Category Archives: Family

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Correct Alexander Dates

. Family . , , , ,
My Great Grandparents buried in Varnell, Georgia

My Great Grandparents buried in Varnell, Georgia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to the Hartsfield Family Bible, The Atlanta Journal -June 29, 1935, and The Dalton Citizen News the week of May 9, 1945, the stone should read:

William Oliver Alexander : May 15, 1875-June 29, 1935

Sarah Maro Cox Alexander: September 26, 1886- May 9, 1945

These great-grandparents are paternal, and it goes next to Mary Naomi Alexander Caylor (May 15, 1918-August 10, 1985), to Oliver Haven Caylor (September 19, 1939-May 28, 1982) to me, Haven William Caylor-Brown (May 7, 1966-present).

 

 

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Awesome Week (49th Birthday, Mother’s Day, & Thank you, Beth Rogers)

. Birthday, Family, Learning . , , , , , , , , ,

My last year in my 40s. Wow! I’ll never forget my father purchasing a calculator (like nearly $25 for a simple, bare-bones, with the highest function of multiplication…LOL) and placing a year then subtracting 1966 to see how old I would be. 2015-1966= 49 😉

1966

49th Birthday

Okay, my birthday (LIVING) was MAGNIFIED a bit with seeing “fragile life” with my emergency appendectomy on Sunday April 27. The inflamed appendix was caught early, but it could have burst, and I could have been gravely ill. Thanks to good health and God, my recovery went well.

Surgery

I was riding rides at Dollywood 6 days later.
Dollywood_May

My Birthday was totally awesome. We went to see “The Avengers: The Age of Ultron” then went to eat at Provino’s Italian Restaurant: Eggplant Parmesan!

Birthday Movie: May 7, 2015

Birthday Movie: May 7, 2015

Several weeks ago, my friend, Beth Sexton Rogers, from our Lipscomb University days sent me a picture and video with a suggestion to make Sun Catchers for Mamaw & Nana. Beth is one of those friends who everybody needs. She sought me out on Facebook over 3 years ago. She is an awesome friend and Sister in Christ. Well, Carter, Ammon, Sean, and I rounded up all the necessary articles, and made sun catchers for Mother’s Day gifts.

Sun Catchers

Mother's Day Sun Catchers for Mamaw & Nana

I grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, and we had Mamaw and Nana over for Mother’s Day lunch. My only regret is that we didn’t take any photos.

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Ornamental Cherry Tree Pastel: A Spring Masterpiece in 4 Easy Steps

. Art, Family, Learning . , , , , , , , , , ,
Carter & Ammon's Spring Pastel Painting

Carter & Ammon’s Spring Pastel Painting

Need (Suggested beginning doses: more paint for darker color OR add more water to lighten it up)

1 Plastic Cup

4 tsp. Water

2 drops Watercolor Blue 

2 drops Watercolor Green

1 Brown Oil Pastel Crayon (Holbein Oil Pastel)

1 Big dollop of Pink tempera paint 

1 Sheet Water Color Paper

1 Paintbrush

Step 1: On the Water Color Paper, lightly pencil the ground and tree

Step 2: With a brown oil pastel crayon, heavily color the tree

Step 3: Trying not to allow the green and blues to mix, saturate the ground with green and the sky with green. Once again, the oil pastel repels the watercolors. 

Allow the Painting to Dry for 24 hours

Step 4: With pink, tempera paint dollop out pink. With the child’s finger tips (prints) dabb the tree with pink fingerprints to make the pink, ornamental cherry blossoms then allow to finish drying.

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Easter 2015

. Family, Holidays . , , , , ,
Ammon & Carter: Easter 2015

Ammon & Carter: Easter 2015

Happy Easter Everyone: “He’s alive, and he is risen”

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Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

. Family, Holidays . , , , , , ,

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus, was human like us. He did not want to endure the physical pain of his upcoming crucifixion. From Mark 14:36, Jesus implores to God in the Garden of Gethsemane  “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” The “Abba” is Aramaic for “Daddy”. It reminds me so much of when Carter wants something and says “Please, Daddy!”, and my heart either wrenches and gives in or I say  “No” to what Carter wants.

God’s answer was for Jesus to endure the cross and be the sacrificial lamb for all mankind. My human heart can only imagine the anguish God was feeling for Jesus to die for us. An angel came from God and comforted Jesus (Luke 24: 43) so as to fortify him for the excruciating death that awaited him.

I also think of the 12 disciples being “cowards”, but yet, what would I have done? Do I betray Jesus like Judas did (Matthew 26: 47-49)? Do I like money, cars, clothes, traveling, or food more than Jesus and put them before my love and dedication to him? Sometimes I feel that I would have run like everyone but Peter and John. However, Peter snuck around and denied that he knew Jesus. Tradition tells that John and his family was well-received in high Jerusalem circles and probably mingled with the crowds during those early morning hours being as close to Jesus as could even until Jesus gave up his Spirit on the cross (John 19:25-27). Oh, how I would love to think that I would stay by Jesus’ side until the end.

