Eldorado was named by a mountain man who had journeyed to the far West in search of gold. After not finding any there, he became convinced there was gold in the Smokies. He came back and created his own western town—Eldorado. It had a different feeling than the other places we lived. Maybe he did bring part of the Old West with him.
The kind of gold he was looking for couldn’t be found in our mountains. Most of life’s true gold is missed by people who look down for shiny, yellow pieces of metal instead of up at the golden beauty of a mountain sunset, the golden wildflowers, and the simple gold that forms on the churn dasher as cream turns into golden mounds of butter.
—Dorie Woman of the Mountains written by Florence Cope Bush
Such wise words! If you’ve never read Dorie Woman of the Mountains I highly recommend you do. It is a wonderful story of mountain people. I read the book on Celebrating Appalachia. You can hear it here.
Today’s Thankful November giveaway is a used copy of Dorie Woman of the Mountains written by Florence Cope Bush. To be entered in the giveaway leave a comment on this post. Giveaway ends November 8, 2025.
Tipper
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The gold in those mountains from the love of family to the beauty that springs forth from the land is more valuable than anything money can buy.
I really enjoyed listening to you read this book. It’s a great story!
I remember when you read the story, Tipper! It was wonderful!
I find hearts of gold in many chests of those I live among in this blessed Appalachian region. I see gold in you, Tipper, and in your family. You are treasured!
So many miss the true gold by looking in the wrong places for the wrong prize.
I’m going to look back in YouTube for your readings of Dorie. I will get it on audible if it’s not still available on YouTube, since I don’t have room for one more thing! I’m now giving everything I have away to make clearing out my house easier on loved ones after I’m gone.
I so look forward to Friday evenings to hear you read to us.
I really enjoyed the book snipits. ..
The most valuable gold you will find in Appalachia is the golden pollen you see on the honeybees’ legs in the summertime.
I’ve been praying for all of the BP&A family. There are so many in need of prayer. This book sounds wonderful.
I love when you read books on fridays. You have a beautiful voice.
I would love to read Dorie: Woman of the Mountains!
Sounds like a wonderful book!
This selection sounds like it might be as good as The Tall Woman by Wilma Dykeman!
I hope Granny has been enjoying the white sweet potatoes you dug for her. l’ve been hoping and praying she’s doing a bit better.
Puts me in mind of Poe’s poem written in 1849, commenting on the California gold rush, where a searcher learns that the real riches are not found in this world, but the next.
Eldorado
Gaily bedight,
A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of Eldorado.
But he grew old—
This knight so bold—
And o’er his heart a shadow
Fell as he found
No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado.
And, as his strength
Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow—
“Shadow,” said he,
“Where can it be—
This land of Eldorado?”
“Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,”
The shade replied—
“If you seek for Eldorado!”
♫ And I’m just a country boy,
Money have I none.
But, I’ve got silver in the stars
And gold in the mornin’ sun. ♪ ♫
There are things far more valuable than money, or gold. Our dear Savior, family, friends, time, and the beauty of creation. I worship the Creator and not creation, but I’m so thankful for the beauty He has bestowed upon us. God is so good!
Please remember my cousin who is battling cancer. He is not doing well with the treatment and we just got word our other cousin passed over last night. May the Lord be near all who are going through difficult times in health, or needs in other situations. God bless all y’all!
Beautifully written! I love what the author’s defintion of what true gold is- I couldn’t agree more. 🙂
Blessings to you and your family, Tipper!
I’d love to read those stories! Stay well my friends
A favorite saying heard years and years ago: “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” Think the author was Proust. Saw the quote on a colorful Mary Englebright (spelling?) greeting card and have remembered ever since.
With my health issues over the last few years I’ve been reading a lot more. This sounds like something I could and would enjoy. I was able to mow the yard twice this year. Our neighbor was kind enough to take care of it and only asked for gas for the mower a couple of times.
I really love the idea of focusing on thankfulness all of November! It’s deer bowhunting season as well as the tailed of harvest season for farmers and gardeners. And if I keep my focus on God there is always so much to be thankful about! Thank you for the reminders!!
Beautifully written! Agree there is beauty and much value in the in the land all across America.
