You May have to kiss a lot of toads

To find your prince - at least that may be one story in tiny pond outside breakfast nook windows. Had big plans about changing up pond - adding trickling water rocks and generally spiffing it up. Somehow the costs in energy and finances of dealing with DH's recent health kick in the pants (aka stroke) has ended up with an amusement park for toads and frogs. Only the smoother skinned pointed snout one is a frog - all others are toads.

We got a real laugh from the morning line up (the toads get in water to eat whatever they find and rehydrate) to exit pond. Larger toad appears to be practicing for some serious rockclimbing.

Doesn't take much to amuse us here on Buhlaland - and that is good - with weather guessers doing a countdown on number of 10o F days in a row - we are grateful for inexpensive amusement close to the air conditioned ceiling fanned house!

What do you mean Dirty Face?

Lucky girl is showing the same signs of poor hygiene most of our goat herd has this week. Put out a new molasses/protein bucket to supplement hay we are feeding them (results of not getting rid of baby goats when they are first ready to wean - you end up with too many animals for your available browse and pasture!). Lucky is a sweet creature - she was a bottle raised kid and even now thinks she has a special claim on me when I'm in the pens. I haven't had enough nerve to try the molasses lick - it must taste wonderful gud (been reading Amish background fiction!)because they will stand there for long periods of time working it with their tongues and mouths.

Possible rain in next couple of days - oddly - Texas is still in a drought when so many states are literally too soaked to take in any more moisture. We continue to pray for peace in Jerusalem, healing for our land and it's people and oh yeah - for things to continue to be good on Buhlaland. In a bit of a drought here health wise and it is hard at times to keep perspective.

2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

I don't tend to like smaller light voices in any kind of music - but the words of this song pretty much encapsulates much of my heart.

Job 2:9b "Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?”

Still good on Buhlaland,we are grateful for each blessing.

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!

Mysterious Anonymous and Generous

Actually I know exactly which wonderful generous friend sent pictured bouquet for my birthday. I didn't have a picture appropriate for this blog post and thought I'd share my purdy posies and purple pot with you!

If you are reading this and are the M.A.G. person mentioned in blog post title - THANK YOU so much. What an encouragement (and a little embarrassment 'cause I can't thank you personally) it is for DH and me to receive b'day greetings with a generous cash gift. I mean really - we both got envelopes with our address typed on and no return address. Only hint was on my envelope it had a Midland Texas postmark. I don't THINK it is my beloved brother and his family sending the gifts but if it is - wow - y'all are too generous.

The humility of receiving a gift from someone who chooses not to let us know their identity is inspiring. Thank you isn't quite enough - the current crop of life challenges made these gifts and cards more than welcome.

It is a magical (not in a black arts way - don't git yer evangelical drawers in a uproar y'all) and mysterious (not in an ominous or disturbing way) and generous (in the very nicest way) and very good for the soul here on Buhlaland - hope you have a pleasant surprise soon and see how cool it is! (Yes I'm old - I say things are "cool" just cannot get into saying something is "sick" to mean it is wonderful!)

Good to have a Friend

I've been a little tired - for what seems a long while but tired distorts my sense of time and probably proportion. This morning -this glorious summery SonDay morning - the gifts of rest, restoration and worship are mine to enjoy. While shooting a picture directly at a light source isn't "right" - I loved the effect of pure light breaking through. The light breaks through both visually and emotionally - and yes spiritually. I do have a friend - who will be with me to the end. Life is blessed on Buhlaland with productive work, times of tiredness leading to surrendering to rest. Bless y'all - sit a while and think of how the light reaches you. It is good on Buhlaland - and restful

Facing Tomorrow

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

It is very good on Buhlaland - a little rain forecast and lots of weeding, egg gathering, home renovation, doctor appointments and prayer to do!

Visitors

I've had a dickens of a time trying to get a post up - blogger doesn't like my spacing and I certainly haven't appreciated blogger's choice of spacing. I may just slam this up and say good enough - although good enough rarely really is - either good or enough.

So often here on Buhlaland we show you our goats or dogs or flowers and wanted to share some of our frequent visitors. . Fox, rabbits, deer (very pregnant deer), Senor BlueJay (a loud fellow - always screeching) and a bird we've tenatively identified as a Phoebe. We're calling the Phoebes The FranticFamily - nesting in cover tractor parking next to the workshop/barn and they have a total hissy fit whenever we walk by . Large and beautiful moth was on our back porch one evening and yep - a pesky fluffy tailed rat - also known as a squirrel.
Day to day for us is a little like living in a pinball machine - bouncing off some high point barriers but also going in the gutter with no points for some actions. Learning that when I am waiting for a big change I'm not always productive. Learning to look for little things - the daily indicators of walking as instructed in Isaiah 30:21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."
Listen for the Whisper, that's the lesson right now - no burning bush or earthquake (I hope) but a whisper


1 Kings 19: 11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Good for Buhlaland to have this place to stand on and listen for the whisper. Y'all come back and maybe blogger will allow a better layout to my posts!

