1. These 4 men recently received a well deserved Award of Excellence for the work they do. Knowing the people they provide service for on a daily basis nominated them for the award makes it that much sweeter. Knowing every last one of them is a true Appalachian man born and raised right here in my mountains makes my heart sing. If you didn’t recognize him, The Deer Hunter is the third back from the front. If I were going on an epic journey filled with great peril-these are the men I would beg to go with me. They could handle any task, chore, or issue that arose-AND they would tackle it all with an encouraging kind compassionate spirit.
2. We have been overwhelmed by the out pouring of love that has rained down upon our heads since Pap died. Hugs, love, food, cards, letters, emails, texts, flowers, donations to the JCCFS music scholarship in Pap’s name, stories, kind words, books donated to libraries in Pap’s name, and even rings-all given to us in memory of Pap and what he meant to the givers and to the receivers.
3. I’ve told you before that Pap was a fan of The Avett Brothers. He liked their music, he liked the lyrics to their songs even more. He said he didn’t know about all that jumping around they do sometimes, but he sure liked how they did their own thing and still managed to make it in the music world. Pap was really pleased when he found out their uncle was his friend and fellow musician Wally from right over in Martins Creek. I never know when I’m going to bust into tears over missing Pap. The other morning on the way to work it was The Avett Brothers that caused it. As I listened to one of their songs I started thinking about what a cool old man Pap was. He not only knew who The Avett Brothers were, he could even tell you which of their songs he liked the best. I shared this one with him a few weeks before he passed. Like many of their original songs it has an old sound but with a totally modern interpretation.
4. Years ago Granny gave me a start of an old fashioned pink rose she got from her mother, my Granny Gazzie. I planted it beside the driveway and fell in love with it the first spring it bloomed. The prettiest deep pink you ever seen, but even better than the color is the sweet fragrance. After a year or two I realized choosing to plant the rose by the driveway was a mistake. I had to constantly keep it pruned back out of the way. I finally wised up and started a piece of the rose near the edge of a bank on around the house where it could sprawl and grow to its heart’s content. The rose only blooms once in the spring but it’s worth waiting on.
5. If you haven’t checked out Chitter’s Stamey Creek Creations Etsy Shop lately you need to. She’s added some especially interesting designs lately. I especially like the snap type clasp she’s used on some of them-very easy to put on when you’re in a hurry.
Tipper
Congrats to your hubby on the award. There are so many good men and women throughout the world. What a shame they and their good deeds so often get hidden in the tragedies of the headlines which often lead some to lose hope for the future.
That’s a beautiful rose. My favorite rose is and always has been, the tiny pink wild ones that often grow in ditches and along side woods. I think they’re called Tiny Fairy, but am not sure. Often through the roughest of circumstances for growing, they flourish and are a lesson for us all.
God bless.
RB
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Tipper I too love the Peonies! I have a white one and the dark pink, they’re beautiful and they smell so good !
It’s the men who carve out the bed, build the trestle, lay the track and grease the wheels that make the train go. The engineer just sits up in the cab and toots his own horn. It’s men like yours that carry this country. Men with uniforms and names on their shirts do the work that wusses in suits and ties take credit for. They deserve much more than service pins and framed certificates. At least these four got a little bit of that recognition.
1. Congratulations to the Men who were recognized.
2. You must be so Proud of the fact that Pap reached and touched so many..
3. Hard to beat good Music… and Don’t be ashamed of the tears..
4. We have an old timey Rose also love that thing, has the most fragrant smell, my
Wife talked me into planting it next to the house, (bad idea) that thing got gi-norm-ous
I moved it and still fighting shoots, I’m afraid it’s going to come up in my bed room..
5. Nice designs, and I’m not into girly things…
Congrats to the Deer Hunter!
It’s always good to see dedicated people being recognized for their hard work.
An old employer once told me when I was going into management that if I would take care of the people working for me they would take care of me. I found that to be very true. Treat everyone with respect and acknowledge them for the work they do.
Tipper I know you are missing your Pap.
I remember the weeks and months after my dad passed were very hard. I would catch myself thinking I need to call dad and tell or ask him something and then that sinking feeling would hit me when I realized he was not there to call. It got better with time and I know it will for you too. I still miss him and always will but I am surrounded by wonderful memories of him and that is such a sweet thing indeed. May God continue to comfort all of you!
I think Matt was shying away from the camera. If so, I relate. I do not enjoy having my picture taken or to be singled out for attention. As somebody said, “Reputation is what people say about you but character is what you are when you are alone.” I expect Matt works the same whether anyone is noticing or not. But it is nice to know people have noticed. Congratulations.
Alas, so many things produced commercially are about the features that serve the commercial process. Fragrance in roses is not important in that process. And taste is not very important in food. That’s one reason to grow your own or go local.
Best of luck, Chitter with Stamey Creek Creations. Being creative in whatever way gives one a different perspective on the world that serves one well.
Cheryl-thank you for the comment! Since the old pink rose grows so wide its pretty easy to dig a rooted piece from around the edge. Granny taught me to root things in water-and it really does work for lots of things. Hope you have a great evening!
