tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.comments2023-06-07T08:26:03.681+00:00Hedgerow Ways and Fireside DaysJackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13320930325249337062noreply@blogger.comBlogger636125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-56859101580698394832018-03-18T19:08:44.636+00:002018-03-18T19:08:44.636+00:00Just beautiful ! Just beautiful ! Old Paths Cottagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00199432997384217963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-13339235848798048872017-09-18T05:44:38.249+00:002017-09-18T05:44:38.249+00:00I get a tremendous feeling of comfort from a full ...I get a tremendous feeling of comfort from a full wood store. Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15590221150746099374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-37424521851377772302017-05-05T23:06:26.977+00:002017-05-05T23:06:26.977+00:00ps. am going to download the film - thanks for the...ps. am going to download the film - thanks for the pointer, it looks brilliant. xomelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07984286138124792000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-73121708767768017872017-05-05T23:02:33.784+00:002017-05-05T23:02:33.784+00:00I have a book recommendation for you -- i thought ...I have a book recommendation for you -- i thought of you immediately, about three paragraphs in. "A Hovel in the Hills" by Elizabeth West. If you haven't read it, do get your mitts on a copy...what a lovely breath of fresh air it is...the absolute OPPOSITE of the current back-to-the-land treaties. It's funny and irreverent and very real. And, the author and her husband lived it in the 60's-early 70's before it became trendy. They buy and move into semi-derelict cottage in the mountains of north Wales -- with almost no money (they used their savings to buy the house and land for 1650 <-- don't know where the pound symbol is! - and proceed to patch together a living and livelihood for about 14 years.<br /><br />Anyway -- i think it'll make you smile and remind you that you're doing just fine. It certainly did, me. And i'm not even finished it yet. ;)<br /><br />xoxoxomelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07984286138124792000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-55474711803718285042017-04-20T18:08:18.638+00:002017-04-20T18:08:18.638+00:00along with the internets, i blame this sort of pro...along with the internets, i blame this sort of programming for portraying certain ways of life as being 'easily accessible'. it's a dangerous illusion.<br /><br />my very best favourite is the back-to-the-landers that Sell Everything and buy up a smallholding so that they can live the simple life. Only, those people were formerly high-powered business executives with multiple six-figure incomes (and the savings to match) who sell their million-dollar home in one part of the country and then buy somewhere else where the land/houses are of a fraction in value. oooooh! way to really knuckle down people! ARGH!! Which sounds very bitter, I know...but there's a desperate need for realism here. <br /><br />anyway.<br /><br />house rage. yep. xoxoxomelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07984286138124792000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-55514432386190098712017-04-03T22:25:08.403+00:002017-04-03T22:25:08.403+00:00salad sandwiches with salad cream. *slurp* one of ...salad sandwiches with salad cream. *slurp* one of my fave lunches when i'm at my grandad's. He still buys it in the small bottle --it's an import here so I don't think it comes in the big plastic monstrosity. <br /><br />salad cream is definitely far superior to mayo. ;) xoxomelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07984286138124792000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-52305402149381609642017-04-02T21:23:07.267+00:002017-04-02T21:23:07.267+00:00You know, having mentioned salad cream last night....You know, having mentioned salad cream last night. I went mad today and treated myself. I'm a salad cream lover in a mayonnaise household. So we rarely indulge. I was looking for a picture last night to dress this blog post up with (I gave up ) and i saw the bottles of heinz salad cream that used to grace our tables. They were 10oz. That was a big bottle.<br />10oz is around 285mls. The upside down plastic monstrosity i bought today? 400mls! That's 40% bigger! And yet it doesn't feel huge. It feels normal. <br />We're in all kinds of trouble. Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13320930325249337062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-3764816904659247032017-04-02T20:51:34.971+00:002017-04-02T20:51:34.971+00:00My grandparents grew up with rationing -- the stor...My grandparents grew up with rationing -- the stories they could tell! My Nanna grew up in the Lake District, near farms, so they did better than most but their prevailing motto was always 'everything in moderation'. They used sugar, cooked with lard, ate eggs...all of the things you're not 'supposed' to do but they enjoyed good health and were never overweight. I've always noticed, too, how small their portions were. A sandwich with a single slice of ham and some cheese and a cup of tea for lunch...like you say....and not because of trying to deprive themselves, but that's just how they ate.<br /><br />Anyway -- this is so fascinating to me, because I think we've really lost the plot where food is concerned and I'm a great believer in keeping things simple. :) xoxomelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07984286138124792000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-21677186350316463302017-03-23T12:24:19.457+00:002017-03-23T12:24:19.457+00:00I'm so sorry you've gone through all these...I'm so sorry you've gone through all these trials with trying to get a farm secured. But glad for your garden thoughts.<br /><br />Honestly, it's the same here in Canada these days. We had always thought our kids would move out at 18, like we did. But housing has skyrocketed even out in the countryside... and not all of them necessarily want to live in the countryside. We've had to start over from scratch to be able to live near work. It's put us decades backward financially. It's crazy what it does to people.C.L. Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12231606806986839196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-58713615267431821432017-03-09T20:46:03.473+00:002017-03-09T20:46:03.473+00:00i've bookmarked the video for a time when i ca...i've bookmarked the video for a time when i can binge on someone else's wifi. :)<br /><br />i love your garden club updates...you have a knack for capturing the mood of village gatherings. tea like mouse droppings. brilliant. not really, but you know what i mean. ;)<br /><br />i'm indulging daily in the running-away-with-family-in-tow fantasy. i wish i was exaggerating.<br /><br />funnily-not-funnily...i'm reading The Moneyless Man by Mark Boyle - do you know it? anyway, not in the interests of being money-less but it's bringing a whole new perspective on living with less and the philosophies entailed therein. very inspiring and making me want to take some pretty huge leaps.