Every January I study on what I’d like to accomplish on the Blind Pig and The Acorn in the coming year. First and foremost I’d like to continue to celebrate and preserve my rich Appalachian culture and heritage. Come March I will have been blogging about Appalachia for 14 years, a length of time which is almost unheard of in the world of blogging.
Here’s the plans I had for 2021 and how things turned out.
Plans for 2021
- I hope to publish more posts written by The Deer Hunter, Chatter, Chitter, and guest posters. Although I did publish a few posts by each of my family members it wasn’t as much as I had hoped for. I did manage to publish quite a few guest posts.
- Make more videos! I’ve really enjoyed the format of video. I especially enjoy creating the videos which share a glimpse of our daily life. I want to do more interviews and “how to” videos this year as well. I definitely accomplished this one.
- Continued growth of my YouTube Channel as a source of income is high on my list of things to accomplish in 2021. Every little bit of money helps with the upkeep and hosting of Blind Pig and The Acorn. Hard to believe but lots of folks make their entire living from YouTube. I was very blessed to achieve this goal.
- Selling my eCookbook as well as a couple of other eBooks is on my list. I did create one eCookbook and it’s been selling very well. You can see my eCookbook here.
- I’m scheduled to teach Mountain Flavors at John C. Campbell Folk School June 27 – July 3. The class was a very good one. My students were wonderful.
Plans for 2022
- Publish more posts written by The Deer Hunter, Chatter, and Chitter. Since Paul manages our Blind Pig and The Acorn YouTube channel he writes a lot of music posts for me. Maybe the way to go on this one is to come up with some sort of regular feature for each of the others. I also hope to continue sharing guests posts with you.
- Although I’ve spent the last year making videos I hope to make even more during 2022. I have a list of folks I want to interview, tutorials I’d like to share, and even places I want to visit and share.
- I’m still blown away by being able to leave my full-time job during the year of 2021. Now my dream is for The Deer Hunter to be able to leave his too. Chitter says we’re starting a Pressley Empire, maybe she’s right 🙂
- I plan to make several other eBooks. The turn around is pretty quick (if I can find the time to do it!) and it’s a great form of passive income. Once the book is completed all folks have to do is purchase it and download it.
- Jim Casada and I are in the beginning stages of writing a cookbook you can hold in your hands 🙂 I’m excited for the progress we hope to make on the project during 2022.
- Our internet service is the best we have ever had, but it’s still not up to par for my online needs. During 2021 our area qualified for fiber optic internet. This fall they came out and flagged the path where they will lay it. Hopefully at some point during 2022 we will have stable high speed internet. Once that happens I hope to teach my Mountain Flavors Cooking Class online. Another thing we hope to do is offer live concerts that folks can attend virtually.
I hope each of you will continue to visit Blind Pig and The Acorn during 2022. And if you know someone who might enjoy the blog or the videos, please send them my way.
Last night’s video: A Snowy Hike in the Appalachian Mountains.
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I’m looking forward to both your cookbook and cooking classes! I love all your content. You really accomplished a lot.
Tipper, I’m truly impressed by all you did in 2021 and also the things you plan to do in 2022 I enjoy each post from you and your beautiful daughters!
I am so happy to see that you have accomplished so many of your goals for 2021. I am sure you will accomplish your goals for 2022 as well. You and your family definitely give me hope and inspire me to do better. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead in your journey to help celebrate Appalachia.
The only way to make real progress is to have realistic plans. Your posts/videos do much to show your progress in accomplishing your plans. I am surprised that as a mother of a bride, that you didn’t say anything about an upcoming wedding! So much to do and plan!
Tipper congralation
I sure hope you meet all your goals in 2022 you and your readers will benefit from them Dennis Morgan
I highly recommend Tipper’s Mountain Flavors class at John C. Campbell Folk School. I took it in 2012 and learned so much and had a great time!
Tipper you are doing so much with your blog and created such a community of folks. Keep up the great work!
Can’t wait for the cookbook to come out! Thank you for all you and your family share. It’s a real joy and a treat and I pray 2022 will be a wonderful year!!
As my dad would have put it, ” Ya done Good”
Tipper may well want to go into greater detail or perhaps do a separate post on the cookbook, but by happy coincidence just this morning we received news that we have been offered a contract by The History Press for a book on Appalachian cookery. That means the concept is now a giant step closer to realization, and I know Tipper shares my eagerness to get cracking on the book.
