1. The turkeys are still hanging around and we now have three baby chicks. We started out with five chicks. One died shortly after it hatched and the other one simply disappeared. The little rats keep squeezing out between the wire on the chicken coop and then they run around like crazy trying to figure out how to get back to their momma. I’m guessing the one that disappeared escaped from the cage and got eat by something in the yard.
2. Thanks to the great generosity of a friend, the girls and I were able to sneak off to the beach for an entire week. We had a ball! Each day we were on the beach by 9:00 a.m or earlier and that’s where we stayed till late evening. We read books and enjoyed the waves and when the girls got bored with that they went in search of sharks teeth and shells. They found plenty of both! And you know Chatter and Chitter couldn’t go a whole week without playing some music-you can catch a bit of it by clicking on the video above (click on it again to get it to stop).
3. I’m still on the Tony Rice kick. Lately I’ve become obsessed with his version of “Wasn’t that a Mighty Storm.” The first time I listened to the words I turned it off. I just couldn’t bear to think of the trains loaded with people falling off the trestle. Even though I’ve listened to it a blue million times since then I still feel the fear and despair of the people caught in the flood. I was inspired to research the great storm of 1900 and learned 6,000 to 12,000 people perished in the hurricane. A mighty storm indeed. No one knows for sure who wrote the song, but like other folk songs that describe a horrible happening it quickly spread across the land. Two lines in the song stand out to me:
- Death come howling on the ocean and when death calls you got to go. Ain’t that the truth in simple plain talk? When death calls you got to go.
- Oh death your hands are clammy when you got them on my knee come and took my mother won’t you come back after me. I imagine that’s exactly how I’d feel if a storm took my mother and my brother all at the same time.
If you’re up to hearing the sad song go here.
4. I wanted to tell you about a project that’s being hosted by Berea College’s Loyal Jones Appalachian Center. Here’s the gist of it:
“Berea College’s Loyal Jones Appalachian Center is putting out a call for Appalachians to tell their story about how they thrive in the places they call home.
Today, some figures on the national stage look past Appalachia’s- challenging, rich history and conclude that social and financial difficulties in the region must be the fault of its inhabitants. This impression is supported by highly-publicized, extraordinary tales of someone escaping difficult circumstances through luck and determination. But what about The majority of Appalachians who grow up and make good and stable lives? Our goal is to help those stories be told and heard.”
For more information about the project click here.
5. Someone recently asked how they could purchase our music. If you go to this page you can see all of Pap and Paul’s cds that are available. A few of their cds are also available on Etsy here. And if you’re interested in The Pressley Girls you can find their cd here on Etsy. The girls sold out their first run of cds and had to order more. They are blown away by the response they’ve received and so am I.
Tipper
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If you’re a Tony rice fan (I am, too) you need to listen to Molly Tuttle for a bit, just because:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKcCT1G1Yr4
When it comes to flat-picking, she’s Tony Rice quality, and she sings, too. She’s about 22 in this video; I see Chatter in 5 years…
Tipper,
Loved all these “posteses”…LOL Now then, I’m not telling you how to run your chicken/turkey business. However, to keep from things from going “a ‘fowl” (pun intended) I wouldn’t let a certain turkey hunter, whose first name starts with a “J”, know you got easy pickin’s on your place…for I think they would make some good eat’in by mid to late November. I believe they’re getting a little grain as well as crawly critters so they will fatten up real good…Those sure are purty turkeys…
Thanks Tipper,
PS….Glad you had fun at the beach…I’d love to slip my old feet in the ocean…take a salty dip…says it cures what ails you!
Tipper,
I’ve been to the beach with my Family several times, at Daytona and The Grand Strand (Myrtle Beach), but we were always glad to get back to the Mountains. I guess that’s where I feel protected.
After I left Alliance-Carolina Tool and Mold, I went to Die-Mold Corp. behind the Oteen Hospital. Both places were OK, but Alliance-Carolina was the best place I ever worked. They were a bunch of Germans, S.S. Troops out of Rochester, N.Y., but they didn’t believe the way Hitler did. They taught me how to build Plastic-Injection Molds and when I got my own business, I was able to provide better for my two girls. …Ken
I share your fascination with Tony Rice. I feel he is one of the all-time greats.
I don’t see Chitters jewelry shop on here any more. I like to check out her stuff from time to time and have bought several things I liked but I don’t know how to get back to it now.
Ed-I haven’t figured out a way to add it back yet. But here’s the link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/StameyCreekCreations
My grandson built his own chicken coupe and bought nine chickens. When I pulled in his yard about supper time and didn’t see them, I asked if he had fried chicken for supper. He said a varmint had been getting in and eating one every night. Now he’s on a mission with revenge in mind.
I travel with my sister every summer. She wants to go to Alaska and I want to go to the beach. This could very well be a summer without a vacation. Glad you all had a whole week to relax.
Those sad songs are always the biggest sellers. Songs of the 60s like Last Kiss, Tell Laura I Love Her and Patches made me cry more than once.
Let’s hope Berea College keeps those stories out of the media’s hands. They tend to pick the saddest, ugliest and poorest story to keep the stereotype fires burning.
I’m not at all surprised that the girl’s CD sold out!
Wild turkey meat is so flavorful! My neighbor manages to get a few each season, and we neighbors pitch in. We found the fastest and easiest way is to skin it and cut it up and freeze. The carcass makes excellent bone broth.
For some reason I thought you didn’t you didn’t have a rooster. Now I know you do.
No beach for us this spring. Went to upper east Tennessee instead. Glad you all had a great beach trip. There are some really nice off-the-beaten track places along the Atlantic coast.
I am a bit puzzled as to whether Berea wants stories of Appalachian folks who stayed in Appalachia, those who left or either. They just say something like “where you live”.
There is a long history of Appalachia being ‘rediscovered’ every 20-30 years, each time with a new ‘take’. Seems maybe we’ve been taken again. If we let them. I’ll have to think about it.
I’m glad you had a nice trip to the beach. You and your girls needed it.
The baby chicks are so cute and I understand what you will do with them. They’ll grow up and make eggs. Now the turkeys, on the other hand, what in the world are you going to do with them?
There is nothing like communing with the great ocean. I’ve not been there in years but I remember the calming and soothing effect that the steady moves of the waves can have on your nervous system!
I didn’t know the girls has sold out their first run of CD’s, that’s wonderful!