Wacky Wednesday #62: Apples

On the off chance you’ve been holed up in a cave for the last month or more, let me update you: it’s back to school time. And (despite the 80-degree weather outside) almost autumn. So let’s jump right into school mode and solve this math word problem:

   What do you get when you add one stampede of energetic students to a group of hard-working teachers, multiplied by a ton of tired parents, divided by a hint of fall, minus a summer that vanished in an instant?

(A) The first week of school.
(B) A headache coming on.
(C) An apple outfit.
(D) All of the above.


Extra credit if you post your answer in the comments section!
 
 

Here's my initial sketch.

And here's the finished product.

When did I come up with this idea, and how? I'm not sure, exactly. Could it have been inspired by a teacher I know, Mr. Brady? He has a wonderful apple shirt. I saw the shirt a year ago, but it only occurred to me a few weeks ago to make an apple outfit. Interesting how the seeds of an idea sometimes take a long time to grow. Yesterday I asked Mr. Brady if he’d wear the apple shirt today and he did. We’re twins!

 

 

Are you wondering why it’s a tradition to give a teacher an apple? I thought so. I poked around online and decided that Smithsonian Magazine’s website seemed a reliable source. Here’s what the site had to say about apples for teachers:

 

Long ago it was the common for students and their families to give teachers food (but never rotten apples, even after a bad grade!). On the frontier families housed and fed teachers. And eventually the apple became a symbol of teachers.

 

This blogger thinks a B-12 shot and a pot of strong coffee would be an even more helpful/relevant/accurate symbol of what teachers need, but hey—traditions can be hard to de-establish. And I have nothing against apples. I like them! They’re colorful and delicious and every Kindergarten and first grade classroom in America has a picture of an apple next to the Aa leading the alphabet around the top of the walls. So why mess with tradition?!

 

Total cost for this outfit:

 

Fabric and dye from stash                            $      0

Red, yellow, green felt                                 $ 1.20

Hot glue sticks                                                $   .60

Red fabric for apple hat                                $ 1.50

TOTAL                                                               $ 3.30

 

 

I made my dress from fabric I had, which I dyed red (which faded to pink once I rinsed the fabric the requisite million times). Then I painted apples on my dress and hot glued fabric apples onto it, too. My apple hat I made from fabric and felt, and it is filled with bubble wrap I already had.

 

Even if I’m not mentally ready to jump back into the school year, at least my outfit is. And regardless of whether I feel ready for school, I’m always ready to give a teacher a high five. They work so hard and give so much. Call me preachy, but I’m going to urge you to give a teacher a hug or a smile today. Teachers, you are amazing. Thank you for all that you do. Let’s give these teachers a bushel of apples. And a gold star!