Aspirations

Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois, October 1961. I imitate Dad.

Reunited

Brooklyn, New York, March 28, 1948. My Dad's twin sister, Jonė, visits her cousins—the two daughters of Victoria—during the Easter holiday.

The Other Side of the Room

Schweinfurt, Germany, about 1947. Scouts and other audience members from the Displaced Persons camp listen to a speaker.

Autumn Drive

Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois, October 1963. Mr. Irene asked whether my family often went to Morton Arboretum. The photos suggest we went several times each autumn and at least once each spring.

On the Water

Near Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, July 1954. Dad and a family friend are on the dinghy. Dad's pipe is in his pocket.

The Bishop Arrives

Sacred Heart Church, Melrose Park, Illinois, February 1968. The bishop will oversee our Confirmation.

Be yourself when you're with a friend.

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Toronto, Ontario, Canada, about 1965 or 1966. That's Toronto Al on the left.

Thanks to Toronto Al for making these photos available to us.

To them, you'll always be a kid.

Time-Life photographed rock stars and their parents.

Donovan's Mom had a devoted poodle.

A Dog's Nose

"Man adopts dog with secret sniffing ability."

Muddy

Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois, October 1961. We've taken a drive to admire the fall colors.

Restorations

My Dad worked primarily in black-and-white photography because (1) he appreciated that aesthetic; and (2) he liked to develop and print his own photographs. He occasionally took color photographs, and he reserved color film primarily for human subjects.

A friend recently asked whether I tweak those old Kodachrome images before I post them. When I first started the blog, I scanned photographs and did little restoration. Later—when we bought a new scanner, and I got accustomed to working with photo software—I began adjusting the images.

Some purists believe altering an old photograph mars its integrity. I disagree. A restored image better captures what the photographer saw.

Here's an example of a photograph (I posted it earlier here) before and after a quick restoration:

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What do you think?

Related by Marriage: Army Buddies (Part 18)

Camp Irwin, Barstow, California, 1951 or 1952. In this "Army Buddies" snapshot, a fellow tank instructor poses for Mr. Irene's Dad.

Knitting Note: Foula Wool

I knit primarily with Shetland wool because that fiber is perfectly suited for finger-weight, fair-isle knitting. I presently am working a sweater for a man that’s done almost entirely in natural, undyed shades. I've worked in these shades before, and I favor them. I recently learned about a breed of sheep—Foula sheep—whose wool really does produce an extraordinary palette of shades.
 
Foula wool is a DK, not fingering, weight, so it's a bit thicker than the yarn I usually use. I'm pretty motivated to try it—especially after seeing the cardigan swatches Tom of Holland knitted.

Let's look at some Foula sheep:

Exchanging Portraits (Part 5)

Probably Schweinfurt, Germany, about 1946. Here's another friend of my Dad's twin sister, Jonė. The embroidered motif on the blouse resembles the one I knitted in "Baltic Bog."

Early-Evening Snack

Madison, Wisconsin, October 2005. We have few rabbits in our Verona backyard. That's because we have coyotes.

General Manners: If you're overstimulated, then step away and rest.

Niagara Falls, New York, July 1963. Mom and I take a break from visiting the falls.

Scarves aren't just for beginners.

British prisoner claims authorities confiscated the 452-foot long scarf he'd been knitting because "they feared he would use to escape."

Living Arrangements

Photographs show student life at the University of Wisconsin—Madison over the last 100 years.

Investiture

Kaišiadorys, Lithuania, about 1926. In 1926, the Pope appointed Juozapas Kukta as the first bishop of the newly created Diocese of Kaišiadorys. My Dad's older cousin, Henry, and his wife, Suzanne, lived in that vicinity. They—or their Parents—must have been friends of the Bishop because this snapshot landed in their small family album.

 

Thanks to Henry and Suzanne's Granddaughter—my Kaunas Cousin—for making this photo available to us.

"Pink washing" sparks "National No Bra Day."

"[P]lease put your bra back on, put down those pink garbage bags (unless you really like pink that much!), that pink "awareness" pepper spray keychain, and that pink breast cancer "awareness" vibrator and dildo (yes, I'm blushing and yes, these are real things that their merchandisers say will "help you raise breast cancer awareness" — though they are shipped discretely in plain, unmarked boxes so no one knows what you purchased) and send a few dollars to an organization that devotes their fundraising dollars to research."

ADDED: "People need to think outside the bra."

Shelter

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, July 1967. Things look small when you step back.

Family Walk

High Park, Toronto, Ontario, July 1964. Mom carries her knitting bag in case there's a chance to work a few rows.

Bow Tie

Suburban Chicago, Spring 1964. My squirrel bank is on the shelf about Dad's head. When you put a coin on the squirrel's paws, the squirrel tilted and dropped the coin into the plastic tree trunk.

Afternoon Tea

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, July 13, 1955. I am not sure who served here as the hostess—my Toronto Cousin or her friend.

