Now my grandfather also had an English bulldog named Buddy.
Buddy was his constant companion in the way that a good dog is a constant companion—which is to say, he was always there, always underfoot, always watching , and always of the opinion that whatever my grandfather was doing, he ought to be doing it too. Buddy was a dog of considerable personality and limited ambition, content to lie in the shade for most of the day, but he had one particular talent that elevated him above the common run of canines, and that talent was digging potatoes.
I do not say this lightly, I do not say it for comedic effect. That dog could dig potatoes the way a pig hunts truffles—with an instinct so refined, so absolute, so beyond the reach of training or explanation, that it bordered on the supernatural.
My grandfather loved it. And if he liked a certain someone— if a man came through his store or crossed his path in the course of his travels and my grandfather took a shine to him he would invite that man to come see the show. He would not say “harvest time,” because we did not use that word. In the South, the word was specific. The word was sacred. He would invite him at tater-diggin’ time.
He would bring Buddy up to the garden. He would let Buddy smell the ground. And then he would say in a voice that carried the authority of a man issuing a military command “Get it, Buddy.”
And Buddy would go to digging.
He’d dig with his front paws, plowing through the dirt with a ferocity that would have put the Troy-Bilt to shame. And when he’d unearth a potato, he would snap his nose against it, take it off to the side, and immediately dig into the next one. And my grandfather would sit back—this big, two-hundred and fifty pound man—and laugh.
He would laugh the way a man laughs when the world has produced something so perfectly entertaining that he feels personally rewarded for having lived long enough to witness it. And Buddy would dig every last potato out of that ground and not leave one unturned.
—Some Things Are Meant To Keep Tales from the Copper Basin written by Joshua Griggs
You may remember our friend Josh from some of the videos we’ve filmed. He was one of my first interviews on Celebrating Appalachia and he’s been in a few of Paul’s music videos.
Josh recently published his first book Some Things Are Meant To Keep Tales from the Copper Basin. It’s an enjoyable read full of nostalgia, humor, and a longing for simpler times.
Earlier this week I had the opportunity to talk with Josh about the book. In the coming weeks I’ll share the video on Celebrating Appalachia. If you’re interested in learning more about his book go here.
Long about tater digging time Matt and I’ll be wishing we had Buddy to help.
Last night’s video: Too Many Tommy-Toes? Make Tomato Juice – So Easy & Delicious!
Tipper
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That’s a funny story. I happen to have a dog named Buddy, a yellow Labrador, who also loves to dig! Maybe I should plant me a tater patch next yr and see how he fares at sniffing out the taters lol! Sounds like a good book, I’ll have to aquire myself a copy asap! Hope everyone is doing good in the holler.
I love the story about Buddy. Wow! What a dog. Thank you, Tipper, for sharing this amazing story of Buddy. Debbie, glad that your corn has survived that windstorm. I will pray for your brother-in-law. and his doctor and his family. God bless all acorns.
What a cute story this morning…now I want to read the rest of the book.
I was too young to remember this. My parents had a collie dog when I was young and was still wearing diapers. They would sit me down in a very shallow place in the creek and let me play in the water, if I got to making too much noise or splashing too much water to suite the dog, he would come in the creek, get me buy diaper and pull me out.
Oh, that story made me laugh so hard! I think I’ll be getting the book for sure.This has made my day, Tipper, thanks! We love our dogs and they are members of our family. I always think of the Roger Caras quote, “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” Such true words. Prayers for health and comfort for all in need.
My Wild Bunch loved to help me in the garden. I would get down on my knees and start digging, and they’d all pick a spot and go at it. We got it done in no time.
Josh is an absolute JEWEL! I just ordered a copy of his book for myself and one to give away. The book will make a great Christmas gift! Thank you, Tipper for introducing first Josh, and now his book! Your efforts to celebrate Appalachia will live on!
I found it,
https://blindpigandtheacorn.com/life-on-wiggins-creek/
The last paragraph “old Pooch”
A tater digging dog! I never wooda thunk it!
It would have been fantastic had the proficient pooch toted them to the tater pit and covered them under.
Buddy was a faithful companion, for sure. My German Shepherd has a talent for digging as well and a sometimes annoying habit of staying so close to me that she earned the nickname “Velcro”. She spent the first year of her life in a townhouse with six kids, a Louisville cop, and a bright future on the K-9 force if they needed her, while being deprived of her desire to dig in something besides carpet. When I first brought her home, she started digging small holes in the yard that always unearthed some sort of metal object such as an old tractor part or even a pop bottle lid. Suddenly her attention turned to digging for moles. I would watch her lay her head on the ground close by a tunnel and scarcely breathe as she waited for the destructive creature to emerge. Most of the moles are gone, and the ‘go get ’em girl’ commands are no longer needed. Maybe digging taters will be her next job.
I am looking forward to reading Josh’s book and getting to see him in a future Celebrating Appalachia video! I loved the interview you did with him a few years ago and the other videos he’s been in.
