January 8, 2017
After Pap passed away I couldn’t bear to watch any of the videos we’ve filmed over the years. I guess I was afraid it would be like pouring salt into an open wound. Right from the start Granny and Paul both drew great strength from watching the videos and listening to the cds.
Once I got passed that initial feeling of not wanting to see or hear Pap, I became slightly obsessed with watching all the videos we’ve made. Hard to believe but we’ve uploaded 255 videos to our Blind Pig and The Acorn Youtube channel.
Although I’m a huge fan of our music, my favorite thing about the videos has nothing to do with the music.
I love the…well I love the love caught by the camera. Whether it’s Paul and Pap, the girls, or a mixture of all you can see them nod at each other, smile at each other, and sometimes even frown at each other if they don’t think the song is going so well. Sometimes you can hear the phone ring or someone knocking at the door. Often there is a piece of conversation at the beginning or end of the song.
For today’s Pickin’ and Grinnin’ in the Kitchen Spot I’m going to share a video we did way back in 2012 “Deep Elem Blues” (also Deep Elm/Deep Ellum). The song has been around since the 1930s and has been recorded by various artists over the years including The Grateful Dead. Deep Elm was a red light district in Dallas Texas you can go here to read more about the history of the song.
As is the case with many old songs, the lyrics vary depending on the person performing it. Here’s the ones Paul sings:
Well I went down to the bottoms to see my Mary Lou She was dancing with a stranger she had taken off her shoes Oh sweet Momma your Daddys got the Deep Elem Blues Oh sweet Momma Daddys got the Deep Elem Blues
Well I told that trifling woman Told her what I was going to do If she don’t quit her rambling I’m going ramble too Oh Little Momma your Daddys got the Deep Elem Blues Oh Little Momma Big Daddys got the Deep Elem Blues
Well I once knew a Preacher preached the Bible through and through till he went down to Deep Elem Now his preaching days are through Oh Little Momma your Daddys got the Deep Elem Blues I said oh now Momma Poppas got the Deep Elem Blues
Well I wish I was an apple hanging on the tree Every time Mary Lou came by she could take a bite of me Oh now Momma your Daddys got the Deep Elem Blues I said oh now Mommason Daddyson got the Deep Elem Blues
Paul’s flat-top picking is outstanding in this video and his vocals are top notch too. But the reason I love it is because of the little smile Paul throws towards Pap as he says “Mommason Daddyson got the Deep Elem Blues.”
Mommason was one of Pap’s terms of endearment for Granny and that’s the reason behind Paul’s smile. Hope you enjoyed the video!
—January 8, 2017
Today the number of uploads to our Blind Pig & the Acorn YouTube channel has climbed all the way to 591! That’s a lot of pickin and grinnin.
With Granny being so sick I’ve had Pap on my mind a lot.
She’s lived almost 10 years without Pap. I never thought she’d make it that long.
Pap and Granny didn’t have much money and since Granny spent a lot of their marriage as a homemaker they only had a life insurance policy on Pap. It wasn’t much.
Who knew funerals cost so much! I sure didn’t until Pap died. Thankfully his insurance policy paid for his very simple service.
After he died I quickly decided we had to try and get a policy for Granny so that we could pay for her funeral expenses.
Although she was much healthier in those days with no cancer, she did have some issues. Most insurance companies didn’t like her mechanical heart valve that had passed its prime. Our insurance agent, and dear family friend, finally found a company who would insure her with a two year rider.
If she died before two years the payments she made would be returned in full but the policy would be null and void. I thought there was no way she’d make it through those two years without Pap. Boy did she show me!
I’m so thankful for all the years we’ve had with Granny. What a blessing she’s been to us all.
Granny is doing poorer everyday. Lots of pain when she eats and not much appetite. She’s so skinny!
Even though she feels miserable, Granny’s attitude is positive. She hasn’t crocheted any since Christmas, but she’s still interested in everything going on around her and stays busy worrying about all of her family.
