Granny wasn’t the only one who had a birthday yesterday. Blind Pig & The Acorn turned 15 on March 6.
A fifteen year old blog is almost unheard of in the blogosphere. Sometimes when I think about how long I’ve been typing out my thoughts about Appalachia I’m down right shocked that fifteen years have passed.
It seems only yesterday that I wrote my first blog post. Here’s the introduction paragraph to it:
“Welcome! Glad you stopped by and hope you stop by often as I celebrate my Appalachian Heritage. I have always had a love for history, antiques, vintage finds—basically anything old. As long as I can remember I have craved a connection with my heritage and the creativity that abounds in it. My hope is that through this blog I can begin to understand how the love for the past can be woven into a hope for the future as well as an appreciation for the present.”
Every line from that first paragraph that introduced the world to Blind Pig and The Acorn still rings true today. I’m still crazy in love with the culture and heritage of Appalachia. I love the people, food, music, folklore, language, towering mountains, and deep dark hollers.
After all these years I’m still excited about celebrating all things Appalachia and humbled, thrilled, and encouraged by the connection I make to people all over the world.
Along with my passion for Appalachia the amazing folks (that means YOU) who drop by often are the reason Blind Pig and The Acorn has lasted for fifteen years.
Back in 2008 when I first started the blog I had no idea that it would reach all the way around the world, nor that it would enrich and change my life in the way that it has.
I aim to continue writing blog posts about Appalachia and I sure hope you’ll continue to read them.
Subscribe for FREE and get a daily dose of Appalachia in your inbox
Happy website fifteenth anniversary, Tipper! We both started on the same date, March 6th, but I’m a couple of years older — started on 3/6/2006. We keep on writing, as folks keep on reading. God’s blessings to your family and to you.
Congratulations! May you keep sharing your knowledge, love of history, and all things Appalachian for another 15.♥️
Happy Birthday to BP&A! My how time has flown. I’m so grateful for your blog. Living up here in the land of ice and snow, I can read your posts and for that little while feel the warmth of home. Bless you, Tipper and all of those who read and comment.
Happy Birthday to the Blind Pig and Acorn. Congratulations!!!! I love the post you post. Alot of Birthdays going on in March. My birthday is Friday, March 10th. my grandson was yesterday and my daughter is the 20th.
Congratulations Miss Tipper! I’m so thankful for the Blind Pig & The Acorn and I look forward to every blog you post. The only thing I regret about the Blind Pig & The Acorn is that I didn’t find it on here sooner than I did.
Keep crankin them out Miss Tipper, we all look forward to them daily. They help kick start my day!!!! Thank You!! ❤️
Thank you, Tipper! I love your blog and wish I had found it 15 years ago! Keep on!!!!
Hi,
Whoo Ho! Appalachian Pride big time.
It is so good to have a super blog that I can
read that celebrates the goodness of life.
Folks here in the Appalachian Mountains are
just like folks around the United States–
hard-working, proud, and loving their families.
Much love!
To 15 more years of happiness!
Kathy Patterson
Happy Birthday to the Blind Pig and thank you so much for all the love and work you put into it, keep up the amazing work you do.
Yours is the only blog I subscribe to! I don’t wait for an email. I have your website bookmarked.
As someone has already said, yours is the only blog I have found that doesn’t have ads, sponsors and promotions. It is clean and it is pure. That tells me that you are sincere about our culture and our place both geography and ideologically.
The same thing applies to your Youtube channel. No hidden sponsors, no overt sponsors, no endorsements, no testing freeze driers than nobody can afford. You are just showing how you live, with the intentions of showing the lives of real Appalachian people.
I don’t know how long I have been reading your blog but I know it has been well over a decade. I wrote a guest post in 2012. It took me a long time to get up the nerve to try that.
Anyway congratulations on 15 years of opening eyes and minds to what our part of Appalachia really is!
Congratulations! Even though I was not raised in the Appalachians, I did live there when I was first married and have vacationed there several times since. I love the South and its culture and traditions so BP&A fits the bill. Hoping you enjoy many more years – and we’ll be with you all the way.
Congratulations Tipper! Although I am a newbie, following the Blind Pig has become part of my daily routine. I am reading old posts as well. Still have lots of reading to do. Thank you and God bless.
Keep it up. I love reading and learning from your posts. Thank you for sharing so much of your family and lifestyle. Always uplifting! Especially the music.
