Every January for the last couple of years, I’ve taken a look back at what I’ve written here on the Blind Pig during the year. It helps put things in perspective for me and I’m always surprised at the various subjects I wrote about-many of which have completely fallen through the cracks of my memory by year end.

One of the highlights of 2012 for me was-I wrote a book! Actually I took part of my Appalachia Through My Eyes series and made a book titled Appalachia Through My Eyes. It was very well received-and you can still buy a copy by going here.

I’ve listed my favorite posts for each of the last 12 months below-one regular post-one post from my Appalachia Through My Eyes series. (if you want to revisit any of the posts-just click on the words in orange)

January-My favorite regular post for January was I’ll Fly Away-because it captured us as we really are-when we were filming the song we had no intention of sharing it with you-it was only supposed to be to help the girls practice their harmony.

Appalachia Through My Eyes – Evil Flowers is my favorite of the series for January. I like it because the old saying is so thoroughly Appalachian in nature. There’s the warning-the religious overtones-all with a touch of humor.

February-Was full of sweet stories. Looking back it seems appropriate they all appeared during the month of love even though I didn’t plan it that way. My favorite post of the month is Brand New Tennessee Waltz. I’ve come to love the song-mostly because of Pap’s story of his one time waitress girlfriend who wore the prettiest apron with blue strings.

I like the post Appalachia Through My Eyes – Music In The Same House because it makes me feel hopeful for the future. My generation of roustabouts who played in that house turned out ok-and I’m positive this generation will too.

March-A crazy conglomeration of posts filled up this month. My favorite-The Czech Come To Brasstown. Such an amazing night when 2 dance teams from both sides of the globe came together-it was truly magical.

Appalachia Through My Eyes – Alpha Omega Evans is not only one of my favorite posts from the series for the month of March-but for the entire year. The day we saw the gravestone was a truly magical day. A day spent with friends we love-and the image of Chitter running back to kiss Alpha Omega Evans goodbye will forever be burned into my memory.

April-A month full of dancing-with Mountain Folk Festival 2012 being my favorite post.

Appalachia Through My Eyes – Rooster Fighting With Violets is my favorite from the series. Not a very popular game throughout all of Appalachia-but for sure between my mountain holler and the Pinelog-Gumlog area just over the mountain.

May-Was an exciting month-I taught a cooking class at the John C. Campbell Folk School-what fun! I had the best students in the world-and a co-teacher who taught me so much! My favorite post is-The Heartland Series. What an amazing group of people we got to hang out with during their visit.

Appalachia Through My Eyes – The Perfect Arrowhead is another post I can say is one of my favorites for the entire year.

June–2 Knitters Moved In is my favorite post for the month of June.

For the series-Appalachia Through My Eyes – Way Back In The Hills. Both highlight the great opportunities the girls got to be part of over the last year.

July-We finally got chickens in 2012-and in my favorite post for July-I introduced you to them-Meet The Chickens.

Appalachia Through My  Eyes – Barelegged is my favorite from the series-the term barelegged is totally representative of Appalachia and is used in many different forms-just ask Granny if you don’t believe me.

August–Fishing With Pap was my favorite for this month-and I noticed another neat coincidence-I published it on my birthday-but never noticed till I was looking back over the year.

Appalachia Through My Eyes – Give Him Down The Road is my favorite of the series. I tried acting out the old saying-and actually ended up sending the girls down the road because of their lack of cooperation.

September-The month I finally told you the truth about my secret fairytale in my favorite post for the month-The Princess Tree-the post is one of my favorites for the entire year as well.

Appalachia Through My Eyes – Mean As A Striped Snake was my favorite from the series.

 

October-My favorite post-Mountain Sayings.

Appalachia Through My Eyes – Fall Is Here is my favorite from the series-I love the changing of the seasons here in Appalachia and celebrate each one.

November–Hunting Rocks tops my list for November.

With Appalachia Through My Eyes – Teenagers being my favorite of the series.

December–I Dream Of Christmas is my choice for this month. Actually-it’s Granny’s poem so she did all the work on the writing end. Her poem speaks to one of the bittersweet things we love about Christmas-memories of Christmases past spent with those we loved the most but no longer have with us.

Appalachia Through My Eyes – Mr. Art Teacher was my favorite of the series-because I like for people to know we have smart kids in Appalachia and fantastic teachers too.

I hope you enjoyed looking back with me. Looking back helps me see the road I’m headed down in a clearer light. And I hope each of you stick around for the ride in 2013!

Tipper