Blind Pig & The Acorn

Easy Christmas Ornaments That Make Great Gifts

When the girls were in 2nd grade they made applesauce cinnamon Christmas ornaments at school. All these years later-the little gingerbread men still smell so good each year when we get them out to put on the tree.

Chitter and Chatter like to give little gifts to family members-especially the Aunts and Grandmothers. As I tried to think of something inexpensive, neat, and pleasing to everyone-I came up with applesauce cinnamon ornaments. I told the girls-if we make them in a shape that would be appropriate for year round use-it would almost be like giving them a scented candle-but a whole lot cheaper.

There are all kinds of recipes for the ornaments. You can see one here and here. Basically you form a dough out of cinnamon, applesauce, and glue. We started with a cup of cinnamon, a cup of applesauce, and a teaspoon of glue-we ended up adding more cinnamon during the process.

After the girls mixed up the dough-they rolled it out. The thinner the ornament-the more easily it will break-so you need to leave them kinda thick. Ours ended up a little over 1/4 inch thick-I'm sure they should be thicker. Mr. Gingerbread Man from days gone by is almost a half an inch thick.

Since we were going for a shape that could be used year round-we went with stars. After they were cut out-the girls decorated them by making designs in the surface-and used a straw to make a hole in one corner. Once they dry completely we'll add a piece of ribbon for hanging. They will air dry over several days-I helped ours along by putting them in a barely warm oven.

I had the applesauce and glue-all I had to purchase was the cinnamon-I got bargain bin cinnamon which were 2 for a dollar. For 2 bucks we made several presents-you can't beat that. And my house-smells wonderful! 

Ever make applesauce cinnamon Christmas ornaments?

Tipper

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New Shoes

New shoes-we all get them-we all like them. For the last 24 hours there's been a girl walking around my house on cloud 9-cause she got new shoes-or in her case new boots.

We've all heard the stories of days gone by-how most folks only got one pair of shoes a year. They went barefoot from spring till fall to save the shoes for winter months when they were really needed. Stories of having one pair of shoes re-soled several times and passed along to the younger siblings as they were out grown. In today's world most of us have too many shoes to fit in our closet floor.

When I was growing up I was a spoiled child-and a vain child too. I wanted the cool clothes and shoes that everyone else wore. I was in middle school when I got my first pair of Nike tennis shoes-I still remember them-white canvas with a light blue stripe. That blue stripe started a yearly expense for Pap and Granny. Looking back I know they couldn't afford it-but each summer before school started Granny took me to Tigers in Hayesville to pick out new school shoes-most often Nike. I don't recall Steve or Paul ever getting any Nikes-just me. Was it cause I was the only girl-or cause I was the only one who demanded them? I'm sure it was the latter-the boys weren't swayed by peer pressure like I often was. Even though I was selfish enough to beg for the shoes-on some level I must have known what a sacrifice it was for me to get them. I never wore them unless I was going to school or town-I religiously kept them clean by using an old toothbrush and a soft rag. Taking care of things-is something me and the brothers have in common. I think it's a running joke or maybe a source of pride on which one of us has the oldest pair of Nikes in our closet today-not just any old pair-but ones that are in mint condition-ones we've had longer than we've had children. Steve's-white leather with black stripes-mine-brown hightops with turquoise stripes-Paul's-white with blue stripes.

Chatter and Chitter have proved to be different types of girls than I was. Any expensive tennis shoes they may have wore along the way came from yard sales, hand me downs, or clearance racks. I'm cheaper than Pap and Granny and can't fathom paying for the top brands-and the girls aren't interested in them anyway-maybe they inherited that trait from their Uncles.

The Deer Hunter took Chatter boot shopping yesterday-which is a good thing for her-I would have tried to talk her out of the expensive boots she came home with. Thinking of  the money they spent made me cringe. But after seeing she loves them enough to wear them with her pjs-I'm reminded of my blue striped canvas Nike and how they made me feel. It also helps to know she paid for half the boots herself-something her Mama never did.

Ever have a favorite pair of shoes or boots?

Tipper

p.s. Drop back by tomorrow to read about Hominy-how to make it the old way-and a new easier way too. For anyone who is interested-The Deer Hunter's latest buck is being featured on Whitetail Woods.

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We Walked Through History

Friday found me and the girls high on a mountain slope in Haywood County, NC-near Jonathan Creek. The girl's class had a field trip to the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center and I decided to tag along-boy am I glad I did.

