Winter in New England, but Time for Gardening in Florida! By Nancy Taylor Wright

Pat Kinsella Herdeg writes: Just back from a weekend on the coast of Maine. Wintry beach with much sand gone, rocks uncovered, and surf and seaweed obvious on the other side of the road, having gone around or through the first line of beach houses. Very cold and snowy here.

Nancy Taylor Wright

But Nancy Taylor Wright has a different worldview. In Florida, she is gardening! Nance writes: Right now I am tending my garden which has survived all of our cold snaps with my covering everything up, and am eating out of it already with more things growing to full maturity. We're about to have another cold snap down in the 30s-40s again this weekend, but it doesn't last.

She describes each picture:

1st picture: Two large peppers almost ready to be picked in front of the heart, with basket of chives, and two Avocado Trees growing in pots.

The Pepper plant and the chives are last year's crops wintered over and will be good for another year. I have more pepper plants germinated in the Pepper pot to increase my garden. The Avocado Trees need to be transplanted into the ground as soon as I get a new place to live.

2nd picture: Wide view of my garden plants in my Pot Garden; this shows all of my different pots alongside the back porch right outside the kitchen door

3rd picture: Top view of Tomatoes, Basil, & Carrots

The tomatoes came up on their own, the Basil is a transplant from another basil plant and the carrots were size rejects from the Organic Garden I belong to when we harvested several of the pots, and with the warm weather and some rains they are all starting to grow fast now. (However, this coming weekend we are expected to dip into the 30's and 40's again, so will have to cover with sheets and towels to keep them warm)

4th picture:  Garden View looking out from back porch at kitchen door & Red and White Azaleas blooming in the common yard--our Oak and Maple trees are starting to bud new green leaves and the birds are all singing their mating songs now.

5th picture: My worm compost bin where I take all my kitchen veggie trimmings to, with Bok Choy, Sweet Potatoes, White Potatoes, and a Tomato plant

When we harvest the leaf lettuces and bok choy at the Organic Farm, they leave the root ball on it wrapped in slightly wet paper towel and rubber banded, so I just cut the lower part of the plant with roots off and plant that into my garden and voila--I have plants growing anew -- the leaf lettuce bunches are at least 18" across and you can't hardly stuff one bunch into a grocery bag, and gives you a TREMENDOUS amount of lettuce leaves for salads, and the spinach leaves that we harvest are all larger than a giant's hand--one leaf could make a whole spinach salad and is real sweet. With the Bok Choy, I want to try an egg/tuna fish salad Spring Roll (wrap egg/tuna fish into a leaf and roll-up).

6th picture:

 Red Leaf Lettuce, Cilantro, Onion and Mint, with Rosemary bush behind it


The Red Leaf Lettuce and the Cilantro are from the Organic Farm, the onion is just cut from the bottom of a store onion and planted for the green shoots for salads, the Mint was from the Organic Farm herbal collection and I found a piece with roots and potted it and now it's pretty big. The Rosemary bush I had bought at the garden center and want to eventually find a good place to plant it near an entry door in my new place one day--supposed to be good luck to touch the Rosemary bush before you enter your house (my NC friend told me that).

Well, Pat, see if this gives you enough about my Winter Garden, I just planted some marigolds, zinnias, and nasturtiums and they have popped up and getting ready to set their second leaves. This will be mostly for color to my garden, but can use the marigold and nasturtium leaves in my salads also.

Pat answers: Yes, Nancy this is TERRIFIC!! Thank you so much for sharing. I still find it hard to believe that while I am looking at about eight inches of snow in my yard, you are eating vegetables from your garden—so envious!

Kate Youngs –In Love AND Hip! By Pat Kinsella Herdeg

Kate Youngs, Age 21--1885

Kate Permelia Youngs is my great grandmother, mother of Ethel, Adin, Lillian and Ruth Baker. Thanks to Laurel Wood Decker, we have copies of Kate Youngs’ diaries for the years of 1884 and 1885.

