Hand Painted Love Boxes are NOW available at Cutsie cakes... in Layton
354 N. Main Street Suite #1 Layton, UT 84041
Stop by and pick one up with some darling cupcakes for your sweetie...
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Baby eggs...
I call these baby eggs because my sister-in-law feeds them to her baby.. mine loves them too. recipe: 1 egg in a teacup
2-3 T milk
dash of sea salt
(add a little cheese for baby omelet)
mix with fork & microwave 45-50 seconds = baby scrambled eggs in a teacup.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Madame Defarge is Knitting Again...
This week in politics from Utah Homemakers for America Weekly Newsletter... Which will appear HERE... very soon.
Madame Defarge is Knitting Again..
Do you remember Madame Defarge, one of Dickens’ most frightening villains? She was a tricoteuse, one of the old women who would sit around the guillotine knitting during the reign of terror. Her knitting was not a pair of Christmas socks for a nephew, but instead a denunciation that meant death for the accused. There was no court, no judge, no trial, no jury. The denounced were condemned by their accusers and by a desperate and blood thirsty public.
In our day amazing judgments have been made in the court of public opinion using more emotional than rational and logical thought. Both political parties have been guilty of feeding the frenzy.
Many of us depend everyday on prescription drugs. ("The vast majority of drug development takes place within the private sector and not, as some claim, in government-funded laboratories..." http://www.nysun.com/new-york/capitalism-said-key-to-finding-new-drugs/80569/) Yet, as much good as they do for many people, the entire pharmaceutical industry has been denounced and become a target of crippling regulation.
The oil industry makes so many things possible in our society. It warms our homes, provides us with transportation, brings our food, clothing and medicines to us and yet oil companies have been denounced and drilling stopped or not allowed in many places.
The coal industry brings us the electricity to light, cool and heat our homes and cook our food, but coal has been denounced. "So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it's just that it will bankrupt them because they're going to be charged a huge sum for all that green house gas that's being emitted." (Barack Obama January 17, 2008 San Francisco Chronicle)
Small business has been denounced for its lack of ability to pay health coverage for employees.
Big banks are being denounced. "President Barack Obama told banks Thursday they should pay a new tax to recoup the cost of bailing out foundering firms at the height of the financial crisis. "We want our money back," he said. And, those banks "... would have to pay up even though many did not accept any taxpayer assistance and most that did have repaid the infusions."
Of course there is dishonesty, corruption and deceit in every industry, but we have laws and we have courts to punish those whose actions are illegal. I believe it is wrong, harmful and un-American to denounce and condemn an entire industry with out court, judge, trial or jury.
Now in Utah, ethics reform is being considered, Utah Ethics Commission Initiative,
where a 3 member panel (a lifetime appointment) would be able to anonymously point a finger of denouncement at any elected representative. http://files.meetup.com/1403508/Government%20Ethics%20Reform%20Initiative.pdf
Who is going to run for public office under this kind of pressure? The proposal is not going through normal legislative processes, but rather through ballot initiative. It will get on the ballot because someone will be at the local mall and they will ask if you are interested in ethics reform in government. Rather than read the twenty one pages of legalese, many will just sign the petition to get this on the ballot and many will vote for it with out ever reading it simply because our public servants have been denounced.
This is mob rule, this is ignorant and blood thirsty. This is not republican government. Before we denounce our entire economy and our republic into the dark ages, we need to send the ideologies of Madame Defarge to the guillotine.
Madame Defarge is Knitting Again..
Do you remember Madame Defarge, one of Dickens’ most frightening villains? She was a tricoteuse, one of the old women who would sit around the guillotine knitting during the reign of terror. Her knitting was not a pair of Christmas socks for a nephew, but instead a denunciation that meant death for the accused. There was no court, no judge, no trial, no jury. The denounced were condemned by their accusers and by a desperate and blood thirsty public.
In our day amazing judgments have been made in the court of public opinion using more emotional than rational and logical thought. Both political parties have been guilty of feeding the frenzy.
Many of us depend everyday on prescription drugs. ("The vast majority of drug development takes place within the private sector and not, as some claim, in government-funded laboratories..." http://www.nysun.com/new-york/capitalism-said-key-to-finding-new-drugs/80569/) Yet, as much good as they do for many people, the entire pharmaceutical industry has been denounced and become a target of crippling regulation.
The oil industry makes so many things possible in our society. It warms our homes, provides us with transportation, brings our food, clothing and medicines to us and yet oil companies have been denounced and drilling stopped or not allowed in many places.