No matter what, Jesus still loves me like he loved Judas until the end. Jesus STILL called Judas “friend” (Matthew 26: 50): Unbelievable and remarkable! However, that’s Jesus! He is LOVE and forgiveness!

Tonight as we lay down in our cozy beds for a great night’s rest, let’s remember our tired and sleepless Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and getting ready to face the death on the cross so he could be our sacrificial lamb and take on our sins. What a man and what a savior! Thank you, Jesus!

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St. Patrick’s Day 2015

. European Destinations, Family, Family Travel, Parenting . , , , , , ,
My 1st 4 Leaf Clover of 2015 was found on St. Patrick's Day!!

My 1st 4 Leaf Clover of 2015 was found on St. Patrick’s Day!!

St. Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin, Ireland: June 13, 2011 I’ve always enjoyed all the “wearing of the green” and the leprechauns on St. Patrick’s Day. However, it wasn’t until our day in Dublin, Ireland June of 2011, that I felt a “spiritual conncetion” with Saint Patrick.  I had even read several times yet without absorbing much history of Saint Patrick to really know his story.

St. Patrick

He had been taken from  homeland in Wales (Great Britain) to be a slave in Ireland. He was approximately 16, and by his early 20s he had made it back to Wales. He then became a minister and returned to Ireland. He writes that he “baptized thousands of people”. He ordained priests to lead the new Christian communities. He converted wealthy women, some of whom became nuns in the face of family opposition. He also dealt with the sons of kings, converting them too.

Carter, Nana, Haven, & Ammon (admiring the vaulted ceilings)
June 13, 2011: St. Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin, Ireland

My favorite building in Dublin, Ireland was St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It had such a warmth and “spirit” about it. It wasn’t like other cathedrals I have been in where it was like a museum instead of a place of worship. St. Patrick’s work was filled with love and giving, and his spirit seems to permeate his cathedral.

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Snomageddon 2015 for the Caylor-Browns

. Family, Parenting, Snow Day . , ,
Thursday February 26, 2015 Sledding #Snowmageddon

Thursday February 26, 2015 Sledding #Snowmageddon

The Awesome Day began with 8 inches of snow and a jaunt through the yard with my 11 year old Black and Tan Coonhound, Ferd .

The Caylor-Brown's House February 26, 2015 #Snomageddon

The Caylor-Brown’s House February 26, 2015 #Snomageddon

As usual, the barn shines in its contrast from the snowy-gray Grindstone Mountain.

Our Barn, Play Park, & the edge of our upper field at the foot of Grindstone Mountain

Our Barn, Play Park, & the edge of our upper field at the foot of Grindstone Mountain

We had to make our own sled run: How?

Step 1: Find the fall line and “path of least resistance” usually by sledding yourself.

Step 2: Have a person sit on the sled and drag that person to make a slick run.

Step 3: Keep trying to use the same run to over and over. After several runs, you can see and feel the track.

Ammon & Carter make snow angels on Snowmageddon Day = February 26, 2015

Ammon & Carter make snow angels on Snowmageddon Day = February 26, 2015

Thursday February 26, 2015 #Snowmageddon up on Grindstone Mountain

Thursday February 26, 2015 #Snowmageddon up on Grindstone Mountain

After sledding, Ammon and Carter had school: Math, Social Studies, and Handwriting. When lunch was over, Carter, Ammon, & Daddy S went up on the base of Grindstone Mountain while I cut small trees with the chain saw and made sure our tractor was running in the freezing weather.

We finished the day with an awesome Dinner: Baked Honey Ham, Creamed Corn, Baked Beans, Stuffing, and Cranberry Sauce.

Snowmageddon Dinner

Snowmageddon Dinner

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Winter’s Full Moon (5 Steps to a Winter, Artistic Masterpiece)

. Art, Family, Learning, Parenting . , , , , , , ,

moon3_blog

After an autumn watercolor project turned out so nicely for Ammon and Carter, I decided to try one for winter.

Need (Suggested beginning doses: more paint for darker color OR add more water to lighten it up)

1 Plastic Cup

4 tsp. Water

2 drops Watercolor Paint (Van Gogh #506-Ultramarine)

1 White Oil Pastel Crayon (Holbein Oil Pastel)

Water Color Paper

1 Paintbrush

Step 1: On the Watercolor Paper, Etch out the Winter Scene lightly with a pencil. Carter, Ammon, and I elected to take a perfectly round object to trace our moon. You and yours can draw a moon anyway you wish.

Step 2: Thoroughly color in all objects you want to appear white with the Oil Pastel.

moon_blog

Step 3: Add drops of paint to the water and mix. It doesn’t look like much, but it is PLENTY. Once again if the paint wasn’t dark enough add paint droplets and if it was too dark, add a few drops of water at a time to the glass. Keep a practice Watercolor sheet handy to experiment.

