1. The trees have put on their pretty fall garments, but someone forgot to remind Mother Nature to lower the temperature. Although it looks like fall in the Southern Highlands of Appalachia it still feels like summer.
2. You’ve probably noticed the p.s. about my nephew Ben’s movie project that I’ve been sharing at the end of my posts over the last several days. I wanted to share a quote Ben sent me about the movie:
“The film isn’t about Appalachia at all per se, but it does include many tips of the hat to Pap. The main character loses his grandfather and, although his grandfather is meant to be a catholic man in Houston, I tried to steal many quotes and stories from Pap (just because he is the ideal Platonic grandfather). I also hope to use his “God be with you” song during the credits.”
Ben was the first grandchild born to Pap and Granny. His birth made me an aunt for the first time. We were so excited about his entrance into this world that we could barely stand it. From the minute we found out he was on the way Granny started making things for him and I think I bought every cute outfit I seen that was on sale.
In those days Pap was driving an oil truck and one evening when he got home he told us that he’d had the strangest dream the night before. He dreamed that he was coming home and as he looked out into Whitmire’s pasture he saw a little blond headed boy running. Pap thought that he would run and catch the boy, but then he thought no that he shouldn’t. Pap thought the dream was meaningful in some way and after Ben turned out to be a little blond headed boy that stole all our hearts he knew for sure the dream was meaningful indeed.
I’ve always been proud of Ben and after discussing this movie project with him I believe it is a worthwhile endeavor. I hope you’ll go watch the short video about the movie and help spread the word to friends and family who you think might be interested in the project. Go here to see the video.
3. Remember the Yonce Bean? It did fantastic for us this summer! The bean produced well and seemed to do well in our unusually hot and dry weather. We harvested the last of the Yonce Beans to use as seed next summer. I put them in a big tub to continue to dry on the front porch. I have no idea why Ruby Sue felt the need to sit on them. Silly dog.
Several weeks back we cleaned off the bean patch. Soon after I noticed 2 new bean plants that had sprouted-I guess we dropped a few beans as we were harvesting the dry ones for next year. Those volunteer plants have a few beans on them and with the warm weather we’re having it looks like they’ll have plenty of time to grow before a hard frost gets them.
4. The Nashville Bluegrass Band is hands down one of my favorite groups. Their music is outstanding and their harmony is legendary. I’ve loved their version of The Delmore Brothers classic Happy on the Mississippi Shore for years. Its a song that anyone who had a good childhood can relate to. I’ve only lived along a mountain creek which is nothing like the massive Mississippi River, but I can sing the words and in my mind I think I love that mountain and I will forever Its calling everywhere I go To that land I’m going never going to go no more I’ll be so happy with my mom and daddy on that mountain side by the creek Picking and playing round the cabin door children singing on that mountainside Happiness is with them every night and day and on the mountain they will stay. I’ve been trying to get Chatter and Chitter to sing that song for me for at least the last 7 or 8 years-looks like I need to get someone else to sing it don’t it? Go here to hear the Nashville Bluegrass Band and if you’ve never heard them before get prepared to be blown away.
5. During the month of November I’ll be hosting a variety of giveaways as a way of saying THANK YOU to Blind Pig and The Acorn readers. If you didn’t know it, you’re the best blog readers in the whole wide world!
Tipper
I had to laugh at that picture of Ruby Sue! A few of my goats got into the pole beans I had set aside for next year’s seed, but they did a little worse than sit on them.
Now I’ll follow your link to Ben’s project. You sure are a creative family!
Tipper,
Pinch and a punch for the first of the month.
The Maple trees her are showing off more than other…oops, I forgot the large yellow and gold hickories on our driveway. The Oaks turned brown, no maroonish brown to speak of this year. The dogwoods are curling up, turning brown and dropping, they are usually red or maroon/purple. I am afraid some will loose limbs due to the drought.
I wish success to Ben on his movie adventure. Let us know when we might be able to see the movie. Fantastic that he incudes his memories of Pap in the movie.
