This Old House magazine published a story about our old fireplace recently…
It’s in their January/February 2013 issue, but I found my copy at Books-A-Million about a month ago, so I’m not sure if it’s still on newsstands. (?)
I absolutely love the illustration on page 76…
…and I’m intrigued by the columned-room divider project on page 57:
…but it’s the ad on page 88 that reminds me to ask you:
Should we be watching this show? I don’t know a thing about it except that I’m seeing that (always-hard-for-me-to-pronounce) title everywhere!
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Downton…oh yes!
For the longest time I thought it was DownTOWN Abbey. I have my DVR set up to record it but haven’t started watching yet. Some day I might get to it. 🙂
I did too! I thought everyone was spelling it wrong!
Up until this post, I thought it was DownTOWN as well!! No wonder folks have been lookin’ at me funny. Everyone is raving about it, but I tried to watch a snippet and couldn’t get into it. Maybe it takes some time?
Until you wrote that, I thought it WAS “Downtown”…I had to go back and look at the ad to see I had been mistaken when I see/hear about this series. I have not seen any of them but hear folks (who have time to watch TV) talking about it.
It’s funny you should say that it takes some time. My sister watched Sunday for the first time and said that she was hooked within the first 5 minutes (yyyyeesssss, another convert!!!). My husband and I (yes, I said ‘my husband’ ;-)) have been watching it since the end of the first season, though. He picked it up pretty fast after a few “Okay, are those two related?” and “Is he a ‘bad guy’?” questions.
I highly suggest getting into it!! Our biggest issue is how addicting it is, and with a 6-month-old we don’t like not getting to bed at our usual time on a Sunday night, hee hee. 😉 The cool thing is that they run the week before’s episode right before the new one so you can get a bit of a running head start. This week was a huge tearjerker, though — you’ve been warned!
Yes! You definitely should be watching. But only if you have time for a new addiction. And congrats on the feature!
I saw that and was so happy for you all! And I tore out that room divider, too. Told my husband that it was “essential” for our survival 😉
Congrats on the feature in TOH! Love their program and their magazine. And yes, you definitely should be watching Downton Abbey. it is FANTASTIC. The first two seasons are on Netflix. The third season, being shown now, is already available on DVD.
YES!! Watch it! The first episode I watched, I wasn’t too sure about. I had no idea what the show was about, just heard that it was good. Well, by the end of the episode, I was hooked and ended up watching it from the beginning on Netflix and online to get caught up. It’s addicting. Once you start watching, you just can’t stop!
Oh my goodness YES! You should be watching! But you have to start at the beginning. You can’t just jump in in the middle of season 3. Enjoy! You’ll be glad you watched!
YES! You should, you’ll LOVE it! At first, I didn’t quite get the hype about it. bc it was a little slow for me at first but now I adore it. Congrats, on the feature! : ) P.S. I called it DowntoWn Abbey for the longest too! lol
Yes, you should watch Downton Abbey! Give it a few episodes to see how you like it. I think Netflix has the first two seasons. : ) -Jennifer
Congratulations on being in the magazine, always nice to see your name/projects in print!
Downton abbey, is fabulous, if you like British television. As per pronunciation try it like this: Downtin (instead of Downtown) .
Love your blog 🙂
That is awesome! I will have to keep an eye out – I always buy my magazines at half price books when I can get them for a quarter…. 🙂
I love all your ideas and so enjoy your blog so happy to see you two are getting some recognition!
Yes!! Watch Downton Abbey!!!! It’s a wonderful show but I do recommend starting from the very beginning so you won’t miss a thing 🙂
YES!!!! Immediately!!! You should wait for a rainy day, settle in and have a Downton marathon!! Start with Season 1…you’ll be hooked! Run, don’t walk…. 🙂
It looked interesting to me at first, until I saw on Katie Couric that they are introducing a homosexual character, and my convictions won’t allow me to watch something that endorses a lifestyle that is contrary to God’s Word. This is my own personal belief, and I am not in a position to judge others, but I thought you should know.
They actually don’t endorse that characters choice (he doesn’t live it out on the show). He’s actually made into the bad guy. I was disappointed they included it, but when I saw now negative they made it seem, it was ok.