Step 4: Paint! Make sure you saturate the paper. The oil pastel will repel the water (oil doesn’t mix with water).

moon2_blog

Step 5: Find a flat place for your painting to dry.

As you can see from the intro photo, we had them framed. We painted the paintings on the 1st Day of Winter, allowed them to dry, then framed them on December 23 just in time to flank the mantel for Christmas. There they will remain until spring.

Mantel_copy

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Kids Prepare General Tso’s Chicken for Chinese New Year

. Family, Family Kitchen Time, Food . , , , , ,
General Tso's from the Caylor-Browns

General Tso’s from the Caylor-Browns

Ammon & Carter are From the Year of the Rat (2008), so we made them Rat Masks for some Chinese New Year “ownership”

Ammon & Carter are "Rats"!

Ammon & Carter are “Rats”!

Ammon & Carter flank the Ingredients

Ammon & Carter flank the Ingredients

Chicken 2 ½ lbs. of skinless uncooked chicken strips Chicken Coating (before frying) ½ tsp. Salt ¼ tsp. Black Pepper 2 Egg Whites 3 Tbs. Cornstarch Sauce ½ cup cold water 1 Tbs. cornstarch ½ cup Brown sugar ¼ tsp. Ground ginger ¼ tsp. Crushed red pepper 1 Tbs. Hoisin sauce 2 Tbs. Soy sauce 3 Tbs. Ketchup

Step 1: Marinating the Chicken Thoroughly rinse then marinate the uncooked chicken breast strips with approximately ¼ cup soy sauce in a gallon freezer bag. Place the freezer bag in a refrigerator crisper. I know marinating often only takes minutes, but I choose to marinate for at least 12-18 hours ahead of time.

Step 2: Baking the Chicken Set the oven 350° 1-2 hours before mealtime. Place the marinated chicken breast in a baking dish. I keep the marinate on for added flavor as well as adding water so as to submerge the chicken (keep it moist, if you will). Cover with the dish’s lid or aluminum foil. Bake for 1 hour.

Step 3: Making the Sauce while the chicken bakes In a bowl, mix the cornstarch with COLD water (remember corn starch CLUMPS in warm water). Wisk thoroughly. Add the brown sugar, Hoisin sauce, ketchup, soy sauce, ground ginger, and crushed pepper. Set aside. *If you choose and are blessed with lots of skillets, you may want to pour this sauce in another skillet while the chicken cubes brown. I tried it only one time (seen below), and I didn’t like the clutter on the range eyes.

Ammon Stirs the General Tso sauce

Ammon Stirs the General Tso sauce

Carter takes his turn with General Tso sauce

Carter takes his turn with General Tso sauce

Step 4: Making the chicken coating before frying the baked chicken Take out the baked chicken and allow it to cool (strips cool QUCKLY). While it is cooling heat your favorite wok or skillet (ours is cast iron….woo hoo! I love cooking with cast iron!) on a low-medium heat with 2 Tbs. of oil. Cut the chicken into cubes. In a bowl, mix the Corn Starch, Salt, Pepper, & Egg whites. Transfer the liquid into a Gallon plastic zipper bag. Place the cubed chicken in the bag as well then shake, shake, shake (Ammon & Carter love it… we often sing “Shake your chicken” to the tune of “Shake your Booty”). Turn the skillet up to medium high and pour in the chicken turning occasionally to allow the batter to brown. No need to check chicken temperature, it was baked through in the oven. When the cubes are browned, turn the heat down to simmer/heat. Add your sauce over the cubes. For approximately 10 minutes, stir occasionally making sure the cubes are covered with the sauce.

Step 5: Putting it all Together Pour the liquid over your Chicken cubes, and Guess what? General Tso’s Chicken is done. Serve over steamed broccoli and whole-grain rice of which both I can share another preparation recipe another day.

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DIY Mardi Gras Bread in Minutes

. Family, Family Kitchen Time, Holiday Treats, Holidays . , ,

Mardi Gras Cake

Ingredients for Monkey Bread

½ cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 cans ( Our cans were 13 oz) Pillsbury™ Flaky Supreme Refrigerated Cinnamon Rolls

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

¾ cup butter or margarine, melted

Rolls

Step 1: Heat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease 12-cup fluted pan (Bundt Cake Pan if you’re “Old School” LOL)

Step 2: Have your child/children either cut (case knife) or pull apart the rolls in half. Arrange in the fluted pan.

Step 3: In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and butter: pour over cinnamon roll pieces.

Mix Brown Sugar

Step 4: Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown and no longer doughy in the center. Turn upside down onto serving plate.

Ingredients for Glaze

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

3 Tablespoons heavy cream (or milk for a less creamy texture)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Step 5: Top the Cake with Glaze & Sprinkles

Top the Cake with Gold, Purple, & Green Sprinkles. We found all 3 sprinkles at our local Party City store. 

Carter Sprinkles

Ammon Sprinkles

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