The photo of those four fellows brought to mind a passage from 1 Thessalonians 4:11, which goes something like this (I’m combining words from different versions; apologies to anyone who is offended by my doing so):
Study to be quiet, mind your own business, and work with your own hands.
Congratulations to the Deer Hunter and his 3 co-workers on their awards of excellence! So, what is it they do that earned them such a prestigious award? Pap is and will always be cool Iin our eyes! We love him and his music. We love all the BP music and are so glad you share it with us!
Tipper,
I just had a little talk with our Radio Girl, Donna Lynn, and she told me about the Pressley Girls coming to her church this Sunday. Since they don’t have preaching this
Sunday, they moved the girls up to 11:00 AM. Then I requested “Angels Rock Me to Sleep” by Chitter and Chatter. Maybe I’ll get to see everyone at Valleytown Baptist.
…Ken
Tipper,
The old fashion rose issue into your stories. My cousin & I dug our mamaws peonies or as we say in East Tennessee pineys when she passed away. They are just beautiful when they bloom and it makes memories of my mamaw come to life. I treasure them like jewels. There is an old fashion rose in my yard from when we bought our home. There’s a smell from them that’s like no other. They’re different from the rose bushes that are for sale today.
Tipper I’m sorry you miss your dad so badly. I know where your coming from. Daddy’s been gone 14 years but feels like yesterday but now when I return to places he loved. Most of them are lakes he was a avid fisherman after dad first left us visiting a lake would be destroyed with grief and tears. Now I can go to any lake he’d spend the day or night on and I feel a closeness of good memories of my daddy. My dad was a veteran from the Korean conflict and he didn’t see me for the first 14 months of my life. As bad as this world can be right now I know my daddy is in heaven and he doesn’t have to deal with these world as it is now. I know he’s in heaven and he can breathe perfectly and he can walk & is enjoying Jesus and his friends that passed on before him. Sorry to write for so long but I want to help in any way I can. Your family has a closeness that is unbelievable which I’m fortunate to have but now part of the circle is gone but I try to remember my dad was strong and he lived his life to the fullest as long as he possibly could so that’s what I try to do. Your dad wouldn’t want you sad just remember happiness from his music & love for his family. Hope I’ve helped you people have told me I need to let go of some of my feelings but as long as I live dad in a sweet, funny way he can live on with me.
Sincerely and prayers,
Carol R.
Interesting that you think of Pap as a “cool old man”. It wasn’t until I started rewatching all of the Blind Pig videos that I realized he was even old. Always seemed like he was still in his 30s to me. Then again, Paul seems like he’s still in college. Young spirits those Wilson’s have.
When my grannie lived up the road from us there was a huge wild rose bush across the road from her house. The blooms were so delicate and beautiful and so fragrant–they are a lovely memory.
I’m impressed that Pap kept up with other Americana music. He was a true music renaissance man of the mountains. I admire him for his end of life decisions, and facing it on his own terms… Kudos to the Deer Hunter. Nice recognition for the guys from their neighbors in the service area. It surely means a lot to them for a job well done, above and beyond the call of duty. They probably say they were just doing their job.
I too want a start for the “0ld Fashion Rose”. Wow…what a pretty color!!!
Sue in Ohio
Well this sure was a different kind of post – with lots of HEART! Now I will go back and enjoy the music!
Eva Nell
Pap will always be a part of the Blind Pig; his spirit will be alive. I wish I could give you a hug to help with the grief you are going through. However, I feel that Pap is watching over every song, writing, and your daily life. He is alive in every facet of your lives. God will continue to guide you through your time of sadness. Thanks for sharing Pap with us.
Special congatulations to Matt–the Deer Hunter–and his fellow workers for the prestigious award, and I thank them for their faithful service that brought the deserved earning of this award.
I listened to the Avett brothers rendition of “Divorce, Separation Blues,” and plan to tell my friend, a person who leads “Divorce Care” classes to help people broken by divorce to adjust and go on, about the song–if he does not know about it already. I think it would be a good resource for him to have a video of it to play in the Divorce Care class. And I know the Avett’s uncle, Wally Avett, writer extraordinary, I have written book reviews of two of his novels–one especially of interest to my big “Dyer Clan” entitled “Coosa Flyer”–fiction based on the invention of an ancestor, Micajah Clark Dyer who invented “An Apparatus for Navigating the Air” and got a US patent on his invention in September, 1874!
And the rose: It looks exactly like one we grew in our yard at my Choestoe home where i lived until I ‘Went away to college” and hence away from that beloved place even until now. It’s a beautiful rose!
I wish Chitter the best with her Etsy Shop business! Beautiful creations!
Tipper, I know what you mean about grief surprising you when you least expect it. I believe when that happens, we need to slow down, bring out the memories, and let our hearts fill up with the joy our loved ones gave us.
Now, I have a question. When you “start” a rose, I am guessing this is a cutting. How do you encourage the roots — in water? in soil? A lot of roses now are hybrid and grafted. I have a small rose that came from one that my beloved sister gave to my brother and that I “started” from a cutting. Curious about how you do yours.
Yep, those are some good guys! I think of Pap on a daily basis. His spirit is a constant presence.
Chitters talent is growing, her new jewelry is lovely.
I like the rose and I like the idea of the rose!