August 10, 2021
Back in June I left my full time position with John C. Campbell Folk School to focus on my passion of celebrating the wonderful culture and heritage of Appalachia. My mind was full to the brim with things I wanted to do. It still is.
I have by no means accomplished all the ideas in the short time I’ve been self-employed, but I have been able to check one of the items off my mental list—spend more time with Granny.
I’ve been spending one day a week with her, doing whatever she wants to do.
We’ve strung beans, worked in the yard, cleaned in the house, went to the store, and watched a whole lot of westerns on tv.
Granny’s tv pretty much stays on the western channel or the inspiration channel where she can watch various western series throughout the day.
She loves Wagon Train, The Virginian, Gun Smoke, Death Valley Days, Cheyenne, Bonanza, Big Valley, and more. Her favorites are Wagon Train, The Virginian, and Death Valley Days.
I love them all, but especially enjoy The Virginian.
No matter the show, once I set down on Granny’s couch and begin to watch I become mesmerized.
I’m not really a big tv watcher but there’s something about those old western shows that pull me in and compel me to become involved in whatever incident that’s going on.
Of course the shows are make believe, made to entertain folks like Granny and me. Yet there’s something so simple about them that they comfort me. No complex story line to keep you guessing, just a single problem that’s always fixed by the end of the show.
As I stated at the beginning of this post, I left my full time position to focus on working for myself and to highlight the people of Appalachia, but there was one other issue that helped me make that leap.
The crazy year of COVID showed me the most important things are right in front of me: my faith, my family, my garden, the high ridge above the house, Stamey Creek as it flows through Wilson holler and heads on to Brasstown and beyond, the music we make together, the chickens in the backyard, the worn trails that lead up the creek where my ancestors walked before me and the daily tasks that I do to support my family and friends.
Being forced to slow down and notice anew the things that bring me great overflowing joy made me yearn to experience them all on a daily basis forever, not just for the respite of working from home while the Folk School was closed.
I haven’t regretted my decision to become self-employed doing the things I love for one mili-second. I have relished being able to focus on celebrating Appalachia in a more meaningful way, but most of all I have savored every last second of doing for my family whether that’s cooking a good supper, putting up food, or watching westerns with Granny.
—August 10, 2021
Today, August 22, 2023 I feel the same way I did back in August of 2021. I haven’t regretted leaving my full time job one single second. I’m still thrilled to wake up every day and be able to focus on my endeavor of celebrating Appalachia as well as care for my family.
What a blessing being self-employed was when Miss Cindy was sick. I never had to worry one time about whether I could take off work to ferry her to appointments or to care for her.
That same blessing has continued as I take Granny to doctor appointments and help her in any way she needs me to. God has richly blessed me in more ways than I can ever count.
Granny is still watching westerns and I’m still being mesmerized by them.
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I was privileged to live with my Mom the last couple years of her life. This post reminds me of Mom watching rodeo on the Country Channel every morning. She just loved it! Once we had that channel on, and it was airing a livestock auction. I said, “Mom let’s sell out and go buy a ranch!” She gave an enthusiastic “Ok!!” I wouldn’t trade that time for anything.
Tipper, you will never regret this season of your life! You are a blessing to us all, and a great gift to your family.
Oh Tipper, you truly learned such a valuable lesson. Our faith, family and home are so very precious. Plus, the days tick by faster each week, and our moments with loved ones speed by. Savor every moment in your precious & peaceful little corner of this crazy world. I know that you do, your words and actions reflect you do. Have a very blessed day. Hopefully this heat will break soon. I think it’s only for a couple more days. Take care. Prayers for Granny and all of you.
u..plus..urs..r..so.loved.
Boy Granny and I would get along perfect. My TV stays on the Western Channel all the time. My daughter comes in from time to time and she will say, momma don’t you ever watch anything else. she doesn’t care for Westerns. My husband and I, that’s all we watch. Granny and myself have a big something in common. lol Some of the elderly I take care of, some like em and some don’t. I go from Westerns to Baseball and believe it ir not now its nothing. My little woman don’t even turn on the TV. She’s said there’s nothing on there fit to watch anymore. Tell Granny I’m right up there with her about the Westerns . Bless her . Tell her hey and we love her and prayers for her. I didn’t get yesterday post either .
I was a teacher and also retired two years early because I could not stomach what was forced upon us as required curriculum; I could not live with myself teaching what was demanded, so I retired and with no regrets. I do not have family support, so your newsletter and your YT channel brings me great joy and also comfort. My prayers are with each and every one of you. Please send love and well wishes to Granny.
No blind pig post yesterday for me.
I can understand your feelings about leaving your job. I retired early and have never looked back. I miss some of my co-workers, but knowing that I now have a more relaxed lifestyle, get to spend more time with my husband, help out with our grandkids when needed, has been a huge blessing! I have more time to focus on those things that are so very important and not be rushed all the time.
My husband could have sat all day and watched them.
God has a plan for everyone. He knew it was time for you to stay home and care for your loved ones. The same for Matt.
“Your faithful service is an offering to God”
Philippians 2:17
No Blind Pig received 8/22 either.
true grit ,with John Wayne seen it 30 or 40 times, God bless Granny ✝️❤️
tales of wells Fargo, rifleman, gun smoke, God bless Granny ✝️❤️
I didn’t get a post today either, and like others came here to be sure everything is still ok. Mrs. Wilson is still in my prayers.
I didn’t receive your email this morning either. Yesterday it showed me unsubscribed & when I tried to subscribe again, it wanted my email address AND my password. I didn’t have to have a password to subscribe to your channel before. Do you know what’s going on?
