• You get a personally written letter in your mailbox each month.
• Newsy stories about the farm, the animals, the challenges and the victories.
• Stories of my journey of widowhood and how I traveled the maze of pain.
• A 4x6 Art Card of an "oil painting rendition" of my photography.
• The Art Card is a note card you can send to a friend or frame for yourself.
• Gift a Subscription to someone you love so they feel remembered every month.
· New subscribers receive a free Welcome letter and Gift Art Card.
• Easy to cancel anytime.
The Rhythm of Life
is the story of love, joy, sorrow, victory, loss, faith, fear, miracles
and my least favorite... Life Change
Loneliness in a Social Media World
In a culture that is drowning in digital messages, we all cherish the long-lasting power of a personally written letter. Those of us that are old enough to know what it is like to receive a letter from a favorite aunt or a grandmother or a friend that lives far away, know the joy of ‘checking the mailbox’ for a real letter.
"We need to start reaching out to each other. This is what I am doing…"
What do you get for $11 a month?
~ A Letter Club ~
A personal, heartfelt letter from me to you. An envelope, stamp, and real paper, sent the old-fashioned way - to your mailbox. Not text. Not email. Not social media. Not a digital “post”. Not even the phone. Just an old-fashioned paper letter that was personally written, folded, stamped, addressed and taken to the post office.
A letter that invites you to slow down and get a cup of tea or coffee.
A letter that allows you to take some quiet time for yourself.
A letter to look forward to each month in your mailbox.
A letter that says, “I’m thinking of you”.
What will I be writing about?
Stories of our cross-country move from Washington State to a forgotten and overgrown farm in Oklahoma. Heartbreaking but victorious stories of the rescued kitties and dogs that have unexpectedly arrived. Baby calves, silly goats, storm shelters and high winds. Fencing, digging, building, repairing.
And among all the stories of the farm is the thread of personal growth that widowhood has brought to my life. How I dealt with grief and maneuvered through it. Learning how to layer new memories over the awful memories of loss, to eventually soften and blur the pain. Finding that if I could just keep my body moving, my mind would eventually catch up.
What is a "Cudding Tree"?
It is the most special place on the farm. It’s where the animals gather to rest in the shade of a majestic old oak tree during hot summer days. It is magical and peaceful – my favorite place to be on the farm – listening to my cows and goats chewing their cud as they relax "Under The Cudding Tree".
“To cud” means to ruminate. Only ruminates have this ability. Cows, goats, sheep, deer, elk, giraffes, antelope and moose, all ruminate. They have one stomach divided into four chambers. As they eat, it goes into one chamber that they later cough up and rechew a second time. This is called “chewing the cud”.
"We 'ruminate' when we mull over an idea or a problem."
“Chewing the cud” has a lot of meanings for us, too. It means taking the time to think slowly and carefully about things.
It’s the perfect analogy for these letters that I am writing to you. They are about my experiences from "The Rhythm of Life". A story of love, joy, sorrow, victory, loss, faith, fear, miracles and my least favorite - along with everyone else's - Life Change. We all experience this "Rhythm" through the journey of life. Some journeys are planned, others are definitely not planned.
"We all have a story."
"Widowhood doesn’t end at a set point – it’s just a continuation of a new journey."
Here are some examples of the different Art Cards that you will discover in your letters. They are made from actual photos I have taken of my farm and the amazing animals that surround me. I love photography and have recently discovered the joy of creating works of art by “artifying” my photos by using software to turn them into “oil paintings” or "sketches" as you see on this website. These Art Cards are designed as note cards, so you can send them to a friend, or you can keep them to frame and enjoy. Every month there will be a Gift of a new full color Art Card in your letter.
My Art
"My photography is how I share my life with you in living color."
Why am I writing these letters?
~To reach out to others in this lonely world.~
~To support my farm and family.~
Where I live – truly out in the sticks – jobs are few and far between. So, turning my letter writing into a subscription service will financially support this beautiful farm and provide for the MANY and UNEXPECTED rescued animals that live here.
But most of all, writing these letters is to connect with others that are missing that personal touch of someone reaching out to say...
"I'm thinking of you."
About Me
Who am I? My name is Jenna. I grew up in Oregon and Washington State. I moved my daughter and my parents to the beautiful Ozark foothills of Oklahoma in 2022. I never dreamed of living in Oklahoma but we bought sight-unseen and here we are! It is a wild and amazing experience.
I am also a widow. My husband passed away in 2015, suddenly and unexpectedly - leaving me and our recently adopted 8-year-old daughter on our own. The years have been challenging. It was hard and messy. But I’ve grown. It’s deepened me. I’ve learned. I’m still learning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is “Under The Cudding Tree”?
It is a Letter Club subscription. We send you a real letter to your mailbox every month.
How soon will I get a letter?
We mail out the letters the last week of the month. The letter should arrive around the 1st week of the following month.
If you subscribe BEFORE the 20th of the month, you can expect to get your first letter around the 1st week of the following month. Example: if you sign up by Jan. 20th you should get your first letter around the first week of February. You will also get the Welcome Letter and Art Card sent to you within a week or two of your new subscription.
If you sign up AFTER the 20th you will receive the Welcome letter and Art Card within a week or two of your new subscription. But you won't receive the next letter until 6 weeks later. Example: if you sign up Jan. 21st you won't receive the first regular letter until around the first week of March.
Do I need to write back to you?
No. There is no expectation for you to write back.
How many letters do I get each month?
One letter a month.
But as a new subscriber you will also receive a Welcome Letter with an Art Card.
Can you send letters to other countries?
Not yet. But if we get enough requests, we will figure out how to do that.
What do I receive each month?
A personally written letter. And a Gift of a frameable 4 x 6 "oil painting" Art Card that was created from my farm photography.
What are you going to be writing about?
Farm news, life journey and widowhood.
How do I send a Gift Subscription to someone I care about?
If the subscription is a GIFT, click on the GIFT SUBSCRIPTION button and it will take you to a simple check-out form. You will need to enter the name and street address of the person you are GIFTING the subscription to.
And you will use your name, email and billing address into the form. You can use a debit or credit card. The $11 payment is automatically reoccurring every month. You can easily cancel anytime.
Email me if you have any problems with subscribing: Jenna@UnderTheCuddingTree.com
How do I Subscribe for myself?
If the subscription is for YOU, click on the SUBSCRIBE NOW button and it will take you to a simple check-out form. You will need to put your name and your street address and your email into the form. You can use a debit or credit card. The $11 payment is automatically reoccurring every month. You can easily cancel anytime.
Email me if you have any problems with subscribing: Jenna@UnderTheCuddingTree.com
What does it cost?
$11 a month. Recurring every month. Easily cancel anytime.
How can I contact you?
Email:
Snail Mail:
Under The Cudding Tree
P.O. Box 65
Quinton, Ok 74552
Is my subscription automatically reoccurring?
Yes. But you can easily cancel anytime.
How do I update my mailing address?
Please update BEFORE the 20th of the month to not miss your next letter!
To update your mailing address for correct delivery to your mailbox, email me with your name, your original address and your new address so I can personally update it.
How do I update my billing address?
If you need to change your billing address, probably the best way to do that is to cancel your subscription and then go right back in, so you don’t miss any letters, to get a new subscription started using your updated billing address.
Can you deliver to a P.O. Box?
Yes!
How do I cancel?
Good question…..
Thank You for joining me!
Contact At
Jenna@UnderTheCuddingTree.com
Address
P. O. Box 65, Quinton, OK 74561