FAST RECAP OF 2010

It has been awhile since I have written on this blog. For those friends who are far away, here is a quick recap of the last year. After the Ice storm and making a t-shirt blanket for our friend Roger, and me making it through softball season with some back problems, I just forgot to keep writing. My friend Kristi from Florida came to visit in May. I spent a lot of days in Amarillo trying to get my back to feel better. It didn't work.
I painted the dining room in the house that Shane swore didn't think would look good, but he really liked it. He actually wants me to paint the living room next.

I had my 2 neices come stay with me for almost a week and we had a blast. We drove the Gator, played in mud, made pillow cases, and 200 cookies. I am a GREAT AUNT TIA!!

We moved our old camper under the barn only as "Rednecks" can - with a tractor. It was the easiest and most entertaining for me.

I did help with Vacation Bible School as the activity director, even though I have not been to church in forever. I had a fun time with the kids. I would have done a better job if my back did not hurt the whole time.

We actually had a 4th of July fireworks show so we drove to town and watched. It was gorgeous.

We decided in July, right before my volleyball was to start. We decided to start to fix (rip out) the whole bathroom and fix the floor. It always ends up being more than what you bargained for. Started with fixing the walls, ended up being ripping the flooring and bathtub out and pretty much starting all over. It was so fun. I am so pleased that we did it. It is wonderful. Thankfully I have In-laws who live so close so that we could shower.

Also during this time, lost my Aussie, Balee and it took some time but we decided it was time to look at getting another. Shane talked to a man who had Border Collies. He was told that I would come and look at them. Shane knew that if I went to "look" that I would come home with one. And he was right. How can you leave without taking the cutest one.

So now we have Marlee!!

Volleyball started and my year begins. During our tournament Shane walks in and with a very SERIOUS look on his face he had to tell me that he had run over Marlee and took her to the vet. Broke both of her back legs and told the vet to do whatever he had to do to fix her. And thankfully we have a wonderful, wonderful vet. She did just fine with surgery, but had to stay another week because she had a big hole where the incision was and they wanted to watch her. When we got her home it took her about 2 weeks for her to walk on her legs. She crawled by pulling herself with the front legs. It was heart-breaking. Finally she was up and got the pins out. She was a brand new puppy. It took her time to get strength and trust in her legs. Here she is today looking a little dirty but healthy.

In August, we had the Annual Harris reunion right before volleyball started. I enjoy trying to remember who everyone is. I just don't see many of them but once a year. I wish my parents side of the family would meet once every 5 years or something.

After volleyball I went and visited my brother's family in Austin while I was down for the State Volleyball Tournament. He was on leave from being gone on his 2nd tour in Iraq. So I got to spend time a little time with Chet, kids and his wife, Kelley. It was a short trip but it was very nice.

This year I am coaching 9th grade basketball. I haven't coached BB in about 4 years. It was fun getting "into" it again. I forgot how much I liked basketball. The group of kids I had was a fun group. And of course the group of coaches I worked with made it fun as well. Thanks guys.

The year went by so fast and now it is Christmas time. We spent it at my brothers house in Canyon. The kids make it so fun. I decorated the house with lights and the men got guns! What else can you ask for??

This was a very short expression of what 2010 held for me but I will be better in the future.....?

Ronnie Millsap

I always like going to a good concert, but when I was told that we all would be going to a Ronnie Millsap concert I was a little skeptical (OK A LOT!) We get to Amarillo early to take me to my Doctor visit and take my Jeep to the Dr.

While I was in my visit Shane took my Jeep to get 4 new tires and the front-end aligned, which wasn't done correctly the first time and we were sold a bad tire which made it drive funny for the last several months. I won't name any names to protect the innocent.

At 6:00 we meet up with the rest of the Harris family and we are off to the concert. Of course we get there 1 1/2 hours early because we have to have front row parking and get snacks. The doors weren't even open yet so we had time to stand around and talk. Once the doors were open the auditorium filled up quickly. It was amazing to see the wide variety of people and the broad range of ages that enjoyed his music.

Before the concert I sure couldn't remember more than 2 songs that he might be performing. I ended up enjoying the whole show. I knew all but 1 song during his country, gospel and "oldies" part of the show. I was reminded by my sister-in-law that most were written or produced while I was still in diapers. :) Afterwards, we ate well and went home.

Summer Time -Summer Time- Summer Time!!

I have a lot of random things going on this summer so it is!!

