Breakfast in Bed and Masterpiece on PBS

Not my bed. Not my breakfast.

But I did have a very leisurely Sunday morning with coffee in bed watching MI-5. Now I am ready for a Sunday evening with the Brontë Sisters on PBS.

To Walk Invisible The Brontë Sisters follows the Brontë sisters in the eventful three-year period that saw them rise from ordinary, unmarried women, taking care of the household and their widowed father, to the secret authors of the world’s most sensational literature.

MASTERPIECE brings these remarkable literary geniuses to life with a beautifully filmed and acted two-hour drama, premiering on Sunday, March 26th, 2017 at 9/8c. Enjoy. xo

MI-5 BBC TV Series My Current Obsession

This is the first time I have gotten involved in trying to watch 10 seasons of anything. Thank goodness for the library. I watched Season One from the shelf of my favorite library. It ended with the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers and I wanted more. BUT my library didn't have the rest of this series in 10 parts. Thankfully, they have been able to get subsequent seasons thru inter-library loan. I just finished Season 5 and Season 6 has been ordered. It's the most exciting thing I have EVER watched. I love British Spies, you know!

The acting is superb and the head of this counter intelligence agency is Peter Firth and he's wonderful. I enjoyed seeing him last night in the finale of Victoria on PBS. He played Duke Cumberland.

The actors come and go and are replaced by equally superb characters.

Have you seen this series? It was on PBS, I believe. It started in 2002. Anyway, it's on Hulu if you subscribe and it might be on Acorn. Thankfully, my library has been able to find them all for me, so far. Each season is very expensive to buy, selling for as much as $80 per season. 

It is/was called SPOOKS in the UK.

Look for it. You will NOT be disappointed.

Garrow's Law - BBC TV Series in 3 DVDs

I am on the last DVD disc of the final series and do NOT want to see this BBC Scotland series end. It is beyond fabulous and I am so glad I found it at my favorite public library in Madison NJ. The lighting is beautifully filmed in what appears to be total candle light, but you know it's not. I so enjoyed the Georgian London architecture, the period antiques in period paneled rooms, the costumes, and more. The stories are quite gripping too. I wasn't sure I was going to like it but was hooked right away in the first few minutes of the chapter of the first disc. You can probably stream it on Acorn and other streaming services. I prefer DVDs.

Read more about this series on Wikipedia here.

Set around trials at the Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court) in Georgian London against a backdrop of corruption and social injustice, Garrow's Law is a legal drama inspired by the life of pioneering barrister William Garrow. He is credited with coining the English phrase “presumed innocent until proven guilty” used in common law.

PBS Tonight: SHERLOCK Finale + VICTORIA Premier

Victoria premier airs tonight on PBS at 9pm in my area. The finale of Sherlock, Season 4 starts two hours earlier at 7pm.

Don't forget to set your DVR for both programs. 

I cannot possible understand why PBS does this to us. Can't they just offer one blockbuster at a time? Why put the end of one before the start of another? 

Grumble, grumble.

Vintage Thanksgiving Magazine Covers

Abraham Lincoln issued the first Thanksgiving turkey pardon as a gesture to help unify a divided nation at the end of the Civil War. 

I like them all. My family was quite taken with TV in the early days, so this one is my favorite even though I am not a sports fan. Have a great holiday. xo 

via Google Images

To Serve Them All My Days DVD set

To Serve Them All My Days You can thank me later for this DVD recommendation. It was first broadcast by the BBC over 13 episodes in 1980 and 1981, and in 1982 by PBS in the United States as part of their Masterpiece Theatre anthology series. I don't remember watching it back then. It's timeless and I promise you will enjoy it too.

Sorry about the stickers on the cover. It's from the Madison NJ public library. Each disc contains multiple chapters. I can hardly bear to tear myself away since I am about to begin the last DVD in the set. If you liked Goodbye Mr. Chips with Peter O'Toole, you will love this and it's much longer! Based on the novel by R. F. Delderfield for those of you who prefer to read. The acting is superb. I absolutely cannot wait to hear from you after you watch the whole thing.

My library allows a two-week period for long videos like this but once I get started, I can usually whiz thru in a weekend.

If you can't find the DVD set at your library, you can watch the entire series on YouTube. Chapter One is featured here. You will have to hunt around to find the other chapters. Look in the Right Side bar as a guide. To Serve Them All My Days Episode 1 Part 1 click on this link to go directly to YouTube so you can watch it full screen. Enjoy!!! xo

Alexander Hamilton Documentary on PBS

Hamilton's America premiered last night on PBS and I forgot all about recording it. But as luck would have it, the full episode is available online. I just watched the entire documentary on my computer and it was absolutely wonderful. ENJOY.

