Late-Summer Basket

Near Penza, Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, 1933. My paternal Grandmother Tatjana's younger sister, Natasha, goes mushroom picking with her son.

Summer Reflection

Near Penza, Russian Soviet Socialist Republic. Natasha cherishes the season.

Summer Joy

Near Penza, Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, Summer 1952. Natasha sent this candid to her older sister—my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana.

Summer Still

Near Penza, Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, Summer 1956. Natasha poses for Tatjana.

Summer Mood

Near Penza, Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, 1954. Natasha enjoys the season.

Summer Sweater

Penza, Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, Summer 1962. My paternal Grandmother Tatjana's younger sister, Natasha, wrote, "On our little terrace."

Hopeful

Penza, Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, June 1969. My paternal Grandmother Tatjana's sister, Natasha, wrote, "Sashenka is fishing at our lake."

Federalism contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Said Putin: 

Putin was particularly critical of Lenin’s concept of a federative state with its entities having the right to secede, saying it has heavily contributed to the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union. He added that Lenin was wrong in a dispute with Joseph Stalin, who advocated a unitary state model.

(P.S. Stalin is back in fashion.)

Later in the Season

Penza, Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, 1965. Natasha, a younger sister of my paternal Grandmother Tatjana, wrote, "With Sashenka in our garden in late autumn."

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

Harvest

Penza, Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, September 1964. Natasha, a younger sister of my paternal Grandmother Tatjana, wrote, "Natashenka, with a pumpkin, and I, to our beloved one."

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

Summer Basket

Probably Penza, Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, August 1969. Natasha, a younger sister of my paternal Grandmother Tatjana, wrote, "To Tanechka, my darling! Shura is convinced that I am not as thin as I look here, and he is probably right: I am average."

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

Exploration

Probably Penza, Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, 1965. Natasha, a younger sister of my paternal Grandmother Tatjana, wrote, "Like the narrow straits in front of El Dorado."

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

Box Seat

St. Petersburg (then Leningrad), Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, 1966. My paternal Grandmother Tatjana's younger sister, the actress Elena, wrote, "A film about the life of the past century. I am at the theater, sitting in a box seat, watching a performance. The woman who is sitting next to me I cut off. I am wearing [your] jabot. This photograph was taken in the second half of December, not long before the blows."

Perhaps Elena refers to this when she mentions "the blows."

Thanks to my friend, D, for translating the inscription on this photo.

A Different Angle

Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, June 6, 1969. Elena, one of the two younger sisters of my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, writes, "To Tanjusha, my dear sister."

This photo was one of three publicity shots Elena sent to Tatjana.

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

Depth

Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, June 6, 1969. My paternal Grandmother Tatjana's younger sister, Elena, wrote, "To Tanjusha, my dear sister."

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.

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.

Publicity Portrait

Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, November 6, 1969. Elena, one of the two younger sisters of my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, writes, "To Tanusha, my little sister.* I am posing in costume. This is how I earn money. I am living the life of a widow."

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

*[My paternal Grandmother was the eldest of six children; Elena must refer to Tatjana's size, not her age.]

The Path Behind the House

Penza, Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, about 1962. Natasha, a sister of my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, wrote, "Path beyond the house where we live. Our house is on the left, behind the trees."

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

Ski as along as there's snow.

Penza, Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, April 1965. Natasha, one of the two younger sisters of my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, continues to ski.