Valleys, Deserts, Mountaintops - not a travelogue

Began this post rather a long while ago - love the music and it's message. We've been in more than a few valleys of late - hoping to post in next week about a mountain top (or two). Skip continues to work hard against deterioration of breathing - and just plain work hard! Things are happening according to a schedule NOT of our making - we can see the Lord's hand in it all - might not like every bit of it - but know that He is God and we're not - and y'all should be tickled that's how it is! Will be back - soon I hope.

January ending

Still not in the blog mood - here is a picture of DH working on a temporary fence in our new home. We may have a buyer for the other place - will know more in about 20 days if the financing and all is going to work out. Don't believe the hogwash about things are getting better in this country --financing, foreclosures, joblessness or downsized to lower paying jobs - we simply are becoming desensitized to the lowering of our economic standards. Please think seriously when you are deciding who to vote for this year.

I've been dealing with an odd assortment of minor health issues - been told by more than one person they think it is "stress" - well DUH - but I know they mean well.

Scripture as usual provided me with a much needed sense of direction -

^{Isaiah 43:16} The Lord is making roads through the sea. He is making a path for his people, even through rough waters. The LORD says, ¹⁷ “Those who fight against me with their chariots, horses, and armies will be defeated. They will never rise again. They will be destroyed. They will be put out like the flame in a lamp. ¹⁸ So don’t remember what happened in earlier times. Don’t think about what happened a long time ago, ¹⁹ because I am doing something new! Now you will grow like a new plant. Surely you know this is true. I will even make a road in the desert, and rivers will flow through that dry land. ²⁰ The wild animals will thank me. The large animals and birds will honor me when I put water in the desert and make rivers flow through that dry land. I will do this to give water to my chosen people. ²¹ I made them, and they will sing songs of praise to me"

OK to me this said - don't keep looking over your shoulder at what has been - look ahead to what God is doing and will do with my life - when I give up trying to direct my own steps.

We are blessed - our mini version of Buhlaland is feeling more like home (no goats yet but I'm working on getting some fence done!). Thank you for stopping by - someday I'll have real news or get back in the bloggity groove. Bless y'all - February is upon us! Plenty of important events in February and here is a hint about at least one!

Doing the garden, digging the weeds,
Who could ask for more?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?

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)

I Have Changed a Little Bit

Stiff whitehaired woman trying to suck in stomach - that was me about two years ago. Smiling woman with rose in her hand and wearing apricot top - that was me June of 2010.


















After a few more photographs from graduations last summer - I realized - doggone - I really am fat. Being overweight had become a normal status for me, my self deceptive thinking was" after all I'm only X pounds more than last month, season, year". I began having pain in my knees and feet. Must be something wrong with my shoes right?
One more picture and one more step on the scales and the realization hit me in the face like a coconut cream pie - gotta do something about this weight. I began a restrictive (really really) diet program and was encouraged every day by my sweet husband. Weight came off - I felt a little like I was cheating somehow - it was too simple ( not easy just simple) to weigh less. Woo hoo I have days with no leg pain, my blue jeans started bagging down. In case you are now wondering what the blazes is she telling the internet about all this when she usually has cute goat pictures and scriptures? Just thought I'd reveal a little of this to y'all - not all the emotional junk which goes along with being obese (trust me - every medical indicator was obese - not just chubby!). I have a ways to go before I'm at a healthy BMI. I'm still working on living like a healthy person -balancing exercise, portion control and having fun. I like it though - I honestly like feeling I can be active. My clothes are two sizes smaller (only the jeans - had to buy more jeans because a person behind me was getting nearly a full moon when I'd bend over in baggy ones!). More to lose but I'm enjoying this - life isn't as saturated, hydrogenated, seamstraining fatipated here on Buhlaland and that is good.

