The "Keith Moon Sweater"

The sweater is one of the designs in Kate Davies's new book, Yokes.

(I love this one. Read more about Kate Davies here.)

Poster Reunion

Urbana, Illinois, May 12, 1972. This was the science fair at which Mr. Irene and I could have launched a friendship, but we didn't.

The Adults' Table

Near Geneva, Illinois, June 1967. We didn't share our table with the adults.

Keeping her cool.

River Forest, Illinois, November 1975. I served one year as a "photographer" for the high-school yearbook. Here, I captured the amazing nun* who taught our AP English class. She's also the woman who organized and chaperoned that trip to Greece. I credit her with refining my understanding of culture.

*The women who ran the high school were "sisters," not "nuns."

Round-Trip-Fare Reunion

San Francisco, California, April 1968. Dad captures a corner of Union Square.

Banquet Table

Suburban Chicago, October 1967. I don't know what the occasion here was, but it must have been special: my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, reserved that brooch for important events. The woman on the far left is the maternal Grandmother of my friend Kris.

That's some pretty nice china for a children's party.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, January 1959. It is, however, a mixed table setting.

Thanks to my Toronto Cousin (a guest on the left) for making this photo available to us.

Footpath

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1972. The falls were there before the engineers arrived.

Sometimes, I crocheted.

Suburban Chicago, Spring 1970. I crocheted a stylish vest for my beloved Godmother, and she wore it!

Lunch Service

Near Geneva, Illinois, June 1967. Mom and I are enjoying the annual picnic; Mom, again, has brought her knitting bag. The woman holding the ketchup bottle is Lily (I remember her dress; it was orange with white polka dots.)

He'll be okay.

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Verona, Wisconsin, November 10, 2014. Another bird hit our picture window today. This time, the accident victim was one of the Red-Bellied Woodpeckers that frequents the backyard bird feeder. After I heard the loud thump, I looked to the ground. The bird rested motionless on its back, its feet in the air. I was sure it was dead, and I planned how I later would ask Mr. Irene to move it away from the house.

Thirty minutes passed. I checked on the woodpecker again. This time, he still looked stunned, but he appeared somewhat alert. Rex, the designated barker, started to warn the household about the bird's presence as I took these photos. A few seconds later, the woodpecker flared up and flew into the trees behind the house. In a few hours, he was back at the feeder, nibbling on sunflower seeds.

Use the turn signal.

Suburban Chicago, November 1960. My Mom asserted the other day that her beloved Buick, "The Swan," did not feature turn signals. She remembers signaling a turn with her arm. Buick, however, was the first U.S. manufacturers to install turn signals in its automobiles. So: perhaps the turn signals in "The Swan" did not operate properly.

(Here's another clip, and here's a still image, from that same day.)

Related by Marriage: Veterans' Day

Near Barstow, California, 1951. Thanks to Mr. Irene's Dad and to all who served.

Direction Reunion

Altdorf, Switzerland, July 1971. We should learn something from the Swiss about roundabouts.

The End of the Day

Suburban Chicago, November 1963. My Dad catches his Mother, Tatjana, as she finishes her kitchen work. Tatjana was about to celebrate her sixty-sixth birthday.

Sunday Table

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, about 1949. Toronto Al's Parents finish an afternoon party with friends.

Thanks to Toronto Al for making this photo available to us.

Our Little Dreamer

Verona, Wisconsin, November 2008. Rex catches up on his napping.

Saturday Shopping

Oakbrook Center, Illinois, 1969. Mom and I stand outside the Oakbrook Marshall Field's. Mom's wearing one of her wonderful knitted suits, and I'm still sporting my Ranger Rick jacket.

Exchanging Portraits (Part 38)

Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, September 25, 1965. Elena, a younger sister of my paternal Grandmother Tatjana, wrote, "To my sister, my dear Tanjusha as a keepsake. I'm always reminiscing about you. I love you."

Thanks to my dear friend D for translating the text from Russian to English.

Knee-Deep Reunion

Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada, July 1972. The moose takes a sip before returning to her duties.

The red star resurfaces on Red Square . . .

. . . and children, wearing Soviet-era uniforms and carrying arms, participate in the festivities.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin defends the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, and Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius pens a response.

ADDED: Full video of the parade here; the hammer and sickle are first visible at 4:53. Here's footage from the November 1, 1941 parade.

A Closer Look (Part 11)

Kaunas, Lithuania, 1928. I still get a kick out of seeing how children often have their "adult faces" at a young age. My Mom was about five years older when she attended this party. Her expression here—namely the upward gaze of her eyes and the paused smile—is one she still retains.

I also love the party hat. Here's the original post.*

*(Dad and his twin sister, Jonė, attended that party, too. Both also show their characteristic facial expressions, but I'll save close ups of them for future "A Closer Look" posts.)

Plaid Pants

Suburban Chicago, June 1975. Dad and his beloved Gigi visit my childhood bedroom. I was surprised to see Dad dressed this way. He had elegant taste, and he usually wore beautiful clothing. I don't know what happened here, but these style choices rattle my understanding of "stay-at-home" clothes.

