Calibrating torque wrench

I was looking at pictures that I had not yet posted and found these... while we've been in Virginia, we re-torqued the lug nuts... Jimmy suggested that it might be appropriate to get the torque wrench calibrated to ensure that it is correctly measuring the torque.

Amazing - Jimmy found that there was a shop that would perform this service just a couple of miles away!

It passed as the values were within tolerance.

Additional information on the standards that they use.

I think they normally only check 120, 300, and 600 ft-lb, but since we specifically torque at 450 ft-lb, they added a check for that. You can see the reference value, what tolerance values are for below and high, and what they found on our wrench.

Always fun to learn new stuff! I can't say I understand everything about this, but, getting your equipment checked to make sure that its results are within specification is valuable!

Home!

Dwayne was released from the hospital today - Hallelujah!

This is what it looks like to be wearing real clothes and sitting in a car seat!

At the bus!

Miss Kitty is helping Dwayne take a nap - he didn't need much help...

Duke and Deuce

Right now, there are two Hereford bulls on the farm. For most of the year, they hang out together...

Deuce and Duke were just behind the house, about to check out if there was anything good thrown out in the garbage. Since they grew up together, and since they are Herefords (generally a more placid breed), they seem to get along well with each other, at least if there are no cows around...

When I was back at the farm yesterday, it appeared that they are now each in separate pastures, each with some of the cows, each getting to do his "job" for a few months.

Out and about!

Dwayne was out in the hallway walking today!

Dwayne and I both think that the physical therapist looks a lot like me from the back! The bright pink belt that she has around Dwayne's waist that she is using to steady him is a hint that it isn't Patti!

In the afternoon, I went back to the bus and one of my to-dos was to change the sheets on the bed... the cats were ensconced on the bed, and the fact that I needed to get the sheets off and then put clean ones back on did not concern them whatsoever!

"Whaddya mean, we should get up?"

"You haven't been here, it's OUR bed now!"

Though Tabitha is looking "disgustipated", in reality, she is looking at a lump under the covers that is moving - that would be Miss Kitty!

Neither of them got off the bed! What lazy kitties! Spoiled rotten!

Amazima

One of the ministries that I have followed for a number of years is Amazima -- a ministry started by Katie Davis Majors 10 years ago in Uganda. I have been reading her blog for a long time, got her book, Kisses From Katie (a compilation of stories from her blog) when it came out, and then participated on the launch team of her latest book, Daring to Hope.
https://trekincartwrights.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-launch.html
https://trekincartwrights.blogspot.com/2017/10/daring-to-hope-is-to-be-released.html

Amazima has been doing some special events to honor their 10 year milestone. I found one recently, and thought I would share with you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8-MM46rUuM

Then I watched this one and laughed along as the dog and chickens and monkeys and other birds "helped" with the video!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKnu6Y-4rvk

Timmy

When I was at the farm a few days ago, I tried to get some pictures of Ricky and Kendra's cat, Timmy, who had come over to visit.

Timmy is a big orange fluffy kitty - here he is getting some cat food on the deck. What I find so interesting about him is his tail carriage. He rolls it up over his back like a Husky or Akita dog!

Unfortunately I have not been able to get any good pictures of him with his tail curled over his back...

... but you can probably tell that it isn't up in the air like many cats would be...

Heading out toward the barn to see if anything good to be found there!

Being so fluffy, and since he seems to love to be in undergrowth hunting, his tail would get full of burrs and stuff if he carried down, but since he curls it over his back, it stays pretty clean!

Some pictures from this week...

A random collection of pictures - most from the hospital...

Someone had said to me that Dwayne's room looks out onto the "Chapel Courtyard" - I hadn't noticed it when we were on 3rd floor, but can see it better from his room on the cardiac floor (2nd). I walked by it one day this past week and took some pictures - above picture shows the inside...

Some of the stained glass in the vestibule area outside the chapel.

Dwayne sitting up in the chair in his room - even while his heart rate was very high, he would try to sit up in the chair for a bit of time each day.

On a visit to the bus, my obligatory picture to send to Dwayne of Miss Kitty. She wonders where "her Dwayne" is!

Starting yesterday, we have this sign on the door...

... and these hanging next to the door.

His neutrophil count is low (expected reaction to the chemotherapy) - at this point we have to be super-vigilant to ensure that he does not come in contact with anyone who is sick.

When Dwayne went for the TEE and cardioversion, he had to take any jewelry off... so I was wearing his wedding band as well as my own rings.

If you want more information on Dwayne's medical journey, I am documenting it on his CaringBridge page: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dwaynecartwright