A Haven for Vee

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Hard Work and Good Programming

Someone's Overheated


I wonder who...

All Nice and Tidy

With so many days of snow and more coming, John is keeping busy. Believe it or not, he's happiest when he can clear the yard without resorting to his truck and plow. Sometimes I help. More like sometimes he gives me a little pile of snow to clear as he would if I were a kid and then he gives me a little more when I get that accomplished. At least, we're out in the fresh air enjoying a bit of the day together.

~~~


With so much down time from snowstorms, I've been following the recommendations for good programs that I find here there and everywhere: from Vicki at Turkey Feathers who shared her love of the Victorian Garden and Kitchen (now regrettably removed from You Tube) to Brenda at Coffee Tea and Me who shares often about her favorite books and movies and BBC series. Having just finished up watching North and South on Brenda's recommendation, I was eager to move on to the "next thing." (North and South is available in a number of places. I watched Episode 1 on You Tube and the final episodes on TV.com with my Netflix account.)

Yesterday, I was visiting Laurie at I Love a Cloudy Day and she mentioned Wartime Farm, which I have not been successful at finding even on Netflix. There are some episodes on You Tube (here's Episode 1). While looking for Wartime Farm, I accidentally fell upon this hour-long gem about the British War time kitchen—lots of historical tidbits and good old-fashioned tips for working with very little—which takes us right back to Vicki's love of The Victorian Garden/Kitchen series because it is part of that set.


If you wish, you may watch directly at You Tube *here.* For those of us snowed in, it's a pleasant way to spend an hour with feet up, sipping tea, and learning more about these moments from history. One gets an entirely new appreciation for the way things were and all the hard work.

Have you been watching any good period pieces that you might recommend?

40 comments:

  1. thats a lovely clean drive way, big job! I'm sorry you couldn't find War time Farm , its on public broadcasting here, I wonder if they have it at the library? I so glad you liked what you did find, we really enjoy these show, The Victorian kitchen was great as well, I love these shows!Have a great day my friend,

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  2. We love North and South! I also recently watched Wartime Farm on youtube. The folk who did those have done a few other series set in different time periods. I found a link for Edwardian Farm, I'll send it to you!

    Deanna

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  3. I have not watched anything worth mentioning really. Sad I know. Please be careful out there shoveling that heavy wet snow. It is hard work for sure!

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  4. I really liked Edwardian Farm. I bought the videos and have not looked to see if they are available on You Tube, but the Richard Preneke videos about homesteading in Alaska are favorites of mine. I have another set of CDs from PBS about 4 families, I believe, who came from all walks of life to do an experiment involving them living life in the 1800's. They were to do this for a year and the experiment was to determine if they could actually make it work and have enough provisions set aside to make it through a winter. If I were at home, I get the CD and let you know the name.

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    1. "Frontier House" by any chance? Haven't heard about homesteading in Alaska. Alaska has never much interested me, but I'll look into it.

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  5. I don't get involved in the snow shovelling, it's hubby's domain and he likes to keep it that way. I've not watched any period pieces recently but see some good recommendations from the comments I'll check out.
    Judith

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  6. I haven't watched tv lately much at all...I don't watch U Tube as it drives me nuts taking so long to load. I have seen the old North and South...do they have a new one? I do love that type story....

    We are cold here this morning at 24 degrees...no snow, tho. :)

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  7. That is a lot of shoveling! I haven't watched any period pieces in a long while. These all sound interesting.

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  8. Your sweet hubby is working away! It would be nice to have more series like Downton Abbey to watch. Thanks for the links to these shows! Sweet hugs!

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  9. Oh just clicked on all of the links! Love these kind of shows.

    Thanks and thanks to the gals who suggested them to you!

    Enjoy your day!
    Leann

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  10. Downton Abbey is about the oldest thing I have watched lately. Thanks for the links, I am going to check them out.

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  11. OOPS, I forgot I watched the movie Jane Eyre. As always I loved it as much as the book.

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  12. I need to get overheated a bit more often. I admit that the knitting needles are not doing much for back-side. :{

    Your recommends are timely for me. War Time Farm and War Time Kitchen and Garden sound like something I will love and I happen to be all alone during the day for the next 2 days.

    Blessings, Debbie

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  13. You and John are getting some great exercise in! Who needs a gym membership when there's snow to shovel, LOL?

    I remember North and South. Gosh, that's an old series! I can't offer any suggestions for you, sorry! We don't have the TV on that much, and we're probably the last household in the country that doesn't have a Netflix account.

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  14. Hi Vee,

    Your driveway looks very neat and tidy; that John is definitely a worker! Your description of helping him out is so cute. :-D

    It's ironic you should mention "North and South" -- I keep forgetting to order that from Netflix. My general practitioner is a woman; I've been going to her for about 12 years now and found out on my visit last year that she's a Downton Abbey fan, too. When I saw her in January, she recommended I see North and South and read the book. I must tell you that one of my favorite British actors (Richard Armitage) plays the part of John Thornton. Don't mean to sound like a gushing teenager, but I think he's gorgeous. :)

    I know this series has been around forever, but have you seen All Creatures Great and Small? I love, love that series!! I've read all the books two or three times, and I think the television adaptation is wonderful.

    This is definitely a good time of year to catch up on good television programs. Thanks for sharing with us. Have a great day!

    Denise at Forest Manor

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    1. Yes! I do love that series. We watch it on our local PBS station. I've seen them all, but love them anyway. (Just as I can keep reading Herriot books and love them.) Yes, Armitage is very easy to look at.

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  15. I never thought about watching programs from You Tube. I'll have to give that a try.
    Looks like you still have your share of snow. Ours is melted.

