Today's Founding Fathers' Quote

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."
--Thomas Jefferson

First Gigantic Mistake with Kitchen Remodel

The big mistake was not taking everything out of ALL of my cupboards and/or sealing them closed with painters tape. Now everything will have to be taken out and washed. The dust from the workers pounding out the tile with sledge hammers was unbelievable not to mention the noise. I had to leave the house. Needless to say the tile did not just pop off. When done there was a 2" gap between the subfloor and the surrounding wood floor.

Now EVERYTHING has a not so thin layer of pink dust on it. If you enlarge this photo you can see it on the glass and the edges of the blades. I should have tied sheets them. I took before pictures and will post the afters in about 3 weeks!

Aahhh, Conference!

Yippee, it's Conference time again! As fun as No Church is, the real treat is hearing what the Lord would have us know for the next 6 months. I think we will check our 72 hour kits, too. Wonder if there's any chocolate in 'em?

Today's Inspirational Quote from our Founding Fathers

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. --Thomas Jefferson.

If you don't fear what our government is doing these days then you don't know what's going on. Get informed and get involved in saving the America the Founding Father's, through God's inspiration, established.

What Could Go Wrong??

"Let me get this straight. The new health care plan will be written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a congress which hasn't read it, signed by a president who smokes, funded by a Treasury Secretary who did not pay his taxes, overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and is financed by. . .a country that is nearly broke. What could possibly go wrong?" --Scott Brown

This Says it ALL! Obama IS trying to turn the United States into a socialist republic...or worse?

"Cuban revolutionary leader, Fidel Castro, on Thursday declared passage of American health care reform a 'miracle' and a major victory for Obama's presidency, but couldn't help chide the United States for taking so long to enact what communist Cuba achieved decades ago."
-Miami Herald

If you support Obama you do not support the Founding Fathers and the Constitution. Their political philosophies are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Scary Quote of the Day

"I'm willing to forgo the cheap satisfaction of the radical pose for the deep satisfaction of radical ends." -Van Jones, Obama's Green Jobs Czar.

Jones, one of many radical Progressives surrounding Barack Obama, is a Marxist socialist. The fundamental change in America Obama is always referring to is from the kind of government the Founding Fathers had in mind to a Democratic Socialist Republic, think Russia. Oh, it will be a long time before they admit to it but you only have to look at the radicals the president has surrounded himself with to know where it's all heading.

No Apologies Necessary

"When in England, at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire building by George Bush. He answered by saying, 'Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.' "
America is the greatest country on earth. Some people are forgetting that lately.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOE!!!!!

Ah hah! I'm learning to scan pictures so look out for future black mailings. Just kidding. Aren't these pictures cute? I love the one of Joe exerting some independent thought! Anyway, happy birthday to our wonderful first born!!!! We love you so very much and wish we didn't live so far away from each other. Hope your day is terrific. See you soon!!!!

HAPPY 30-something BIRTHDAY, EMILY

It's harder to post while not at my own computer but I didn't want to not acknowledge our only daughter's birthday which was yesterday. I don't think she wants me to say how old she is but I think we all know. Anyway, best wishes for another great year, Emily. Your many talents truly amaze us and thanks for being a terrific mom to our grandchildren and grandchickens. We love you so very much!!!

Sonic's New Friend

This is Sonic's new friend. I guess he belongs to the farm behind us somehow. This is the kind of dog that was in the movie shorts from the 30's or 40's called Our Gang. I always thought Hollywood drew on the black circle around one eye. Who knew it was an actually breed!

The Downside of Technology

The fact that you won't want to read this makes the point of the article.

Subtle changes [introduced by technology] are causing great harm to our neurological well-being. Given that adults commonly consume two, three or even more gadgets at once now -- all while carrying on conversations with people – they are beginning to lose their ability to focus and concentrate. ............a phenomenon called "continuous partial attention," a state of divided attention which leaves people unable to perform tasks that require concentration. Worse, it leaves its victims less and less able to connect with and empathize with each other, they said.
"When our minds partially attend, and do so continuously, we scan for an opportunity for any type of contact at every given moment," "(People) no longer have time to reflect, contemplate, or make thoughtful decisions. Instead, they exist in a sense of constant crisis -- on alert for a new contact or bit of exciting news or information at any moment." Under that kind of stress, the brain secretes cortisol and adrenaline, creating a temporary high followed by depression, leading to something the authors call "techno-brain burnout."


In children, the effects can be worse. When face-to-face contact is replaced by excessive digital media, a child's neural circuits can atrophy and the brain may not develop normal interactive social skills.
"Several studies in both children and adults ... tie frequent technology use to conditions such as ADD, ADHD, autism, depression, anxiety and even sociopathic behavior," they said.

I guess I should get off this computer!

Cone of Shame

Someone won't stop licking his leg. I'm not going to show you a close up of Sonic's "hot spot". It's kind of gross. Well, I guess it's just (slightly inflamed) pink skin with no hair. It's getting better but he has to wear this every night.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, IAN!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR GRANDSON, IAN!!! 8 years old is pretty special. We will be out to Utah for your baptism in a few weeks. We love you very much and think you are an awesome boy. We hope your birthday is a fun one.
Love,
Grandma and Grandpa Harris

Sparkly Sunrise

CHURCH IS CANCELLED!!!!!

Because of this. Poor emu!

And this. We had lots of ice and snow Friday and Friday night.

This is a great look, don't you think? Talk about mascara.

See if you can find 2 emus in this picture. Tomorrow or later, I'll post pictures of the dogs in the snow.

Someone's turning 30!!!

That goofy guy in the middle is actually turning 30 even though he delights in acting like he's 13 or is that 3?? I guess that's why we love him. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SCOTTY!!!

Thanks for bringing so much joy to our family. Hope you have a terrific birthday because we think you are a terrific son. Much love from your mom and dad on your special day.

Another photo of Elder Harris and a Funny

This from Reader's Digest: "Robbie, my nine-year-old grandson, recently asked his mother about puberty. She explained that it occurs when children's bodies begin to change. 'Boys,' she said, 'grow taller and develop muscles. Their voices deepen, and they start to grow hair, like facial hair.' Do you understand?" "Yes," he replied. "I just hope it happens on a Saturday, when I'm not in school!"

Pictures of Elder Harris!!!

Demonstrating the Keystone of our Religion.

No, the elders didn't crash this prom photo session. The promites insisted the elders get in on the action. Pretty dresses.

With a recent convert. The boy's mother was also baptized at the same time.

Kyle with a young man who is now serving a mission in Colorado. The elders helped him get excited about going on a mission.

This is an older picture of Elder Harris and Joe (his brother). They managed to have lunch together when Joe was up in Idaho Falls visiting his in-laws. Elder Harris comes home May 6th!!!

Utah Scenes over the Christmas Holidays

I start with wintry scenes of Kaylee, Joe, Jim and me on Temple Square in freezing temperatures.

Joe in front of his favorite Temple Square tree. I think he likes it even without red lights.

We had a great dinner with the extended fam and then a terrific sing-a-long!

I finish with pictures of the grandkids (I guess I didn't get a picture of Justin in this bunch) in their bathing suits!!! We always take advantage of the pool at the Hampton.