On September 6th, 1885, a twenty-one year old Kate married Byron Baker (who was age twenty-six at the time), so I was anxious to read her diaries and see how the romance progressed.

By January of 1884, Kate had lost her only sister Rosena just six months before. Sometime in 1884, Byron’s first wife, Tina Smith Baker died. While I hoped Kate’s diary would mention an exact date for this death, it did not (as far as I know, we do not have an exact date for Tina’s death).

Early in the winter and spring months of 1884, Kate and her brother Ed go to many parties, often staying out until three or four in the morning. All through the many months of 1884, I waited to hear of Byron, slowly reading the very faint and penciled passages of Kate’s diary—no mention of Byron, but plenty with initials of possible suitors. Many parties, many ‘a riding’ in the cutter during the snowy months.

Then, in December of 1884 (and knowing that Kate would marry Byron nine months later), I read:

Friday December 12th: Ed and I went up to Marline’s Party with the cutter. I had a boss time. Made quite a mash on B.B. (Editor—B.B. is Byron Baker). Danced every set with him. Carried On. We both ate off from one plate. Played Euchre together. Got home about 4 o’clock.

Age 26



Okay, it IS difficult to read Kate’s writing as it is in fading pencil, but it DOES look like a ‘boss time’. I thought that CANNOT be—too modern a saying; I am always bamboozled by what my youngest child (at age 21) is coming out with (‘jenky’ is slang for cool???). But, when I googled ‘boss’ and slang, I found this --According to the New York Times crossword puzzle, “Boss” can be a slang term meaning ‘excellent, terrific’. The New York Times page continued: “This usage has been around a long time, first recorded in the 1880s. This use of ‘boss’ fell out of fashion for decades until it was revived in the 1950s in teen and jazz circles.” Wow! Who knew my great grandmother was such a hip woman!

Also, from Victorian slang online, they say that in about 1880, ‘to mash on’ was sort of equivalent to having a ‘crush’ on someone. ‘Crush’ won out, but as Kate Youngs’ diary shows, it WAS used in her day!

Back to the diary—

Sunday, December 28th, 1884: “Ed, Em and I got ready to go to evening meeting. Byron B. came and took me away with him so Ed and Em went on. B and I went a riding all over, called to Maldens and had a gay old time all around. I got home at 11 o’clock and I had fun by the bushel.”

In the 1885 diary,

Sunday February 8th, 1885: “Byron came and took me a riding. We had a jolly old time.”

Over the winter and spring, Byron took her ‘a riding’ many times, sometimes getting home in the 3 to 4 o’clock time frame. In her diaries, where others were just initials, B.B. of mid-December’s diary passage progressed to always ‘Byron’ in her diary.

On March 15th, at her grandfather Abram Youngs' funeral, Kate writes of C.I.D. and how he is so pleased to see her (he figures into her diary many times, but JUST as initials). He "was so pleased to see me and tried to buzz around me but I was rather cold towards him." Our girl had already made up her mind for Byron, I am thinking!

I waited to see when she would write about her upcoming marriage, but found nothing but mostly empty pages all summer. Then, on the actual date:

September 6th, 1885: “Byron came and got me and we went to Union and were married by Rev. ?? (OH those hard to read penciled writings!) Late coming home and took supper. Went to Evening Meeting and then to his father’s.”

Aunt CB (Yes, Mom to me…) tells me that in those days, weddings were usually at the minister’s home and very matter-of-fact. It sure sounds like that from reading Kate’s diary! The rest of her 1885 diary? Empty!

Well, while we do not know her emotions about her wedding day, we DO know that she was ‘boss’ and ‘mashed up’ about her husband—all good things.

Her diaries also show many times making pies and cookies and bread all day long, she at age 21. Shades of what was to come later in life—little wonder that in her last years, when deaf and blind, she could still bake bread and luscious lemon sugar and vanilla cookies by feeling the ingredients—she had been doing it for seventy years or more!

Kate Permelia Youngs Baker—so many facets to you—Wish I had known you!

