Winters' Day In

Sit down and have a cuppa...

Writer. Knitting pattern designer. Foodie. Tea addict. Book geek. Mom of boys. Aspiring mermaid. My Secret Wish: Be your most fabulous you.

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#beautyqueensofinstagram . This is the mama of our most recent batch of kittens (which have all found new homes, now, thankfully). Besides their kitteny adorableness, the unintended beneficial side effect of having her kittens in the house for a month before she weaned them was that this lovely lady went from completely feral to actually enjoying (and sometimes even asking for) the occasional rub-down. (It was quite humourous watching her when she first realized how good it felt to be petted. It was like she resented it. Lol.) It also means that I should be able to catch her again for her spaying appointment on Monday. . I mean, the kittens were cute . . . but enough is enough. . Happy Friday! . #catstagram #orangetabby #queenkitty #catsofinstagram #fuzzyfriday

I promised I would share how this book impacted me, so I did. Check it out on the blog today: "Drawing the Line: 5 Loving Reasons to Say 'No'" www.talenawinters.com/wintersdayin . This is one of the few books I've read that I can say has had a major influence on my life and thinking. I think EVERYONE should read it. . Happy Thursday, friend! . #boundaries #selfcare #books #changeyourmindset #mindblown #amreading #lovingbetter #blog

You all (y'all?) know how much I love a good victory story. Yesterday, Melissa Keaster shared the inspiring story of her triumph over chronic disease on my blog. While she was in one of the lowest places of her life, she also wrote her first novel, Eleora. Pop over there to read the full story: "Melissa Keaster: Writing from the Ashes" www.talenawinters.com/wintersdayin . #inspiring #amazingpeople #peoplewhoinspireme #seekbeauty #spreadsunshine #authorsofinstagram #amwriting #amreading #writerslife #books #fantasy #realstory #inspirational #melissakeaster

LOOK WHAT CAME TODAY!!!!! I know it's only my second book, but I don't think that holding my new book in my hands for the first time will EVER get old. AND IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL! . Launch day is 8 weeks from today! These precious copies are for giveaway winners. (Speaking of, there's a giveaway happening on Goodreads right now. You should enter!) Oh, and to motivate me to get writing when I'm not "feeling" it. . Thank you to the amazing @fionajaydemedia for the stunning cover, and Tamara at The Deliberate Page for the beautiful book design. I couldn't be any happier with it. . I can't wait to share my new "baby" with you all! WHEEE! . #findingheavennovel #amwriting #amreading #books #womensfiction #romance #gritty #csa #domesticviolence #sextrafficking #thisismyexcitedface

Well, hello, Tuesday. Yes, I'd love to see a funny picture before I start work. . (You, too, right? ;-D) . I can't begin to tell you all the ways this kid makes me smile. A kid right after his grandpa's heart. (And wearing his grandpa's hair.) . Happy Tuesday! (I'm off to the writing trenches. . . ) . #momlife #lifewithboys #crazykid #goofball #lovethiskid #greenhairdontcare #amwriting

I decided to try growing a jalapeno pepper this year, and it worked! (Honestly, through no fault of my own.) . Now I have to try to be brave enough to cook with it. :-D . Any suggestions? Hit me with your best recipes for jalapenos (for a girl who likes a "medium" spice and cooks for ten at a time. 😁 ) . #garden #gardening #saddestpepperever #jalapeno #recipes

A Little Motivational Monday Reading . . . I've always meant to read this book. It's a quick one, right? I've heard so many good things about it. When I gifted it to my dad this summer, he immediately regifted it to ds#1. (I think Dad had already read it.) And DS#1 ACTUALLY READ IT! . Maybe my kid is smarter than me now? Or maybe he was figuring out how to get out of chores . . . . (Just kidding. That kid is Mr. Responsible.) . However, Monday might feel like a battle, but that's because I've got way too much to do for recreational reading. Guess I'll have to save this for the weekend. Some weekend. 😉 . What's your plan to tackle Monday this week? . #proudmama #suntzu #smartkid #butistillneedtoreadit #amreading #books #someothermonday #notbeforemytea

My sunflowers are some of the only plants in my yard not completely decimated by grasshoppers (though the little green guys sleep on them every night). I'm glad, because this is my favourite time of year in my yard. I get the best photos. . I hope you have a blessed and restful Sunday. . #sunflower #butterfly #flowers #fall #autumn #naturalbeauty #seekbeauty #spreadsunshine #garden

Last Friday night, we tried something new to help our son understand stories so he can enjoy family movies with us instead of getting stressed by them: adjusting his expectations by showing him what to expect from EVERY movie or show. Aka, a plot graph. . We have tried various things to help him to deal with his emotions in these "unreal" situations. His default mode is to choose to watch silly YouTube videos or gamer videos while we watch a family movie. Last weekend, we tried a different approach. I plotted out a story graph ahead of time to show him why things seem to get worse and worse until the end of a story. (Because they do, silly! That's what makes it interesting!) Then I wrote down questions based on the five basic turning points in any story. I gave examples of how each question could be answered with the movie Moana (which he is very familiar with and which is structurally perfect.) Then we revved up I, Robot, and had us a little plot analysis party. . He still had some parts where he was covering his ears. But he got really into the plot analysis and afterwards said that it helped him to understand why things were happening to the character and how everything bad that happened was helping him deal with his main problem. . For most people, they don't need to understand WHY a story is written the way it is to enjoy it. Many of us analyze plot subconsciously, especially after years of ingesting stories. But in my son's case, I'm glad that I understood enough about plot construction to help him to "see behind the curtain," feel more in control of the situation, and take some of the terror out of the suspense. Because for some people, like him, it takes a little more to help them understand that it is something that is made up, but happening for a reason, so they can relax, trust the author, and enjoy it. . #writingastherapy #becomingbrave #ptsd #siblingloss #plot #creativeparenting #amwriting #plotting #amreading #movieanalysis #plotgraph #yourewelcome

One day this summer, I came home from town to find that ds#2 and ds#3 had prepared a "surprise" supper. The table was set and spread with beautiful platters of fresh fruit, some dip they had invented, water in jugs and with glasses filled (this is a big deal--normally we each just fill our water bottles from the cooler), and both of them dressed in collared shirts and ties. Ds#3 even had a vest on. . My kids do the greatest things. I want to have this in my feed to look back on and remember all of the awesomeness that happened in that moment. . I am finding all these great photos I took this summer. My main computer's motherboard fried at the end of June and it took most of the summer to get it fixed. (Long story, not going to go into it.) I was finally able to move my photos to my PC a few days ago, so you may find a few more "sweet" memories popping up in my feed for the next few days while I post stuff I missed. . Happy Friday! Happy weekend! . #myboysareawesome #freshfruit #bestsurprise #oranges #grapefruit #lovehowtheyloveme #momlife

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