The Story of the Apple Crate

Last Thursday, on a short junking trip, I set out looking for a few specific things — anything chippy green, old boxes, crates, drawers, and a touch of red enamelware to elevate my Christmas display. In one brief stop, I managed to find a little of everything.

But the piece that really caught my heart was a small apple crate, its old label partially peeled away — a simple thing, but one that brought back the sweetest memory.

When I was about five years old, I’d walk through the pasture to visit our neighbors — a family with four kids and a mother who was an incredible cook. I always seemed to arrive right around suppertime. There was never an extra chair, but the gruff dad would pull up an apple crate for me to sit on.

I remember plates filled with country vegetables, cornbread or biscuits, and always — always — her chocolate no-bake cookies. My own mother never made them, but I can still taste those cookies from that cozy kitchen. That neighbor taught me that good food and a warm welcome didn’t depend on fancy ingredients — just creativity, care, and making the most of what you have.

So when I spotted that little crate last week, it wasn’t just a find — it was a reminder. The apple crate is a reminder to slow down, savor the small things, and honor the stories that come with them.

🤍 Because sometimes the most meaningful treasures aren’t the ones we hunt for — they’re the ones that bring us back to who we were and why we started. One memory, one story, one day at a time… slowing down with purpose.