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  16. Oh, Why shovel all that beautiful snow? I guess I don't know since we don't get any snow here... I didn't know you can actually get over heated with all the cold? Sometimes I wish I lived where it snows. YouTube has movies another thing I did not know.. have a good day...

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    1. LOL! Well, we do like to get out of the house every now and then. Our vehicles would get stuck in the driveway and most especially in the great mounds left by the plow as it pushes snow from the street into our driveway. Love your romantical way of looking at it, though. Helps me to see it with new eyes.

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  17. Wow - I will earmark this post with all the good suggestions!! I love all those types of shows the best. Thanks for this.....now if I could just find the time to watch them all - sigh.
    Be careful with the snow shovelling you two - it's good exercise but don't overdo it! Your place definitely looks neat and tidy - so pretty!

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  18. Haha, I had quite a chuckle about how John gives you a pile of snow, Bill is about the same way. Love all your recommendations, will check them out. I just got a new series through Netflix, that isn't available through streaming. I need to watch it first before I can recommend it. Will be sure to let you know. ~ Abby

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  19. I love seeing a nice clean drive. I'm always interested in historical tidbits and old-fashioned tips, thanks for sharing. I'm off to check them out.

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  20. I'm glad John enjoys shoveling!

    Speaking about those things which show glimpses into wartime in the UK... Reminds me of Rosamunde Pilcher books... Have you ever delved into them? And some of them, have been done in film form too. Probably for tv. Just a thought...

    "Auntie"

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    1. Yes, I do enjoy a good Rosamunde Pilcher book with her wonderful descriptions most especially of lunches. ☺

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  21. We loved North and South! And Cranford and Return to Cranford. and Wives and Daughters. We also enjoyed Bleak House, although it was rather...hmmm...bleak.
    This is probably not in the same genre, but have you ever seen the Masterpiece Theatre version of Pollyanna? It was delightful, and beat the Disney version all to bits (in my opinion).

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  22. We used to have a big circular driveway in Connecticut that my hubby got great pleasure in clearing when we had snow! He loves exercise with a purpose...as I suspect your hubby does! Love watching the vintage shows, when I have time, but lately it's all I can do to make sure I watch Downton Abbey. Looks like you got keeping cozy covered, XOXO

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  23. John is a hero! And I love those kitchen and garden videos on youtube. Thanks!

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  24. I'd be right out there with John shoveling snow. I like to shovel snow. : ) I like to clear it all right to the edges of everything so it all looks neat and tidy. I usually end up taking my coat off too!

    We watched North and South from Netflix and like it too - me more than Ken.

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  25. Looks like the two of you have been quite productive with the snow piles! Daunting work...
    I'm glad you have all those tips and resources on being entertained inside. Daughter arrived here along with her netflix account so maybe we'll find something interesting to watch together...

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  26. I hear there might be more snow coming for NB on Sunday. We fly home on Monday. Hmmmm. I hope it doesn't affect our landing. Maybe I'll just stay here. I would love to live in that brown and yellow house next door to you. Looks like it's full of character. I don't have time to find those old English shows but wish I did. Pam

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  27. I need to find North and South. I've thought about watching it again.

    We rarely have big snows these days. 14 years ago, last month, we were snowed in at the farm for the only time during the 20 years we lived in the back pasture. That was the only time J missed work due to weather. The roads drifted shut. We had big snows, but that was the only time the road out and in was impassable,J could always get to the barn and bring out the tractor. We could not get out and no one could get in that time in '99. We were about a mile from the main road. Finally, after the forth day, our nephew managed to round the corner and climb the little hill into the pasture...he was riding a skid loader. He dug us out...we didn't care if he did or didn't. We enjoyed that time...might have been a different story if we lost power...which has happened in winter a time or three.:-)

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  28. Vee
    Tell John that's a good way to catch a cold! Not. But that's what my Mother always said and I always tell Tim this now.
    I've seen all of the shows you've mentioned. I won't recommend tons of shows, but if you like Jane Austen I watched a fairly new version of
    'Persuasion' that was good.

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  29. Hi There - New to your blog - stopped in from Atlantic Canada. I have read some of your posts and find you have much snow like us here. We have been shovelling too and last storm dropped approx 4 feet, so we had to get dug out at the door, as we couldn't open it. I shall be back for a visit. Take care, Eh.

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  30. More snow coming? Good to get this stuff out of the way first.
    I wanted to ask you where you viewed Foyle's War? I don't think it's on the Canadian version of Netflix.

    That's too bad about the Victorian Kitchen Gardens being removed from Youtube. I didn't get to watch all of the monthly shows, but most of them.

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  31. He had to really be working hard to get overheated in that weather. Living in Ark., I don't know much about digging out of the snow, but it does look like a lot of work. We get so little snow in Ark that we just sit inside and enjoy the view from the windows. It usually melts the next day. laurie

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  32. I so enjoyed seeing the photos outside. I appreciate the ideas on good viewing but find that netflix canada has less options.

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  33. I don't watch Youtube and I do like the kind of programs you describe like Wartime Kitchen. I will keep a lookout for good tv programs, sometimes PBS shows some.

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  34. That's quite a bit of shoveling John did there! I hope he doesn't over do it. My hubby won't let me do any shoveling 'cause he's afraid I'd keel over since I'm not as active as he is. We haven't had much snow at all this year, but the winter isn't over yet.
    Thanks again for your offer of help with my blogging questions.

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  35. Ben joined me on this post..he said, "Oh Wow, so much snow...they need to work hard to clean it up!" This Texas boy doesn't see much of it here. I think your ideas for being inside are just great...I must check some of these sites out....

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  36. I will have to check out those shows while I'm painting.

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