My family always had our stockings (socks) filled with a tangerine, orange and stick candy, oh how we all looked forward to those, as that was all a treat for us mountain children. My Mother always made an Apple stack cake, Daddy loved it so much. We often only had chicken instead of turkey, and Mother always made Daddy chicken n dumplings too. He said many a’ time, that he’d rather have that than all the turkeys you could catch….haha.
Our fondest memories were the kin folks that come by to see us, bring us little treats sometimes, but just to see them and be with family was the most important thing in the world to us. I remember as a little girl, falling asleep to the sounds of family stories, songs, banjos and fiddles…..then later as I got a little bigger, I was part of that music tradition in our family, learning to pick and sing, carrying on a tradition of 7 Generations. Just us all being together, picking music, singing, laughing, eating…..that was the BEST! And, Still is.
Oh, what I would give to be able to just have another of these Christmas Times in the Mountains of NC with all our loved ones that have gone on………….but they still live in our hearts, memories, stories and songs. We honor and cherish them, missing them everyday, we tell the stories now, sing the songs and keep them alive in our hearts and souls.
—Jeanette Queen – December 2020
I share some of the same memories as Jeanette. I really like how she described keeping the memories of our loved ones alive by telling of their memories, stories, and songs.
My mind has been studying on passing those stories and songs down to the next generation over the last few weeks. I’m sure it’s because this will be the first Christmas without Miss Cindy and because in the coming year I’ll become a grandmother. I want my grandchildren to know about Miss Cindy and Pap. I want them to become so familiar with their stories and songs that they feel as if they knew them too.
Last night’s video: Easy Coconut BonBons, Granny’s Sugar Cookies, & Buttermilk Pralines for Christmas.
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Thank you for the Christmas memories. There was always music and dancing at my parents house. Merry Christmas to your family!
What sweet memories Jeannette had! 🙂
Tipper, I’m praying for your family as you miss Miss Cindy and Pap. You’re going to be a wonderful grandma to the sweet babies to come. I know they’ll appreciate you telling them about your missed loved ones. God bless!
I love the way you are looking forward to being a grandmother even though there has been a loss of those dear to you and your family. When I lost my dad and my baby sister only about a year apart it was so very difficult. But, before I could adjust to that loss I had a grandson and a dear nephew both born on Dad and Mom’s wedding anniversary date. I always considered the deeper meaning of the normal cycle of life. The babies made it all easier, and I experienced a new kind of love I had never had before with the little ones. I know you and Matt both will be amazed at how those little ones will enrich both your lives. I regret my dad never knew them, but as you say we have kept his memory alive through all the wonderful things he did. Dad was a very honest, hardworking person. and this comes up in conversation with these young ones often. I think I use those memories to instill in them the qualities I want them to have, and I only hope some of it sticks. Prayers for Granny going up that she will get to enjoy these young ones along with the rest of you. God Bless and Merry Christmas t a fine family and all the Blind Pig followers.
I loved today’s post. All this week, my husband and I have been talking about our Christmas memories, even my son was talking about his memories of Christmas too. I think the holidays always gets us to thinking about our loved ones that are no longer with us and our sweet memories of them. That’s why at Thanksgiving and Christmas I try to fix a lot of the foods mama made. I remember the last Christmas I got to be with my brother, I made my mama’s three bean salad. When we were getting our food, he looked at me and said, “is this mother’s three bean salad?” When I told him it was, his eyes flooded with tears. That was the same year he gave my husband and son knives that he had made and although he didn’t have wrapping paper or a box to put them in, he had some washcloths that were new, and he wrapped them in those and tied them with some cord. He made the rest of us wooden crosses to hang on our Christmas trees. I hang that cross every year on our tree and on the back of it, I put the date he passed away, July 31, 2018. He was the only sibling I had and there was ten years difference in our ages and oh, how I miss him but his memory as well as all we have lost lives on. If you still have your family living, treasure every moment with them.
The last Christmas that all 19 of us (Mama and Pa and the 9 siblings and 8 spouses) shared was 1963, a month after JFK was killed. Now there are 3 of us siblings and 3 spouses; so 6 out of 19. I’m the youngest at 81.
My daughter was the last grandchild for Mama. She was born in August and Mama died the following March. When I visited toward the end of her life, she couldn’t call my name but always asked where the baby was. Mama only saw her once when she was about 2 weeks old. I’ve made a point to teach my daughter about her grandparents. Darling Daughter knew all her aunts and uncles except one, who died at age 38.
The Christmases we had together are all a mass of wonderful memories. At the mention of tangerines and oranges, I had a distinct memory of their smell mixed with nuts, raisins and candy in my stocking.
