Beth Durham's Blog, page 7

The Old Old Songs

The Old Old Songs

I have written here many times about music.  It tells our stories, motivates our works and memorializes our dead.  The history behind hymns in particular fascinate me.

As I was looking at Easter music this week, I noticed the date of one hymn , The Day of Resurrection.  The Praise for the Lord hymnal (Praise Press, 1997) credits these lyrics to John of Damascus c. 750.  While that may not be the oldest hymn in the book, it’s the earliest date I have ever noticed.  So that drove ...

Freedom is That Important

It is neither Veteran’s Day nor Memorial Day, but a brief encounter this week with a Vietnam Veteran just has to be shared.

Anytime I can identify a veteran, I try to say “Thank you for your service.”  Their reactions are varied - usually it’s an almost embarrassed, “Thank You” or “You’re Welcome”.  This week I saw a gentl...

Pulling Power

Ruthie had a reading assignment, A Ride to Remember by Lizzie Jumper which told the story of a Tin Lizzie and the local men’s teasing that a horse would not roll backward, have a flat tire or get stuck in the mud.  In the end, they indeed did get a horse to pull them home.

It was a cute story and reminded me of our own fam...

Reasons to Learn History

Each week, as I think about what to share with you, I can’t help but be influenced by the people I’m spending time with and the books or articles that I’m reading.  This week, literary agent Dan Balow wrote about God at Auschwitz, and I was once again reminded that even the ugliest moments must be learned lest, in forgett...

Grass Fed

There are buzzwords in our markets these days. “Grass fed” meats and “organic” vegetables command higher prices and are much sought-after by some consumers.

Well I am reading a very interesting book published in  1913 and Mr Horace Kephart mentions the grass fed beef of the...

The Expansion of Stuff

Have you noticed that our stuff seems to be taking over?  From the rise of hoarders (and their very own reality tv shows) to the booming storage business, Americans have an awful lot of stuff.  And I’m no different.

 

Now we’ve talked here https://tennesseemountainstories.com/blog/2016/9/15/snuff-glasses-and-other-useful-re-useables before about hanging onto valuables lest you should need them another day.  It’s a hard habit to break!  Well I’ve been trying to declutter my home and I’m ashamed of ...

What You Leave Behind

I wasn’t planning this article last week when I wrote about grave stones.  Then I received a note and pictures from my third cousin (per Legacy Family Tree’s relationship calculator) and I just knew I needed to share it with all of y’uns.

I’ve said before that the novels I ...

Grave Markers

These days, folks plan ahead for the time when they will pass from this world.  Well, I guess that’s not a new thing, the wealthy in ancient Egypt planned for years – long enough to have giant tombs built.  And, the Bible tells us that Joseph left instructions for his bones to be carried into the promised land.

I’ve been ...

The Dobro An American Instrument

Lately, we’ve been talking about The Mountain Dulcimer and many believe this instrument was invented in the Appalachian mountains.  As I was researching that question, I bumped into the origins of the Dobro. 

As I read the origins of the Dobros, I was so fascinated that I wanted to share it with you.

Think back – before am...

A Dulcimer by any other Name

If you’ve been reading The Stories any time at all, you know that my research often leaves me with more questions than answers and I’m always asking you readers to help me out.  So you can just imagine how excited I was to have a reader correct me on the origins of the dulcimer.

On December 18th I wrote that the Mountain Dulcimer was created in the Appalachians.  But one kind reader reminded me that the dulcimer is named in the Bible – in the Old Testament actually.  So that’s a long time before ...