Aunt Lil, By Joyce Henderson:

I came up with a few thoughts about Grandma Lil and her upcoming 117th birthday.

There are so many memories of her, I hardly know where to begin. I look back and I realize that I myself am a wiser and stronger woman for having known her and that my older children Ron and Kate were very lucky to have known and lived in the same household with her--a unique experience indeed. My late husband, Wendell was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and Grandma Lil played a very big part in his life and I know in my heart that she helped shape him into the great man he became.

Wendell always told Grandma she was a" good cooker"and that she was. When Wendell and I were dating she would have a lovely Sunday dinner for us. I usually came over right after church and she would have everything ready.Grandma always wanted to make sure you had enough to eat encouraging you to have seconds.Wendell was used to having her make goodies when I married him. He always had a sweet tooth and he delighted in all the different goodies she made. She was noted for her wine drop cookies, brown sugar tarts, lemon sponge pudding and her yummy apple pie to name a few.

The whole family loved her chili sauce and her higdom -both delicious favorites that were on our breakfast table.Wendell loved both items on his eggs and he had all of us eating our eggs that way.The sweet pickles were like no others- simply delicious. I wonder if all the pickle making she did over the years had anything to do with her pet name LilyPickle?

The one thing that Grandma Lil taught me and this one tops the list -stretching that almighty dollar.She always made me laugh when she referred to her pocketbook as Fort Knox.She gave me tips on grocery shopping like clipping coupons and always looking for the weekly specials. She taught me how to peel potatoes so you didn't cut off too much skin- making a meal out of not much and having meals planned ahead-she always peeled the potatoes in the afternoon before the evening meal. Meat and potatoes were almost always a must. Leftovers were always utilized and one of my favorites was warmed up potatoes sliced and fried and if you were short a potato or two add a slice of bread soaked in milk- sometimes we would add an onion for flavor.

I think Grandma was a little disappointed to find out that I already knew how to cook and bake, being the oldest girl out of nine children I learned to cook at an early age. Grandma Lil always canned everything and that was something I learned from her. I had helped my mother pack canning jars etc., but had never actually done canning from start to finish. I remember she and Wendell loved the canned pork and she loved sweet corn, canned or fresh. I know she encouraged me to try and make watermelon pickles and crab apple jelly which I did and they really turned out good.

As far as her celebrating her birthday with Merle I do not know- she may have before I came into the family. I do know she went up and stayed with Merle and Viola on occasion when Wendell and I were first married. I knew that Grandma's birthday and his were the same day for she once told me a story about when she was a little girl- she had asked her Aunt Nell if she was making something for a baby- apparently Aunt Nell did not want to tell her what she was making because she told Grandma in a firm voice NO- but Grandma being a smart girl remembered the incident and realized later when Merle was born that she indeed had been making something for a baby but she did not want Grandma the little girl to know. Grandma Lil was seven years old when Merle was born.

Grandma often made the comment that her sister Ethel had grandchildren born on her birthday that being David Lochner and Chris Kinsella and that Gladys her daughter had Chic on Ethel's birthday the 30th of July. She thought that was kind of comical.

Grandma Lil on her 79th birthday picked a cucumber from the garden. The year was 1971. It was a beautiful fall and Wendell had added on to the barn and was able to finish the project before the cold weather set in. Ronnie was a year and a half and the picture I have of him is one of him sitting in a bed of marigolds by the milk house. It was taken the first of November just before Grandma's birthday.I remember her picking that cucumber out of the garden and stating she had never ever picked a cucumber on her birthday before. Of course we usually have a killing frost by then -I just remember how astonished she was.

On her 80th birthday Aunt Sylva and her family came down and brought her a decorated cake which I have a picture of. As she got older she would often comment that she was so old and all her friends were gone and she wished sometimes that some of them could be around for her to visit with.

On some birthdays she would spend it at the Oddfellows Lodge Hall. Grandma was doing her civic duty by serving on the election board and if the day wasn't on her birthday it was near the date. She looked forward to Election Day because she got to see everyone who voted. She would get up really early and make her delicious scalloped potatoes in her green casserole dish -scalloped potatoes- Wendell could make them really yummy too. I remember Grandma was so very fond of her green casserole dish- it was just the perfect size for her scalloped potatoes.She would so enjoy the luncheon with the other election board ladies and Gladys who lived just around the corner would come down and join them. Gladys at some point later on also worked on the election board.

I also understand that Grandma was one of the first women from the Town of Lisle to exercise her right as a woman to vote.Women of course were not allowed to vote until the amendment was passed and added to our Constitution.

