The Legendary Tom Donovan
Tom Donovan, the man of many talents: biologist, builder, and friend.
Grandma’s Memories
Anything that Grandma wants to write about is in this section.
Let me introduce someone we met in Paris — La Dame du Brésil
A wild ride through the streets of Paris When Marilyn and I arrived in Paris two weeks before our 25th wedding anniversary in July 1997, we took a wild taxi ride from the Gare du Nord to the Left Bank and checked in to the Comfort Inn. (It was part of an American chain, so …
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Marilyn’s 50th College Reunion in San Diego
Marilyn had graduated with a B.A. from the University of San Diego, College for Women in 1968. We decided to attend her 50th reunion, just to see San Diego again, and all the old haunts that we used to explore when we were first married, during my Navy days. Of course Marilyn had grown up …
Helena Reciting a Poem
Helena, almost 7 years old, has learned a poem by heart as a school assignment. She is proudly reciting it for her grandparents in Texas, giving them some good advice in German.
Helena Learning to Swim
Helena and Grandpa bought swimming tickets for the pool in the Congress Hotel Am Stadtpark, which was near the Freiermuth apartment in Hannover. They went over every day for a practice session, and by the time the tickets ran out, Helena could go all the way around the pool. She stayed close to the edge, …
Marienburg Castle in Lower Saxony, Germany
A little fairy welcomes us to the beautiful castle Marienburg. A happy memory of our visit on August 2, 2016, by Marilyn and Gary Pickens This castle in Marienburg, near the city of Hannover in northern Germany, was built between 1858 – 1867 as a birthday present from King George V of Hannover (reigned 1851–1866) …
Tradition, Guns and Country Folks
My husband grew up deep in the cowboy country of eastern Colorado, on a wheat-and-cattle farm/ranch on the high plains near the Kansas border, 15 miles from the nearest small town. His parents were warm, friendly, loving people. When I first joined their family, they were still raising their younger sons (who were in high …
Helena’s Birth Story
This is Larissa’s story about her first childbirth experience. It is presented here, in a slightly edited form, by Marilyn. Sept 21, 2010 Around noon, I was putting away the dishes in the dishwasher, debating whether to have fish sticks or a Kaho-smuggled box of Annie’s Mac and Cheese or (more likely) both of them, …
2009 Trip To Europe
This was a visit to newly discovered family we had never met, combined with a trip to see our daughter and her husband. Meeting the Margutti cousins in Essex, England for the very first time! 2. Hanging out with Larissa and Hans Georg in Stuttgart and vicinity. 3. Speyer Cathedral, consecrated in 1061, has been …
et tu, Levi? (Vanity sizing from an old friend)
JUNE 4, 2009 Controversy about women’s clothing sizes–and women’s body sizes–is well known to any woman, whether cute young fashionista or mall-shopping grandmother. Part of the shopping experience is the absolute necessity of trying on jeans and trousers before purchase. The occasional knit top might be bought on the fly, but a garment that has …
Birdwatching in Texas
A visit from my sister (the dedicated birdwatcher) and her partner (the even more dedicated birdwatcher) has given us two days of trying to find birds in the dead of winter, and has taught us the following facts: 1. Of approximately 700 bird species in the United States, there are approximately 600 to be found …
Flood Day
Disaster today–of a small kind. An open tap, a clogged sink, some inattention, and a flood that covered the bathroom and progressed down the hallway. We’ve been saying for years that we need to replace the old carpeting. It was installed about 30 years ago, and has been looking increasingly shabby, but the thought of …
Margutti family in Trieste, ca. 1892
The back side of this photo is marked 1892 by the photography studio, which probably indicates the year it was taken, for the photographer’s files. It was taken in Trieste, Italy, according to the photographer’s information. From left to right, I believe these folks are: Lisette (seated, with flowers in her lap), Louis (sitting on …
Farewell to Billy Bob
MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2008 Our beloved cat Billy Bob was put to sleep this afternoon. He had been slowly failing for several months (we see in retrospect), and reached the critical point on Saturday (two days ago). We took him into the Burnet Road Animal Hospital (where he has many fans), but the treatment he …
Kaho’s beautiful wedding dress creation stars in Larissa and Hans Georg’s 2008 Summer Celebration in Ludwigsburg.