May everyone have the Merriest Christmas ever!
Tipper, please do keep telling your precious stories, stories of Granny and Pap and so many others. They are life-affirming, strength-bestowing, hope-realizing, and family-rejoicing stories.
My grandparents, parents, and all but one elderly sibling are now long gone and, in truth, Christmas is a sad time of year for me for I’m always alone. This post made me cry, but I do live vicariously through you Pressleys, feeling all the love, hearing all the wonderful music, and waiting for the arrival of those babies. Your family means a great deal to me.
I have a question for the lady members- why can sausage balls only be made at Christmas? Is there a law against making them throughout the year. My wife made some of the best, her coworkers could never figure out why hers were so much better. The secret was in the sausage. The sausage she used was walking around in the pen on Monday morning and would be fresh sausage on Wednesday, none of this grocery store brand sausage. I bought 4 lbs Wednesday. Two pounds will be used for sausage balls and the other 2 made into patties for sausage biscuits. Out of desperation, I have learned to make sausage balls for myself, if there is a law against making them at other times of the year, I will break it! For anyone interested that live around here, I only buy McCall sausage sold from Wednesday morning until they run out from McCall’s produce at Honea Path, SC. People come from near and far to buy their sausage. At this time of year, it pays to call ahead and have them save some for you.
Is Jeanette Queen a daughter of Claude Henry Queen and Mary Jane Prince?
Pawpaw-she is 🙂
Hi Papaw,
Yes, I am the youngest daughter of Claude & Mary Jane Queen of Jackson County, NC
Reading Mrs Queen’s memories, Tippers and several of the comments I realize we all share the love of family past and present. So many of the memories are so much like my own growing up it almost makes me feel like we are all kinder spirits. My parents and oldest brother have passed on, but I still talk about them and tell my granddaughter stories about them. Tipper you are very blessed to have so may videos of Pap and some of Miss Cindy, as well as Granny and other family members that can be shared and seen for generations to come.
Miss Cindy’s mantle as the keeper of the stories now passes to you, Tipper. You will be the one to carry on those traditions for your grandchildren. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.
Tipper, my mom died when her first great grandchild was less than 4 months old. I had been talking softly to her after being told the end was near. She seemed a bit agitated and I wanted her to feel relaxed and safe and loved. The last thing I said to her was that we would always tell Sam (the great grandson) all about her, and then she took a deep breath and exhaled. And she was gone. I believe she had him on her mind and didn’t want to let go until she felt reassured. I regret that my mother-in-law died without knowing my son and his wife were expecting their first child. I feel like it’s my duty and honor to keep stories alive for the kids who will never know their ancestors any other way, other than through our words and old pictures.
I’m sure you’ll be able to keep your loved ones alive in your grandchildren hearts as your very job and the recordings of your dad will be available to them. You are the richest person I know! Elon Musk has nothing on you! Not even close lol!
Linda-thank you for the kind words! I’m so thankful for my abundant blessings!!
The legacy of the Queen and Prince family and their music is amazing. We were good friends with Jennettes cousin JB . Who passed some years back. He was a very well known fiddler and is very much missed. I bet they all had some great times as a musical family for sure. I remember past Christmases in my family and I have a longing for those sweet times together. The string music…the laughter and the love.
Hi Kathy,
Thank you for your kind words, I am very blessed to continue to carry that musical legacy on within our families. How I miss my brothers, sister and Mother & Daddy, who are all gone now, but live daily in our hearts and souls.
J.B. Prince was my 1st cousin, a wonderful, gifted with extraordinary talent and had such teaching abilities, teaching many young folks how to play the fiddle, the old mountain tunes…..
Oh, how we loved it when Uncle Shirley Prince and J.B. and Uncle Marion Prince came to the mountains of NC to visit and pick & sing music.
The picking and singing, stories, laughter went on until the wee morning hours.
Lord have mercy! As I was reading what that lady shared, I too would give just about anything to have my kinfolk gathered ‘round in joyous discussions, singing, laughing, cooking, sharing each others stories and falling asleep listening to them all as a kid was the best tired I ever was! My daddy’s mother and daddy raised us 3 kids because my parents were quitters. I was just glad to see all my aunts and uncles and maybe get an extra treat or silver dollar for my bank (that daddy broke into and stole our money once.) I’ve had a lot of love and a lot of broken heartedness in my life, but I loved daddy and forgave him for all he put us through. I don’t understand (mind ya,) but I did love him unconditionally. On a lighter side, Tipper, you’re a born natural grandmother!!! You’ve got many generations of love backing you up and you’ll be the best grandmother a child could hope for! And deer Hunter will be the best granddaddy ever! I can see him taking the kids into the woods for an adventure with PAWPAW!!! Y’all are millionaires when it comes to love!!!
