Matt surprised us all by scratching his name and the boys’ names in the concrete he poured to set a support post in the shed he’s been working on.
When the girls were little (much older than the boys) Matt made a set of stepping stones that lead from the end of the steps in the back yard to the area under the porch. In one step he let the girls put their handprints and various rocks in the wet concrete. He wrote their names and the date. He even put our dog Wilma’s paw print in the concrete.
My brother built a long sidewalk in front of the house Corie and Austin now live in. You can see the sweet little foot prints of my nephews in one end of it. They are both grown men with children of their own today.
At Granny’s mother Gazzie’s house the back steps were concrete. Someone had pushed marbles into the concrete before it dried. I would guess it was Granny’s brothers. My cousins and I used to look at those pretty marbles and wonder how we could get them out 🙂
Writing in wet concrete or putting hand and footprints is a fairly common thing for folks to do. I love the memories the soft mixture captures before it hardens.
After Matt showed me what he’d done I smiled as I thought of the boys someday showing their names to each other and talking about their Papaw building the shed. I’m sure they will also point to the footprints in Woodrow’s sidewalk and talk of their cousins Ben and Mark who used to play in the same creek they do.
Several of you have asked about Granny recently. She is about the same. Feeling pretty miserable most days but trying to be in good spirits and enjoy her time left here.
Tipper
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That is a sweet memory to share with the boys when they are older. I always thought it was neat to see your name or other imprints in the cement, especially if there came a time when you no longer live there, but another family did. As a member of the new family, I would most likely wonder who this person was, what they were like, and what kind of memories they made in this home.
I’m sorry that Granny is still feeling bad. Continued prayers for her and all of you.
I love this post!!! I have lived where I live all of my life, so there are many special things here at my home place that I see every day that remind me of my heritage and the special people that made me the woman I am today. We have changed many things here, but the major bones remain the same.
Love the names in concrete. My son did his kids hand prints when they built the house. Prayers for Granny
So Beautiful !!!
Prayers for Granny, always.
The cap on the chimney was the last thing we did when we made our new house livable. I had molded on a slanted cement cap that went from the outside of the bricks up the the terracotta inner liner to shed water. Before I climbed down off the roof that day I scratched a date into the cement. I don’t remember the exact day but it was in October of 1963. I was born in 1950 so would have been 13 years old when that happened.
The house has been out of the family for many years and the new owners added a second story so I don’t know what happened to that chimney and my date but it is forever engraved into my memory.
Did I ever write the story of how Daddy and sons built their own home? Maybe it is here somewhere.
Ed, you didn’t but I hope you will write it 🙂
The three ‘boys’ 🙂 names in the cement is such a beautiful way of recording memories for next generations but also another way of how you all celebrate Appalachia so well. May Granny have an easier, more comfortable day. Prayers cover you all.
I no have not been keeping up as I used to, but the country life has calmed things down quite a bit. I’m enjoying the tranquility very much. I think the writing in cement is and was and always shall be a beautiful gesture of thoughtfulness. Matt and you know exactly how to give each other wonderful, thought out, timeless gifts and that’s a spice missing today from relationships. I’m sorry to hear of granny’s declining health. There’s just nothing I can say except my prayers and good thoughts are with you all and especially you and your beloved mother at this difficult time. Oh what a remarkable family you have, Tipper!!!!
That will be sweet memories for the boys. We continue our prayers for Granny and all of you.
good morning, God bless Granny Wilson, my brother’s test results were not good from a recent PET scan, yesterday 8 biopsy was done, it will be a few days on the results, the Lord is giving us more time to pray, for something to move, for something to change, I am praying for my brother, and rebuking the spirits of affliction infirmity sickness and disease, your prayer for my brother, Bennie Chester is appreciated, and will be appreciated, please continue to pray, thank you and God bless you very much
Norman, I will keep praying for your brother. I’m sorry he is sick.
Good morning Ms. Tipper. It’s funny how a loving act of honoring your grandboys has touched us all. Even as old as I am, when I see names in concrete I will stop and read them. I’m new here so I am going through old videos trying to catch up. When I’m are in your home or garden, you make me feel like family. Makes me homesick for a time long gone. And your Matt is an old softie! lol! Kept you long enough.
As always. Praying for Granny. God timing is perfect.
What a cute gesture from Matt. A true Grandpa I’d say. Love and hugs to sweet Miss Louzine. I’ve grown to count her as a very good friend. I’m praying for her comfort and peace at this difficult time. Grateful to also know y’all are doing what’s best for her. As you always have. She’s very blessed to have her family near her during these days. God bless all of you and may he also give you strength, peace and comfort. Have a better day, today and hopefully everyday in the coming weeks. To all your followers too. Wanted to say at 78 I find myself looking forward to every day and give honor, glory and praise to my Lord and Savior for each one. Especially to be with some of my loved ones so near me. Wish it were all of them. Thank you Tipper and Matt for sharing your beautiful family and life with us all.
