1. Do you sync your phone to your computer or vice versa? Or maybe you’ve synced your cd collection with your iPod or mp3 player so you could take the tunes with you? Technology is what most of us think about when we hear the word sync, but every once in a while I feel the world sync itself to my thoughts. It gives me a surreal feeling. The other day I was driving through Brasstown when I suddenly realized I was alive and smack dab in the middle of this wonderful beautiful magical thing we call life. No everything isn’t perfect, but yet at the same time all is well because here I am at this time at this moment at this place.
2. Granny taught the girls to crotchet. Granny tells me I’ll be sorry I never learned and she’s probably right. It seems like the girls are always running down to Granny’s to get her to help finish or start a project. The other day I was eating dinner with Granny and Pap and the girls showed up after they got out of class. I was propped up in one chair, Pap was in his recliner, and Granny was in her spot by the stove crocheting. After the girls fixed themselves a bite to eat, Chatter promptly went and stretched out on the other couch for a nap. I was nodding off in my spot when I heard Chitter ask Granny if she’d teach her to make a hat. I wish I had a recording of the crochet tutoring session-I’m pretty sure I could sell it. Every time Chitter asked a question Granny gave her a different answer. I know nothing about crocheting but I know Granny was running Chitter around in circles.
3. It looks like there’s a crocheting logger living in my house. But I’m thinking its only a hipster.
4. Cherokee County received 7 inches of rain over the course of about 3 days last week. Creeks and rivers were out between here and Murphy leaving many roads closed and underwater. The over flow from Brasstown Creek left brown lakes in fields and pastures throughout the community. The Stamey Branch could be heard over the noise of the house-let me tell you it was roaring! The girls found the little guy above on their trip to check out the creek.
5. Appalachia. Who’d want to live anywhere else? I’m crazy in love with my home in Appalachia-the people, the food, the music, the colorful language, the sustainable lifestyle, the history, the soaring mountains, and the deep dark hollers.
Tipper
I’m not as nostalgic as my fourth cousin, the good writer and outdoorsman Jim Casada, but I’m just like him in thinking that you’re a good writer with a first-class mind. And I’m like everyone else who commented here that your “Five Things” brightened their day.
Great post and photos, Tipper. Like you, I often think about how fortunate I am to live here in this beautiful place. The twenty years I spent here with my husband were the very best. But now i have a loving little puppy who has made my days so much happier and busier.
Lovely post and photos!
Pam
scrap-n-sewgranny.blogspot.com
Thanks. This made me smile.
A Couple more things:
1. I don’t have a cell phone, iPhone, Smartphone, iPad, IPod, or mp3 player. I have a phone with wires that run into the wall. Am I out of sync with the real world?
2. I don’t crochet but I’ve seen it done. I thought to crochet a hat, you had to run in circles. Maybe Granny is telling Chitter right.
3. Did they keep the spring lizard? Did they name him? Do they call him Fishbait?
4. I have a recipe for baked Redhorse. It is just like my baked possum recipe. It is simple but the ingredients are not easy to find. Do you have access to a barn or pasture?
AMEN to number 5. I love it here in Western Carolina. I hope that when the Lord calls me home, I will still be living here. It must be a very short trip from here to Heaven!
Tipper,
You are so Blessed. The picture of your Granny and daughter took me back to the times my Grandma and great aunt taught me to either quilt or crochet, they have been gone now for awhile and I still miss them. Mom passed away almost three years ago and how I miss that cozy feeling of sitting in her kitchen just having day to day conversation over a cup of coffee.
Talking of getting in sync, I have been having a hard time getting in sync with the role that I am now that matriarch figure in the family to my children, nieces, and future grandchildren (I hope). Holidays have been hard since we lost Mom. Your post has helped me see that instead of focusing on what we have lost we need to be thankful for what we have in each other and go on from there. This year I will try to make the holidays special for everyone else in my own way. Thank you for your post, it has greatly blessed me.
