Confession

This is how you know things have gotten way out of hand.

Sunday evening: Bored and hungry. Pumpkin pie is calling my name. As I take it out of the fridge...not slowly and carefully, 'cause by now I am literally salivating and I can't wait another second, the plate slips out of my hand and lands face down on the floor. Rational Lita tells herself, "now the temptation is gone--good riddance." Irrational Lita puts the pie back in the fridge.

Monday evening: After a bowl of turkey soup, just need a little sumpn' sumpn' sweet.

Don't judge.

How many of you have THIS MUCH help putting up your Christmas tree?

And after the final angel was hanging...not on a limb...but on a needle....

TA-DA!!!

Maybe a little bottom-heavy? Do ya think?

After endless snacking and playing doctor and police, Lauren finally began to wind down and I asked her if she wanted to take a nap. Lauren: "No, Nana, I not tired, I just yawning." Me: Giving her a questioning look--"Are you sure?" Lauren: "Don't look at me, please."

Papa's turn to play and since this is most likely the last 70-degree day for a few months, outside they went. The kids played "hide in the hay" and sent Papa to get me to search for them. Gracie standing at the barn door didn't give it away. Not in the least.

Good girl, Lassie...I mean, Gracie.

Fall Harvest

If you're expecting a cornucopia of fresh vegetables from the garden, you will be sorely disappointed. Around here we harvest.......

deer.

Jeff took a buck off our property here in S.S. and just as it was ready to be picked up at the processors, Neal & Jeremy returned from the western Oklahoma acreage with this truckload of venison. Two bucks and three does to be exact.

I think we need to buy a freezer.

Down with Blankets

Ever since the construction began on the IDL, (when was that? July?) my detour has taken me past this green space on the east side of downtown. Tulsa has done a good job over the last decade or so, beautifying the city, thanks in part to the program "Up With Trees."

However.....here's my beef. You knew there would be one, didn't you?

Every work day I drive past this blanket/sleeping bag(?) hanging on the fence. Each day the rips are a little bigger and more and more stuffings are slowly making their way out of their confines and mingling with nature.

This particular green space has an "Up With Trees" sign that says, "In memory of Dewitt L. Potter."

I know it's blurry, I was fighting construction traffic while taking these photos. But trust me, that's what it says.

Now, I hope that if I were a family member of poor Dewitt (may he rest in peace), I would occasionally "tend" to the area I sponsored in his name. I don't think Dewitt would be too proud of the hanging blanket.

Up with trees. Down with blankets. Four months is too long.

Random Thoughts Wednesday

It's 12:24 p.m. and I'm still in my pajamas. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

I haven't blogged in over a week because I've been working on and editing my 2008 blog for annual publishing. (If no one else will publish you, publish yourself.)

Tonight is the last night to teach 2's and under Bible class. Woo Hoo! I've really been looking forward to this LAST class. I don't think teaching infants is my "gift."

I just pulled a loaf of homemade cranberry bread from the oven. A close friend mentioned liking cranberry bread, so I'll take her some tonight. Not the whole loaf, as I'm a little selfish.

Why don't I sweat? I've googled the condition and it doesn't seem to exist. The first 2 times I went to Zumba, I actually sweated! Is past tense sweat or sweated? Hair dripping, clothes stuck to my body. Now, after an entire hour of constant high-impact aerobic dancing, I'm dry as a bone. Maybe I'm dehydrated. I'm trying to drink more water.

Speaking of drinking, what happened to QT Chai Latte????

Neal will be doing some traveling again, which bums me. Although it will be a nice break from having to plan dinner and prepare his lunch every day. However, if you talk to him, just mention the part about me being bummed.

On a serious note...found out last night that Betty Mansur has left this world. Betty was the real deal. She was generous, talented, and outspoken. I spent many evenings in her tole painting classes at Park Plaza with wonderful friends. We still laugh about getting scolded by Betty for talking, giggling and not paying attention. You never wondered where you stood with Betty. She will be greatly missed.

Grandkids on the Farm

If you're my Facebook friend (and why wouldn't you be?) you've already seen these pictures. These were taken last Saturday, in and around the barn. I think they're worthy of a post.

The Masks We Wear

I had to start this post with my grandkids, Darth Vader and the Wicked Witch. They love dressing up and being something entirely different from Jacob and Lauren.

The Masks We Wear was the subject of this morning's sermon and front page bulletin article. How appropriate.

"...often times we pretend to be something we are not. We act as if we are more competent than we are, more "together" than we are, more able than we are, or more right than we are."

-Elliott Dunn (pulpit minister, SSCoC)

What's that? Was he just looking at me? I wear the mask well. It fits perfectly.

How can you "mourn with those who mourn" (Rom. 12:15-16) unless I remove the mask and let you know I am mourning? How can you "pray for each other" (James 5:16) unless I remove the mask and let you know I am struggling? ("confess your sins to each other" same verse.)

During the sermon, I couldn't help but consider how we are partially to blame for others wearing the mask. For instance, before services began, I was sitting in the pew preparing my contribution check. Another member walked in front of me and said, "Smile! Be happy!" I obliged. Now, admit it, it would have been pretty weird for me to have been sitting there alone, concentrating on writing a check, with a huge smile plastered across my face.

Can we not allow each other to have serious moments, to be discouraged, to be sad? Not only do we wear masks, but life is simpler when everyone else is wearing a mask. We assemble together to be encouraged, but is it all superficial? We want everyone to put on their happy faces so things don't get messy.

I confess. I'm guilty of both. I wear the mask. And I'm probably responsible for others wearing the mask.