Along the hiawassee river

A few days ago the Blind Pig family went looking for treasures in one of the big fields that lie along the Hiwassee River.

The hiwassee river

We were looking for arrowheads.

Cherokee county nc the hiwassee river

The day was beautiful with blue skies, green trees, brown dirt, and just enough white fluffy clouds to make it all pop.

Peachtree nc

As we walked around the huge field I thought of Pap and how he was born just down the river a piece; of how he traveled this area when he was a boy the same way we were traveling it that day-by our feet.

Sitting down to rest in peachtree nc

We were spread out across the big field but the need for water soon brought us all back together to sit in the shade. I started teasing The Deer Hunter, asking him if he thought he could till a field that big with his little tiller. Teasing back he said why sure he could, it might take him a while but he was the man who could do the job.

Workers in appalahcia

I told him he might could till the big field, but I was sure glad I didn’t have to till it, plant it, weed it, nor harvest it. I told him and the girls “The people who used to have to do it all by hand and plow came from much tougher stock than me.”

Hard workers in appalachia

The Deer Hunter really could plow that field with his tiller if he set his mind to it-he’s a hard worker. He works hard every day while I sit stationary at my job and do not much of anything.

I’ve been blessed to know a lot of hard workers in my lifetime-men and women. Today my hats off to them all. Enjoy your Labor Day and as Pap would say don’t bust your belly if you’re having a special meal.

Tipper

p.s. Just in case you’re wondering-we didn’t find any arrowheads. At the end of the day my bucket had a white piece of china, a white piece of a canning lid, and 2 pieces of coal. The girls each brought home a bucket of rocks to add to their every growing collection.

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14 Comments

  1. I was somewhat surprised to learn that many people in this area of Caldwell County don’t have the day off. They work as usual. Being brought up in the city, I guess I just took for granted that everyone had a day off today. Well, whatever you are doing today – “Happy Labor Day!” and may your jobs be safe.

  2. Tipper,
    what a beautiful Cardinal flower! I imagine they “popped out” in the shade on the edge of the field. A beautiful day for a family outing.
    I’m wondering if Deer Hunter was doing a bit of scouting as well? Just guessing?
    As we were driving on the country roads yesterday, I noticed the Joe Pye and Iron Weed along with of course with the Golden Rod, making their Fall appearance. Can Fall not be far behind, with a few dry leaves blowing in the breeze. The undergrowth of the tree lines starting to change color.
    Maybe Labor Day is a day to reflect as well as rest from our labor.
    Thanks Tipper,

  3. Do you think the Deer Hunter would let me play with his tractor and tiller if I promise not to break anything? I would clean it up and wash it when I got through! Does he have a scrape blade for it yet? He is going to need it if we get all the snow those August fogs predicted.

  4. Walking the fields together
    In search of treasure;
    Finding none of significance,
    Each other’s company our pleasure.

  5. I can only wish today’s young folks could spend one day doing the kind of work my parents and grandparents did. They would never complain about being bored again.
    That field looks like the kind of place where I would love to spend the day looking for arrowheads.

  6. we have to acknowledge all the hard workers in our extended families. the taught us how to get by. while sitting at a resturant after church we discussed how fortunate we are….we didnt have to kill a chicken before dinner.

  7. Tipper – We used to go along the shoreline of the lake where the waves shuffled the sand and rocks back and forth. This was best done when a lack of rain lowered the water level – which hasn’t happened for a while. Still, when the water was down, we always found arrowheads in among those tiny rocks along the shoreline. They were mostly white quartz but sometimes they were black or beige flint.

  8. What a great way to celebrate Labor Day with those you love and to appreciate your surroundings.
    Love your Pap’s saying about don’t eat too much. I haven’t heard that one in a long time. I seem to recall another similar one about “don’t bust a gut,” meaning don’t be in a big hurry I think.
    Sam

  9. Tipper: Your thoughts are so familiar to me – with the LONG ROWS OF CORN we had the pleasure of hoeing til July 4th. Then came LABOR DAY almost every day in the fall, chopping and and shocking those bundles of fodder for the cattle in the winter. Being the seventh child was lucky for me – as the older siblings sent me to ‘run get water’ or what ever they needed to get the job done!
    My new book will be here this WEDNESDAY – if that day will ever come! Next week I will be signing “Fiddler of the Mountains” over in Georgia! Wish you could be there.
    Eva Nell

  10. I was just commenting a few days ago about how amazingly hard my grandmother worked. Up before dawn to make breakfast complete with biscuits and gravy and to put the yeast roll dough together to rise to make ready for dinner (the noon meal).
    In addition, she kept chickens, churned butter, made clothing, quilts. Of course, she did all the stuff that we do now for housekeeping: cleaning floors, dusting, washing clothes. Her labor was endless. She died in 1978 at the age of 94.
    We are off to celebrate Labor Day at the Apple Festival in Hendersonville.

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