I have stumbled upon All Creatures Great and Small on PBS. This Masterpiece Theater series is based on the books by James Herriot and is charming and full of good-hearted stories about a young Scottish vet who has moved to the English countryside and joined the practice of a curmudgeonly older vet. This is the veterinary equivalent of Call the Midwife (another PBS series that I love) and will draw you into the household of the older vet, his mischievous younger brother, their heart-of-gold housekeeper, and Herriot. You will also witness the tribulations of the Yorkshire village and farm folk who rely on the vets to keep their animals healthy.

The episodes are well-acted, beautifully shot, and balance a bit of drama with a bit of humor. There is an overall wholesomeness to the storylines that will leave you feeling better about the world in general. The main characters work hard every day and do their best to bring integrity to their jobs and their interactions with others. Nothing dark or depressing here. Just good down-to-earth storytelling that will entertain and also reassure you that the world in general is a decent place populated by well-meaning people.

Happy New Year, my friends. I wish you a wonderful 2023 full of love, peace, and goodwill.