Tipper…YES!! 🙂 I just found the book on Amazon.ca and I have just downloaded it to my E-reader…so you know what some of my day will be spent doing!! ha ha
I loved that little story, Tipper…& Josh! Thank you for starting my day in such a sweet, happy way.
Maybe I’ve told this before, but an old game warden I knew said he was asked, “When were you born?” He said, “I don’t know for sure. All they told me was it was around tater time, but they didn’t say whether they were plantin’ or diggin’.”
Josh is another great story teller right out of the hills of Appalachia. What a fun read about Buddy Buddy! I had a wiener dog once that loved to eat ants. We would sit on the front porch while he searched and ate ants that crossed the sidewalk. He wouldn’t stop eating if you told him to. We had to move to another place in the yard (where he would follow) & that would take his mind off the ants. A tater digging dog would be a real asset!
My grandfather had such a dog on Roaring Creek, NC. Rass was a collie mix with a beautiful white fur coat. He rounded up the cows and youngins alike. The sheep knew his gaze. Those that tried to run astray he caught with his front paws. Rass was intelligent and hard-working like everyone in the family. He was treated like family as well.
Is that Roaring Fork in Avery County?
What a great story! I looked the book up and enjoyed reading the back of the book cover. He certainly has a good way with words. I put it on my wish list.
Now that’s a good dog! He is a gardener at heart. 😉
I remember Josh Griggs. He strikes me as a character on first acquaintance but I also know he has more depth. Very interesting book cover that makes me wonder if there is a connected story inside for each picture. Was it Josh that had the old store building full of things a relative had collected and you all were invited to have first refusal in the cleaning out process? I think maybe Josh could be a regular at the Appalachian Storytellers in Jonesborough, TN. Thinking about Josh and reading the Buddy story makes me think of Alan Jackson’s “The Older I Get”. Yeah, me to, there is a sea change that happens in what matters and what matters most. Seems there are no shortcuts to that place, just have to live and you get there. Hope his book is a great success and you all are helping it be.
There is a story for each picture 🙂 The piano falling off the truck is a dandy! Yes it was Josh who took us to the old store 🙂
Nothing quite as satisfying as digging for taters, little Buddy was living the best life a dog could! I also had a very special dog named Buddy. Had to put him down in November of 2024. Dogs are such faithful companions!
I am praying for your brother-in-law, Debbie. I admire your unwavering faith.
What a thoroughly entertaining snippet you shared this morning. Buddy and Grandpa were quite a pair and that reading just made me want to read some more! Debbie, I’ve always heard good things come in small packages and I’m hoping your corn follows suit. I’m also praying for all connected to the surgery. Preparing once is hard enough but the disappointment and then added anxiety…
I do a “blanket prayer” for all on here, including their family and friends but as I was calling out names in my head, I was surprised that I rattled off at least 15 individuals and that made me smile. Tipper has created such a loving, accepting “family circle” on here that folks we’ll likely never meet in person have become very special to us.
I agree with you, Brenda! What a wonderful and caring community this is. ❤️
Oh my gosh, I am sorry I called you Brenda, Kim! LOL! It’s been a long week.
Hi Tipper and Acorns. That is a sweet story. I loved the tomato juice video. I pay for everyone here and up Wilson Holler every day. Please keep me, ED and Nancy in your prayers. Pray esp for Nancy as she gets news from her team at Vanderbilt on what they can do to save her foot. Pray for Ed as he will be home alone this morning while I go to the doctor. I love y’all.
I will keep praying!
Praying for you all, Barbara. ❤️ Hope your doctor appt went well.
Just downloaded the book! So looking forward to starting it during my afternoon rest time. My favorite pastime is reading all things Appalachia, reading your blog daily and watching your family’s videos.
Depending on whether someone has a lot of oak stands nearby in the mountains, you can even train a dog to look for truffles here in North America. Why you’d want to train a dog to do it is, they don’t eat truffles like hogs do (hogs forage truffles as well as acorns!). There even are videos on YouTube about it. The truffles that naturally occur in North America are not as prized as the European ones, however. You might think, “Well, they might be worth SOMETHING, no?” and maybe they might be, at that, but sadly, “truffle oil” is made synthetically so selling them on to the oil producers is not realistic. About all you might do with them is to cook with them yourself, or find some restaurant in Charlotte or Asheville or someplace (like that East Carolina chef lady Vivian Howard has) that doesn’t want to pay for the European ones, and sources locally anyhow.
Digging taters are like panning for gold! Boy howdy, that’d be some dog to have!
Our garden is coming along beautifully even with a storm of almost 4 inches of rain in a little more than an hour. The wind flattened the corn to the ground. I don’t think I’ve ever seen corn so flat in all my years. I told the Lord I trusted Him in all things. The corn did stand, but it’s about two foot shorter.
Please continue to pray for my brother in law. The surgery to repair his aorta was cancelled the afternoon beforehand. His doctor had a family emergency. We are praying for his doctor’s family as well. I’m sure it’s very difficult to try to prepare mentally and then be canceled. On the other hand, God’s timing is perfect and we trust Him!
I will pray for them all! Glad your garden is recovering from the storm 🙂