Tipper - blind pig and the acorn

Tipper at the old chestnut snag

Hard to believe, but ten years ago today I posted my first blog post here on the Blind Pig and The Acorn. Somehow the fact that I started it on Granny’s birthday has escaped me all these years, but now that I’ve noticed it seems very important to me. So we have two things to celebrate today: Granny’s 78th birthday and the Blind Pig’s 10th birthday.

When I first started the blog I had hopes of the site contributing to our family income. While the Blind Pig does provide some monetary income, I’ve come to realize with utter clarity the unforeseen wealth I’ve gained by running the Blind Pig and The Acorn couldn’t be bought with all the gold in Fort Knox. Every time a Blind Pig reader leaves a comment they leave a jewel for me to hold close to my heart and ponder on as I go about my day. And those who comment often weave their way into the very fabric of my life. Through the blog I’ve met people whom I would never have met otherwise.

Then there’s the tangible wealth readers have shared with me: seeds, vinegar, onions, squash, black walnuts, a walnut cracker, artwork, ground cherries, books, beloved books, photos of their family, photos of my family, apples, baskets, antiques, craft supplies, foxfire magazines, cookie cutters, rings, stone ground cornmeal and grits, a hammer, old jars, old bottles, music, information, writings, cast iron pots, soap, honey, woven treasures, cds, hand forged crosses, poems, quilted pigs and acorns, jellies, jams, pickles, jerky, recipes, and on and on and on. My readers are a generous bunch of folks.

I have high hopes for the future of the Blind Pig and The Acorn. I sure hope you’ll continue to visit me in my corner of Appalachia as I celebrate and preserve the rich culture and heritage I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by.

If you’d like to see the very first post you can go here: Welcome to the Blind Pig and The Acorn.

Tipper

Subscribe for FREE and get a daily dose of Appalachia in your inbox

Similar Posts

54 Comments

  1. I’m late to the party! Sorry I missed the exact day, but I’ve been doing my blogreading in bunches lately! Happy Birthday to Granny, and many happy returns of the day 🙂
    And happy blog anniversary, Tipper! I don’t recall exactly how or when I came upon the Blind Pig, but it seems like it’s been many years now and I am so glad to have you as part of my world. I feel as though you and I are friends whether or not we ever meet. Here’s to the next decade of Blind Pig 🙂

  2. It took me 9 1/2 years to find you, tipper! So glad you and the Blind Pig and the Acorn are still going strong.
    Celebrate in style, and please tell Granny that we all thank her for her “butterfly effect” … appropriate description, Papaw!

  3. Happy Birthday Granny. You’ve got 22 more years to make that 100. In my family almost everyone reaches that age. Tipper, that’s for ten years of wisdom, insight, and fun. Here’s to another 10 years.

  4. Congratulations! I don’t like to miss a single day of your posting. Nor of your commenters responses.
    And Happy Birthday to Granny. Somehow, reading the name, ‘Granny,’ made me think of a very old lady. Wellll, your Granny is a year younger than me, so she is still very young. Best wishes, Granny! 😉

  5. Congrats. Its a bright spot in everyones day, I’m sure. It is mine. I enjoy reading and listening to your family and it brings back memories of mine that sort of slipped by wayside.
    I hope you have many many more years for BPA and everything else.

  6. Yeah! Quilted pig and acorn, I’ve been recognized. Love you girlfriend and your family.

    Happy 10th anniversary, I pray god grants you many more.

    Hoping we get to Brasstown this year.

  7. Happy Birthday to Granny & congrats again to the entire cast of awesome characters at the Blind Pig & the Acorn!!

  8. Even though I was born and raised in Ohio, I have always loved the South. Especially after living near Fort Bragg NC while my husband was in the service. When I first started watching your blog, it was such a wonderful reminder of the Appalachian way of life, and all thanks to you, Tipper! Blind Pig and the Acorn is a bright spot in every day. Thanks for your hard work!

  9. Happy Birthday BP. I enjoy reading your posts and the comments. this is ground roots America.
    I read the first issue and when you started talking about Granny on the Beverly Hillbillies, I remember that my mother loved Granny and when she became a grandmother she had to be called Granny.