Last night’s video: Organizing Seeds, Kefir Water, & Storing Last Year’s Dried Herbs.
Tipper
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My mother-in-law and mother both prepaid their funerals. My father is still living but has prepaid his funeral. It does make everything so much easier for the family. I am so sorry Granny is having so much discomfort. I continue to pray for her and all of you each day.
My mother had dementia, but it was a gentle kind of forgetting, without a lot of the anger and disruptiveness that many people suffer from. My husband, Pat, and I cared for her in our home for about 5 years and then in an assisted living place. My husband worked from home and for a while during that time was between jobs, I was a children’s librarian at the local public library and was expected to be there every day. Pat was her main caregiver during the day and he went and had lunch with her everyday at the assisted living place. We both did a lot of the care, but I could not have done it alone. Even though the job of helping your parent through the end of their life is a sad one, it is also a very meaningful time to be present for, and a very dear time. I came to love my husband even more for the kindness and care he showed to her. Cherish your time with her. She’s a special lady.
I pray that Granny is comfortable and I know that is what you all want for her, too. I pray God’s special blessing over the Wilson and Pressley family. Please let her know that she is very much loved.
Great story! I’ve listened to Grateful Dead since I was a teen and always liked this song as well as their other bluegrass works. Jerry Garcia played the banjo. Prayers for Granny and your folks.Psalm 91.
Know that Granny and your entire family is lifted in prayers. May each of you know God has His hand upon you and holds you in His loving kindness and peace.
It hurts me to hear that Granny is having to endure pain of any kind. That’s got to be especially hard with her knowing she can’t do the same things she used to could. She’s always in my prayers. As far the video, It was so much fun!! I loved every second of it, especially Pap’s pickin’. I grew up in Dallas and Deep Ellum was very dicey in those days. I’m sure there are still some “iffy“ spots, But by and large it has turned into a nice business and residential area. In all my years, I have never heard it called anything but Deep Ellum, even to this day. Now we will say Elm Street, but the area itself is still Deep Ellum! Thank you so much for sharing!
You have enlightened me! All these years I thought they were the Deep Ellen Blues meaning that the singer had really deep blues for Ellen.
I’m so sorry to hear that Granny is not eating well and losing strength. I’ll be praying for her.
Continue to pray for Granny and the Wilson and Pressley families! It’s wonderful that while she is experiencing pain you can see that she still is in good spirits. She may be looking forward to going home to be with the Lord and Pap. Take good care, Granny!
Oh Tipper, thanks for the touching post filled with the memories and stories. My heart goes out to you all as you are in this season of waiting. My prayers for sweet Granny and your entire family will continue. I’m so sorry you’re having to watch this slow decline. Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
I really like this song and the melody was great. Paul sure can pick. Along with his daddy. My daddy once recorded a song, the only one, with my mom’s cousins husband, he was a musician and sang for a pittance in bars on the weekends. The song was, “The Billy Goat Song.” It was so funny. They had it taped on one of those old recorders, I think called a deck machine. Probably wrong about the machines name, duh! Haven’t heard that song anywhere else since they recorded it on the long ago lost tape. Sure wish I had it now. What a joy that would be for me. Love and prayers for the Wilson and Pressley families. Especially sweet Miss Louzine. Give her a huge hug and love from me. God bless y’all.
Tipper,
You are so lucky to have Granny. Even with her mechanical heart valve and not eating like she once did you are still lucky she can talk to you and enjoy you and your family. It was so good of you to look out for her finances and get her a life insurance policy to take care of her funeral expenses. That is one thing you and your family don’t have to worry about. When my mother passed away she had money saved for her burial. When Mommy picked out Daddy casket and vault the funeral home saved the model numbers and we told them the same thing. My brother and I feel good that it was what she liked. She purchased a double marker for her and daddy so that was taken care of for us. We had to get her death date inscribed on the stone. I am sorry I am talking about this. I DON’T want anything to happen to Granny but you are right to plan. It never hurts and you can be sure that is the way she wants her final arrangements to be. As you well know funerals are so sad and heartbreaking to experience but it is a rite of passage for all of us. As much preparation really helps in that difficult time.