After a simple civil marriage ceremony in Switzerland in the autumn of 2007, Hans Georg and Larissa moved to southern Germany. It is the custom in Europe to have both a civil ceremony and a church ceremony. The civil ceremony is always first, because the church ceremony has no legal standing. The church ceremony is …
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOUNTAIN LADY !
JULY 5, 2008 Two little sisters and a little red wagon, in a California garden in 1948 . . . This baby grew up to be beautiful, intelligent, fun-loving and strong. Her big sister is just as proud of her now as she was then, sixty years ago. Today I wish that she may always …
Margutti Children (and their mother Laure)
The Margutti children, from left to right: Elisabeth, born 1886 Victor, born 1889 Louis, born 1885 These names and dates are noted on the back of the photograph, as well as the date in French, “July 1900.” The picture was taken in Melun, France. Laure Chartrey Margutti with young Victor, in Trieste, Italy The back …
A special visit–and a special dress
This week we have been enjoying a lovely visit from a designer friend of Larissa’s, who has turned our family room into an atelier, complete with busy sewing machine, lowly assistants (Larissa and her mom) and yards of silk organza. Today the bridal gown is taking its final shape. This is a big thank-you to …
Albert von Margutti: Historic Arms
I believe a painting of the coat of arms described above was commissioned by Tante Lisette as a gift for my father the year she died. It was found in her desk drawer, together with a note from my mother asking for a “coat of arms” for my father’s birthday gift. Much later, I found …
Victor Margutti of England
Victor Louis Alexander Margutti 1913-1980CinematographerFather of Simon, Judy, and Guy Margutti.
Cousin Albert von Margutti
Albert Margutti served in the court of the Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary for about 17 years, and in the court of the Emperor Karl until the Austrian-Hungarian Empire was dissolved at the end of World War I. He became one of Franz Joseph’s personal aides.
Aunt Carlotta and Uncle Enrico
Carlotta Gallo Margutti and Enrico Margutti, Venice 1907 Parents of Albert von Margutti This photo was found among Lisette’s things. The back is inscribed in French, “Best wishes from your Aunt Charlotte and your Uncle Henri.” This picture was taken in the 40th year of their marriage. Very rough translation of the wedding announcement (from …
Rodust Family, San Francisco, California
Here is a picture of the Rodust family, taken when they lived in San Francisco, on Washington Street, near Larkin, about 1885. Left to right, they are: Bernhard (father), “Addie,” “Birdie,” “Daisy” (in front of Frank), “Frank,” Mary (mother). The father of the family, Bernard Adolf E. Rodust is listed in Record 4913 of the …
Letters from Louis: September 1908
Letters from Louis Margutti to his mother in France, immediately following the death of his brother Victor. Three years after his burial in California, Victor’s remains were returned to France to be reburied there.
Victor in America: Summer 1908
Letters from Victor Margutti, uncle and namesake of Victor M. Margutti, mentioned here as “Baby,” to his mother in France in the summer of 1908, when he came to California to live with his brother Louis. He died in a train accident in Fresno, California, on September 17, 1908. In my translations, I have followed …
Victor Margutti of America
Victor Mario Margutti 1906-1994DoctorFather of Marilyn, Laura, and Elizabeth Margutti.
Billy Bob’s Miserable Experience
Hello World, Billy Bob here. I want to report a most insulting situation foisted on my by my humans. I love and respect them and all, but they certainly have no notion of what they have done to me this time. This afternoon, a sore from a bite wound that I received a few days …
Family History: House at Chartrettes, 1912
Home of the Chartrey de Menetreux family FEBRUARY 22, 2008
Family History: Victor Chartrey de Menetreux – Portrait
Denis Victor Amedée Chartrey de MenetreuxBorn 21 July 1831Died 7 April 1899 Father of Laure ChartreyGreat-grandfather of Victor Mario Marguttiand Victor Louis Alexander Margutti
Family History: Victor Chartrey de Menetreux – Story
The following is translated from a typewritten copy in French, presumably prepared for the alumni yearbook mentioned in the title. I give the title of the article in the original French, and my translation after it. My explanatory notes are in square brackets, in italics. I have followed, as much as possible, the punctuation and …
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Spring, the Sweet Spring…
In my earliest memories, when Highway 10 between our house in Pasadena and our grandparents’ house in Redlands passed mostly through farmland, smog was not yet a daily occurence. Our grandparents’ house was surrounded by orange groves, and sheets hung out to dry in the “winter blossom season” (as our grandfather called it) came in …
Family History: Laure Chartrey
Denise Laure Jenny ChartreyBorn April 30, 1863Died March 20, 1947 Grandmother of Victor Mario Marguttiand Victor Louis Alexander Margutti JANUARY 29, 2008
Billy Bob Makes a Friend
Billy Bob lived up to his reputation as one of mellowest dude-cats in town yesterday. Seth, the new neighbor across the street, and his little daughter Leila (aged 22 months) came over to our yard for a chat, on one of our first sunny days in ages. When Leila saw Billy, she was very enthusiastic. …
Birding Links
Since my sister Elizabeth and her friend Tom got us interested in birding, I’m collecting links for beginning birders.
