May 25, 2022
The Deer Hunter often jokes that we live on a goat bluff. We’re on the north side of the mountain and like many homes in Appalachia we lack flat ground.
Last weekend after we had weedeated and mowed we set in the backyard and surveyed our work. Everything looks better after you’ve trimmed it up, but this time of the year it really looks good since you can see the thriving green plants throughout the garden areas surrounded by the new foliage of the woods.
As we sat eating a popsicle and trying to cool off under the shade of an apple tree an old song, “Looking for the Stone,” popped into my mind.
I heard several people sing it when I was growing up. Pap never sang the upbeat tune, but for a few folks it became sort of a signature song for them.
Paul Ray and Linda Morgan walked around the front of the church looking behind the benches and around the pulpit as they sang the words. I always enjoyed hearing and seeing them sing it. Paul Ray has one of those voices that has unbelievable power behind it. Almost like he has a built in microphone.
The song tells about the stone (Jesus) which was hewn out of the mountain and came tearing down earthly kingdoms as it rolled along as well as stressing the importance of looking for that stone.
I’m not sure who wrote it, but I wonder if its a traditional song with an unknown author because there’s so many variations of the lyrics.
The catchy chorus will become embedded in your mind and pop up at random times like it did to me.
Our mountainside garden produces an awful lot of food to feed our family and it was most definitely hewn out of the side of the Appalachian mountains.
If you’d like to hear the song go here. It’s not the same lyrics I’m used to hearing but it’s still good.
—May 25, 2022
I’m beyond thankful for the gardens we hewed out of the mountainside and the old song still runs circles around my mind on occasion.
Last night’s video: We FINALLY Grew Strawberries || Strawberry Shortcake Scones from our Garden.
Tipper
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Last night’s video: Making Granny’s Oven Potato Chips.
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I had never heard of this song until your post, and like you said, it is stuck in my head!
Thanks for introducing me to it.
Hopefully we have rain on the way for our gardens.
There’s a region in Japan which grows potatoes on hilly land like yours. It’s an interesting story that has to do with their not being able to grow rice because you can’t flood such land, and the climate isn’t all that conducive either. Not much else grew well there either. When the Dutch and Portuguese came to Japan to trade, they brought potatoes with them and said, “These were discovered about a hundred years ago in mountainous terrain in South America like that of parts of Japan. You might want to give it a try.” Well, they did, it grew phenomenally, and they’re still growing it to this day.
Where I’m going with this is, if all else fails, do like the Japanese, and plant taters. 😉
I well remember that song from 75 years of hearing and singing songs. I don’t well remember the post from 2022. I looked back at the 2022 post and I left no comment there. Where was I then?
Could it have been an alien abduction?
I looked for cabbage in the picture before I reminded myself that the camera had captured 2022.
Praying for Norman, Papa Wade, and all who need it! Jesus is the Rock, and he never ever fails us! Tipper, I’ve been so very busy spring cleaning, doing sewing for our sewing servants at church, and trying to get my flowers planted that I haven’t had a lot of spare time. I sure have enjoyed your videos, and Katie’s and Corie’s and Paul’s!!! Some times I listen and watch while I’m in sewing. Haven’t had time to comment because of well as you get older it just takes more time to do what you used to do it seems like in four hours, now it takes two days or more:)
I’ve been concerned for years about you, Matt, or the girls, tripping over those rocks you have lining the garden. I’m about as old as Granny so falling is not a good thing:) You can bounce up when your young but as you get older a fall and an ankle break would not be a good thing SO just be careful.
One song that has been popping up in my head for two weeks, “On the Wings of Snow White Dove, HE sent His Pure Sweet Love, a Sign From Above, On The Wings of a Dove.” It comes in my head all day and I find myself singing it too. Now I’ve got to go get my song book and look at the rest of the words:) Ya all have a wonderful week! God Bless!
Dee, I am trying to stop commenting so much but I had to reply to this. “On The Wings of A Snow White Dove” was one of my Daddy’s favorite hymns. He could play a few songs on his guitar, this was one of them. I am 72 and am a lot more prone to falling. When I was 50, I would jump back up and look around hoping no one had seen me fall, now I just lay there moaning and groaning for awhile. Seriously I have starting taking my phone with me at all times in case I do fall and need help especially when I am outside.
thank you dee, God bless you very much for praying for me
I clicked the song link and it sure did bless me. We need that Stone now, more than ever! Thank you for posting it. I’d never heard that one!
I’m praying for you Norman.
God bless Papa Tony.
thank you Sherri, God bless you very much
Good morning, master gardener! I had a guy I went to school with tell me he was a master gardener and had been confirmed as such with a degree of some sort. I kind of rolled my eyes in my heart you know… anyway your harden stuff is looking good and neat as a pen!!! I see you’ve got shade at least some of the day. I got none here and it’s BRUTAL. I Will be gardening with a tarp for shade and yes it looks JANKY, but hopefully it will work…a neighbor told me yesterday granny who lived here before me cut a white oak down that was 3 feet around or better and a hickory tree just where I put my garden. (I swear I’d like to choke her. She got over on me BIGTIME. But I’ve lived long enough to know every dog gets its come uppins!!! The world is full of real “pieces of work.” Yall be blessed and know there’s prayers going up for healings and miracles!!! Hope is what we don’t see so hang on and try to stay hopeful as much as possible… He sees and He hears and He knows what we need before we ask. All this pep talk is easier written than accomplished…Have a blessed day and stay cool and hydrated…
My wife was telling me about this song this morning before I had seen this post. I recognized it right away as a song I had heard way back when a very few times. (I’d guess less than five times.) It also reminds me of another song (which may or may not be titled) “How Did You Feel When You Came Out of the Wilderness”.
As to your homeplace, I really like the word ” farmstead” or “homestead” but by right of conquest you all are firmly entitled to call it whatever. I recognize “goat bluff” as being a mix of affection and exasperation. I have on occasion called this spot “Poverty Hill” though truth be told I prayed for it (without being real specific). I am grateful for it. Your”hewing it out” phrase makes a good metaphor for life, especially one of hard work. But I also read between the lines that the both of you take a quiet pride and satisfaction in how far you two together have brought it from the raw clearing in the woods. Pride is probably the wrong word; more like some pride some satisfaction some gratitude all mixed together such that there is no one word anymore, unless it be “home”. Could it be, I wonder, how the Lord will, or does, feel bout His children here – not perfect but His own.
The garden space you have hewn out and the amount of food you produce on your goat bluff is remarkable, Tipper! I had dinner with a close girlfriend of over 20 years last night so I haven’t watched your video yet. Normally I listen as I clean up the kitchen when everyone is in bed but I crashed last night. I look forward to watching it. My 10 yr old daughter loves to bake. I bet she will want to try the scone recipe. She’s made us wonderful scones before! I am lifting up all of the prayer requests that have been mentioned so far and am keeping Corie and Papaw Tony in my prayers as well.
Gosh I haven’t thought about that song since I was a young girl. The only line I remember was Jesus was the rock that was hewed out of the mountainside! Thanks for sharing.
I think we’re gonna get some rain!!
Hi Tipper and Acorns. TY for the song link. What a beautiful photo and story. I can see myself sitting there with y’all. It is one of the things I love about your blog and your youtube, the connection with GOD and HIS creations. It’s as if all the hatefulness of the world has dissolved. TY so much for the respite. I have a big Praise report, TY GOD our Father for looking out for us and hearing our prayers, a couple of women came to the trailer yesterday and collected the stack (thousands of dollars owed) of Ed’s medical bills and said that they would help us find a way to pay them and to help get him to Vanderbilt Medical Center as soon as possible. They also discussed helping with some other concerns we had and will try to help with those as well. I want to thank everyone who prays for us and prays continuously as GOD commands. HE hears the prayers and praises of HIS Children. TY all so much and Praise HIM for HIS Mercy and Grace. I keep everyone here and up Wilson Holler in my prayers. I love ya.
Wonderful news!!
What a blessing, Barbara! Thank you for sharing this wonderful praise report with us!
Good early morning, Acorns! I woke up at 3 to get ready for my 45 minute drive to pick up my cousin for his heart cath. They just wheeled him out and down the hall. Let’s hope the blockage is less than 70% so a stent isn’t needed but I’m so happy he’s getting this preemptive measure done. He has a wonderful wife and young daughter and he’s much loved and needed. Any prayers sent his way are certainly appreciated. It should be his sister sitting in this spot, but sadly, she passed away suddenly at the end of April last year from a massive heart attack. That’s why I’m so happy this precaution is happening ♡ As his “sister cousin” I’m humbled he asked me to be with him today so Janie’s( 6 yr old daughter) routine could stay the same. She’ll be excited to see me when I pick her up from school♡
I’m praying for him Kim and for you too!
God bless your cousin Kim, thank you for your kindness to help your cousin, God bless you very much
Please pray for me, I still haven’t found a dentist that will accept Georgia Medicaid as a form of payment, nor has the hospital system contacted me about making an appointment to see the neurologist about pain in my head, my doctor said she sent the referral, why does it take a referral? God help! thank you and God bless you for praying for me,
I will keep praying Norman.
thank you very much
thank you very much, God bless Tony
I’ve never heard the song until today. I listened to some of it, but will have to listen later to the entire song. It’s going to be a busy morning for me. I enjoy reading your wonderful memories of the song and the people who sang it at your church. Nothing can be sweeter than precious memories that take us back to a more simpler time in our lives.
I love songs like that. Thank you for sharing as I’ve never heard it before. I love the old timey gospel music. I play an old album by the ‘Singing Mullins Family’. Ruth Mullins was the sister to my aunt by marriage. Their daughter Lori has gone on to play guitar for the Crabb Family, the Mike Huckabee show, and several other famous people. Mike Bowling also sang for them way back then. Anyways, their music was much like what you shared and I love it! I believe the Holy Spirit causes a deep stirring in our souls with some of the older music.
We’ve hewn out many a garden in our married days, but it’s smaller this year. My ol back makes it harder each year. I’m not that old, but I’ve got many miles on it.
The strawberry scones looked so good in your video last night. My daughter had made some the day before and told me I needed to make some as they were so good. Y’all just might have encouraged me to try that this weekend.
Have a very blessed day y’all! Look for the blessings God sends us each day!