I hope you’ve enjoyed my week long look at the song “Just a Touch of the Past.”
One of my favorite cds of old songs is Pap and Paul’s “Lamp Lighting Time.”
In fact the title cut is reminiscent of the things we’ve been discussing this week.
I’m giving away a copy of “Lamp Lighting Time.” To be entered in the giveaway leave a comment on this post and tell me which post you enjoyed most from this week.
*Giveaway ends Monday October 14, 2019.
To pick up your own copy of one of our cds go here.
Tipper
p.s. The cd cover is a photo of Pap lighting an oil lamp that was sitting on Granny’s kitchen table 🙂
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i think days that will be first and last as we all get older you tend to think more about your younger self and your parents family etc whats happened we shouldnt have to wait till we are in our seventies to go about researching family history we should just do it all the time if any of my family are visit we are always talking together and saying do you remember when and so on its very important to keep memories alive love your posts keep it up and have a great day
Tipper,
I already have “Lamp Lighting Time” from a long time ago and others. It’s Great! Right now, my CD player don’t work, so I’ll have to get another. As long as Youtube works, I can get your songs on the Computer. I just wish Mama and Daddy could hear these songs I enjoy so much, that Paul and Pap sing, and Ray and Pap, and my Favorite…Chitter and Chatter. I listen to these all the time, when I can. Sometimes, if I feel like it, I have to work. …Ken
I was really touched by the “Sadness of the Traveler” post, and even forwarded it on to several people. It was a terrific explanation of how some folk feel connected to the land in a special and intense way, one that may seem loony to those who aren’t. Beautifully written.
My favorite one was on nostalgia, even though I didn’t write about it I read all the comments.
I’ve always loved music from the time when all we had was a radio. Mom always had a country music station playing and later on I had a cheap transistor radio that I listened to rock and roll. After growing up I came back to country, bluegrass, and the old traditional music. My Dad had a natural talent for playing music but I had to work at it. He didn’t start playing the fiddle until he was in his seventies and was doing good. Dad only lived 10 miles from me so I visited often and he would get his fiddle and I would back him up with a guitar or banger. Banger was Dad’s word. I think I told this before but I’ll tell it again. We were asked to come to a dying lady’s house and play music. We had an old time fiddler, three guitars, and me playing the banger. One of those playing the guitar was the dying lady. She set up in bed and played until she gave out. She lived about a month more. Now Dad is gone and a good friend I played music with is gone too, and my son, a natural talent, lives in Ca. I rarely play anymore. Well, I guess I wrote on nostalgia after all.
It is really hard to pick a favorite when all are so special. The old songs or hymns spark memories that are very dear to my heart. I regret not spending time to let my daddy teach me to play at least one of those instruments he played by ear like y’all do. You & your sweet family are a blessing.
I like all the posts especially “Are Appalachians too Nostalgic”
You made a comment in the Days That Will Be Our First And Last post that has stuck with me all week. When I read how you would love to be back home with Pap, Granny and your brothers, I thought what I would give to be able to go back to the days when I was a little girl in the house with Mommy and Daddy. Just one day would satisfy my grieving heart.
I have the Lamp Lighting Time CD and hope the winner enjoys it as much as I do.
There’s something special about every post. The ones I enjoy most are those with music – esp. with your dad and or your daughters. The harmony is always great. I grew up with the Louvins and others so the post with the link to them was probably my favorite.
I too enjoy the old classics which have with stood the test of time, many of which my family sang. My Mom had a beautiful Alto voice and anytime we were traveling we were singing some of the old classics, anytime hear them now it takes me back to the great times we shared. The Lamp Lighting photo also takes me back since we didn’t have electrical service at Needmore one of my jobs was filling, trimming the wicks and lighting the lamps. Thanks for the memories.
Many of your pictures invoke a smile or tear as precious memories come flooding back through the pages of my mind. Lamp Lighting Time brought a tear to my eyes and touched that soulful place in my mind. I have my grandmother’s old oil lamp and oh the stories I’ve listened to from my Mother and Aunts as to how they sat and studied their school lessons or read the Bible by the old Oil Lamp. I’ve seen really fancy ones in the antique stores but mine looks like the one Pap is lighting. Thanks for the look back.
Thanks for great posts. Makes me stop, think and remember. We all should take the time to reflect.
Life goes by so fast. Remember to enjoy the moment.
I liked the story of Uncle Frank. Wish I lived closer so I could see Chitter and Chatter sing and play. Also the Campbell Folk School is a great resource you’all have in Brasstown.
Hi….I enjoy all your posts and esp. loved Those Days that are first and last! Terrific job you do Tipper …tks for sharing !
“Days That Will be First and Last” really seemed to touch on a subject people rarely discuss. They wade through the last days of their parents lives and even their own mostly saddened and confused near the end. As a nurse I witnessed some who were extremely overjoyed to be passing, and one described it as “that great reunion.” That is difficult to comprehend when there are so many joys in just living life.. It is a fear of the unknown and the unspoken that confound us so much. There seems to be that preparation in our later years where we can only look back, and more attention probably needs to be paid to recording or gleaning the old stories. The little blue book “Gone From My Sight” can explain the experience as a much more hopeful experience. I think it possibly can be downloaded on the web. I would suggest it for anyone who is struggling to make sense of their grief.
It is common to see and talk to those who have gone on when one is near the end. Its as if it we are subtly being prepared for something beyond this life My own Mother rationalized as though she was trying to figure out who would be there waiting. She once said, “I would like to go on and be with my Mother, but she has been gone for so long.” My personal idea is that we can pass through childhood twice, as I have noted many times the old timers calling older folks “childish.” I fear now I am passing back through my teens, as I seem to be less responsible and cannot keep up with keys or mail 🙂
Thank you so very much, Tipper, for daring to cover all subjects. We are a society that seems to avoid anything we consider unpleasant or cannot fully understand. More attention should be paid to the actual aging process so we could understand and make a better adjustment. I like to think we people of Appalachia are raised to understand and embrace life’s natural processes. I have always said my entire childhood social life consisted of mostly funerals. As a child all were held in homes where loved ones gathered for all night. The adjustment to death like everything else was a family affair.
I like ( songs that make the heart beat with joy) post. Please don’t get me wrong I enjoy all of your posts, it’s just that my dad used to play music and it was a special time when he would pick and sing at home, music free me into church and getting saved i have been ordained as a Deacon and also as a pastor, now I’m medically retired due to my failing heart it’s operating at about 28-30 percent so I listen to songs of the past quite a bit either on CD or YouTube the music you folks do really soothes my heart and soul it takes me back to yesteryear when I could do things. I seriously would love to meet you folks in person I feel I have learned so much from your blogs the look inside of your home as your family makes music, a lot of times i will play your music all day and sometimes one or two songs over and over. Please don’t stop the blog or the AWESOME music as you just don’t know what it means to this broken down soul of mine. God bless you and all of you family for the God given talent that soothes more than just my heart and soul.