Today, is my one thousandth, three hundredth, and twentieth blog post! That’s right I’ve made 1,320 posts to The Apples In My Orchard! It all started just before the Slice of Life Story Challenge in 2017. I opened my blog during the last week in February to test the waters and be ready to write…
slice of life challenge
Slice of Life: A Long Day of Travel
Some of my faithful readers are aware that I recently travelled to New York State to see my aging parents. They are 83 and 84. We got home, after a 900 mile car ride, last night at one o’clock in the morning Central Standard Time. I have not seen my parents since November of 2019,…
The End of Our Time Together, #SOL20, Day 31/ Year 3
Today is the last day of the Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted by TwoWritingTeachers blog. Thus, today I offer a small self-assessment of the experience. I enjoyed writing and connecting with other writers. Although I usually do not overthink my daily posts, for some reason, this month I did do that on occasion. Overthinking…
Spring Horticulture, #SOL Day 30/ Year 3
Today, I was determined to be more productive than I have been over the last two weeks. I have kept busy but not really productive and when I feel like that it ends up bothering me. But, even today, I’ve gone from task to task without much oompf. This morning I worked on a curriculum…
Somewhat Silent Sunday: Virtual Forest Bathing, #SOL20, Day 29/ Year 3
As I explained last week, my usual Sunday posts only contain photographs with or without captions. But, since this month I am writing as part of a writing challenge, I have been prefacing my photos with some text. Last year from late January until early October, I served as the Outreach and Education Program Manager…
Learning Digitally, #SOL Day 28/Year 3
Recent weeks have been especially hard on educators as teaching and learning took on a new form. Digital learning. Online classes. E-Learning. There are many names for it. As I’ve discussed before, distance learning – yet another name, is not something new to our home, my sons, or me. So, personally, we are doing well….
Grocery Store Ramblings. #SOL20, Day 26, Year 3.
Today, I went to our local grocery store to pick up a few things. My husband offered but I have not been out of the house since last Saturday! I told him that I felt I really needed to go as I was getting a little “loopy” from being housebound. I have been on several…
Email Deletion – An Easy Cleanout. #SOL20 Day 25/ Year 3
Many of my friends and family have been cleaning out during the extra time spent at home now. I have not done too much of that since I left my job in early October and had some time to do closet cleaning and such well before now. Surely, some spaces could be cleaned out again…
A Delicious Distraction, #SOL20, Day 24/ Year 3
Yesterday, I was antsy. I felt oppressed and unsettled. Being housebound is not going to be easy for me, as I like to run my errands, visit friends for a cup of coffee, have breakfast out with my husband, and even go to the Y to work out. It’s starting to sink in, this common…
The Time is Now, #SOL20 Day 23/ Year 3
During this phase of social distancing and avoiding other humans so as to help flatten the curve of the COVID-19 virus spread, I determined that it is the time to perhaps start writing for a different purpose. After writing a daily blog for three years, and gaining a modest readership, I would like to add…










