Downton Shabby by Hopwood DePree

 Downton Shabby by Hopwood DePree, 300 pages

I actually requested that we purchase this book and I am glad I did.  I have often wondered what it would be like to live in one of the grand homes in England.  Hopwood is just a normal guy working in Silicon Valley.  He had heard different stories growing up about the grandfather he was named for.  Low and behold there is a family estate in England that is in shambles and needs to be saved from the wrecker.  In steps modern day Hopwood and takes on the challenge of making repairs and/or totally rebuilding areas of the grand old home.  This is someone who has never done carpentry before.  It was funny and enlightening, and of course I loved learning all the history.