Welcome to Litsy!

A friend shared this template on Instagram & I thought it was too fun.

The basic premise is to choose one of each of the following:

•book (Wintering by Katherine May)
•album (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by Wilco)
•food (palak paneer & hermit cookies)
•drink (iced coffee - dark)
•game (Scrabble)

I added an element/weather/nature feature (sun glitter on the ocean).

Find the template by searching Insta for unhingedbookbitch (sorry about the handle). 🙈

I enjoyed it till I didn‘t, then I just couldn‘t continue.

Ready to start later tonight. I have been waiting for a few months for this to come from the library!

I‘m not typically 1) a joiner, or 2) a person who spends big.

That being said, Katherine May is hosting a retreat *in the US* this coming October and I‘m seriously considering dropping everything to go. Details will be released this Wednesday. You can sign-up to receive them here: https://katherine-may.co.uk/retreat-waiting-list?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=...

Any Littens want to be (quietly) wild with me?

Soft pick. Glad I read it now, as I emerge from a long period of wintering, rather than in the thick of it. As such, I could relate to much of her perspective. It‘s more of a philosophical meditation than a memoir/self-help book/manifesto (though bits of those as well), which is good for reflection but also means that it feels so removed at times from the actual meat of suffering, which can give it an air of annoying privilege.

Enjoying a relaxed Sunday morning (ok, technically it‘s afternoon now) by starting a new book and having a latte and egg and cheese on a cheddar chive biscuit.

Thanks, yet again, to Katherine May for linking her newsletter subscribers to a great read, this time on “Winter Friends.”

The truest-feeling quote from the blog post by Anna Brones reads,

“We seem to have little time for solitude or communion. We‘re stretched thin in the unsatisfying space in between the two.”

https://creativefuel.substack.com/p/winter-friends?utm_source=substack&utm_mediu...

I really enjoyed this book and a perfect time to finish it with an ice storm.

#midwintersolace #fridaynightshare #naturalitsy I have been reading this book off and on for a year. It really is lovely. This is the year I make it to the end.

#midwintersolace #naturalitsy #fridaynightshare

#hyygehug #wintersolace

Staci! This is an amazing #YuleSwap package! And you had everything wrapped so prettily (but I didn‘t get a photo because I dove right into opening! 🤣)

I love the Wheel of the Year and the candle is the best smell! I can‘t wait to dive into the books. Thank you! 🤍❄️🌲

And thanks to my awesome co-host Ashely! 😘🤍❄️

More cards! Thank you also for all the fun quotes, tea, stickers, bookmarks and seasonal wishes. #holidaycardswap #naturalitsycardswap

I think this was a me issue. I was expecting more of a "how to" verses memoir.

#Naturalitsy #Midwintersolace #Fridaynightshare This is a book I think about a lot after reading it nearly 2 years ago. Quiet, contemplative and relevant, this book made me think about the episodes of winter in my life. May expertly draws us in to her story, her exploration of the times in all our lives that feel cold and dark and the way in which we can survive them a d come out stronger on the other side. This book brought me peace.

#naturalitsywintersolsticeswap
Home Alone, Christmas cookies, Christmas eve, giving gifts, ribbons, Krampus, Tofu, crackers,Solstice, DIY, vegan chocolate, The Christmas Revels, movie and games, jammie‘s, many small fake trees, Stars, vegan cocoa- or currently Starbucks gingerbread oat milk chai, at home, colored lights,movie, sledging, grinch, books, sockets and sweater, quiet

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085N3MXHZ?_bbid=180497769&tag=bookbubemail1-20

Good Solace & Winter Reading ❄️🩶❄️

I don‘t regret the time I spent reading this book, but it was not what I expected—far more navel-gazing memoir than I anticipated. I assume the glowing recommendations I received were from people who adore memoir—I do not. I skimmed the last 20% because I realized it wasn‘t transforming into anything different than it had been all along.

Saturday playtime with the Seren-cat followed by some reading time. Katherine May is quickly becoming a favorite author. This marks the third book of hers I'm reading in the last 5 weeks.

This was more a memoir than I expected.

Wintering follows the author through one of the toughest seasons of her life. She has just left her job, she is experiencing a health scare, and her son is struggling in school, so she pulls him out. She weaves her own story of difficulty with winter customs to deal with the long, cold days in various cultures. She even participates in some. Loved this part memoir, part how-to guide.

Some elements really resonated (bees, winter swimming, singing), others were less well drawn and cohesive. I liked preparing and welcoming a slow down.