Really? I couldn’t not respond to this ridiculous, hateful comment. So basically you were ok with watching this show only because a gay character was portrayed as a bad guy? Way to not judge. Ick.
Layla, your fireplace is gorgeous -congratulations!- but this reader’s ignorance laced comment is not.
I agree. Thank you for saying something.
Wow, I know Layla is a Christian, but yuck….not all Christians are judgmental haters, I keep trying to remind myself of that…..Jesus loved everyone, remember????? It isn’t going to give you God cooties to watch a show with a homosexual character. And they actually humanized the character and showed him struggling to keep his humanity in a society that condemned him.
YES
I just sent off a check for a subscription to This Old House magazine for my husband, so I was excited to see your post today! What a blessing to have had your old fireplace featured, and I also love the room divider. It would be a fantastic replacement for the wall of closets separating our front entry from the dining room. I sure hope our first issue of TOH is that Jan/Feb issue! 🙂
I don’t watch Downton Abbey, but based on all the chatter, I may be the only person who doesn’t! We receive a weekly e-mail from a financial firm, and this week’s article was based on the financial woes of the Downton Abbey characters. So they must be all the rage.
Oh my. Well, we were introduced to Downton Abbey via my in-laws and got hooked after just one episode. We’re not even big TV watchers, but now Sunday nights are like a holiday around here and we look forward to it every week!
YES, you should be watching Downton!!! Love that show. We watched it on our Roku player with Amazon prime. Probably made prime worth it for us for the year 🙂
Downton is SO GOOD! I have been watching it since the beginning and in my opinion, it is worth starting from the beginning. You can watch it on Netflix or PBS.com – If I remember correctly, the very first episode is pretty slow, but it is amazing from there on out! Enjoy!
Saw your fireplace! We are subscribers of TOH. I just took a peek last week at the hype that is Downton – a sophisticated British soap. Not sure if I’ll get hooked, but if someone gave me the complete series on DVD, I wouldn’t’ turn it down! :0)
Downton Abbey is basically a British period soap opera with very high production value. But it’s great! The costumes are gorgeous and so are the sets. I’d watch it from the beginning if I were you – since it is soap opera-esque, it might be hard to jump in the middle. You can watch it on Netflix streaming!
I agree that it’s just a soap.
I watched season one when I was utterly sick with the flu. I really don’t get what people are so excited about. Real life is so much more interesting and beautiful.
Congrats on the This Old House article. Downton Abbey is one of my favorite British shows. It you enjoy period dramas you’ll love it. Another UK show that is worth checking out is Dr. Who. But you must wade through the first (not so great) season to get to the really good part. You may already know about it because of all the “Whovians” on the internet.
You absolutely should watch it! Best. Show. Ever. I am obsessed.
I just got started on Downton Abbey a little over a week ago and it is terribly addicting – I’d highly recommend it, but you must know that if you watch it on disk, there is no way your sleep patterns won’t be ruined for a bit as there is no way you will be able to watch it one episode at a time. Because of my full immersion, I find myself using fancier words and faking a British accent at odd times too!
Love your blog – and so glad to see you featured in one of my favorite magazines.
You say it: “Down-tun… Abbey”- and yes, it is my guilty pleasure. No, I am actually not that guilty about it.
I know, but I still can’t say it!!!! 😛 #TongueTwister!!! 😀
Down TON – like you weigh a TON!! But I know you don’t, that was just for pronunciation purposes!!
I just started it on Netflix about 2 months ago to catch up because I know lots of people who watch it, and I love it!!
Season 3 DVD I believe is just preorder right now on Amazon. Not out yet as season isn’t yet over on TV.
If you do Netflix to catch up, you can probably get the current already aired Season 3 episodes on Demand to get to real time with the rest of us!
Watch it!! And BTW – anytime you want to talk TV/Movies, I’m your girl!! I’m an entertainment addict!
Got my Season 3 DVD yesterday
Don’t feel bad about pronunciation. I can’t say “schedule” the way the British say it. I say “sked-you-el,” but the British say “shed-jew-el.” l can write it, but I can’t run the syllables together with my mouth.