Kate Club, 2011--Named for Kate Youngs Baker--Madeline Kate Kinsella, Lucille Kate Taylor Kinsella, Alison Kate Herdeg and Leah Kate Walker

Any More Cousins in the Kate Club out there?!



Winter Snows in Cousin Country! By Pat Kinsella Herdeg

My husband and I spent the day at Old Sturbridge Village where they held an antique sleigh rally. We saw draft horses, miniature horses, gypsy horses and all sorts of sleighs—Albany Cutters, Portland Cutters, and regular bob sleighs. We saw all sorts of dogs in the sleighs (one of the categories was ‘Sleigh Dogs’, so we voted on the best dog), including a ‘lurcher’ (never heard of it, but one of the only ‘lurchers’ in the US??!). Very fun time, as the horses and dogs and people were all dressed up in olden time costumes and furs. Of course, the two feet of snow helped!

And, as most of you know, we've had snow over a LOT of cousin country these past two weeks. A few pictures are here:

Jack and CB Kinsella's house

These are pictures taken by Uncle Jack of the Kinsella's home in Greece, NY. They got about 13 inches of snow.

Also in Greece, Rick and Laurie Lochner's house:

Rick and Laurie Lochner's House

Laurie must have had yardstick in her lawn--she told me it was 13.1 inches!

Another cousin from Kate Youngs Baker's side, Norma Bruscani, sent a picture from Farmington, NY where they got eight or nine inches of snow:

Norma Bruscani's Home

In Geneva, NY, Mike and Lorraine Maney sent this picture:

The Maney's

And, out in Minnesota, Cousin Diana McCarty sent these pictures:

Diana McCarty's Home

Here in Acton, MA, I took this picture just after our storm dropped 22 inches on us in less than 24 hours:

The Herdeg's House

And, my brother, Tom, in New Jersey HOPED for snow. Here is his picture taken the same day as mine (when we got almost two feet of snow). Notice the cross country skiis by the front door--so hoping to be used!! Tom writes: "I bought those skis, with new boots, last year and have yet to use them. We had less than 2 inches of snow all last winter. For the current season, I imagine our total is around 9 inches, but all in small 1 to 3 inch increments."

Tom Kinsella's Home

Unused Skiis

Thanks to all who sent pictures--great to see them!! And, as the Ides of February are just past us and spring is yet to come, I will end as my brother Tom did in his email to me:

"Much Love; Stay Warm."

30 West Street, by Aunt CB

We on the Cousins Blog first wrote about 30 West Street, the Taylor homestead in Geneva for a time, back in October of 2007. Take a look at what we were covering then:


http://taylorbakercousins.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html

We were reading of Uncle Harold’s boat he created—Tubby, we were hoping my sister Sue’s ankle got better, AND, we enjoyed a wonderfully full story of 30 West Street as told by Mom.

Later, in 2010, she wrote again—more of Geneva as a small town in the midst of WWII:

http://taylorbakercousins.blogspot.com/2010/01/30-west-street-genevasmall-town-america.html

Now, in early 2013, she again thinks back to 30 West Street for a snippet in time:

At 30 West Street, Geneva, in the early to mid 1930’s Doris and I shared a bedroom, while baby Harold slept in a crib in Mom’s room. Our bed, a double one, had a head board with a slot about six inches high between the mattress and the top of the bedstead, so we could peek into Mom’s room.

And, in this same bedroom, down near the baseboard, there were large cracks in the plaster and wallpaper. Picked away, could be seen, little pockets behind the baseboard. That is where Doris would shove my paper dolls when she got mad at me. We so often wished we’d been around when they tore down 30 West Street to garner them!

After growing up in 30 West Street, I have concluded that everyone should have a BIG old house with a front and back stairway! [how Mom ever stood our chasing one another up and down and around in that house I will never understand!] Also, another plus--a huge attic, although the lack of floorboards was a minus and resulted in Mom once putting a foot and a leg through the ceiling of Ruth and Esther's bedroom. It was great to play in though!

