In this video series we are reading a book Sidney Saylor Farr wrote about her life in in the Appalachian Mountains and talking about the things that prick our minds as a way to celebrate Appalachia. The book title: My Appalachia A Memoir by Sidney Saylor Farr.
Previous readings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n0SoagZAjc&list=PL1hkzqrN_R51ivyiePGApG3jg_hK3BKyM
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42 Comments
Really like the book
I don't know as much about the rest of the Appalachian people but I do know that most of the people of Southern Appalachia are not here because they are stuck here as the media portrays us. Most of our ancestors were here well before the United States was a country. They were the earliest European settlers many having arrived in the 15th and early 16th centuries. They were drawn the mountains because they were reminded of the Scottish Highlands from which they had been exiled. Some chose to move farther west, but my ancestors, all of them, remained.
The lure of fortunes in far away lands did not tempt them because they saw riches all around. It was the hand of God that held us here. Still does!
Amen to your sentiments at the end of this video. Well said. You can't stop progress, but no one can take from you your precious memories of the past. Thanks for the reading, and God bless!
I love my gravel road here in Proctor,AR! I fear town moving out my way.
I liked the part about going to visit her family and learning how they lived life in different places. 😊
I love listening to stories of old ways and the food, both grown & prepared. It is amazing how many changes happen & some people have no recollection of what was.
Another fabulous read! That’s a gorgeous sweater your wearing. Did granny make it
You are my new favorite audio book!
❤❤❤
what about the little boy in the house that the tree was falling towards. Is he all right?
Time sure does change things. When I was a girl, my best friend's father ran the corner hotel/bar where they lived in the 2 stoplight town. Some weekends I would stay over & we would roller skate in the dance hall room. 40 years later, I went back for a visit & the hotel had been bought out, completely refurbished into a fine dining bed & breakfast with an event room. They had refinished the old mahogany bar wall with the huge antique mirror still in the center. Absolutely beautiful! The waiter was going to escort me to the restroom & was taken back a bit that I already knew where all of the restrooms were having searched every nook & cranny of the building as a child. Made me chuckle under my breath.
What beautiful memories to make for old age. God Bless. Jean
Another great Friday of Tipper reading to us. I can't think of just one thing that stands out because I love every word she writes.
They are all gone noe
Thanks Tipper for another great reading. I always enjoy these. Talking about Alaska my sister and her husband lived in Alaska for quite a few years in a little mining community named Red Devil. Can't wait for next Friday. I really appreciate the stories.
I enjoyed that very much. Perfect bedtime reading, lol. We moved to this mountain because it was like stepping back in time. Great neighbors, independent thinkers, dirt roads, woods & wildlife. We don’t want the roads paved, we don’t care about cell phone towers. There are people up here that live rough and thrive on the lifestyle. It’s the only place I’ve ever lived that when I mention that I rendered lard and canned it that I don’t get strange looks, lol. Has it changed in the 30 some years since we bought our 20 acres? Yes, but we’re still grateful that the Lord lets us live here until we go home. Is it Appalachia? No, but I have my Appalachian heritage to lean into on this North Idaho mountain. God is good. Blessings, TeresaSue.
Black Walnut fudge for CHRISTmas is a yearly treat for our Family and is a long Family tradition. My Grandmother made it, my Mother made it, and now my Daughter makes it for me every year.
Thank you very much. Listening to you read while I eat dinner is part of my Christmas "tradition" now. Merry Christmas!
I liked the part where she said everyone usually end up in the kitchen talking of food.thats where we sit today when company comes is around the table that belonged to my mom.it just seems to pull you towards it instead of the living room.🙏🏻🙏🏻
I loved this part of the book and how Sydney was brought back to her roots and memories when she brought Genie back with her to tour the University and how things had changed so much. I have a favorite tree too. Mine is the dogwood tree but they are hard to grow here because we get so much heat and sunshine. The last time I saw my daddy and mama, my daddy helped me dig a small dogwood tree up off the side of the creek bank. He wrapped the roots with very wet pieces of carpet,put it in a big black garbage bag and back to Florida we went. I planted it on the side of the house where it was all shade with a very tiny bit of sunlight. I was thrilled when it took root and grew about a foot. Sadly my husband backed over it with his new riding lawnmower and killed it. I cried off and on for months. My daddy passed way about 2 years after that and I had tried to grow 2 other ones but, they never took root. I still believe it’s because my daddy’s hands never touched them like the one he helped dig up.
