I baked a cherry pie in partial regime of autarky.

I kneaded the dough from scratch and I used frozen cherry from the old cherry tree in our garden.

A couple of years ago, my husband was nearly decided to cut down that tree, because it looked in poor conditions.
I opposed, irrationally maybe, simply because I was used to see it in the garden and I have always had a liking for old trees. So we simply pruned it rather massively and waited.

I like imagining that the tree, grateful to be spared, engaged itself to do its best.
Actually it bloomed gorgeously and then produced a lot of tasty cherries.
I think we had never picked up so many before.
So we shared them with neighbours and friends and had still enough to freeze in portion.

Right now, the faithful, old cherry tree is ready to blossom again.
I have seen its buds and I think that in a few days it will be in full blossom, unless the temperatures dropped unexpectedly at night.

So I baked a cherry pie, with a feeling of gratitude for the energy of life, which can be showed also by a humble old tree.

I'd like to think that we'll have the same inner energy to get over the present difficulties.
Sometimes it's not easy to be positive, I know.

I have been reflecting on the difference between optimism and hope. Exaggerate optimism may be even counterproductive, because it can generate a wrong feeling of security.
Hope is engaging ourselves in something meaningful, regardless of the immediate results.

Ah, by the way, the cherry pie was delicious…