I remember you telling us about the Yonce bean. I know the green beans I got from Ken and he said he got them from the same folks were fantastic. I saved some for next year. Very funny about Ruby Sue in the bean tub. If that tub were here on my porch, Fluffy out cat would be checking it out and curling up in the tub. We dug a few taters earlier and put them in a big plastic pot, he thought they were for him to curl up on the still dirty taters. ha
Loved the song, hope the girls learn it, so we can hear their version. I know it would be good!
Thanks for all you do for our heritage Tipper, I know it is hard work and you keep your blog so interesting.
Thanks for a great blog today!
November!?! Seems to me this year went fast, very fast. And I think Ruby Sue is sitting in those beans to protect ’em from raccoons. Dontcha think? ;o)
Prayers everyone’s having a wonderful week, and a safe one too.
God bless.
RB
<><
Tipper,
Ruby Sue looks just the little dog I use to have. She looks so cozy in that bucket of beans. When Chitter and Chatter first saw Little Bit, they carried him down to the footlog and crossed the creek into my garden. Boy, he just soaked that up! I still miss him! …Ken
PS: Those White Runners I have that are so old came from the Younce Family too.
I call them Nantahala White Runners, but Jesse Allen (married to Myrtle Younce) gave them to me.
Thanks for the compliment. I read your blog because it’s full of interesting stuff and I love it when it reminds me of my family.
I am impressed with Ben and his partner on this film. I made a small donation and now get updates each day. I wish them well and think they are on the right track.
As for fall, I love this time of year and I have traveled up to the High Country this fall and I have seen beautiful color at Standing Indian and at the viaduct north of Asheville. We truly live in a beautiful region.
Tipper,
You impressed me right from the start and coming from a fine family of Wilsons, with Paul and Steve to help take care of you, gives you these leadership skills. I know all three of Steve and Kim’s kids, Ben, Mark, and April. (the third Indian Princess) Pap and Louzine have a lot to be Thankful for. …Ken
I knew all along that I was the best blog reader in the whole wide world but now I discover there are others?
Truthfully, I only read one blog daily. Yours! There are two more that I subscribe to. One of those is published sporadically (once or twice a year.) The other is my own.
Love your blog, I start as many mornines as possible reading it.
Hey Tipper, I think that the girls should work on that song, I am sure that their version would just really be something special, as with most of their tunes, and many thanks to you ‘For if You didn’t write such a great blog’ ‘THE GREATEST EVER’ then where would we be, your stories, the song’s, and recipes, plus your insight on Appalachia mean a ‘ Whole Heap’ to me and I look forward to reading them each morning, so many thanks to you, God Bless , Thank’s,.. Will,
We may be the best blog readers in the world but someone had to write the blog for us to read.
I wonder who that could be???
Pat yourself on the back because if you were not writing about the things we love we would be
reading someone else’s blog.
Your blog and a cup of coffee starts my day. Thanks
It seems each fall is unique. This one is to me for several reasons. The leaves are hanging on stubbornly until very late. Color is very uneven, some places good, some fair but a lot of poor. I think the amount of leaves is on the low side, too early to be sure but I think drought held back the second flush of growth some trees put on in normal years.
As I heard one grandpa say, “Now I know why they are called grandkids, ’cause they’re grand!” Leastwise our one bestest grandboy is to us.
Those garden volunteers are unexpected treasures. It is always nice to discover something in the garden. When I miss getting all of the potatoes and new tops come up in the fall I just let them grow until frost gets them but about Thanksgiving I dig up the ‘new’ potatoes for a Thanksgiving treat. But it apparently won’t happen this year because we are 24″ of rain below the long-term annual average. I don’t expect that much rain in the next 60 days.
Tipper,
This is the best blog in the whole wide world. I’ll check out NBB today. You’ve never steered my wrong with music. Plus, today is my huge grading day and I’ll need a good soundtrack.
We still haven’t started to fall up here and it is going to be warm. I need Fall!
Looking at Ben, you’d never guess him for a little blond headed boy. I looked at the site of their movie. They are very organized and clear with their focus on this project. I have no doubt it will do well. I love that Pap is a part of it.
Ruby Sue is an entertainer at heart, and it’s quite a performance!
I know it’s fall no matter what the temperature is, I know it in my bones. LOL!