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

Side-Street Reunion

Hořice, Czechoslovakia, October 1, 1946. Toronto Al's Mom briefly lived in this town during her time as a Displaced Person.

Thanks to Toronto Al for making this postcard available to us.

Knitted Garments

 
Suburban Chicago, February 1962. Dad swoops in again for a self-timed snapshot.

Holy Communion (Part 15)

Sacred Heart Church, Melrose Park, Illinois, November 1965. Here's another view from the day.

Dairy State

Russia stops importation of Lithuanian dairy products.

During the first Soviet occupation of Lithuania in 1940, the USSR started exporting most of Lithuania's dairy products to Russia. The Soviet Union sent grocery trucks—marked "Food for a Starving Lithuania" and hauling only watermelons—as an exchange for the dairy products.

The New Arrival

Kaunas, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, 1958. Kaunas Nina—the daughter of my Dad's older cousin, Henry—welcomes her daughter, my Kaunas Cousin.

Crosswalk

Interlaken, Switzerland, July 1971. Everyone should follow the rules.

Fall Cleanup

Door County, Wisconsin, October 1979. Mom gets the flowerbeds ready for winter.

Resistance

Chicago, Illinois, January 1961. My Dad has driven us to Adler Planetarium. I have no interest in visiting another space exhibit.

Related by Marriage: October Anniversary

Los Angeles, California, October 1952. Here's another image from the wedding day of Mr. Irene's paternal Uncle, Ignas. Mr. Irene's Dad stands behind the groom.

Undeveloped Reunion

Verona, Wisconsin, October 2008. The deer used to live in that group of trees.

Autumn Sitting

Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois, October 1964. Dad has my coat over his shoulder.

Two Sons

Lithuania, about 1936. Kadis, the husband of my Dad's twin sister, Jonė, is on the right.

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

RAWR

A white lion cub tests her roar.

Morning Ritual

Scouting Camp, near Schweinfurt, Germany, about 1948. My Dad is the third fellow from the left. His twin sister, Jonė, is the first woman on the left, in the first row.

It's like watching grass grow (or "watching a fire burning itself out").

Norwegian public television airs a five-hour, live knitting event.

UPDATE: New link posted.

Parking

Venice, Italy, April 1984. The gondolas await the next group of tourists.

Exchanging Portraits (Part 4)

Rotenfels, Germany, October 22, 1945. My Dad's friend wrote, "Let's remember our times together in Kaunas."

Cowboy Attire

Toronto, Ontario, about 1956. Toronto Al wears the right accessories.

Silent Auction

For the last few years, I've knitted sweaters for the UW Carbone Cancer Center's annual Sparkle of Hope fundraiser.
 
These are the two items up for bid at last night's silent auction:

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Madison, Wisconsin, October 3, 2013. I had trouble parting with the first sweater because the color suits me.

Harris Hall

Evanston, Illinois, May 1979. Harris Hall houses the History Department.

Related by Marriage: From the Porch

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Bridgeport, Chicago, Illinois, May 29, 1938. Mr. Irene's Mom is on the porch, and she writes down what she thinks is important.

Grab a Book: Tennis-Ball Edition

Suburban Chicago, December 1972. Mom's in her usual spot, and Gigi has her eye on the toy.

Venus

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, May 1961. This Boxer dog belonged to my Toronto Cousin's older, stylish cousin. My Toronto Cousin reports that the woman had several Boxers over the years; she named each one "Venus."

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

Forest Floor

Door County, Wisconsin, October 1979. Gigi blends in with the tree stumps.

Wear sensible shoes when you hike.

again brings her knitting bag on a hike.

Chaperoning

Isarhorn, Germany, August 2 to 14, 1948. When my Dad traveled to the third National Scouting Jamboree, he was a young adult. Many young scouts also made the trip.

Not now, please.

Kačerginė, Lithuania, Summer 1940. My Dad's twin, Jonė, discourages the photographer.

Thanks to Jonė's daughter—my Toronto Cousin—for making this photo available to us.

Mossy Reunion

Wisconsin Dells, August 2013. Someday, we'll walk this path in the evening.

We are ready to explore the park.

High Park, Toronto, Ontario, July 1964. My Toronto Cousin and I dressed for the occasion.

Related by Marriage: It's still warm enough to pose on the porch.

Bridgeport, Chicago, Illinois, about 1946. Mr. Irene's maternal Grandparents, Stanley and Anna, pause from their chores to take a photo with Mr. Irene's Mom and her older sister, Martha.

A Wider View

I recently posted photos (here and here) that my Dad had cropped during his restoration of the original images. 

Here is another original snapshot; Dad's slightly altered image is here.

Radviliškis, Lithuania, 1923. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, introduces her twins—Jonė and my Dad—to her mother, Nina K. This photo differs only a bit from the one my Dad restored. The blankets (rugs?) are more visible here; I wonder if Tatjana used them as bedding for the twins.