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.

Get more encouraging and knitterly posts by following me on Instagram @TalenaWinters.

The Phantom of the Opera was my absolute favourite story from the ages of 15 to about 17. I read both of these novels several times. This obsession followed hard on the heels of a "Beauty and the Beast" (Disney Movie) craze, and the similarities in the story line were not lost on me. Today in my newsletter, I talked about the theme of redemptive love in these and several other stories I've loved over the years. If you're not a subscriber, you can sign up here (and see the message under "View previous campaigns" by the submit button): www.talenawinters.com/contact . Happy Friday! . #writerscommunity #writerslife #writersofig #bookstagram #amwriting #amreading #bookish #reading #igreads #newsletter #phantomoftheopera #beautyandthebeast #redemptivelove #redemption

… Because I love these gloves. (Hey, it's Love Day! Why not post a picture of gLoves? :-D) . Purple has really been my colour this winter. I mean, I have been using a lot of different colours this winter, but purple has been used the most. Right now, I'm working on a pair of purple Graceful Slippers. I'm finally revising the slippers pattern (my first design!) at a customer's request. So you'll probably see more purple in my feed soon. . What's your "colour of the season" this year? . #justplaingloves #gracefulslippers #gloves #knitting #knitstagram #amknitting #knittersofig #knittersofinstagram #knitweardesign #mysecretwishbytalena #mswbtprojects

My hubby built us a wood box this year, and I'm so glad! We've been really going through the wood stash with the recent cold snap. I hear warm(er) weather is coming. I can't wait! . Today, I am #grateful for a wood stove in my office and a full shed in my yard. What are you grateful for? . #silverlining #inspiration #motivation #seekbeauty #spreadsunshine #seizetheday #liveinthemoment #itsthelittlethings #writerslife #writingcommunity #amwriting

My kid had a school commitment, so despite the two feet of snow we got last night and the -27 C temperature, I'm in town. On the plus side, I get to enjoy a @jsjavadomain latte and cinnamon bun while reading the brand spanking new issue of @moveupmag. And I'm thankful for four wheel drive! . What are you up to today? . #writerscommunity #writerslife #writersofig #bookstagram #amwriting #amreading #reading #igreads #silverlining #coffee #eatlocal #shoplocal #readlocal #gomightypeace #peaceriver @melissaeearle

I know I've been pretty quiet this month. Life has been so busy, I've barely had time to breathe. I'm finding a more sane pace now, and part of that was today's epiphany about the difference between what balance is and what I thought it was. This changes everything. (Also, what's up with my upcoming book and more.) . www.talenawinters.com/wintersdayin "Equilibrium: What a Rush" . Happy Wednesday, friend! . #writingcommunity #inspiration #motivation #seekbeauty #spreadsunshine #seizetheday #liveinthemoment #itsthelittlethings #writers #writerslife #author #writersofig #theundinestear #bookstagram #amwriting #amreading #fantasybooks #historicalfantasy #shifter #youngadultbooks #mermaids #sphinxes #dragons #angels #demons #grigori

I've lived in Peace River for thirteen years, and for the first four, I lived in an area that meant I had to drive past this drinking fountain nearly every time I left home. It's situated off the road a ways, though, and it wasn't until a few weeks ago that I got close enough to see what was written on the plaque. . The saying, "I drank the water," is commonly said around here by people who have left and come back—which happens on a frequent basis. We've said it ourselves, since we moved all the way to Arkansas in 2008 and, six months later, back to our current home outside of town. But I had no idea it was more than a local "inside joke." (If you can't read the bottom line, it says "Beaver Indian Legend.") Kind of fun to think that people who have drunk Peace River water have been finding themselves pulled back to this community for long enough that it became legend. :-) What draws people here is a lot more than the water, though. This is a truly amazing community to live in for so many reasons. I'm thankful to be here. . #peaceriver #gomightypeace #peaceriveralberta #lovelocal #greatwhitenorth #touralberta

After years of having no outlet for scarf knitting besides myself, my ds#1 decided during a recent cold snap that scarves can be darn useful objects, and requested one be made just for him. This is the result. I'll be weaving in the ends today. . I love knitting scarves, because they let me play with a new texture pattern without a bunch of complicated math. Plus, this was a nice, quick-knit break from another project that requires a lot more concentration. I'll put up shots of the scarf being modelled once I have them. . Are you a scarf-lover? Does your favourite scarf have a story behind it? . #scarf #knittingforboys #knitstagram #amknitting #knittersofig #knittersofinstagram #knitweardesign #mysecretwishbytalena #mswbtprojects

Sometimes, I just like to look at yarn… . What's inspiring you today? . #knitpicks #wooloftheandes #knitstagram #amknitting #knittersofig #knittersofinstagram #knitweardesign #mysecretwishbytalena #mswbtprojects

Today on my blog, I share the story of Mae Renfroe, who lost her second-eldest son, Clayton, in a quadding accident in 2017. Her journey of faith is truly inspiring, and I hope it encourages you, friend. www.talenawinters.com/wintersdayin "Mae Renfroe: Surrendered to God" . Photo by Mae Renfroe. . Happy Monday! . #childloss #grief #survivor #inspiration #storiesoffaith #inspiringpeople #writersofig #amwriting #amreading #blog #blogpost #goodgrief #grievingwell

All this talk about war brides reminded me of one of my most treasured childhood books. I received both of these hardcovers as a birthday gift when I was quite young—twelve, I think. I loved Little Women (though I didn't know which war was effecting them at the time). It may have been my first exposure to a book set in that time period. . I read Wuthering Heights and hated it. I didn't get it. When I was in high school, I read it again, and though I at least understood it that time, I still didn't like it. Then, I read it in college... and I LOVED it! It was like a completely different book! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. . It just goes to show you that sometimes, it's not the book. It's the reader. The reader might not be ready for the book. . Have you ever had an experience like this, where a book you disdained became one you loved? . #littlewomen #wutheringheights #classiclit #louisamayalcott #emilybronte #writerscommunity #writerslife #writersofig #bookstagram #amwriting #amreading #bookish #reading #igreads

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Feb 7, 2019