It was several months ago that I first heard of Barbara Taylor Woodall’s book It’s Not My Mountain Anymore. Barbara was born and raised just down the road and over the mountain from here in Rabun County GA. She’s spent a large part of her life working with the folks at Foxfire.
Barbara generously gave me a copy of It’s Not My Mountain Anymore to read-and from page one I was fascinated. As I read-I frequently laughed till I cried-then in other parts I cried because she truly touched my heart. I was constantly reading her stories out loud to The Deer Hunter and the girls-just so they could laugh too.
My favorite parts of the book are the beginning and the end. During the middle portion, Barbara tells about her years at Foxfire and her life in general-very interesting stuff-but it was the stories of her childhood days and family members that reached out and grabbed a hold of me.
Instead of doing my usual interview and book giveaway-I’m going to share a few of my favorite excerpts from the book over the coming days. Afterwards, there will be an interview, a guest post, and a book giveaway so be sure to stick around till then!
One of my favorite quotes from It’s Not My Mountain Anymore written by Barbara Taylor Woodall:
“Work is a four letter word: so are food and love.”
Deep uh?
Tipper
p.s. If you can’t wait to read the book yourself-click on any of the links above (title of book in orange or Barbara’s name in orange) to jump over and buy your own copy!
Tipper,
Loved this book…Read it back in July…I teared up some, laughed a lot and reminesed a bunch…
Everyone has memories beit happy or sad. Washtubs have mostly changed to bathtubs. Mules and plows have changed to mostly roto-tillers and the acre garden has changed to a backyard plot. Home remedy poultices to Neosporins and bandaids. We will still have memories of the times of our youth and hopefully someday pass theae on to our grandchildren,
along with the memories of our grandparents lives..The more things change in certain areas the more they stay the same.
I love the old ways, but I’d say most men today appreciate the chainsaw. The motorized logsplitter. The tough terrain pick-up trucks, etc. I just don’t think I have the strength to wash too many iron pots and can’t imagine saving the feathers for a tick mattress. I would love to learn to weave, but have no sheep and the process it extentsive…Besides the mowers keep cutting down the dye plants..
Great book, Great Post..
Thanks Tipper,
PS…Still love me some greens, beans and cornbread. Canned tomatoes and green beans…I can still handle that and remember the stack cakes with home dried apples…
Sounds like a great read.. I loved the Foxfire Books.
Work brings us food and love for those we help feed, clothe, provide shelter and cherish. There are probably more interpretations, but work is very important. It also brings us love and pride in oneself. Deep -yes – basis of life itself. I can’t wait to read more.
My Great-grandma who came here from Italy always said, “Work won’t kill you, but worry will.” She knew of what she spoke – she died shortly after her 102nd birthday!
This looks like a very interesting book, I am looking forward to reading more quotes from it!
For those of you with the Kindle Reader, the book is available at no cost from Amazon. I just downloaded it. Another book for the growing list of must reads. I think I will move this one to the top.
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING MORE
ABOUT THE BOOK.
JOHNIE IN ARK,
Mary-click on any of the links in orange (Barbara’s name or the title of the book) to jump over and buy your own copy!
Blind Pig The Acorn
Celebrating and Preserving the
Culture of Appalachia
http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com
Sounds like a must read (another 4 letter word, ha ha)! I’m looking forward to hearing more about it. Thanks for sharing:)
Sounds like a wonderful book to read. Can’t wait to hear more!
I have been thinking a lot lately of how we can but don’t do a good job of preserving the customs, sayings and habits of our ancesters. The book will be interesting.
Sounds like an interesting book. Looking forward to hearing more.
Sounds like the kind of book I love to read. Appalachian writers speak to my heart – I guess it is because I can personally relate to their stories.
Deep and true, Tipper.
This looks like a book I would love. I look forward to your blog each day! Thanks.
Back in the early 70’s I lived at Needmore, NC and worked in Rabun County, GA. We built a house across Lake Rabun for a rich couple from Atlanta. We had to drive to the dock and take a boat across the lake, tie it up in the boat house and climb wooden steps up the mountainside to the house. If we needed supplies, the boss would sent me up to Clayton for them. Sometimes it would take me too long to get back. You know all that “traffic!” It is a beautiful place and I got to see every inch of its shoreline. A single young man in his early twenties also got to scope out lots of other beautiful scenery that summer.
That was one of the roughest years of my life but I survived it. Ahhhh!
I am looking forward to your posts from the book. Love this type of book.
Simple and profound! I look forward to hearing more. This sounds like a mind that can distill the essence of life.
When i seen the titel i thawt sumbidy had dun gone an rote my oughttobuyagiraffe fer me. Shux. now i wreckin im gonna hafta rite it fer mysef.
Will be looking forward to this. Where can I finc the book to puchase? I know I want it!
I read this book and loved it and highly recommend it.
Sounds like it’d be a good one to read. Am looking forward to reading more about it.