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It is not a grandma, it’s great-grandma, and even though I had seen this photo before, I didn’t pay much attention to it.  And when I started to retouch the photo – then I carefully looked into it.  Who are you, dear great-grandma?

Here is she with her husband. The picture was made circa 1865 – 1870; as my dad wrote – not earlier than 1865 and not later than 1870.  Of course, not earlier than 1865, it is right – she got married in 1865.  And then the kids were born: Nick in 1866, Josef in 1868, and Konstantin – in 1870.  She doesn’t look like a mother of 2 or even 3, though she still was young, being born in 1844.  Rather she looks like a happy bride.  She is very happy and looking forward, into the future.  Her young husband looks thoughtful and even sad, maybe he doesn’t want to show his happiness, or another face is floating in his thoughts… But whatever it is we know nothing about it, and the fate of this young couple was to live together for more than 25 years!

.Here is another picture, made in 45 (!) years, in 1910.  She is here with her childrend.  All of them are here – Pavel, Konstantin, Eugenia (this is my grandma), Maria, Josef, Kolya – Maria’s son, Mikhail and Stephan.  Only Nickolas, the oldest one, is not here.

Her husband, Vassilij Kharlampovich, was not alive for already 20 years; he died in 1890.

Their first son, Nicholas was born in 1866; and in 1890 (not long before Vassilij’s death) they celebrated the 25th wedding anniversary.  The silver vase for cookies – the memorable gift – is carefully kept at the house of my cousin, Eugenia.

Her life happened to be along with quiet days of Russia (not to count Japanese War and just started World War One…) .  Her kids were not so lucky, though.  They had to share all the misfortunes what were ready for Russia in the beginning of 20th century.