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1. Chitter has been churning out jewelry like you wouldn’t believe. Lately she’s been producing the amazing mountain scenes you can see in the photos above. If you’ll click the small arrow on the right middle of the picture you can flip through the photos and one video.
She’s still churning out those amazing creek rock creations too. Her silversmith skills have grown by leaps and bounds during the past year. I believe she is really coming into her own in the world of handmade jewelry. You can jump over to her Stamey Creek Creations Etsy Shop to see more of her jewelry.
2. The yearly average rainfall number for Western North Carolina was passed up months ago. This is the rainiest year I can remember. I’m beginning to think our poor chickens need to grow webbed feet. I’ve put out shaving for them I don’t know how many times and then another day of monsoon weather comes around and before you know it its back to a muddy chicken lot.
3. I listen to Pandora as I work. It’s an internet music service sort of like a radio station. There’s a paid version that has no commercials, but I listen to the free version which has a few commercials sprinkled among the songs. The best thing about Pandora is you can tell it what kind of music you like and the site will serve up songs for you to listen to. Don’t like one? Give it a thumbs down and never hear it again. Love it? Give it a thumbs up and you’ll likely hear similar songs. You can have as many “stations” as you want. I have an old time music channel, which is what I listen to most of the time. I have a Country Gentlemen channel that plays a lot of bluegrass and Gospel. I also have an Avett Brother’s channel that plays the type of music they make. I’ve discovered some old gems by listening to Pandora and I’ve come to love songs I’d probably never heard if not for listening to the streaming music. A recent song I discovered on one of the channels is by NewFound Road. The name of the song is “Douglas Graves.” It has all the themes of an old love ballad, even down to her lily white hands. Go here to hear the song.
4. See the handwriting on my bracelet? It says “If you will believe.” Pretty powerful reminder to carry around on your arm, but what makes it extra special is that it’s Pap’s handwriting. A friend had the bracelet made for me from a piece of paper where Pap had written one of his many songs.
5. I hope you’ve been enjoying my Thankful November giveaways, but there’s no doubt I’ve been enjoying them more than you. Reading the heartfelt comments about why and how you read the Blind Pig and The Acorn encourages me to continue my endeavor of celebrating and preserving Appalachia.
Tipper
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Didn’t have time to comment yesterday because of being at sewing servants at church. I did want to say that Chitter is really making beautiful jewelry!! Also, you have one special friend that would take the handwriting of your father and put the words on a bracelet. If that doesn’t touch hearts, I don’t know what would. I enjoyed the musicians too.
Hi….I enjoy your site always interesting to learn of the differences in our lives. Your bracelet is really lovely in so many ways! Chitter’s jewellery is very nice wishing her great luck with her business.
Your bracelet is such a thoughtful and meaningful gift – how lovely!
I’ve been following (and favoriting) Chitter’s jewelry creations since she opened her shop, and ALWAYS see something tempting, even though I don’t even wear jewelry these days!
I’ve never seen anything like the endless rain and mud of 2018…I’ve laid down boards outside the barn to allow the goats to tiptoe over at least some of the awful mud. They hate mud, and they are smart to try to avoid it, as they are subject to hoof rot which can be a terrible condition. I actually made a spreadsheet to keep track of how long between hoof checks this autumn – a time when I usually don’t need to worry about hooves at all. My two chickens roam freely, though, so they can pick and choose the driest spots or even spend all their time in one of the barns if they want to. The Chicken Retirement Program is pretty nice here š
Chitter’s jewelry is just beautiful! I hope the Lord blesses her efforts and allows that to turn into something really big for her. I LOVE the bracelet your friend had made for you. What a thoughtful gift and the message is just profound. I can only imagine how precious it is to you to look at your arm and see your Daddy’s writing. So great to have time to catch up with you today!
beautiful thought having the bracelet made
Went to Pandora site. Free for 30 days, after that it is $4.99 or $9.99 monthly .
Liz-that’s probably the paid version. I’ve been listening for a few years now and never paid anything. Go to this page and scroll down-you’ll see where you can sign up for free on the left of the page š https://www.pandora.com/
Love Chitter’s jewelry, the mountain pendants are gorgeous !
What a lovely gift to you to always remind you of Pap. Your family is precious.
Oh, Tipper, what a treasure your friend gave you of Pap’s writing. I love the mountain scenes that Chatter has fashioned too. Wow!
Beautiful jewelry. Yes she has something going for her there. Love the bracelet. Tipper you and your family are so sweet and loving. God Bless you all always!
1. Can Katie make custom pieces from sheet silver? Like could she cut a silhouette of a particular mountain?
2. We have a flash flood watch and a winter weather advisory for here tonight and tomorrow morning. So much for Fall.
3. Douglas Graves-Doug Graves-dug graves. He’s an undertaker? Sounds like something I would have come up with! I love it!
4. I’ll bet Katie could do that too if she wanted to.
5. I don’t need to win a giveaway to show you how much I appreciate your efforts. The giveaway should be the other way. And it will! Mark my words!
Ed-Katie can make custom pieces. I bet she could cut out a specific mountain if she had something to go by.
And Jesus said if thou can believe. The man replied I believe, Lord help my unbelief. Christ healed him. I really enjoy your posts, and the great music. Keep up the good work. Godbless.
We all have so much to be thankful for but just living here is one of the greatest gifts of all. It makes everything else possible. Beautiful mountains, great music and lots of good friends.
What a wonderful treasure to have your Dad’s handwriting on a bracelet! That was so kind and thoughtful of the person that had it made for you! I just love Chitter’s mountain jewelry! She is very talented!
Hooray! Glad you are enjoying the comments. When you write of giving us something our thought is, “How can we give you something?” What a blessing. I recognize that trait of being a giver. My Grandma had it. My Mom had it. They lived the “more blessed to give than receive”.
Kudoes to Chitter for her creativity, her growing skills and her success. I know she endears herself to her customers by her individual touch and customer service. We aren’t used to finding that anymore. Mostly seems the attitude in business is “everybody for themselves and devil take the hindmost”.
What a great idea your bracelet is. In itself it may not be expensive but it represents priceless things. It also epitomizes who you are and what you most care about I think. It is a family heirloom now.
NewFound Road was an exceptional group of musicians. I first heard them years ago at Pickinā in the Panhandle festival near Inman, WV. They disbanded awhile back. Tim Shelton, lead singer and guitar, was going to pursue a solo career in Country. He also recorded a CD of Christmas music. Josh Miller, banjo and fiddle (?), lives in my neck of the woods, Northeast TN, and sometimes plays local gigs. The Booher Brothers played bass and mandolin. I never got to ask if they were named after the road through the Smokies. Their live recording of āAināt No Sunshineā at the Down Home in Johnson City, is phenomenal.
Love the bracelet idea. I would have never thought one could have the actual writing of a family member inscribed on anything.
Be happy and always count your blessings.
The brzcelet is such a loving gift. Jow wonderful to have such a thoughtful fruend.
Chitter’s jewelry is beautiful