The New Girl

My mama's name is Lucky my big sis is Lucy and these humans haven't decided on my name - but I can tell you I have an opinion about the taste of this hay - yuck! I'll take what mama offers for a while.
The second picture is me - being charming - it works 'cause the humans pick you up and snuggle you under their warm coats!
Yep - we now have 4 healthy beautiful little doelings on Buhlaland and that is VERY good.

I know Who holds my hand

Cold clear skies over Texas this morning. In our devotional readings this quote from an old hymn

Many things about tomorrow
I don’t seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know who holds my hand. —Stanphill
- we both like the hymn and I included the quote in my exercise blog entry. Then out in bitterly cold (for Texas) weather to tend to animals -plenty of water available in trough and for chickens. When I returned to the house - DH was on phone with our neighbor who is without electricity - no water because no pump - no heat to keep water from freezing up. We found out the whole area has an outage (at least everyone on the major utility company). Our property is serviced by a local utility - a little more expensive but proves to be a good choice. DH is having a hard week with his breathing and on oxygen much of the day. After the phone calls and checking on other neighbors we looked at one another. Continually gobsmacked with Jehovah Jireh - the one who provides. Through absolutely NO work of our hands we have a warm house, hot coffee and oxygen machine running smoothly. I know most of the world thinks this is "luck" or "just how things go" but for the residents of Buhlaland - it is GOOD we know Who holds tomorrow.
We truly pray if you - dear reader - do not have that security - please go to here or here .

It is incredibly, mindblowingly good on Buhlaland and we give all credit where it belongs.

True Luv

~ The look of love is on your face ~

Norman knows how to melt my heart - her look of devotion and LUV always gets me. She is a sweet natured goat,an excellent mother in fact all around good companion. When I'm in real need of a sympathetic ear - she is my "go to" pal. Putting my arms around her sturdy body eases any heartache. I'm realistic enough to know her stunt of putting her head through the gate wires and ogling me may be love and it may be "that woman has access to our treats bucket".

Lots of blogs talking about the cold wave in USA (and Northern Europe) this week. The picture from my last post where Moe the Mighty is lying in sunshine on top of a round bale was taken this week last year. What a change in conditions!

We are safe and warm in our little farm house on Buhlaland. Our lives rock along, I still have a tremendous mess of Christmas decor to pack away (I need to remember this next year --simplify simplify!) Goats are quite safe in their south facing enclosure - large hay bale inside the shelter muscled into place by DH.

We have an electric float in the trough so water stays clear of ice. The goldfish would survive the ice but all life needs a source of water - birds and deer come by - often we see tracks of raccoons, armadillos and rabbits. The fish have a hollow half cement block so they can avoid unwanted attention (blue herons, pushy cats and raccoons with big appetites!).

We enjoy having time to care for our animals, each other, and friends or visitors who come to Buhlaland. A big part of our caring is prayer for people in our community as well as many thousands of miles away. In humble faith we are working through this world to send out actions which might result in pleasant chords in eternity -
"Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity."
E. H. Chapin

Life is a bit chilled outdoors but it is always good on Buhlaland.
Don't settle - prepare for a feast
"The Bible says that, “He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus” (2 Corinthians 4:14). Our future is filled with optimism and hope because we know that someday we will be like Him. We cannot lose heart and settle for a bag-lunch life when a heavenly feast beyond all imagination awaits us!" David Jeremiah

Peace to You

Galatians 5: 22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other



Peace is a topic I'm thinking about a lot lately - working on staying in the Spirit and not so much in the flesh. Even though we were supposed to have a hard frost last night - these Peace roses are still blooming this morning in our side garden. Although it isn't the hardiest or loveliest rose plant - I love the Peace rose. It's name evokes the calm a garden can bring. Fruit of the garden is like the fruit of the spirit - it must be cultivated, tended daily and kept with an eye on the future.
Life on Buhlaland is moving along - we are learning a new "normal" with occasional reminders our lives will never be the same as before. Before what? well in this statement I was referring to a serious health issue facing my husband but it can also be viewed in a spiritual way - our lives have never been the same as before we received salvation. It is very good on Buhlaland to stop and smell the Peace roses and appreciate the beauty of our created world -in constant awareness of the Creator.

Hope to post more often - hard as it is to believe - I've run out of words! Keep the peace rose in your hearts this holiday season - don't be frazzled and unhappy because you aren't Martha Stewart (remember she has a STAFF who actually do all that gardening and laundry!) be grateful for the people in your life - Bless y'all - it is good and rosey here on Buhlaland.