If it helps:
When you say Down Town, you have two points of inflection.
When you say Downton, there is only one, the strongest part of the word is at the very beginning, the “tn” sound at the end should be almost whispered. And on the show it is practically one syllable.
And yes you should watch it! Its all about a family with traditional values trying to find their way in a brave new world.
Downton Abbey is wonderful! It’s definitely one of my can’t miss shows.
Yes, yes, yes! Everyone should watch it! 😉
Yes! You should!!! Its great! It has a great cast, a great story, and no smut!
My husband and I are addicted – it’s a wonderful show – we look forward to Sunday nights!
Say: Down-tun
And ohmygoshYES! Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Netflix; but I warn you…if you are the least bit of an Anglophile, you will be hooked with the first episode. I watched Season 1 in a weekend marathon session and knitted a pair of socks and a hat!
Lady Mary, Mr. Bates, Daisy….oh, yes!
Layla–seriously….up until a month ago I had little interest in Downton Abbey. EVERYONE kept trying to get me to watch, but I have a very short attention span for TV and movies (yet I can read for hours…). Finally I gave in. Holy cow! I’m obsessed, and that is saying a lot. I went back and watched EVERY episode and NOW I get the hype. It is amazing. You begin to feel that you truly Know each character and they are darling! ( kind of like we feel like we KNOW you and Kevin..haha). Try it! It’s so sweet to watch such amazing characters, costumes,etc..
Yes, watch Downton. . . but, begin at the beginning~ You’ll be glad you did.
Congrats too on the feature!
if you like drama and period pieces…Downton’s for you! Love it!
I had never heard about it until our pastor told us just this past Sunday, that his wife got him on it, and he sat up half the night last Saturday watching every episode–he was totally hooked! mmm—maybe we should check it out—–or not! lol
Layla, Downton Abbey (pronounced Down-Ton, not downtown) is a wonderful show! Try not to read anything about it until you’ve had a chance to catch up. Seasons 1&2 are available on Netflix, and PBS is airing Season 3 currently. We are about 1/2 of the way through Season 3…this is not a show where you can skip around. I would suggest starting at the beginning and watch them in order. Also, due to personal experience with spoilers, do not “like” Downton Abbey on FB until you are current with the episodes. 🙂
Yes to Downtown Abbey but you must go to Hulu or Netflix and watch season 1 and 2 first.
Congrats on the mag article. And YES you should (must) watch Downton….but be SURE to start with season 1. You will be hooked in no time, and catch up FAST. ( I watched the first two seasons in a week)
Downton Abbey= My Favorite Show!!!
You can catch all of season 1, 2 and 3 on simplyjune.org for free.
For sure watch the previous 2 seasons – you’ll def be hooked and try not to read spoilers
Congratulations on the feature in This Old House!!!
YES!!! Watch Downton Abbey!!! Just make sure you don’t have anything else planned, because once you sit down and watch the first episode, you won’t be getting up again for a while!!! You’ll be addicted, just like the rest of us!
YES! I got season 1 & 2 for my husband as a Christmas gift because I had been hearing so much about it on FB. He loves Masterpiece Theatre, me not so much, but in the end we are both hooked! It is a fast moving drama that draws you in, has a large cast and is really well written. We are up to date watching Season 3 now and wondering what will happen next week! 😉
I thought everyone was watching Downton!
Cried my eyes out last week.
Rent season ! and 2 and have a marathon.
OH MY!!!! You must start immediately! You will quickly become addicted!
Yes yes yes watch it! So refreshing that the whole country is becoming hooked on such a decent, clean show! The character development is really good, and the glimpse into the lifestyle is fascinating.
i always say down-ing-ton Abby but yes you should be watching.
Yes, you should! I just started season 1 last week and couldn’t
stop long enough to let my husband catch up. Look out for Facebook spoilers–apparently season 3 is shocking.
Yes, yes, yes! The clothes, the hats…!!!! It’s all fascinating!
I watched the first two seasons, but I haven’t been watching season 3. It seems like everyone else who has seen it loves it, so maybe it’s just me, but the drama is just a little too over-the-top for my taste.