Movie Recommendation: The Luzhin Defence with Emily Watson

I watched this movie last night.  

https://tubitv.com/movies/670513/the-luzhin-defence

It is leaving TUBI this month so don't delay in watching it. It's FREE and I know you will love it. Filmed in 2000. I adore Emily Watson and she's wonderful in this film. 

"It's the early 1920s and Aleksandr Ivanovich 'Sascha' Luzhin (John Turturro), a gifted but tormented chess player, arrives in a Northern Italian city to compete in an international chess competition. Prior to the tournament he meets Natalia Katkov (Emily Watson) and he falls in love with her almost immediately. She in turn finds his manner to be appealing and they begin to see each other in spite of her mother's disapproval." The screenplay was based on the novel THE DEFENSE (or The Luzhin Defence) by Vladimir Nabokov.

Let me know if you watch it and if you liked it. It is streaming on Prime Video and Apple TV too. "You're welcome." Enjoy! xo

Watch ANTIQUES ROADSHOW UK free on Pluto TV

If you like all things English and Antiques too, you will love the British version of The Antiques Roadshow. It has been televised since 1979 and there is an endless loop of all episodes on PLUTO TV It's on channel 556 if you want to try it out on PlutoTV. I never tire of it and I pretty much have my living room set tuned to that channel all day long. Each episode is recorded at an amazing historic site and the people who bring in their family heirlooms or boot sale finds are delightful. Let me know if you love it too. I woke up this morning to my first killing frost and the begonias are gone.😢 Happy Friday -- have a great weekend.

https://pluto.tv/en/on-demand/series/antiques-roadshow/details/season/28

Cat of Hearts

Aren't this cat's markings amazing?

She's beautiful and proud.

The Cat of Hearts, for sure.

Photo found here.

Rained most of the day here but promises to stop by 6am.

I'm watching Hetty Wainthropp Investigates on BritBox and am absolutely loving it. Instead of spending her golden years lying down, the indomitable Hetty Wainthropp found her calling late in life. Combining common sense, her husband, and her pocketbook, this senior sleuth takes on all the cases the police deem too minor. There are 4 seasons.

Have you seen it? I promise you will love it.

xo

Old Workbench as Kitchen Island

I have always loved old carpenter workbenches in a house. 

This one in a Steven Gambrel kitchen is wonderful.

I wouldn't change a thing. 

I am currently watching and thoroughly enjoying WYCLIFFE on Tubi.  "In a coastal English town, an exacting detective picks through clues while investigating a wide variety of crimes in his otherwise quiet community in Cornwall. This is a very different Cornwall from the village in Doc Martin. Starring Jack Shepherd, Helen Masters, Tim Wylton, Jimmy Yuill, and Adam Barker. Link on Tubi HERE. There are 5 seasons.

Before & After Fireplace Wall/TV Wall

This was my fireplace with a small TV in my living room. I have had only two fires in two years, both on Christmas Eve.

You've have seen this photo in a previous post but I wanted to show it again as an AFTER photo with the fireplace covered.

You've seen this photo too. My old TV was extending into the room beyond the hearth on the right.

New 43" TV with Donna Reed Show. It's on in my area mornings from 9am-10am on the Decades Channel.

Old 24" TV tuned in to the same program. It looks like a larger screen because I was up close with my camera. First photo shows size better. I am still pleased with my new arrangement and having a larger screen. Happy Spring Equinox or the first day of Spring. 

My First Large Screen TV

I took this photo this morning while The Donna Reed Show was playing on the Decades channel. The program was in an old square format and didn't even take up the full screen. The two wide black bands on either side of Mary's face are actually part of the 43" screen.

