June

Only if you wonder "what was our life like one year ago, in June 2022?" Here is the link.  
It makes me chuckle. June 2022

Above: Our son in Mongolia.
6/13-6/23/2023. 
Expedition related with conservation!  
Wild steppe life without internet.

6/29/2023. Ranger updates:
He is recovering and it wasn't any serious injury or damage. Wheeew Then one of my husband's student introduced us "a new type of animal collar/cone"!! It's a donut shape collar! You know what? It's kind of a game-changer really. 

6/28/2023.  Our 21 year-old son’s updates: Where is he now?  
His Mongolia expedition was completed but he hasn’t returned to the State yet because he is in Japan right now.  He made his “ultimate” plan by himself to visit his both side’s grandparents (in Wakayama and Sapporo). I admire his bravery very much that visiting two cities (far distance) in 6 days with 3 flights besides 4 international flights. (Wait, how many flights did he get on this his solo journey?)  
My husband and I are looking forward to hearing all about his adventure after he is home. Well, if you know him well, he is a guy who doesn’t send messages and photos to his parents. Yes. That’s him. So I still don’t know what he has been doing in Japan. But I got a tiny bit information that he visited Tomogashima island near my husband’s home town. I’ve never been there. It’s so interesting to me to read about it on the website. You can see how to get there by trains and a ferry!! 

https://www.japan-guide.com/ad/gateway-to-kansai/181009.html

My husband’s sister sent us a photo!! How cool is that?

6/25/2023.  Ranger updates:
Ranger is age 14, blind and deaf. His bladder infection was cleared a while ago. Doctor found something off of liver function so he started taking special tablets since. Well, he is doing well in these days. However he bit off something from the bottom of his tail and got bleeding two days ago. So he is back to "cone dog" routine. I needed to shave his hair on that bleeding part. But his hair is so long and thick, I cannot do it alone. I have to go to his vet for a help tomorrow morning. Hopefully it's not so serious. At least we need to see his injury part on his skin. Poor old boy. 

Entry134. 6/25/2023.    
My husband and I have been talking about adaptive kayaking for a while. He used to kayak with our son in Colorado in the summer. There is the Lake Dillon (Dillon Reservoir) which is their favorite place to float. They took me there as well. So we are curious about adaptive kayaking and wanted to learn how to do it. My husband signed up for the program provided by The Adaptive Sports Connection.  

https://adaptivesportsconnection.org/sports-programs/kayaking/

We have to drive to Columbus for over 2 hours to attend this event. One Tuesday was canceled due to the rain/storm. We were off on the next Tuesday, reached there safely and were so ready to try it. Guess what? Suddenly it started raining pouring down. So sad. We were in front of the river seeing several kayaks ready, there were many volunteer crews there. It got canceled. Then we had to drive back home for 2 hours. It’d be very tricky that we’ve been having rain/storm weathers in these days. We cannot predict great weather for kayaking in Columbus beforehand on the certain day. I do hope my husband can get a chance to do kayaking.  
Photos: just before the rain came. 

P.S. Also it’s not so easy and simple that my husband tries to kayak because of his “core strength”. He wants to see how much he can be stable on the water. If it capsizes, you know, he cannot escape from a kayak by himself at all…. I attached a video (again). Try to watch at 9:00 point, this great athlete man talked about kayaking. 

6/25/2023.  
My husband's newer handcycle is a really low-seating setting which makes his speed faster. On the other hand, his view is limited as you can imagine. When I yell "Wow, it's really nice view on this trail", he cannot see it at all. Sometimes it makes me feel bad. (Next time, I'll try to take a shot of "my husband's view", so that you can see it. Photos: I love this selfie by my husband very much. Found Pluneless Thistles by the trail (by a river), loved the scienary.

