Category Archives: Family

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Happy Independence Day!

. Family, Holidays . , , , , , ,

Every year during our holiday of Independence Day (July 4th),
I think of my Caylor ancestors. They had come to the colony of Pennsylvania in
the 1750s from Germany. They were Caylors (Kahler & Humbert were two of the families I know for sure) I am not an expert on the genealogy of that group, but
knowing linguistics like I do, I doubt those that came in the 1750s were very
good with the English language by the Revolutionary War; however, their teen-age children who were born in the colonies probably did quite well with English. The Caylors
must have been visionaries. They first came here to get away from over-population,
land shortages, and food shortages in Germany, and when they arrived, they
arrived to a group of disgruntled colonists who were tired of Great Britain’s
tyranny. In their vision of the future, they could see the importance of the
colonists (British, German, or French descendants) working together for freedom
and for making their own country, so they did it. They fought with all the
colonists, and they won the United States Revolutionary War. In a few years, the rest of the world looked upon
these rag-tag freedom lovers who ousted an empire and bestowed them the name “Americans”.

What an honor it must have been. They weren’t German -Americans, or
British-American, or French-Americans. They were AMERICANS equaling a group of
people of different nationalities, languages, and cultures that had come together to make the United States of America. My German ancestors knew they were doing something special, but they had no idea that they had laid the ground work for the
greatest country this world has ever seen or will ever see again. I am so proud
of my ancestors, my country, and my freedom. I am so looking forward to Carter
and Ammon knowing the love of freedom and of country and understanding their
proud heritage. God bless you all, and God bless the United States of America. Happy
Independence Day!

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Ammon Moment

. Family, Scotland . , , , ,

Ammon in Reykjavik

I’ve wanted to share this Ammon moment for several weeks now. It happened on Monday
June 6, 2011 at Loch Ness, Scotland.

The family and I were touring Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle.
There was an hour bus ride to Urquhart Castle that morning, and our tour guide,
Mr. Munro, kept giving us the logistics of the day, and he would often speak of
Loch Ness and the Loch Ness Monster. Ammon and I were sitting side by side, and
one time after Mr. Munro mentioned the word monster, Ammon inquired, “Monster?”
My mind went into overdrive trying to go through Ammon’s schema to prepare her
for what we would be hearing around the Loch. All Ammon and Carter know about
monsters is what they have seen on cartoons such as Scooby Doo.  In a few
seconds, something came to my mind that Ammon could connect with from her
former knowledge. I said, “We are going to try to look for a dinosaur that
swims. It’s called the Loch Ness Monster.” In an excited voice, Ammon
exclaimed, “A dinosaur that swims?” I replied with, “Yes!, However, it’s very
shy, and it doesn’t like people so we might not see it.” Ammon continued with
pitiful interrogation, “It doesn’t like me?” I continued with, “Well, I’m sure
if it met you, if would like you, but it’s just too shy to meet people.” In a
satisfied tone, Ammon surrendered with , “Okay!”

Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness: June 6, 2011

Ten minutes later we arrived at Urquhart Castle that looks
over Loch Ness. After a wonderful historical film of the castle, we headed down
toward the Loch and the castle. Ammon and Carter had on their leashes. Sean was
with Carter on his leash, and I was with Ammon on her leash. Ammon and Carter
had been cooped up on the bus for a long time, and they were ready to run, so
Ammon and I took off toward the castle. As we were running Ammon cups her hands
over her mouth like a megaphone and begins to yell, “Come out dinosaur! Don’t
be shy! We’re hunting you!” I was running and laughing at the same time. What a
girl!

Ammon (the dinosaur hunter), Carter, Nana, & Haven: Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness

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Blackberries!

. Family . , , , , , ,

I didn’t like the taste of blackberries until I was an adult. They are an acquired taste, but once you acquire that taste, you’re hooked! The unfortunate part is that they grow on briars, and it is inevitable that if you are doing some serious picking that will produce blackberry jam, blackberry cobbler, or possibly blackberry, homemade ice cream, you will get scratched by some thorns. However, the rewards are delicious.