Our home at 30 West Street was taken down to make way for West Street Elementary School, so it exists only in my and my baby brother’s memories now, but I remember it still.

Revolutionary War Ancestors on Inauguration Day By Pat Kinsella Herdeg

Today is the second Inauguration of President Obama. As my daughter and millions of other American citizens stand and watch him take his Oath of Office on the steps of the Capitol, as we listen to our President tell us ‘our journey is not complete’, I am reminded of the American soldiers who continue to sacrifice today for our freedom. They continue to fight to help us in our forward journey. We thank and honor them all.

I am also reminded of all of my ancestors who helped in that first fight, so long ago, to forge our freedom and future as a young nation. Here is a list of those direct ancestors who we know fought in the American Revolutionary War. There were countless brothers and nephews also, but we’ll stick to direct lines.

 Josiah Taylor's Gravestone

On the Taylor Side, doubtless you remember the Three Generations of Taylors who bravely fought in Connecticut for us. Josiah Taylor (1701-1781), his son Gamaliel Taylor (1735-1815) and Josiah’s grandson Thomas Taylor (1758-1826) have their story written here:

http://taylorbakercousins.blogspot.com/2009/10/three-generations-of-taylors-in.html

Amos Walbridge (1693-1788), fought in both the French and Indian War and in the Revolutionary War. He served during the War as Captain of his own regiment, although we can see by the following letter written by him in 1780 that he was a Major by the end of the War.

“Sir The commissary of prisoners desired me to inform you that he has received information from Philadelphia that there is sixty prisoners to be here Wednesday next and there is one now in town wanting to be sent over. He wants your directions where they shall be put if a flag should not be granted to send them immediately over. I am sir your obedient humble servant

 A Wallbridge Maj”

George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799: Series 4. General Correspondence. 1697-1799 Ames Walbridge to Jedidiah Huntington, April 9, 1780, Image 765 of 1125

Letter written by Amos Walbridge

Amos Walbridge died February 27, 1788, in Stafford CT at the age of 94. Doing the math and looking at the date of his letter ( 1780), my 6^th Great Grandfather was 86 at the time he was fighting for our independence—something to be proud of!

Henry Walbridge (1738-1818), son of Amos, fought along with his father in both the French and Indian War and in the Revolutionary War. His grandson wrote years later:

“I have often heard him relate incidents of the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary Wars, for he was in both. He received the title of Captain after the Revolutionary War closed, at the time the Indians destroyed Royalton, in Vermont.

When he moved his family from Connecticut to Randolph, Vt., it made the seventh in the town. He made his pitch, as he called it, in the unbroken forest of two hundred acres of land, built a log house, and cleared up a splendid farm.”

On the Baker Side,

Solomon Baker (1752-1834) enlisted in the Revolutionary War in 1776.  Solomon lived in a small area of New York near the borders of Massachusetts and Vermont that was "annexed" by Vermont during the rest of the Revolutionary War. This annexation explains why he is next found in 1781 as an ensign in Col. Gideon Warren's regiment in Vermont.  By 1792, our Solomon of Granville, New York had been made a captain in Washington County, New York.  He was promoted to Lt. Colonel in 1800. He served as a Lt. Colonel until his retirement at age fifty-six, in 1809, for the state of New York

Solomon Baker's Gravestone

My brother Jim writes me more on Solomon’s wartime service: “Solomon was really a wild man because he was present at every major engagement in the Northeast except Concord/Lexington and the Battle of Herkimer (Solomon was fighting in the much larger Battle of Saratoga at the time and couldn't be in two places at one time).  As soon as he heard about the potential battle in Boston, for example, he high-tailed it there and arrived the day after the Battle of Bunker hill.  He was present at eight to ten battles all over New England and NY.

Solomon’s sister Jerusha Baker, married John Joe Backus, my fourth great grandfather. Both Solomon and John Joe became direct ancestors of mine when Solomon’s son Ira and John Joe’s daughter, Jerusha, married.