My last memory that I will share with you is about My kids and her. Ronnie would often climb up into her bed and lay beside her- He loved doing this. He was a very busy boy -he was always climbing and getting into things.Grandma would love it when he would climb into bed with her, sometimes it was difficult because it was usually covered with books as everyone knows- she loved to read. Often when Ronnie would get into her things or mess with her plants Grandma would say "you little pill"and I would quickly retrieve him before he did any damage -she would say"he just likes to get into things,but we love him just the same."

Kathleen, when she was little, would run errands for her and both of the kids would help her with her stockings because it was hard for her to put them on. She was always so appreciative and loving toward them. Once in a while she would get upset with them and she would say "See here now-now what makes you do that."

With that thought -Rest in Peace Dear Grandma Lil on your 117th birthday. We love you still on your 25th year gone from earth and we know that you are with all your loved ones watching over us.

Picture One: Aunt Lil in the kitchen, 1970
Picture Two: Aunt Lil and Ron
Picture Three: Ron in the marigolds early November, 1971, when the cucumber was found…!
Picture Four: Aunt Lil in 1972 on her 80th Birthday
Picture Five: : Aunt Lil and Ron

November Birthdays: Part One

November First—Happy Samhain to you all— the Celtic New Year, as we say goodbye to the ‘lighter half’ of the year and herald in the beginning of the ‘darker half’ of the year. And, with Halloween and All Saints Day also at this time of autumn, with warm winds, swirling leaves, pumpkins, bonfires and woods full of witches, skeletons and SpongeBob Squarepants (yes, one came to my door last night), perhaps the veil is thinner between the worlds during these few days, as our Salem history buffs would love to have us believe….

But, for the TaylorBakerCousins Blog, we have Birthdays to Celebrate!!

For November Birthday Kids on the Taylor Side,

we have Joan Tiffany Doran (married to Thomas Doran, son of Florence Taylor Doran who was sister to Lloyd and Floyd). Joan, a retired social worker, and Tom, a retired dentist, live in New Hampshire now, and we ALMOST ran into them this summer while at my daughter Alison’s musical, “42nd Street”. One of these days….!

On Floyd Taylor’s side, we have Lance Taylor (son of Bryant Taylor, son of Floyd Taylor). See the blog story from last December about Lance’s wedding to Amanda for more pictures and information.

In Aunt Esther’s family, David Richard Lochner is our November Birthday Boy—Happy Birthday, Dave!

In Uncle Harold’s family, we have Barbara Marie Buck Taylor (Aunt Barb), Judy Lynn Taylor Alberts and her husband, Jimmy Alberts.

Picture One: Amanda and Lance Taylor
Picture Two: Joan and Tom Doran
Picture Three: David
Picture Four: Baby Kathy and Aunt Barb, Fourth of July, 1953
Picture Five: Judy and Jimmy

November Birthdays: Part Two

On the Baker side, we have first cousins Lily Rosena Baker Howland ( Aunt Lil), and Merle Barrows (son of Nell and Dell ) celebrating this month. Both were born on November 4th, with Lil seven years older. Look for a longer story about Aunt Lil on her upcoming birthday.

Merle, who died in 1987, married Viola Jackson. They both were at Aunt CB and Uncle Jack’s wedding; after the grand event, when it came time to get to Geneva for wedding pictures, no ride had been arranged. Merle drove to the rescue, after getting Uncle Jack to promise there would be no honking or racing along the way. And, Dad aka Uncle Jack looked at this picture taken of Merle in 1976 and said to me: “That's how I remember him. That's probably HIS DODGE he's sitting in, the best car in the world.’ Anything he owned was the very best. One time when Harold and I were staying with Merle and Viola during deer hunting, his television got fuzzy. He said, "It's not MY television, those smart alecks in the studio are shaking the camera on purpose."

Picture One: Merle Barrows, 1976
Picture Two: Merle Barrows, about age 20
Picture Three: Aunt Lil, taken in 1917
Picture Four: Aunt Lil, with Leona and Sylva

November Birthdays: Part Three

In Aunt CB’s family,

Our Birthday Kids for November are:

Timothy James Kinsella and his grandson, Cameron Thomas Walker ( Kristin’s son), Christopher Paul Kinsella and his son Joseph Aiden Kinsella, and Nicholas Sean Herdeg (son of Pat Kinsella).

Picture One: Chris, Dan and Jim Kinsella
Picture Two: Tim Kinsella and cousin Dan Maffei
Picture Three: Nick
Picture Four: Joe
Picture Five: Cameron with his cool clothes pin necktie

November Birthdays: Part Four

In Uncle Arnon’s family--Robert Arnon Taylor, Faith Melton (Donnie's step-daughter, grand-daughter of Nancy Taylor Wright), Jonathan William McCarty ( Diana’s son), and Diana’s daughter, Kristen Maria McCarty, all celebrate their birthdays this month.