On the top shelf rests a copy of National Geographic's dog book, Man's Best Friend. There also sits Watership Down (I didn't like that book—perhaps because I prefer nonfiction, and I don't care for fiction that is fantasy based) and The Gulag Archipelago. The books on the bottom shelf reflect an interest I had, at that time, in poetry.

Resting Reunion

Brookfield Zoo, April 1961. The Ibex takes a break after jumping around.

Slicing the Cake

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 1958. Mr. Irene's Parents cut the wedding cake. The woman on the right is Mr. Irene's maternal Aunt Martha.

Pensive

Kaunas, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, 1972. My Kaunas Cousin doesn't notice the camera.

Post-Soviet-Era Tourism

"Lithuania is one of the few places where Soviet history could be explored with all the modern amenities and freedoms. A rich array of Soviet-related locations includes the ordinary and extra-ordinary: apartment blocks, nuclear launch site, propaganda art, locations of the freedom struggle and memorials for those who perished."

Melting Reunion

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1972. The snow keeps the streams running.

Lunch al Fresco

Suburban Chicago, June 1974. My childhood Best Friend and I enjoy a meal poolside at the home of my Godmother.

She's still on the phone.

Suburban Chicago, December 1974. Mom advises a patient while she crochets an afghan.

Quiet-Canal Reunion

Venice, Italy, April 1984. The gondoliero still wears his winter uniform.

Related by Marriage: Smoke Break

Camp Irwin, Barstow, California, 1952. This is one of the photos Mr. Irene's Dad sent to his brother, Ignas.

Thanks to Ignas's daughter—Mr. Irene's Los Angeles Cousin—for making this photo available to us.

Babos Receptai (Part 4)

My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, liked to cook for parties. When we entertained, Tatjana sometimes prepared classic, Russian dishes.

Dinner parties usually featured several courses. Tatjana preferred to start an elaborate meal by serving a clear bouillon. She often prepared pastry rolls filled with meat to accompany the soup.

Here is Tatjana's recipe for the meat-filled rolls:

Here's how I translated the recipe:

Dough for Rolls to Serve with Bouillon

Set aside 1/2 cup margarine and 1 cup butter to come to room temperature so that they are completely softened. After creaming the mixture, add 2 to 3 tablespoons (with a "cap") sour cream and some flour. Then after mixing, add 2 tablespoons [grain] alcohol.* Mix again, adding as much flour so the dough is flaky, and so you'd be able to roll it. If you used salted butter then check to see if the dough needs a bit more salt and/or 1 teaspoon sugar.

Grind boiled beef [Tatjana selected the chuck roast she had used to make the bouillon]. Add as much bouillon to the meat as necessary to make the meat softer (similar to the texture of a paté). Then add salt, ground pepper, one sautéed onion (finely minced), and chopped fresh parsley.

Bake at 400-450ºF. It's possible also to brush the surface with a [beaten] egg.

*Ha ha! So, adding Vodka to a pastry dough is not really a recent innovation.

The Independent One

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1973. The Bighorn Kid plans to wander ahead.

A Birthday Sitting

Suburban Chicago, November 1966. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, turned 69 that year.

A chair near the piano remained a favorite spot for picture taking. The plastic plant and chandelier are visible here; the plastic plant partially obscures the fashion doll dressed in folk dress. The "Swim Little Duck" folk art hangs in a new spot.

A Short Dance Lesson

Suburban Chicago, December 1959. The Rec Room drapes serves as my stage curtains.

"Includes a basement jail"

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New Glarus, Wisconsin, October 19, 2014. It's also located on a quiet side street.

Sunday-Afternoon Nap

Suburban Chicago, June 1959. Mom always has been able to fall asleep in a chair.

Related by Marriage: Greetings from Our Camp

Wiesbaden, Germany, about 1946. Cousins of Mr. Irene's Dad send a snapshot taken at the Displaced Persons Camp at which they lived.

In the Spotlight

The Wisconsin State Journal reports on work by a Middleton company, Lucigen Corporation, to create a diagnostic test for Ebola.

An Afternoon Visitor, in Three Takes

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Verona, Wisconsin, November 1, 2014. A Red-bellied Woodpecker nibbled at the feeder today.

Another Encounter with the Rockford Poodle

Rockford, Illinois, June 1961. The mother of my Mom's friend teaches me how to interact gently with the poodle. (That's Dad's shadow.)

The Saturday Table

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, January 1957. Kadis shares dessert with his goddaughter.

Thanks to Kadis's daughter—my Toronto Cousin—for making this photo available to us.

Last Leaves

Verona, Wisconsin, October 2014. The transition to winter nears.

A Closer Look (Part 10)

Bridgeport, Chicago, about 1914. This is Mr. Irene's maternal Grandmother, Anna. Anna's oldest child, Martha, looked a lot like Anna. (Here's the original post.)

The party is under way.