I worked for days getting the new arrangement just right. I have had only two fires in two years so I decided to hide the fireplace entirely and let my new 43" TV have center stage. I tried several ways of having both but it wasn't possible. I had an old  storm shutter in original blue paint in the garage that covered the opening with more space on either side. I had an antique rectangular heavy wire basket that I used for firewood and I flipped it over to make a TV stand. The two wooden slat feet were perfect for keeping the TV upright and nice and tight and the set looks like it is floating. Two feet came with the set but I didn't have anything wide enough to use as a base and I think my basket looks better anyway. The fireplace fender looks nice in front too. I moved my old pot rack that was next to my desk and I like it nearby for my books and magazines. I always swore I would never have a TV that was the focal point of a room but I don't think this is too overwhelming and I'm enjoying it a lot. The remote has Voice Control. The setup was very easy; the hardest part was getting the back off the remote to insert the included batteries.😂 It has Chromecast built in and Apple Play too. It works with my air antenna by clicking on INPUT. 

 The remote is very simple and easy to use. 

Right now I am watching a really good legal series

on Tubi called THE JURY.

https://tubitv.com/series/300005047/the-jury

My local Walmart had this Vizio TV in stock and the rest is history. I bought it a week ago Friday and the past 10 or 11 days have been spent moving things around so it looks as if it belongs here and now I think it does.

xo

 

Pizza Night and Inspector Morse

Does this count as eating my greens?

This frozen pizza was delicious.

A birth announcement is on my toast rack in the background. I found a marble lazy susan and have a new arrangement behind my cutting board. I love rearranging and have been doing quite a bit in the last few days. I'm off to watch an episode of Inspector Morse before I go to sleep. 

I found a link on YouTube for all the full episodes in chronological order. I only watch the ones that say they are one hour and forty minutes+ long. Some are in short increments and I skip those. Every episode of Morse is a complete case that is solved so it's fine to skip. I never even tried those short ones so I don't know why they are so short. See YouTube link below.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLur-u8joYJPGl8rPNN94yLQnZ-VbQGP83

UPDATE: I watched one of the episodes that has a short running time and it automatically went to the next segment until the full episode was finished. So don't be afraid of the short ones. xo

Here's a photo of the pizza box I fished out of my junk mail and paper recycling container I keep just outside my basement door. It is a ShopRite private label called bowl & basket. I will definitely buy it again. It was the best frozen pizza ever. They have other varieties too.

My Snowdrops

I worked outside on this lovely Sunday afternoon cutting back the Limelight hydrangeas and some more general spring cleanup. It's really too early to do very much but it was nice being outdoors. The snowdrops are in full bloom and they are my harbingers of spring and the daffodils will be next.

I recently finished watching all five seasons of Kavanaugh QC on Tubi and loved it. It's on Amazon Prime too. Kavanagh Q.C. is a British Series about a barrister with the designation of Queen's Counsel (hence the title) starring John Thaw. I love all legal dramas, especially the English ones with barristers and judges wearing robes and wigs. I learned John Thaw was the original Inspector Morse and now I am watching and really enjoying all of those old episodes on YouTube. Somehow I missed them when they aired on PBS. I don't think the new Morse on Endeavour can hold a candle to the old Morse! 

xo

Now Watching: MONARCH OF THE GLEN

MONARCH OF THE GLEN on Tubi

https://tubitv.com/series/300006800/monarch-of-the-glen

 I stumbled on this BBC series with seven seasons that aired 2000-2005 and I absolutely love it. The characters are wonderful as is the Scottish castle and the countryside of the vast estate. It is on Amazon Prime if you are a member and on Tubi to watch free with ads. I put the link for TUBI if you are a cord cutter like me. I think it might be on BritBox too. January is the perfect month to start watching a long series with a total of 64 episodes. I'm so glad I found it. I'm sure many of you saw it years ago and might want to watch again. 

A list of all the episodes can be found here.