I made it through the last weeks of school alive. To those of you who teach know exactly what I mean. Growing up I never understood why my mother was so worn out when school was over. Now I apologize to her regularly for giving her fits. And I praise her daily because she rarely lost her "cool" with us 4 kids when I am sure we needed it the most. The only one's who got in trouble were my brothers (of course).

Summer begins - I had my projects lined out for me so I get started the first week. I got the kitchen painted and the dining room painted in the first week. I wasn't sure how Shane would react to the new color since he always said he likes the "old" wood paneling. I of course didn't paint the trim in the dining room and after coming in from work, he said he liked it and when was I painting the living room. SHOCKER!! I just need him to move my big armoure to paint behind. For now that corner will be left alone.



Now after doing all that painting my back still is hurting and I realize that I need to do something about it because there is no way that I can start school and volleyball in August and hurt the way I do in the middle back. I can deal with the headaches and hipaches like I have for the last 4-6 years. I remember a friend telling me about a place in Amarillo that helped her husband so I called that day. I got an appointment the very next. I went to Dr. West at Spinal Aid in Amarillo, had my free consultation and decided to committ to helping my back. This committment meant 4 appointments a week and $$$$$$$$. Shane wasn't very happy about the decision that I had made but he knows that my back has to get better. I wish there was a $$ back gaurantee. They have a 90% success rate so my chances are pretty good. I have had 6 visits so far. This last week I had to drive each day and come back for VBS at church. I w

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL week at Calvary Baptist Church. I really don't know how I got myself into doing the activities. OH wait I think I volunteered. It was really a good week and was a lot of fun. I do praise all the elementary school teacher who have to deal with those ages every day of the school year.

In the middle of all the cray driving back and forth, money spent and VBS activities, my Jeep decided not to start one morning on my way to Amarillo so I had to drive the Ford p-up for the next 3 days wich only gets 16mpg on the highway. YIKES. It got put in the shop and was out by Saturday - who has ever heard of a crank sensor? I sure haven't. What timing.

Friday the 18th we finally got our carport delivered. YEA. We can park our vehicles by the house instead of a the barn for protection.

FATHER'S DAY!! - I was a little prankster so I wrapped Shane's gift in a white paper sack and A LOT of orange duck tape. It took him a minute to even open it up. It was funny for the both of us. We both realized that we hadn't got anything for his Dad or mine. I drove to Altus Sunday afternoon and went shopping. I went to Atwoods where I can always find something good and it isn't from Walmart. The Dad's got two shirts which they will love. And of course I got me something as well. I believe a hamock is well deserved. I can spend time swinging away under our trees and enjoy the peace and quiet until they start up the engines at the barn. :)

On the drive home from Altus I was driving down the back roads traveling roads I had never been on before just enjoying the scenery and when I turned a corner my Jeep sounded and felt like I hit a large pot hole. I even got out to check the tires. Nothing. I turned to last turn to head home and it did it again but now in the front. Felt like the front end was going to fall out. I called Shane wondering if I needed to drive it. I drove about 40 mph for the next 20 miles. Shane drove it for awhile and never could hear or feel anything out of the ordinary. We pulled it into the barn and both Shane and Ken looked all underneath it. They couldn't find anything except front end out of line(he hadn't believed my the last few months) and that one of the back tired was "out of round". I was sold a tire that was a bad mold. So that means that this next week we get front end aligned in Amarillo and 4 new tires. WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS and it rains some cats and dogs too.

Last night I made a statement to Shane saying that I can't wait for him to slow down so we can have time to do something for vacation. You want to know what he did in response? He just laughed like it was the funniest thing he had ever heard. WHEN HE SLOWS DOWN he said. He is the fastest pace worker I have ever seen. He just buzzes around everyone knowing that there is ALWAYS something to do.

We do get the chance to do something tonight - We are all going to the Ronnie Millsap concert in Amarillo. Everyone - I mean all of Shane's family - Mom, Dad, Kolton, and Ronda and probably her daughters.

ERROR ON PAGE is all I have been getting this morning while trying to add pictures.

Spring Break

My Spring Break was quit interesting. I didn't do much but I also didn't get much done around the house as I had planned. We had our softball district opener on Saturday and won. It was a good start to some time off.
Shane surprised me Sunday afternoon for a quick trip to Amarillo for our Anniversary where we stayed the night and spent some time away from home together. He took Monday off and we enjoyed our day together. He can't do any work if we are away from home.