  10. Tipper–I’m a bit late to the blog today thanks to various pieces of piddling around which seem to be an ever larger part of my existence these days. I had forgotten all about what I wrote to Don after my initial exposure, but the passage of years along with getting to know you and your family has merely served to re-emphasize my initial impressions. You are the “real deal” and a blessing. If I’ve been able to help out a bit along the way, it’s small compensation indeed for the benefits you bring to me and so many others on a daily basis.
    Congrats, and happy birthday to Granny (who is quite close to me in years).

    Jim Casada

  11. You’ve heard of the butterfly effect. I attribute it all to Granny. If it weren’t for Granny there wouldn’t have been a Tipper and there wouldn’t been a special place called the Blind Pig and the Acorn. If it hadn’t been for Granny I wouldn’t have a blackberry pie in the oven based on a blueberry pie recipe I found on the Blind Pig and the Acorn. If it weren’t for Granny there wouldn’t have been two beautiful hearts and faces called The Pressley Girls. Or a Paul or a Steve or a Mark or a Ben or an April.
    Everything a person does or doesn’t do has an effect on the rest of the universe. Some people like you, Tipper, have a gift to reach more people than the rest of us, thus a much greater effect. So, lest you get a big head, I attribute it all to Granny.
    Happy Birthday Dear Granny! YOU DID GOOD!

  12. Congratulations, Tipper, on 10 years of recording your family and history of life in Appalachia. The music, stories and pictures of the area have been enjoyed by so many people that have not been to your area but have the same love of family as yours. I can’t remember when I stumbled across your blog but I have sure enjoyed reading it every morning for I think over five years. We stopped in Brasstown about 13 years ago when we were on our way home from down South. We took the train ride and if I had known about you and the school there we sure would have stopped and checked it out. Happy Birthday to Granny too!! Looking forward to many more wonderful posts.

  13. Tipper,
    Congratulations on 10 years of service to all Blind Pig readers and a daily dose of Appalachia. And Happy Birthday to Louzine. When you started the Blind Pig and the Acorn, I thought you were down in Mississippi somewhere, was I ever wrong when I found out you were in the same county as me.

    Like Shirl said, I feel like I’m a Lucky One too, because I look forward to the Blind Pig each day. May the Lord bless you on your Journey. …Ken

  14. Happy anniversary to the BP and happy birthday to granny!! I wasnt there in the beginning but I got here as fast as I could!

  15. good morning tipper happy birthday to granny and to the blind pig family also have a great day as well

  16. “Some moments in life need to heralded with Joy”
    Happy and Blessed Birthday Granny Wilson! I am thankful that your family has been shared with us, always from your hearts to ours.
    Tipper and the Blind Pig Family ~ you will be cheered with Joy immeasurable from all of us ‘acorns’, for every day your Ray of sunshine brightens our days…I know that mine has been since I googled Brasstown, NC, after we had vivisted in the Hayesville area, and was intrigued by your blog name..
    In my senior years, I am touched by reminiscing days past, how they have brought me to where I am today.. visiting with your diverse and delightful readers here calls to mind so many happenings, treasures, family memories, and precious ties with the whole western mountains of NC, from TN to VA we used to travel.
    I am looking forward to another ten years of pulling up a chair to sit in your kitchen, listening to the heart felt music, and sharing your in your familiy’s lives, which has been done with such generosity..
    Happy 10th Anniversary!

  17. Happy Anniversary and Happy Birthday to Granny!

    I wasn’t there with you at the start, but know exactly the day that I discovered Blind Pig and the Acorn – July 21, 2010. I sent a note to several friends and the family with a link to the site, and I thought you’d appreciate one of the responses:

    “Don-Lots of interesting stuff, and I just scratched the surface. I read enough to have no doubt she’s the real deal and that she is also very bright.”

    That came from Jim. And as you can see from Larry Proffitt’s comment, the word spread.

    But the day that confirmation came on that “real deal” take was September 11, 2010. That’s the day Susan and I met you, Corie, Lonnie Dockery and his buddy (whose name escapes me) at Newfound Gap with the idea of going out to Charlies Bunion. The further we walked, the harder it rained. I remember leaving you all sitting in the Icewater Springs shelter while I went on down to see if we’d be able to see anything at all at the Bunion. It didn’t take long to figure out that you couldn’t see 40 feet through the clouds, so I came back and we just ate lunch there in the shelter and then headed back down the mountain.

