Memorial Day 2011

Beautiful skies over Buhlaland this morning - a bird soaring in the wind. We are grateful for the sacrifice of those who serve and served our country in the military and the ministry.

Skies can be cloudy, windy - almost stormy but bring beautiful days

"Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow,

for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own."

~ Matthew 6:34 ~

We frequently think of and quote this scripture from Matthew - not as a "oh woe is me" but a "praise our gracious Father God - today is all we know and can handle". We do know the One who knows tomorrow, gives us the strength one day at a time. Still rough going in our lives, health is a precious commodity - healthy body, mind and spirit - the trifecta of life.

He Is Risen

He is Risen Indeed - alleluia and amen! Life is good on Buhlaland - and it is well with our souls. Bless y'all

Blue Skies

Last morning of August - picture taken looking north and slightly west from our front drive. Summer has been and soon gone - I don't think I'll feel much regret for this summer. Our major renovation (begun before DH became ill) has turned into a major test of endurance. Combined with our recordbreaking heat in August - well I'm saying adios with no regrets. Just back from getting our flu shots - already available at Walgreen's vaccination clinics. Hoping and planning to have house back in some kind of order before Thanksgiving - would LOVE for this Thanksgiving to be filled with loved ones, family and relaxation. Goats are getting too big to have so many in our little pastures - time to think of who is to be sold. Our dear old Crybaby is showing signs of her age so won't put any stresses on her if possible.

Thinking about friends not seen in years - wonderful gift of the internet is I heard from a dear young woman who worked with me in 2001 - in fact we were at the store together when the planes crashed into the Trade Center. She emailed me last night and we caught up a little on what's happening in our lives. You know - I found my husband on the internet through a personals ad! Proof again the Lord can use anything to His will!

No big news - and that is a good thing on Buhlaland!

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!

How do I pronounce clematis?

The correct pronunciation is CLEM-uh-tis.

Of course I live in Texas and have always called these prolific blooming vines clem-AT-is. Pronounciation might be like tomato or toe-mah-toh, depends on your upbringing. No matter how you pronounce the flower's name, they are lovely, easy to grow and this time of the year a blast of color in our garden. Loving my CLEM-uh-tis (or purple blooming viney thangs) here on Buhlaland.

Matthew 6:28-30 (New Living Translation)
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
In these difficult times, with so much pulling at us from the world,if you find yourself a little short of faith - look skyward early in the mornings and see the beauty freely given for all to enjoy. Feeling grateful and a tad cornball around Buhlaland!

Changes are coming

Dear visitors, friends and readers of any description - I'm changing up the style of my blog as far as layout and colors etc. I'm not happy with it at this very moment but I've run out of time. Please feel free to comment on whatcha like or don't like - the banner picture was this morning from our front pasture - I love it but you say what you think.

Little picture contained in this post is evening light coming through the small stand of live oaks just west of our house - I do love springtime! OK this weekend will be a recipe or two and something else which I have yet to decide upon - whew. Time to get my tail feathers moving here in Buhlaland.

Looking up

Lord has been providing more beautiful skies recently . I think that is correct but it is possible having a new camera has made me more aware. I enjoy taking twenty or more pictures and picking through them for something appealing. The cloud formation with a rapidly approaching sunset made for dramatic colors and effects. I chose the picture with more color and less of the dark, smoke effect because I get a sense of sadness from the darker ones - as if the darkness is overtaking the light. I know that isn't true - where there is any light at all it dispels darkness.

Without going off the deep end here about darkness, light and all the symbolism inherent - I tend to choose light, colors, breezes, clothes, touches, humor, hair and definitely- Jesus - the Light of the World.

DH asked me how to spell maranatha - while making sure my brain hadn't misplaced that spelling- I found out the Aramaic phrase that results in Maranatha is used in the New Testament one time. We've read and been taught in scripture, repeating an idea gives it greater importance. Obviously once was enough for making an impact with that word - come, Lord. We talked at one time about naming our place Maranatha but I'm glad we didn't - Buhlaland suits us better (and mind you - DH doesn't call it that) and I don't like to trivialize the most important moment in human history (or future story if it doesn't happen before I get this posted).

I promise - I'll do some pictures and stories and recipes about flowers and food and birds and bees or something - I had to get this one out of my system. We're all about keeping systems cleared here on Buhlaland. Come, Lord - today would be good.

Dawn's COLD and early light

I love the very early hours around here - Buhlaland is beautiful but especially just as the world is waking up. With new camera - I'm trying to be more artsy and not sure this will show well on computer screens - but the icy fence and pale dawn light caught my eye when I was downloading and I hope it shows up for you (all my ones of readers).

Where do these colors come from?

Interesting to me about the pink tinge in the clouds. So pretty this morning while we did our walk - the one shot looks almost like a pink rainbow in those cold blue grey clouds. Wasn't as cold as we thought it would be - but it was pretty over Buhlaland.

Ever think they are circling?

Vulture floating on thermal above our house - Hmmm - I guess I need to be a lot more active? Even vultures have their role, cartoons portray them so dumb - but they are the clean up crew of nature. Wish they did windows? Just a thought

Moonshine - OH not that kind!

We walk early in the morning,a repetitious statement from me but here's proof it is the truth. We've had the brightest full moons lately,this morning I remembered to take a camera along to get a picture with enough contrast. The one with road showing - also shows my beloved DH - all bundled up in vest and stocking cap. Neither of us like cold weather and we are determined to be more fit. DH and I dress with layers upon layers to trudge our way up and down the drive.

Second image was actually the first picture taken while the sky still quite dark and our eyes could see the range of colors. Harder to catch the colors or even the moonshine on our older model digital Kodak .It is beautiful, eerie and makes our goats restless when we have so much light at night. Moonshine mornings are a hoot! (In fact we have a large owl living in one of the dead trees west of the goat pens - hooo Hoot!)Life is changing with the seasons here in Buhlaland.

New faces,Familiar Faces - same places

DH has a son, daughter in law and grandson who are here on Buhlaland for a first ever visit. Grandson is a smart and often funny fellow who really likes Rocky the goat - Rockster is pretty crazy about the boy also. While we went for a walk (sometimes DH and grandson were running but I'm too dignified for that - actually -I value my joints too much to do that to them!) this morning GS talked about the goats and what were they doing and where were they going? We opened the gates to back pasture (trusting that drier weather would cut back on the need for isolating pastures for parasite control) and GS wanted a pic with Rocky - our very small and so far nonfunctioning buck! Rocky has developed a semi-mohawk - what style the little fellow has! OK - that is the kid and kids report.

Next picture is Hannah ( mother of Montana) literally chest deep in grass. What a difference a year of rain makes in the pastures! Hannah was quite ill for a while there - same problem that took her twin Bananna - but this time it turned out better - Hannah is regaining weight, her nose is no longer a whiter shade of pale and she is able to butt heads with the rest of the gals. With a firm belief in the totally subjective theory you cannot publish too many beautiful sunrises - Ta Da - First sunrise of October - life is good on Buhlaland. Y'all come back now.

Picking up a theme this week?

John 8:12 (New Living Translation) Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Nothing to add - it is well with my soul and it is good on Buhlaland. Thank you