Right now it looks like we are going to have a plethora of blackberries. I ate some Saturday during a mowing break. They were scrumptious: that tart yet sweet taste. All during my 20s I had a pet German shepherd named Judy. She enjoyed blackberry picking with me. She knew the difference between a non-ripe, red blackberry, and the ripe, black-purple blackberry. If there was a ripe blackberry at her reach, she would gently pluck it off and eat it. She was the best blackberry picking buddy I ever had. Here’s to you, Judy.

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Jogging on the River Thames

. European Destinations, Family . , , , , , ,

Jogging on the Thames

I truly enjoy exercising in both cardio and strength
training. Physical exercise invigorates my body, mind, and spirit. My favorite
cardio is jogging. I started jogging on a regular basis about four years ago.
We have approximately 13 mowed acres, and we utilize about 8 of those acres “manicured”
to use as a jogging track. In fighting middle-age fat, we’ve also had to up our
jogging time to approximately 45 minutes to help keep our weight off. The
sights and sounds of the mountain and fields keep us occupied, and often times
the 45 minutes pass by very quickly.

The deck of the Crown Princess we were on two weeks ago was
very “cut up”, and did not have an extensive track to jog on. Its only complete
track was tiny: 16 laps made a mile! It was terribly
boring. Sean and I started jogging up and down stairs and meandering around the
decks to make the 45 minutes go “faster”. When we returned to London for our
last two days, I needed a place a jog. What was I to do?

We were thankful to get a motel (the Park Plaza at
Westminster Bridge…I recommended it to everyone) in an excellent location. It was a block behind the
London Eye and the Thames River. Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben
were in view from our motel room. We had seen joggers
every day and at all times of the day in that area. On Thursday morning
(6-16-2011) in London, I woke up about 6:00 a.m., and I decided to jog around
the river.

For 30 minutes, I jogged from the Westminster Bridge, beside the
London Eye, over the Embankment Foot Bridge, back along the river, and returned
to the London Eye side.

It was awesome! The two things I kept imagining were the Elizabethan era ships coming and going from that area, and all their Age of Exploration
cargo ships emptying their riches from “newly found places” and the Ancient
Female Warrior, Boadicea. Boadicea is on the Parliament side of Westminster
Bridge. Boadicea was queen of the ancient Iceni who fought against the Romans
who had taken over their lands. She lost and was killed in A. D. 60, but she was heroic none the less. I jogged under her statue and thought of the courage of this beautiful and regal lady.

File:Boudiccastatue.jpg

When I finished jogging, I couldn’t help but consider the
stark contrast of my house’s calm, quiet fields with the ancient, rich history of London’s
River Thames, but it didn’t matter. Both are awesome places to jog! ;o)

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Father’s Day

. Family, Holidays . , , ,
Georgie Caylor, Oliver Haven Caylor, & Haven William Caylor

Georgie Caylor, Oliver Haven Caylor, & Haven William Caylor-Brown -March 1982

Father’s Day

I’ve got to convert the pictures of my father to JPGs so I
can put them on the computer. I will write just a bit about my father today,
and hopefully you all will see him in the very near future. He was Oliver Haven
Caylor (September 19, 1939 to May 28, 1982). He died three weeks after my 16th
birthday. This is my 30th Father’s Day without him. He was such a
wonderful father and Christian example. He had a wonderful sense of humor, and
he was always making up words or changing arrangements to popular songs:
something I’ve found myself doing the past 30 years too.

He enjoyed hunting, but his passion was fishing. While most
of my friends spent family vacations at the beach or going to the mountains, we
spent family time while bass fishing around North Georgia and Southeast
Tennessee lakes. My absolute most precious memories of my father are of him and
me raising two Black and Tan Coonhounds (Copper and Chief) and teaching them to
hunt squirrels. He and I had the same love of the outdoors, and we combined it
with my hound dogs to spend our “father and son time” together. I dearly miss
him, but it is such a blessing that the healing love of God and the Holy Spirit
coupled with time heals and fills the empty spaces the death of a loved one
leaves.