    Since I was the one who’d sort of organized the trip and made the call to go ahead with it, I figured this would be the last time any of those Cherokee County folks would want anything to do with us. But on the way back down the mountain, we stopped a bit while Corie picked some blackberries. I snuck a photo, and I want you to look at the grin on yours and Lonnie’s faces:

    http://www.diagsol.com/hiking/Drenched_crew.jpg

    I also recall apologizing for getting everyone out in such a mess when we were back at Newfound Gap; Corie piped right up and said “I had a great time!”

    Our entire family has been richly blessed by the Blind Pig family in times of both joy and sorrow; we thank God for everyone of you.

  18. Oh, Tipper. What a godsend you are. I thank God for you. Congratulations on 10 years. I went to Tennessee last week and saw some cousins. I told them all about you. So you will have some more readers. It just went along with all the wonderful things we talked about that we did when we were kids. You keep my heart alive. Happy Birthday to Granny. Celebrate every day.

  19. Happy Birthday to Granny and BP&A! Hope Granny has a wonderful day. Tipper, so proud of what you have done to celebrate Appalachia. Here’s to another great 10 years!

  20. Happy Anniversary to the Blind Pig and Happy Birthday to Grannie. I enjoy your blog almost daily and I’m glad to have met most of the Blind Pig Gang. I hope you can continue the Blind Pig for many years.

  21. Thank you for bringing back many childhood memories. My grandmother grew up in Butler, Johnson County, TN and moved out when it was flooded for the TVA project. I recall the Saturday nights at home when my mom and step-dad would have their friends over to sit in the kitchen playing music and singing. The kids would stay outside playing “Andy Over” and “Hide and Seek” and then come in to listen to the singing and the stories. Congratulations for 10 years.

  22. I can’t recall how I happened to stumble upon the Blind Pig, but it was a while back, and I’m glad that I did. I appreciate your efforts at preserving our Appalachian heritage and was happy to have met you and your gals at John C. Campbell a while back. Congratulations on ten years. Here’s to many, many more. And Happy Birthday to Granny. I sure miss mine.

  23. Thank you for ten wonderful years of stories and remembrances. Every day you bring a little bit of “home” to this southern gal who is so far from home. Thank you for sharing your family, your music, and your warm spirit. Gratefully looking forward to the next ten years.

  24. Happy birthday, Granny and Blind Pig! I am so thankful, Tipper, that you decided to start this blog. I only wish I had discovered it the day it started, because it starts every day for me now. It’s like a neighbor, a family, a friend, a teacher.

  25. Happy Birthday to the Blind Pig and Granny! It’s your readers who are the lucky ones. Thank you for taking us down memory lane each time you share your knowledge of Appalachia-the most beautiful place in the world.

  26. Thank you, Tipper! Blind Pig is so meaningful to me and I try to never miss it. Yall feel like family!

    Happy birthday to Granny! Hope she has a wonderful day.

    The sun is shining here in TN–so good to see after so many gloomy, rainy days.

  27. Reading your blog is like gathering with family around the kitchen table talking about chores to be done, reminiscing about times gone by, discussing family, sharing stories, comforting each other, celebrating special events (Happy Birthday “Granny”) and successes, problem solving when things go awry, planning for the future, making a little music along the way, all with prayers full of grace, blessing, and hope. Thank you!

  28. Congratulations on ten years of daily posts My family kids me about being a counter. I guess I am, probably because my grandfather also counted everything. “Ennaway,” as my Canadian friend in British Columbia says, ten years of daily posts means you have written 3,650 times preserving Appalachian culture. That doesn’t count the two February 29 within the decade. Take a bow and cue applause! Even allowing for an occasional missed day for illness or travel or as a holiday, I’d bet you can count at least 3,000 “Blind Pig and the Acorn” essays. Ever think of collecting some of them into a book?

  29. Congratulations on the 10th anniversary of this great blog. I’ve been reading it for maybe 3 years and enjoy it so much. I’m not great at commenting (on any blog) but I read it every day, usually before 7:00am. It brings me home from southeastern Pa where I now live. Keep up the great work and I am grateful for your efforts at keeping the culture alive.

  30. Happy Birthday! May you give and celebrate for many more years. Your efforts may not have increased your income, but it is teaching and keeping the applachian traditions alive. I have learned so much over the years and look forward to reading your site every morning. God bless!