Complaint Department

If you have goats (or children or dogs or trained monkeys) you hear complaints - from the incessant bleating I hear from these goats to whining from the dogs and I assume chattering and words from monkey and children. I saw books about how to complain effectively while I was book browsing on Amazon.com. There are Complaint Blogs, Complaint departments, and television is full of people's courts (what a ridiculous name) with people complaining about other people.

Dadgum folks - while I laugh at the goats grumbling - the country seems overrun with an entitlement attitude of "I ain't getting what I want and everyone has to hear about it". While scriptures tell us exactly how to resolve issues in the Body of Christ - how do we resolve things in the secular world? Does complaining help or do we have to take action? Seems a lot of words flying around now about how much damage is done by words - sticks and bones may break my bones - and words can absolutely strangle me. (Paraphrase by Linda Sue) A greater tone of civility wouldn't hurt anybody - no group should be screaming hateful phrases at any other group. While I'm totally unwilling to accept societal guilt for the actions of mentally ill people - any words I repeat or support are on my ledger sheet. Old slogan - we have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we talk. Perhaps with all the "communication" which is supposedly taking place (text, twitter, facebook, blog, forum or bulletin boards) much of it is akin to graffiti - marking up something for our selfish motives. Obviously this isn't my cutesy Buhlaland blogging - I'm concerned our society has gotten so far off the rails of common sense, decency and respect for one another we won't find our way back.

14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (New Living Translation)
You think that's too simplistic? Is the world stronger in it's pull toward violence, vile language and discord than the Word is toward a peaceful path.

“Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble.” I Peter 3:8, The Message
It is better to be humbly grateful than grumbly hateful.

Chuck Swindoll , pastor and author

Ok if you don't want to take scriptural advice - how about sports advice?

There is a choice you have to make in everything you do. So keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make, makes you.
John Wooden

Seems too many choices are being made by polling, peer pressure or herd mentality - stop think and remember a word spoken cannot be taken back - but words unspoken can do no harm and no foul. That's the way I'm seeing it here on Buhlaland - it is good to be in a department other than the complaint department -

How about joining in the refreshments committee- refresh the air with gentle words and the stomachs with some treats - I promise some treat ideas soon.

Blessed are those who are caregivers

Prayer at caregiver's convention just received this link in an email from my dear SIL and brother - they were caregivers for so many of our family it is hard to keep track. Needless to say - they respected and loved the older generation and eased their transition in the final journey home.
It is a long clip - well worth the time but if you are in a hurry - here is the prayer recited at the end of wonderful introduction.
Blessed In Aging
~Esther Mary Walker
Blessed are they who understand
My faltering step and shaking hand
Blessed, who know my ears today
Must strain to hear the things they say.
Blessed are those who seem to know
My eyes are dim and my mind is slow
Blessed are those who look away
When I spilled tea that weary day.
Blessed are they who, with cheery smile
Stopped to chat for a little while
Blessed are they who know the way
To bring back memories of yesterday.
Blessed are those who never say
“You’ve told that story twice today”
Blessed are they who make it known
That I am loved, respected and not alone.
And blessed are they who will ease the days
Of my journey home, in loving ways.
This poem, as read by Mary Maxwell in the video
“A Reminder That Laughter is the Best Medicine.”
I agree with Mary Maxwell - this is the first time I've been old and haven't had a chance to practice, but if I can handle it with the grace and humor she presents - shouldn't be too bad to venture into uncharted territory.

Remember - if you are young and blessed - some day you TOO will be old. We're smiling here on Buhlaland and that is always good.

Change - Not on list of Favorite Things

Throwing up a post on newly redesigned (completely unintentionally I assure you!) blog site. Dadgum -- only wanted to see what might be available - not switch up the whole thing - but once again - Blogger Bites! ::sighing:::
Whew - got that off my list of "rants I would like to make". Seem to have far too many lists of wants, whines, gripes, petty pickiness about situations,people and broken dishwashers! Picture is holiday decorating here on Buhlaland - yep - quite indecisive about decorating - hanging holly is totally out of the question. Whether to put up stockings which we won't fill or wreath (needs new fake birds) remains to be decided. Working on faking myself into it all - old saying "Fake It 'til ya make it" hasn't worked yet.


Lyrics are:

Haul out the holly;
Put up the tree before my spirit falls again.
Fill up the stocking,
I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now.
For we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute,
Candles in the window,
Carols at the spinet.
Yes, we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute.
It hasn't snowed a single flurry,
But Santa, dear, we're in a hurry;
So climb down the chimney;
Put up the brightest string of lights I've ever seen.
Slice up the fruitcake;
It's time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough.
For I've grown a little leaner,
Grown a little colder,
Grown a little sadder,
Grown a little older,
And I need a little angel
Sitting on my shoulder,
Need a little Christmas now.
Haul out the holly;
Fill up the stocking,
But we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute,
Candles in the window,
Carols at the spinet.
Yes, we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute.
It hasn't snowed a single flurry,
But Santa, dear, we're in a hurry;
So climb down the chimney;
Put up the brightest string of lights I've ever seen.
Slice up the fruitcake;
It's time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough.
For we need a little music,
Need a little laughter,
Need a little singing
Ringing through the rafter,
And we need a little snappy
"Happy ever after,"
Need a little Christmas now.
Need a little Christmas now.


Oh crud - Christmas isn't about ME?! Recognized a tendency to use capital I far too much lately - decorations schmeckorations . Christmas isn't holly(or fruitcake thank goodness) is it? -
“God showed how much he loved us by sending his only son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (John 4:9-10 NLT)

It is very good on Buhlaland - once we get our I's straighted out - bless y'all

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

Perspective - or depends on how ya look at it!

NOTE - sorry for the odd spacing - good old Blogger was not cooperative today.


Looking down on this luscious three layer coconut cake - you see such pretty primary color decorations. No particular significance to it - just yumo cake.















The other side is a dead giveaway - yep - it was a birthday cake. A Buhlaland - three layer buttery fluffy birthday cake. Was it for DH? Nope - his birthday is in January. Was the cake for a visitor? No - a permanent resident.


Hmm just who was the recipient of a cake of birthday celebration?


The chubby little blonde being held still by the best big brother in the world. Yep - it was my birthday last week. The "baby" picture was when I was one - 61 years ago. So we celebrated the anniversary of my birth by being taken out to a fabulous dinner and ice cream evening by our dear friends, The Harper family.





I like my own cakes, I baked one and shared it with our other dear friend - Carrie. She came out on Saturday unaware it was the post birthday date. We enjoyed mexican food she brought and lots of cake. We saved a slice for you! It is good to share cake on Buhlaland and it was a good birthday!

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.

Ordinary Life

Sometimes it is easy to twist our heads around and get a totally wrong view of a situation. Here is dear old Nubiana trying to convince me she needs more grain to get her day moving smoothly. Nubie is twisting her head around convinced that she'll see a hand or bucket from which grain will appear. Recently I know I work at keeping my view of our world on the level by doing the ordinary bits of life put in front of me. Despite the potential of bad - I know there is always good within reach. " My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."2 Corinthians 12:9

Not huge on quoting sources other than scripture but I find these lines from Oswald Chambers'

My Utmost for His Highest deeply comforting.

“We look for visions from heaven, for earthquakes and thunders of God’s power . . . and we never dream that all the time God is in the commonplace things and people around us. If we will do the duty that lies nearest, we shall see Him.”
“When the Spirit of God comes, He does not give us visions, He tells us to do the most ordinary things conceivable . . .whenever God comes, the inspiration is to do the most natural, simple things—the things we would never have imagined God was in, and as we do them we find He is there.”

It is easy to get caught up in the BIG picture and forget - God knows where we are here on Buhlaland and He is within prayershot all the time. It is good - and yes Nubie got some grain - how could we refuse a face like that? Here on Buhlaland it is good to be a goat and even better to be a sheep of the Great Shepherd.