In keeping with my resolution of bailing on more books this year, I‘m giving up on 2 this week. Both of these are actually really good and I may come back to them sometime, but they‘re not holding my interest at the moment so I‘m sending them back to the library for now.

I don‘t have an exact #EasterOMC TBR, but my overly optimistic reading goals for the weekend are
🌸Keep up with my buddy reads for #Pemberlittens and #SundayBuddyRead
🌺Finish P&P and start Crazy Rich Asians for my #LitsyLoveBookBuddy reads
🌷Finish The It Girl and start The Death of Mrs Westway for #AuthorAMonth
🌻Start Bless The Daughter Raised By a Voice In Her Head for my poetry exchange with @Chrissyreadit
🌼Start the tagged book on audio

Up next on audio #WithASeason #TemptingTitles @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

I loved Wintering, looking forward to Enchantment. And they are so pretty! 🧡💙

I could read this again♥️💯

The lovely @Chrissyreadit gave me my well highlighted now copy.

Loved this book. Loved its message.

This has been a bright spot in my reading however. My daughter signed me up for this 75Hard Challenge and part of it is to read 10 pages from a non-fiction book a day.

I loved this! I found so much to relate to in the book, and an awful lot to think about in my own life. As @Lindy commented, it‘s a very reassuring read. It makes you realise that taking care of yourself is the most important thing.

Yesterday felt almost like a summer‘s day on the beach, but today is definitely winter again, so much more reading in the campervan instead of playing out!

There were parts of this book that were relatable and that I enjoyed but other parts not so much. A nice topic but didn‘t keep me fully immersed

We‘ve got snow again so I better start reading this again. I‘m really not having difficult times beyond the crackpot leading Ontario and teacher contracts expired in august 2022 and negotiations don‘t seem to be happening and inflation ( apparently one needs $5000 more this year to live than last year 🤯) but that‘s probably enough to put someone over the edge

📚Wintering
🖋️ Jacqueline Winspear
📽️ West Side Story
🎤 Willie Nelson
🎶 We Can Work It Out (Beatles)
#manicmonday #LetterW

I‘ve missed a few Mondays…

My beautiful snow baby absolutely *LOVES* this blizzard. I don't mind the snow, but I'm happy to sit inside tonight in front of the fireplace with my chai and rereading parts of Wintering ❄️📚❄️

Perfect. This does a wonderful job of summing up why I love the wheel of the year ✨I also don‘t think it matters, the magic is real enough for me #woty

Not my typical read, but this was for book club and the timing seems apt (though probably better in January or February, when I really struggle to get through the months). Not a bad read, but what really kept me going was the audiobook reader, Rebecca Lee. Something about her voice was very compelling.

Last day to sign up.

https://forms.gle/aj1eXNSM96CM5FjP9
A swap to celebrate Winter. Or Cozy. Or Warmth. Or Cold.

this is a fast turn around and one size swap- 2 books and goodies to fit in a medium size USPS box or equivalent.
A swap for anyone who wants to celebrate winter- inside or outside.

https://forms.gle/XVRGCj9F2XwHdKDu8

This is a fast turn around due to timing!! A swap for anvone who wants to celebrate Winter- inside or outside!

https://forms.gle/sHDTLCFo6LoyRVDq5

A Winter Wonderland Swap - sign ups close in a few days.
https://forms.gle/sHDTLCFo6LoyRVDq5

This is a fast turn around due to timing!! A swap for anyone who wants to celebrate Winter- inside or outside!

https://forms.gle/sHDTLCFo6LoyRVDq5

“Life meanders like a path through the woods. We have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again.“

Sign up form for #NaturaLitsy planned #Midwintersolacegames starting 1st December. All welcome to join in, let me know to tag you in the lists.
#Litsyevents

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSff8aJjA8moOG3LdqMKFgFHZ6y35SdUiJ55ret7...

#ukkindledeal #99ponkindle #naturalitsy @alldebo

I was supposed to mow the lawn today since my husband is gone for work. But it‘s been raining all day, so I was forced to watch Austen inspired movies and read instead. Poor me.☺️

Recently finished this #audiobook. Really enjoyed it even though it wasn‘t exactly what I expected. The title and subtitle makes it seem like it is a self-help type book, but I felt it started that way and went heavy into memoir territory. I enjoy memoirs so that worked for me overall. I started it on a dreary day, but listened on many spring and summer days. If you‘re a seasonal reader, save this one for Fall. 4⭐️

The right book for me at the right time.
Quiet and comforting. This book embraces being gentle with yourself, looking inward and giving yourself what you need when you‘re hurting.

My current audiobook. I‘ve been reading/ listening in a slow and steady pace. Really enjoying!