Just a Bit of News

Hello you!

Yep, after all that hassle I didn't even bother with the blog! Though never fear, I am here now, so lets get going, yes?

Well, I set to work trying to take control of some of the hedging around the house, of which there is plenty. It gets cut on the top and on the field side, but as there's no room down the side of the house to get the tractor, it has to be done by Jennie Power!

Well, I was out there with loppers cutting at the blackthorn (nasty stuff), trying to avoid it coming down on my face (my face, my beautiful face!) and made room to show off some of the more delicate specimens, such as this pink thing (gardeners will be impressed with my naming, I'm sure):

I also found two new Oak trees in the making, so I'm going to cut around them and pop them behind the chicken fencing so they have something to lean against whilst they grow big and strong. To think, the Oaks I really admire are hundreds of years old, and I'm not going to get to see these in their prime. Quite sad really.

My pussy cat has made it into another year, it was touch-and-go. He was rushed into the kitty hospital at the end of November, operated on, and looked a very sad sight. The vet warned he might not make it through the operation, then when he did, he wasn't doing well and she seemed to think that was it for him.

But he's a little soldier, and pulled through. Though it was a worrying few months, but he got through a month of hospital food (better for cats than humans it seems!) and I picked myself up off the floor after seeing how much his bill was - Seriously, a second-hand car or the cat! Those vets know how to charge, and nope, before you ask, no insurance!

Anyway, here's my boy, all happy and off a-hunting for voles:

Any bit of sun and I've been out, not only doing the hedge (just the front to finish off, before starting again!), but also clearing the rubbish from the back (more on that when it's all done). Also, the bays are being planted up. The beans and peas were put in a few weeks back, these were the ones started in the tunnel. But I think they look rather lovely, all caned up - Before the storm pulled the canes down, and the slugs ate the beans!

That's the main news, that I can think of. I'm currently knitting a jumper which has been a nightmare. I'm starting to sew in the tails (grrr) and I'm hoping it will sew up alright, though I'm not expecting it to! I will be back to show it off if it's all good, believe me, it will be shown off!

Well, I'd best be off. I have work to do. I will be back, I actually will.

So take care, have fun, be good (ish)

Jennie xx

The Spectator And The Slipper Slops

Hullo!

I know, it's been so long since last I spoke (thank Gawd you say). Well, I've found myself 40 minutes to spare and it's all yours!

First up, thank you for filling out that shoe survey I'd previously posted - Very helpful indeed. I forgot to photograph other shoes as the thank you, however, I did take some awful snaps of a pair close at hand. I'll give you the goss after this snap.

I fell in love at first sight with these lovelies. Oh go on then, you've talked me into it, here's another.

I'm not sure the laces are original though, or I've just never seen subtantial laces on vintage shoes? Anyways, the goss about the shoes? Well, I fell in love with them and duly bought them and fussed over them at home. Then I had to go out and left them, came back a few hours later and had another look, and discovered something delightful...

Yipee! A utility mark on the soles. When I'd first found them I thought they were late 1930s, but this has latened (if that's a word?) them a bit. At least I loved them before I discovered they're utility and didn't buy them just for that mark, like I have before. It's a bit like falling for a man, and then finding out he's a muti-millionaire... No, it hasn't happened for me yet either!

The shoes aren't the best of fits for me however, they're rather narrow, and my feet are rather average. Wouldn't these be great reproduced? I'd buy a pair, would you?

What else has happened... My afternoon camomile tea smiled at me.

I caused myself great injury laughing, seriously, you know when you laugh until your tummy aches? I carried on long after and was in agony all night - I don't have any photos of that though :)

I've been undertaking the November Vegan Challenge... Though I discovered just how little dairy is in my regular diet anyway, but in the past few days I've begun to really miss eggs, not in cakes or pancakes or anything so fancy, but boiled egg sandwich. I think Ma has really enjoyed me not eating eggs, she hates the smell of eggs cooking.
Ma was also on the challenge, though managed to slip up when she forgot that a potato & cheese pasty has cheese in it... And then again when she has her weekly cappuccino with her friends-wot-don't-lunch, and then with the slice of cheesecake she has whilst out shopping with her friend - I don't know how she does it!

