Happy Apple Day!

As many of you already know, I moved here to the wine country directly from a college I was attending in Virginia. I had to come back for health reasons and had I not left, I'd be a junior there right now.

My experience there was an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life. There were many problems and I often don't regret my decision to come home but this is a specific day of the year I've been dreading. Today (as I have been for the last week) I'm feeling homesick. Homesick for the amazing memories that are now behind me.

Today is Apple Day.

Apple Day is (arguably the most looked forward to) tradition at Mary Baldwin. The tradition started in the early 1940's and has been going strong since then.

Apple Eve (the night before) is notoriously known for the drinking done but is also welcomed with contests, sporting events, games and a barbecue.

The drinking is notorious because Apple Day is a day of no school! Everyone gets the day off and has the option to go apple picking (the apples go to help feed the homeless in the community) at a local orchard, "paint the town" which consists of going downtown and painting the windows of all the store for fall and there's a carnival.

Every meal is also filled with apples. From apple pancakes and apple cider to apple pasta and apple chicken, there's even a chocolate fountain to dip the apples in- along with caramel and candy apples!

The sophomore class plans the whole event (I was on the planning committee last year) and every class tries to outdo the fun had the year before.

For many years the day of the event was kept a secret until the night before. That changed in 1998 though when the entire freshman class ended up in the ER with alcohol poisoning!

I can only imagine today will be filled with a campus full of 1,000 women sporting red and green and celebrating the spirit of Apple Day!

It's a celebratory day to celebrate the community, school spirit, a day off from school and spending time with amazing friends!

While I can't be there in body, I'll definitely be there in spirit.

(And have already planned to eat "Apple Pie Oatmeal" for breakfast!)

Happy Apple Day!

Here are some photos of last year's Apple Day!

(Everything is grey because for part of the morning it was pouring rain-not that anyone minded!)

The Bounce Obstacle Slide

Gladys the Squirrel (the mascot) riding the mechanical bull

The Slide-Side of the Bounce House

As the clouds cleared, it became a beautiful day!

(You can also see on the left side, the horses that were brought in to ride)

My first ever candy apple!

There's nothing better than an amazing day-spent with friends!