Guardian Angels

I am not a religious person (although I favor religious traditions). During the last eight years, however, I have been blessed to be surrounded by "guardian angels." Some are childhood friends who resurfaced and generously visited me multiple times (from places like Colorado, Canada, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Minnesota). Others are more recent classmates, coworkers, fellow knitters, mentors, and teachers who have bonded with me profoundly and brightened my days. Some are relatives with whom I had lost touch. They now have rekindled old ties and also visit us regularly. Your love and devotion is tangible every day. More relatives are still "lost"—but hey, our door is open, and you know now to reach me.

There also are the friends and bloggers who encouraged me to start "Amber Reunion." Thank you for making my daily reading so stimulating and for inspiring me to keep going at it every day.

Most joyous are the friends I made because of the blog. What serendipity! It was really beautiful to see them in Madison.

Finally, many of the committed staff at the UW Carbone Cancer Center have become familiar friends who take great care of me. Below are two (and there's more on Carbone "Guardian Angels" here and here,)

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(Always knitting in hand.)

You're not seeing this for the second time.

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Verona, Wisconsin, July 2016. This blanket is similar to one I knitted two years ago. This time, I used a more baby-friendly yarn: a machine-wash, tumble dry (can you believe it?!), merino wool.

This Year's Banquet

Mr. Irene and I just attended the annual banquet hosted by Madison Vilnius Sister Cities, Inc. Our friends V and her husband again joined us for the weekend. It was a great occasion.

The Madison Club once more decorated the tables in the tricolors of the Lithuanian flag.

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This year, Mr. Irene welcomed the guests.

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Guests enjoyed cocktails before the meal. Some of us eat the olives first.

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We had a great turnout.

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The chef is becoming expert at preparing Lithuanian dishes.

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We started out with a favorite: Šaltibarščiai.

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The kitchen remembered to serve the soup with a traditional accompaniment: boiled potatoes.

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Our featured speaker this year was Dr. Audrius Plioplys, creator of the Hope and Spirit exhibit.

Christmas Manners: Show the tree to your best friend.

Indiana, about 1963. My friend V enjoys the season with her compliant kitty.

Thanks to V for making this photo available to us.

Fire in Glacier

Burning now.

(Thanks to my friend V for directing me to this article.)

ADDED: More photos here.

June Misery

Kėdianai (?), Lithuania, about 1938. My friend V writes, "About this time in June, 1941 my grandparents, who were school teachers and uncle (he was 16) were part of the Soviet's mass deportations of Lithuanians to Siberia. They were put on a train in a cattle car and taken to Yakutsk, Russia. The anniversary of this holocaust is never mentioned in the media. So, today I honor their memory. My grandfather Petras [M.] perished in a Siberian prison camp." (Links added.)
 
Thanks to my friend V for making this photo available to us.

Another Mother

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1920. This is Jadviga, the paternal Grandmother of my friend V.

Thanks to my friend V for making this photo available to us.

Family Resemblance

Lithuania, about 1932. My friend V made available this photo of her Mom and her maternal Grandmother, Antonina. Was it customary to pose children by propping them up closer to the mother's height?

Thanks, friend V!

Another, Annual Banquet

Mr. Irene and I just attended the annual banquet hosted by Madison Vilnius Sister Cities, Inc. Last year, I got sick, and we were bummed out that we couldn't go. This year, we were delighted that my friend V and her husband joined us for the occasion. We had a great time.

Madison, Wisconsin, May 2, 2015. Our venue was the elegant Madison Club.

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Madison, Wisconsin, May 2, 2015. Guests registered with the greeter before they enjoyed cocktails.

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Madison, Wisconsin, May 2, 2015. The management again decorated the venue with the three colors of the Lithuanian flag.

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Madison, Wisconsin, May 2, 2015. Grab a seat before all the spots are taken!

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Madison, Wisconsin, May 2, 2015. Donors contributed items for the loterija (raffle).

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Madison, Wisconsin, May 2, 2015. My Mom knitted three hats for the raffle; she made this one out of a luxurious merino-wool-and-silk yarn. Yeah, Mom!

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Madison, Wisconsin, May 2, 2015. The chef prepared a Lithuanian meal.

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Madison, Wisconsin, May 2, 2015. My favorite dish was the Šaltibarščiai.

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Madison, Wisconsin, May 2, 2015. We also enjoyed a blueberry-enhanced Napoleonas.

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May 2, 2015. It was great to see my friend V— the friend I made because of the blog!

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Madison, Wisconsin, May 2, 2015. We also were delighted to meet V's husband. Thanks for a wonderful visit!

Bonnet

Indiana, about 1960. My friend V steps out on Easter morning with her Mom.

Thanks to my friend V for making this photo available to us.

We've planted the flower garden.

Kėdainiai, Lithuania, probably early 1930s. My friend V sent along another image of her paternal Grandmother, her Dad, and her paternal Uncle.

Thanks, V!

A family grows.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany, 1948. Standing are the Parents of my friend V. The little one in the stroller is their Son.

Thanks to my friend V for making this photo available to us.

Near the Camp

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany, 1949. A group of Lithuanian Girl Scouts explores the area near the Displaced Persons camp.
 
Thanks to my friend V for making this photo available to us.

Hillside

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany 1947. This is a group of scouts from one of the Displaced Persons camp.

Thanks to my friend V for making this photo available to us.

Away from Home

 

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany, 1947. These are the Parents of my friend V. They were Displaced Persons in 1947; V's Mom wears a scouting uniform.

Thanks to my friend V for making this photo available to us.

A Friend's Family

Kėdainiai, Lithuania, probably early 1930s. My friend V sent this image of her Dad (front), her paternal Grandfather, her paternal Uncle, and her paternal Grandmother.

Thanks, V!

Let's meet at the Jamboree.

Panemunė, Lithuania, Summer 1938. A group of Lithuanian scouts—"Girl Guides"—gathers at the second National Scouting Jamboree. My Dad's twin sister, Jonė, sits on the far left.

 
This summer's National Jamboree is winding down in Ohio.

A Papillon, in Three Takes

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New Glarus, Wisconsin, July 2013. This is Frankie, a Papillon pup from Columbus, Ohio. We met Frankie at the New Glarus Brewery. Shortly after our brewery stop, we ate a late lunch and took home that doggie bag.

UPDATE: Typo fixed. A commenter corrected my spelling of the dog breed. *Blushes.*

"No Children on Runway, Please."

New Glarus, Wisconsin, July 2013. It's a different kind of runway.

I haven't seen one of these in a long time.

New Glarus, Wisconsin, July 2013. Although we got this "doggie bag" at the Glarner Stube, it reminded me of the opulent steak houses that flourished in Chicago in the 1960s. I remember getting a bag just like this one at the Blackhawk Restaurant. That was the fancy place to which my Godmother took us after the balalaika concert.