Prayers for relief for sweet, precious Granny.
That was such a sweet gesture that Matt did. I wish he was able to have gotten their footprints like he wanted to. Still praying for sweet Granny.
When I saw today’s post, three wet-concrete memorials came to mind. One bears the names of two brothers and the date a boat ramp was poured at their pond. Another has initials and the date on a concrete block burning pit my late father-in-law and I built behind the house. The third is a disk with our youngest granddaughter’s little handprints, a gift from her that somehow got broken into three slices. We treasure it just the same.
Matt’s thoughtfulness brought tears to my eyes. I have always loved seeing that @ build sites of families. Hope you & Matt are feeling better. Pray that Granny has a great day & that she can crochet.
Continuing in prayer for Granny and you all. ❤️
I love the memories set in stone. How sweet! My Pa (grandfather) did that with my mom amd uncle when they were tiny. I loved looking at their names in the cement of the sidewalk. I would touch them and think of my mom writing her name with a little stick as a girl my age.
Woody and Ira will enjoy their names there one day! How fun!
My granny Beth and Pa Ed had a set of concrete steps leading to their door with multi colored marbles all over and I used to do the same thing. I’d sit there and try to pry those marbles out with sticks,knives, screwdrivers…anything I could sneak out there to use! Pa Ed would sometimes catch me and tell me to knock it off…I don’t know why because I was never successful in getting even a single marble pried loose. After granny and pa had both passed away I took a picture of those old steps before the property was sold so I could remember. It’s funny the things that stand out from my childhood but those steps were definitely one of those memories that do
As kids growing up, I remember my dad putting our handprints in concrete too. We\ even had pet paws in there right beside ours. Then, after I got married, my husband & I did the same thing with our daughter. We never had any grandchildren so the tradition has stopped but it’s fun to think back on those good times.
Praying for Granny as she struggles to keep her spirits up and for you as well. Thank you for keeping us notified.
Enjoying your blog and videos on u- tube. Matt is such a sweet man, so talented. Tipper you are pretty amazing yourself. Keep up the good work.
Dad built some good concrete steps at our back porch when I was a boy. I scratched the date in wet cement. It was in the 1960’s. Many years later, the whole house was salvaged (it was made from lumber from coal camp buildings) and even the steps were taken away. I was always proud to think I had a hand in making them. And I’m thinking the story of Matt’s stone will include how Tipper (however named) helped. It is the accumulation of “little” things like that which change where one lives from a house to a home. And they are priceless.
Heavenly Father we lift up Granny to You with all our prayers for Your mercy upon her in her last season with us on Earth. Please give her the ability not to feel the pains her body is going through. Have mercy upon her and her family in these last days. Give the whole family the peace they need in their hearts that they know You will be receiving her when it is her time to come to You. And that they all can make peace with You so they can be with Granny and Pap with You when their time comes to an end on this old world. Draw them into Your mercy and grace, accept their repentance, and allow them to be a part of Your fold in heaven. Amen.
Matt is such a good Papaw, father and husband. He thinks of his family in just about everything he does. I know this because in everything we see him do on the videos and in his conversations he has between you and the girls. It’s not just what he does or says on camera, but we see it in you and your girls lives too. Y’all are happy and feel blessed to have him in your lives too, which speaks volumes. I think the same about you Tipper and your girls. Y’all are blessings to Matt! You and Matt were truly made for each other, soulmates as some call it.
Praying Granny doesn’t suffer, but finds comfort, peace, and joy with those she loves each day. Prayers for comfort and peace for you and all your family.
I was so glad to hear in your last video that granny felt like crocheting a little. I keep her in my prayers. I keep all of y’all in my prayers. Maybe it is a Mountain thing, but I feel like y’all are family. Matt is the sweetest man, I know he gets grumpy but don’t we all. He reminds me so much of my late Father-In_Law, Pappaw D (Dyson). He built his own house and several others for family members. He taught me to build my first house. He also taught me to build fence, garden, milk cows and farm cash crops like tobacco. He took me to church too. He was such a blessing in my life. Anyway, Mat makes me think of him. I hope he knows what a blessing he is to so many people, even ones that he has never met. I’d love to come to your book signing if I’m able. I love y’all.
Our family pushed pennies – the year of the pour- into the wet cement.
We put our names and the kids put their handprints in the concrete by our workshop over 30 years ago…sweet memories. We are continuing to pray for precious Granny. Much love from SC.♥️
Hoping and praying Granny has a wonderful day today..thank you for sharing your life with us and making us all feel like we are part of your family.
I didn’t think anyone did that in this day and age, but Bless Matt for carrying on that tradition. in about 50 years when we are all gone to Heaven, they can see what their Gramps did for them. Prayers for you guys and tell Granny hello for me.
Writing names, dares or making hand or foot prints in wet cement was common for me to do with my children and grandchildren. I guess I learned to do this because of my Daddy doing it with me when I was a young child. Still thinking and praying for Granny.