When I saw this photo I took of Chatter and The Deer Hunter I really liked it, but couldn’t figure out what I wanted to say about it. Chatter was walking by the computer so I asked her to take a look and tell me what she thought the photo was saying to her. She said “It looks like a normal Appalachian family to me.” I said “Yep that sounds about right.”
Tipper
Appalachia Through My Eyes – A series of photographs from my life in Southern Appalachia.
24 Comments
lynn legge
August 31, 2016 at 12:22 ambeing on a porch swing..whether its with family, or alone its a wonderful place to rock your worries away…….and I too love the black and white…I was just thinking the other night when I was out with my daughters..it was raining and thundering and I said..ohh id like to be on the swing watching the storm..anyone else like to do that? much love to you tipper and the gang
Rev. RB
August 26, 2016 at 11:35 pmLooks like a great place to sit a spell too, for a family gathering or just a small conversation between family members.
Prayers everyone has a wonderful, safe weekend.
God bless.
RB
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Suzi Phillips
August 25, 2016 at 10:28 pmGreat picture!! I see that the Deer Hunter and Mitchell have the same taste in boots 😉
Tamela
August 25, 2016 at 10:11 pmI’ve always described our family as “abnormally normal” – bet there’s more of us around than we might think. We’re the river that gently flows while the “more interesting?” folks make splashes to gain attention.
TimMc
August 25, 2016 at 7:35 pmIt says ” Daddy I wanta”.. to me..
Tipper
August 25, 2016 at 4:20 pmCynthia-thank you for the comment! Our dog, Ruby Sue, is a rat terrier : ) You can read about her here: https://blindpigandtheacorn.com/blind_pig_the_acorn/2008/04/ruby-sue.html
Tipper
August 25, 2016 at 4:18 pmB-thank you for all the comments! That is actually a rabbit statue under the swing : ) Man you have good eyes!
Ed Ammons
August 25, 2016 at 3:19 pmNormal in Appalachia is not considered normal to the rest of the world. Typical does’t fit your familyscape either. Let’s try quintessential!
BTW, I’ll bet a Benjamin the B&W wasn’t born a monochrome! But now, the Benjamin I’m betting is the coin not the bill!
Quinn
August 25, 2016 at 2:32 pmSo this is the porch I always picture us Blind Pig readers sitting on for our conversation? Feels like home 🙂
Sue Crane
August 25, 2016 at 1:25 pmjust about sums it up. Every porch needs a swing. Those are some serious boots!
Ed Karshner
August 25, 2016 at 1:23 pmMy Mom and Dad came to visit yesterday because it was my daughter Alex’s first day of kindergarten. So, they drove 3 hours north just to see their youngest grandchild get off the bus. My Mom has been reading the book “Hillbilly Elegy” and made the comment “Us normal people need to start talking about ourselves. The world is going to think we (Appalachian people) are a bunch of trash.” I told my Mom to start reading this blog.
Tipper, you lead and I’ll follow.
Normal needs to be normal again.
Mary L. Briggs
August 25, 2016 at 1:22 pmGreat picture! I love that the animals are on the porch, too!
Ken
August 25, 2016 at 12:25 pmTipper,
That’s a nice black and white picture of life in Appalachia.
Today is daddy’s birthday, born in 1910. He’d be 106, same as Jim, Don, and Annette’s
dad, Commodore’s age. If they knew each other, I never know’d about that. Daddy always had an answer to questions that made sense and he was my best friend.
Happy Birthday, Daddy…Ken
Pam Danner
August 25, 2016 at 11:06 amGreat black and white photo! Relaxing on the porch, can’t get more normal than that!
Pam
scrap-n-sewgranny.blogspot.com
Don Casada
August 25, 2016 at 10:50 amIt looks like part of an ideal Appalachian family. Unfortunately, what passes as normal these days is far from that.
Sheryl Paul
August 25, 2016 at 10:42 amIt is a wonderful pic of family life
Dolores
August 25, 2016 at 9:41 amYes, a normal family conversation, however, it looks to e through facial. Expressions that it may have been a serious one. I am still looking forward to hopefully win the pie server. It looks so attractive and seems to have a great cutting edge. Happy family day to all!
b. Ruth
August 25, 2016 at 9:37 amTipper,
Yep, that picture about sez it all!
By the way, is that a real cat or a statue of a fluffy tailed fox under the back of the swing?
If it is a cat , I notice that it kept its tail away from the rocking chair!
Great picture Tipper.
PS Also I noticed this! A real Appalachian man can wear “boots and a beard” during a hot mountain summer!
Cecilia Forster
August 25, 2016 at 9:36 amWould be my perfect setting.
Ron Stephens
August 25, 2016 at 9:15 amIf only yours was the normal American family. Perhaps it is to a greater degree than I think but appearances are against it. I think perhaps your family is much more rooted and grounded than most.
Black and white is a good choice for that picture both for the wood and for the subject. There is an impression conveyed of interpersonal relationship that allows one to associate their own memories such as father-daughter, brother-sister, cousin-cousin, etc and with talks on the porch, that Southern outdoor room. The front porch swing or glider was an integral part of my growing up.
Cynthia
August 25, 2016 at 9:07 amI love your back porch, especially the porch swing. If I had a porch and a swing, I would never get anything done because I’d be in the swing all the time. What kind of dog do you have? His face looks a lot like our dog’s face. We have a chihuahua-rat terrier mix, and we have spoiled him rotten. We found him at our local SPCA.
Jim Casada
August 25, 2016 at 8:52 amTipper–I’d add a few “possibles” to PinnacleCreek’s suggestion that some ripening tomatoes might complete the picture.
*Some fishing poles (preferably old-time cane ones) leaning in the corner.
*Leather britches hanging from the rafters to dry.
*Hot peppers strung and hanging.
*A home-made cushion in the rocking chair.
*A wash tub hanging on the wall.
*A churn or pickling crock at the door to hold bumbershoots (umbrellas).
*Maybe a hummingbird feeder, although that may be one beyond the wind chime and the measuring cup at the door suggests it might have been used to mix sugar water for a feeder.
Jim Casada
PinnacleCreek
August 25, 2016 at 8:14 amYes it truly does. The porch swing says so much. I love the deer hunter’s boots. The dog is a must in every Appalachian scene. The only thing that might be added to complete the picture is a row of tomatoes ripening along the railing.
Miss Cindy
August 25, 2016 at 6:57 amYep, that hails it exactly!