Tag Archives: sharing family stories

Key West: update

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My Dad and I got together today to talk more about his memories of Key West. It was good to talk and ask more questions. I recorded most of it for future reference. Part of the discussion was about how to approach the writing and the perspective to write it from. Gradually I think our vision is becoming clearer. I must have hope that we will figure this out if we just keep working at it and learning how to do it. Friday afternoon we will be getting together again. My parents are in town for the next couple of weeks.

Couple of other developments on Key West. Last week when I was researching I came across a book called “The Streets of Key West.” It included a 1950’s street map of Key West. I got the copy ordered through Barnes and Noble from a Goodwill in Florida. I think it will have some interesting bits of history. Found out today that someone as created a closed Facebook group for the Underwater Swimmers School. They emailed me because my address it their contact with my Dad. I joined the group and then realized that I really need to make a Facebook account for my Dad. No one knows me and there is no way for them to easily tell that I’m his daughter. So I’ll be getting a new email address for him and set up a Facebook profile for him. It could be a great source of information for this project and a good way to share what we are doing with those who would be interested.

Now I just need to get back to writing. I haven’t gotten to it so far this week and with a new puppy coming tomorrow it will be challenging to focus. But I must find a way. Anyone have any tricks or suggestion?

50 Jar Gifts: idea #27 – Apples

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Caramel Apple Kit from thegunnysack.com

We have a pear tree in our back yard and I’ve been dealing with too many pears for several weeks. One night Emma even helped out by helping herself to several while she was home alone. She also loves to pick up the windfall ones off the ground and run around with them. She is getting pretty good at bringing them to me. I think pears will always remind me of Emma.

Did your family have a fruit tree growing up? What memories do you have of apples or pears or other fruit, maybe at your grandma’s house. Here are some really fun ideas for jar gifts to do with apples. Some of them are easily adapted to other fruits. They would make a great jumping off point for sharing a memory of fall fruit harvests or other traditions centered around apples etc.

Apple Butter found on indulgy.com via Pinterest

homemade apple cider mix from The Blessed Hearth

Simmering Spices from ladybehindthecurtain.com

pie in a jar from ourbestbites.com

apple with caramel cream cheese dip by Jo and Sue

apple pie filling in a jar from mommyskitchen.net

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.jar gift logos28

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

50 Jar Gifts: idea #26 – Football Season

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jar project from JoAnn Fabric and Crafts

Many families have a rich tradition for football season. There are bound to be some great stories centered around the game. Maybe one of these sports themed jar ideas would help to start the story telling process during the next half-time or drive to or from the game. My sister and I both played volleyball in college and our parents came to almost every home game and many of the away games. It would be interesting to know what their favorite memories are of that season of our lives. Maybe I should take the football theme and tweak it for volleyball and find an occasion to use it as a bridge to learning their memories of BYU volleyball. How about your family? Do they have a strong sports tradition?

Mason Jar Football Brownie Treats By Courtney Whitmore, on eHow.com

from Kasey Kilpatrick via pinterest put a team scarf and nail polish in the school colors in a jar

Football Cozy via blovelyevents.com

sports shaped cookies in a jar from the decorated cookie

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.jar gift logos27

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

50 Jar Gifts: idea #25 – Jack-O-Lantern Jar

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jar-o-lanters from Southern Living

With September here and summer officially over with the passing of Labor Day, I’m sure that Halloween will be just around the corner. I so want to make some of these Jack-O-Lantern jars. They would look great on my front porch to welcome trick or treators. The jars could also create a great opportunity to share stories of your own childhood Halloween traditions or a fun Halloween story from an ancestor. These are simple enough to make that you could gather some of the younger family members and have some fun making them together. Start saving empty jars and try this out. Click the image above for directions. Here are a few more Halloween inspired jar ideas.

from notsoidlehands.com

frosted glass jars from creatinglaura.com

from gleefulthings.com

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.jar gift logos26

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

50 Jar Gifts: idea #24 – bird feeder

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from the GardenRoofCoop.com ideas for four different jar bird feeders

Do you have a birdwatcher in your ancestors? A bird feeder would be a great way to share that joy of birdwatching along with stories about that family member. Some of the ideas use old plates or saucers as part of the bird feeder. I can imagine spending a quiet morning watching the birds and sharing family stories. If you have some old plates to use that could make another connection to the past. Here are a few tutorials on how to make bird feeders from jars:

from Old Time Pottery

from RunnerDuck.com

from LittleHouseLiving.com

ideas for several kinds of bird feeders via simply-living-simply.com

from celynnssunflowerpatch.blogspot.de

from q-made.blogspot.com

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.jar gift logos25

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

50 Jar Gifts: idea #23 – hanging vases

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Mason Jar Hanger by Midwest Finds via MasonJarCraftsLove.com

When I think of my Grandma Jenson I often think of flowers too. We had a family reunion recently and when Grandma Jenson came up the conversation also included memories of her lilac bushes and hollyhocks. She was also very proud of her Amaryllis and other houseplants. I great way to share memories of Irene would be to put some lilacs in one of these great hanging jar vases and give them to a family member along with a story about Grandma either verbal or written or both. Tell the story and include a written copy along with the vase. Chances are every time that family member say that vase they would think of Irene. Do you have an ancestor or living relative who loves flowers? Here are several different ideas for hanging vase jars.

beaded jar vases from PrettyHandyGirl.com

tutorial by intimateweddings.com

this tutorial by 17apart.com includes a frog for the top of the jar

upcycled baby food jars from HGTV.com

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.jar gift logos24

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

Writing Challenge: day 58

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The last day of the Armchair Genealogist‘s writing challenge has finally come. Kind of unbelievable. At times I wondered if I’d ever get through it but I was determined, no mater how long it took me to complete this. One of my goals with the challenge was to make a regular habit of doing something toward my Dad’s Key West history. For the most part I’ve accomplished that. I’ve also learned how much I still have to learn about writing creative non-fiction. But I have a plan for continuing to move forward with the history and improving my writing skills. Here are highlights of Lynn’s advice on the last day of her 28 day family history writing challenge:

  •  Take a lesson from this challenge and enlist the help of others.
  •  Continue to improve your craft.
  •  Find your ideal time.
  •  Plan your writing.
  •  Seek deadlines and accountability.
  •  Believe you are a writer.

