TV Series (PBS) Review: Downton Abbey

We have Netflix not only for renting DVDs but streaming content to your computer or TV. I stumbled across a Masterpiece Theater series called "Downton Abbey". As I have mentioned before I like to watch things that are thought-provoking or cause me to ask questions. "Downton Abbey" is set in 1912-1913 just after the sinking of the Titanic. With the sinking of the Titanic the heirs of Downton Abbey were drown. So the Earl and Countess of Grantham, Robert and Cora Crawley, are in a bit of fix trying to nail down the next heirs of the Abbey. Since they only have daughters and no sons, it trickles to cousins. Cora Crawley was quite wealthy when they married but her inheritance will not go to their eldest daughter. The Dowager Countess, mother of Lord Grantham, and Cora Crawley are trying to find every possible to see that the inheritance stays in the family and not to total strangers who will become heirs of Downton Abbey.



So you ask why this is thought-provoking and piques my interest? Culture. A culture I don't understand or know. It is interesting to me how all the classes, titles, propriety, and etiquette work. There is a clash of classes when the next heir, Matthew Crawley, comes on the scene. He is the son of a doctor and nurse....gasp, the working class. "Why would anyone work?" is the response from the Dowager Grantham. Matthew Crawley is an attorney and considered middle class, yet to the Crawleys especially the snooty Dowager Grantham is lower class. He won't even use the servants provided to him and gets his own tea. How horrible is that? While Lord and Countess Grantham are gracious and likable people that don't seem to look down their noses, the Dowager Countess makes up for that quite considerably. Lord Grantham's position is to oversee Downton Abbey - that's all. I don't get that and this is what is fascinating to me. I don't understand much of British culture, classes, titles and so forth and that is also quite fascinating to me.

So now I am entrenched not only with the education of the culture in the series but now the story of the series. What will happen next?

It is a good thing I have lots of laundry to fold so I don't feel guilty watching TV! "Downton Abbey" is in season 1 but production is under way for series 2 in the fall. I can't wait!

There is one warning I must mention - in the first episode there is one very disturbing scene with the footman, Thomas, and a Duke that comes to visit. They have a "special" relationship. You might want to fast forward through that.

Book Review - "Me, Myself, & Bob" by Phil Vischer

I finished reading (a few weeks ago) an autobiography from the VeggieTales creator, Phil Vischer entitled "Me, Myself, & Bob: A True Story About God, Dreams and Talking Vegetables".

Being an avid VeggieTales fan, I was really looking forward to reading Phil's autobiography and reading the history of VeggieTales and Big Idea. This was a super easy read and thoroughly enjoyable. Whether you are interested in the evolution of the creative cutting edge animation or the evolution of your favorite animated characters or the whole enchilada, this is a great book. Further, the things that God brought Mr. Vischer through and the things that God taught him, were incredible. Mr. Vischer shares his spiritual growth in a full circle and it is incredibly profound. Not many books of this sort really "minister" to me, but this one ministered to me as well as my husband.

I highly recommend this book if you can get a hold of it.

Music Review - "Praise to the Lord - Hymn Arrangements for Two Pianos"

Okay, I just got this CD this week - you have to check it out! I was so moved when I heard this CD. "There's Something About That Name" moved me to tears. "It Is Well With My Soul", "I'd Rather Have Jesus" and more. You can go to Danny and Deanna's website to hear clips and order the CD.

Danny and Deanna are a husband-wife duo that have a piano studio in Owasso, Oklahoma. They are extremely accomplished pianists and musicians. I cannot say enough about them.

Deanna "Dee Dee" and I were roommates for a semester in college and were in a girls glee club together. Danny and I graduated the same year although I don't believe we shared any classes together. I heard them play individually many times while in school. I remember the first time I heard Danny. It was a Concerto-Aria concert one spring. My mouth hit the floor and my eyes got as big as saucers when I heard him play! Deanna is equally as accomplished with sight-reading that will make your head spin. You can read all about them on their website too.

Please check out their CD - you will thoroughly enjoy it!