Nice Small Kitchen

I love the look of this kitchen. I have way too much stuff but have envisioned a walk-in pantry nearby. Then it would be perfect. See more kitchens here.

Tonight I am watching TIMELESS (episode three) on NBC. It's very good.

Racka Sheep with Unique Spiral Horns

Racka Sheep is a unique breed with both ewes and rams possessing long spiral shaped horns.The breed comes from Hungary and is used for milk and wool. Mature males may have horns as long as two feet or more. The cork-screw horns protrude almost straight upward from the top of the head. They look old and wise, don't they? via

PS -- I watched the new PBS series The Durrells in Corfu last night and LOVED it. 

Finale of Inspector Lewis on PBS tonight

Tonight is the final episode of the final season of Inspector Lewis. Boo Hoo. I love this show and being an armchair visitor to Oxford, England. Maybe they will bring in a new show starring Hathaway. That would be nice! Enjoy

Goodbye July 2016

G O O D B Y E   J U L Y

Where did it go? My Limelight Hydrangea is blooming. It is almost time for me to start putting the house to bed so I can watch some Sunday Nite TV in my bedroom. I am recording 'Dancing on the Edge' and 'The Tunnel' on PBS. On CBS, my DVR is recording 'Brain Dead'. Are you watching any of these programs? Have a good evening. xo

ENDEAVOUR Tonight, Season 3, PBS

I have already set my DVR.

Shaun Evans returns for a third season of the popular PBS series as the young Endeavour Morse, before his signature red Jaguar but with his deductive powers already running in high gear. In four new films, Endeavour must deal with the aftermath of the tragic events that left him languishing in prison, and his senior officer DI Fred Thursday (Roger Allam) with a life-threatening injury.

It's on tonight in my area 9:00-10:30. It is followed by a new 30-minute series called THE TUNNEL. It's about British and French detectives brought together after a body is discovered in the Channel Tunnel. I set my recorded for that too! Finally something to watch. So happy.

Seldom Seen Corner in My Living Room

My friend who is moving gave me a Blu-ray DVD player and I'm over the moon. Now I can watch discs from the library in my living room. I checked out House of Cards, UK edition but did not like it at all. It seemed too dated for me. I got the "real" Netflix version and am loving it. So far, I have watched Seasons 1 and 2.  Season 3 is on reserve and I should get it this week. I know I could subscribe to Netflix but as long as I can keep getting DVDs from the library, I'm ok with that. I am catching up on some movies I haven't seen too. I watched CHEF last week and loved it. 

I have a real estate closing Friday (hopefully) on my difficult transaction. Fingers crossed. See you later. xo

A Goat and A Sheep

via

via

Beautiful Animal Portraits.

I am heading to bed to watch the new season of Call The Midwife followed by Grantchester. Thank you PBS! xo

Vegan Mashed Potato Patties Stuffed with Mushrooms

Vegan Potato Cakes Stuffed with Mushrooms

These are definitely on my "must prepare" list. Can you find dill this time of year? Thyme would be good too. My mouth is watering just looking at the photo. Recipe in the link above. YUM.

I recently watched Michael Pollan's interesting documentary IN DEFENSE OF FOOD. He suggests eating real food made from scratch if possible. 

His message in a nutshell:
Eat food
Not too much.
Mostly plants.
Watch the full movie on PBS here.
This recipe is perfect.

Maggie Smith, Super Bowl Fan

Now I love her even more.

Sent to be by a friend.

Thanks, Corinne.

Tom of Downton Abbey

I'm so glad he left Boston and returned to Downton Abbey. Tom is such a great addition to the family and so is this lovely pup. via

Nice Clouds at My Cottage

Yesterday started out as a rainy day and ended with beautiful clouds on the horizon at sun down. I took this photo from my back balcony. The temperature dropped overnight and it was very windy. I had to pick up some big sticks on Webster's morning walk.

I read an article online that season 7 of Doc Martin is coming to PBS station KCET in California on Thursday, January 14. I'm so jealous. I hope my local station picks it up soon since it's the final season. Boo Hoo.

Sussex Farmhouse Pictorial Hooked Rug and More

Isn't this wonderful pictorial hooked rug fabulous in this English farmhouse? See more interiors of this fabulous residence here. Enjoy Downtown Abbey and Sherlock tonight!!!

Sherlock New Year's Special 2016

via

I have to watch Sherlock again, this time on my iPad, really up close and personal. I fell asleep toward the end last night and missed quite a lot. When I watch the full episode online, I will be able to read the writing that pops up now and again in the program that I can't read while watching in bed because my tv screen isn't big enough. I'm sure others must have the same problem. I won't have any trouble with my iPad. I love watching movies on it too. The full episode won't be available on PBS.org until January 11th.