Welcome to Our Country Life
Embracing the Quiet Charm of Country Life
Welcome to Our Country Life! I’m Jenna, a quiet soul in my 30s, embracing the charm of living in a cosy English cottage. Here, I share glimpses of slow living, countryside musings, wildlife, nature, and the simple joys of an introverted life. If you’d like to know more about me and my journey on Substack, feel free to explore my introduction page.
Alongside sharing my experiences of country life, I also send out a monthly newsletter, In My Cottage Garden, on the last Sunday of each month. In it, I offer a glimpse into the latest happenings in our garden, from seasonal changes to new planting projects. You can catch up on my newsletters that have been sent out since July 2024 by clicking HERE!
How it Started
In 2021, we traded the hustle and bustle of town life for a tranquil countryside escape. A cosy cottage nestled in a 17,000-acre English woodland. What we found here was a hidden sanctuary teeming with wildlife, a place where nature flourished right on our doorstep. The opportunity to embrace country living in all its charm was simply too good to pass up, so we put our 1930s semi-detached house on the market, packed up our treasures, and headed off into the woods.
Adjusting to rural life came with its fair share of lessons. One of the first (and most important!) was remembering to keep the oil tank topped up - let’s just say we learned that one the hard way. We’d always been on mains gas so to wake up one day to no hot water or heating was a revelation. Then came the late-night doggy bathroom breaks, which soon turned into magical moments as we stumbled across deer peacefully grazing in the garden.
Catch up on my first post about the deer…
Oh Deer!
When we moved to our woodland cottage, I was nonchalant about the idea of deer visiting our garden. "It's just deer," I thought, rolling my eyes. At the time, I was hardly a nature enthusiast. Sure, I enjoyed watching garden birds, but our previous home only hosted a resident robin, a couple of pigeons, and a few blackbirds. The promise of deer seemed u…
And, of course, there was the small matter of my long-standing fear of rodents. At first, every unexpected encounter left me jumping out of my skin. But little by little, I found myself growing braver, slowly learning to coexist with my tiny, uninvited neighbours. They are kind of cute after all.
Adapting and Adjusting
These past few years have been quite eventful. I’ve welcomed hens into my life, which taught me invaluable lessons as a first-time mother hen. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the beauty of nature and wildlife up close, each encounter has been more magical than the last.
Amidst these joys, I’ve also faced the challenge of a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis, a journey that has brought its own set of trials and triumphs. If you’d like to read more about how I’m getting on with having MS, I’ve shared my latest update below.
The Letter I'd Been Waiting For!
Envelope in hand, this was it—the letter I’d been waiting for and weeks of restless anticipation had led to this moment. I had spent every waking hour drowning in distraction, channelling every ounce of nervous energy into creativity. My days blurred from 5:45 a.m. until late at night, a whirlwind of perpetual busyness. It was my way of silencing the no…
The Kitchen Garden
Finally, after years of dreaming, I started my very own vegetable patch with the help of my partner, a project close to my heart and fulfilling beyond words. I started documenting the process and you can find the posts about My Kitchen Garden by clicking HERE!
Final Thoughts
As I reflect on where my writing fits into this space, I realise it's a journey in itself - one I am eager to share. Although I might not have all the answers, and my ideas don’t usually go to plan, I'm passionate about documenting these adventures and growth with a few laughs along the way. I’ll also share the occasional countryside walk or day trip along with photographs I take while out and about.
I’ll Shut Up Now…Promise!
If you’ve made it this far, thank you! If you’d like to stick around, I’d be absolutely delighted to have you as part of this little community. Whether you prefer to quietly enjoy my posts or jump in and share your thoughts, you’re so very welcome here.
By clicking subscribe, you’ll have my free weekly newsletters delivered straight to your inbox at 7am every Sunday. It’s the perfect way to start your day with a warm cup of tea (or coffee!) and a cosy read. If you decide to click subscribe, I’ll see you next Sunday!
But Before You Go…
If you’d like to stay connected, you’ll find more everyday moments, creative snapshots, and heartfelt musings over on my Instagram.
It’s where I share little bits of life, inspiration, and things that make me smile — and I’d love for you to be part of it.
Looking forward to connecting with you there! Take care and see you soon!
Thank you so much for reading my newsletter! Your interest truly means the world to me.
Thank you for sharing your country life journey with us, Jenna. Looking forward to your beautiful stories and photos 🐁