February 12, 2016
1. Sometimes we weave bracelets while we eat breakfast in Appalachia. Well…not everyone does that, but that’s how Chitter rolls. If you haven’t looked through her Stamey Creek Creations Etsy Shop jump over and take a look.
2. Listening to this song makes me think everything will work out and heck if it doesn’t who cares? I’m not sure which is my favorite part. Who couldn’t love that guitar intro it makes my blood hum. The banjo makes my feet tap and the piano runs make my fingers tap along on the steering wheel. “Blues Berry Hill” is one of my favorite songs to listen to as I drive to work. One day I’m going to take every last one of you along for that ride…I’ve been meaning to do that for a good long time. Now that I’ve told you maybe I’ll actually do it!
3. The snow we got this week still wasn’t the big snow I’ve been wanting, but it was enough to make our steep driveway slick. The Deer Hunter usually takes the vehicles down the hill before the snow arrives. We live on the north side of the mountain and snow stays on the ground longer than it does on down the road. There’s usually a day, or a few days depending on the amount of snow, where we have to hike in and out because even though the main roads are all clear our driveway remains snowy. As we slip and slide up and down the hill we tease each other that its hashtag mountain life. This go around we somehow only ended up with The Deer Hunter’s truck at the bottom. So this morning we all headed out to carpool to our various destinations. On the way down Chatter got in the ditch because she thought it would keep her from falling. Chitter was having a hard time holding on to all her school stuff and I was trying to keep from getting my dress pants dirty. The Deer Hunter said “Go ahead and say it Chitter.” She yelled out “Hashtag mountain life. This is what its like living on the mountain!” We all laughed over that exclamation!
4. There is nothing like staying in a hospital to make you appreciate your bed and your own bathroom! During Pap’s recent hospital stay I slept in a chair and used the public bathroom along with everyone else. The night I finally got home I took the hottest shower I could stand and then crawled into my own warm cozy bed. It felt so good that I told The Deer Hunter and the girls I might just never get up again.
5. As I walked across the parking lot the other day I saw a piece of paper laying against the curb. I picked it up so that I could throw it away, but once I had it in my hands I realized it was a letter. It would have been impossible to stop myself from reading it after I saw the words I love you to the Heavens and Beyond. Let me tell you a sweet letter from a husband to his wife put a smile on my face and little pep in my step. Yep love is alive and well in Appalachia. To the Heavens and Beyond…now that gives you something to study on.
February 12, 2016
My life has changed in so many ways since I first shared the post above, but there are some things that have stayed the same.
Chitter is still filling her Stamey Creek Creations Etsy Shop with beautiful pieces.
I still think “Blues Berry Hill” is an outstanding instrumental.
You know well and good that I’m still always a wishing for a big snow.
And I can attest that love is still alive and well in the mountains of Appalachia.
Last night’s video: Finally Starting on the Big Garden!!
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MY COMMENT TONIGHT IS THIS. PRETTY SURE I SHARED THAT MY WIFE WAS DECEASED 11 7 2012. ANYWAY. KAREN’S LAST WORDS TO ME. AS SHE LAY DIEING FROM BC EACH TIME I WOULD GO BY HER HOSPITAL BED IN OUR LIVING ROOM WHICH WOULD EVENTUALLY BE HER DEATH BED. I WOULD SAY(I LOVE YOU! KAREN WOULD WHISPER IN HER BARELY AUDIBLE VOICE WEAK BUT HER VOICE NOW WAS DOWN TO A WHISPER ; I LOVE YOU MORE SHE WOULD SAY). I HADN’T CRIED IN A LONG TIME BUT REMEMBERING THAT AFTER 11 YEARS I JUST HAD TO CRY. HOPE ALL WHO READS THIS WHO ARE MARRIED NEVER GOES TO BED WITHOUT TOUCHING YOUR SPOUSES FACE BEFORE YOU GO TO SLEEP AND TELL HIM OR HER I LOVE YOU. THANK YOU TIPPER FOR PROVIDING A PLACE TO SHARE MY FEELINGS. GOD HAS BEEN VERY GOOD TO ME KAREN AND I WERE MARRIED 49 YEARS AND 50 WEEKS. SUNDAY MARCH 10TH I WILL BE 83 YEARS OLD. GOD BLESS ALL AND MAY EACH OF YOU HAS A LONG LIFE WITH THE HELP OF GOD OUR SAVIOR. GOODNIGHT ACS
Loved the part about no better bed than your own!! Actually loved all the stories but, the bed one put me to mind also of having to stay at the hospital with my Dad as well. God rest his soul.
