Blind Pig and The Acorn blog about Appalachia

It seems only yesterday I was telling you about the goals I had planned for the Blind Pig & the Acorn during the new year of 2016 and now that entire year is gone and behind us.

I’ve been studying on the things I’d like to accomplish during the year of 2017 here on the blog.

  • I’m still working on the idea I shared with you for the past 2 Januarys-the idea of celebrating Appalachia in a bigger way involving the voices of people like you and me. I haven’t made any real progress on the idea other than collecting thoughts and tid-bits, but I’m still dreaming about it.
  • I hope to add new folks to my monthly vocabulary test videos. Up to this point its mostly been the girls, The Deer Hunter, and me that you’ve heard saying the words.
  • Paul and I are still trying to find our way through the maze of making the dvd about Pap’s music that I told you about. We have made some real progress on a new cd of Pap and Paul. Well I should say Paul has made some real progress since he’s done all the work. He’s also made real progress on the first Pressley Girls cd.
  • Speaking of Pap, I hope to share the story of his death with you in greater detail. I feel like you would want to hear it since you really cared about him.
  • I have a secret plan for the coming year. I hope the girls will become a bigger part of the Blind Pig and the Acorn…I haven’t talked to them about this idea-so that’s why I said it was a secret.
  • I’m still studying on a cookbook full of Appalachian foods and a book on Appalachian language, but I mostly feel overwhelmed when I think about them. I am happy that I’ve been able to add the option of printing to the recipes I share.
  • I hope to meet more of you in person this year. I met more readers in 2016 than in all the years before combined. It was so much fun to put a face with a name.

I’m hope each of you will continue to visit me here on the Blind Pig and The Acorn during 2017.

Tipper

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37 Comments

  1. Tipper- There’s not a word that I could add to the above comments! They have said it all! Point is- We all love the Blind Pig and Acorn, we love the people who created it and daily news(old and new) that is at our fingertips that brings a whole new world to us ‘outsiders’ or I might say-a-I wanna-be from Appalachia. We feel your joys and we feel your sorrows. May God bless you and your family in 2017. Be assured we will all be here each day. Bob and Inez

  2. Well Tipper: It is late in the day! However I just wanted to tell that Cheryl Girl (who posted that SHE DID NOT KNOW WHERE her Grandma got that SNOW TO MAKE HER SNOW CREAM!
    Well I’ll bet she got it from the TOPS of old fence posts! That is the perfect place – as all you have to do is walk along the Lane and get as much clean snow as you NEED!
    THINK SPRING!
    Eva Nell

  3. Tipper, you are such a blessing in all you do here! I can’t wait to see how the dear Lord uses you in 2017! We are still so sad over the loss of Pap. It just hurts to think about him no longer being there with you. He was such a huge part of Blind Pig & The Acorn. I know you must miss him so terribly. God bless you all.

  4. Dear lady you are writing a book. I have been reading it for a long time and hope to never reach the end. It is my daily newspaper, refreshing in a world of hate, fear and divisiveness. It gives me a daily thought to carry me through some cruel times.
    Those who are anxiously awaiting ink on paper manuscripts are missing some of the best thought provoking literature available. They have before them already the journal of a strong mountain woman complete with illustrations. The day to day life of a Southern Appalachian family. You not only show and tell your audience about the real Appalachian spirit but you actually live it. How does it get better than that?
    What’s more, I feel like I have been allowed to be a character in that book. It makes me feel like I am part of a family, even to the point of speaking my mind.
    An interactive book wherein one can communicate with the author and other characters. What a novel idea! (pun entended)
    Thank You for All You’ve Done!

  5. Sounds like a really busy schedule,, hope you get to accomplish every one of them.. You no doubt have an abundance amount of energy, enjoy it while you can..

  6. Tipper,
    I just had a nice phone call from Donna Lynn at our Christian Radio Station at Murphy.
    She started with an apology for not getting a song by The Pressley Girls (Chitter and Chatter) on today and asked if I’d be listening around 9 in the morning. She knows they’re my Favorites, and I told her Thank you and that I’d be listening. You introduced her to me at Valleytown Church awhile back and I enjoyed meeting her. …Ken

  7. Your story about the Easter chicks is right on point!! Knowing a child’s or students perspective will often take care of misunderstandings. There used to be a school readiness test given to children entering school. The children in south Texas and other less affluent parts of the state often colored the bananas with lots of brown splotches. The test makers said that showed they didn’t know their colors; but everyone who has ever spent time pinching pennies knows you wait to buy your bananas until they’ve been on the shelf long enough to be put on sale. The family will probably eat them the same day as purchased or make them into banana bread anyway.
    So many misunderstandings would get cleared up, no matter what our age, if we’d just ask good questions and – most important – really listen to the answers.

