Every month, Galit Breen of These Little Waves and Alison of  Writing Wishing (formerly Mama Wants This) host the Memories Captured link-up. The premise is simple. Take a picture and use photo editing software to add words to it, so that the words emphasize the picture’s story. But it’s incredibly difficult for me. When I write about sentimentality, I frequently slide into syrupy schmaltz, and my voice becomes less than my own. This meme is all about nostalgia and holding onto a moment. So I craft my entries and edit them repeatedly to cement the experience without creating anything sickly sweet. Mostly, I’m a gritty writer, and you’ll typically find my posts intense and visceral. These memories go in exactly the opposite direction. It’s so refreshing to write in a different style, and I learn a great deal from bloggers who frequently compose in that sentimental voice.

Memories Captured July: Family and Facebook

Last modified on 2012-07-21 03:37:16 GMT. 17 comments. Top.

On my Mom’s side of the family, we have an arsenal of pictures. I have pictures of grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, hell friends of the family whose names nobody remembers any longer. (I seriously have 4 books of a family who was very close to my great grandmother whose identities are largely forgotten.) On Dad’s side, not so much. He has pictures from his childhood, but not a lot that predates it. Which means it was double awesome when a cousin looked him up on facebook and then found me as well. This cousin, John, sent pictures of my great grandfather, my great grandmother, my grandmother, and my great aunt (not pictured here). (He is my great grandfather’s nephew. Do not correct me if he’s not technically my cousin, K?)

I had never seen my great grandparents on that side. I had never seen a picture of my grandmother as a young woman. Facebook’s got problems. And I hate it for some of it’s changes. But, bottom line, we would never have connected without it. And I would not have this generous gift. Thanks cousin John. It’s wonderful having you in the family.

On the left is Ruby King, my great grandfather.

Top right is Beatrice King, my grandmother.

Middle right is Wanda King (later Powell) my grandmother

Bottom Right is George Powell, my Dad. (That’s one from my collection.)

 

Linking up here with Galit Breen of These Little Waves and Alison of Mama Wants This. Love the Memories they capture.

 

Memories Captured June

Last modified on 2012-06-19 02:34:20 GMT. 23 comments. Top.

 

This is my entry for this month’s Memories Captured link-up, hosted by Galit Breen of These Little Waves and Alison of Mama Wants This. Take a moment to head over and view the rest of the submissions. They are always breathtaking and delightful!

Memories Captured May: Once Upon A Train

Last modified on 2012-05-20 02:47:26 GMT. 74 comments. Top.

 

Once more this month, I’m linking up with Galit Breen of These Little Waves and Alison of Mama Wants This for their monthly Memories Captured Link-up. I think my favorite thing about this meme is the way it invites me to explore an entirely different style of writing. It’s WAY outside my comfort zone, and I’m always challenged to truly capture an authentic memory in my own voice.

Memories Captured April: My Three Loves

Last modified on 2012-05-20 02:36:25 GMT. 43 comments. Top.

 

 

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Once more this April, I’m linking up with Galit Breen of These Little Waves and Alison of Mama Wants This for their monthly Memories Captured photo meme. Ladies, thanks for an awesome photo meme. This one stretches my editing boundaries every time, and I learn something new and cool in the process.

I edited with GimpShop software, which is like Photoshop, only free, and with Picmonkey, because, in spite of the fact that Gimp is painfully easy to use, I can’t figure out quiiiite everything I want to do in it.

Learning to Fly

Last modified on 2012-05-20 03:23:06 GMT. 20 comments. Top.

 

 

 

This is sweet Caroline learning to ride her bike. I’m linking up with Galit Breen of These Little Waves and Alison of Mama Wants This for their monthly Memories Captured photo meme. It’s a topic I’ve covered previously here, but without this awesome triumphant final picture.

Valentine in Blue

Last modified on 2012-02-13 19:46:41 GMT. 18 comments. Top.

I’m linking up today once more with Galit Breen of These Little Waves and Alison of Mama Wants This for their monthly Memories Captured meme.

My little Valentine comes with a story. Last month, Missy over at The Literal Mom hosted a blog giveaway with a random commenter to win scrapbooking software from the folks at My Memory Suite. And I won. I am still learning how to play with my new toy (which, as Missy noted, is bloody complex and takes an AGE to download), but I am enjoying it very very much. The learning curve is worth it, and I used the software to create the image above.

So, thanks to Missy for hosting a giveaway. Thank you thank you! Thanks to My Memory Suite for being willing to give a random blogger their software. And thanks to Galit and Alison for creating an opportunity for me to share!

Bubbles

Last modified on 2012-01-10 05:18:56 GMT. 22 comments. Top.

Can you believe the 2 1/2 year old in the top picture is the exact same child as the 8 year old in the bottom picture? They don’t even look alike.

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I’m hooking this entry up once more with the Memories Captured project over on These Little Waves and Mama Wants This with effects and text added using Picnik‘s free online software.

Memories Captured: Caught one

Last modified on 2011-12-05 15:19:05 GMT. 17 comments. Top.

This is one of my favorite pictures of my kids. It’s from January of 2008. Christmas is over, but we haven’t taken down the tree. We don’t yet know it, but we will be moving from Lexington, Kentucky to Montgomery, Alabama in a scant 7 months. Caroline’s hair is cut into the adorable pageboy she wore until she was almost seven years old. Sam is still all mischief and only limited anger. He and Caroline are roughhousing gently. And they are both delighted to be there, glad to be brother and sister, and happy to smile for the camera.

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I’m linking this post up with  the Memories Captured project hosted by Galit of These Little Waves and Alison of Mama Wants this.