No Vacation This Summer

Usually at the end of August, we visit our relatives abroad.  My parents are in their 80’s and I want visit them as often as I could.  Unfortunately, we cannot have any vacation this summer.  It is because I had a long sick leave this year in March.  I was home-bound for more than four weeks after a vitrectomy on my left eye and was forced to face down 24 hours a day.  The macular hole was mended by the surgery, but I still have a hole in my vision, although it is getting smaller very slowly. 

At the same time, I began suffering from frozen shoulder on my right side in February.  It was very bad in March especially when I had to sleep facing down or on my right side.  The latter was just impossible and I would wake up many times a night with severe shoulder pains.  It got worse in April before it began to settle down.  At the same time, my left shoulder began to act up.  I am much better now thanks to acupuncture and moxibustion.   

With all these health issues I’ve had this year so far, I need a vacation badly.  Yet, I do not have any more vacation days left.  Sigh.

Fortunately, it has been nice around here this summer and I can enjoy my garden in August:
Japanese Anemone (anemone tomentosa robustissima);

 



Chartreuse green sedum from my friend (Angelina stonecrop?) ;

And, lespedeza.  It is called Hagi in Japanese.