Garden Inspection

Kaunas, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, March 1961. A friend of Tatjana (my paternal Grandmother) sent this photo. The friend wrote, "I'm finally checking the garden and flower beds at winter's end. My husband is still asleep, and the tulips already are waking up from the ground, readying for a new life."

Related by Marriage: The New Recruit

 

Fort Knox, Kentucky, December 1950. This is Mr. Irene's paternal Uncle, Ignas, shortly after Ignas began his service in the U.S. Army. This photo illustrates the resemblance between Ignas and his younger brother, Mr. Irene's Dad.

Lake-View Seating

Madison, Wisconsin, January 13, 2015. If you wait until dinner time during the winter months, then you will miss the view.

Weary

Suburban Chicago, April 1964. My Paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, has put in a day of housework.

Related by Marriage: Army Buddies (Part 31)

Camp Irwin, Barstow, California, 1951. In this "Army Buddies" snapshot, an Army friend walks the desert with Mr. Irene's Dad.

Tam season returns.

Verona, Wisconsin, January 2015. I usually knit a couple of tams every winter. This one is the first of two I recently completed. This is Janine Bajus's "Foggy Cove" design.

Rec-Room Relaxation

Suburban Chicago, January 1979. Dad sets up the self-timer for another photo. He's wearing one of the zippered cardigans Mom knitted. Mom's "stay-at-home clothes" now include trousers. Mom is on call because the phone is at her feet. Gigi has brought her favorite toys onto the ottoman.

Happy Anniversary!

Evanston, Illinois, January 13, 1979. My friend Kris and her husband today celebrate a wedding anniversary.

We had a lot of traffic last night.

Verona, Wisconsin, January 11, 2015. Deer weren't the only visitors who left tracks.

Shoreline

Door County, Wisconsin, March 1969. Mom and Dad visit the Door County property shortly after they bought it. They built the cottage later.

Snowy Driveway

Suburban Chicago, January 1963. I slip around, and Mom departs for rounds.

I earlier posted a clip from this day here; you can get a better look at Mom's adorable hat here.

End-of-the-Road Reunion

Door County, Wisconsin, March 1978. Things should clear up soon.

Sunday Paper: Worried Edition

Suburban Chicago, Winter 1978. My Parents didn't read the Chicago Sun-Times; they subscribed to the Chicago Tribune. Dad must have bought this edition of the Sun-Times because of the headline—"Anti-Soviet Rampage in Lithuania."

Related by Marriage: Happy Anniversary

Mr. Irene's Parents today celebrate their fifty-seventh wedding anniversary.

Nativity BVM Church, Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 11, 1958. The service has ended, and Mr. Irene's Parents prepare to head to the reception.

Rippled Reunion

Lake of Bays, Ontario, Canada, July 1970. Look ahead to summer.

Related by Marriage: Home Country

Near Panevėžys, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, October 25, 1982. Mr. Irene's paternal Uncle, Stacey, and his wife prepare to host a visit from Stacey's older brother (Mr. Irene's Dad).

Saturday Ceremony

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, about 1950. The bridal party can relax after the ceremony.

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

January View

Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois, January 1964. We've taken a drive, and we appreciate the arboretum in winter.

Lake Knitting

Lake Nipissing, Ontario, Canada, July 1964. Mom's knitting again while we fish. She's working on that black and green cardigan that she wore for several years. Mom brought her fancy knitting bag.

Satisfied

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, January 1961. My Toronto Cousin still is working on her cake, and one of her guests has had enough.

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

A "100-Percent Chance of Snow"

Verona, Wisconsin, December 24, 2013. That's what today's forecast predicted.

Trout Dinner

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1972. I usually didn't catch much when I fished in Glacier, but I kept trying. This photo captures the exception. In 1972 we hiked up to a spot en route to Grinnell Glacier. I spent most of the afternoon casting for trout, and, because I wore a bathing-suit top, I got a nasty sunburn. I kept fishing because the haul was so good.

When we returned to the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, the chef at the restaurant offered to clean and cook my catch. Remember: we ate what we caught. We (and several of our friends) had a wonderful meal. Even Mom at the trout, and Mom hates fish. Before we went to sleep, Mom rubbed Neosporin over my burned back.

The Dining Room

Kaunas, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, January 1958. My Dad's older cousin Henry, Henry's wife Suzanne, and Henry and Suzanne's daughter, Kaunas Nina, host a New-Year's celebration.

Thanks to Kaunas Nina's daughter—my Kaunas Cousin—for making this photo available to us.

She's hungry, too.

Door County, Wisconsin, December 1980. Even the bird seed looks good.

Medicine Dropper

Suburban Chicago, December 1980. Gigi is in not a compliant patient.

We groom our own trails.

Door County, Wisconsin, January 1978. Dad has found the end of the road.

Steam-Free Reunion

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, July 1966. We're following the rules by staying on the boardwalk.

The End of the Season

Buglar Park, Veteran's Park District, Melrose Park, Illinois, December 1966. I thank the Lithuanian-school teachers for organizing the show.