Picture One: Jim and Bob Taylor, 1984
Picture Two: Faith and baby Graham
Picture Three: Kristen
Picture Four: John and Aunt Maria, age 92

November Birthdays: Part Five

In Aunt Ruth’s family, we have Kevin Michael Maney ( Michael’s son ), Coleen Margaret Maney ( Richard’s daughter), and Jill Stauffer Maney ( Jon’s wife), celebrating;

In Aunt Doris’ family, Carter Michael Hawkes ( Mickey) is the Birthday Boy for November.

Picture One: Colleen and Debbie Maney
Picture Two: Jon and Jill Maney
Picture Three: Mickey and Steve, September 1964

On the Home Front-- Part Two: Working! By Aunt CB

Patriotism, it seems to me, has dwindled since this time. We saved magazines “for the boys,” paperback books came out as a big item better to be carried by servicemen, we collected newspapers (for what I don’t know) and this was not just young people, it was everyone. We were all in this together. I’ve not seen this cooperation in any subsequent war. Perhaps it was the sneak attack which propelled our war entry or the persuasiveness of FDR, at an rate there were few black market junkies.

Early in our war years, Sampson Naval Base on Seneca Lake was opened. Geneva was awash with sailors. One Christmas I worked at Grant’s 10 cent store and spent 1/4 of my time in the basement, looking for boxes in which to package sailors' Christmas purchases to be mailed home.

One fellow came in, spied a huge 4 foot Teddy bear and had to have it for his 2 year old niece. I explored the basement for a BIG box and he and I spent 45 minutes stuffing Teddy in the box, covering it with brown paper and tying all with string (no tape then!), ready for the Post Office. All this for $3.98.

And then there was a humungous sailor who came in, wanting a gift for his mother. He was from “up-hill in West Virginia” and wanted something special for her because “I wanna git her somethin she’d not buy fer herself, I miss her cookin’.” He chose an apron! The flimsiest, ruffled, embroidered tea apron I ever saw. As I wrapped it for mailing I said, “Nice choice,” doubting that she’d ever wear it but hoping that she would hang the dainty garment on the wall of her cabin to show all who visited what “her baby” had sent her!

When war summer arrived, I put on my boy overalls and long sleeved shirt (which shocked Grandma Baker when Gladys and I wore them), tied up my hair in a bandana and got a job as a drill press operator at the American Can Co. I was really into the war effort! One day when Sam, the “set up” fellow was adjusting my press for a job he said, “Be very careful with this job, as it’s a really important cog in the defense industry.”

Thus, I carefully aligned my press along the proper positions while I bored 14 holes in thru a “Y” shaped piece to meet one larger bore done at the end of the shape. I knew I was preparing a bomb sight or at least a machine gun sight. It took me most of the day and as I returned it to the Receiver, job done, I felt great pride in my job as I helped to win the war. As I signed it in, I asked the fellow, “What part of the machine is this?” His response, “Oh this? Why, it’s the spout for a beer machine!” It took a couple more years for us to win the war!

And finally, in May of 1945 we finished in Europe and in August, Japan capitulated. That summer I spent as a telephone operator in Geneva. Sampson Naval Base was still humming along and the fellows there had to line up to use a phone booth so we were busy. An operator took a call when we were dialed, determined what number was to be dialed and waited for the proper number of klinks that designated that 3 minutes was paid for, listened for a recipient’s answer and, when connection was assured, we butted out and went on to our next call.

This I did with a call and when the phone was lifted in the home, heard, “Hello,” followed by a shouted, “Hey, Ma,”concluded with a gasp and a shrill sliding sound, as though a door had been hastily opened.

“Hello, Jr is this you, are you OK?," shouts Ma, as I still hear gasps and coughs and a door being shunted back and forth. A sound of “Wait, Ma,” gurgled through the earpiece to me–and then a huge “Whewww!”

“Jr, are you OK?” Ma shouts again, to which Jr replies, “Ma, the fellow in here before me must have had a bucket of beans for dinner and I’ve been trying to air the place out! What a blister!” At that point I hung up, trying to stifle my laughter and share the joke with my pal Mary Lou Ireland, who sat next to me!



Picture One: Sampson Air Force Base
Picture Two: Nope, Could not find it—ANYONE find or draw just what Ma described in the phone booth?! Hilarious! (Left is Sue's idea of the source of the problem in the first place.)