The trip would have been fantastic if all we did was look at the views. I've never seen the leaves as pretty as they are this year. Maybe it's the wet weather we've had this summer-whatever it is-the trees have put on their most vibrant attire for us to enjoy.

In addition to the beautiful landscape we got to learn about:

The ph level of the creek, how alkaline it is-and exactly what that means to the health of the water and its inhabitants.

The conductivity of the creek.

The kids even got to help take inventory of the creek-by catching salamanders. 

The highlight of the day came as we were hiking down to the creek. On the way our guide, Miss Emily, explained to us the park is having trouble with wild hogs tearing up the landscape and wooly adelgids attacking the Hemlock and Balsam trees. As we moved farther down the trail she told us there was an apple tree coming up on the right and we could help ourselves to an apple.

The girls and I had already spotted a little cabin off in the distance-my mind quickly put 2 and 2 together. I ask Miss Emily-did the folks who lived in the cabin plant the apple trees? She said "yes they did about 1900 or so." The apples were yummy and we enjoyed them as we continued on toward the cabin.

You know-me I got to thinking about those apple trees and how someone planted them a 100 years ago-and how amazing it was that I was eating an apple from one of those trees. As the trail curved closer to the cabin-I yelled at Chitter "hey we're walking in history." She stopped and looked at me like I was crazy for a moment-then she too realized we were. The folks who planted the trees and lived in the cabin-surely walked where we were walking on a daily basis. Neat.

Turns out-the John Love Ferguson cabin is the highest elevation historical cabin in all the smokies. Originally there were 2 small cabins on the site with a dog trot between them. Both were in disrepair-the best wood was salvaged from each-and this single cabin was built. 

It wasn't typical for farmers to build at this elevation-nearby Purchase Knob tops out at 5,086ft. But the Ferguson's had a spring for water, the apple trees, their main crop of corn, and grassy areas for cattle to graze-so they were able to be self sufficient as most folks were in those days.

 
 

I'm such a history buff, that whenever I visit a place where I know folks-laughed, worked, played, cried, breathed-it seems if I'm still and quite I'll catch a glimpse of them as they head to the spring house or up the trail to gather apples.

I wish I could tell you a story about the misty outline of a person I saw run around the cabin-it'd be perfect for my Spooky October series-but the voices I heard and the faces I saw near the cabin were only in my imagination.

Tipper
 

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The Moving Wall Memorial

To say the southern highlands of Appalachia have been rainy lately is an understatement. It seems it's rained continuously for the past month-you know since the post where I stated fall here is typically dry? Not this year.

The Moving Wall has been in our town for the last week. I think it was back in June when Chitter first read about it's impending arrival in our area. Ever since, she's been counting the days. Soon after school started she came home tickled pink-she found out her class would be walking down to visit the wall once it arrived-thrilling to her-they'd get 2 class periods to learn about the wall, wander around, and ask questions.

Skip ahead to yesterday-the day for the visit to the wall. We awoke to the pounding thundering sound of rain on the roof. I tried to console her by saying they'll probably just reschedule the trip for the following day-surely the rain would be gone by then. Determined to go to the wall-she made sure both her and Chatter dressed appropriately for rain-boots-jackets-umbrellas.

As we completed the carpool pick up and started our drive into town the rain was coming down so heavily I could barely see the road. The streets in town were flooded at several points. Once we arrived at school, I jumped out to help them gather their backpacks, lunchboxes, instrument and stand. In the amount of time it took them to get their grip and go-a pond of water accumulated on top of the raised trunk-of course it drowned me as I shut it.

Next stop-grocery shopping for me and Granny-the rain was still torrential. We shared the remaining umbrella to get into the store-since I always finish before Granny-I gave her the umbrella to keep and thought I'd buy a cheap one while I was shopping. I forgot. Not wanting to go back through the check out again-I braved the rain and unloaded my groceries in it. By the time we got back to Granny's I was so wet I was cold. After I carried her groceries in, I headed home thinking of a hot shower and dry clothes.

Once my groceries were put up-I checked the machine. One message. From Chitter. The trip had been canceled due to rain-and the wall was leaving at lunch. Would I please come get her and take her to the wall? It was one of those mom dilemmas for sure- I was cold, tired, wet and did not want to go back into the soaked landscape plus I had a blue million things on my to do list. But she had been talking about the wall since June so I went.