Please Please, enjoy Granny now and do the things for her that she likes. The pictures of her on her sofa with you and your daughter I am sure made her happy. That is what quality of life is all about.
Take care and Lots of love for all of you.
Kathy Patterson
Prayers and love for Granny. My husband has been gone for 13 years and it took a long time to learn to live without him. Except for the grace of God, my children, grands and great grands I can live with peace at last.
I really enjoy Pap and Paul’s picking and singing and, of course, your beautiful girls!
Wish there was better news forGranny. Will keep you all in our prayers. Are you preparing for the big weather event? Looks like you might get your big snow. Stay safe.
We are 🙂 I hope everyone is safe during the event.
Praying for Granny and all of you. God bless you all.
Sending prayers up for you all. ❤️
Hello Tipper and Tipper fans! Tipper, I do so love your posts and one of these days I’m going to spend the whole day just listening to all the posts of Pap and Paul singing. My heart goes out to Granny. I’m 76 so close to her age. I’m in remission from my third cancer but I know at any time it could rear it’s ugly head, so I feel like I can empathize with Granny a bit. Cancer is a terrible disease! During my first and worst cancer, I did the chemo and radiation thing and that span of 9 months of treatments I would not wish on my worst enemy!!! You are blessed, Tipper, with many many videos of your parents….not many of us have that blessing. You can watch and see and listen to them any time you want, and it may be hard to do when you are in your initial grieving, but then you will be glad for the ability to do that. I pray for you and your entire family in my nightly prayers. I do so very much hope sweet Granny is not in too much pain. It was hard for me to see my husband in his final month of cancer in tremendous pain and he dropped to 110 pounds. That’s a hard thing to see a loved one look like that, so you mentioning how skinny Granny is reminded me of how thin my husband got. Love on her and spend as much time with her as you can, Tipper! May God shower His blessings on you and your family and all your fans!!
((((( Tipper, Granny and All )))))
May God comfort you.
P.S. I remember the words my 24-year-old son spoke as he lay dying. He said, “I don’t know why everyone says, “I’m sorry for your loss’ when someone dies. The person is not lost. They are just gone. And going to Heaven is like… is like…. is like going to Boston, only BETTER!” I remember his joyful, confident words every now and then when the grief of his passing weighs heavily upon me.
Lesley, thank you for sharing that precious memory!!
Prayers for Granny, and the rest of the family. Trust in Gods plan!
I’m so sorry for what your family is going through with your Mama’s illness. As we all get closer to our final days on earth we can only hope and pray that we lived the life God wanted us to. Your mother will live on in you and your daughters and those beautiful little boys. What a wonderful example she has been through the years and how much she is loved by all of you is a testament to that. That’s what life is about and she has done it well.
Continuing to pray for all of you and sending great big hugs.
So sorry to hear that Granny is not doing well. I will continue to pray for her comfort.
Good morning Tipper, Matt and Acorns. I live the seed video last evening. I have driven thru Deep Ellum in Dallas. it is just north of the I 45 and I 30 junction in the heart of Dallas. It was bars, warehouses and ghettos back in the 80’s. I saw my first ever street hookers down there. Feather boas and all. It is now full of hotels, Arts and music venues, I’m keeping sweet little Granny Wilson and all of y’all in my prayers. I took care of a dear lady here and we became close friends. She passed away shortly after turning 106. Dementia had taken her mind those last few years. We spent many days over the years in her flower gardens and crocheting together. Granny reminds me a lot of Ms Elza. TY for the music videos. I see those little gestures of love and family in each one. I love y’all.
