GARDEN NEWS

With Valentines around the corner, the Literary ladies have written some lovely romantic poems and prose for your reading pleasure. With themes like What does Valentines mean to us, Romantic moments, thoughts on love – it’s set to be a wonderfully romantic time in the Garden this month. *s*

We have recently done away with the “Member of the Month” and it was getting harder to choose those Linda or I felt deserving. So with Becca’s suggestion of a Certificate of Appreciation, I decided to put it to the vote where each of my Staff filled in their nomination forms, choosing THREE members they felt deserving or “just because”. Then Linda and I tally the votes and the winner is revealed… So, just who is the Literary Garden’s first Certificate of Appreciation winner? Be sure to check out the MOTM section of the newsletter to find out. *s*

Mini Challenge Nook
Reported by Christina

Only two mini Challenges this month – a New Year acrostic and a Learn-A-Word challenge, in which I gave members about 6 words (complete with meanings) and their challenge was to write something with at least ONE of those words. Some were adventurous and chose to use ALL words! Well done to those who did.

These challenges continue to be a wonderful success in the Garden, prompting so much feedback and participation. And they are a lot of fun. You can read the selection of January’s Mini Challenges (as well as previous months) on the Literary website at http://www.wosib.org/literary/ under Mini Challenges, and by clicking on the corresponding month.

Fiction Nook
Reported by Christina

The theme for January was "The clock is about to strike 12 (day or night) and you are running out of time. Pause a moment and consider your options...then retell the story in the first person narrative, being from your perspective. Word(s) to use: clock, watch, hour, minute, second, father, pass, reflect(ive/ion), forever, time (es, ing, age)"

Our First Place winner is one who proclaims NOT to write fiction at all, but has stood up to the challenge and participated in both Fiction and Continuing Story in recent months! Well done!

Congratulation to our January winners! A special thank you to all who took the time to read the stories and send in your votes.

FIRST PLACE
Long Ago and Far Away by Linda J. Vaughan

SECOND PLACE
One Moment in Time by Christina aka Stina

and

Untitled by Tracy Knight

THIRD PLACE
A Day to Remember by Joanne Pons

Poetry Nook
Reported by Christina

Everyone likes a bit of romance in their lives - from the fairytale to reality somewhere deep down we are all romantics at heart. It's not about a bedroom encounter, lust or desire....but love, laughter and gentleness. We all need this in our lives - and as women we all crave it. Let's face it, men just don't get it. LOL So this month memebrs reflected on the whole idea of romance and shared what they considered to be their most romantic moment. I think the guys would be surprised by what WE consider "romantic". *s*

Congratulations to all our winners. Linda and I have also decided that since everyone makes the effort to write and submit that they each deserve an award regardless – so beginning from June, we introduced the Participation Award for all those who submitted to the Nook. However, with only seven submissions this month – those who did not place all received an Honourable Mention!

A special thank you to all who took the time to read the poems and cast your votes.

FIRST PLACE
Thoughts of Romance by Linda J Vaughan

SECOND PLACE
One Romantic Dream by Christina aka Stina

and

When Love Takes the fear Away by Lindamay

THIRD PLACE
A Whisper of Love by Tootypup

and

Romance by Pattie

HONOURABLE MENTION
He Called Me “Nimue” by WinterWolf

and

My Cowboy Number One and Only by Rosemary McLean

Challenge Nook
Reported by Linda

It is taking me a while to get into the routine of the new year, and weather and other conditions are impacting on others in our Garden, but I am happy to be back and to welcome new members who have joined us. Welcome back to everyone and I am looking forward to your submissions to Challenge and Whimsical - please share the words of your hearts with us and enjoy writing as much as we will enjoy reading your submissions.

Continuing Story
Reported by Maiden Fair

It’s February and spring can’t be too far away – can it? Well according to the Continuing Story Ladies – it is still very much winter. Our heroine is watching a winter storm blanket her neighborhood with snow when she witnesses an accident. Come on over and see how it all turns out in our newest story – “Winter Storm”

Non Fiction Nook
Reported by Christina

We all have our own views on Valentines Day and romance, so this month I posed the question “What does Valentines mean to me?” to our ladies. The response was interesting as to how we feel about this one day set aside for romance for once a year.

Reviews Nook
Reported by Christina

Do you love to read? Perhaps you are an avid movie goer, or you enjoy visiting up and coming establishments. If so, why not join us in the Literary Gardens Review Nook each month, as we share of our special - or not so special - finds. We would love to hear what you've been reading, viewing or even better yet, where you've been visiting. We'll be here waiting with the lights on and, hope to see you soon!

Comfort & Celebrations Nook
Reported by Joanne

Hello, I'm Joanne and in charge of the Celebrations and Comforts Nook. In this Nook members of the Literary Garden create poems or very short stories for the Celebrators Garden to use in their pages for celebrating happy events, such as birthdays, anniversaries, births, engagements and other joyous events. They also write and send peoms of support and comfort for those who are ill or in difficulty as well as sympathy and condolences for the death of a loved one, including pets. This year is special in that it's Leap Year, with the month of February having 29 days instead of the usual 28. The northern hemisphere is in the midst of Winter, in some areas cold and icey, with heavy storms. In other parts of the world Winter is wet and mild, with all the signs of an early Spring. All eyes are turned, however, towards warm and bright Spring days, with Easter not far behind, just two months away.The southern hemisphere is in the process of enjoying a full Summer, with its hot days and warm nights. Wherever you are there is always an occasion to celebrate a happy and blessed season.

Expressions Nook
Reported by Dusty

Expressions is a little area in the Literary Group that allows you to express how you feel on a particular theme of the month.

It doesn't have to be long, it doesn't have to be a poem, it can be anything you want expressed in words. We usually only have one or two entries a month, and we'd like to see more, so next time you are looking for a nook to enter something in, please consider sending something here. We'd love to have one (or two).

Whimsical Nook
Reported by Linda

This is a delightful little nook where snippets are shared and you are guaranteed a smile or two during a visit here. It has been lovely to see more submissions coming through for Whimsical.

I would like to thank everyone who submitted this month. I know all of our Sisters here appreciate your thoughts on their pages.

Until next month, Happy Reading,

Christina
Garden Head

Linda
Assistant Head

MaidenFair, Kesia, Joanne and Dusty
Literary Assistants

****************************************************

Christina
http://poeticreflections.net/
http://websetreflections.co.nr/
christina@wosib.org

As we no longer have the “Member of the Month” the Literary Garden decided our staff would vote for the member who should receive a Certificate of Appreciation.

For the month of January 2008, I could say it gives me great pleasure to announce this member, but it feels rather strange to be doing so. *s* I had no say in the outcome, but it seems every one of my Staff felt the same way. So I handed this task over to my Assistant Head to make this announcement.

"We appreciate all the work and involvement of all of our members, but for our very first Certificate it was a unanimous decision that the following member receive it.

CHRISTINA

was the member who was selected and I am sure no one would begin to question her devotion and attention to Literary with her talented writing, wonderful websets and very special tags. She spends long hours and works very hard so that the Literary Garden can be the special place it is – it is the jewel in her crown – her pride and joy.

Congratulations Christina – this award is very well deserved.

Linda
Assistant Head

Cheers