 

I drove back into town consoling myself-it's easier to just take her than to listen to her complain about how unfair life is for the next week. But once we arrived at the wall-my perspective changed quickly. I was instantly blown away by how real the wall is-how the names come to life. Each name jumps out at you-each name shouts it has a story and it's a hero's story.

 

Near the beginning of the wall we were struck by the mementos that were left to honor those who gave all. I realize the Vietnam War effected and touched folks from my area-I mean my Uncle Henry is a veteran of the war. But somehow the things folks left-left here in my home town electrified my knowledge that not only did the Vietnam War effect my friends and neighbors-it is still effecting them all these years later on a deeply personal level.

 

This lovely lady was a volunteer-she shared stories with us like:

All the cards stuck in the cracks were Ace of Spades and were left for fallen Marines. During the war Marines left behind the Ace of Spades as a type of calling card for the Viet Cong. Now-Marines leave the cards at the wall as a way of honoring their fallen comrades.

 

A photo of a soldier and his dog, along with the dog's collar was left by a career soldier who just shipped out to serve again. The boy and dog in the photo-were his best friends in Vietnam-both were killed and he kept the collar all these years.  

Perhaps the most moving moment for me happened as I looked at the paper above. It is a copy of the telegram Miles H. Nelson's mother received notifying her of his death. As I bent over to read and photograph it-I noticed an elderly lady beside me-kinda hesitantly looking around. Thinking I was in her way I stood and stepped back a few feet. I soon realized she was trying to wipe the rain from a name to take a rubbing of it. I reached for her umbrella and held it for her. Her hands trembled and her pen wouldn't work. I told her I had a pencil-she asked if I would do it for her. As I rubbed the name I realized it was the same from the telegram- Miles H. Nelson. As I handed her the rubbing I asked if he was her son or brother. As she began to cry, she said no, he was a boy she grew up with. A boy she knew all her life who went to war and didn't come back home. While we both stood crying in the rain she shared her story with me. She came from a military background. Her father-n-law served in WWI, her husband served in Germany during WWII, and her son just recently retired after a career of service for his country. She said she thought folks probably thought she was silly for crying. I told her no I didn't think so-I think most folks would thank her for supporting her family who served for us all.

I can honestly say visiting the wall was one of the most moving experiences I've ever had-I truly enjoyed it. Even if I hadn't-the photo above would have been payment enough for my trouble. The look of awe on her face-the look of total respect and gratitude is priceless. See Chitter has big plans. She plans to be part of those armed forces someday. She is determined to be right in the middle of the brave men and women who serve our country. She wants to be close enough to take care of their wounds-to help them through their sicknesses-to be a fountain of encouragement to those that serve.

When I look back over yesterday-it seems the rain wasn't so bad after all.

Tipper
 

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Clogging & Singing - What Else Could You Ask For?

 

This past weekend was the biggest show of the year for the girls-you can tell how nervous Chatter and Chitter were by looking at their faces. I think all your good luck wishes paid off-see what you think.

(don't forget to stop the player in the top right of this page) Chitter and Chatter are on the far right of the video-one in front one in back.

After 2 days of clogging-the girls still managed to get the nerve up to sing a song during Pap and Paul's set. We kinda had a video malfunction during the taping-but it didn't hurt the sound any.

I think the band sounded extra special-even if you couldn't see us! Hope you enjoyed the videos-and thank you for sending the luck our way!

Tipper

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School Lunches

School has started for the Blind Pig family. Backpacks are full and we are easing ourselves back into the rhythm of school.

I've always packed Chatter and Chitter's lunches-cause they're not only silly girls they're picky too.

The selection of food I pack-hardly ever varies-it includes: water, a yogurt cup, some kind of fruit, a bag of chips and a small snack size candy bar. This year as I've tried to cut back on our grocery bill I've tried to think of things I could preserve from the garden to send in their lunch bags.

Instead of buying the little plastic containers of pears-I'll be sending homemade pear preserves.

The girls usually take water to drink-but every once in a while they want something different. I froze some of the grape juice I made in small juice containers.

 

I've dried all the apples I could get my hands on. This year I went the easy route and used my dehydrator. Click here to see how I did it last year.

A few other ideas for school lunches:

~Lacy from Razor Family Farms has an excellent recipe for yogurt-it's on my list of things to try 

~A Reusable Lunch set  very neat-especially if you sew

~Frugal Back To School Snacks-ideas that are healthy and cheap

My supply of pears, apples, and juice will not last through the school year-but at least I've made an effort to cut back on expenses-and send healthier food.

