“Curiouser and curiouser,” as Alice would say.
ROCKWALL COUNTY, TX (Aug. 10, 2026) For this editor’s note, I tumbled headfirst down a rabbit hole that began in my own backyard, where a Granny Smith sapling we planted years ago suddenly surprised me with fruit.
Seeing those little green apples instantly made me think of the new school year, football season, Friday night lights, apple cider, and crisp mornings (even if Texas won’t cooperate for another couple of months).
I started wondering why apples have become so intertwined with back-to-school traditions.
We all recognize the image: a shiny red apple sitting proudly on a teacher’s desk. I assumed it was nothing more than a symbol of appreciation.
Turns out, it was something much more practical.
Back in the 1700s and 1800s, especially in rural America, teachers were often paid very little in cash. Frontier families made up the difference however they could, bringing fresh eggs, potatoes, homemade pies, firewood…and apples.
Apples stored well throughout the winter, making them one of the most valuable foods a family could give. So that iconic apple wasn’t just a token of appreciation—it was part of a teacher’s pay. In many cases, it helped put dinner on the table.
Of course, my bunny trail didn’t end there.
As I kept digging deep into old school traditions, I stumbled onto another involving something we all take for granted—the school bell.
Long before watches, cell phones, Alexa, or Siri, bells kept life moving. Church bells called people to worship. School bells signaled lessons. Dinner bells called families in from the fields. Tavern bells announced mealtimes and gathering hours. From sunrise to supper, entire communities lived by their sound.
No wonder the ringing of a school bell still feels like the official soundtrack of a new school year. Even today, it signals fresh beginnings, new routines, and another chapter waiting to be written.
Funny how one little apple in the backyard can uncover centuries of history.
That’s the beauty of curiosity. One question becomes another. Before long, you’ve learned something unexpected, discovered a new appreciation for everyday traditions, and maybe found the perfect excuse to enjoy a glass of apple cider—or if you’re unwinding after surviving back-to-school shopping, perhaps a crisp hard cider or apple brandy cocktail.
Until our next adventure, here’s to following the rabbit holes, celebrating the ordinary things with extraordinary stories, and remembering that sometimes the sweetest discoveries grow from the smallest apples.
By Dawn Redig, Blue Ribbon News.
Enjoy more stories from our Drink.Dine.Unwind. series:
Drink. Dine. Unwind. | Former NFL player from Rockwall presents an evening of Wagyu & whiskey
Drink, Dine, Unwind: A First Look Inside The Algiers Club of Heath
Show Us Your School Spirit!
From pre-K to college, we want to see those first day smiles!
Submit your back-to-school photos to editor@blueribbonnews.com.
Editor’s Note: The Apple, The Bell, and The Rabbit Hole added by Editor on
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