The coal industry brings us the electricity to light, cool and heat our homes and cook our food, but coal has been denounced. "So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it's just that it will bankrupt them because they're going to be charged a huge sum for all that green house gas that's being emitted." (Barack Obama January 17, 2008 San Francisco Chronicle)
Small business has been denounced for its lack of ability to pay health coverage for employees.
Big banks are being denounced. "President Barack Obama told banks Thursday they should pay a new tax to recoup the cost of bailing out foundering firms at the height of the financial crisis. "We want our money back," he said. And, those banks "... would have to pay up even though many did not accept any taxpayer assistance and most that did have repaid the infusions."
Of course there is dishonesty, corruption and deceit in every industry, but we have laws and we have courts to punish those whose actions are illegal. I believe it is wrong, harmful and un-American to denounce and condemn an entire industry with out court, judge, trial or jury.
Now in Utah, ethics reform is being considered, Utah Ethics Commission Initiative,
where a 3 member panel (a lifetime appointment) would be able to anonymously point a finger of denouncement at any elected representative. http://files.meetup.com/1403508/Government%20Ethics%20Reform%20Initiative.pdf
Who is going to run for public office under this kind of pressure? The proposal is not going through normal legislative processes, but rather through ballot initiative. It will get on the ballot because someone will be at the local mall and they will ask if you are interested in ethics reform in government. Rather than read the twenty one pages of legalese, many will just sign the petition to get this on the ballot and many will vote for it with out ever reading it simply because our public servants have been denounced.
This is mob rule, this is ignorant and blood thirsty. This is not republican government. Before we denounce our entire economy and our republic into the dark ages, we need to send the ideologies of Madame Defarge to the guillotine.
Please view the following video .. and share it with your children... HERE..
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Leap Year...
You won't believe this and neither can I because I don't even know when was the last time I went to the movies (the full price movies especially)! However, I have seen this film in the theater TWICE. It's a cheesy, formulaic romantic comedy, but WHO CARES!!! I loved it, it's funny and happy and it has pretty clothes and beautiful country side and I can listen a long time to a beautiful Irish brogue. Go see it!
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Monday, January 04, 2010
K19 Widowmaker...
I think this film has a very compelling story and Liam Neeson's performance is really good. And, it has lots of examples why living in a centrally planned economy is a terrible idea.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Charles Dickens...
My brother sent me this quote about Dickens, one of my very favorite authors. I wanted to save it and share it.. so I posted it here.
"Dickens stands first as a defiant monument of what happens when a great literary genius has a literary taste akin to that of the community. For this kinship was deep and spiritual. Dickens was not like our ordinary demagogues and journalists. Dickens did not write what the people wanted. Dickens wanted what the people wanted. . . . Hence there was this vital point in his popularism, that there was no condescension in it.
“The belief that the rabble will only read rubbish can be read between the lines of all our contemporary writers, even of those writers whose rubbish the rabble reads. . . . The only difference lies between those writers who will consent to talk down to the people, and those writers who will not consent to talk down to the people. But Dickens never talked down to the people. He talked up to the people. He approached the people like deity and poured out his riches and his blood. This is what makes the immortal bond between him and the masses of men. He had not merely produced something they could understand, but he took it seriously, and toiled and agonized to produce it. They were not only enjoying one of the best writers, they were enjoying the best he could do. . . . His power, then, lay in the fact that he expressed with an energy and brilliancy quite uncommon the things close to the common mind. But with mere phrase, the common mind, we collide with a current error. Commonness and the common mind are now generally spoken of as meaning in some manner inferiority and the inferior mind; the mind of the mere mob. But the common mind means the mind of all the artists and heroes; or else it would not be common. . . . In everybody there is a certain thing that loves babies, that fears death, that likes sunlight: that thing enjoys Dickens.” -- G.K. Chesterton, Charles Dickens: A Critical Study
"Dickens stands first as a defiant monument of what happens when a great literary genius has a literary taste akin to that of the community. For this kinship was deep and spiritual. Dickens was not like our ordinary demagogues and journalists. Dickens did not write what the people wanted. Dickens wanted what the people wanted. . . . Hence there was this vital point in his popularism, that there was no condescension in it.