The last one hit me the hardest. I don’t know how many times I’ve said, “I’m not a writer.” I am now vowing to never utter those words again. I certainly won’t become a writing if I keep saying that. To accomplish my goals I need to become a writing. The other one that needs some attention is finding an ideal time to write. While I’ve gotten this done almost everyday during the challenge, I haven’t been consistent with the time. So I’m setting a goal to figure out when that is and try it and adjust until I really do find the best time to write everyday.

Thanks to all of you who have stuck with me through this challenge. I think I’ll do at least weekly updates on how the Key West history is doing.

Writing Challenge: day 57

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Second to the last day of the Armchair Genealogist‘s writing challenge! And fittingly today’s topic is about last lines. I’ve honestly never thought about this topic before. At least not consciously. Just another example of how much I have learned and still have to learn about writing. Here are the things that Lynn suggested to consider in writing great last lines in a family story:

  • Your last lines certainly need to bring a sense of finality to your story.
  • Your last line should resonate with your theme.
  • Your last line should be about your main ancestor and his final thoughts.  If you’re writing a memoir, then your final thoughts should be expressed in those last sentences.
  • Your last lines should demonstrate your ancestor’s growth or your growth through your family history journey.
  • Your last lines should slow the pace of your story down and ease the reader to the end.
  • Your last lines can teach a lesson or moral (of course without being preachy).
  • Your last lines should leave your reader with an understanding of how your ancestor’s life proceeded after the story is over.
  • Your last lines should be uplifting and hopeful.

Lynn also talked about writing the ending in advance. It helps in plotting the story to come full circle to the ending you want. She also has four formats to try in writing the last line.

  1. As a line of description
  2. Demonstrating your ancestor’s actions
  3. As a line of dialogue by your ancestor
  4. As an internal monologue by your ancestor or a thought or feeling by you the narrator.

Another excellent lesson by Lynn Palermo!

Writing Challenge: day 56

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“Reading Like a Writer” is the topic for today in the Armchair Genealogist‘s writing challenge Day 26. Just two days to finish. I’ve loved reading since the 5th grade when my teacher taught me to read for the enjoyment not so I could write a book report. Most of my reading in the last few years has been audio books that I listen to while I make dinner and do the dishes etc. Since starting this challenge I’ve noticed some of the tools authors use to tell their story that I’ve never noticed before. From reading the list below I see there are still more ways I can learn from my reading. Here are Lynn’s suggestions on how reading can help us to become better writers:

  1. Concentrate on reading books in your genre but don’t limit yourself. Read a wide range of books in a wide range of genres.
  2. Just like writing make reading a habit – a daily habit.
  3. Set a reading goal, I try to read 3 books a month.  I wish it could be more. Set a goal based on your own schedule. Join a book club; this is one of the best ways to make sure you’re reading on a regular basis and exposes you to a variety of books that others are choosing for you.
  4. Carry your reading with you; make the most of every opportunity to read.
  5. Read for enjoyment but also analyze character, plot and theme when reading.
  6. If a book resonates with you, read it a second time focusing on the more specifics of the story structure, the writer’s style and choices.
  7. Pay attention to the words, the preferences the writer makes and the organization and flow of those words.
  8. Don’t be afraid to take notes. It deepens your learning, gives you time to absorb what you’ve read and provides a resource for future reference.
  9. Write a review of a book you read, this provides you the opportunity to share some lessons you learned or explore some of the ideas it brought up for you.
  10. Read a wide range of writers from great writers, classic writers to current writers and unknown writers. There is a writing lesson in every book.
  11. Don’t waste time reading a book you don’t enjoy or understand. There are too many books in the world, put it down and move on to the next.
  12. Take cues from other writers.  Experiment with concepts you see other writers doing, then take it one step further and manipulate it and make it your own.

Writing Challenge: day 55

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It is my 55th day in the Armchair Genealogist‘s writing challenge but it is her 25th day and the topic is “Improving Your Story Through Feedback”. Lynn gives some consideration in finding a group to give valuable in improving the quality of our family stories. Here they are:

  • Critique groups and writing groups are not necessarily the same thing.
  • In-Person or Online Groups. There are pros and cons to both in-person and online groups.
  • In-person groups can be more restrictive.
  • On-line Groups offer flexibility.
  • Open and closed groups. 
  • Genre-based groups. 
  • Consider a single critique partner.
  • Don’t be discouraged if your first group doesn’t work out.

I’m glad that we have a writing coach to work with on this project. I think her teaching will really help me progress faster and get a better story in the end. Today writing exercise was to take one sentence in which you are “telling” and revise it into a “showing” sentence. Here is my original sentence:

Ray started the 2600 miles journey across the southern United States on Labor Day weekend.

Here is my attempt at showing:

The warm air flowed across the drop of sweat that trickled down the side of his check as Ray crossed into Arizona. At 60 miles per hour the telephone poles clicked by at an amazing speed and flags fluttered on many of the houses that he passed by.

I still feel really clueless even though I’ve learned lots in the last couple of months. So much more to applying these principles but at least I have some awareness of them now. “One day at a time,” I keep telling myself.