August 1, 2018
1. The other day Granny called and said there was the prettiest terrapin she ever saw in her yard and that I ought to get a picture of it. I told her I’d be there in just a bit. When I got down to the house Granny was still standing in the yard watching the terrapin as it watched her. I said “Well you didn’t have to stand there and wait on me.” She said she didn’t want it to slip off before I got there. Granny was right it was one of the prettiest terrapins I’ve ever saw.
2. A couple weeks ago we played in Helen GA. On the way back Chitter asked if we’d stop at the rock place on the side of the road. The Deer Hunter and I both sighed and rolled our eyes. He said “Do you know how hard it’ll be to get in and out of there? I’ll have to turn against traffic both ways.”
If you’ve ever driven through Helen GA on a Saturday in the Summer you’ll understand our reticence to stop. But who can say no to a cute girl like Chitter?
Amazingly we turned across traffic without a hitch, there wasn’t even anyone coming. She walked around and picked up pretty much every rock on the place before she was ready to leave. As we got the car turned around to pull out I said “Well this ought to be fun.” Unbelievably there wasn’t a car in sight coming either way. As The Deer Hunter pulled out and headed us for home I said “Wow can you believe this? No cars either way?” Chitter said “Well I did pray.” It took us almost an hour to get through bumper to bumper traffic before leaving the city limits of Helen, but it wasn’t Chitter’s fault.
3. The state has replaced the first culvert on our road. It’s the place that typically floods after a really really heavy rain. They inserted some sort of new pre-fab culvert-it was huge! They did one side at a time leaving one lane for folks to get in and out. We heard the culvert was the very first of its type to be used in this part of the state. We also heard the men on the state crew were asking for the newly fixed site to be called the Jerry Wilson Bridge. I doubt they can get the naming pulled off, but I sure appreciate them thinking of it and I know we will always think of it as Pap’s bridge even though it’s technically not a bridge 🙂
4. Recently I was reading a book that mentioned Dwight Yoakam’s song “Readin’ Rightin’ and Rt. 23.” When Dwight first came on the scene back in the 80s Paul and I both flipped over his music. Even Pap liked his songs although he said his pants were too tight and he acted too silly while singing 🙂 Since the book jogged my memory I’ve been on a Dwight Yoakam listening kick. My favorites are among his early songs, but I’m not sure I could pick a favorite. Hillbilly Deluxe has a lot of the ones I love on it. I’m especially fond of “1,000 Miles,” “Smoke Along the Track,” “Mr. Johnson,” and “Little Sister.” You can go here to hear them for yourselves.
5. The Deer Hunter knows I love anything that’s old so when he comes across something he thinks I’d like he brings it home to surprise me. His latest gift was the two copper nails above that he discovered when dismantling a piece of Cherokee County’s history from 1926.
—August 1, 2018
When I was looking for an August post from the archives to share I stumbled on this 5 Things piece. My first thought was my how things have changed around here since 2018.
The Deer Hunter and I left our full time jobs and are making our living working together celebrating Appalachia.
We have two grandsons.
Miss Cindy is gone from this ole world.
Paul is retired.
There are many other changes I could add to the list.
Yet there’s a lot that hasn’t changed.
Granny still keeps her eyes out for terrapins and always calls to tell me if she sees one near her garden.
Chitter is still crazy over rocks. I don’t think that will ever change 🙂
The state boys didn’t convince anyone to name the culvert/bridge after Pap, but the love of community is still alive in the bunch that worked on the installation and one of the men and his lovely family recently ate supper with us. He still talks fondly of Pap.
I’m still enjoying the same old Dwight Yoakam songs I was back then. Recently it’s been Mr. Johnson’s Love.
And The Deer Hunter still brings me old things he comes across. Most recently it was a vintage Christmas decoration.
Tipper
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Since 2018, both of my parents passed; my closest cousin, Judy, passed; I had a hip replacement; I have a fractured spine; my soldier son with PTSD moved away from us in fear of what he would do to us; my sister moved closer to me, my son got a bulldog that prefers me so she lives with me, I got two raises in my job, my son bought his first home, and my granddaughter’s health has improved. Good and bad, trying times and good times, the Lord is the rock. God bless the Pressley family, and God bless all of us.