DID Solomon’s father, Benjamin Baker (1720-1798) fight in the Revolutionary War? We know he fought in the French and Indian War, but there are too many Benjamin Bakers from New York who fought in the Revolutionary War to be sure.

John Joe Backus (1747-1842) was a farmer. He enlisted with his second cousin, Solomon Baker, Jerusha's brother and became a Sergeant in the War. John Joe’s son wrote long after the war of the many times his father came and went during the War—starting when Ebenezer was a young boy of nine years old. ‘Ebenezer remembered his father talking about fighting at Ticonderoga, in the Burgoyne campaign, and being down Lake Champlain in pursuit of the enemy from the circumstances of the snow being very deep.

 Ebenezer remembered things like his father taking with him a sorrel horse and returning with a roan one and that immediately on the return of his father, his father was attacked with the camp distemper which confined him for some time. Ebenezer further remembered one time in particular of his father's going, because it was called ‘the great scout party’ and there being many of the Continental troops quartered at his father's house at the time and having to back wood to make fire for warming the soldiers and cooking.’

Jim Kinsella also adds here about John Joe: “He and Timothy Baker (his brother-in-law), would spell each other during the War.  One would serve while the other took care of both of their farms -- when the one came back from serving the other would go and take their place.

John Joe’s father, John Backus, MAY have fought in the Revolutionary War. He certainly did fight in the French and Indian War, but there are too many John Backus’ from CT that fought in the Revolutionary War to be sure (yet!).

Jacob Youngs/Jung (1746-1842) and his father Peter also likely served in the Revolutionary War. Several online accounts believe this but I have yet to pin down documented proof. Online accounts have Rev. Peter Jungs (1725-1799)’ home as a meeting place during the Revolutionary War.

One detailed writing recounts of Peter and his wife Elizabeth Mosher, my 6^th great grandparents:

"In 1778, when the Indians began their depredations in the Schoharie settlements, the patriots of New Rhinebeck made the home of Peter Young their rendezvous. Being but few in numbers, and the Tory Neighbors becoming more venomous as their allies began to make their raids, this little company concluded to leave their homes and seek safety in the forts.

A band of Indians assembled at a Tory's house in the neighborhood to capture them, upon which Peter Young started to take his wife, who was a cripple, to the Camps for safety; but fearing he would be unable to do so, she was taken to a small cave at the foot of the mountain and left there alone. Being supplied with provisions, she remained for several days in that place without being discovered by the Tories whose houses were very near.

The walls of this 'rock house', as it has since been called, for many years plainly showed the marks of the fires she built late at night, when all was quiet and danger of being seen had passed.

After the Indians had passed off to other fields for murder and devastation, her husband returned and carried her to the Camps, where she remained until the close of the war."

His son, Jacob Young ‘Served in Samuel Campell's battalion, Tryon County Militia’.

William Mott (1735-1786), my fifth great grandfather, fought in the Revolutionary War, along with Jacob, our fourth great grandfather, Timothy, Jacob’s twin brother, and another brother, William Jr.

William fought in Col. Swartwout's Regiment, Duchess County NY. He was elected Captain in 1775, and promoted to Major in 1776.

Jacob Mott (1761-1834) was a Minute Man in Capt. William Mott's Company in 1777, and was frequently called out during the ensuing four years.

Jacob Mott's Gravestone

This is the list for now. There are several ancestors whom I believe fought, but have not yet been able to prove.

To all of those who have fought for us in any of our wars, a simply ‘thank you’ is not enough. But we will do our best to remember your sacrifices, keep your memories and stories alive, and attempt to preserve our nation’s freedom, creativity, and strength.

As our President said earlier today: “Let us answer the call of history and carry into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom.”

The Taylor Cheer, Or Why I Blog By Pat Kinsella Herdeg, With Help From Family Members

Pat and Fred--1976

The spring of my senior year in high school was a pivotal time in shaping who I am today. I just did not see it at the time.