“The belief that the rabble will only read rubbish can be read between the lines of all our contemporary writers, even of those writers whose rubbish the rabble reads. . . . The only difference lies between those writers who will consent to talk down to the people, and those writers who will not consent to talk down to the people. But Dickens never talked down to the people. He talked up to the people. He approached the people like deity and poured out his riches and his blood. This is what makes the immortal bond between him and the masses of men. He had not merely produced something they could understand, but he took it seriously, and toiled and agonized to produce it. They were not only enjoying one of the best writers, they were enjoying the best he could do. . . . His power, then, lay in the fact that he expressed with an energy and brilliancy quite uncommon the things close to the common mind. But with mere phrase, the common mind, we collide with a current error. Commonness and the common mind are now generally spoken of as meaning in some manner inferiority and the inferior mind; the mind of the mere mob. But the common mind means the mind of all the artists and heroes; or else it would not be common. . . . In everybody there is a certain thing that loves babies, that fears death, that likes sunlight: that thing enjoys Dickens.” -- G.K. Chesterton, Charles Dickens: A Critical Study
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Charise...
My friend Charise can make anything extraordinary. .. a wonder and delight!Can you believe these packages. Charise.. you are an artist!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Christmas Cake...
C & I like to collaborate on cake. This is our Christmas Cake.. with dense, rich and heavy chocolate cake... C's best recipe and touch-of-mint pink frosting.. sprinkles with bits of crushed candy cane. Yum. I'd give you the recipe.. but I can't.. it's top secret. :)Monday, December 14, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
A Beautiful Mind...
For some reason, I thought this movie would be frightening, but it wasn't. It was incredibly inspiring. It is a reflection of the divine, when a person is able to become his own master. I love this film.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.
Ten Fundamental Principles for True Freedom...
The pilgrims came to America as immigrants in search of some basic freedoms... The right to worship according to the dictates of their own conscience. The right to free assembly. The right to free speech. They and others who have come before have provided those rights to us. And, we are very thankful this day to enjoy those rights.
I am working with a group called Homemakers for America... on the Abigail Adams Project. My friend Tammy wrote this belief statement for our Utah Chapter. I think that on this beautiful Thanksgiving Day.. these are some appropriate things to ponder.. in addition to the turkey and cranberry sauce... Happy Thanksgiving!!!
1. All men have been endowed by their Creator with the right to life. All human life is sacred and the worth of every human being is great regardless of race, education, social or economic status. Thus we strive to protect and preserve the dignity of all people including the disabled, the handicap, the elderly, and the woman with her unborn child in each stage of pregnancy.
2. Liberty is a right that is intrinsic to human creation and has been given to all men by their Creator. The proper role of government is to protect and secure this right for the citizens of its country. We recognize that liberty is maintained by adherence to law and thus, strive to write laws that will protect the citizens of the country. We also believe that those who violate law must be held accountable for their actions.
3. All men have been endowed by their Creator with the opportunity to pursue happiness. This pursuit requires freedom for self-determination, opportunities for un-bias education, and the free-exchange of ideas within communities. Thus we hold fast to the policy defined by the 1st Amendment of our Constitution and uphold the freedom of speech and the right to assembly to promote the general welfare of this nation.
4. Governments were instituted to secure the blessings of liberty for the citizens of their countries. A superior form of “government of the people, by the people, and for the people” (Abraham Lincoln) should be upheld and defended to protect the liberties of men. The checks and balances provided by the Constitution of this free land define the roles of the 3 branches of government (executive, judicial, and legislative). One branch of government will not be allowed to usurp power from either of the other two.
5. Each member of the human race possesses an intrinsic dignity with a right to freedom and self-determination. We uphold the principles of work, education, and industry as crucial elements of self-determination and the preservation of human dignity. Therefore, we encourage welfare services that promote the development of self-reliance. We support humanitarian efforts of compassion to provide for the basic needs of citizens in times of hardship and persuade all social institutions to support individuals in their quest for self-determination and employment opportunities.
6. We honor and hold sacred the religious beliefs of the citizens of this nation. We do not endorse one specific religion but encourage and allow all men to choose personal religious beliefs. We acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being and the inspiration of the Almighty God in framing the Constitution of this land. We recognize that true religion encourages its
members to achieve higher states of dignity, compassion, and character and consequently, will strengthen the citizens of this nation.
7. We recognize the family is the basic unit of society and therefore affirm that the strength of the family is fundamental to the strength of the nation. Thus, we hold sacred the roles of fatherhood and motherhood as it pertains to the protection, leadership, education, and nurturing of children within the family. Thus, we are resolved to maintain the rights of parents to protect family and children from forces that would threaten or inflict harm to their physical, emotional, spiritual and moral well-being.
8. We recognize that governments may become corrupt over time and elected officials may, in fact, seek to undermine the freedom of its citizens. If a government should deny its citizens of the rights and liberties bestowed upon them by their Creator, the leaders of that government should be removed from office, erring officials held accountable for the destruction of liberty, and new guards should be established for the future security of the nation.