Tipper, you know how folks in Appalachia worry about someone who might be hungry, and never allowing that to happen if we can help it. That’s the way I am feeling about Granny. If there is anything she wants to eat, please let me know, and I will have it delivered to her if possible. My brother-in -law is in a nursing home, has no appetite, and currently weighs 108. I discovered his love for Steak and Shake’s strawberry milkshakes, and I go out of my way to take him one every time I visit. It’s hard to say which one of us gets more enjoyment out of that.
Great flat picking on that peppy song, which I was hearing for the first time. Wish I could do that. I was just a three-chord rhythm man back when I could hear well enough to tune up.
Today, upon waking, I sang happy birthday to my sweet momma. She would have been 86 and I would have already have baked, carefully packaged and sent her a Texas cake to share down in FL, with her younger sister, by 2 years. Sadly, in August of ’21 I lost both of them in a tragic car accident. It was the most unbearable thing imaginable but I can now just enjoy the memories and live with the peace that my mom avoided the nursing home (not that she would have necessarily had to go to one but her fear was real) that she desperately wanted to avoid. My heart aches for you as you watch Granny getting weaker and your feelings of helplessness. She is so loved by you all and you can tell she knows that. Such a blessing that you are all so close and I’m not just talking proximity. One of these days I’m going to attempt the Arsh Tater cake so I can see why you and granny are so smitten with it♡ Thank you for sharing the “toe tapper”, Tipper! Pap’s smile, though slight, was quite mischievous. He certainly had a sparkle about him!
Granny is always in my prayers and my heart aches – for her, and for you all – to hear she is not doing well these days. May the Father keep you all wrapped in His loving arms through this time and fill each of you with His peace. Thank you for sharing today’s memories and video of your Pap and Paul.
Dear Tipper, I’m so sorry Granny is going through so much discomfort and pain. I think it’s almost as hard on the family to watch knowing that there isn’t much you can do. I’m thinking about you and praying for strength during this difficult time. Sending God’s blessings to you and the family!
❤️
Prayers for Granny & all the family.
No words for the sorrow of watching Granny suffer. She is a role model to all women as to how to be a wife and mother.
Simple love and kindness ❤️
I’m sitting here crying after reading your post along with the other acorns posts. God, please help those folks in need and give comfort to Tippers family. Please keep them safe and I thank you Lord for all you do
I enjoyed the song as well!
I hate that Granny’s suffering so. God will take her when it’s time I’m sure. Bless her heart and soul. Prayers for all of you! It’s so hard to let go.
Oh how only the GOOD LORD KNOWS what we have to watch and struggle through and bear witness to in this life concerning parents, friends, sick relatives and sometimes babies as well as animals we love dearly. If it wasn’t for the GOOD LORD, I’d be planted down under by now… Life certainly has sweet moments but the bad and sorrowful moments really suck! Tipper, there are no words to comfort you as you watch your dear mother grow more frail and feeble by the day (and at times by the hour it seems.) All I can say is May the Lord be merciful to you and your kin and especially lovely Granny Louzine at this difficult time. I’ve always heard when a baby is born, one of the family old timers is going to be passing on into eternity. When my beloved mommy passed on, I can’t really tell you much about it cause I was dazed and going through motions. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. If you asked me (and nobody did) life is bittersweet at best. I’m not so sure I’d want to come to earth a second trip-it’s been TRIPPING ENOUGH JUST ONCE…. God bless you all in this GRAND SOLAR MINUMUM and stay warm if at all possible. Know there’s a friend you never met praying for you all in VA…. That’s me yall! God bless us everyone!!!
Daily praying for Granny. I know this is a hard time for the family to watch her get weaker & weaker. Jesus will open his arms & welcome her home when His time is right. I pray that her pain lessens as the time draws near.
Thank you for that song from Pap & Paul & Ben. It must have been a j real oy to hear music coming from your home as you were growing up. Hugs!
Granny doesn’t get one day more nor less on this Earth than the Lord has figured for her to have, so leave it in His hands. Generally speaking, He doesn’t get things wrong.