Family History: Tante Lisette’s datebook
JANUARY 6, 2008 Basic information below is translated from French, the language of the datebook. My own comments are within the square brackets. I have added missing information, which I have surmised from my own knowledge of the family, in rounded parentheses. January 3 1940: Death of Albert von Margutti. [Cousin from Trieste, officer in the …
A Child’s Visit to Boston and other memories
Originally posted on RANDOM THOUGHTS FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2008 I was cleaning out drawers today in preparation for getting furniture ready to move for the new carpeting job. (Carpet will be “Native Colors” a soft brown in Karastan’s “Divisadero” line, with little flecks of red and blue-gray in the brown, to help hide stains.) I …
Todays bird watching adventures
Today Elizabeth, Marilyn, Tom and I traveled to three locations looking for birds. The sites were Mount Bonnell, Emma Long Park, and the Wild Basin Preserve. All three areas are part of the Balcones Canyonlands. The birds that we saw were as follows: Kite (Emma Long Park) Sandpiper (Emma Long Park) Turkey Vultures (Emma Long …
Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory
A visit to the Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory with Elizabeth, Tom and Marilyn. A chilly day, but sunny. We saw a number of ducks and some grebes: Eared Grebes, Northern Pintails, Northern Shovelers, Green-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Buffleheads, Ruddy Ducks, Coots. We also saw some turkey vultures and several sparrows we couldn’t identify.
Winter Solstice
Last night the wind was blowing, the temperature was dropping, and I was thinking, “Thank goodness I don’t have to go out tomorrow!” Today the sun is shining, taking off that 27-degree chill quite rapidly, and it might actually become a nice day. But I still don’t have to go out if I don’t want …
Nevada Trip for A Margutti Family Reunion
Marilyn and I traveled to the very small settlement of Mountain Spring, Nevada.
Edinburgh, Scotland in June, 2000
Edinburgh Castle Cramond Kirk tour with Willa Stewart Edinburgh was a special treat because we visited it with a native! Marilyn’s college friend, Moira Lees, often called Willa Stewart her “oldest friend” because Willa, at age 12, had braved the wartime blackout (without telling her parents) and had ridden her bicycle across town to see …
Gary’s Romantic Afternoon with his Sweetheart along the Seine
To celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, we visited Paris together. A collection of wonderful memories…
Marilyn Visits Larissa: Bristol, 1995
Larissa’s Study Abroad: University of Bristol Marilyn’s Version: In 1995, Larissa chose to attend the University of Bristol for her year of study abroad from Scripps College. Bristol was an English-speaking university, and she could easily transfer the credits to Scripps. Another student, whose name I don’t recall, was also going to Bristol. Larissa’s friend …
Larissa meets her Mischievous Uncle Bruce
Marilyn remembers best about the photo with Uncle Bruce is that it was taken one afternoon when Larissa was extremely fussy (probably from those teeth coming in) and she absolutely, positively did not want to take a nap.
A Memory: When Aretha Franklin Visited The U.S.O.
I still remember a gray day in February 1971. Anti-war sentiment in San Francisco, California was running high, and the U.S.O. at 1017 Market Street, where I worked as a secretary, felt almost like a besieged fortress. Then one day, a whisper went through the office (which was upstairs from the main U.S.O.) — “Aretha …
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