It’s been a while since I’ve done any knitflixing recommendations around here. In news that will surprise nobody, I’ve gone down a rabbit hole of cozy content lately. Because many of us are snuggling up for the winter months, I figured now would be a great time to share some online watching that has brought me a lot of joy.
Tales from the Green Valley
20 years ago, a small group of historians and archaeologists decided to see if they could run a farm like it would have been done in 1620. They wore period-accurate clothing, used period-accurate tools, and cooked period-accurate meals using period-accurate recipes.
And then they turned it all into a 12-part documentary series broken out by month.
It’s wonderfully soothing television. I’ve watched it several times over the years and am back for a rewatch this month. A heads up, though: the November episode does involve slaughtering and butchering a hog (though the actual killing is done off screen). If that’s a little much for you, you might want to skip that episode. I can’t lie, though–I was fascinated by the whole process.
Here’s part one. You can click through to find a playlist with all 12 episodes.
Cecilia Blomdahl’s YouTube Channel
Cecilia Blomdahl lives on Svalbard, an island that hosts the northernmost inhabited civilian town in the world (there’s a military installation that is technically at a higher latitude, but we’re probably not getting much content from them). I’ve been following Cecilia’s adventures for years now. The world where she lives is so very different from my own, and I can’t get enough of it. I live in Southern California, and the idea of perpetual night is baffling and fascinating.
Cecilia herself is a bundle of joyful energy. In one episode, she’ll happily share even the most mundane things about life on Svalbard (grocery prices! getting her nails done!) along with natural wonders like the aurora borealis and a pod of belugas outside her front door. If you love cute dogs, hers is a giant fluffball baby named Grimm who’s scared of hard floors.
Ken Burns’s The American Revolution
The American Revolution itself is not exactly a soothing topic, I’ll admit. It was a cataclysmic event that was not only bloody in its own right but also helped set off a chain reaction of other bloody events.
But hot dog, I just love me a Ken Burns documentary. I love Peter Coyote’s warm, rich voice (he’s the narrator for this one, too). I love trying to guess which celebrity is reading which historical figure’s words, and I love the way Burns just can’t seem to get enough of old hymns for background music.
If you’re based in the US, you can stream it for free on pbs.org for a limited time. After a while, it’ll probably only be available to PBS Passport holders. Even so, that’s just $5 a month and goes to support a good cause.
Knitting Podcasts
I’ll confess, I don’t enjoy a lot of knitting podcasts. I love photo updates of people’s projects, but a 45-minute video is a little much for me.
But there are two knitting podcasts in particular that I will always gladly watch. The first is Hannah Graham’s podcast, which is warm and gentle and never runs ultra-long just for the sake of racking up view time. The other is Aimee Sher’s podcast. Aimee’s podcast isn’t updated as often but is always so relaxing and will frequently include expert tips on fit along with gardening snippets and other fun things.
The Leopard (Il Gattopardo)
This miniseries currently available on Netflix is a 6-part adaptation of one of the most famous modern Italian novels. Il Gattopardo follows the fictional Prince of Salina and his family as they navigate a rapidly-changing world that starts in Sicily in 1860 and spans decades. I’m a sucker for a generational saga.
And while the original black-and-white adaptation of the novel is deeply loved by film buffs and critics, I enjoyed having a little more time to dig into the story across six hours. If I’m honest, I’m always a sucker for vibrant color, too, and oh, this adaptation is so colorful. As with just about any adaptation, they’ve taken some liberties with the original novel for this one, but the melancholy bones are still there. It’s satisfying in a way that still leaves you with a bit of an ache.
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I love Tales from the Green Valley – If you enjoy Ruth Goodman you should watch all the documentary series she is in – Victorian Farm, Edwardian Farm, Tudor Monastery Farm, Secrets of the Castle and Wartime Farm – hours and hours of learning how people did things in the past. Makes me grateful for what we have now while coupled with the desire for more simple times!
Oh, I definitely have watched them all! I find her delightful.
Love your recommendations. All new to me. Will definitely check them out.
I hope you have lots of fun watching some cozy programming this winter!
Thanks you so much for sharing your recommendations. Just starting ‘Tales from the Green Valley’ and can already tell that I’ll enjoy it!