Ume/Plum Blossoms

I always think 'ume', the Japanese word for plum blossoms when I see them for they were so beautiful. Japan is so besotted with cherry blossoms (sakura) that they have 'blossom viewing parties' which are basically an excuse to sit on a blanket in a park and drink a lot. The cherry blossoms are beautiful, but the ume  are one of the first things to bloom in Japan after what has often been a cold winter and I love their delicacy and hopefulness.  

Our little tree was singed by the fire and didn't bloom at all last year, but is trying valiantly to make a comeback this year...It is planted in a rather awkward place and a landscaper suggested that we take it out so that the olive tree behind it, which we didn't even know was there before the fire could thrive. I think the olive tree is doing just fine as it is and we have lots of others planted around the property but there is only one plum tree and I wouldn't have the heart to take it out.

I sorted out a screwed up prescription with Robert, our pharmacist, and he had already sorted out the one which my doctor never did,. He said that the insurance company would only give me a one month supply because it wants to get me to use their mail order service. I really dislike the insurance company which harasses us with constant phone calls trying to get us to switch, to mail order but I will never give up on Robert, one of the last independent pharmacists still standing.  He's not only gone to bat for me several times with various problems with the insurance company or the doctor, he's a real character. He has a sign on the wall that says, "You don't have to be crazy to work here, we'll train you". His motorcycle is parked out back but he works such long hours I've never seen him actually ON it.

The glass shower panel was installed this morning. There were three trucks parked in our driveway this morning at 7:30 in order to install one 24 inch wide piece of glass. They all sounded like they were having a grand time...one of them was a whistler, a rare breed these days, and I always like it.  We were driven out, however, by the screaming drill trying to bite through the porcelain tile, and arrived early at Trail House for an excellent cup of coffee and good company.