Congratulations on your blog. And Happy birthday to Granny. I just started following your blog after watching your YouTube videos for the last year. I really enjoy them as my Granny and Father were born in the Appalachians. I’m so drawn to anything from there. Thank you for sharing your life! Susan from Indiana
Congratulations! I really connect with your opening paragraph and that’s why I enjoy BP&A. I often think about how many irons you have in the fire and hope you manage them well. I look forward each day to see what your going to share.
Congratulations on this major milestone! Fifteen years writing a blog is a major accomplishment and the day I found Blind Pig and the Acorn was a real blessing and still is. I don’t know how in the world you do it all. Even though we have never met, I feel like I have known you for years. I live in North Carolina but never have I learned so much about Appalachia as I have since I discovered you and your wonderful family. From the history to the food and the beautiful music and you sharing all that you do, I thank you so much. Oh, and the Friday night reads, love them!! Keep it coming!!!
Thanks a bunch to you and your family for sharing of yourselves. Seems none of you do without because of your endeavors on this electronic media world, getting out to those that had no idea what this world of ours is… appreciate yall
Happy Birthday Blind Pig and the Acorn! I miss the old ways; I’m glad I found you.
Happy Birthday! I have been enjoying your posts for many years. when I first started following this post it was right after my husband snd I bought our cabin in Murphy. I would have to dig to find the date, but a long time ago. I have enjoyed every post, learning about Appalachian ways and the beauty of this area. Hope this blog continues for a long long time
Congrats, you go Lady, much respect from Florida.
Congratulations! One of the first Blogs I subscribed to and still enjoy them each day.
Thank you and your family for being here. I expect sometimes writing a blog is a thankless task…
It is a pleasure (and treasure) to be able to look inside your life. You do realize some of us live vicariously through what you do. 🙂
You are a reminder of what is possible and how to enjoy doing it.
Best regards to all !
Congratulations, Tipper! Well done.
Congratulations on your achievement! Thank you for sharing your life with us.
Oh my goodness, 15 years, is amazing!! Congratulations, Tipper!! I think I have mentioned before when I stumbled across your blog many years ago I felt a southern family connection immediately. My parents had moved on to heaven and the words you used to describe flowers like Yellow Bells and putting up food from the garden pulled me in immediately. Some of your old-timey cooking also warmed my heart and you just couldn’t beat the beautiful harmony of Pap and Paul singing. I love having your blog sitting in my email every morning for me to enjoy reading. I must say even those who comment can bring a smile to my face or cause me to throw back my head and laugh out loud. Case in point, I laughed out loud when Randy mentioned he teased his children by telling them he was as dumb as dirt until they had a problem they couldn’t handle and then he became a genius! Haven’t all us old-timers felt that way at sometime in our life. I do love honesty and laughter and good gospel music:} I’m still laughing about Pap’s friend’s story of getting all his teeth pulled and the comedy that unfolded as he started home. Having said all that, I applaud you for all the time and effort you put into creating and posting your blog and thank you as I will keep reading as long as you keep posting.
Congratulations on turning 15, and I hope your blog is around for 50 more years!
Congratulations! I can’t imagine not checking BP&A every day, though I don’t always comment, you have been part of my life for a very long time. I was so proud to have met you and the girls after one of your performances at the Folk School Fall Festival several years ago. I encourage anyone to go hear ya’ll if at all possible. It was a very special moment.
Keep on blogging and may the blessings continue!
Congratulations Tipper! What a wonderful accomplishment. Thank you for sharing all of your posts, videos, and music playing all these years!
There’s a good reason why your blog has lasted so long–it’s great! It’s one of the first things I read in my email each day, and now I find myself watching your videos at night. I’ve been following you for several years now and have also purchased jewelry, soaps, and crocheted pieces from your daughters. I feel as if I have kin’ folks in the Appalachian mountains, and actually, that’s where my family lived generations ago. Keep up the good work!
p.s. When will the cookbook you’re writing be printed and ready for purchase?
Kay-it will be available in May 🙂 Thank you!
Congratulations! You have brought so much joy and information to us. Looking forward to the next 15. Happy Birthday to Granny!
Every morning I get my coffee to get my wheels turning, check the weather to see what I might get into, and read your email to remind me of what is good and beautiful about this life! Keep that light shining!
If you keep writing, I will keep reading! I remember my first visit to the Blind Pig blog so many years ago when I googled the sarvis tree. You know you are doing something right when you are able to keep our attention for fifteen years.
My electricity is back on after four days of outage due to the Friday storm. I didn’t spend much time on the internet as I had a hard time keeping my phone charged. When I stopped by here today, I was so disappointed that I had missed sweet Granny’s birthday. I hope she had the best one ever!