Enjoy! xo

UPDATE: At the time of the above posting I knew one of the main characters was familiar gut couldn't quite figure out who he was. Mystery solved! It was Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey fame. I thought he might have been influenced by this Scottish series and did some research. I found this link very informative. There are other links within the article that are interesting too.

https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/downton-abbey-loosely-based-creator-julian-fellowes-life.html/

My Guilty Pleasure: The Donna Reed Show on Decades

The Donna Reed Show comes on in my area on DECADES from 9am until 10am and I always switch to that channel if I'm home. I think it's on MEtv too. Since cutting the cord I am definitely stuck in the 1950s with my Air Antenna and commercials unless I'm watching a PBS channel. That's fine with me because I'm finding the commercials healthy because I jump up and do quick tasks while they are playing. It reminds me of my childhood days when my mother and I would jump up and rush to the kitchen to finish cleaning up and rush back when a program came back on asking, "Did we miss anything good?" to my dad and brother. 

I found this photo in a NewYorkTimes article entitled: 

Back When Mother, Too, Knew Best.

I just love that all the "living" was done in the living room including dancing with music from the record player in the corner when teenagers came over. There was no rec room or den. The kitchen was for breakfast and lunch as well as ironing, and paying bills. The family ate in the dining room most nights. I don't recall any episodes with a TV set. There are 8 seasons in all from 1958. Try it, you'll like it. Yup, I'm stuck in the 50's and loving it! xo

The Beautiful Cardinal + Acorn TV Updates

A Cardinal in the Snow

There's no prettier bird in the snow, is there? I am bracing for more tomorrow and will keep you posted. My heart goes out to the people in Texas with no power. I am so fortunate and count my blessings every day. xo

UPDATE: Feb. 18th

Season 2 of LAW & ORDER | UK was just added to Acorn.TV

I really enjoyed LINE OF DUTY too. I watched all 6 Seasons and I recommend it highly.

Instead of adding a new blog post, I am just going to keep adding updates to my existing evening post from the night before. A new post will be added between 8pm and no later than 9pm in the evening, Eastern time.

LAW & ORDER | UK on Acorn TV

I am currently watching this new series on Acorn TV and I highly recommend it. I never watched Law & Order for some reason and I know it was a popular show here. I adore British Legal dramas, especially the court scenes with the barristers wearing robes and wigs. The acting is superb and I really like all six of the actors shown above. It is a new series that just started on February 1, 2021. Put it on your "must watch" list and you won't be sorry. xo 

UPDATE: I just did some research and found this series is also on Amazon Prime, Britbox, and AMC+

A Painted Bunting was seen in Maryland

I saw a news clip about this rare bird siting in Maryland on the CBS News this morning. It was rare to see a painted bunting so far North but the news clip said they were rather common farther down South. All the bird watchers (birders) are flocking to Maryland hoping to get a glimpse of this bird for their life bird count. 

I couldn't find anything to watch last night in bed on Acorn TV so I started a search. I was searching by name of some of my favorite actors and I put in Martin Clunes and guess what popped up? Doc Martin, Season 9 was released in September 2019 but I never knew it. I started watching and it's delightful. I am SO HAPPY! I think it's on Amazon Prime Video too.

I have been working upstairs in my attic home office doing endless organizing and shredding. I went to paper recycling today with 3 tall garbage cans of shredded paper, junk mail, and flattened cardboard boxes. I wasn't the only one either. The lady in front of me had a car full and I thought she would never get finished unloading her SUV. Mine was all organized and went quickly.

I have an older, small flatscreen TV on the third floor with a Chromecast attached to the back and I have been streaming non-stop episodes of ANTIQUES ROADSHOW UK from PLUTO TV Channel 621. It's so much better than the American version. It's on 24/7 and I don't often see repeats because it has been on the air for so long. I am such a happy cord cutter and haven't looked back since I got rid of cable TV and my landline phone. All I have now is high speed WiFi and my cell phone. In my living room I still get Air TV from an inexpensive antenna. Now I watch what I want, when I want. I can stream the Sunday shows on PBS starting on Monday from The PBS Video App.

xo

Current Obsession: KINGDOM on AcornTV

I just started watching this series on AcornTV last night and I'm hooked after three episodes. Watch trailer here. You can stream it on Amazon too, all three seasons. 

