91/365: A is for ... the Apple Glass

So far this year my decluttering efforts have been focused on the things I want to get rid of.  All very necessary as there is so much that needs to go, but this month I'm having a bit of a change and will be looking at the special items I want to keep.

Click here to see the list of blogs participating in the 2015 A to Z Challenge.

 

First up is the apple glass. 

The apple glass brings back such vivid memories of my childhood.  It was part of a set that was gifted to my Mum and I can remember so clearly the day she brought it home.  It was a surprise gift to my Mum as a thank you for demonstrating the work to someone who was new to the job.  The woman in question was Hungarian and only spoke a few word of English, but Mum somehow managed to explain what to do and, for a few weeks, kept an eye on her until she was settled in and at ease with the work.  The woman (I don't know her name) painted this herself and presented it to Mum.  Here's the full set. 

 

I must have been about seven years old and can remember Mum arriving home from work with a parcel - a box holding some things wrapped in tissue paper.  Mum placed the box carefully on the kitchen table and told us (my sister and myself) to sit down if we wanted to see.  I can remember we were still wearing our summer uniforms - yellow and white striped shirtwaist dresses with brown cardigans - and our brother who'd been looking after us moved to stand in the doorway, sort of casting his shadow over the table.  Mum carefully unwrapped each piece and placed them on the table, just looked at them, and then cried.  I think it was this emotion that made this memory stick so vividly in my mind. I can remember my 14 year old brother asking why she was crying (typical man!!) and then Mum explaining that it was just because someone had taken the time to paint this especially for her. 

 

The set was put in pride of place at the front of the glass display cabinet, which I think every household had at that time, and I can remember sitting in front of the cabinet from time to time just looking and checking it was still there!  My favourite piece right from the start was the apple glass, chosen I think because at that age I didn't like pears! 

 

Mum treasured this set until the day she died and I chose to keep them when we shared her things.  I can remember talking about the day Mum brought it all home and being shocked that the two siblings who were there with me had no memory at all of that occasion.  It's strange what we do and don't remember, isn't it?