The Sparta apple tree is covered in lovely flowers. Not the greatest apple for eating, but they make excellent applesauce. It was a fortunate bloom this year, starting during that record warm week. Sometimes the weather is cold and wet and the pollinators aren't active.
Speaking of bees, the neighbor across the street added a second hive. They visit all the time and are deliriously happy when our allium and lavender blooms. Maybe we should get a cut of the locally sourced organic honey? Ha.
Two years later, the plum tree recovered from that last resort pruning. There's some tiny dots of green fruit inside each pollinated flower. Homemade plum chutney again, if the aphids stay away.
I have 8 hours of Zoom meetings scheduled today and tomorrow with CHI Franciscan Hospice Volunteer Program. This completes the training requirements I've been working on for the last year. I'm now a "Certified End of Life Specialist."
That sounds more impressive (and grim) than it really is. But even with all the training, I still wonder if I'm capable of this job. In the end, all you can do is keep an open mind and heart. It's been quite a learning journey already.
The final step is an in-person screening at the hospital, where you get a photo badge and items like PPE to finally visit patients in homes and nursing facilities. This has been a very difficult time for providing hospice services, and I know they're eager to get the volunteer program restarted.
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