Spent a couple days at the Chiropractors office here in town since I had to fire my other one because he was an egotistical, condescending man. I do not like negative people who think they can talk down to me. He is the worst Chiropractor I have run across in my life.

I spent Wednesday playing golf with a friend who came into town. She played a full 18 holes, all I could do was chip and putt due to my back. I enjoyed the company and the beautiful day. Funny thing about her is that she was my basketball coach in High School (I didn't like her then) and I ended up coaching with her in Cleburne, where we became really good friends.

Friday I tried something new. "ACUPUNCTURE". Never thought I would do this but back pain will make you crazy. Only 3 needles hurt all the other hundred I couldn't even feel. I will have to go back for another session or two to really tell a difference. We are so isolated from these practitioners that it makes it hard to make trips to Amarillo or Lubbock.

Afterwards, I drove to my parents house and I was there only 3 hours when my father said I should go on home since it was predicted to snow 3-5 inches that night and he didn't think I wanted to stay there 2-3 days. I enjoyed my 3 hours with my family. My mom helped me sew up some pants and make them capri pants. When you gain weight on your back side, it makes your pants too short

I didn't get a chance to travel to Austin to see my (baby)brother who is deploying for his 2nd tour to Iraq in April. He has been gone for several training missions in Virginia and Utah the last 2 months. They had to dress like the Taliban and live in caves for a week. I guess if you know how they think and live you will be better equipped in battle. So please pray for him and all the other service men who are protecting our freedom. And for his wife who will be left home with 3 kids for 400 days.

Then Friday night it snowed so we all got to sleep in because nobody was working when the snow was blowing so hard you couldn't see the roads. Of course I had to drive Kolton into town at noon. The highway wasn't too bad but our Farm Road was a little crazy in places. Then Saturday afternoon I built a snow man which my dogs help me build. Who makes a snow man during Spring Break??


This is Balee "helping" me build the snowman



Balee and Max wanted inside so bad, but they were dirty and stinky wet dogs...Their poor puppy dog eyes almost got them let in by me.


She actually stood still long enough to pose for this picture.

It has been crazy winter weather this year. I am ready for the warm temperatures to stay for a while.

Softball has started

Wow, has time flown by. Not too long ago it was the beginning of volleyball season and I woke up the next and had to begin softball season. What a great year! We have had a trying softball season so far. We were not able to get on our field to practice before we had our first game due to snow, ice, and some rain. We did our very best. I know most teams were in the same situation.
We had our first tournament last Friday and Saturday. Two 20 hour days does a number on your body and mind for the next few days while recuperating. I finally felt better after 3 days. It wouldn't have been so bad if the weather would have cooperated. It didn't get much above freezing either day. It was foggy, soggy, and cold on Saturday. The sun never came out. I had to drive home in the fog, rain, hail, and some lightening. I was not able to drive more than 50 mph and at times 40mph. All weekend the girls were either playing, huddled up under their blankets or on the bus thawing out. We had a long but good weekend. I think I did more whining than they did about the cold weather.
Thank goodness for "hot hands" and heated insoles. I think I am a tough person until it comes to cold weather. Hopefully we will have a season that will warm up quickly. I love the sport, but absolutely HATE standing out in the cold.
I have a group of 13 freshmen that have very little experience as a whole playing softball. I thought at first that it would be a horrible experience and we would get beat every game. It goes to show you that I am WRONG sometimes and reminds me that I need to have a positive attitude every day. These girls have come out and tried everything we have told them and have worked so hard. We beat 3 teams at the tournament, tied with 1, and lost to 2 teams. I was so proud of the girls for not giving up. Granted we have a long way to go, but they are a joy to be around and I know we will do a great job this year.

MORE ICE

Balee enjoyed fetching ice too!!


My porch was covered because it faces the North.


This is a road covered with the trees falling


Even weeds were cool on this day.


T-post are cool covered in ice!!

ICE ICE BABY!!

We had two days of school canceled due to ice and loss of electricity Jan. 28, 29th. Many people were out of power for a week or more. We were only out for 4 days and had a generator to help keep us warm. Of course we drove around and took pictures when the roads were a little slick. FUN The boys wanted to be out on 4-wheelers, but it was WAY too cold.


WHAT A COOL FENCE IN OUR BACK LOT!!


DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THIS IS?? It looked really cool covered with ice. I guess there will not be any hay being raked this week.


What a neat windmill down the road from our house.


This is what cotton stalk looks like coated in 1/2" of ice


This was just a fun looking fence.