Time changes so many things, but, for me, it can’t touch my memories. I don’t necessarily live in the past, but I am frequently guided by it. The good ones keep me grounded, the bad, when they surface, remind me to never let go of the good. A really great read Tipper! Thank you so much.
🥰
I imagine those four children from the warm Bahamas being moved to icy Alaska!!! 🥶🥶🥶🥶
Grams playing with her little grandson in the deep maple leaves 🍁 is such a sweet part of the story ❤️
That helicopter 🚁 incident was horrible for William and Betty. He was intuitive and wise, not willing to let one event snowball into him loosing his homeplace. William figured it out, that the pot growers needed assurance that he had not rated them out. He really was wise to invite them to supper 🍽
My brother came down today and was feeling the same way bittersweet we reminess about our younger days so Greatful my mind still works even if my legs don't later tater
I'm enjoying this one, too but, It's not quite as lively as Alex Stewart or Dorie. Still, it is well worth reading, or listening to in our case.
Another great reading. Thank you Tipper. I hope you know how special this is for us. You are such a lovely person. 😄🌹🙏
Like you I have never had walnuts with cornbread. We admire our beauty here in our mountains. We take it for granted until we leave to travel out of town. I can remember when I was 17 we went to San Antonio, Texas and I loved it there but was so happy to be home. Also when I was 18 we went to Cocoa Beach Florida and The beach was beautiful but I was ready to come home after the third day. We stayed 10 days and I begged my dad every day after the 3rd one to come home. I hated it. When we got to Georgia we got out and did a happy dance. When we crossed the NC line we begged dad to stop and he pulled over; and me, my brother and sister and cousin got out and kissed the ground and laid in the grass. I swore I would never return to Florida as long as I lived. I am 58 now and have never even got close to the Florida line again. I have lived in GA and TN and have always came home to Haywood County. I have also lived in Morganton, Hickory, Glen Alpine NC but again came home to my mountains.
I want to thank you Tipper for reading all the books you read to us. It is so enjoyable and it brings back many memories.
God Bless and keep you and your family.
Great book
Awesome reading, very engaging and entertaining. I have only found out your channel recently and I just feel like i have to make up for loss time now. Loads of super cool material!!
Thank you for sharing Appalachia with me. God Bless You and your Family always 🙏
I love your sentiments at the end! Amen and amen. I hate the stereo types the most. And I love that part of the book. Sadly it’s the ignorance of the people who are saying the worst things. My friend and I have a favorite saying, “Forgive them, they just don’t know”. Your channel is doing so much to dispel those myths about the wonderful Appalachian people and shine a spotlight on the richness of culture and tradition and values of our people. Thank you!
I love black walnuts. They have a better taste than the English walnuts, harder to get out of the shell. Mom made a black walnut cake I loved when I was a kid.
Enjoyed this ! Another great section ! I agree that we need to have an attitude of gratitude! Be thankful for what we do have ! This story reminds me of my "own" stoney fork section of watauga county North Carolina, a few miles outside of Boone . Life in stoney fork ,NC was alot like stoney fork in the book. When I was growing up it was a small community, unpaved roads , alot of wilderness still . Today " my stoney fork " is paved with many new luxurious mountain homes and modern conveniences. It's not at all like when I was a child, growing up in poverty. But as we often say " we didn't know we were poor ,because everyone else was in the same situation we were in" . Thank you tipper , appreciate y'all always..God bless..🙏❤
love your book reading grew up in eastern Ky
Thanks for the time you take to do what you do. The white cabinet is just like my grandmother's that I have.
Still loving this story! Thanks Tipper 🎄☃️🎄
Makes me think of summers and heading south to see my Mothers people in Tazewell VA. Then we'd take a day and drive over to Mountain City TN to Dads people, his uncle had a farm there that I still see in my dreams, and I still want that farm.
It all sounds like my childhood. Brings back a lot of memories. Thanks
I enjoyed this chapter (well, actually, I’ve enjoyed every chapter) but I loved that she was reminded of living a simpler life & sweet memories…was awesome to hear that she got to travel to Alaska & talk about her roots & growing up & then to have her friend come back & teach there…thank you for reading to us, it’s very special & I look forward to each week..😊
It takes a MAN to plan your afterlife to ease your Family's "burdens". My father did this and I will never, ever comprehend that. I know one day I will.
👏👏👏Gladly here, listening to a simple and wondrous life story; as read aloud perfectly by Tipper