Am almost 81 years old. I now have 6 maternal cousins out of 26 that I grew up with..never see them. My parents and aunts and uncles long gone…so are most of my old classmates….about 6 of us now at our monthly dinner. My son and grandkids all in other states.
I have two female cousins my age that I look after. By the grace of God my wife and I are still functional. Wife helps out some of our old friends.
Yes, Christmas is different for us now. But we have memories. To quote my friend, the late Mickey Newbury, “Sweet Memories”. Merry Christmas, everyone!
Merry Christmas friends of Appalachia, God bless Granny Louzine Wilson with healing and health in Jesus name
Memories, that’s all I have of my mom, dad brother and sister, they are precious to me. We had such a little but everyone we knew was the same. We enjoyed Christmas just being with kinfolk and the good food.
Yep, I remember well the socks hanging up, one Christmas my aunt and her family were at our house, Christmas morning we all jumped out of bed and headed to the living room to get our sock of goodies which always had an apple, orange maybe a banana, nuts and hard candy, low and behold a mouse had somehow got into my cousin’s sock and ruined his goodies. I was very young and can’t remember what else happened but that part is still very clear in my mind. Merry Christmas to all and may God bless all of you.
As we grow older, for some, the memories are all we have left. The wind fills in the silence of happy voices, excited children, fussy young’uns. The smell of a fresh cut tree replaced by a pine scented candle and from the kitchen, delicious aromas. What’s missing? Lots of loved ones. However, quiet things may be at the moment, the reason of this season remains. Our thots can turn to a wee babe rubbed with salt, wrapped in strips of cloth and laid on some dried grass in an animal shelter. His life of healing the sick, restoring dead to their family, His death, resurrection & promise to return for His people. That is the true meaning and the greatest gift ever.
Tipper, all these stories, all the comments are so precious and so familiar. I am now the oldest paternal and maternal member of my family.. My mom and my dad were the oldest on both sides of the family until they passed, mom in 2018, dad in 2020. How well I remember as a child, those stockings, socks of Daddy’s….Filled with fruit and hard candy. And usually we would get one outfit and one toy. But I remember one year Santa brought us, my sister and me, a table and chairs and a set of purple plastic dishes to play with. LOL. But the best part was going to Granny and Papaw Campbell’s house and all the Aunts,Uncle and cousins Gathering to what we called the big house. It was absolutely wonderful. My Papaw was a construction worker. He worked on Interstate 75 helping to build Bridges. He made really good money for that era. So, that would always be gifts at their house for all of the grandchildren . I was the oldest grandchild in that family and also in my mom’s family. HOW I LONG FOR SIMPLER TIMES. You are so blessed with where you live and your sweet family. It is such a joy to watch you share these videos with us. And yet, a hint of sadness almost overwhelms me. I have buried my 3 siblings, my Momma and my Dad. And in 1992 my youngest son…. I was the oldest of 4 children. ..I miss them all so much. I have 3 grandsons,3 great grandsons and 2 great grand daughters. I very seldom get to see them . I am praying that they will be here for Christmas.
I really have enjoyed watching you make all the goodies for Christmas. God Bless you and your Dear Family. Much Love to you all…..MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Tipper your grand babes will most definitely know Miss Cindy and Pap through you as you are a bright light shining for the old ways and traditions of your heritage- it’s what draws so many of us to your blog and your channel! I don’t comment often but I can’t miss a video or a blog post! You Matt and family are a blessing! May you all have a blessed Christmas making more memories!
Good morning Tipper. I think about how to pass memories and traditions along to my grandchildren also. I know I need to write all of my memories down for them so I don’t forget anything. I try to cook and bake with them to pass on my love and knowledge of cooking. I am trying to teach one of them to crochet. I just can’t stand the thought of no one in the family knowing how after I am gone. It just brings me such joy and I know at least one or two will help me keep it going. My husband teaches them planting and gardening. He has so much knowledge to pass on. He made sure to teach our son and our late son-in-law how to fix cars, and change the oil, and put on new brakes and rotors. These gifts have saved them lots of money over the years. We all have memories, as well as, many gifts of knowledge to pass along—-and there’s no time like the present to get started. Our beloved son-in-law passed away almost two years ago, and now it’s my husband (Pap’s) job to teach our grandson all of these things and more. We could have years and years or just another day—so don’t waste a minute—don’t waste a chance to teach— and talk—and fill our children and grandchildren with memories, knowledge, and love.
