July 21, 2014
evening: [n. afternoon] Evening, in the mountains, begins at noon instead of at sunset (B370). ~Smoky Mountain Voices
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Of an evening, when all the garden chores have been completed, it’s nice to sit in Pap and Granny’s shady backyard and rest together.
Tipper
Appalachia Through My Eyes – A series of photographs from my life in Southern Appalachia.
onliest adjective Only. 1931 Goodrich Mt Homespun 63 She’s the onliest one I ever did know that could do such…
The girls had the opportunity to help skim as sorghum syrup was being made at the Burnette Farm in Haywood…
Col. Sharpe’s horses, Falmouth, Va., April, 1863 – Library of Congress Camp near Clinton East Tennessee May 24th 1863 Dear…
Over the weekend the girls and I were in clean out mode. We were going through boxes of stuff that…
Chatter and Chitter – Kindergarten We chose not to send the girls to pre-k. I was a stay at home…
Grass won’t grow on concrete You can’t catch fish on main street The stream of traffic ain’t no place to…
Absolutely. Evening was after our noon dinner and before supper. My grandma used it exclusively that way.
I have tried to explain it, most people cannot comprehend it. I am glad to see it documented here.
Lonnie-well we know both of us were descended from nobility LOL : )
Blind Pig The Acorn
Celebrating and Preserving the
Culture of Appalachia
http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com
A quiet time with the Lord, in the early morning on my back porch, is my favorite time of the day.
I’ve wondered about this, probably more than any other “Appalachian” phrase. People I know said, all the time, “uv the e’nin”. As in “We set on the porch uv the e’nin.” It was just so common…we said it all the time. But it sounds so formal when said properly: …of the evening. Maybe we’re all descended from English nobility!
Bro Tom has installed an old arbor he found at the back of our property where it meets a corner of the cemetery and the bean field, planted it with morning glory seeds which are starting to encircle it, and then I got a dozen small solar lanterns that we put on each of the arbor’s cross bars. He put two light green Adirondack lawn chairs beneath it, and we go sit there in the evenings, often near or after dark to watch the stars. It’s so beautiful out there, and what a blessing he’s made of all our property and gardens, but especially in that little corner.
I wish I could share a picture of it, but don’t know how to take night shots that would get all the little lanterns all lit up.
God bless.
RB
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Tipper,
One of my favorite times is of a morning. Peeling apples, breaking beans, shelling peas or just general loafin’ with a cup of coffee. This morning while doing my morning loafin’ a young buck came easing out of the side woods, slipping up under the apple tree. They have been having their field day on those fallen apples and crab apples. Most of the time it is the large doe and young fawns that show up.
Of a evening our front porch is in the sun so it’s pretty hot. Have to motivate under the trees on the side woods or North side.
My favorite thing to do of a evening or morning is critter watching. Early this evening, three tiny warblers were playing hide and seek on my tall Tiger Lilies. I figured out what it was they were after when I went to gather the seed that form on the cup of stem leaf. Tiny spiders and webs…ewwwww!
Had to go the porch for a drink after grabbing a handful of those critters…My coffee jumped started me and I was back in under the squash plants by 10:30 AM. Cut for drying 120 Roma tomatoes and they are in the dehydrator. Have one pot of tomatoes stewing for juice or whatever. Tomatoes are coming in all at once, it seems.
Thanks Tipper,
See you of a morning in the morning!
I was just talking to our granddaughters Sunday about the value and the memories attached to porch and back yard settin’. Both sets of my grandparents had big porches on their houses. There was alot of living that happened on those porches. I’m carrying on that tradition, workin’ on fruits and vegetables, eatin’, singin’, star gazin’, lightnin bug and various critter watchin’, and on the rare occasion a nap can be caught. My youngest is a bit impatient and she thought blowin’ bubbles and porch sittin’ was a little bit “boring” until I told her how much I wish that I could go back and set on the porch with my grandparents again. Some day Lord willin’ I can. Take the time and enjoy while you can. Judith
Until I read this just now, I had forgotten that my Mamaw and Papaw used to refer to anytime after lunch as “this evening”. Your blog always brings back good memories of them, even though they lived in Texas. Some of our family were originally from North Carolina.