Suburban Chicago, October 1971. My grade-school friends have joined me in the Rec ROom.

Here I am before the party; here I ready the jack-o-lantern, and; here's a smaller party I hosted that year.

What ball? I'd rather play with your fuzzy slipper.

Suburban Chicago, June 1973. Gigi has found a spot in the living room.

Poolside

Suburban Chicago, June 1974. Mom visits with my Godmother at my Godmother's home. I'm probably in the swimming pool.

"Sugar packets for use in coffee will still be available."

Mom will be happy to hear that.

Tonight's Dinner

A plate of sauerkraut and sausages regularly appeared at Lithuanian banquets, celebrations, and Sunday meals. The dish usually was bland (beyond the "spices" in the sausage), and it often was overwhelming sour. I liked the idea of this one-pot meal, but I decided to create a recipe featuring more liberal seasonings.

Here is the version Mom and I now make. It takes less than thirty minutes to assemble the dish. It's concurrently nostalgic and updated.

Sausages and Sauerkraut 

Note: Use fresh (uncooked), not smoked, sausage. Here in the Madison area, we buy "Fresh Polish Kielbasa" at Bavaria Sausage or "Kalberwurst" at Ruef's Meat Market in New Glarus.

16 ounces green cabbage (about one-half of a large head)
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 ounce dried porcini mushrooms
1-1/2 cups water (you will reserve 1 cup)

2 pounds packaged or bottled (not canned) sauerkraut

1 cup liquid from soaking mushrooms (from above)
One "Knorr Concentrated Chicken Stock" packet 
2 teaspoons tomato paste (no more)

4 ounces bacon, diced finely
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 large onions, chopped fine
2 small carrots, peeled and grated
chopped, reconstituted porcini mushrooms (from above)

2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
1/8 to 1 teaspoon Lawry's Seasoned Salt (depending on the saltiness of the sausage)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon each: garlic powder; dried marjoram; onion powder; Hungarian sweet paprika

1/4 cup Sweet Marsala or Madeira

3 pounds Polish Kielbasa or Kalberwurst (about 3 to 6 sausages)

1 to 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 
more brown sugar (optional: to taste)
1 to 2 tablespoons sweet pickle reliish (optional; to taste) 

The night before: Cut the cabbage into wedges. Using the metal blade of a food processor, chop the cabbage finely and toss into a sealable plastic bag. Microwave the red wine vinegar and brown sugar until the brown sugar dissolves. Mix the red wine vinegar/brown sugar into the cabbage and press the plastic bag so the mixture evenly coats the cabbage. Place the bag in the refrigerator overnight. 

The next day: Place the dried porcini mushrooms in a 2-cup, glass measuring cup and cover with the water. Microwave for 1 minute; then let mixture stand for thirty minutes to one hour. Drain the mushrooms and chop them. Strain the soaking liquid through a coffee filter and reserve.

Place the sauerkraut in a large colander and rinse only once with cold water (too much rinsing will take the flavor away). Allow to drain. Place the drained sauerkraut and the undrained, marinated cabbage in a 7-quart slow cooker. Mix to combine.

In a 4-cup, glass measuring cup, mix together the mushroom-soaking liquid, the stock packet, and the tomato paste. Microwave on "High" for about 2 minutes, or until the stock packet and tomato paste dissolve. Set aside.

In a large sauteuse pan, sauté the bacon until it is browned. Drain the bacon pieces on several layers of paper towel, reserving about 2 tablespoons of the drippings. Reheat drippings in the same pan and add the olive oil. Sauté the chopped onion and carrots over medium heat until the onion is translucent, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the reconstituted, chopped mushrooms.

Mix together the remaining brown sugar, salt, pepper, bay leaves, and dried herbs. Add to the sautéed onions and cook until the sugar dissolves and the spices are lightly toasted, about 30 seconds to one minute. Add the Marsala to the skillet and, stirring vigorously, scrape up any browned bits. Cook until the alcohol evaporates. Add the mushroom liquid/stock packet/tomato paste mixture. Cook until the liquid reduces by about one third, or for about five minutes.

Transfer vegetables to the slow cooker and mix. Place the sausages on top of and around the cabbage mixture and cook for about 4 to 6 hours on "High," or about 8 to 10 hours on "Low."

Just before serving, stir in the balsamic vinegar (and/or optional, additional brown sugar and sweet pickle relish). Serve with boiled potatoes dusted with freshly minced parsley. 

Serves 6 to 8

UPDATE: Recipe slightly tweeked to reflect modifications from last time we made it.

Dull Reunion

Near New Glarus, Wisconsin, October 19, 2014. Cloudy skies don't always dull the autumn colors.

Too Many Cookies

Glacier National Park, July 1973. We set out to take only short hike. We packed no sack lunches; we carried only a bag of Fig Newtons. We wandered for hours, and I ate most of the cookies.

Also: (1) I am holding a plastic bottle of baby oil. Foolish, fair-skinned teen! (2) I have a nose guard clipped to my sunglasses. Ha!