1. I can certainly understand that Katie liked to weave bracelets while having breakfast since it seems that making jewelry is her passion. Sometimes when I am working on a crochet project, I can hardly put it down for nothing till I finish. 2. Blues Berry Hill is a toe-tapper for sure. That was the first I ever heard it. 3. I can relate about how the snow sticks longer where you live. It does where I live too. It will be so deep here, and the roads covered in ice—but if I am brave and drive through it about five miles, it usually changes drastically for the better. I always tease and say we live in Alaska here in this little mountainous region of WV. 4. Nothing feels as good as sleeping in your own bed, whether you’ve been on vacation or something not so fun like a hospital stay. Being away makes you appreciate home and your own clean bed all the more. 5. I have many little notes from my husband from way back in high school to notes he would leave on the kitchen counter when he went to work on afternoon shift, and I was working at school all day. Notes and texts kept us connected till the weekends for many years, and I treasure them all.
I have never heard the song “Blues Berry Hill.” The note Tipper found makes me think of how in school my girlfriend (future wife) and me would slip notes to one another in the hallways between classes. We didn’t have any classes together. This was back in 1972, back then we would have gotten into trouble at school if we had been seen holding hands. The last words we ever spoke to one another was to tell each other “ I love you” as she was being carried to surgery. This year would have been 50 years.
Hi again Tipper – I had to come back and add another comment, as I clicked the links about the Dec 2017 A White Christmas and loved those snowy scenes…they took me back to growing up when we would get a few feet of snow and bitter cold winters that could last weeks….but I can’t say I mess any one of them now as a senior! I also followed the link about the ‘tracks’ and my understanding is that if you have deer you will also have cougars or as you call them ‘painters’ since that is their favorite prey….the paw prints you showed in the video link looked it was a good sized animal too! I loved the memory travels you gave us this morning…thank you for sharing.
My toes on both feet were tapping to the music. Amen to the difference between your own bed and those in the hospitals. I can sleep almost anywhere but feel rested and safe in my bed or even my recliner.
I loved the wee walk with you Tipper, as you took us down memory lane. Life does change, but oddly can seem to remain the same as well. And bless you all for ensuring love is still alive and well in the mountains of Appalachia.
Enjoyed the visit to the archives today. It’s always nice to look back and remember those times. Thank you for sharing Blues Berry Hill because I have never heard it until today. That’s a real toe tapper.
I enjoyed last night’s video. The trees being cut down is really going to make a difference because you could already see the light coming through. That garden is going to be beautiful and y’all living so close to each other is just wonderful. A real blessing!!
“Blues Berry Hill”, one of my favorite songs. There are a lot of good songs on those Nitty Gritty Dirt Band albums.
Lovely, Tipper. Thank you.
Enjoy reading the archives post. Time is moving so fast you all will be harvesting corn before you know it!
Blessings to all.
Never heard of Blues Berry Hill but it sure was a toe tapping tune:) I’m sure getting those trees down and cleared off will really help with letting the sun shine on ya all’s new garden. The farmers here in SC PA plant a lot of corn and it seems like they say here it should be “knee high by July.” We always enjoyed going over to Lancaster, PA., and watching the Amish farmers planting with their teams of horses.
I remember one winter morning getting up and seeing an icy driveway. I only had to walk or trudge through the snow for about a block to get to work, but the driveway was downhill so I studied on it a minute then picked up a rug I had in the foyer and went out the door, sat down on the rug with a rubberized back and slid down the driveway landing safely at the bottom. I stood up and tossed the rug up on top of the snow bank and walked on to work.
Love the rug sliding story!!
Wonderful things to reflect on to make you smile. They made me smile too.
I have laughed heartily at the story about JC and the “Vampere’s” Thanks for keeping the world a little sweeter. March is approaching fast. Little Bit will be coming soon. Another generation will mingle with the bubbling creeks and calls from the birds building nests. May you and yours be blessed.. Prayers for Granny, and your family. in
Watched all the tree cutting and logs stacking and I am sure it will be well worth it when all those rows of corn are planted and harvested. Please keep us in the loop. Prayers for Granny and you guys.
Enjoyed the blog. I love looking back at happy things and challenges we have faced which are a lot like working hard to get down a slick mountain road just to go to WORK! Also lovely things like the fact that my husband always signs his cards to me “All my love forever”. I agree with you Tipper, your own bed is always the best bed and I should know cause during a great portion of my life I traveled two weeks out of a month for work. I still kind of cringe when I have to stay at a hotel.