A Dad Joke

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1970. Dad's in a clowning mood. This photo always makes me laugh.

Related by Marriage: Women's Guild

St. George's Parish, Bridgeport, Chicago, 1942. Mr. Irene's maternal Grandmother Anna (marked with the white "X" in the fourth row) and her sister Petra (marked in the third row) remain active in the church's leadership.

Presidents-Day Reunion

Mount Rushmore, South Dakota, July 1966. They're looking down at you.

Independence Day

Bulger Park, Veterans Park District, Melrose Park, Illinois, February 1965. The older girls sing during an Independence-Day minejimas. (The younger children waited in the audience until it was our turn to take the stage.)

That's my friend Ron at the piano. My friend Kris stands second from left. The braided trim on Kris's folkdress and mine were identical because our Mom's worked together to sew the blouses and aprons.

Winter Walk

Door County, Wisconsin, January 1976. I give Gigi a lift so her paws stay dry.

(Gigi reminds me: RIP Louis Jourdan, who "described himself as Hollywood's 'French cliche'.")

Snow Stitching

Verona, Wisconsin, February 2014. The deer have a plan.

Winter Weekend

Door County, Wisconsin, January 1976. It's time to head back to the city.

Related by Marriage: The brothers visit.

Panevėžys, Lithuania, July 1992. Mr. Irene's paternal Uncle Stacey and Stacey's wife host a visit from Stacey's oldest brother, Ignas. The group stands in front of the brothers' family home.

Variations

Verona, Wisconsin, December 2013. The hoarfrost paints the trees and shrubs.

General Manners: Wait patiently for a slice of cake.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, January 1957. The well mannered children understand the rules.

Thanks to my Toronto Cousin for making this photo available to us.

Gathered

Evanston, Illinois, November 11, 1978. Some of my dorm mates assemble for the yearbook shot.

Flocking to the Tourists

Venice, Italy, April 1984. Visitors gather near the Marciana Library.

Scenic Overlook

Rocky Mountain National Park, July 1967. Dad has parked the gold Buick LeSabre so we can stop and take some photographs.

Crafty Afternoon

Door County, Wisconsin, August 1983. Mom tackles another needlepoint project while her best friend, Donna, works on her knitting. Meškė spots the camera.

(You might recognize the lamp.)

Back-Off Reunion

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1970. Don't get too close to the ledge.

Before the Hike

Isarhorn, Germany, August 1948. My Dad's friend Casey is ready to head up into the mountains.

Related by Marriage: The Back Steps

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Spring 1957. Mr. Irene's Mom is ready to walk toward the Bel-Aire.

Lake-Tour Reunion

Lake of Bays, Ontario, Canada, July 1969. You'll get there more quickly if you walk to the dock.

She's looking forward to socializing.

Suburban Chicago, June 1963. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, dresses up for a party.

Class Notes (Part 3)

Kaunas, Lithuania, 1934. My Mom's Dad wasn't the only adult who sketched in my Mom's memento booklet. Mom's maternal Aunt, Dora, wrote, "A remembrance from your aunt. From Aunt Dora."

Tree Line

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1972. It's easy to see where things change.

A Closer Look (Part 20)

Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, May 1931. This is my Great-Grandmother, Nina K. She was fifty-seven years old when she sat for this photo. Here's the original post.

Sporty

High Park, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, July 1960. Kadis, the husband of my Dad's twin sister Jonė, takes a break during the family's hike around the park.

Thanks to my Toronto Cousin for making this photo available to us.

Palmetto Reunion

Charleston, South Carolina, September 1988. The trees grow throughout the city.

I give the hamster a break.

Suburban Chicago, February 1964. We'll have time to dance later.

Related by Marriage: Family Table

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 1958. Mr. Irene's family shares one side of the head table at the wedding reception of Mr. Irene's Parents.

Dwarfed Reunion

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1970. Mom captures a still of me and Dad as we approach Gunsight Pass.

Sunday Sendoff

Suburban Chicago, October 1983. My Parents hosted a small dinner party the week before I moved to Venice. I don't recall cooking for the occasion, but it looks like we served turkey, roast beef, "Cauliflower Polonnaise," baked potatoes, and salad.

Some of the guests—Vytenis, my Godmother, my Godmother's husband, and my Godmother's father—listen to a description of my plans.

Solemn

Brooklyn, New York, about 1952. My Dad's younger cousin exchanges vows with her husband.

Thaw

Suburban Chicago, February 1965. The Des Plaines River stays frozen for only a short time.

Related by Marriage: Church Picnic

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, about 1918. This photo of parishioners picnicking appeared in the 1942 booklet commemorating the 50th Anniversary of St. George's Parish. The photo caption reads, "Do you remember 'way back when?" Mr. Irene's Mom added a few observations as well: "No picnic tables. Long table cloths spread out, had to sit on grass to eat."

This photo reminds me of another snapshot.

He's awake now.

Kaunas, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, June 9, 1965. A friend of Tatjana (my paternal Grandmother) sends an updated garden photo.

Snowy Driveway

Suburban Chicago, December 1973. Mom's LeSabre will need a little cleaning.

Thinking Ahead

Door County, Wisconsin, July 1981. My Mom and my Dad's twin sister, Jonė, enjoy the shoreline during Jonė's and Kadis's visit to the cottage.

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Lunch with the Bishop

Camp Aušra (later Camp Kretinga), Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada, 1959. They've set the table with real dishes.

More photos from the Bishop's visit here and here.

A Finished Piece

*     *     *     *     *

Verona, Wisconsin, January 2015. I knitted this late last year, but I only got around to the seaming and finishing work this month. I usually knit fair-isle patterns in Shetland yarn because that fiber is best suited to colorwork. This garment, a Debbie Bliss design, is done in a cashmere-blend yarn (I earlier used the same yarn for a baby blanket).

Grab a Book: Serious-Tweed Edition

Suburban Chicago, December 1973. Sometimes Dad smiled for the selfie, and sometimes he struck a serious expression.

Related by Marriage: Sunny

Chicago area, probably about 1950. Mr. Irene's paternal Uncle, Ignas, visits the forest preserve.

Colorless Reunion

Verona, Wisconsin, February 1, 2015. The wind during this weekend's snowstorm blew our bird feeder off the Redbud.

Lighting the candles.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, January 1961. My Dad's twin sister, Jonė, lights the candles of my Toronto Cousin's birthday cake.

It looks like Jonė and my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, shopped together for fabric.

Thanks to my Toronto Cousin for making this photo available to us.

Celebration

Evergreen Park, Illinois, June 1963. My Godmother's family celebrates a graduation.

Day-Dreaming Reunion

Brookfield Zoo, 1965. Olga takes a break from entertaining the visitors.

Success.

Door County, Wisconsin, February 1980. Mom finds her balance.

We are ready.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, July 1967. Dad accompanies me on another trail ride. I'm riding "Tiny." Dad's wearing that London Fog windbreaker.

What did the groundhog say?

Door County, Wisconsin, February 1978. It's not clear. But a local groundhog bit the mayor.

Driving Going-to-the-Sun Road

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1966. This clip is from one of our first drives along the road.

Related by Marriage: Floral Hat

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 1958. Mr. Irene's maternal Grandparents, Stanley and Anna, chat with a friend (center) at the wedding reception of Mr. Irene's Parents.

Aftermath Reunion

Suburban Chicago, January 1979. Here's how things looked after a January blizzard.

An Understanding

Suburban Chicago, December 1973. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, learned to admire Gigi.

Sunday Custom

Suburban Chicago, December 1966. Mom often relaxed by practicing the piano.