Stephen Fry (Jeeves and Wooster) stars in this "charming" (Examiner.com) British dramedy as Peter Kingdom, a compassionate solicitor running a law practice in a quaint and beautiful Norfolk town. As he handles the cases of his oddball clients, he also contends with the mysterious disappearance of his brother and the return of his wayward sister (Hermione Norris, Cold Feet).

Current Obsession: LOVEJOY on AcornTV

As I have discussed many times, I cut the cord with cable last fall and haven't looked back. I have an inexpensive indoor antenna and I get plenty of channels free of charge on my Air Antenna from Walmart. I bought a used Apple TV, 3rd Generation for $45 for my living room TV. I bought it on the NEXTDOOR APP from a neighbor. It is fine for me since I don't have a smart TV and don't mind searching for something to watch on my iPad. I just got a Chromecast 3rd Generation for my bedroom TV from Target for $29.99. My bedroom TV set is not connected to anything but the electric plug. It doesn't have the rabbit ears antenna my living room set has. I hooked up the Chromecast and now I can stream 2000+ Apps from my iPad. I am in heaven. Lately I have been watching all the old LOVEJOY programs I used to enjoy on PBS. It is a very old series that I discovered very late before PBS canceled the show in my area. It is all about an antiques dealer in England and his two sidekicks and each episode involves a mystery of some sort. The character who plays interior designer Lady Jane is Mrs. Hughes on Downton Abbey when she was young. You will recognize her voice immediately. Read more about this delightful 6-Season program here. I just finished Season 3 and have three more seasons to go. I watch at least one episode every night in my bedroom. I think Acorn TV is the best streaming service to have and the most reasonably priced. If you sign up for one year it's only $5 per month. LOVEJOY is so old you can only find it in a search on Acorn. The cell phones from this time period are are HUGE! Let me know if you are already a fan. If you are not, let me know when you become one. xo

First Grocery Store Run in Months

I ventured into the real world today at 10:00 this morning and went to the grocery store. The timing was perfect as was the experience. I found everything I needed and the store wasn't crowded. I have been shopping with curbside pickups at local small markets but they don't have coffee, avocado oil, and things like that. My local Shoprite had it all including Gold Medal Flour. My wire holder is full of fresh fruit and my pantry is well stocked once again.

I mentioned Tubi.TV, a FREE streaming service, in the comments recently and I am loving it. The movies are great, the commercials are short and the TV shows are amazing. I am watching Midsomer Murders in the TV section and they offer all 19 seasons. I suggest jumping in with season 14 with the new DCI (Detective Chief Inspector) Barnaby. He is a cousin of the old Barnaby who retired. He and his dog Sykes are alone in the first few episodes like two bachelors before his wife joins him. In short time she gets rid of all the boxes and decorates their charming cottage in Oxfordshire. She has great taste; I could move right in and not change a thing! The village is full of quirky characters and each episode has a crime that is solved. Set in the Cotswolds, the fictional town called Causton is actually filmed in the market town of Wallingford in Oxfordshire.

Let me know how you like Tubi. Download the app for your phone or iPad from the Apple App Store or Google Play for android devices. Watch on a computer too with my link. Enjoy. xo

North Side Photo of My Yard

I mowed day before yesterday and took this photo from the North side of my cottage. The white clapboard you see on the far left is the side of my cottage with no windows. The headboard of my bed is pushed against this wall. The two windows in this room overlook the front and the back. The sky was overcast in the back but the sun was shining in the front as you can see from the shadows. I was determined to beat the rain.

I mowed the front late in the afternoon yesterday and it rained overnight, as predicted. So far I am keeping up with lawn maintenance and still enjoying the exercise. 

