Spoiled Rotten

I pretty much have the nicest relatives ever. The pie recipes, tips and stories have been rolling in from all quarters, and lately, my mailman has been groaning under the weight of all the fabulous pie-themed gifts that have been arriving. Mom and Dad have been scouring their cookbooks for every chess pie recipe that they can find. Auntie Sues sent me a rolling pin, some great vintage cookbooks, and a reversible apple-print apron that Auntie Nance made for Grandma Bird once upon a time. Earlier this week, Uncle Rolf sent me a fabulous gift box of apple finds from the antique stores of Iowa, including two apple plates, a ceramic apple wall hanging, and a great lidded glass apple. I saw a similar glass apple several months ago and have been pining for it ever since! Just a box arrived from Auntie Nance containing among other things, an apple print place mat that I suspect she made herself. And what are these items pictured in? Could it be? Yes. It is. It's a double-decker pie basket from Auntie Nance. I did not even know that such a thing existed, or how I could possibly have lived without it all these years. Now I don't have to worry about my pies sliding around in the car anymore. Also, now I can go on the two-pie-picnic of my dreams. Thanks so much for all the great gifts! I feel like the world's luckiest pie-lover.