Nov 18th - Long Time No Post

Not much exciting happening here in central MO. Kathy is mending. She is now walking several "laps" around the driveway in front of the house, several times a day. She has not wanted to go anywhere yet, that gives you an indication that she still has a ways to go. We go back to St. Louis on Nov 27th for her follow-up appointment with the surgeon.

Weather here has been variable. Several nights ago we had a low down in the high teens and yesterday I think the high was in the 70's. We have had a few very light showers but could still use several inches of rain, at least our pond could.

I haven't been doing much. I had a routine check-up with my "family doctor". I routinely see my "family doctor" once every 6 months and my Endocrinologist once every 6 months. They are part of the same doctor's group and seem to work well together. Because the appointments are staggered I see one or the other of them every 3 months. I'm starting to think that is a little overkill and my have them start stretching out the time between appointments in the future. My cholesterol is good but my triglycerides are still high. Triglycerides have come down some but I still need more improvement. Dr. Johnson said he will give me another 6 months on the triglycerides. I can get them down with a combination of a better diet and more exercise or he will give me another pill to take. He strongly prefers that I do it on my own, he is definitely not a pill pusher.

I still haven't gotten heavy into wood cutting/splitting. I've been cutting/splitting more a little more than have needed but haven't really started building a supply to last over the winter. I have enough wood left over from last year to last us through the winter. I'd just like to get the rest of the wood still laying around the property cleaned up. Also, I have several more dead trees that should be cut down, the wood split, and put under roof while the wood is still solid.

With Tom's help, he told me how to reconnect some wires on my splitter, I've got the splitter running. Yesterday I did some work on it  (it was the first time I had used my acetylene torch since I left Lebanon) and now have it set up next to the out building where I store wood. I still have not taken the hydraulic pump off to have a the seal replaced. I can use it with the leaky seal but I need to get it fixed.

I did some raking and leaf burning a few days ago but it is almost a loosing battle with all the trees. We had some fairly strong winds that past couple of days and they did more to clear away leaves than I did with my raking and burning.

Lydia hasn't been spending as much time with us while Kathy is recuperating. We did baby sit a couple of afternoons and evenings. She loves the baby carriage her Aunt Cindy got her. She occasionally crawls in it and just sets for a few minutes (she NEVER stays anywhere very long)

She crawled up in the chair next to Kathy and set there "reading" a sale ad. I was surprised at how long she was there.

Later that evening she finally wore out. The sale ad pages looked like a "rats nest" all around her.

It is a beautiful, sunny fall day here so far this morning. I need to get out and at least pretend to be doing something.

May God bless you and yours.