Exchanging Portraits (Part 39)

 

Kaiserslauten, Germany, June or July 1948. Anthony, a neighbor of Mr. Irene's Dad at the canine security unit, shared this photo as a friendship memento. 

On the back of this photo, Anthony wrote, "[Mr. Irene's Dad]! Remember our difficult and good times, as Displaced wanderers, when we either tried to make the best of things or save our homeland; but it now looks like destiny will toss us abroad among different countries. So, [Mr. Irene's Dad], remember me always. Your neighbor, Anthony."

Don't expect a thaw.

Thatcher Woods, Suburban Chicago, January 1965. The Des Plaines River rarely freezes, however.

Organizing

Suburban Chicago, November 1962. Has Mom just returned from shopping, or is she sorting yarn?

Stay Awake

Tinley Park, Illinois, December 1963. My Paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, begins to doze as she visits with my Godfather's Mother-in-law.

Snowy Reunion

Verona, Wisconsin, December 2013. It's back to looking like this.

Related by Marriage: Bridal Party

Chicago, Illinois, about 1957. Mr. Irene's Mom attends a coworker's wedding.

We clear the walkways.

Suburban Chicago, December 1961. Mom and Dad take turns shoveling the walkways while my Toronto Cousin pulls my sled.

I earlier posted some still photos from that day here.

Alignment Reunion

Verona, Wisconsin, February 8, 2014. I love the February greys.

A Closer Look (Part 17)

Near Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1918. My Dad's older cousin, Henry, already had his pensive expression.

Here's the original post for this photo.

Memory Triggers

Suburban Chicago, December 24, 1965. Dad snapped this photo as we waited for Kūčios to begin. Although I smiled, I was annoyed because Mom had just used a barrette to undo the effect of my cool, over-the-eye, side-parted bob. Mom made me wear tights again! And this was long before tights were fashionable. I also was miserable because I suffered from badly chapped lips that winter. Do you recognize the silver bracelet?

This image captures how pink our kitchen was. There's the Roper wall oven that served us for 34 years. The elephant figurine resting below the chandelier presently sits—minus his tusks—on a bookshelf in our current home. The "Swim Little Duck" folk art hangs above Mom's head.

Unplowed Reunion

Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois, January 1965. It's best to plow and shovel before the really cold weather arrives.

Related by Marriage: A Birthday Visit

Suburban Chicago, January 2, 1962. Mr. Irene hosts a small birthday gathering; Cousin I is a favorite guest.

We pause while we hike.

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1972. We approach a clearing.

Related by Marriage: Window Lamp

Suburban Chicago, 1958. Mr. Irene's Mom and her friends pose for a housewarming snapshot.

Happy New Year!

Toronto Ontario, Canada, January 1, 1956. It's time to look to the future.

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

Winter-Sky Reunion

Door County, Wisconsin, January 1969. The landscape doesn't need snow to look cold.

We toast, and then we dance.

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1961. The party goers interrupt the dancing to share a toast.

Usually, we prefer to stay at home.

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1968. We stay up and share a bottle of Cook's. Although it's a family night, we still use the fancy champagne glasses.

A Toast from the Elders

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1969. Everyone gets into the mood.

A Smaller Gathering

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1971. This photo dates from about the time we started celebrating the New Year by watching Die Fledermaus.

We're drinking from my Mom's funky champagne glasses. Each glass has a different tinted hue. My Mom's best friend Donna (seated to my left) also had a similar set. I was delighted a few years ago when Mom gave me those glasses.

They danced in the Rec Room, too.

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1961. After dinner, the guests moved to the Rec Room. The Rec Room's tiled floor was good for dancing. Things changed after we carpeted that area.

It's time to dance.

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1965. Lily and her dance partner know it's easy to dance in the basement because the basement floor isn't carpeted.

Silver Creek's Edge

Suburban Chicago, December 1964. We take a walk behind the house to check out the creek.

Let's get a picture before we take down the tree.

Suburban Chicago, December 1964. The aluminum tree didn't get assembled every year, but it lasted for a while.

Babos Receptai (Part 6)

It's almost New Year's Eve, so it's time to think about the užkandžiai, or appetizers, that will grace the table. We always served "New Year's Eve Eggs" when our family hosted the party. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, also liked to prepare her version of shrimp cocktail, "Amerikoniškas Shrimp Cocktail."

Here is her recipe (note the chemical formulas at the bottom of the page):

Here is how I wrote up the recipe:

First Courses

Shrimp with Rice and Pink Sauce

Wash canned shrimp* in cold water and place on cheesecloth.

Cook the rice as though you were making chicken (and rice with white sauce).

Make the sauce from mayonnaise, sour cream, red horseradish, tomato paste, and a bit of salt and sugar.

Place the shrimp in the center of the plate [and surround with the rice]. Pour the sauce around the shrimp and the rice.

Let stand in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before serving.

*This recipes is from the 1950s. Midwestern grocery stores rarely carried "fresh" seafood. It was not uncommon to serve luxury foods, like shrimp and lobster, from cans.

Armrest Reunion

Madison, Wisconsin, August 1998. Find a spot.