  31. Congratulations, Tipper, for 10 years of sharing your family and your heart. You bring a bright spot to every day!

  32. Congratulations Tipper, and Happy Birthday to Granny. It was fortunate for us to have met you and the girls at the Folkschool dance many years back and to have found the Blind Pig early on. We enjoy the daily connection. May The Lord continue to Bless you and your family richly. Every good wish,

    Rooney

  33. Your post today reminds me of the ‘treasure in the sack’ of Joseph’s brothers and the ‘handfuls of purpose’ Boaz told the reapers to leave for Ruth. Your blog is a treasure to me and who knows, maybe it was on purpose I found you. And I suspect you may yet realize your original hope.

    Odd that you started on your Mom’s birthday. Makes it very easy to remember the date though. Happy birthday to your Mom today.

  34. Congratulations on your anniversary. Love your blog. What a way to start my day. As we speed along in life we seldom stop to remember how we got here. Your blog makes us take a breath and remember things that have been put in the back of our brains. Thanks for bringing them forward
    to be enjoyed once again. We are all products of our past and I love my past just as you and your family do. How blessed we are to be in this beautiful place doing the things we love most.
    My family is gone but you keep their memories alive every day. Thanks.

  35. Happy Anniversary Tipper girl!! I’m a newbie to your blog so of course I’m sad I’ve missed ten years of the good stuff but I’ll get caught up. Hope you have many many more wonderful years with the Blind Pig and the Acorn:)

  36. Congratulations, Tipper. Love how you’re carrying on the history and traditions of Appalachia. We love you and your whole family. Here’s to many more years of sharing and caring with all of us.

  37. Happy birthday to Blind Pig and the Acorn and to Granny. You my sweet Facebbok and Instagram friend have brought a wealth of joy to me. Sharing all these stories, your family, Appalachia and such with me-with us.

    One day we still will meet as I visit Foxfire and John Folk School.

  38. Tipper, Not only have you shared your wisdom of Appalachia, but have given many of us, including me, an opportunity to share with you and your readers books I have written. Your promotions probably sold many copies. I remember you shared my Christmas story from when I was three years of age and threw the candy, thinking it was a corn cobb in the fire place.

    Thanks.

  39. Congratulations, Tipper, Family and extended BP&TA Family!….Happy Birthday to your Grannie!…..I am new to your blog but I enjoy it and hope to see it for a long time…..Also hope to be your North Georgia Mountain neighbor from central Ohio and southwestern Indiana on the Ohio River before that in 2019…..Mary and I hope to meet you one day!…..You’ll likely see us on our motorcycles one day as we love to ride…..Wishing you a blessed tenth anniversary today!

  40. Congratulations Tipper on 10 years of the blind pig. I have my turkey hunting friend Jim Casada to thank for introducing me to your site. Thank you again for your chronicle of our history and culture of Appalachia. Larry Proffitt.

  41. Happy Birthday to Blind Pig and Granny. A whole decade is quite an accomplishment…especially when you consider you do this everyday on top of your day job!

    I’m so glad to have stumbled onto this blog. It is actually the only blog I read. Tipper, your daily posts mean a lot to me and my family. Just the other day, as we gave the dog a bath, Alex sang the Pressley Girls song . We all got a kick out of it, except the dog.

    Go for another 10. I’ll be here.

  42. Congratulations on ten years! I think I have been an “acorn” for close to 9 years since I happened on a picture of my great-uncle Holt Patton’s house, built by my great-grandfather, Burgess Gaither Patton, on your site.

    Best wishes for success and growth from the site.

  43. Happy Birthday!! to the Blind Pig and Happy Birthday!! to Granny also, glad to hear you receive the gift of joy and contentment for all the hard work you’ve done over the years. Those are two things that if we’re not careful ” Life ” can sometimes take away, if we let it, I think the Appalachian way of putting it would be ” Got to much on my Plate”.

  44. Ten years, I can’t believe it’s been 10 whole years. It seems like yesterday when you were talking about all your ideas for this new blog you planned to put together to celebrate our Appalachian heritage, and what celebration it’s been.
    You’ve put your heart and soul in this blog and you’ve done a wonderful job of showing Appalachian life to the world! I am so very proud of you Tip….more than words can tell.
    Now, what I’m wondering is …what’s in store for the next ten years?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *