A Closer Look (Part 63)

Mariampolis, Lithuania, 1910. This is my maternal Grandmother Jadzė. Here's the original post.

Late-Winter Reunion

Madison, Wisconsin, March 7, 2016. We're walking away from campus.

Photo Shoot

When we arrived at the Hotel San Pietro, photographers from a magazine were staging a fashion shoot. It seemed so exciting.

Positano, Italy, May 1984. The hotel lobby was somewhat overwhelming.

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Positano, Italy, May 1984. The hotel overlooks the Amalfi Coast.

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Positano, Italy, May 1984. There was a lot of staging going on on the terrace.

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Positano, Italy, May 1984. After the photographers finished their work, one of them offered to take my picture.

We heard them, but we did not see them.

Turn up the volume:

 

Verona, Wisconsin, March 11, 2016. Sandhill Cranes woke me up this morning. Their calls continued for several minutes. So we still wait.

(Rex heard them, too.)

Restoration Day

Madison, Wisconsin, March 2016. Lithuania today celebrates the anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union. This poster, from the Lithuanian Parliament ("Sajudis") addresses the April 14, 1990 referendum.

Waiting

Verona, Wisconsin, March 2015. Last year, the crane pair started nesting in our backyard on March 19. We're waiting to see if they return. I still wonder if something bad didn't happen to the family last year.

Spring Thing

Madison, Wisconsin, Spring 1992. The Madison folk dance group, Žaibas, poses for the shot to be included in the Ninth Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival program.

Vintage Village

Amalfi Coast, May 1984. Hamlets like this one dot the Amalfi Coast. Many of them were pirate lairs.

Puzzled

Suburban Chicago, 1965. The sister on the left is Sister Margo, my beloved second-grade teacher.

Feeder Reunion

Verona, Wisconsin, March 8, 2016. Our visitor is ready for Spring.

Bridesmaids

St. George's Parish, Bridgeport, Chicago, Illinois, May 1953. Lithuanians commonly used folkdresses as wedding garb.

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

Yoo Hoo!

Verona, Wisconsin, September 2013. She's just blending in.

It's Lithuania Week ...

... all week at the University Club in Madison. We enjoyed our meals there last year, and we'll be there tonight for a Madison Vilnius Sister Cities, Inc. dinner.

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Madison, Wisconsin, March 2015. Don't miss the Cepelinai (the star of the show).

Romanticism

Between Naples and Rome, May 1984. People have visions of what European train travel looks like. This is how I remember it.

Backstage Rehearsal

Madison, Wisconsin, November 17, 1991. The women of Žaibas practice Belzdinėlė one more time before we perform at the Madison International Festival.

Life with a Dog

A giant idea.

We miss you, "Miss."

Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, February 2012. We headed to Blackberry Ridge Woolen Mill today so I could pick up more of my favorite worsted-weight yarn. It's a lovely drive, and the mill is about 20 minutes from the house.

We were sad to learn "Miss," the Anatolian Shepherd Dog, recently passed away from Melanoma. Miss was 14. She was a sweet mascot, and she made every trip to the mill truly enjoyable.

Route 66

Part, by rail.

"And also, while Sangelica is adorable 95 percent of the time, it’s really pretty disturbing to see how the bear drinks through its forehead."

A giant teddy bear walks into a Tokyo Starbucks.

Red-Poodle Reunion

Verona, Wisconsin, September 2013. Rex waits for Mr. Irene.

St. Kazimieras's Day

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1926. Lithuanians celebrate name days, and today is one of the biggies: St. Kazimieras's day.

This is Kazimieras, my Dad's paternal Uncle. Here's the original post.

Remember when 17 politicians ran in the primaries?

That was in 1976. One of the candidates was Terry Sanford, a former North-Carolina Governor and President of Duke University. He later served in the United States Senate.

Sanford also served as chair of the ITT International Fellowship Committee. Sanford and his wife, Margaret, toured southern Italy with the American recipients of the 1983-1984 fellowship.

When I met Governor Sanford, I did not know who he was. During the trip, I learned he was a true gentleman. He was kind in spirit, thoughtful, and buoyant.

Positano, Italy, May 1984. This was a memorable meal: spaghetti with cuttlefish and squid.

"Let's just acknowledge its a different dog and move on."

Has an imposter replaced the Milwaukee Brewers' adorable Mascot Hank?

Spring Furs

Bologna, Italy, April 1984. Just a moderate chill compelled Italians to wear furs.

Interview with a Knitter

On Wisconsin Public Radio.

"The report recommends that all women diagnosed with ovarian cancer have genetic testing to help map treatment decisions. Close relatives of women with the disease also should be tested."

A new report by the Institute of Medicine.

Sea Blue

Amalfi Coast, Italy, May 1984. It's deeper than it looks.

"Irish songs, jokes & Lithuanian Dancers"

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St. Joseph Catholic Parish School, Baraboo, Wisconsin, March 15, 1992. There are several ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

"How yarn bombing grew into a worldwide movement."

A TED Talk.

March Snow

Verona, Wisconsin, March 4, 2015. There's a path to the feeder.

CoyoteVest ...

... Pet Body Armor.

Bruised

Suburban Chicago, June 1962. Here's another view of my face after I took the fall on the driveway.

Leap Day

Verona, Wisconsin, February 2016. Skip over it.

Stash Busting

Verona, Wisconsin, February 2016. Here's another sweater knitted in Dalegarn's (discontinued) "Tiur." The pattern is a Sandness Garn design. Brush up on your Norwegian!

Related by Marriage: An Absorbing Meal

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 1958. Guests at the wedding reception of Mr. Irene's Parents enjoy the meal. (There's plenty of Lithuanian Rye on the table.)

A Closer Look (Part 62)

Kaunas, Lithuania, 1936. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, is content.

Here's the original post.

"Niente altro. Non ci sono tanti segreti."

"Nothing else. There aren't many secrets" ... to making cannoli:

"Ah ... mi sento un uccello in un giardino." ("Ah ... I hear a bird in a garden.")

She's catching up to Mom

Verona, Wisconsin, February 2016. Sometimes they don't mind if you stop to admire them.

A Later Visit

Suburban Chicago, Spring 1980. My Mom's best friend, Donna, finds a good spot.

Congestion

Bologna, Italy, April 1984. It's not good place to park. Or drive.

Stitch Count

Door County, Wisconsin, January 1978. It's good to have a helper.

Fall Colors

The fashion color report from Pantone.

It's nice to see one of my favorite shades, "Warm Taupe," make the list.

Winter Station

Germany, about 1947. Here's another postcard from the Bavarian Railway.

Classmates

Kedainai, Lithuania, May 28, 1932. The girl in the bottom row, on the left, is the Mother of my friend Nijole. The students wear the identifying uniforms typical of that era.

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

Shoppers' Alley

Venice, Italy, December 1983. Pick up a bottle on the way home.

"Much as you'd like to believe your aroma is 'masculine' or 'musky,' your clothes tell another story, and cashmere in particular starts to smell pretty foul after a bit."

How to wash woolen garments.

Related by Marriage: After the Party

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 1958. A bridesmaid from the wedding of Mr. Irene's Parents relaxes with a guest and one of the VFW fellows.

(This bridesmaid also was named "Irene." Something about her expression here reminds me of Lady Gaga.)

Forget-Me-Not

Door County, Wisconsin, June 2003. I'll be back.

Final Rehearsal

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Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois, July 1992. We're ready for the big performance.

Clinical Education

Erlangen, Germany, about 1946 or 1947. Mom remembers many medical-school clinics in the center of the college town.

Presidential Memento

Kaunas, Lithuania, July 7, 1928. The American Consul to Lithuania wrote, "At five o'clock, Lily and I called on Mrs. Smetona and played dice as usual, after having coffee. Lily bought a photograph of President Smetona a few days ago and she asked Mrs. Smetona to request the President to sign it. The adjutant went to his office and brought the picture back signed."

Thanks to the Consul's Granddaughter for making this photo available to us.

A Lido Canal

Lido di Venezia, January 1984. The Lido canals are more inviting than the ones in Venice.

Related by Marriage: Bridal Fashions

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 1958. Aunt Petra assesses the modern styles.

She Bolts, in Three Takes

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Verona, Wisconsin, February 18, 2016. The youngster doesn't linger at the roadside.