Wonder what they'd do if I sent a piece of cornbread like the old days? Actually-they'd probably be fine since they both love cornbread.

So do your kids or grankids pack their lunches? I don't ever remember packing mine-I always ate in the lunchroom.

Tipper

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The Three Indian Princesses Move To New Territory

 

The Three Indians Princesses have been forced to move their summer camp to higher ground-higher covered ground. Granny's back porch. This past winter the local EMC came around trimming trees-and were nice enough to run most of it through a chipper, leaving Granny with a huge pile of mulch. Unfortunately-for the girls it's smack dab in the middle of their favorite tepee camp. As they searched for a new camp location-the plentiful rain we've had this summer made Granny's porch the idea place.

 

You can see how Granny's clothesline assists in their tepee building.

 

    They each have their own room-this is Princess 1

 

             Princess 2-I think she's got the best spot

 

                        Princesses 3's corner

 

The Princesses have some neat spy holes-just in case an invading tribe comes into their territory.

 

I like how the wind billows their walls-and sends a soothing breeze through the camp.

 

Pap says at 12 & 11 years old-the Three Indian Princesses are about too old to be playing house. Granny and I say-we hope they're still playing when their 18.

Ever build tepees or tent houses when you were a kid?

Tipper

July 4th & The Pledge of Allegiance

 

I pledge allegiance to the flag

of the United States of America

and to the republic for which it stands

one nation under God, indivisible,

with liberty and justice for all

In my elementary school days I recall saying the pledge each morning-in some grades-but not all. In high school-I don't ever recall saying the pledge-unless is was at a special assembly.

Chitter and Chatter tell me their 4th and 5th grade teachers led the class in saying the pledge every morning-but since they hit middle school they don't say it at all-unless it's at a special event.

On this day, July 4th, my thoughts are of the flag-of what it stands for-of those who fought to give birth to our great nation. I believe I should dwell on these things more often.

Did you say the pledge in school? Do your kids?

Tipper

p.s. Hope you have a wonderful July 4th!!

Economic Downturn Effects Education In Appalachia

 

Chitter and Chatter finished up the school year this week-and are quite happy about it. During their summer vacation they are hoping to do things like:

 

 Craft

 

   Hyder Mountain Stomp

 

  and Play in the water.

While the Blind Pig family is excited about summer and the fun it holds-everyone in our county isn't as thrilled. Our state government has made drastic cutbacks in education funding due to the economic downturn.

Cherokee County has approximately 3,300 students and approximately 150 teachers. Our student population has decreased by about 100 students over the past year-from families being forced to relocate in an effort to find work.

In the last week, 44 teachers have been given notice that their jobs no longer exist. While folks were expecting some layoffs-no one was prepared for 44 teachers. I can't imagine what the individuals must be feeling-but I can speak as a parent-and I'm left wondering how they will educate the children of our county without those 44 teachers?

**UPDATE: By the time school started back after summer break all the teachers got to return to their jobs-except about 6. We were very THANKFUL!!

I know all of the counties in NC are facing similar education cutbacks-but what about where you live? Has the economy effected education spending in your neck of the woods?

Tipper

Living In A Separate Place

 

I feel as though I've been living on another plane of life. A separate place where you exist and simultaneously you don't.

 

A neighborly place where you sit back and view your world go on without your input.

 

I've watched The Deer Hunter wash clothes, clean, cook, take care of the girls-all the things I usually do. I see he does them better than I do and I wonder if it's because he's doing the chores with a greater purpose in mind-he's doing them for me.

From my separate place I hear the girls-chatting, fussing, laughing-their only interruption being to run and check on me.

As I lie wondering if I'll ever recover from this flotsam of flu-I long to return to my plane of life. I long to return to my chores. I think I'll do them with more purpose-I think if I could just feel well I'll do them forever.

 

The first time I was well enough to shower, I forced myself to check on my seedlings before I took to my sick bed again. I was rewarded with tiny plants-most still encrusted with their tiny little seed caps-reaching for the sky. Spindly, pale, weak-yet reaching for something higher. As I stumbled back to bed I couldn't help but wonder-my first shower-is this my first step on my journey back to my life? Is it my first step at reaching for something higher?

Tipper

p.s. Thank you all for: your well wishes, your thoughts, your prayers, your cards-they all made me feel special and loved-and that's always a good thing!