<br /><br />xoxoxomelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07984286138124792000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-91355533242963716142017-03-04T19:32:54.151+00:002017-03-04T19:32:54.151+00:00and regroup you will..but it's a horrible blow...and regroup you will..but it's a horrible blow, regardless and i'm so sorry for your disappointment. :(<br /><br />xoxoxomelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07984286138124792000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-38628206804172148062017-02-28T08:11:46.047+00:002017-02-28T08:11:46.047+00:00That we do. And just as well!!!That we do. And just as well!!!Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13320930325249337062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-77879150980406385342017-02-28T08:05:55.648+00:002017-02-28T08:05:55.648+00:00Great post with some lovely reflections. I remembe...Great post with some lovely reflections. I remember 30 something :o). We learn a lot as we grow older, eh? CT. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-62361370008190626852017-02-15T18:41:43.629+00:002017-02-15T18:41:43.629+00:00I think that's a marvelous scheme to have. Ove...I think that's a marvelous scheme to have. Over here, unless you take over the family farm or are a bejillionaire, you've got no shot at buying land. It's just far too expensive for people starting out. So, that means if you're not from a farming family (or a bejillionaire) you're up the creek. <br /><br />And there aren't a lot of rental opportunities either.<br /><br />Add to that, the penchant for industrialized farming-- the "croppers" as they're called..who gobble up all of the spare land to grow monoculture crops...well, that leaves us with our little corner of a tree nursery.<br /><br />still, it beats living in the city. <br /><br />i wish you all the best of everything...i've got everything crossed for you.<3<br /><br />xooxoxoxoxmelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07984286138124792000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-14743625817261427882017-02-13T19:26:04.258+00:002017-02-13T19:26:04.258+00:00oh dear re: languishing ram. fickle beasts sometim...oh dear re: languishing ram. fickle beasts sometimes, sheep.<br /><br />chuckling over the billy rag...i'm envisioning the girls giving the pj's an eyelash-flutter.<br /><br />after a particularly trying day at work this morning, i found my mind once again returning to goats and self-sufficiency and leap-taking and other sundry escapist musings.<br /><br />what is a county farm, may i ask? i think hope outdoes the reality and therefore shall win out.<br /><br />goat/sheep/vegetable/cow/fruit/poultry people are the best sort. <br /><br />xoxoxoxo<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />melhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07984286138124792000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-80025866191107491942017-02-08T18:55:53.192+00:002017-02-08T18:55:53.192+00:00i'm not ashamed to admit that i'm DEAD JEL...i'm not ashamed to admit that i'm DEAD JELLY over, both the village hall, and the garden club. and the camraderie (sp?) over growing things and being self-sufficient.<br /><br />*sigh*<br /><br />i picked up the leaflet for the nearby WI while i was at the library the other day. that was as far as i got. i'm neither a mixer nor a joiner by nature...and yet.....something keeps tugging at me. Community, yes...of course, but a lifetime of being the odd sock makes one a bit gun-shy....<br /><br />a true good lifer. sounds a noble epitaph indeed. xomelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07984286138124792000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-66323289912240676562017-02-06T23:34:11.296+00:002017-02-06T23:34:11.296+00:00Mel ... your comment has disappeared into the ethe...Mel ... your comment has disappeared into the ether! I told it to publish and it just disappeared :(Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13320930325249337062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-77689509682841815322016-12-02T10:40:45.113+00:002016-12-02T10:40:45.113+00:00Having read all three years ago, I recently did th...Having read all three years ago, I recently did the same thing and picked them up on ebay for a song. Now sitting about 6 inches from my left elbow.Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15590221150746099374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-6400559340657781072016-11-30T19:33:04.016+00:002016-11-30T19:33:04.016+00:00i had one of those days myself today....and i actu...i had one of those days myself today....and i actually get to be outside for part of my working day...it's just the Having To Be There that occasionally drags me down. But yes....i then counter those thoughts with gratitude for having my job....one that pays little but still pays and doesn't totally break my heart on the hour.<br /><br />always thinking of you...xoxoxmelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07984286138124792000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-54041922366812041292016-11-30T07:51:33.097+00:002016-11-30T07:51:33.097+00:00Ha! No it's an oldie but goodie! I snaffled al...Ha! No it's an oldie but goodie! I snaffled all three of eBay after lending my original to a more successful tightwad than myself - she never gave it back! 😊Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13320930325249337062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-40469810341133728782016-11-30T07:46:10.249+00:002016-11-30T07:46:10.249+00:00The Tightwad Gazette? I've not heard anyone me...The Tightwad Gazette? I've not heard anyone mention that for years and years.Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15590221150746099374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-2012516986232348862016-11-29T19:55:54.333+00:002016-11-29T19:55:54.333+00:00good grief! that sounds like an utter racket!
som...good grief! that sounds like an utter racket!<br /><br />something will turn up. i just know it. xoxoxomelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07984286138124792000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-63404881276048134672016-11-28T20:12:37.545+00:002016-11-28T20:12:37.545+00:00love this. so very much. a winter kitchen....*sig...love this. so very much. a winter kitchen....*sigh* xoxoxoxomelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07984286138124792000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-16903952736201841892016-11-08T22:20:36.362+00:002016-11-08T22:20:36.362+00:00Scarily I believe it does. And our bizarre transa...Scarily I believe it does. And our bizarre transatlantic mirroring of each other says something too. Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13320930325249337062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679222788629761697.post-32084629252968245162016-11-08T22:17:21.754+00:002016-11-08T22:17:21.754+00:00We've been attuned for a while. I'm guessi...We've been attuned for a while. I'm guessing they could be!Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13320930325249337062noreply@blogger.com