4, 1841.
14. Thomas Jefferson
15. William Howard Taft, on April 14, 1910, at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C.
16. Alexander Graham Bell (called by President Rutherford Hayes)
17. James Madison
18. Andrew Jackson
19. John Tyler (15)
20. Hot dogs
21. Warren G. Harding
22. Rutherford Hayes, in 1876
23. Chester Arthur (also the first to employ a full-time valet)
24. Franklin Roosevelt (April 30, 1939)
25. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams

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.

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

Veteran's Day

Photo by Michael Maggs, Wikimedia Commons

In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae, May 1915
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep,though poppies grow In Flanders fields.



I live with a Vietnam Vet and my father was in the military during WWII and the Korean Conflict. My cousin is a military chaplain who has done a couple of tours in the Middle East and several other cousins are veterans. Veterans - the people heroic enough to throw up with fear but still do their job to defend freedom. Men and women have certainly served honorably, people who leave their homes and family to do something unimaginable - be called to possibly sacrifice your life for the good of others. The poem about Flanders Field should admonish the leaders of our country and all others.
Thank you to veterans around the world and their families.
This video is God Bless America - but we know brave people all over the world sacrifice for freedom.
Enough from me -

Decorator - I'm not

Dear friends - it is Sunday a good day for cleansing the soul. Deep breath and I begin to confess-----I am a crummy decorator. I furnish a house, stick stuff around and go to the kitchen. I am not a person who thinks textures, palette and styles -- if I like something, can afford it or already have it - I stick it somewhere in my house. A sad thing - a childless older woman without style. BUT I approach home decorating the same way I do art or music - I know what I like when I see or hear it!

The picture above is last years pitiful Christmas card display (actually we had cards stuck in the frames of pictures in our foyer also but I didn't take pictures of 'em). Without my clever and craft skilled mother in law this year to be a driving force in even putting UP a tree or decorations we were considering taking a pass on Christmas decor this year.

Bad idea - just like skipping church (which we are doing today due to contagious type colds) when you do it once it becomes so much easier to keep on with a Scroogish attitude about secular Christmas. We'll never get over the awe and joy of the real reason for Christmas - the incarnation of our Lord and Savior. But all the mess and hoopla - bah humbug.

Ta DA - BooMaMa to the rescue. She is sponsoring her annual bloggy tour of homes. Now I have a deadline to decorate, document and declare Merry Christmas to all! December 15th and the challenge is accepted. At the very least, we will be pushed to get the bath tub out of our living room by then! Oh I found a very classy shot incorporating most of our holiday decorating from last year - woo hoo. Will be trying hard to go bigger and better this year - just a warning not to go away too long or you'll be amazed and stunned at my decoratin' mad skillz. The laughter can now commence!

Thinking holidays here on Buhlaland, missing those loved ones who have gone on to glory, planning to invite some folks over for holiday cheer (y'all want to come?). Elections schmections - we are talking holidays now! Woo Hoo - what's that I hear - one of my favorite holiday songs (not religious at all but expresses my heart for sure!) I'm sure we need a little Christmas in our nation and definitely here on Buhlaland - it is GOOD!

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!

Gall

The rather unsightly growth on the trunk of one of our oaks is called a gall - they are caused by tiny wasps and apparently contain larvae. Ugly things but don't really harm the tree. I think we often use the term "takes a lot of gall" to mean someone who does something really irritating or offensive. I am finding an excess of "gall" and not the nondamaging oak tree kind in blogs this election year. I honestly have a point here --- stay with me for a bit.

Most of you wouldn't notice but I have been deleting a few links on my blogsite. Either the blogs are not active (posting regularly) or they have taken a turn into an area in which I don't have an interest in supporting. Won't be making a big personal deal this political season about where I stand or for whom I'm voting. Here on Buhlaland, we vote pro-life and against excessive involvement of government in the lives of citizens. Scripture is clear we are to give to Caesar what is his (in the specific illustration in Matthew 22:19-21- Jesus was looking at money when he used that phrase - so we pay taxes as our fair share in government) but we are to give to God what is due him ( worship and honor come to mind). I'm trying to be diplomatic (y'all won't encounter diplomacy too often with me!) about saying - please do vote, be informed and prayerful about the elections. Whatever your concerns, don't fear - Jesus repeats that admonition over and over - fear not. We know who is in control whether we understand the outcomes or not. Whew - got that out of my system - tidying up in Buhlaland gets wordy and more grammatically incorrect at times doesn't it? OK - see you again very soon with my normal stream of consciousness postings (hint - bathtub is ordered!)