Happy Birthday, Blind Pig! I have learned so much from your blog!
Awesome and congratulations!!! We have really enjoyed your blog and videos since we discovered them and as long as your doing what you do we will continue to enjoy your life endeavor!!
Both of our families come from the Appalachian region and we get a peek into our history every time we read your posts and watch you videos.
Thank you!!!!
Love for the Past, Appreciation of Today, Hope for tomorrow. I feel those in every post and believe with all my heart the value of those sentiments. I think it’s best summarized as encouraging others. Congratulations on work well done! It is amazing.
Happy Birthday to the Blind Pig & The Acorn! Thank you for so many wonderful years of stories, recipes, music, and all things Appalachia!
I see 15 years and somewhere around 5400 posts ample evidence of the passions you identified the first day. But more than that it shows the loyalty of your ‘virtual kin’ and your dedication to them. From an initial ‘community of interest’ you forged something more, what I’ll call a community of empathy. That’s a mystery and a wonder. You aim to keep writing and I aim to keep reading.
Congratulations on 15 years of BP&A; no small accomplishment. May it continue successfully as long as you wish it to. You have an amazing readership that truly appreciates your willingness to share everyday memories, history, and personal happenings of life in Appalachia. Thank you, Tipper; kudos to all your BP&A family!
Tipper, we all really enjoy your blog and all the interesting ideas you come up with from regional food, customs, music and dialect to brilliant stories from the past. The beautiful part is it is all about your experience as a woman of Southern Appalachia. However, like the gracious hostess that you are, you warmly invite strangers in and make every one as welcome as can be on your blog! May I congratulate you on this the BP& A 15th anniversary of existence!!!! No one could do what you do because all the success is uniquely Tipper! PS I got a birthday card mailed for your mama who’s the bee’ knees!!! I wish you many years of continued success and popularity.
Congratulations!! That is some accomplishment, especially in today’s world. I appreciate all you put into this and the videos and have learned so much. I stumbled across your blog about six months ago and you’re now part of my morning routine. I read your blog and then watch whatever video you have (or the girls!) while having breakfast. It’s the best part of my day.
And happy birthday to Granny too!
Congratulations! What a great accomplishment of writing a daily blog for 15 years! That is amazing and even more amazing your blog website doesn’t have ads. Every time I go to read someone’s blog or look up a recipe the website has so many pop up advertisements that I can’t read the post or barely find the recipe. Websites like that driven me to never return to the site again. It’s not because the content isn’t worth reading, it’s because the blogger has sold out to commercialization. Thank you for not selling out your website to advertisement! I for one appreciate you sticking to your true roots of celebrating Appalachia in all it’s form. I had shared several of your videos with my sister, niece and friends. They all told me they enjoyed them. My sister has really taken a liken to your videos. She said that out of all the YouTube video channels she has watched, yours is by far one that actually is true to their channel name, content and purpose. You truly do celebrate Appalachia! Thank you and hoping God will continue to bless you with many, many, many more years to come providing outstanding content on both your website and YouTube channel. Thank you!
Congratulations on 15 years of the Blind Pig & The Acorn. I enjoy reading your blog every morning. The day just wouldn’t be the same without it.
Happy Birthday B P&A
Happy Birthday! I really enjoy your daily posts.
Happy Anniversary! I know your blog has certainly enriched my life and increased my pride in my heritage. Thanks for your diligent work and faithfulness to introduce us to new or forgotten words and folkways of our heritage. Love and prayers for many more years, Jane from SC ❤️
Happy Birthday Granny and Happy Birthday to Blind Pig and the Acorn! I start my morning each day with reading my daily dose of Appalachia. I have referred several to this fabulous blog and just wish I had found it 15 yrs ago! It feels like visiting family every morning and thank you for inviting us in!
Congratulations Tipper! I think of this as one of those things “that you never know until you try” kinds. I had heard but never read a blog until I met you at Storytelling in Young Harris several years ago. I wish I had been with you from the beginning and thankful I could read the earlier posts and catch up. You have come a long way and enriched so many lives. You’ve got me till the end! Thank you again.
Happy birthday to Blind Pig! I can still remember first stumbling across this blog and being so excited it existed. Then your music. Now your videos. I usually get up at 5:30 and get BP in my email at 6. Your words are always the first thing I read in the morning.
And I know I’ve told you a hundred times (so what’s once more?) but your blog has been an inspiration to me and it’s been a huge honor to write a few times for you.
This is such an important project for our region. I’m just awful proud of you Tipper! congratulations.