I was so blessed to have a father who taught me love and
respect for myself, my family, the environment, human-kind, and most
importantly love and respect for God through Jesus Christ. My Daddy was
absolutely wonderful, and I love him very much. Happy Father’s Day up there in
heaven, Daddy!

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Busy, busy!

. Family . , , , , ,

Vacations can be so enjoyable and relaxing, but preparing
for them can be exasperating. Before
listing what I have to do, I have to say that I am so glad we have our
dear friend Guy to come and house sit while we are gone (the animals appreciate
it too). We are also so grateful that my mother and my sister come several
times a week to check on things as well. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now,
leaving home for a vacation is better in the winter when we do not have as much
yard work to do, but mercy, mercy: The mowing (13 acres), the weeding, the push
mowing, and spraying Round Up. If we didn’t do the before mentioned things, we
would come home to a jungle with copperheads and rattlesnakes running through our
yard. We also have the cleaning, the washing of clothes, the carrying out of
trash, making sure the four hound dogs have plenty of food, making sure the
cats are taken care of, making sure the dachshunds will have all the exercise
they need, and a whole list of things I am forgetting. If it isn’t bad enough packing
my own things, I have to pack Carter and Ammon’s  things too . You all who are parents know whatI’m talking about! Oh, me, it will be so nice when we are finally on that plane
to London this weekend and all this preparation is over! Wish us luck and pray
that we have a SAFE and enjoyable trip.

luggage 1

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Nanny Caylor: Birthday

. Family . , , , , , , , ,

Nanny Caylor

Her full name was Mary Naomi Alexander Caylor.  She was born May 15, 1918. May 15 was also her father’s birthday who was born in 1875. She was born in Smyrna, Georgia, but she grew up in Atlanta. Her father worked for Southern Railroad as an engineer, and he was killed outside the tunnel at Braswell Mountain near Rockmart, Georgia when his train exploded in June of 1935. Nanny, her mother, and sisters moved to Varnell, Georgia where her mother (My Nanny Alexander) was born and raised in January of 1936.

Two years later, she married my grandfather, Troy Dewitt Caylor, and 10 months later my father, Oliver Haven Caylor was born. Their second son was born in January of 1943. She outlived her parents, her sisters, her husband, and my father. There was a part of her soul that was like Naomi from the Bible especially when Biblical Naomi told the people to call her Mara which meant “God has dealt bitterly with me.” However, she leaned on Jesus Christ as her strength and her redeemer and never forsook him. She was a great mother, a spectacular grandmother, an exemplary Christian lady, and a great friend to me.

She was my Bible study confidant, and we loved to talk about world traveling and world events. We also shared good short stories, classical literature, and she was a walking treasure trove of family, oral history. I could listen to her talk about our ancestors and her childhood forever. Literally, we could sit up until 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. simply looking at pictures, family Bibles, or family heirlooms. We had to make ourselves go to bed. When my father died in 1982, she and I leaned on each other in our bereavement. I was so glad God let me have her for three more years. Nanny died on August 10, 1985. She has been dead for over 25 years now, and I still dearly miss her. It is also a treat when I dream about her and her house, but, of course, a part of my heart is lonesome when I awake and she is only, once again, in my memory and in those dreams.

I cannot wait to share all these things plus tons more with Carter and Ammon. Nanny will live on through them. Happy Birthday up there in Heaven, Nanny. We love you!

Mary Naomi Alexander Caylor (Photo Date: March 1982)

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New York Review (yep, we’re home)

. Family, United States Destination Favorites . , , ,

Balto, Carter, & Haven

Here are pictures from Central Park. The babies and I are around the statue of Balto. He is the Siberian Husky who led the final leg of the dog sled team when in 1925, the town of Nenana, Alaska was suffering from an outbreak of diphtheria. The sled team was carrying the antitoxin. This is the run that is commemorated in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race each year. We have seen the statue several times in Central Park, and this is the first time I haven’t cried while contemplating those wonderful dogs and their heroic run. I can’t help it. I love dogs!!