Where I come from, this time of the year, when the shadders started to creep, it was back to work and work til you can’t see how. We would get up at daylight, have breakfast then out to the field. Long about ten we would knock off for the morning and “get out of the sun.” The youngins might go wadin in the branch or swinging on a grapevine. The older folks might sit on the porch and rock and just sit and talk and fan themselves and swat flies. Somebody might be stretched out acrost the porch taking a nap. Dinner would be whatever was left over from breakfast or whatever you could scrounge up. It’s too hot to eat anyway!
Then along about the time your pictures shows Granny and Pap lounging, it’s back to the field til about dark. Mommy hollers “SUPPERS READY” and we all go in to eat.
Tipper,
Granny and Pap look so relaxed in the
cool of the evening shade. You’re a
fortunate gal to have grown up there.
Our house was always on the North Side
of the mountain and it cooled off real
nice when the sun crossed over. Daddy
must have planned it that way, cause it sure was nice sitting in the shade after supper and a hard day’s work.
About 3 nights a week our chickens
(roosting in a laural hell in back of
the house) would start squawking and
off the porch our 4 fiests would go.
They’d spot that booger in just a few
minutes and daddy showed us how to
shake that ole posseum out. Most of
the time he never made it to the
ground, but that way we saved a bullet. It’s funny how a picture can
trigger old memories…Ken
I grew up saying of an evening or of a morning. In my working career I encountered a lot of people who, as we say,”ain’t from around here”. I would get quizzical looks from time to time when I would say of an evening or of a morning. My wife who “ain’t from around here” either, asked me once what that meant. I guess I use it less now than ever but it still comes out every now and then and it always makes me smile when I realize that I am still a proud son of the hills of Appalachia!
This is a good picture of your Mama and Daddy.
Of an evening it does a soul good to rest on the porch swing while lightening bugs wink on and off.
It’s been ages since I’ve heard ‘of an evening’. Maybe not. Since that’s what I would say, I wouldn’t notice someone else saying it. I’m sure I’ve said that at least once in the last week when talking about when I mow my grass. It’s ‘uva evening’ where I come from.
Tipper – Anymore, we don’t do enough relaxing in the back yard or the front porch swing. I remember Daddy sitting on his porch swing, and neighbors seeing him there would stop and visit. Now, with air conditioning neighbors, not knowing if we’re busy – don’t stop.
The more usual way of referring to a time of day would be to say “in” the evening….I grew up hearing people say “of” just the way your title today states. I had completely forgotten about this use for the preposition “of” – what a wonderful bit of nostalgia to start my day! Thanks.
Sounds good. Can we whittle sticks and drink iced tea too? We can listen to our elders musings and stories.
Well Tipper, this has been the most FAMILY EVENTS weekend I have had in a long time – beginning with the DYER (Ethelene) family reunion – which I thought we would not be able to attend because of the heavy down pour of rain – but we did and it was delightful.
After a ‘rainy night in Georgia’ on Sunday afternoon we drove over to Jackson County, NC for the Wike Family Reunion – which was in the Wike Cemetery. We had lovely sunny weather.
But the rough drive through the mountains on I-40 made me wonder just how many more miles we could travel in one weekend. BUT we ended our driving by attending the WILLY NELSON CONCERT with our son/grandson at the THOMPSON-BOLING ARENA in Ktown. Alison Crouse and her awesome band saved the show. They were THE BEST I EVER HEARD! But Willy was really sad. I believe he is closing down but HE DID THE BEST HE COULD and the members of his group were great. So much for a memorable weekend!
I hope your week was just perfect!
Eva Nell
As a boy, our evening retreat in summer was the back porch. There was many a bushel of beans strung and broken there. In cooler weather, we tended to gather around the radio, especially when some of the family favorites such as Gunsmoke were on.
Jim Casada
Tipper, don’t you suppose that evening started so early because folks went to bed early, when it got dark and got up very early.
Remember lunch, then called dinner, was the big meal of the day.