It was 1976 in West Irondequoit, NY, a northern suburb of Rochester, NY which hugged the shores of Lake Ontario. At age 18, I was the oldest of the Kinsella children still living at home. The wonderful large, old house on St. Paul Boulevard held Mom and Dad, Tom, Beth, Jim, Chris and me. Our faithful black and white mongrel of a dog, Corky, and Fred the white fighting cat with Siamese markings, were also members of our family.

Tim and Rose were to be married on July 3^rd, 1976. Since this was the Bicentennial of America, I had helpfully told Rose that if she dressed the bridesmaids in red, white and blue flag dresses, the newspapers would have to splash her wedding across the front pages. She did not take my advice. But, we so looked forward to that wedding!

Then, in early springtime, Mom went into the hospital to have surgery for colon cancer. I should have been more scared for her, but with the false surety of youth, I KNEW she would get better. Beth remembers that during the operation, Mom heard “Oh, this looks bad. We are going to lose her.” Once Mom was fully awake and could respond, she piped up in great irritation, "I have eight kids. I am NOT going anywhere." Now THAT is my Mom!

Mom was inundated with cards and food and good wishes from friends and family. The mailman seemed to arrive daily with a stoop, straightened fully by the time he had dropped off all of the cards for Mom.

Mom was getting better. Life for a high school senior about to graduate was getting back to normal.

In late April, it was Men’s Weekend at Otty Lake, so all of the men, including Dad and my brothers and 

Uncle Dick Lochner and his sons, were in Canada at our cottage. Aunt Esther was on her way over to our house as it was only the girls left in Rochester.  She was late, and then Mom got a call from the State Police; Aunt Esther had had a stroke and been in a car accident and was taken to the hospital.

Aunt Esther

Mom and Aunt Joanie (Uncle Dick’s sister whom the State Police had also called) drove straight to the hospital, and I attempted to reach the Otty Lake crew. When Uncle Dick was finally told, he and all the Lochner boys rushed home. In fact, they deliberately drove way over the speed limit as they raced down Route 81, hoping for a Police escort, but no luck.

Mom seemed to live at the hospital. On Tuesday, April 27^th, our much beloved, compassionate, and beautiful Aunt Esther died.

Friday the 30^th of April was Aunt Esther’s funeral. At the funeral, Uncle Dick, remembering that Esther had loved a singer at a recent wedding singing ‘How Great Thou Art’ asked that singer to sing the hymn at her funeral. I remember the funeral was packed with family, cousins, friends --we were all in shock that this could happen. Aunt Esther was taken from us much too young.

Aunt Esther and Uncle Dick, 1972

The next day was Charlie Hawkes’ and Mary Ann Cannon’s wedding in Lockport, NY. 

We all ached for Aunt Doris—she had just buried a sister and now her son was getting married the very

next day. After Aunt Esther’s funeral— everyone gathered back in the Lochner’s kitchen. While we ate and talked and cried, everyone wrestled with the difficult emotions of tragedy and celebration colliding. We decided we would all go to Charlie and Mary's wedding as a way to support Aunt Doris. Then everyone from her side of the family would be in a similar situation, so happy for the wedding couple while still grieving for Aunt Esther, and that would give some comfort to Aunt Doris, knowing she would be held by others who knew the enormity of how she was feeling.

And, so, everyone who had been at Aunt Esther’s funeral, including Uncle Dick and his sister Aunt Joanie, and Gladys and Sylva Howland, first cousins who had come for Esther’s funeral, also went to the wedding--support for Aunt Doris, support for the Lochners, and support for each other. All generations changed from the dark clothes of the day before to bright cheery clothes. 

 I remember the wedding as a joyful time but still sorrowful, surrounded by young and old in the family--the same people we had just cried with the day before sitting again in church pews, but this time, in happiness and hope in a Lockport, NY church. Then, when one of the singers began singing ‘How Great Thou Art’ for Charlie and Mary, everyone who had just heard it sung at the funeral the day before dissolved into tears.