Also, belated birthday to Granny. I’m on sabbatical time and forgetful. I hope she had a wonderful day!
Good morning, Happy Birthday to you today and Granny yesterday. Friday’s are Friday because of your ‘reading’ I have learned about your home and your cooking and anything else you shared. Not everyone and everyone’s family would be so open to sharing everything, almost, that you and your life share on a daily basis. Looking forward to Friday…God Bless
Congratulations! Just as with fine wine, Blind Pig and the Acron gets better as it ages!
Your posts have brought many happy memories to me, personally, and I expect many others.
Thank you for your efforts in keeping Appalachia alive. Please keep on keeping on with your posts.
The audible pronunciation of Appalachia is butchered at the following site:
Ap·pa·la·chi·a
[ˌapəˈlāCH(ē)ə, ˌapəˈlāSH(ē)ə]
DEFINITION
a term for areas in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern US that exhibit long-term poverty and distinctive folkways.
Happy birthday, BP&A! Many happy returns.
Happy 15th Anniversary!! “If you build it, they will come.” If you write it, we will come and read it for as long as you write it. I LOVE BP&A and look forward to seeing what the topic of the day is. I feel like I know your whole family, and love all of you. Keep up the good work, we love it.
Congratulations on 15 years! It is amazing how you put out a blog every single day & still do all that you do. You definitely have perseverance & it has paid off for you & your subscribers. Nothing like a good cup of coffee & reading your blog every morning. I think another key of success for your channel is that you answer questions your subscribers ask & comment back on things. Your warm & personable touch brings people back to your channel. I raise my cup of decaf coffee to another 15 yrs!
Wow, 15 years is quite an accomplishment and you should be very proud. I think it’s the honest day to day real life that you speak about that draws us all in. It’s the comforting talk of good times good foods and family that keeps us wanting more, and you along with Matt and the girls (and granny of coarse) bring that home for we the readers and we appreciate it. So keep doing what you do, we all need it.❤️
Congratulations, Tipper! Blind Pig is an island of stability and goodness in a world gone mad!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to BLIND PIG AND THE ACORN. What a milestone, and well-deserved! Thank you for 15 years of Real Folks and Honest, Warm-hearted Content.
Happy birthday BP&A!
Hey Tipper, just want to let you know how much I enjoy the Blind Pig and the Acorn blog. It’s the second thing I read everyday. First I read my Bible then travel on over to Appalachia via your blog. The mountain are my husband’s and my favorite placee to visit. However we have some health problems now that keep us home most of the time but we have fond memories of our visits there. The BP&A keep us connected to our past travels and I am thankful for that. Hope you continue for many years to come. God Bless .
Martha, my wife and I never had the money needed to travel to far away places. We would go to the mountains of NC in October of each year. I dearly love the mountains and have always had a dream of owning an old time log cabin (with a few modern conveniences) along side of a mountain creek. After my wife’s death , I don’t guess I will ever be back anymore.
Congratulations to both Tipper and Granny. I’ve been following you and your girls for a couple years. I truly enjoy and appreciate your writing and videos. Thanks you for all of the effort you put forth!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
It’s amazing! Fifteen and still growing! Thats got to be a record! I am so proud of what you have accomplished and keep accomplishing evert day!
Keep up your excellent record!
Happy birthday to BP & A. I am only a newbie but enjoy and look forward to my daily emails. Keep up the good work Tipper, you do it well.
Congratulations on 15 years Tipper. My day would not be the same without the Blind Pig and a good cup of coffee to start it off. Thank you for all the work you put into keeping our Appalachian heritage alive. Reading the BP each morning just feels like home to me.
Here’s to 15 more years!!
Congratulations, I only found out about the BP&A a few years ago through something Jim Casada had wrote. I look forward to reading it each day. I often look back at some of the old blogs. I apologize if that is not the correct word, I don’t know these computer terns. Just yesterday, I was reading about Tipper working at McDonalds and wrecking her car trying to drive in snow. Tipper, today when I look back on life, I wish I just knew half of what I thought I knew when I was a teenager. I have teased my children and told them I was dumb as dirt until they had a problem they couldn’t handle and then I became a genius. I also dearly love listening to the gang singing on you tube. I hope you can continue on with the BP&A just the way it is now. Remember if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
Congratulations! Keep writing dear friend on the internet! I feel like I know you even though we have never met and your post are something I look forward to reading… the old ones are just as interesting as the new since since feel like a newbie since I have followed you since last March.
It must be hard to put out a blog 365 days a year…. For 15 years. Amazing!!!
God bless you and yours!