6/24/2023.  
While my husband and I keep pedaling/pushing/rolling, our 21 year-old son was off to his great adventure to Mongolia (and Japan). Since it seems he doesn't do much social media plus it was no-internet condition in Mongolia, I don't expect to get photos from him "like live-streamed photos". Then he sent one photo on the last day at a local hotel. (Above. ONE AND ONLY.) I was super excited and happy. I couldn't stop smiling. He was super lucky to get great help/support from this (below photos) wonderful family in Yokohama, right before and after flying to (and from) Mongolia. Literally he couldn't have done it without them. Thank them for being there. 

Entry#133.6/22/2023.  
There is a German restaurant called Steinkeller in our town, Oxford.   
"Oxford, Ohio's authentic German Bier Hall and restaurant.  Stop in and try one of over 22 different authentic German biers along with a schnitzel and spätzle or our famous Reuben”. 
It’s one of my favorites, I can say that. However I haven’t visited here since my husband’s accident July 2021 because this restaurant is in the basement of the building with stairs from the main entrance and I didn’t know there was another way at all. You’d be surprised when you discovers the page of “wheelchair access” on their website.  
https://www.steinkellercircle.com/getting-here  

Wheelchair Access is in the alley.

There is an elevator to use. 

6/22/2023.  Race Across America updates;
We haven't visited the checkpoint-tent but we saw one of the van for a solo cyclist who is a Japanese!! (The actual cyclist left this town already to the east.) It's #674!

6/20/2023.  
Since my husband became a handcyclist and I am becoming (almost) a cyclist, we realized there were many interesting cycling race everywhere. We just glanced some facts before and now it got our attention very much. There is a race called "Race Across America". The most interesting part is our city Oxford, Ohio is one of their stop-stations (check-points). (psss, Bloomington, IN is also one of them!!) So can you guess what we are thinking?  We would love to go out and find some real cyclists to cheer them up!  
We can track places where they are at right now.

https://www.raceacrossthewest.org/live-tracking

https://www.raceacrossthewest.org/about

Here is an article from a local news.

https://www.journal-news.com/news/cyclists-from-around-globe-to-pass-through-oxford-in-race-across-america/LEZUT4GJZ5HOBPV6QNPILQX52Y/

6/18/2023.  
My larkspur is almost in full bloom! It's my very favorite. Come see them, you'd love it. 

Entry#132. 6/18/2023.  
My husband introduced me everything about handcycle. Seems it’s becoming more familiar recently. Some facts from several articles here:  
“Handcycling was developed in the 1980s by people working to create alternate types of human-powered vehicles. So it was almost by accident that a new world of cycling was opened to people with disabilities.”  
“It’s not just for racing; it’s also for recreational riding. It’s a barrier breaker that allows a disabled rider to participate in cycling with friends and families who may be riding conventional bicycles.”  
“In the 25 years since its development, handcycling has continued to grow in popularity. The 2004 Paralympics included handcycling racing for the first time.”

I’m impressed that how much the development of handcycle-world happened in these days. I’m grateful that my husband has discovered about it and gotten into it. 
Have you ever wondered about the difference between handcycles and racing-wheelchairs?  
https://www.achillesinternational.org/blog/whats-the-difference-between-racing-wheelchairs-and-handcycles

It’s so interesting to learn about both. My husband hasn’t gotten introduced a racing-wheelchair and I’m not sure whether he wants to try it or not.  
Both have three wheels and propelled using upper body strength. But a racing wheelchair is the adaptive parallel to running. This part is the huge difference. A website says;“Because the two pieces of adaptive equipment are so different, they are never combined competitively. In the Paralympics they are considered two completely different sports with different events.”

It’s good to know about these adaptive sports and devices to myself. 
Have you seen a basketball-wheelchair? It is also totally different. Video attached.
photo: racing wheelchairs (from an article)

3/17/2023.  
I've been thinking there are so many differences about "how to learn to play a piano" between Japan and the United States. It's interesting. I had a chance to attend a piano/vocal recital today. It was joyful. Yes, I brought flowers!