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.

Playing Catch up!

No bright ideas about what to say - here we go with a list of what the pictures are.
Camouflaged bird is a real roadrunner (they don't say beep beep) - actually are fast runners, good at killing snakes and lizards.









The representation-in-fruit-of-a-flag cake is the dessert we took to BFF's for Independence Day meal and fireworks fun. It was actually a WW recipe so quite legal for our weight loss plan.

The courthouse in our little town likes for people to notice national patriotic holidays - there are flags all around the town square and the courthouse grounds.

Tincan Garden - lots of green - not many vegetables. VERY hot weather.

Chickens getting big - eating a LOT no eggs yet.

Been bizzy as a bee with not so much to show as accomplishments - it is good and hot on Buhlaland and we are grateful for chickens, gardens, bees and air conditioning!

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

A bit of a croc(k)

Here's looking at YOU - kid - ala Bogart and Bacall the big time stars or in this case - Ellie and Hannah the goats

Nest is of unknown bird type - tiny little eggs in the ceiling joist of the fiberglass "mama and baby" shelter in our goat pen. Notice the lovely goat hair woven in for warmth and softness!

Haven't been blogging - I'd give lots of excuses but I usually tell the truth - been doing some real work around Buhlaland and lots of running around to stores (Lowes, Depot, Costco - source of my delightful crocky shoes and Wally World) . Even took pictures of food I was preparing for Sunday - and it didn't turn out all that yummy so why blog about it?

Ok Ok - so have also been playing with dogs, chickens, goats and making do without hot water.

Water heater began to leak (thank you - who ever did it - for the invention of drain pipes - very useful) so we ended up almost 5 days without hot water in the house. Blessed by having a small water heater in workshop bathroom so we trekked back and forth like we were at church camp! you know - without the meetings, crafts and some of the annoying songs.

Now we have hot water, addition is finished on the outside and tomorrow we drywall (I am using the royal we and no Prince William isn't coming to help DH). It is warm, we've had rain and are so blessed here on Buhlaland - we can take hot showers and wash dishes. Woo Hoo - it doesn't sound like much until you can't so easily.

I'm listening to Chris Tomlin's recording of Amazing Grace/My Chains are Gone - can't put it here due to limitation at YouTube but here's the link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghZfnQxUhzQ

It is good on Buhlaland and grace is abundant!

Grateful for the everday and the eternal

Our life here on Buhlaland is rarely high excitement. Our days are a steady pace of working, resting, enjoying what is given us to maintain or improve and anticipating our eternal work. We appreciate small joys like this week's appearance of hosta shoots in the garden, the sweet care of young does for their first babies, the palette of colors on trunks of oak trees or golden light of a new day - we are grateful for our everyday life.

Today's devotional from Back to the Bible was needed by my heart so I trust someone else will be blessed by it also. On the right side a picture shows some of our does waiting expectantly for a good treat. They trust us to treat them well, do what is best for them and look out for their well being.

Do we accept gratefully the blessings of hot water, friendships or first shoots of spring growth? How about accepting disease, pain, or separation from those we love? Our Heavenly Father does know what is eternally good whether our earthsuit perspective can see the good. Do we live trusting Our Father; following the excellent guidance from Paul to the church at Thessalonica to "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ?

I am well aware of falling short of Paul's standard for how we are to live, but without a guidepost how do we know which way to walk?

It is good on Buhlaland- a little overcast and chilly but that too is good.

What follows are the words of Elisabeth Elliot:

Sometimes when I was a child my mother or father would say, "Shut your eyes and hold out your hand." That was the promise of some lovely surprise. I trusted them, so I shut my eyes instantly and held out my hand. Whatever they were going to give me I was ready to take. So it should be in our trust of our heavenly Father. Faith is the willingness to receive whatever He wants to give, or the willingness not to have what He does not want to give.
I am content to be and have what in Thy heart I am meant to be and have. --(George MacDonald, Diary of an Old Soul)
From the greatest of all gifts, salvation in Christ, to the material blessings of any ordinary day (hot water, a pair of legs that work, a cup of coffee, a job to do and strength to do it), every good gift comes down from the Father of Lights. Every one of them is to be received gladly and, like gifts people give us, with thanks.
Sometimes we want things we were not meant to have. Because He loves us, the Father says no. Faith trusts that no. Faith is willing not to have what God is not willing to give. Furthermore, faith does not insist upon an explanation. It is enough to know his promise to give what is good--He knows so much more about that than we do.

(Content from All That Was Ever Ours, Keep a Quiet Heart and Love Has a Price Tag by Elisabeth Elliot)