One of the many joys of being a history major in college from having to read the many accounts of the real people who settled this blessed land. One that I will never forget wad the frontier woman whose husband was away on a cattle drive and she wad alone where she lived. It describes the woman laying down on the ground in total depression. Good posting. Praying for Granny and your entire family.
I loved this book!
Dorie and I have the same values. I’m sure I’d love reading her book.
Good morning, Tipper and Tipper fans! Tipper, I am a fairly new resident to the south as I have mentioned in previous posts. I moved down here from Iowa after my husband of 50 years passed in 2019, and one of my daughters who lived here has taken me to many small mountain towns where I’ve bought artisan products, many many jars of jellies and preserves, etc., and she introduced me to apple cider donuts! The majestic scenery I’ve seen has blown me away, and I can’t get enough. I see myself curled up in a cozy chair with a home made afghan across my lap reading Dorie’s story, while sipping a coffee and eating an apple cider donut…or two, lol! I have Granny…and your entire family but especially Granny, in my prayers every night. I sincerely hope she is not in much pain, and I am equally sincerely sorry I never met her because she sounds like a fantastic woman! May God shower you and yours and all your fans with love and blessings galore!
Would love to read this book.
Very wise indeed!! Keeping granny in my prayers.
Dorie would have loved ‘my’ Sangre de Cristo mountains. I can see and drive through the beautiful golden Aspens in the fall. When the leaves finally fall off the trees and are blowing in the wind, they look like millions of gold coins floating to the ground.
I agree, true gold is found in the glory of Nature, God created.
When I was young, material things meant very much to me. I have just turned 77 years old and would like to think that I’m a little wiser. Material things are left behind after we’re gone and have very little value. In fact, many of them are sold at estate sales or yard sales.The golden things are those things that have meaning and that we cherish. These, to me, are my salvation, my family, my friends, my wonderful memories, my country, etc. I could go on and on. Sometimes it takes years to know and appreciate what we have. I hope you and your family, Tipper, have a wonderful day in those beautiful Appalachians. Please pray for me and I will for each of you, especially sweet Granny.
Thanks for the reminder.
Oh I loved that book when you read it! I would love a copy! My three year old is named Dorothy, but we call her Dorie. I would be the happiest mama if she grew up to be strong, loving, and resilient like Dorie in the book. ❤️
Miss Tipper, I have the book already, I won it in one of your drawings. I am still reading it. With caring for our daughter, she had the stroke last year, August 2024, and my 84 yo husband, I find leisure time few and far between. What I read is so good I will persist til I get it done. I also love your reading sessions. You are so good at it. If by chance I’m selected again please pass it on to another, very lucky viewer. I’m sure you already knew that. Us old ladies just try to help. LOL. Love the November collages. Love to everyone in the holler and all the viewers. Give Miss Louzine my love and prayers to have better days everyday.
I lived away from the beloved mountains for over 50 years and missed their glory the whole time. It’s so good to be so close again that a short drive submerges me in their beauty and feeds my soul!
My gold is family!⭐️
I agree with Dorie. The golden colors of the Maple trees as the turn in the fall, the golden light falling over the mountains at sunrise, that’s true gold.
I enjoyed listening to you read the book, Dorie, Women of the Mountain. I liked it so much I now have it on kindle and have read it myself. It’s a book you can read over and over and never tire of it! There is a beautiful hymn entitled ‘I’d Rather Have Jesus Than Silver or Gold’ but family comes in a close second. We celebrated a very late Thanksgiving dinner (CDN thanksgiving) a couple of days ago, and my heart was full, spending time with family and friends is pure gold. Have a blessed day everyone!
Tipper, I read this book this past February on your recommendation from your blog. I checked it out at my local library and after weeks, I received it through an inter loan from Georgia! Very much worth the wait. My folks were born and raised in western North Carolina and we moved north to Michigan when I was three. We always visited my Granny, and my Aunt Tidy and other family in Asheville and West Asheville a few times a year. I remember as a 10 year old little girl twirling in my Aunt Tidy’s yard one day and seeing a 360° view and thinking to myself how lucky these people are to get to see these mountains every day. Thank you for Blind Pig & The Acorn!
