Minnesota Prairie Roots

THE OLDER I GET, the more I appreciate my past. That includes those black-and-white vintage photos held in place by gummy black corner tabs and tucked into old photo albums.

I don’t have all that many photos from my youth—only 48 black-and-white prints to be exact. That’s not many. But we were a farm family with little money, and film and photo developing weren’t exactly top budget priorities.

Yet, I am thankful for the precious few black-and-white images I have of myself and with my parents and siblings. Photos capture memories. And memories are integral in my writing, especially my poetry.

But I’m not going to talk poetry here today. Rather I want to talk about love and vintage photos and how you can share yours.

This contest promo image of Mary Nachicas and Don Anderson comes from Nina Hedin, who blogs at ArtsyNina.

I write for Minnesota Moments magazine. Awhile ago, inspired by a vintage image I saw on Nina Hedin’s The Adventures of ArtsyNina blog, I came up with a contest idea, “Snapshots of Love.” Yes, I’ve talked about it here before on this blog. But I want to give it one final push.

Tuesday, November 15, is the final day to submit an entry.

Here’s how you can enter: Look through your vintage black-and-white candid snapshots. (We’re not looking for professional, posed portraits.) Select one that speaks love to you—maybe a snapshot of your grandparents or parents, siblings, friends, cousins, person and pet…

Then write a paragraph of 75 words or less stating what the photo tells you about love.

Then click on this link, http://minnesotamoments.com/current/contest.html, and follow the instructions on how to submit.

I’d highly advise submitting electronically.

We at Minnesota Moments (yes, that includes me) will select a winner to receive a prize package valued at $150. I wish I could win these great prizes:

• A collection of vintage style handcrafted greeting cards from Bernie at Budugalee. Bernie has this sense of humor that shines in her cards. Click here to check out her creations. Click here to follow her blog, One Mixed Bag. Her humor shines there, too. Bernie is originally from Duluth, although she currently lives in Billings, Montana.
• Nina over at Camp Honeybelle has graciously provided a $25 gift certificate to her vintage etsy shop as part of the prize deal. She’s a girl with a passion for all things old. Click here to view her merchandise at Camp Honeybelle. Click here to read Nina’s ArtsyNina blog. She’s a young mother from Glencoe with a flair for design, art and writing.
• A letter press vintage graphics fine art print from Bruno Press is also part of the prize package. I don’t know about you, but I love, love, love letter press and old graphics. (Click here to read my blog post about the Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.) Mary Bruno of St. Joseph is printing a fine art print to give away. She was featured in our fall issue. Click here to check out her art at Bruno Press.
• A one-year subscription to Minnesota Moments rounds out this fabulous prize package for our winner.

There, you have it. Please consider entering. And to those of you who have entered due to my pesky e-mails or blog reminders, thank you. I appreciate your submissions.

IF I COULD ENTER, here’s what I’d submit:

Me with the clown cake my mom made for my second birthday in 1958.

I grew up poor. That meant no birthday gifts from my parents. Instead, Mom crafted a cake, often in an animal shape, for each of her children as a gift. When I had children, I, too, created special birthday cakes, although I also had money for gifts. The presents are long forgotten, but my kids still remember their cakes, a tradition of love passed down from their grandma.

WE’LL FEATURE SELECTED entries (or maybe all, depending on space and numbers) in the winter issue of Minnesota Moments, publishing in January.

So let’s see some of those wonderful vintage black-and-white snapshots. Remember, you have only until Tuesday, November 15, 2011, to enter.

© Copyright 2011 Audrey Kletscher Helbling