9. The rights of a free people are maintained through leadership which invokes the nobility that resides in all men. We recognize that successful civilizations are governed by correct principles and leaders who rule by inspiration, teach by example and stand for self-evident principles. We support government leaders who utilize the powers of persuasion, education, compassion and service to encourage the fulfillment of human potential. We reject policies and politicians that exploit individuals for personal gain and reject the use of coercion, manipulation and indoctrination as a means of controlling citizens of the land.
10. We acknowledge that Communism is NOT a political party or a political plan under the Constitution of the United States. It is a system of government that is the opposite of our Constitutional government. We recognize that Communism would destroy the Constitutional government of America. We therefore insist that our elected officials not only resist communism, but also consider the supporters of Communism as traitors to our free government.
I am working with a group called Homemakers for America... on the Abigail Adams Project. My friend Tammy wrote this belief statement for our Utah Chapter. I think that on this beautiful Thanksgiving Day.. these are some appropriate things to ponder.. in addition to the turkey and cranberry sauce... Happy Thanksgiving!!!
1. All men have been endowed by their Creator with the right to life. All human life is sacred and the worth of every human being is great regardless of race, education, social or economic status. Thus we strive to protect and preserve the dignity of all people including the disabled, the handicap, the elderly, and the woman with her unborn child in each stage of pregnancy.
2. Liberty is a right that is intrinsic to human creation and has been given to all men by their Creator. The proper role of government is to protect and secure this right for the citizens of its country. We recognize that liberty is maintained by adherence to law and thus, strive to write laws that will protect the citizens of the country. We also believe that those who violate law must be held accountable for their actions.
3. All men have been endowed by their Creator with the opportunity to pursue happiness. This pursuit requires freedom for self-determination, opportunities for un-bias education, and the free-exchange of ideas within communities. Thus we hold fast to the policy defined by the 1st Amendment of our Constitution and uphold the freedom of speech and the right to assembly to promote the general welfare of this nation.
4. Governments were instituted to secure the blessings of liberty for the citizens of their countries. A superior form of “government of the people, by the people, and for the people” (Abraham Lincoln) should be upheld and defended to protect the liberties of men. The checks and balances provided by the Constitution of this free land define the roles of the 3 branches of government (executive, judicial, and legislative). One branch of government will not be allowed to usurp power from either of the other two.
5. Each member of the human race possesses an intrinsic dignity with a right to freedom and self-determination. We uphold the principles of work, education, and industry as crucial elements of self-determination and the preservation of human dignity. Therefore, we encourage welfare services that promote the development of self-reliance. We support humanitarian efforts of compassion to provide for the basic needs of citizens in times of hardship and persuade all social institutions to support individuals in their quest for self-determination and employment opportunities.
6. We honor and hold sacred the religious beliefs of the citizens of this nation. We do not endorse one specific religion but encourage and allow all men to choose personal religious beliefs. We acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being and the inspiration of the Almighty God in framing the Constitution of this land. We recognize that true religion encourages its
members to achieve higher states of dignity, compassion, and character and consequently, will strengthen the citizens of this nation.
7. We recognize the family is the basic unit of society and therefore affirm that the strength of the family is fundamental to the strength of the nation. Thus, we hold sacred the roles of fatherhood and motherhood as it pertains to the protection, leadership, education, and nurturing of children within the family. Thus, we are resolved to maintain the rights of parents to protect family and children from forces that would threaten or inflict harm to their physical, emotional, spiritual and moral well-being.
8. We recognize that governments may become corrupt over time and elected officials may, in fact, seek to undermine the freedom of its citizens. If a government should deny its citizens of the rights and liberties bestowed upon them by their Creator, the leaders of that government should be removed from office, erring officials held accountable for the destruction of liberty, and new guards should be established for the future security of the nation.
9. The rights of a free people are maintained through leadership which invokes the nobility that resides in all men. We recognize that successful civilizations are governed by correct principles and leaders who rule by inspiration, teach by example and stand for self-evident principles. We support government leaders who utilize the powers of persuasion, education, compassion and service to encourage the fulfillment of human potential. We reject policies and politicians that exploit individuals for personal gain and reject the use of coercion, manipulation and indoctrination as a means of controlling citizens of the land.
10. We acknowledge that Communism is NOT a political party or a political plan under the Constitution of the United States. It is a system of government that is the opposite of our Constitutional government. We recognize that Communism would destroy the Constitutional government of America. We therefore insist that our elected officials not only resist communism, but also consider the supporters of Communism as traitors to our free government.
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