What Shirl said!!
Tipper, I am pleased your hard work is paying off and wish you continued success. There is nothing else on the net quite like your Blind Pig or as good! LOL
It has been wonderful watching you accomplish your goals doing your very best to shine your light on Appalachia! I remember watching you, Matt and the girls years back traipsing through fresh fallen snow, back when he saw tracks that he thought might have been a Painter. Even at that time, I knew what that word meant (cougar/mountain lion) and I had actually seen one crossing a road deep in a forest in NE MS. Thankfully, I was in a truck at the time, but it still sent shock waves through my brain and I was so happy that my brother and Daddy were with me.
I have a deep love for creeks and forest so going along on your walk is a special treat for me and I love the fresh fallen snow on the leaves and trees. It is just beautiful! My Daddy could read tracks like Matt and tell you what animal made them, whether recent or not, and the direction they were headed. God bless!
Looking forward to all of your 2022 goals. Your family is now such a part of my life. I have learned so much about Appalachia. Take care and God bless!
I LOVE the idea of online cooking classes (flowers, too) and online concerts!!!! I agree with Chitter: y’all are definitely building a Pressley empire! I’m thrilled to be a part of it; thanks so much for each of the family being willing to share your lives with us (Austin, too). So much love to each of you and ready for each of your goals for 2022 to be accomplished!
We just discovered your YT channel and blog this past year and are SO grateful we did. They have been very refreshing in these current times we are in. We love your family and your traditional ways. You and Matt have done such a good job in raising the girls to be “in this world but not of this world”. I can’t tell you how much that means to us. Then there is Granny who is just so precious; she reminds me of my mom who passed away 4 years ago. Excitedly looking forward to more videos and blogs in 2022. THANK YOU for all you do to celebrate Appalachia.
Great accomplishments in 2021 and looks like a wonderful plan for 2022. Please let me know about the cookbook, I am old school I like to hold a book. I love those girls, they are always so chipper and funny. Wishing you a blessed 2022.
I learned to love YouTube way back when many I knew had no idea what I was talking about. I got rid of boring cable and land lines, and then took off into this wonderful new era of watching tutorials, choosing what I wanted to watch, and learning from such a vast amount of knowledge free on YouTube. I have fixed things around the house and learned so much. You are following the old adage of “not putting all your eggs in one basket.” By bringing in your family and branching out you have assured success with so many gifted people. I look forward to the cookbook when finished. Living on a Dime has become enormously successful by having her cookbook right there and cooking the simple recipes from the book while referring folks to the page number. She has her husband and family, even her mother involved. You will be successful because you have a theme that will stand the test of time and never go out of style That is your deep interest and love for all things Appalachia. You will have our heart like so many never can.
From several things you have mentioned through the years, it is clear you ‘have a good head for business’ as the old timers might once have said. I think if you checked yourself against Steven Covey’s “Seven Habits” book you would come out quite well.
I am proud for you for your accomplishments. But I’d like to add one. You have formed a community of interest and virtual friends that very nearly (maybe does) circle the globe. And in doing so you all are a point of light, as in the song “This Little Light of Mine”. You brighten our mornings, cheer our hearts and help us realize once again what is often easy to lose sight of, namely “There are a lot of good-hearted people out there still.” In sum, your ” celebrating Appalachia” becomes something bigger and greater while yet keeping that original purpose. I, for one, do not believe that is merely happenstance.
You’ve said what is in my heart. Tipper has drawn us all out from places around the world to form a community we feel at home in, and every one of us family.
I think 2022 is going to be even bigger than 2021. I know I have enjoyed getting the blogs every morning but you should think about taking at least the last week or two at the end of the year off to rest and spend this time of year to concentrate on family and the Christmas season. Then you can start fresh for the new year. Just a thought.
Much as I would miss the blogs I agree, Bill. There’s a lot to be said for recharging one’s batteries and the Christmas period is a great time for it. We have to realize that Tipper is busier than ever at Christmas seeing to it that her family has the best possible holiday. I guess she won’t rest so much but taking away the pressure of writing the BP&A would help.
Those sound like great plans. I know I would love to be on the receiving end of all those. If you have time I would love you to do another read allowed book. I have really enjoyed it.
I wish we lived near a folk school. It sounds like they have so many neat things to offer.
I spent a few hours making plans myself yesterday for the new year. Lots of quilting, homesteading and music.