Moment of reflection ---- and then a big WOO HOOO

A tiny bit sad - our incredible little renovation job (took over 6 months and I don't want to SAY how much money) on the Rock House across the road from us. It is no longer Our little Rock House. For a moment I want to reflect on how much work and detail and charm (and sweat and stepping on a rusty nail and taking antibiotics for 2 weeks and innumerable bites and stings from things dislodged from ancient hiding places) went into the renovation. We bought the little house hoping to make it into an office/guest house/gift shop/terrific thing to own. DH and I put in bead board ceilings - one piece at a time and custom fitting the cedar crown molding. Replaced every window in the building with those cool tilt out energy efficient windows and painted it historically correct red and a creamy almost yellow color. The front half bath was all red (why skimp on a good thing right?) I won't go through the whole 6 months - but we literally rebuilt the building trying to keep a charm of old with high energy efficiency and functionality.
THEN - reality came along and we found we weren't really being good stewards just using it as an office. So we moved our office into part of our workshop here at Buhlaland - and put the Rock House up for sale.

Today was the big day - closed on the property and the young man who bought it is moving in as I type. He and his girlfriend were pretty excited.
A little sadness about no longer owning our completely renovated little house ----
THEN some genuine gladness over the infusion of funds - as in money. First we'll pay ahead for a year for our Compassion sponsored kids then we pay off a little debt and THEN - well I'll do a Scarlett O'Hara on that one - I'll think about that tomorrow.
Just thought I'd share this with my bloggerities. If I don't see you before then - Have a safe and sane Independence Day celebration - ribs, ice cream, salad shared with some of our best friends - cannot get better for a holiday! It is so good on Buhlaland - you never know where the Lord is taking us but we know it is always better than anywhere we could have imagined.

A horse is a horse of course

I'm not a horse person - you know how people say they are cat people or dog people. Well we are aware they are not truly feline or canine homo sapiens so we agree about understanding what they mean. I love the appearance of horses, have ridden a few in my life and certainly appreciate having these magnificent creatures around us every day. The county in which we live is a self proclaimed capital of two things - first it is the peach capital of Texas - now honestly - there is NOT much competition for that title in Texas. We are in an area where peaches will grow but it is no Georgia. We have fun at the Peach Festival each year and occasionally enjoy someone's shared peach bounty.The other capital claim of Parker County is Cutting Horse Capital of the World. I think there are places in Oklahoma which might want to dispute this title but there ya go. Sorry I didn't take along something to clean the plaque which explains the claim - apparently grackles have nested and done what birds do - do. (small potty humor there) You'll probably have to click on the picture of the plaque to read the text. The large bronze which is next to the plaque shows a cutting horse and cowboy doing what they do best - cutting or heading a calf away from the herd. We also have a picture of a mare with her foal next to a local bank. Most colorful picture is a pair of fiberglass horses painted with the designs of an American and Texas flag - technically I think they are quarter horses and not necessarily cutting horses (hindquarters not as heavy) but they are pretty cool. I don't have a good scripture to tag along with this - we know the Lord God created all and when He made horses I think He liked the result a lot. So I'm not back to blogging from my heart - but this is from my area. It is horsey around the country of Buhlaland.

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.

Not exactly barbecued ribs

Tres leches cake is still chilling (not like "chillin" or "chillaxin" simply in a refrigerator for two hours). The side dish honestly turned out better than the entree. We had oven baked chicken strips with a honey mustard sauce - no big whoop. I found a Paula Deen recipe, modified it a bunch and it was yummy. Ingredients are in bold lettering -

Sumer Squash Casserole

Wash and coarsely chop 6 cups of squash (use a mixture of yellow, zucchini and or whatever sumer squash you have available).

Preheat 2 or 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large frying pan. Add the squash and cook - stirring occasionally, until the squash begins to break down or appear very well done - 15 to 20 minutes. Line a colander with a double layer of paper towels - place the cooked squash in the lined colander, squeezing excess moisture from the squash. Set aside.

In the already used frying pan, saute a large coarsely chopped onion in about 3 or 4 tablespoons butter. Cook onion until transparent and beginnng to brown slightly.

Have ready 1/2 cup sour cream, 1 cup of grated cheddar cheese, a sprinkle of ground black pepper, salt and a dash of garlic powder. Add one small can diced green chilis and a small jar of diced pimento which has been drained. Mix all the ingredients together and put into a 2 qt. casserole dish, top with one cup of crushed cheddar crackers (I used the new Ritz toasted cheddar crackers). Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350.

I'll be back with the cake later tonight or more likely tomorrow. The weather was hot and humid and the flags were flying all over town near Buhlaland.

God Bless Y'all Thank a veteran or the family of a fallen soldier for your freedom - cliche phrase but true - freedom is NOT free.

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.