Ain't Big Enuf for Both Us!

Showdown time in the Coop Mahal - Buhlaland style western movie!

We are easily amused here - and grateful for the bounty of lovely brown eggs the Cluckers are providing -we do wish the silly boids would learn to use one of the other boxes - there are three which is more than enough for 8 cluckers.

Ah - always the same - bird or human - what someone else has looks so much more attractive or tasty or comfortable than our own portion no matter how generous or small our portion might be.

James 4 (New International Version)
Submit Yourselves to God

1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

So whether a Clucker or a Texan or anything in between - we need to spend our energy on things other than quarreling and fighting. We should be enjoying our nest boxes and eggs and the love of our Lord. It is good and well blessed here on Buhlaland - hope it is for you also.

New Link - try it!

April Wilhite who is a dear friend of ours just opened the website to her business. It is a wonderful example of someone who took their love of "pretty pictures" to a whole different level. April's portraits tell stories, show a moment in time focused on a person. You can tell I like her pictures and love her. Jump over and look around - if you are in the North Texas area and want a special photograph - contact her. I'm waiting to lose this miserable weight (she may retire before I get that accomplished!) but we'll ask her to do our portrait - maybe for Christmas or January 1, 2010 is our 10th anniversary - that would be a perfect gift for my DH! He doesn't read my blog - ever - so it'll be a secret?! It is exciting on Buhlaland when someone we love begins a new adventure.

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)

Simplifying - why is it complicated?

This morning's devotional from David Jeremiah was a great reminder of a goal I have - to simplify my life - getting more stuff does not make life simpler.
You cannot serve both God and Money.Matthew 6:24 (NIV)
A Quaker watched as his new, wealthy neighbor unpacked truckloads of furniture, clothing, and decorative items. He then went to greet the man and said to him, “Neighbor, if thee hath need of anything, please come to see me and I will tell thee how to get along without it.”

I am going to print this off and post it on my prayer board. It will help when I get internet offers of things to make my life better, faster, slimmer, healthier, smell minty fresh or give me lower electric bills and the ability to impress people everywhere.

Yeah right - money is a tool not a master. I tend to obscure that thought when a new shiny sparkly framus dingus shows its costly head around Buhlaland. Just walk on by - my new shopping theme song?

Playing with the camera

I was messing around with my camera and decided to see if I could take a picture through a different lens - as in the lens of one of the kaleidoscopes we put out for the holidays. All I did was put the camera smack up against the eyepiece of the kaleidoscope and point the 'scope toward a bright window. Isn't this pretty? Nothing deep here - just playing and thinking it was fun. Not everything is a big deal - but it was definitely a good day on Buhlaland - a very good day.

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!)

You think I just sit around and stare at the sky - well I'm not sitting when I do it!

Still working on getting the bazillion bytes of boring (oops I MEANT TO SAY fascinating) pictures off my c drive and onto either cd's or (thank you Lacy you are the smartest girl!) an external hard drive. Been interrupted by all manner of trivial tasks - answering the phone for our real estate business, making meals, cleaning our house and oh yes about eleventy seven loads of laundry. SO for a peacefulpostful I'm putting up some pictures of clouds - pictures taken by Linda Sue - creations by The Lord God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth. (can I hear an Amen?)


Cloud types
can be majestic, awe inspiring mountains of water vapor gone volcanic

or beautiful skyscapes of different shapes and textures

or two angry little sky mutts scrapping at one another

or a big plain cloudbank decided to play shapeshifter



being a tiger




to an emu!

What do you see?






























m 135:6-7 (New International Version)
6 The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.
7 He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; he sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.






We feel the winds and enjoy the rain here on Buhlaland we look skyward a lot.


A friend of ours,Waverly Parsons ends his daily email devotionals with this quote


" Keep on keeping on for the King and keep looking up, 'cause He's coming soon."

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!