I start violin lessons in a couple of weeks. I have been told by people that it’s hard and I should have started a long time ago but I have decided not to listen! I am also piddling around with a mandolin. I did learn to feebly play silent night! That’s a start right?
My Grandmother played the fiddle by ear and I wish I could have heard her play. I actually never got to meet her as she passed away before I came along. I think if I don’t give it my best shot I will always wonder if I could have played. Time will tell.
Learning to play the fiddle is easy! Getting someone to listen is hard. The hardest part is getting all the neighborhood dogs to stop howling.
I started learning to play but lost too many friends and family. One good thing though is, as long as I was playing, I didn’t have to worry about stray dogs or packs of coyotes coming around. Or burglars either.
Ed ,your a jewel ,my playing my homemade beautiful dulcimer and a picture appeared in a picture I had hanging on the wall. A woman no one knew and all said you captured a ghost photo. True wired huh? I have heard ghost stories all my life growing up in the Appalachian mountain but nothing exceed this.
Congratulations on all your accomplishments in 2021 and hope all your goals for 2022 are achieved.
Whatever you decide to do in ’22, you can count on me to listen, watch, read, and tag along.
Keep on keepin’ on!!!
Looking forward too all that you have planned! Especially the cookbook with Mr. Casada, the live concerts, and more from Matt, but it all sounds exciting. I wish you all the best this year. Thanks for continuing on!
I applaud all that you accomplished in 2021. And I encourage and support all that you plan to do in 2022! Way to go, Tipper! I feel good about this coming year. I had wanted to already be farther along in a few of my own goals, but being sick this month got in the way. I know you totally empathize to that frustration! But at least we got that done and over with at the start of the year, and now we can focus our energy and time on our passion(s) in life the rest of the year! Fourteen years for Blind Pig and the Acorn! So amazing!! I remember the day I found your blog as clear as it was yesterday. And the first video on the BPA you tube channel remains my favorite. I have been watching/reading you guys from the very beginning – you are so much a part of my memories over the last almost fourteen years. When I think of various events in my own life from during this time, many times something you blogged, or a song you sang at that particular time, has become laced in with my own memories – if that makes sense. I will look back on your video channel, or read an old post on this blog, and it brings back a clear memory of what was happening in my own life at that time. Thank you for staying with us all these years! We love your writings! We love your videos.! And we love all of your family!
Donna. : )
Tipper, you are DEFINITELY a goal oriented lady! It seems you stay busier with the BP&A blog than I ever thought! But the fruition and following you have speak success for themselves! What’s this E cookbook you have? Lol. Also I am eagerly anticipating any book you and Mr. Casada write together cause it’s going to be chock full of great stuff (I guarantee that!) Some of us have strong feelings about YT and none of them are good to say the least. They’ll take a person’s money and keep it, (but you didn’t hear it from me.) They also free you up from having to do all that pesky thinking for yourself. But it’s YOUR THING AND I WISH YOU ONLY THE VERY BEST IN 2022 as you keep things interesting in the hills.
I’m really excited about your plans for 2022! You & your family have become a pleasant part of my life! Your channels are a wonderful alternative to regular television programming (which I largely avoid). Keep up the good work! What you are doing is definitely income worthy! I was listening to Phil Robertson the other day on their “Unashamed” podcast and as he said regarding the past success of Duck Dynasty, “If it’s of God, it will succeed”. It must have been, because it was a huge success. The content you offer is wholesome and I believe you honor God in what you do! May you all be blessed richly in the coming year!
Tip, you certainly accomplished a lot in 2021. The Blind Pig is really doing great! You set your goals then you accomplish them…I think you are absolutely amazing and your goals for this year are absolutely astonishing. You are quite the business woman!
It is worth pointing out that you accomplished in spite of the limitations imposed by covid!
I am looking forward to this new year and all you planned for it!
A Pressley Empire sounds good to me!
Good Morning Blind Piggers! Tipper, please go ahead and please sign me up for one of the cookbooks that you and Jim are writing. I will have to have one, cause it’ll be a doozie! I so enjoy everything you share here on The Blind Pig and love the memories it evokes. Have a great day!
Wonderful accomplishments, and excellent goals! Pat yourself on the back, Tipper. You’ve earned it. You’ve worked really hard to create the Pressley Empire. Long may it reign! LOL Hugs
Sounds as though you have a wonderful plan for 2022. Hope they all come true, especially the cookbook ❤