  8. You might want to consider doing a book of love stories from the Depression era. At the risk of sounding like I’m promoting my book, I’m not. I have to say, though, that a little book I recently wrote about my parents courtship and marriage (Roadsters & Roosters: A Depression Era Love Story) has been very well received, especially by the folks in the North GA mountains that could relate to the era and area. I self-published because I was afraid a traditional publisher would make me correct or delete some of the words Mama used like “wuz” and “wuzn’t.” which would have taken away from the authenticity of the story. lol!!! If you will send me your mailing address, I would be delighted to mail you a copy … a small way for me to give back to you for all the wonderful stories you give to us! :O)

  9. PS…One more thing! That was the day the teacher didn’t just send home a note to my parents. She also called and told her she needed to have a talk with her.
    The talk consisted of the way I spoke back to her about the way she talked. Also the fact that I didn’t color the baby chicks the right color in the Spring pictures. After I explained all this to my Mother. She abruptly told the teacher that I was right. We didn’t talk like that. Also, the baby chicks were purple, pink and blue as well as yellow and I was coloring Easter chicks. She said, the teacher should make a visit to the local Woolworth and take a look at the Easter chicks they had for sale.
    Yes, my grade was changed and from then on I was treated more respectful. I learned early on that sometimes you have to say what you mean and stand by it!
    Thanks Tipper,

  10. Tipper,
    You have done a wonderful work with this blog. I love all of it and so much of the content brings back memories of our ancestors and the way they and we in Appalachia do things. I think it is so important to keep our heritage alive. Of course, there are bound to be changes. Even with as simple a thing as a Appalachian recipe. Products change, procurement of the ingredients change, ways of preparing change, but we can keep the basics.
    I’ll never forget when I was a child, I was corrected by a well educated Northern teacher, that I was saying something all wrong and to pronounce it her way. Well, I said, “You don’t say it right and my people don’t talk like that!” ha
    Thanks Tipper for all you do…Move on forward and “keep on with your keeping on”! We’ll be here reading, commenting and supporting you and your endeavors!

  11. I certainly applaud you for thinking of your goals for the new year. Since I enjoy reading your blog, but don’t always have time to.comment, I do hope you attain your goals!!!!!

  12. I am in here for the long haul. Sound judgment has made your blog interesting, but also it is very informative. I trust the new year will bring lots of Appalachian information our way. Bless your beautiful family and all the Blind Pig readers in the coming year.

  13. Tipper,
    I’m very glad that several years ago, thru a mutual friend, I was convinced to start reading your Blog. I’ve never been disappointed, I’ve met your family and I like what I see. I respect our Mountains and Valleys here in Appalachia and look forward to reading whatever you offer in 2017. Keep up the Good work…Ken

  14. Your goals sound good to me! I would love for you to produce a cookbook, Tipper, but it is a huge undertaking, so I’ll be patient.

  15. Every morning, whether I am at work or at home, I read your post for the day after I check my e-mail. Your posts are an uplifting way to start my morning, as I feel as though you are right here in my neighborhood.

  16. I have recipes that are filed in the little box labeled “Tipper” and it’s getting mighty thick and in such a mess. Some are hand-printed and some are printed from this site but all are well used. The book will be a big hit! I didn’t set any new goals this year as most are broken in a few weeks. Your goals are exciting and I’m blessed to be able to watch every one of them come to life!

  17. That is an ambitious list, as I’m sure you know. Still, us thinkers (I confess to being one.) need to think about big ideas for some time first and let them take shape in our mind.
    I do think you have a lot of good material for, perhaps, a book or even more than one. A cookbook could be one theme, Appalachian vocabulary another or mountain Carolina through the seasons another. Or all three could be combined in one. You have taken a lot of good pictures that would illustrate any such project also. In that regard, I saw Verna Mae Sloan’s book “The Way We Talked” for Kindle recently and I thought of your vocabulary tests. Since you are up to about 95 that is a book by itself.
    Anyway, every builder has to build to suit themselves. I will just simply ask The Author to bless your undertakings in 2017 and as He is already at work to fulfill His purpose in you, it will all come right.

  18. To be honest, my day S never complete unless I have read your site. I look forward to your posts and the ideas you share . Also, the learned posts from your readers keep me learning and understanding the history of the Appalachians. Thank you for taking the time to keep us aware.

  19. Goals seem to become more attainable when put on paper. I look forward to witnessing your progress. Best wishes, Tipper!

  20. I hope 2017 brings many blessings for the blind pig gang. The idea of a cookbook sounds great since I collect cookbooks. Really enjoyed the post about snow cream. I have not thought about snowcream for a long time. When I was a kid my Grandmother made it for us. Can’t remember how she went about getting the snow but I remember there were only certain places she would get it from. Looking forward to all your 2017 posts. Thanks for sharing your time, knowledge and family.

  21. I’m looking forward to your posts! I haven’t had luck posting on your site with my kindle..I hope it works this time. I always read, even if I can’t respond!

  22. I would love to see a book on the cooking and vocabulary of the Appalachians. One page at a time is how a book begins. Start with an outline then roll.

  23. Tip, those are some very good goals. There are lots of people who talk and far fewer that think. You, my child, are a thinker and that’s just one of the reasons I love you so much…that and taking such good care of my son and granddaughters!
    Happy New Year indeed!

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