A Knitted Suit from the 1980s

Columbia, South Carolina, November 13, 1988. I used to knit suits, too (okay, this is a two-piece dress). The sleeves are not Dolman sleeves—I never liked those batwings—but they are wide. I knitted this in Lana Borgosesia's Hilton yarn. I worked the yarn at 7 stitches to the inch: knitters know this is a fine (to some, tedious) gauge.

I loved this garment. It's knitted in my favorite color! I wore it when I taught, and I wore it for special occasions. And . . .  I still have it:

Fresh Reunion

Verona, Wisconsin, February 2011. The tracks soon will appear.

Related by Marriage: Stars in his Eyes

Evanston, Illinois, about 1980. That's how the friend who sent this photo described Mr. Irene's expression. Mr. Irene, who does not remember the snapshot, thinks he looks like he is wearing a straight jacket.

Cold Snap

Verona, Wisconsin, January 2008. I'm rarely awake early enough to see the sun rise.

Related by Marriage: Anniversary

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 11, 1958. Mr. Irene' Parents got married fifty-eight years ago today.

Winter Mild

Venice, Italy, December 1983. A fur coat isn't necessary.

Snowy Sunday

Thatcher Woods, Suburban Chicago, January 1961. I'm dressed in red again, and I wear the Mickey-Mouse mittens. I take the snowman home, and we find a spot for him in the backyard.

Saturday Shoppers

Bologna, Italy, April 1984. The Via Farini is Bologna's exclusive shopping district.

Presidential Box

Kaunas, Lithuania, September 2010. My friend Nancy sits in the presidential box at the Kaunas Opera House. Nancy's Grandfather, the American Consul to Lithuania in the 1920s, had season tickets to the opera.

My Mom also attended performances in this theater.

This tam is for me.

Verona, Wisconsin, January 2016. I've knitted many tams over the last few years, but I never made one for myself. Now I have a hat, too.

Applause

Madison's International Festival takes place tomorrow at the Overture Center. The Wisconsin folk dance group, Žaibas, will perform at 12:45.

Žaibas is the group with which Mr. Irene and I performed in the early 1990s. We danced at the festivals back when they occurred at the old Oscar Mayer Theater.

Madison, Wisconsin, 1991 to 1995. Here are Žaibas's curtain calls at the early festivals.

Thanks to my friend Nijole for making these clips available to us.

Boom Box

Heraculaneum, Italy, May 1984. Name the tune.

Related by Marriage: Newlyweds

Chicago, Illinois, about 1956. Friends of Mr. Irene's Mom are "just married." I wonder in what kind of car the couple sat. The upholstery looks like velvet.

I like it when grooms wear "white tie."

Winter-Blue Reunion

Verona, Wisconsin, February 2009. She's heading to the cornfield for a snack.

Background

Hanau, Germany, about 1946. This girl in this photo is Nijole. She stands with her Parents, her maternal Grandmother, and a family friend near the Displaced-Persons camp. Nijole writes, "But who were those ominous men in the ruins??" You can read more about Nijole's experience here.

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

Winter Parking

Lido di Venezia, January 1984. It's a one-way street.

The Older Generation

Seligenstadt, Germany, about 1947. My maternal Grandfather Jake (third from left) stands with group of Displaced Persons at the camp. Jake was in his late forties when he fled Lithuania.

Crossing

Verona, Wisconsin, January 2008. The red fox favors the deer path.

A Closer Look (Part 57)

Panevėžys, Lithuania, about 1931. This is Mr. Irene's paternal Grandfather.

Here's the original post.

Venice in Winter

Venice, Italy, December 1983. Most of the boats one sees on the winter canals are not gondolas.

We're not gloomy.

Suburban Chicago, January 1962. My Toronto Cousin and I are happy to go outside, even if the skies are cloudy.

She's in holiday gear until January 6.

Black Earth, Wisconsin, January 2013. It's also a good idea to wear a coat because it's cold.

We're taking down the tree.

Suburban Chicago, January 1979. The little tree has served its holiday purpose.

A Balanced Beginning

Door County, Wisconsin, January 1979. Mom's about ready to head home.

New Year's Day

Suburban Chicago, January 1965. Dad's fine; he only looks like he's recovering.

A New Year's Table

December 31, 1971. The New Year's parties got smaller over the years. We still shared a late meal before we headed to the Rec Room to watch Die Fledermaus.

"The Year, in Pictures"

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Poodle Trees

Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, December 29, 2015. There's a lot to absorb.

Decorating the Tree

Suburban Chicago, December 1961. My Dad, my Toronto Cousin, Kadis, and I decorate the tree. I dance when I get excited, and I recover from spills easily.

"War and Peace" returns.

Parts of the new movie were filmed in Lithuania.

My Mom and I watched the 1972 version in the weeks after my Dad died. We rented the VHS tapes of the production and did a 1980s-version of binge watching. We played the tapes on the small television in Mom and Dad's bedroom. I don't remember why, but we started watching the series installments late each night. Sometimes we didn't finish an episode until after 1:00 am.

A Happy Shopper

Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, December 29, 2015. Poodles like to get out, too.

A Last Christmas Spin

Melrose Park, Illinois, December 1967. The sooner we finish, the sooner we'll get to the refreshments.

Blue Reunion

Near Sauk City, Wisconsin, January 1990. We're getting some snow.

A Lesson about Sharing

Suburban Chicago, December 24, 1960. I don't mind sharing the pink bear with my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, because I carry my favorite stuffed dog. It was a good haul.

"Goliath" arrives.

Verona, Wisconsin, December 28, 2015. The name of this winter storm is "Goliath."

First-Christmas Reunion

Madison, Wisconsin, December 1989. Mr. Irene and I decorated the apartment for the holidays. This is the piece hanging above the fireplace. You may recognize the coffee table.

People used to get dressed up to travel.

Columbia, South Carolina, May 1990. Mr. Irene lands in Columbia for the last commuter trip. He arrived moments after Air Force One landed.

I moved from South Carolina the next day, and Mr. Irene accompanied me on the drive back to the Midwest.