3/16/2023.  
I’m grateful that I have many wonderful thoughtful friends in town who check on me often and visit me sometimes. My husband has many researcher friends near and far. Some of them visit us even from far distance. That events make me super excited because it’s a great opportunity to get to know his friends. Meeting in person is so important and meaningful to us right now with this new-normal life. Visitors from IU made my day so joyful this time. 

6/16/2023.  
Fireflies update: Thanks to good rains, fireflies in my yard are blinking nicely in these days. Have you tried chasing them around? Their flying patterns are unique, I think I can say that. I love chasing them even during the daytime. 

6/13/2023.
In honor of “Mongolia expedition” (yes, our son is on the expedition right now), here is some facts about Mongolian ger (tent).  

https://www.viewmongolia.com/mongol_ger.html

Our son told me that he was going to stay in a ger for several nights. Seems he assembles it and disassembles it at the end. Sounds so interesting and also cool. This would be a unique life-changing experience to our son for sure. I’m jealous. 

Did you know that you could stay in a ger as an Airbnb? 

6/12/2023.  
In celebration of "Earth Expeditions", especially our son's Mongolia expedition, I can put some fun facts about Mongolia here. Do you know what Mongolian currency is? 
https://www.nomadicjourneys.com/how-to-travel-to-mongolia/mongolian-currency/

https://www.mongolia-travel-advice.com/mongolia-money.html  
I'm still in the middle of learning stage about it, but it's fun to just look at photos. 

6/11/2023.    
It is “Earth Expeditions” month which our son will attend through the project dragonfly. https://miamioh.edu/cas/graduate-studies/project-dragonfly/earth-expeditions/index.html

I’ve been learning something new from our son. This program seems to focus on “conservation” in the world. 

Websites says;   
"Enrolled students travel to important conservation areas to gain first-hand knowledge of local biodiversity and community conservation efforts for the benefit of humans and wildlife worldwide."  
"All courses engage with grassroots conservation and sustainability programs that are making a difference in Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas."  
"Earth Expeditions courses are open to any adult learners and teachers seeking professional development opportunities to benefit their career, as well as individuals simply seeking a unique life-changing experience."

I put a map of locations where this program organization provides opportunities. I’m impressed the number. Many!   
It’s all about “conservation” as my understanding. Our son is going to Mongolia and will stay for 10 days. 

I am excited for him. He explained some details about Mongolia program. Especially “wild horse” part makes my eyes wide open. Cannot wait to hear all about it after he is back to the states.  
"Przewalski’s horse, also called takhi, are considered to be the only true wild horse left in the world. We will join research on an ambitious reintroduction project based in Mongolia that has returned this remarkable species to its former homeland after being driven to extinction in the wild."

Entry#131. 6/11/2023.  
My husband has been searching and seeking for great cycling trails and introduces several of them to me. I learned Great Miami river trail and Little Miami scenic trail.  
https://www.miamivalleytrails.org/trails/great-miami-river-trail
https://www.miamivalleytrails.org/trails/little-miami-scenic-trail
I'm a very beginner for cycling but more learn about it more fun it gets. True. So far handcycling is the most effective exercise to my husband. More than any physical therapy. He used to say "I cannot use much calories" because he doesn't have any control below the waist. Since he started riding handcycle, and got more miles and speeds, he now is able to "sweat" and even he gets "muscle ache"!! (Yes, it's odd but he was a bit disappointed that he couldn't get much muscle ache before.) Then he was smiling to get some muscle ache after he finished 23-mile biking. 
I'm grateful that we discovered a great activity that we can keep up with and learn more and more.  Oh, I gotta confess this though. The speed my husband learns and consumes about handcycling knowledge and skill is way too FAST (you know him) besides the actual "speed", I sometimes feel "I cannot catch up". Well, I try to do my part with my own speed. 