I haven’t posted on here before, I am way up in the Northern Hills of Missouri, my people came here in 1834 from TN and Virginia. They settled on a ridge that must of reminded them of your Mountains. They named their church Blue Ridge Baptist Church. All my life people have asked me where I was from or have called me a hillbilly and I am familiar with almost all the Appalachin terms you post. Those hills must get in your blood. . . and soul.
Hope you have a wonderful CHRISTmas,
Rita
It is so easy to get dismayed about the world we live in if you watch or listen to the talking heads who tell us we are all doomed. It’s times when we find ourself alone and quiet that we can really reflect on how truly blessed we are to have a home, food on our tables and the love of family and friends that make us realize that life is indeed good. We have our struggles from time to time no doubt but all in all we are so much better off that most of the world. I am so blessed to live in the this place and time. Blessed even more for my family and friends. In these times we should all stop and reflect on what we have. Tipper I love your post today and it is so nice to see people like you who get it!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Loved the post. Gave me a good feeling for today
Tipper,
I enjoyed your 5 Things report today, and reading Jim’s comment about Red Horse, I know what that is. My daddy called ’em a Whistling Trout and he use to eat them boogers, said they were awfully boney tho. I sneaked into the Club one night and caught a huge Red Horse. (above the Nantahala Lake) We caught lots of trout too.
I never learned about Crocheting but I know how to sew a button on, and by hand
too. And like you, Tipper, I’m very satisfied right here in Appalachia…Ken
Let’s hope there are a lot of people who don’t want to live in Appalachia. Otherwise they’ll move in and ruin it like they have in other places and even some parts of the mountains.
Tipper–About the only thing connected with me and the word sync, when it comes to technology, is that I’m totally out of sync.
On the other hand, I’m readily in sync with those nascent snow clouds you show in one photo (let them thicken and darken, layered atop one another like scales on a red horse (for those who don’t know what a red horse is, the fish is a type sucker found in mountain streams), and if the temperature is right you’ve got snow on the way.
Similarly, I’m in sync and can at least identify with the rest of the thoughts, and the older the ways the better the days is often my approach to things.
Jim Casada
Cognito, ergo sum!
je pense, donc je suis !
I sync therefore I am!
Descartes et moi
I like to think I am in sync with Appalachia. Everything is in sync with these hill, and valleys. When cooking, watching entertainment, or just developing a hobby, I tend to drift toward my own culture. There is a need to be productive and learn life skills that keep one independent. I loved number 5, Tipper, as you just sum it up so well.
Many from my area had to leave to obtain jobs, and so very thankful for being able to remain in these mountains. My sister once said that living here is hard. It is challenging at times, but well worth those extra brake pads and driving further to obtain necessities.
I learned to crochet many years ago during a period of recuperation, and am recently displaying a handmade doily crocheted in the sixties. As soon as I recuperated, I never crocheted again-too restless to sit still mostly. But, the doily is proudly displayed, as it gives one a feeling of accomplishment to display handiwork. Those girls are gifted, but they also have to be dedicated to have that much variety in their skills.
I wish I were there. And no I don’t sync to either one
I wish I were there. And no I don’t sync to either one
I wish I were there. And no I don’t sync to either one
I wish I were there. And no I don’t sync to either one
I have a calendar on my laptop and one on my phone. I’m trying to get used to using the cellphone more, so I started syncing the calendars. After messing up and missing THREE different appointments and getting worried that I was losing marbles at a faster rate than previously thought, I realized things on the laptop calendar were transferring to the phone, but it wouldn’t go the other way. I’m not going to try to fix this one, though – my replacement computer – with a big screen I hope to actually be able to read – is due to arrive today, and my tiny laptop will soon become my dedicated goatcam monitor. Changing to new computer always has its own difficulties, but this time I am just thrilled with the idea of being able to read a whole page without shifting back and forth and up and down every few seconds!
My Dad often said in his later years, “Getting old is not for sissies.” So right, Dad.
Tipper, reading your blog is a bright spot in my day. Thank you, thank you, thank you…
Tip, I love you and I am so very glad that you married my son and had those two beautiful daughters. I love that you think. You have a good mind and you use it to good purpose. I love that you are in sync with life, living, and the universe!