The Iranians were among the pioneer carpet weavers of the ancient civilizations, having achieved a superlative degree of perfection through centuries of creativity and ingenuity. The skill of carpet weaving has been handed down by fathers to their sons, who built upon those skills and in turn handed them down to their offspring as a closely guarded family secret. -Firouzeh Mirrazavi

Vita West Muir, the local impresario whose focused energy has made the Litchfield Jazz Festival a national event and a summertime staple, is also a mother, or to use the elision so much in vogue these days, a “mom.”