I'm already fed up with Strictly, how has Mark been saved so many times? Especially when it was between him and Fiona! Grrr, it makes me so angry. I gave up watching a few years ago because I realised it must be fixed when I heard that Alesha Dixon was going to be a judge on the next series before she'd even won it. So I gave it up and decided to give it another chance this year.
Anyway for my tuppence I'd say Natalie will win it, she can do no wrong with the judges. If she doesn't win, I'll go a day without chocolate as punishment!

I got new slipper-slops - Not vintage at all, but so cosy!

Very unflattering to my calves this snap, but thankfully I'm a practical(ish) girl, I put comfort above looks at home.

I'll have to go soon, my back is aching. Being perched on a sofa with a laptop isn't comfy.

I was thinking of moving my blog. I'm constantly having problems with Blogger, it won't allow me to edit anymore and I'm just fed up that I can't dip in and out. Is WordPress any good? Would you follow me there? Do you love me enough?

If there are any spelling mistakes I can only apologise, I can't edit it!

I'm off to make dinner in a minute, then it'll be all done and I can have a sit down with a film. What's for dinner? Carrot, butternut squash and chickpea stew with cous-cous.

Ah, go on then, one more snap, then I've got to go. It's not a good snap, but I like how bad it is, and it has a shoe in it!

Anyways, bye for now. I'll be back shortly, and by shortly I mean within a week, not my usual 2-3 months!

Jennie x

I'm Back... Again!

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Mornin' Ducklettes!


It's been far too long, and I've missed you all so very much. I had every intention of writing, then something would come up. So I'm just going to do a quick run-down of the main events in the past three months:

My Uncle B. passed away.
I had a virus thingy (dizziness, light headedness and a feeling of flying...).
Ma had the virus thingy.
I finally finished the knitting of my middy, long story but I found some wool. Just need to sew it up now!
The sun shone in Wales - It does happen!
The fallen willow is still alive! We were ready to chop it up when buds appeared... Very lucky tree! We just have to right it now... Any volunteers?
I found some long-lost fabric.
I almost missed V.E. Day... I'm not good with dates!
I changed the address of the blog to jenniecharm.blogspot.com - Much easier for me to remember!

Anyway, there are more things, but those can be covered in seperate posts.

I've signed up to Blog Lovin' - Something is happening with Google, and everyone on the blogs are signing up, so I have too... Should maybe find out what's happening? Not sure if that link at the top will do anything, but they told me to put it there!

So, I'll be back. I really do have some gossip to share. Not least some of the trips out - A really not so good day (quite pricey too) and a trip which has me giddy with joy!

Speak soon

Jennie xx

Black Cloud

Oh my, is it really the 10th of January? I have some rather awful news, so I'll cover that, then mention some of the lighter, happier things to try and have an even post...

After all the fuss about the snow, it cleared just enough for my Brother to make his way over on Christmas morning, so there was a bit of a last minute panic, but it was a rather nice Christmas. Then on Boxing Day, our beloved cat, George, spent the afternoon being sick - It was horrific for us, so I can't imagine how he felt. A few days later and he just didn't seem right, so a trip to the vets later and we're all in tears - His kidneys are failing and he doesn't have long left with us. As he isn't in too much pain and still has a purr, it was decided to bring him home and try our best to make him comfortable.
As awful as this might sound, we've all had a painful wish for him to be taken in his sleep. No one wants to make the decision to call the vet, maybe this is us wanting to opt out of our responsibility of a pet owner, but how do you know when he's done fighting?
He's the longest surviving cat we've ever had, most of our previous cats have passed before they're 6, George is about 19 years old, and he's been with us since he was about 1 - But he's not just a cat to us, he's a Brother to me and a furry child to my parents. I'm sure you're suggesting we're a mad cat-loving family, and you'd be right.



George (2009)

 I don't feel much like chatting now I've written that, but I quickly mention: I had some lovely presents for Christmas. Then I had a lovely second Christmas on the 2nd January at my Grans and Grandad's, which was also my Birthday. My Gran made an apple crumble, which was sublime.

I'd planned to start my new blogging regime on the 3rd, but I'm afraid I just haven't had resolve to do this. My plan for this year was 3 posts a week; Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I will have outfit posts once a week, along with crafty goodness and something else, which I haven't thought up yet. Obviously, if something happens in the meantime, I might need a little more time away from the internet.

Oh, and before I forget, thank you for following me. Everyone who's remained, even when there's silence from me, and my new followers who have joined over the past few festive weeks. It's means a great deal to me, and before I get all soppy, I'll go - I still haven't taken down my pink Christmas tree...

Take Care

Jenny xx