Monthly Archives: August 2025

Flowers, History, and Tears

Posted on August 31, 2025 by Janette Silverman

Today we walked into the past – into the mid-19th century. This amazing ethnographic museum portrays life as it was in the various regions of Lithuania through its houses, villages, and other structures. Apparently, buildings representative of 19th century life … Continue reading →

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Tears

Posted on August 30, 2025 by Janette Silverman

Today we visited one of those all too many lost communities. It was about a two hour drive from Kaunas to Švėkšna. In 1897 there were about 1000 Jews living in Švėkšna. By the interwar period, Jews owned more than … Continue reading →

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History, Culture, Food, and of course, Ice Cream

Posted on August 29, 2025 by Janette Silverman

This morning, because the hours spend at the Palace of the Grand Dukes didn’t cure us, we went to see Trakai and Trakai Castle. If you followed my blog or spoke with me after my 2018 and 2019 research trips, … Continue reading →

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A Balebosta in Vilnius

Posted on August 28, 2025 by Janette Silverman

It’s not often that you have an opportunity to meet with someone who carries the traditions of Litvak food in her soul. Even if she doesn’t sing out loud as she prepares the ingredients, mixes them, all the while explaining … Continue reading →

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Getting rattled

Posted on August 27, 2025 by Janette Silverman

There are many things when one travels that could be disturbing or nerve wracking. I can’t imagine how our ancestors coped with this, traveling in steerage, carrying all they owned on their backs. I need multiple suitcases even for short … Continue reading →

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Starting with dessert!

Posted on August 26, 2025 by Janette Silverman

One year at Thanksgiving I decided to start with dessert to see what would happen. In my family, dessert includes 0 calories and takes up no room. So, people dug in – to pies, cakes, cobbler, and mousse. They ate … Continue reading →

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Raindrops keep falling, and falling…

Posted on August 25, 2025 by Janette Silverman

The raindrops are very real, but they are also metaphorical. Today we took a long drive to Plungė. I’ve never been there before, and neither has Lina, a native of Lithuania. I have probably not been to half or maybe … Continue reading →

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The Streets

Posted on August 24, 2025 by Janette Silverman

Last night I was lulled to sleep by the musicians playing on the street outside the hotel – accordions, guitars, I think I saw a violinist when I was outside, too. This morning, I woke up early and was lulled … Continue reading →

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Time

Posted on August 23, 2025 by Janette Silverman

As a genealogist I spend a great deal of time searching for people who lived centuries ago. I marvel at the clarity of some of the pages of documents that have withstood the ravages of time while bemoaning the degradation … Continue reading →

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The Adventure Starts (or perhaps continues)

Posted on August 21, 2025 by Janette Silverman

Depending on how you look at it, I am either off for a new adventure or just continuing the journey of discovery I’ve been on for a long time. I realized many years ago that researching made me really happy, … Continue reading →

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