Today I’m sharing the second video in what I hope evolves into an ongoing series which shows evidence of the goodness that abounds in Appalachia.
There’s often a cardboard cut out held up for what Appalachian lives are supposed to be like. I’ve always wanted to knock that piece of cardboard down and shine a light on the wonderful life one can have living in Appalachia. I’ve tried to accomplish that by sharing my family’s life with you all.
I hope you enjoyed the video!
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Tipper
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24 Comments
Sanford McKinney Jr
December 15, 2020 at 4:07 pmThe Deer Hunter knows that one has to have some dry “shavings and kindling” to start a fire (far)!
Gayle Larson
December 15, 2020 at 3:40 pmSince you started the videos I have to plan more time during the day to watch. I used to start my day with a cup of coffee and your blog. Now with the videos taking more time it is becoming an afternoon relaxation period. Since I grew up with all of the things you do with your family I can clearly see I have become lazy. The gas log for heat is the first thing I noticed. I do still use the cast iron pans but I must admit cutting firewood is not on my agenda anytime soon. Just living here and enjoying the beauty of the mountains is enough for me at this time in my life.
MARTHA
December 15, 2020 at 2:31 pmJust one question. CAN I COME LIVE WITH YOU?????
Wanda Devers
December 15, 2020 at 1:45 pmLoved seeing this! It was so sweet and soothing!
dee
December 15, 2020 at 12:52 pmI so enjoyed your video!! I’ve seen my Mother, Father and Husband do most of what I just watched your family’s daily activities. None in the family played the violin but did play the piano, guitar and mandolin. I still love to go out and gather pine boughs and make up decorations to give to those who can’t get out. I love to get some white and red carnations at the grocery store and put them in with the pine. They really last a long time and it all looks beautiful. Add a peppermint candy cane and they’ve got a treat too. Sometimes I put them in a Christmas coffee mugs that I bought at the dollar store. Your eggs made me hungry:} Thanks for sharing!
Carolyn Kutulas
December 15, 2020 at 12:05 pmTipper
I loved the video. Keep doing them. Have a merry Christmas.
I wish I was living in the mountains instead of the desert where we live.
dana
December 15, 2020 at 11:25 amThis was great. What were you drinking?
Tipper
December 15, 2020 at 12:05 pmDana-it was Russian Tea 🙂 Here’s the link to the recipe: https://blindpigandtheacorn.com/russian-tea-the-drink-for-christmas/
Sanford McKinney Jr
December 15, 2020 at 4:02 pmAnd I thought, oh no, she has homebrew! Not really!
Sanford McKinney Jr
December 15, 2020 at 4:10 pmTipper,
I thought, oh no, she is pouring homebrew! Not really.
Cynthia
December 15, 2020 at 10:43 amI really enjoyed the video. Your home and family are filled with love, and I could feel it.
Margie Goldstein
December 15, 2020 at 9:18 amI totally loved the video and the music too! Merry Christmas, Presley’s! My favorite part- when Chitter said “that squirrel has been barking at me for days!!!” It really is a Beautiful Life you have and thanks for sharing it with us!
Catherine Spence
December 15, 2020 at 9:14 amI enjoyed this very much – thank you for sharing! My mom is a West Virginia girl; she went to DC to go to nursing school and met my Dad, who was a DC Metro police officer. They decided early on they didn’t want to raise us in the environment of NOVA, and I have thanked them many times for making the decision to move to rural south-central Virginia. I wouldn’t trade growing up in Appalachian culture for anything!
John T
December 15, 2020 at 9:14 amI sure enjoyed that video…and almost had to pause it to make my own breakfast. The breakfast you were cooking had my stomach growling.
Ron Stephens
December 15, 2020 at 8:58 amAnd all the people said, “Amen.” Thank you for the look into your lives. That Deer Hunter sure is a fast worker! And he really knows how to build a ” far” (warmer than a city ‘fire’?). (He is probably thinking, “Doesn’t everybody?”)
I see you have one of those old brown glass Clorox jugs. I have not seen one of those, or a blue glass Vick’s Vaporub jar, in a very long time. We used to use pieces of Clorox jug glass to see the world look amber. Is there a story connected with your jug?
I wish I could name that tune Chitter is playing. It is a haunting melody, kinda like ‘A Shokan Farewell’. I am pretty sure I’ve heard it, possibly on the girls CD? Anyway, it was a lovely way to end your video, a real ‘grace note’ at day’s ending.
Tipper
December 15, 2020 at 9:37 amRon-You have heard the tune-its one Chitter wrote called “Holding David” for our dear friend David Kaynor. The clorox jug doesn’t have a story-other than we love to find old bottles 🙂
Randy
December 15, 2020 at 10:18 amRon, your teasing the Deer Hunter about a far made me think of a country preacher we had at our church. He would say in The Christmas story, the Shepards were fireman (they came from a far) and the wisemen came in a Honda (came in one accord). I hope it is not wrong to joke like this, I sometimes think God has to have a sense of humor, I am sure he gets a laugh out of us humans.
Randy
December 15, 2020 at 8:54 amEnjoyed the video. Watching you and seeing some of the your home and the yard makes my longing for a home in the mountains even stronger. Tipper, reading your blog is one of the first things I do each morning. I am so glad to have found it through reading something Jim Casada wrote on his website.
Ed Karshner
December 15, 2020 at 8:43 amTwo things: first, looks like I need a second breakfast, now. Second, that looks like our kitchen. So, it makes me happy that, although I’m off in NE Ohio, I’m still doing Appalachia right.
Love these videos.
Jim Casada
December 15, 2020 at 7:49 amTipper–Thoroughly enjoyable, and I saw (learned) three things which were new to me. 1. Putting a chunk of meat in a zip-loc bag before using a meat hammer on it. Presumably this was to keep your cutting board clean. 2. Gathering greens with a knife. I’ve always just pinched them off. 3. The way you cut up potatoes–much more efficient than my slice off a piece at a time approach.
One thing I would liked to have seen would have been the end product of the batter which went into cast iron a couple of times. However, maybe it’s just as well. I’d have been even hungrier.
Jim Casada
Tipper
December 15, 2020 at 8:46 amJim-it does keep the cutting board clean, but the greatest benefit to me is not splattering meat all over the place 🙂 A piece of plastic wrap also works well!
Miss Cindy
December 15, 2020 at 7:09 amI really like these silent videos! They are a wonderful window into your life. They are so real!
You go girl!
Wes Bossman
December 15, 2020 at 6:29 amI watched with great pleasure this morning, early, and found it very comforting to share some of your family life scenes from morning breakfast to daily activities. It is comforting to realize that our life values the same activity and interactions that your family values and maintains. Thank you all for being involved in sending out images of wholesomeness , self respect, and love to others that can be strengthened by witnessing them. Merry Christmas to all of you and thank you for our blessings of insight into your way of life.
Margie Goldstein
December 15, 2020 at 9:21 amWell said and it cannot be added upon!