Paul was top notch in that video, Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus today I pray for Granny, Lord please bless her with deliverance from sickness and disease I ask in Jesus name, bless our body, heart mind and soul, with restoration, healing and good health, strengths to endure, God comfort Granny in Jesus name Amen
Lifting up all of you to our Father. The pain is crushing. May you all sense His peace and comfort. Your family means so much to all us Acorns. Love from Northern Michigan.
On a different note, we were watching the weather this am. As they showed the possible track of Winter Storm Fern, my husband said “your Appalachian people might be getting that snow”! I told him you wanted a big snow. Our kids and grands are in the track to get A LOT.
Blessings to all…
Good morning Tipper. I am so sorry that your mama is in pain. I am praying for her and for you. There are so many people keeping you and your family in prayer. I just love your mama even though I have never met her. Heaven will rejoice when she goes home! Peace be with her and you and your entire family.
That was awesome guitar picking, Paul! And I always love your voice! I’m so sorry about dear Granny. She has many prayers going up on her behalf (including mine). I hope she’s able to take some sort of pain medication to help her cope.
Praying for Granny and all of her family.
May God give each of you strength and comfort.
Sending peace and comfort to Granny and all who care for her.
Our last name is Elms. My mother’s mother would say it “Ellums”. Used to annoy my father. She also said “fillum” for film. I believe it is common in Ireland to say it that way, at least for older generations.
Praying peaceful prayers of love and protection over Granny and all of her family and friends.
praying for all of you sweet Tipper.
It’s so hard watching our parents go through their final day’s here on earth, I’m in the same boat with you as my dad is not doing well. He has become more stable, but he’s not back to where he was before Oct 23rd of last year. Our life revolves around doctor’s appointments, in home physical therapy of all sorts and he has in homecare to help with his care and movements around his home. Prayers for your mom and for each of you during this time.
Tipper, like so many I can relate to your feelings and all that you are going through with your mom as I have walked that road myself–my mom would have been 95 this past Saturday (17th) but we lost her in October 2016. She had bad heart and bad kidneys and it had reached a point her heart medicine caused her kidneys to start shutting down and her kidney medicine caused heart issues. With the support of whatever she wanted to do was ok with us, when the doctor asked her if she wanted to continue the way things were going — she said ‘no, stop all the meds’. I stayed with her in the hospital during her stays there, and at the nursing home on the days she was not in the hospital….our relationship my entire life was one of contention and clashing head on in every way and yet I never knew why–but in that month of being with mama constantly we never had a cross word, we laughed alot, we sang old hymns together, and did a lot of talking. She even asked me a few times if I had any questions for her (I knew she meant ‘do you want to ask me about why we did not get along). I always either told her no, or I would ask something like ‘what was the movie you said you and daddy went to on your first date’). It was my desire and belief that people dying should not have any ugly past brought up to them–it just should be a time of joy and easy transition and assurance that (in my case) my mamma had been a good mom and there were no deep scarring issues as a result of anything done or undone. In that last month God totally wiped away the years of our contention and replaced it with a relationship much like what I see with you and your mom. It is amazing how He works in people’s lives sometimes. I am so sorry you are walking this road but I sit here totally amazed at how your mother is facing everything–I do not know how people live out these things when they do not have The Lord in their lives or how people can face their own quickly approaching death with out our Savior holding their hand. Praying for Granny and all of you as time draws nearer with each passing day—the heart ache of watching a loved one failing in health is hard hard hard…but as you said several times ‘we just have to walk it out’. Here in Oklahoma they are predicting from 4-8 inches of snow in the area in which I live with continued bitter cold. I am suppose to have an angiogram next Thursday but I think I will have to postpone it not only due to the cold, but my sister was suppose to take me to the hospital for the procedure and my brother in law has been in and out of ER and the hospital a few times this week so she can not commit to taking me as she does not know how things will be with him. The ER dr admitted him saying he has pancreatitis, but once admitted and saw the hospital dr the next day that dr said it was not pancreatitis and rather than finding out what it is (brother in law also has blood pressure and heart issues) they dismissed him and told him to get in touch with his dr for answers. That left my sister and brother in law obviously disappointed but more than that worried and concerned–a little fearful and a bit of dread as to how to navigate and find out what is wrong so they can get a handle on it….she said she is calling his infectious disease control dr today to get some advice on next steps and hopes for a quick resolution. Like you in last night’s video I too have been looking at seeds and dreaming of what to buy–even though I physically can no longer tend a garden of any kind, I still look and plan–like you my hope always springs eternal.