These types of short one liners sure make a body stop and think.
I’m sure I could do this, but things just ain’t the same around here since my wife passed away in March. A bit of good news though…My daughter in law is pregnant!! Baby is due in March. Maybe I’ll learn to like March again when this happens. And to be born in the same month his/her grandma passed away will be special. Pray for this baby. Pray for all of us actually. It’s been a very hard year for us. This old house just ain’t the same. The days are getting better I think as far as the sadness. But when it hits it hits extra hard. Just staying busy is key. I work outside cutting wood and grass until winter gets here. Then I’ll be trapped inside. Winters can be brutally cold in Nebraska. I remember when I was a kid in Missouri I as a six year old boy figured out those terrapins loved coming out after a rain. And I loved looking for them. Hard to believe that was 55ish years ago.
I’ve rambled long enough.
God bless!
Ed
Ed-I’m sorry you’ve had such a year. I will pray for you and your family.
Thank you!❤️
(((((Eddie)))))
May God help you to live well in the absence of your dear wife.
P.S. Like you, I find March to be a difficult month. My youngest son, a merry firecracker fellow, died on a long ago March morning at age twenty-four. That day was also the birthday of his beloved nephew. So, I celebrate both on that bittersweet day, a son I miss but will see again in Heaven, and a grandson who is growing to be a fine man.
You all so calming to me in these turbulent times. You don’t really know how much we all need that. Have you thought of doing a paper calendar I know young don’t use a paper calendar but us older ones still like something we can touch. You could use your recipes with pictures. I’d appreciate your considering it. Keep up the great work. Its your way of minister ing to us.
I have benefitted from Katie’s interest in all things rocks by buying some of her jewelry. It’s always a sweet surprise to find the tumbled stone she includes with her orders.
Tipper, what a grand post. Thank you for providing a glimpse into your past and present.
Something struck me as I read, and that is, the enduring love you have for your family. How wonderful, strong and deep it is.
Another thing struck me, this one generated by the culvert placed in 2018. You wrote, “[…] Jerry Wilson Bridge. […] I know we will always think of it as Pap’s bridge even though it’s technically not a bridge.” Pap acted like a bridge for you all; he offered a way forward. Like a sturdy bridge, he provided a safe way over troubles. And, like a culvert, he diverted destructive waters and supported your road. The Jerry Wilson Bridge, Pap’s Bridge, indeed!
I look forward to the possibility of meeting Jerry Wilson in Heaven, the fine man you call Pap.
My family loved fishing, and when we’d go to the Chattooga or Chauga River to fish, Mom would lay claim to a smooth river rock or two or three every trip. We’d lug them back to the car for her. Some were the size of a cantaloupe. Others would fit in the palm of your hand. She arranged those rocks in her flower beds. When my parents moved from SC to FL, those river rocks went on the truck to accent her new flower beds. In time she began to notice that some rocks were missing. There were no cameras back then, but it was obvious that somebody else in the neighborhood admired polished river rocks. Mom brought the last few inside so they wouldn’t be stolen.
I have seen Dwight twice in concert in LA. He was great and, yes, his pants were too tight. I especially love how he always acknowledges his mentor Buck Owens, and the Bakersfield Sound.
Even though many things change, much stays the same. Precious memories help guide us through this life.
Randy, I have also heard through the years if you see a terrapin, it’s a sign of rain. Thank you, Tipper, for your amazing stories, I always enjoy reading them. So happy for you and Matt that y’all got your corn harvested. God bless Granny, and the Wilson and Pressley families.
Life sure does change! It seems sometimes if we see somebody we haven’t thought about for a long time we will keep seeing them. I did not literally see Dwight Yoakum, but recently watched a video about him, “Tragic Detail About Dwight Yoakum.” It must have been “click bait” because I saw nothing tragic about him, just a seemingly very nice person just living life with all its ups and downs. I came away from the video learning that perhaps Dwight did well even with so much against him. I lean more toward real country singing, so maybe that is why I always liked Dwight. Then today you have a treasure “From the Archives” mentioning Mr. Yoakum. I truly love when you go back to archives for your new viewers, as you have a treasure trove of well thought out posts in those archives. I have followed for years, but have forgotten many. Keep up the good work! Oops, this one took me back to when I could not tell Chitter and Chatter apart. Now I wonder why, because they are very different, and they don’t even look like twins to me anymore; each one unique and precious.
The most exciting thing from your list of 5 is that granny could walk out in the yard and stand there waiting for you to arrive.
I won’t tell my sister about the rock place to keep her from jumping in the car and heading that way.
Wouldn’t it be the coolest thing to have that section of road named after Pap? And why not?
This Route 23 gal flips over anything Dwight sings.
I love vintage Christmas decorations and hope you will share a picture of it when you decorate this holiday season.
I really enjoyed reading this since I only discovered your channel and blog about 2-3 years ago. Of course, I always enjoy your content, but it was fun reading what was happening then and know how things have changed. Sometimes memories seem like a lifetime ago, but other times seem like yesterday.
It rained again last night. Not much but enough to keep the grass wet all day. Enough to keep the ground in the garden muddy. It has rained, at least a little, every day since Debbie passed by. I feel guilty that I’m getting too much and you too little. I have to remind myself that I have absolutely no control.
I had planned to sow turnips where my corn had been. I had hoped to till the ground and rake out the grass. Looks like that ain’t gonna happen.
Is seem this year has been one of too little or too much!
A lot has changed for us since 2018 as well. In January of that year we got our second grandson and in 2021 our granddaughter was born. We have both retired since early in 2021. Our son-in-law retired from the Coast Guard and now they have moved back here and live close by. Last week one grandson started high school and the other started first grade.
My fondness for turtles/ terrapins/ tortoises will never change, nor will my love of birds. I will be picking up rocks wherever I go until I can no longer bend over. Even then, if I’m not alone, I will ask someone to pick up the stones that catch my eye.
In my mind, at least, no one could top Stonewall Jackson singing “Smoke along the Track”.
By the way, that ole “Georgia boy” Stonewall, who wound up on the Opry in Tennessee,
originally hailed from North Carolina, from down in the flatlands around Tabor City,
I believe it was.
My favorite was the story about Katie wanting to visit the rock place. An excellent example of faith, “well I did pray”.
You had me listening to Dwight Yoakim this morning. That “Readin, Ritin
& Rt 23” hit home. My Dad worked a total of 17 years “up north” from the home county a bit west of the ‘heel’ of KY because there were few jobs in our county. Then is, he endured it but it grieved him doing it. Dwight’s voice is certainly unique. I get the impression he liked a little “bling”. Those country songs that tell a story about big issues of life are tear-jerkers, most especially when you have lived’em yourself. The rock shop story always makes me smile because that matter-of-fact ‘I did pray’ is how I think it ought to be. I rarely drive anywhere without praying going and coming. After all “casting all your cares upon him for he careth for you.” doesn’t exclude anything but what is no care to you.
Beautiful memories, Tipper. With so much that changes in life, it’s nice to look back to find the sweet little things that haven’t changed. I like how you do that.
If I had a Buck for every terrapin I rescued out of the road when I lived in the Nashville area, I’d be a thousand heir anyway! I can’t see to run over the little creatures and they seem under appreciated in that part of TN and at the mention of a mud turtle, people make terrible faces and say things like “who cares about an old mud turtle” and even worse comments… well you know who cares and loves and appreciates GOD GIVEN LIFE????? I DO AND THATS A FACT. I’d have to agree about his beauty with dear granny! I been on a Bellamy Brothers and Al Green kick myself!!! Tired of Being Alone has really been doing it for me, although I ain’t alone!!! Lol Chitter and her rock adoration is a beautiful thing! She’s got vision and creativity for sure and she’s a lovely young gal!!! I’m so glad you all have not only wonderful daughters but now you have wonderful grandsons to put a cherry on life’s cake!!!! Stay awesome and keep blogging Tipper! We just love all you have to share!!!
great stories….one thing is for certain, everything changes..
1. We took two little granddaughters to a small local wildlife zoo this past Sunday. They loved all the animals, but they both oooed and awwed at a tiny terrapin that looked much like the one in your photograph above. 2. My little 6 year-old granddaughter always finds a rock she thinks she needs to keep. When we drive to a little creek to wade or toss rocks in, she brings some home. She also believes in the power of prayer. She asked God for a little brother before our now, one-year old grandson was born. A few weeks ago, she told me she was gonna ask God for another baby brother. I told her she should talk to mommy and daddy before making that request. lol! 3. Every time we go anywhere this summer, there’s roadwork. It’s a pain to drive through, but I know it’s necessary, and the nice smooth roads are great to drive on after. 4. I hadn’t heard any Dwight Yoakam songs for a long time. I enjoyed them all this morning. 5. My hubby always finds me something when he stops at a yard sale. Recently he brought home a beautiful hanging light that was brand new. He also, recently, bought me a very old statue of Mother Mary for my flower garden. It needed painting and I had so much fun doing that. She looks beautiful sitting in the middle of my flowers with zinnias blooming behind her and marigolds blooming in front. It’s sweet that he always thinks of me.
If I had five things, terrapins would definitely be one. I’ve always loved and collected rocks and old things, especially old brass horse medallions, and most certainly Dwight Yoakam who I had a terrible crush on when I was a young, and I’d probably also add John Prine. I’d also add the woods and waters of Michigan.
I grew up hearing “seeing a terrapin is a sign of rain.” Nowadays I don’t see as many terrapins as I once did, and it seems like summers are a lot dryer than use to be. How many of us that bird hunted (quail) have had their bird dog point a terrapin?
Much has changed in my life over the last few years. A lot of it has to do with the death of family members, friends and coworkers. A friend that was also a coworker will be buried tomorrow. I miss all of them but I miss my wife the most and has made the biggest difference. I buried much of my joy, happiness, and will to live when I buried her. I often think of something my dearly loved father in law once told me, it was “you know you are old when more of your lifelong friends are under the ground than are above the ground.” Now at 70 years old I understand more and more of what he was trying to say. In many ways he and Pap were a lot alike.
My wife died in 2018 about four months (March 25th) before Tipper first published this. 2018 was a bad year for me.
I didn’t remember any of this post. None of it! I take pride in remembering everything Tipper posts but today’s proves I’m not perfect ” “. (If I put LOL here then I will have violated my vow not to use those 3 letter acronyms I despise.)
When you tell your stories I almost feel right there in the moment. Maybe you should compile a book with them for your grandsons and other family to read.
I worked in an assisted living facility years ago. One of the residents was 99 and his wife was 100. I would drive him to the doctor and he always wanted to hold my hand. His hands were so big too. Anyway, he wrote a book and told stories of all he had experienced in those almost 100 years. He gave me a copy as a wedding gift. It was amazing to read all the things that came about since 1900.
I love reading about your family and all ya’lls adventures too.
I love reading from your archives, Tipper! Your stories seem to take me back to simpler times.
Tipper I also enjoy reading your Archives,because they are new to me
they are such a comfort, it’s good to know there is still simple love,honor and respect among spouses,and neighbors for each other,parents and children,my husband would say the same thing that Matt said but he would do it
Growing up in Northeastern TN, I mostly always heard “dryland” terrapin. Now, I wonder if that was only a local description. Also, asks the question if we had two different types of terrapins.
I’m thinking the “dryland” was to tell the difference with a snapping turtle or maybe another kind of water turtle.
You’re spot on, Ron. Box turtles and tortoises are terrestrial (“dryland”) types; there are lots of aquatic turtles…snapping turtles, soft-shelled turtles, cooters, sliders and others. Only the aquatic turtles are known to bite. Box turtles and gopher tortoises, never, to my knowledge.
I think Tipper’s Terrapin is known to the scientific community as a Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina). In my family they are pronounced “Tarpin”.