Haven, Ammon, & Balto

Once again, it was the first time Ammon and Carter had been on a carousel. They loved going “up and down”. Later in the week we returned to Central Park to simply walk and get exercise. It was very enjoyable.

Carter & Ammon: Central Park Carousel

I also promised Diana from the Cranberry Café that she would appear on the blog. She’s here. The pictures of Friend of a Farmer is a quaint restaurant (77 Irving Place) between 18th and 19th Streets near Union Square. We enjoy the breakfasts there. I highly recommend the breakfast/brunch (pumpkin pancakes!), but the service is usually lacking.

Cranberry Cafe (45th and Times Square)

Haven & Diana (Cranberry Cafe)

Carter, Haven, & Ammon (Friend of a Farmer)

What a treat New York was! One play that we saw that I did not write about last week was Sister Act. It was really good with themes such as “working together with your ‘sisters’ (mankind) and ‘raising your voice’ (in life and to God) were throughout the play. I also thought it was a profound idea where the Reverend Mother said that you find God in people. Patina Miller plays the lead role, and she is very good. She has many mannerisms that remind me of Diana Ross, but her voice is more soulful, and (sorry Diana), Patina is a much better actress. If you liked the movie Sister Act, you will enjoy this play as well.

What a treat New York was, but we are glad to be home. We have been going twice a year, and we plan to return right after Thanksgiving this fall.

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“How to Succeed…”: Broadway

. Family, Theater Shows (Broadway)/Movies . , , ,

How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette

What a comical treat to see Daniel Radcliffe in a happy, teasing role instead of his brooding, troubled Harry Potter, and what a contrast to Daniel’s role as Alan Strang in Equus where his character creates a mythological theology where the horse “gods” watch what he does and he later stabs innocent horse victims in the eyes! I saw Equus here on Broadway just a few weeks before the babies were born in 2008. Daniel was awesome. However…. 2011…

Daniel Radicliffe is a superb comedian and his singing and dancing is great as well. He was entertaining and full of energy for almost 3 hours (could have been a half hour to an hour shorter without character Rosemary’s multiple reprisals). I would suggest that anyone with the time and money see “How to Succeed…” if at all possible. You will not be disappointed.  John Laroquette is great as well, but he is known for being a comedian. A hilarious addition to the cast is Tammy Blanchard.  She plays a Hedy La Rue a ditzy “secretary” with whom John Laroquette has been having a fling. She is nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for a 2011 Tony award. She helps make the show a “success”, and I predict she will win her Tony.

The babies and I also got to see Wonderland. It was appropriate for children and similar to “Alice in Wonderland”, but it wasn’t as animated (no bunny costumes, or Walruses, or mice, etc.) as we had hoped so as to keep Ammon and Carter engaged. They got a little bored, but they behaved very well. As we left the show MANY people around us congratulated them and us for having such well-behaved 2 YEAR OLDS. While they whine at home, pull each other’s hair, smack, and cry we lose sight of the big picture, and forget that, yes, indeed, they are wonderfully well-behaved children and travelers. Back to the show…if you are a fan of “Alice in Wonderland” you might want to see it; however, I would suggest renting the Walt Disney cartoon or the latest Johnny Depp version for a more fulfilling experience. ;o)

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No electricity = Better Family Time!

. Family . , ,

The bad weather that took away our electricity for 24 hours had some bright points for our household. We did not depend on the television for our entertainment. Last summer we were out late at night catching lightening bugs (fireflies for some of you) and playing in the yard, but I did not realize until last Thursday night that the end of April had such long days as well. Because there was no electricity in the house, we played outside until 9:00 that night. It was beautiful, and the babies had a ball! It was also cool reading to the babies by candlelight as well as having bedtime prayers by candlelight.

I also spoke to several other families on Friday who spent more time together  during the storms and afterwards during the power outages, and you know what? They had great “family time”. Now, I am not saying to flip the switch once a month on your house’s power box so you can spend some quality with your family (LOL), but let’s all try to turn off the television sets, computers, computer games, and cell phones more frequently and share some time with our family and friends.