Category: WestWard Quarterly The Magazine of Family Reading

February Creative Notes

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The garden is beautiful; with some snow on evergreens, and the fallen branch we left by the old green chair, with a chrysanthemum that bloomed for a time.

I am enjoying my 2023 mini-calendar by Annette Makino, that I bought from her MakinoStudios Etsy shop. “Japanese-inspired art, cards & more by Annette Makino.” The calendar is on the wall near my computer by a collage painting by Wendy Brightbill. agirlandherbrush is Wendy’s Etsy shop.

And I thought I would mention two more journals I have received, to follow my post, winter and grateful.

Time Of Singing goes back a long time. I recently renewed as a Sponsor for Volume 50. Westward Quarterly has also published for a long time.

Just a few of many possible examples to share today . . .

Photo by Matthew Montrone on Pexels.com
Photo by Viktoria Stetsko on Pexels.com

August Poems

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late summer garden
and the lake in sun
blessings of friendship

August 11, 2014

late summer
one daylily blooms
in the garden

August 17, 2015

after the storm
bird on a branch
of the broken tree

August 29, 2018

Saturday afternoon
yellow flowers
on a table in the sun

August 24, 2019

late August
and still Summer
bees and goldenrod
by a sunny window
on a quiet morning

August 30, 2021
WestWard Quarterly, Summer 2022

Bee and Flowers Reusable Art

Bloganuary: January 9, 2022

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What do people incorrectly assume about you?

This is a very good question. I wrote in my response to the first question about my strengths and weaknesses: stronger with the language arts than math and science. Collaboration and respect are important. I may contribute well in one area, and you in another; and the project is completed and much better for our teamwork.

Takes time and care to grow a friendship. I am rereading Friends for the Journey by Madeleine L’Engle and Luci Shaw – the book I wrote about in my post, reading from books. They had known each other for twenty-five years when they began the book. And the book jacket says, “In the circle of friendship there is always room for one more . . ” That’s what I love about blogs too – always room for one more.

L ove of literature
I nspires countless
B eautiful hours of
R eading many
A uthors, and sometimes
R ereading beloved books
Y early

LIBRARY acrostic poem
Ellen Grace Olinger
WestWard Quarterly, Fall 2018

warmth on a cold day

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warmth on a cold day
sweaters and blankets
from thrift stores

warmth on a cold day
books and poetry journals
on shelves and a new book
on the kitchen table
from yesterday’s mail

One of the nice aspects of blogging is that I’ve learned of books by poets that are not always sold in stores – and we only have a few bookstores in our area. I also have ordered books recommended by notes and reviews in poetry print journals. Time Of Singing and WestWard Quarterly are two examples. Both journals have published poems from my blogs, and I am grateful. All works together.

I no longer review books, yet am grateful every day for the books on my shelves and by my chair. It is nice to have interests – blogs and books – that I know can stay with me through the years. When I have not been able to read, my heart has been full.

Ellen Grace Olinger

Orange Flower Border is by Margaret Armstrong
and courtesy of Reusable Art.

Libraries

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The Oostburg Public Library “A Little Library Growing Everyday” is another wonderful library in our area. I love having a library card and being able to borrow books – what a great idea, libraries! Karl took this photo there on July 6, 2019.

We also went to the Cedar Grove Public Library last summer. Karl took these photos on July 7, 2019. I look forward to more visits.

L ove of literature
I nspires countless
B eautiful hours of
R eading many
A uthors, and sometimes
R ereading beloved books
Y early

LIBRARY acrostic poem
WestWard Quarterly, Fall 2018

One of your favorite poems – thank you.

Ellen Grace Olinger

Creativity Over Time – 4

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days grow shorter
gentle turning
of windmills

how gentle the wind
in predawn rose light
after the harvest moon
I begin October
with small and growing hopes

Time Of Singing, Fall 2012

late November
sun fills a glass
for a time

Time Of Singing, Fall 2013

reading memoirs
and then the view
outside today

family dinner
memories span decades
in minutes

sunrise clouds
years that passed too soon
are with me still

driving across
a new bridge
on an old road

Charlotte Digregorio’s Writer’s Blog
Daily Haiku: Nov. 8, 2018

reading
in a sunny corner
of the house
I could be
any age

WestWard Quarterly
Winter 2016

“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time…”

From Ecclesiastes 3:11a (KJV)

Poems are by Ellen Grace Olinger.

The Windmill drawing is by Walter Crane and is courtesy of Reusable Art.

gift of another day

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predawn
and watching
the sky grow light
gift of another day
to read and write

books on the shelf
supported by each other
kindness of friends

favorite old poems

CREATIVE NOTE: I received the Summer 2019 WestWard Quarterly, The Magazine of Family Reading.

Begonia planter and hosta near Lake Michigan
Photos by Karl – July 29, 2019

Ellen Grace Olinger