Apples #30

School days bookends.

Apple #29

Grocry list pad with apples.

Apple #28

It looks sliver here, but this clip-type apple is actually gold colored.

Apple #27

Pat gave me this pin. I only wore it a few times. (Understandably!)

Apple #26

This counted cross stitch was given to me by a student more than 20 years ago. It was made by his grandmother.

Apple #25

Part of an afghan I have that has the months of the year.

Apple #24

An apple pin with lots of bling!

Apple #23

A marble apple paperweight.

Apple #22

Today is my birthday and Earth Day, so I'm not posting one of my apples, but thought this picture would be more appropriate for the day.

Apple #21

An apple cutting board.

Apple #20

When Jack was in high school he went on a domestic exchange program to New Jersey. They took a trip into NYC and he got this cup for me. It has been sitting on this shelf above the sink ever since. Very often it hold garlic cloves.

Apple #19

Ernie came to me from one of my 2nd grade students during the school year 1984-85. That was the only year in Chetek that I taught something other than kindergarten. Ernie disappeared one day, only to be brought back a week or so later by the mother of the student who took him. The student told her mom that I had given Ernie to her, but the mom didn't buy the story!

Apple #18

My good friend, Kathy Rykal, made this basket for me for my birthday in 1994. It sits on the kitchen cupboard and holds my medicines.

Apple #17

This folding wooden trivet opens up into a basket. It was given to me from my daughter, Erin, many years ago while she was still in grade school. Her dad helped her pick it out (and probably paid for it).

Apple #16

Apple #15

A Norwegian rosemaled apple.

Apple #13 & 14

My son, Jack, gave me this sweater one year while I was still teaching. Very appropriate for kindergarten, but I haven't worn it since I retired. The turtleneck also has apples on it.

Apples #12

My sister-in-law, Claudia, gave me this 365 day apple calendar.

Apple #11

Bear with an apple dress.

Apple #10

Apple #9

Sister, Pat, stitched this for me.

Apple #8

The angel is a music box that plays "Schools Days".

Apple #7

This bear hook came to me many years ago from sister Pat......one of the many apples gifts she gave to me.

Apple #6

A counted cross stich was made by the mother of one of my kindergartners and given to me for Christmas about 15 years ago.

Apple #5

My dear sister, Pat, gave this book to me for my birthday one year.

Apple #4

This apple pie plate was in a box destined for St. Vinnie's when it was rescued long enough to take a picture of it. Off to the Op Shop tomorrow!

Apple #3

Apple #2

This was a toy that both of my children played with as babies. It was acquired before I started collecting apples.

Apples Away - #1

Being a former kindergarten teacher, I used to collect apples and when my kitchen was remodeled earlier this fall I got rid of many of them. My daughter, Erin, was remarking that it would have been fun to have done a blog and post an apple a day. As we got looking around the kitchen we realized that there were still numerous apples hanging on the wall, sitting on the counters and in the cupboards. I know there aren't a whole year's worth left, but I decided to start posting one a day and see how far I get with it. The first is off me in my "Norwegian to the core" t-shirt that I bought in Decorah, Iowa. I usually only wear it once a year - on Sytennde Mai (Norwegian Independence Day), May 17th. This photo, however was taken last October when I presented a slide show of my last summer's trip to Norway to my Sons of Norway lodge.