I downloaded TUBI from the App Store on my phone and iPad. It is also available on a computer here: https://tubitv.com/ Tubi is a free streaming service with movies and tv shows. There are commercials but they are only 15 seconds in length and do not interfere with the shows or movies at all. I have been watching Season 19 of Midsomer Murders, the last PBS season with the original DCI Barnaby. Season 20 with his replacement isn't available yet. I have watch several good movies too but I honestly cannot remember the names. I watch a movie every day and can recommend ENCHANTED APRIL and MRS. PALFREY AT THE CLAREMONT. Quite accidentally, both of these movies had Joan Plowright. and now I must look for more of her movies. Her body of work is incredible. Those were offered on HOOPLA through my public library. 

It is a dreary day today with rain on and off, perfect for watching 2 movies. xo

Teddy Bear Portrait

This is an old jointed teddy bear that usually sits in an antique child's chair in my cottage. I didn't notice that his left ear was turned back until I got back in the house after his photo session. I was just playing around with Portrait Mode on my iPhone 7+ and it is so easy and so much fun. It's an overcast gray day here at the cottage and pretty warm (55°) for February with rain coming this afternoon and continuing for a couple of days. Maybe I will get caught up on the three episodes of PBS programs I missed on Sunday night: Howards End, Sanditon, and Vienna Blood. I am enjoying all three. 

BBC: Celebration Chocolate Cake recipe

This recipe is by Mary Berry from The Great British Baking Show. It looks easy and delicious. It is even recommended to bake with and for children. I am not sure how to convert the flour to cups but you'll figure it out. I am a huge fan of cream cheese icing! recipe here

Cutting the Cord: I did it!

My two year contract was up with Verizon and I absolutely could not get my monthly bill down to a reasonable amount so I decided to get rid of my landline and cable and have WiFi only. A wonderful supervisor helped me. I decided to buy a new router from them because they will stand behind it should I have problems plus on new contracts they have started charging $12 per monthly rental fee. The new router came in 2 days and I hooked it up my self easily. With this new system, I can always add on services if I change my mind or feel deprived but I don't think I ever will.

I returned all of my old equipment for my three television sets and my multi room DVR to UPS with my order number and they boxed and returned everything. This was very painless. Last September I purchased a new in the box indoor HDTV antenna. The box is pictured above. I paid $1.00 for it and it works! At Walmart, it costs around $18.00. I moved my kitchen TV to the attic where I have a wonderful work space and so far, this is the only TV that works in my home. I stream everything else to my iPad(s). I get all of the networks including PBS and so much more. The only thing I have sacrificed is Turner Classic Movies but I can live without it. It took me a while to find the perfect way to position the ears and the circle and the direction (towards NYC) for bringing in PBS. I was able to get all the other stations easily but I guess PBS was the farthest away. Now I get several PBS stations and I won't miss anything on Sunday nights. I even found a local TV guide on "nocable.org".

I have found Pluto.TV to be much better than I ever imagined for streaming movies ON DEMAND. I honestly didn't ever explore anything on Pluto other than live TV. The on demand movies are awesome and the two or three commercials are extremely short. REALLY. I watched a 2006 movie with Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson called "Last Chance Harvey" and it was wonderful. Pluto is a free streaming service for your computer, ipad, phone, and other devices too for android users. I don't have a password or anything. It's so easy. One of these days I will get a ROCU or other device so I can stream to my TV but for now I am fine. I actually love watching movies on my iPad in bed. You can pull up all the movies on your computer here. Look at the banner across the top to switch to "live tv". You will need to download the app from the APPLE APP STORE for iPhone or iPad. Or Google for android devices. If your devices are too old, you might not be able to get all the services available. On my iPad 3 I cannot get on demand movies, just live tv. On my new iPad 6th Generation I get everything and can use my Apple Pencil which is amazing. Later. Ask me questions. I shall try to answer. xo

This is a view from one of my attic windows this morning showing my beautiful geraniums. Sorry this is a little rushed. I haven't been present in your lives lately with all my tree work and more. Have a great weekend. I will try to fill in the details about cord cutting and let you know how it's working out for me. xo, Rosemary