Gathered

Suburban, Chicago, October 1967. There's a reception under way.

A Closer Look (Part 82)

Kaunas, Lithuania, 1932. This is my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana.

Here's the original post.

A Closer Look (Part 79)

Palanga, Lithuania, 1928. This is my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana. The girl is my Dad's cousin.

Here's the original post.

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.

A Sunny Summer

Schweinfurt, Germany, about 1947. This is a close friend of my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana.

Exchanging Portraits (Part 63)

Kaunas, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, October 1957. A close friend of my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, sent this photo.

Summer Mood

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

Sleepy Baba

Suburban Chicago, 1967. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, dozes off while watching television.

Everybody's in the Picture

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, July 1969. Dad's quite tan, and Jonė holds Fuzzina.

Hopeful

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

Permitted

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Brooklyn, New York, 1949 to 1952. Here's the ID card my paternal Grandmother Tatjana used when she traveled between Toronto and New York.

Recuperation

Suburban Chicago, 1973. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, usually wore housecoats. I wear one because I just returned home from an appendectomy.

A Visit with the Grandchild

Klaipeda, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, August 20, 1960. A friend of my paternal Grandmother sent this photo. I focus on two things: the Soviet-style doll and the armchair.

Babos Receptai (Part 15)

Here's a recipe Tatjana got from her daughter—my Dad's twin sister—Jonė.

 Here's how I translated the recipe:

Streusel Kuchen

Streusel Topping:
1 to 1-1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 stick unsalted butter (not specified in the recipe, but I would add)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Cake:
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 to 2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder (Tatjana probably used one of these)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 sticks margarine
1 stick butter
1 "cup" granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup milk 

Marmalade or jam 


Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and adjust the rack to the center position.

For the Streusel: Mix together the flour, sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly. Stir in the vanilla. Chill the streusel while you prepare the cake batter.

For the Cake: Sift together the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon. Set aside.

Cream the margarine, butter, and sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla.

Alternately fold in the sifted dry ingredients and the milk, beginning and ending with the sifted dry ingredients. 

Spread the dough on a greased, flat baking pan (size not specified). Spread some marmalade or jam over the top.

Scatter the streusel over the top of the cake. Bake for about 40 minutes. If the cake is not ready after 40 minutes, then lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake for another 10 minutes.

We share a laugh.

Suburban Chicago, November 1972. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, gets a kick out of one of the photos in her birthday album.

A Good Eater

Suburban Chicago, January 1959. There's our trusty refrigerator.

A Closer Look (Part 65)

Russia, between about 1870 and 1874. This is Nikolas, the maternal Grandfather of my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana.

Here's the original post. Here's his wife.