“El Dorado” in Spanish means the “golden” or “gilded” one or place. Even the name Dorie
suggests the French “d’or” (“of gold” ) or “doré “(“gilded). So, in a sense, calling someone “Dorie”
is pretty much the same as calling her “Goldie”.
Sounds like a great book. I hope to read it soon.
Dorie has it right; purple and gold bring in the spring and signal the beginnings of autumn. Violets and dandelion, ironweed and goldenrod.
I agree —those are powerful words. Material things have no value if you can’t see the real gold in your life that is priceless.
I have saved for later your readings so I can binge listen this winter. I would love to have a copy of this book to read/share with my Mom. She is in an assisted living facility and passes her time by reading. She grew up in Tennessee and loves telling stories about her childhood.
Would love to win!
Another great book!!
Dorie sounds like a wonderful woman. I’d love to radio the book.
Reading your post today reminded me of Mickey Gilley’s song “I Over Looked an Orchid While looking For a Rose”.
Don’t put me in the drawing I already have a copy.
I was the winner of this book a couple years ago. It’s a wonderful book. Dorie was amazing! I actually read it during the days we were without power from Helene.
I love reading about the mountain people and their way of life.
The Bible talks about streets of gold…..currently as the trees around us are golden the entire street looks like there is a spotlight shining on it turning the street to gold. god has a glorious paintbox!
Dorie was a very wise woman. I have not been following along with your reading of this book as life has sort of taken up a lot of my time right now, but I do plan on going back & listening to you read from the very beginning. I’m so thankful that you log & post all the things you do for future generations. The rich history of the Appalachian people is something that needs to never be forgotten. Thanks, Tipper!
Hi Tipper, “Dorie” must be a really good book because the pieces you’ve posted sure are good!
So beautiful and so true !!! I would love to read more !!! Thank your for sharing it with us all & the chance to win a copy !!! Love & prayers for all !!!
I love the goldenrod but it makes me sneeze.
It would be great to read Dorie Woman Of The Mountains.
I pray you and all of you who are sick with the Crud feel better soon. A tablespoon of honey and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon warmed together help with a cough.
Love and prayers for Granny
I love reading all the stories from the subscribers and you Tipper. I have never lived in the mountains. My people lived in the flat part of Indiana. Big farms and little neighborhoods. I first heard about Appalachia from my mother. After she got saved, she was had a heart for missions. She gave to a missionary in Appalachia that helped with the poorest of the poor. She would read the newsletters and tell us about the lovely, strong, independent people.
I would think about Appalachia when I hear the carol, I Wonder as I Wander.
I think that’s one of the reasons I love your family and your channels.
Words that paint a clear and beautiful picture.. I have that book so and it is a wonderful story!
Praying treatments go well for your brother, Norman.
I grew up on the coast of SC. My address now is Myrtle Beach but I live in the Burroughs Community of Horry County. Since my first trip to the Smokies I have loved it more than any place I have been. I love the stories of the people who settled there.
This is one of my most favorite books I’ve ever read. Learned of it by first hearing you read it to us, Tipper! My young daughter would eagerly wait each week for the next chapter and we listen together. 🙂
I would like to win this book to read to my children. I think it is wise to teach about the more simple beautiful things in life.
I love reading and definitely would love to read this book. It sounds like an awesome book.
Few people these days bother to seek the kind of gold Dorie sees. I loved her story when you read it a few years back. I would treasure this book full of wisdom.
Love your channel! Would also love a hard copy of your cookbook. I have the digital copy but find it hard to navigate. Thank you!
Sounds like a good book
So generous. This is a book a lot of us would love to own!
She has that right! True riches are not the money kind!
Such truth! I looked out my window here in the Ozarks to fog over the colors of fall. I consider it a blessing to live where I do with such beauty around me. A great reminder to find the “gold” in our lives daily.
I would have loved to have met Dorie!
That definitely sounds like a book I would love to read!
I have never heard of this book and would love to read it.