Cheryl-there isn’t a password associated with subscribing, just your email address. So I don’t know what could be going on 🙂
My Nanny (maternal grandmother) loved Gunsmoke.
This post makes me smile. I can’t tell you how many times I sat with daddy and watched westerns. Mama wasn’t crazy about them, but she didn’t have a choice, lol. He also loved a good baseball game too, even when he had to go in the nursing home, if we could get a western on the tv, he was contented. We enjoy them here at home now. Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Wagon Train and my husband’s all-time favorite, the Rifleman. Tipper, the memories you are still making with Granny is wonderful. Time spent with family is priceless.
It’s awesome that you spend one day a week with Granny doing whatever she wants. I try to always go see my parents once a week and get my mom out of their little apartment. Dad just won’t go anywhere anymore and mom gets antsy. We just go for a little while shopping, or take a walk, or just out to lunch or ice cream. We bring back food or ice cream for dad and visit with him. I am fortunate to have this time. My hubby and I also take care of three of our grand babies once a week while their parents work. My daughter-in-law works outside the home two days a week. The other day is covered by their daddy. He works four ten-hour days to make this work. This keeps the grand babies out of day care and all the illnesses that come along with that. We love being able to do this for our children. I always plan a craft or a baking activity. I prepare lunch for them the night before so all of our time is spent just playing and learning. Time flies by so quickly and people grow older and kids grow up. I want to enjoy every minute.
Oh, and my hubby and I also enjoy westerns. We usually watch an episode of Bonanza every evening after dinner. There are tons of them. Lol. There’s honestly not any new things on tv worth watching. Take care, prayers for your mama, and please keep on celebrating Appalachia with all of us.
I haven’t jumped on the westerns wagon yet but my daddy loves them and his dad, my pawpaw, loved them too. That puts me in mind of that game “Goin out west”. When I was little and would get bored me and mama and daddy would play it. Haha that was always good for some laughs. Did y’all ever play that one? The more people to play the better but it was always fun with just the 3 of us
I closed my esthetics business this year to take care of my grand babies and spend more time with my parents. I feel so blessed to have these moments with family that you can’t get back. I remember staying home with my babies until they started school and how even though we had to sacrifice in some ways it was so worth being with them and taking everything in. I’m so glad you’re able to spend this time with your family. What a true blessing!
Granny has great taste on Westerns!!! Have a Tremendous Tuesday. Prayers continue for Granny.
I agree with Granny, westerns are awesome! I’m a big John Wayne fan and one of his best westerns was ‘McClintock!’ with Maureen O’Hara. The movie was a hoot. ‘Support Your Local Gunfighter’ was packed with incredible actors: James Garner, Harry Morgan, Jack Elam, etc. It’s another western with lots of humor.
Tipper – for some unknown reason I did not receive your email today : /
So I came right over here to see if everyone was doing okay.
i didn’t either, and did the exact same thing 🙂
I haven’t received an email since 7/15. I just go to BP on line!
I didn’t either, I thought something might have happened to Granny and was really concerned. Hopefull everything will be ok tomorrow, as I do miss my 6AM blog. Blessing and give Granny my best.
Tipper, I have never regretted leaving nursing because it became so taxing all I worried about was getting hauled into court over wrong doing and even worse. You’re right about the important things being right with you all the time like your husband, mother and daughters. I too am a HUGE western fan of movies and tv shows. I have to admit I love GUNSMOKE and WAGON TRAIN. Come Saturday, I get Wanted Dead or Alive, Paladin, Rawhide, and ones I’m not into like Bonanza or the Big Valley. I guess they bore me. I do one hour of Gunsmoke every day from 1 to 2. The way I see it, I get some Justice within an hour for a terrible atrocity. It makes me stoked!!! I went to bed before sunset last night and slept pretty much straight through. I get tired and sometimes lock it down early and retire. The best things in life are right here. Turn off the news and get to living!!! And make time for Justice with westerns… lol. Didn’t get the blog in email so I came looking for you, dear Tipper!!! One monkey can’t stop my show, lady. I’d search for ya. Lol
It’s such a blessing to take care of those that really need us. God is so good.
If Granny wants to sit all day and watch westerns, that’s what you do! Always praying for wisdom and strength in every situation. Take care!
I watch very little tv, none of today’s shoes interest me. I very seldom turn my tv on until late in the afternoon and watch a little bit of the news and then turn to the inspiration channel and watch Gun Smoke and Wells Fargo. I also like Rawhide or Wagon Train. When I was a kid my favorite western was the Rifleman. After my mother in law became sick and could no longer do anything, she loved watching the westerns on tv, her favorite of all was Gun Smoke.
Tipper, I see that you will spend at least one day a week with Granny doing whatever she wants to do. When my Daddy was living but unable to do much, I always ask him to go with me when I was off during the week and would be going to the original White and Jones hardware store at Anderson, SC. One of his favorite things to do was for me to to take him back to the Saylors Crossroad community of Anderson County that he was born and raised in, I would always leave the store and go back this way even though it meant going out of the way. He would always be pointing out places and telling me of things he had done there when he was growing up. Invaluable time spent with family, I don’t regret any of it.
I marvel how the blessing of being grounded in your connection to the people and places right in front of you opens the whole world to celebrate Appalachia with you. We are mesmerized by the stories you share with us!
Such a blessing to be where you need and want to be for both the good times and not so good times. Miss Granny and you all are always in our thoughts and prayers. Take care.