6/09/2023.  
I think I need to put up a kind of "score board" about deer vs me for plants' battles. As you know, my yards are deer's playground and munching station. This year, until yesterday, I felt good because my Day lilies and Hollyhocks kept growing. Then it's gone now sadly. Deer ate it up.  
Here is the data so far. (how much deer ate up). 
daylilies. 90%
treelilies. 60%
hosta. 80%
clematis. 70%
hollyhocks. 90%
lurkspars. 20%
marigolds. 0%
lantana. 0%. 
You might be giggling to see these.  
photos: one of my peonies is a late bloomer and surprisingly is still blooming. Yay

6/08/2023.  
My husband showed me this video. Did you already watch it?

Entry#130. 6/06/2023.
My husband has discovered several great sources/connections and organizations related with disability, disabled sports and SCI. I’ve been amazed and impressed to know about them. I was kind of shocked “why I never heard of them, why I never noticed their great causes?”, realizing my “blindness”. Now I’m learning and knowing about them.   
One of the organizations is Adaptive Sports Connection (their office is located in Powell, OH).  
https://adaptivesportsconnection.org/sports-programs/

https://adaptivesportsconnection.org/events-at-a-glance/

(You know? I’m also impressed that my husband discovers these stuffs quickly and accesses them right away.)  My husband accomplished sit-ski one time through this program. We are grateful for knowing programs they offer through the year.  
Guess what sport he attended this time in June? Adaptive Mountain Biking! in Columbus. It was his second try (the previous one was at near Cincinnati.)  Basically he shows up at the mountain bike trail place and tries to ride on one mountain handcycle they provide. He doesn’t know which type of handcycles available (which types they have) until he arrives at the place. Also it’s uncertain if he can pick his favorite kind from their collection.  
It was all great this time. It was a new type of handcycle for him to ride on. New skill was needed to operate for hand-pedaling and steering/braking separately. The trails are super wonderful and nice for beginner cyclists. They have many trails which have several different skill levels!! We were simply happy to discover this location.  
For now, he keeps seeking about “how to enjoy getting into trails/woods with WHICH types of handcycles”.  If he was a mountain bike racer before, he would stick with “competing with mountain handcycle”, I imagine. However, we are just trail-lovers and would be happier if we could figure out the way to get into the trails with his SCI conditions. So his “journey” will continue until he finds his own machine for it.  
It was a long drive to attend a 2-hour-session, but it was worth the experience. Always we appreciate all the supporters’ work/help.  
photos: it’s always challenging to get into the seat from his wheelchair. 

6/05/2023. 
News flash: Fireflies are here in my backyard! When I saw one flying around me during the day, I jumped up with joy. Tomorrow, I'm gonna try to catch it in my hand and take a shot. Your fireflies are blinking, too? Did I tell you that Japanese fireflies have totally different behaviors? Curious?

photo: When you see a familiar face on his bike (especially a special kind, for kids!!) on the bike trail during your cycling, it makes you happier. 

6/04/2023.  
I have a wonderful long-time friend in Olsburg, KS. She is a great skillful gardener and hummingbirds-whisperer (in fact, she is a real deer-bowhunter and magazine-editor!) because her house has many hummingbirds every year. It's amazing. We text/email each other to share our gardens stuffs. It's so fun to compare each other's flowers, weather, animals and more. I am always jealous about her huge gorgeous garden. When I see something new or something catch my eyes in her photos, I ask her about it or I google it then I go to my town's nursery to "hunt" it. One year, I tried to find "Red hot poker" aka "Torch Lily" because she had it in her garden. And I got it for my garden since. Are you familiar with this flower?  I love to call it "Candy corn flower". 

https://www.bloomingbackyard.com/red-hot-poker/

This year, the first bloom looked a bit different. Do you see it in the photo? There are two tips on the top on one stalk. Very interesting. I love them very much because of the colors, yes, candy corn colors!

6/04/2023.  
How's your summer going? Once summer break started, it got a bit busier. Busy is good. Seems my husband has several summer projects for his research with his students and sets up new goals on his outside activities. Those stuffs make him active more and make me positive/happy as well. Still I need more mulch for my yards.