Lord knows His children don’t crave material riches. I was listening this morning to an Amish (or maybe Mennonite) couple “Ben and Rose” singing “Lord, I Don’t Need a Mansion” that had a line about having a place “where the wildflowers grow” I thought ‘That sounds like Tipper’. Sounds like Doris to. I don’t ever want to be ungrateful but I’ve always loved nature and I reckon its our own nature to hope heaven will be that which we love best. But, when you get that close, its a short step to Him who we truly love best of all. He’ll sort it all for us and it will all come right. We won’t be able to offend Him there, not even in thought. I so look forward to that. There is a verse that says in part “before him blameless in love”. Amen.
Tipper, if my name is drawn please give to someone else since I have two copies of this book. Of all the books you’ve read to us, this is my favorite. To my ACORN friends, I highly recommend it. You’ll not be disappointed.
Kelly Shook- your words are so true! Everyone have a great day.
I enjoyed when you read Dorie to us and I would love to add it to my collection. It’s a brisk morning here in Indiana this morning. But such a beautiful golden Maple tree is greeting me as I look out the window. I hope everyone finds a little gold in their day today.
Love the comparison of real gold to the mountain sunsets. So true…
There is a town nearby called El Dorado. I don’t think they’ve discovered gold there but it is rich in “black gold”.
I enjoyed your reading of Dorie and would love to have a copy of it in my library.
I would enjoy a copy of Dory…-I look forward to Liston you read it. You have Soothing voice and it reminds me of a school teacher who read to us a chapter after “recess” on Fridays in grade school. I looked forward to it each week even though I was in 4 th grade and could read the book myself. It was a special time.
Nothing better than a good book on cold winter days
What a wonderful companion Dorie would be!
Would love to read about Dorie Woman Of The Mountain. Hope I win!
I love to read books by local authors.
So many people take for granted the beauty around them. There is gold in nature! Love your blog!
God bless Granny Wilson, my brother has decided to take treatment, he will take his first treatment tomorrow, thank you for praying for him God bless you very much,
Maybe this will be my year to finally read Dorie.
I have read “Dorie”, and it is indeed a wonderful book. Tipper, I enjoy the books you have read to us on Fridays. Wouldn’t some of those authors be amazed to know their stories are being shared to thousands of people via something called the Internet!
Thankful for being able to read each day the Blind Pig and the Acorn blog. so good to start my day with it.
I love books, and I love our Appalachia.
I love hearing you read and discussing your thoughts afterwards. You are such a Mountain Treasure yourself Tipper. I keep you and all the folks up Wilson Hollow and here on your blog in my prayers. I love Y’all.
This would be a good book to read!
Wonderful book! God bless!
I have not read this book, but the author sure is right about gold being found everywhere. Right now the trees are bursting with gold and brown and red. It is certainly a sight to behold in these wv mountains. Fields of goldenrod blanket hillsides and meadows. It is so beautiful, especially to our sweet honeybees, who carry golden yellow on their back legs as they work all day long. Then, there’s the golden honey they produce from the long hours of foraging. Nature is full of gold…and It makes me feel rich in so many ways.
I also have this book and have read it several times. I do enjoy the things mentioned. Without being religious now at my age, the “purest gold” for me is TIME spent with my 3 boys, other family members and lifetime friends. I was able to enjoy some of this “gold” over the past weekend. I realize how precious or valuable doing this is and that I probably don’t have a lot of this “gold” left. Five of my coworkers have died in the last 2 weeks, I am in the same age group as they were.
I keep a list of your book recommendations but don’t recall this one. Adding it to the list. Lots of heavy fog this morning, everyone be safe heading out today.
I would truly love to have this book as I am constantly reading books about Appalachian culture & people. I plan to read the book even if I don’t win it. Thanks for all you do.
My sister in law is related to the Cope family from Gaston County. I had a copy of Dorie and I loaned it out to someone to read. Sadly my copy was never returned . My hubby and I watch every video that you and the girls produce. Originally from Asheville I love watch you celebrate appalachia.
True gold is never ever found in material things. The sooner you find that out, the better life is going to be.
Those are beautiful words and so true.
This would be a wonderful book to own and treasure
I love that part ” the kind of gold he was looking for couldn’t be found” . Everyone should read that line! For me, my gold is my family and friends Andrea