Charlie Hawkes and Mary Cannon Hawkes

At the reception, we danced on the dance floor. Out of nowhere seemed to burst a spontaneous circle of cousins—‘Give me a T, Give me an A, Give me a Y, Give me an L, Give me an O, Give me an R. What does it spell? TAYLOR! What does it spell? TAYLOR!’ Who led the cheer? In my mind, it was me. But, it was a long time ago and I could be changing memories. A few more rousing times with the cheer and we felt some of our emotions lifting from us.

And so the Taylor Cheer was born. Looking back, we so needed a chance to cheer and dance and yell—to say that yes, we were still here (holding Aunt Esther in our hearts) and yes, we were here TOGETHER. It was so powerful and life affirming after the day before.

My sister Sue remembers that during the wedding and reception, there was an “enormously complex and 

deep range of emotions all roiling us at the same time, and it's that that resulted in the cathartic release of joy in family solidarity that was the Taylor Cheer. I remember it as a very powerful experience, and one that made me feel proud to be in the midst of this messy, crazy, hurting, loving family.”

 Taylor Cheer at Tim and Rose's Wedding, July 1976

Andy Hay and Pat Kinsella, July 1976

It is not every day that modern life so pointedly shows you how precious life can be—the funeral of such a beloved aunt on Friday, and the wedding of a zany but also beloved cousin the next day. The singing of ‘How Great Thou Art’ at both the funeral and the wedding? More than coincidence.

Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed;

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Perhaps it was God’s way of saying ‘Pay attention! You are all in this together!’ Through it all, the same family there to support, to grieve, to celebrate as one.

The Taylor Cheer was again on display that July at Tim and Rose’s wedding, and as I remember, for many weddings after.

I was recently telling my cousin Ted Lochner that I was going to the funeral of Glenn’s cousin in Delaware—again, a cousin who died far too young. Over the phone line I could hear Ted’s booming and joyful voice “Family Reunion Time!”

 I answered, “I know! But Glenn’s family doesn’t see it that way. Most of them are not coming.”

Ted got quiet for a moment and then said, “Pat, that is ONE thing we have learned, haven’t we? We’re all in this together.”

Many of you wonder why I keep doing this blog. I think it had a lot to do with that spring of 1976. Over the years, I felt like I lost track of many of you—my fault totally as I lived my life. But, now, I want you back. I do know how important family is, whether we are siblings or fourth cousins once removed.

I can still see us more than thirty-five years ago-- twirling, shouting, cheering and collapsing into a huge cousins’ hug on the dance floor. In my mind’s eye, we are doing the Taylor Cheer, we are doing the Baker Cheer, and as we finish with a great flourish and hug, we are surrounded by other, mostly unseen, cousins and grandparents, aunts and uncles, gone now but still supporting, still guiding, still loving us. It is their stories, as well as all of ours, that I hope to keep telling on this cousins blog.

Love you all.

Pat Kinsella Herdeg, 2012

The Home Front By Eve Taylor

Seventy years ago, Eve Laufer Taylor lived through World War II in upstate New York. Here is one of her memories:


Living in Le Roy and working at Taylor’s Superette was an experience for a Rochester girl, gone “rural.” We had to deal with ration coupons, shortages in food and gas, price freeze, and black market.

Once a week a few very scarce items such as cigarettes, chocolate bars, coconut, and Jello would come in. Yes, even in the “Hometown of Jello” those Jack Benny six delicious flavors (strawberry, raspberry, cherry lemon, orange, lime) were scarce and much sought after.

Our regular customers were the ones who got those items, but the problem was to keep everyone happy. The limit on cigarettes was two packs to a family per week. That must have been a real hardship on most families.

Meat required the greatest number of ration points. I do not know the details of how that worked between supplier and merchant. I just remember how scared I was when my mother-in-law and I made a late night run in a “36 Ford wood- paneled station wagon to the Tobin Packing House in Rochester to get meat. No ration points were required!!!