At our house, we used to sing a lot after supper sitting around the fire. Mother would probably be knitting. Daddy would make ax handles and hammer handles and different things like that at night. We didn’t buy them.
Boys grew up, feeling like they had accomplished something when they learned to make a good handle or a good hoe handle. They were tasks that we could do at night around the fire and there was a lot of good fellowship in families.
There was a habit among people in our area; we’d get an early supper and go over and visit the neighbors and stay until bedtime. That was quite an event. If there were children, they got together to play and the old folks talked and sang. Sometimes two families would get together and sing. Smaller children will get sleepy quicker and probably go to bed. And some among the group would stay up as long as the parents stayed up.
—Foxfire 4
I was blessed to grow up in a family of sangers (singers). There was always somebody picking the guitar or singing or both! And often people came to visit and they sung too. I’m thankful the music and singing are still heard in my house today.
Today’s Thankful November giveaway is a used copy of Foxfire 4. To be entered in the giveaway leave a comment on this post. Giveaway ends November 9, 2026.
Last night’s video: Thrashing Beans || If Our Porch Was Bigger We Could Have More Junk.
Tipper
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When I was a kid my cousins and I were always singing and playing music. One of my cousins had a band in high school and I sang in the church choir. I wish I still had my singing voice to sing those beautiful hymns.
I LOVED IT WHEN WE DID THINGS TOGETHER AS A FAMILY WHILE I WAS GROWING UP. NOW WERE GROWN WITH FAMILIES OF OUR OWN. WE DON’T DO THINGS TOGETHER ANY MORE. WHILE OUR KIDS WERE GROWING UP AT NIGHT WE’D GO SIT OUTSIDE AND WATCH THE SKY AT. THEY ARE GROWN NOW MISS THOSE TIMES.
Strange how the closer one lives to necessity the slower paced life is. One would think the opposite would be true, that time would be consumed with what must get done. But the rhythm has to match the rhythm of nature and can’t be rushed or shortcut. Not much one can do to get plants up sooner or blooming sooner or pollinated sooner and so on. Somewhere in this there must be one or more life lessons. Nowadays – like it or not – we are just about moving at the speed of light. Maybe a body ought not move faster than they can think? One thing I have learned – the weighter the consequence, the more need to get still first.
So fortunate to live near ETSU and experience their Appalachian/Old Time Music Program. Students come from all over the world to enroll in this curriculum.
As a young girl I remember singing all the time and it has followed me into adulthood. But you know it’s Biblical, in our closeness to God He puts a song into our hearts. I remember living in the mountains of Tennessee and we would gather to sing, choir practice, special singing practice and we would carry those songs in our hearts into the week. Singing becomes part of who you are. Thank you for sharing this. I really enjoy Foxfire, after your readings of Ain’t Aire on YouTube I asked for it for my birthday. It is such a joy!
I don’t have a talent for singing or playing a musical instrument, I wish I did though.
I really like listening to good old gospel songs.
I can be having a rough day and hear Amazing Grace and my day gets better. I realize how Blessed I am.
I’m the only one in my family to play an instrument–the piano. I played at church and at home. My mother and I would sing hymns while I played. One song I remember well is “Turn Your Radio On.” My mother enjoyed that song and we sang it often. Her brother James,played the guitar and sang old hymns and country. music. He enjoyed Bluegrass music.
Love this! My favorite thing as a kid, was listening to the adults downstairs when family would come. They’d always play Rummy (cards) til way up in the night. I just loved hearing them talk and laugh.
A great post. It conjures up such homey feelings. Music is a joyful way to share in one energy, with everyone trying to come together on the same note (or harmony note) and the same rhyrhm. We used to sing along to the Mitch Miller records.
Foxfire books were at my grandparents house in the 60 and 70s when I was growing up. Whenever you refer to them it brings back sweet memories. I would enjoy a copy very much. Thank you.
Foxfire books were at my grandparents house in the 60 and 70s when I was growing up. Whenever you refer to them it brings back sweet memories. I would enjoy a copy very much. Thank you.
my mom played the piano and we would sing.
Dad didn’t play any instruments, but he would sing when working around the house inside and out. And he almost always had the radio playing, especially every morning when getting ready for the day. My sister and I took piano lessons and we are both active musicians today. My husband plays guitar very very well and I love hearing him play here at home and when we’re out performing. Music is wonderful and very healing!
Music soothes the soul, a mood enhancer and stress reliever! More music is needed today instead of tv.
It seems no one makes anything like they used to. More people just buy a new one or buy a tool with a plastic handle these days.
Ken, I got into collecting and restoring Coleman gas lanterns. Now between me and my son our collection would be close to a hundred maybe a few more. I have some from the very early 1900’s. We only have a few newer than the 1980’s. By then Coleman had started “cheapening” them by using plastic and cheaper metal. The older models would last a lifetime with a little care and a very few spare parts. We also have some older 50-65 year old fishing reels we still use. Now we live in what I call a throw away world- use it until breaks, throw it away and buy a new one. In all honesty it often times cheaper to throw it away and buy new than repairing it if you have to pay someone to do it for you.
My Uncle Dewy always played the guitar when we visited.
Another good post. Growing up in my family we loved music but none of us played any instruments. When dad bought our first stereo it was really inexpensive but it played music. Dad wanted us to enjoy all types of music so along with that stereo he had some 33 1/3 LPs: The Greatest Hits of Hank Williams, The Greatest Hits of the Platters, the 2813 Overture, and Bolero. Talk about a mixed bag. As time passed dad would bring home the new High Miller sing along LPs. And we sang to those. We actually sang along to his tv show also. I admire the many talents that your family has. It has been a blessing to see all if them perform except Pap. But with You Tube we get to listen to him there. As far as Fox Fire us concerned we’ve been to the museum several times and loved the exhibits.
I have made a shovel handle, But not axe handles or hammer handles, I cannot sing, But I’ve been trying lately. I can do Amazing Grace a little bit, I tried Pass me not Ongentle savior by Fanny Crosby ,a little while back, My most recent one was , Are you washed in the blood, I did one of those was a guitar that belonged to my brother Bennie, You know , he passed away in april with adenocarcinoma cancer, Stage four, Thank you for praying for me and my family during that trying time, God bless you very much
My Daddy died July 31st and he was an only child, I am his only child, and my daughter is my only child. I grew up singing with Daddy. He played the guitar and a good time was always had. Now that he’s gone things are very different. I sing at church and am trying to get my daughter to play for me if she would practice. Daddy taught her some and gave her two guitars, one is a Fender. I know he’d be so proud.
I can imagine how evenings used to be back then! Filled with love and joy❤️
I grew up with music in my family. Even our sewing machine was a singer.
Tipper you are blessed in so many ways most of us can only dream of…thank you for letting us into your world and making ours a little better.
My Daddy would sometimes play his cheap guitar and sing a few songs after supper. One fond memory is of me laying on the floor beside of him in front of out fireplace eating parched peanuts we had grown. I remember a time in the past when my family would visit our neighbors after supper and us kids would play together while our parents would be talking to one another. I also remember after the Sunday night church service the adults talking to one another while the children would be playing. Children playing was outside, we were not allowed to play inside the church. I have some blacksmith hammers that belonged to my great grandfather that have handles made by my daddy. These hammers, not the handles, are well over 100 years old. My maternal grandparents would sit around a big heater in their bedroom on the cold winter nights before going to bed reading their Bibles, or picking out pecans or black walnuts. They never owned a TV but did have a radio that I never knew them to turn on.