Memories! oh how special they are, brings back all kinds of emotions, my heart swells with love. I really liked yesterday’s video! Making memories are a tradition in our family! Wednesday my granddaughter hosted the annual sugar cookie decorating, 12 kiddos with only 4 above 5 years old! I’ve been sick so had to miss out but they shared lots of pictures of my great grandchildren having such fun! Continued prayers for Granny and all of you. God bless you and yours!❤❤
I so relate to this posting. my best memories connect me to previous generations of loved ones and music and to hearing their stories! I too have childhood memories of going to sleep in the floor amid stringed music and the patting of multiple feet keeping rhythm, only to wake up in my bed the next morning!
I am making the Bon Bons this afternoon. I so miss some of the old ways and how we looked forward to years gone by. Can’t wait to see your Grandbabies and see what Matt names them, it has gotta be good. Prayers for Granny and Blessings for you guys.
This sounds like a perfect Christmas. such lovely memories.
Many of you know how important spending time and enjoying your family is to me. Many of my memories are similar or the same as the ones mentioned in today’s post. I have been blessed to have have never known what it was like to live in a family that didn’t get along with one another. My wife’s family was large when all of the relatives were included. I was raised up knowing all of them even before I married into her family. They would have large get to gathers throughout the year, not only at Christmas. Her family treated me just like I was blood kin. I loved and enjoyed being with her family just as much as my own blood kin family. I will be with her remaking sisters and brother in laws, nieces and nephews at a small get together Christmas Eve. I have many happy memories of time spent with both mine and her family. I wouldn’t trade these memories for all the money in the world. But while I enjoy these memories, they cut at me like a knife, I know all of them are in the past and there will be no more because the family members I made these memories have all passed on. I beg and plead with everyone of you to enjoy every minute you can with your family, patch up you differences if you can. One day you will not have the opportunity to do this.
Tipper, I haven’t mentioned Miss Cindy but I have been thinking of her not being here this year and praying for Matt, you and the rest of the family. I read the older post just a few days ago about Miss Cindy’s rose. Thank God Granny appears to be doing well, hopefully the news will be good, you and Matt have something to look forward to -grandchildren, I think 2 boys. Until you experience it, you can’t understand the love and joy grandchildren give you.
Chicken dumplings, my mother and mother in law made good ones. I have ate the chicken dumpling plate at Cracker Barrel and ordered more dumplings for my 2 or 3 side orders. I love them.
Me too, Randy. We have only one Cracker Barrel in a town of over a million people (what’s up with that anyway????) but if I have a choice over where to eat out, it’s always my first choice and I always order the chicken and dumplings. They’re just like my Granny made. The used to have a Coca-cola cake on the menu that she made, too. If they ever take chicken and dumplings off the menu, they will lose my business. I also enjoy looking at the treats from my childhood – candy varieties that you can’t buy in a grocery store – and gum – Teaberry and Blackjack!
Randy, I understand so well your words that the memories “cut at you like a knife.” Only those who have been greatly blessed with loving families know the pain that comes with losing the earthly presence of loved ones. I am praying for you and all whose Christmas joy has some holes in it to know the assurance that Christ has defeated death, that our time on earth is so short compared with the glory of eternity, and that if we’re still here on earth looking longingly across Jordan – He has reasons for us to be here.
Patricia, one of my closest, dearest friends is named Patricia, most of her many friends just call her Tricia. Thank you for your reply, I do not even like looking at pictures of my wife, daughter or my other loved ones. Cracker Barrel dumplings- as Alan Jackson said in his song, “its not like Mama fixed it” but they are the best I can get now. I live about as far out in the country as you can get anywhere in SC, the nearest Cracker Barrel and town is 14 miles away. I have not ate there since the COVID pandemic started. I do not eat out anymore, we- my wife and I never went to a restaurant if we couldn’t go together. We often took our children or grandchildren with us.
Randy, our Uncle Morris loved chicken and dumplins too. He would order just a big bowl of dumplings without any chicken at the Cracker Barrel. He loved going out to eat and would often call up his sisters and take them out for a treat. When I found out how much he loved dumplins, I would make a big pot full for the family reunions. I discovered many others who also loved them and my pot came home empty every time. I am now sort of known for making good ones!!
Wanda, my mother did not put the chicken in with her dumplings. She would put it on a separate plate. I would rather my dumplings not have chicken in them.
Be careful, Randy. I spent two days with my brother and sisters last weekend and gained 8 lbs.. Everything tastes better when you’re with family so you forget about watching your weight.
Jackie if we are not careful, we can gain weight just by reading Tipper’s blog/post or whatever it is called. I am too ignorant to know these computer words. I have lost about 45-50 lbs since my wife passed away and dropped over 2 pant size since my wife’s death. We did not eat out very often but she would cook a full course meal almost every night. I still eat plenty but it is not like she cooked.