Thanks for giving us a update on Granny. She is still in our prayers daily.
Thinking of Mrs. Wilson and you all.
I saw the pain you felt when you spoke of your mom’s garden in the coming seasons. The seeds that were set aside to take ro her. I remember my mother’s garden. She had such a gift with growing plants. People used to tease her about the jungle around her house in the summer. All I have of her garden now is the sweet pea vine seeds. I share them with others in memory of her. I don’t have her gift. I think of you often in imagining the visits you have with your mom. Granny has outlived my mom by over ten years. It is a blessing that you have her. It will be so hard to lose that bond.
Tipper, there are no words to tell you how my heart hurts for y’all. May y’all feel the presence of our Sweet Savior ever so near. May His arms bring much comfort and peace to all y’all. Y’all are so very dear to all us acorns.
Thank you for sharing the song and memories. They’re all so very dear
I believe you are in the path of a great storm. I know y’all are prepared, but will hold everyone in it’s path for several states wide in prayer. No power is difficult when it goes on for days especially if you have a sick loved one. You all, like us, are mountain blood strong and will make due. Prayers for all.
Heavenly Father we lift up Granny Wilson to You and ask for mercy upon her during her final days upon this old Earth with her family. Please give her relief from her bodily pains from the cancer. She belongs to You – please give her what she needs so she will not be hurting while she waits to see You in heaven. Amen.
It is very hard for the family to know the pain our loved one has been through during sickness. But knowing that Granny is one of God’s children – well that knowledge is golden! Knowing that Pap will be there waiting for her is golden! Knowing her parents and all her kin who belong to Him will welcome her is golden!
My mother accepted salvation not too long before she died and the knowing where she is right now helps me immensely. Not knowing if my dad made peace with Jesus right before he died has been difficult to deal with. But I know you cannot force anyone into being with God in heaven. He welcomes all who call upon His name and ask for forgiveness – He knows all thoughts.
You know Granny will be there in heaven with her Lord and Savior when He calls her home to be with Him. And she will not be in pain ever again.
My prayers are with your family.
Dear KC,
Thank you for the beautiful prayer for Granny that you so lovingly shared with all of us. Imagine how many times our Heavenly Father will hear that prayer today, if we all repeat it two or three times and ask for His Grace on Granny. God bless you!
Jacqueline
Tipper I’m so sorry to hear Granny isn’t doing well. God is good and certainly good all the time I look forward to reading this every morning. I feel nostalgic this morning too. God bless y’all.
I’m so sorry about Granny! I wish I could take her pain away, but since that’s physically impossible, just know that I’m praying for her.
—
Here in middle Tennessee, there’s rumors going around that we’re expecting snow up to 18-24 inches. I know how much you love snow, & I wish you could have all that, because I’m not financially able to prepare my husband & I for this.
I will continue to pray for Granny and family. I have a relative that helps out at a local mortuary, I have heard him say along with others, one of the best things you can do is prepay for your funeral to help guard against the rising cost of a funeral. My wife and I have or had life insurance policy’s on us and all of our family, even now, I still carry and pay for life insurance on my son and grandsons. Within a few days of them being born I took out small amount life insurance policy’s on them but enough to pay for the cost of a funeral even later on in the life. To my way of thinking, that is one of the necessities of life, that was a priority for us. We gave up “wants” to do this. I was blessed to be able to be able to pay for them. At that young age, the premiums were cheap to what they would be when they got older.
My Mama prepaid for her funeral, and when the Good Lord took her, it made everything so much easier.