Downton Abbey Leftovers

Oh dear. I had so many beautiful screen captures that I did not get to share yesterday that I'm just popping them in today in no particular order and without much commentary so that they'll not go to waste.

~Daisy in Pink~

*Click to see a stunning photo of this dress.*

~Mary wearing the beautiful blue dress of flowing fabric~

~Party Girls~

~Martha wearing red and green~

~Madeleine Allsopp~

~Pretty Tablescape~

~We must retrieve that letter!~

~Let the Battle Commence~

Do you have a favorite dress or outfit, from any season of Downton Abbey, that comes to mind? 

For me, it would be Mary's wedding dress. I had forgotten that she carried Calla Lilies.

As lovely as the ladies are, for me, the best dressed are the homes.☺ This is Isobel's cottage where I could happily take up residence.
 I don't know what we'll do without Downton Abbey on Sunday nights, but I'm sure that we'll find something!
~~~
Wanted to share a little bit of  family jewelry I have from the time period. These were pieces belonging to my grandmother and her mother, my great-grandmother. I stole the idea from *Diane at Lavender Dreams.*

Thanks for stopping in. Have a beautiful Thursday!  

Downton Abbey Christmas Special

Please boot it outta here if you haven't watched Downton Abbey Season 4 and would like to do so at your leisure without spoilers. 
Let the Discussion Commence!
~~~
Oh my! I hardly know where to begin. One might think the beginning a good place, but I know that I shall be bouncing about a bit on this. Hold onto your hats, it could be a bumpy ride.

I found Ivy one of the most sensible characters in this week's episode. She has noticed that Lady Edith looks much more tired than she did eight months ago before going to the Continent (that fantastic time leap spoken of) and she (Ivy) will be the one to leave Downton Abbey for America to serve as Harold Levinson's cook. (Nice tidy wrap-up that.)
The show begins with Mrs. Hughes saying that she and Daisy must get off to Grantham House in London because the housekeeper there is ill. She sighs when Ivy mentions "tired" saying that they're all tired and about to become even more tired.
Ostensibly, this program is all about Rose being presented at Buckingham Palace to King George V and Queen Mary. It also involves the Prince of Wales' first love Freda Dudley Ward and a stolen letter that might ruin him. The Prince and Mrs. Dudley Ward carried on a romance for fifteen years prior to Wallis Simpson coming on the scene. Just a little historical background. 

~off to the palace~

~Awestruck Rose~

The other point of historical background that I needed to look up, and I'm sure that there are many more, was the point about Brown Shirts in Germany. Edith makes a passing reference to the fact that Mr. Gregson was attacked by Brown Shirts.

~Why Not?~

  Now, presuming that Mr. Michael Gregson is off the scene permanently, I'd like to suggest this "Why Not." This was first suggested by one of you and I have no time to verify which you now, but I rather like the idea. And I loved the way Tom told Edith that the two of them would have to stand up to the Crawleys or be bowled over. That's when Edith stood up to her aunt and explained that she'd (Edith) be returning to the Continent and we all know why: Baby retrieval time!

~Edith and Violet have a chat~

Though Violet probably tried her best, she came up wanting in her discussion with Edith about it (the baby). And Edith is mighty prickly.

 

Edith strikes off for London, with Mrs. Hughes and Daisy, and is the first to greet her American  family—Grandmother Martha Levinson and Uncle Harold Levinson. What a pair! Didn't Carson have the look of sheer panic and I laughed to see the way Martha glommed onto him holding his arm as she made him walk her into Grantham House. Do you like the American side of this story? I know that Mary does not!
The machinations in this final show were pretty intense, interconnecting, and amusing. The loss of the letter...the THEFT of the letter by that card shark Sampson...written to Freda Dudley Ward by The Prince of Wales was a significant subplot. We learn that Robert is a serious Monarchist who will go to any lengths to protect the Prince and that Mary is a
"practical Monarchist." She knows that the Prince is something of a scamp and she doesn't trust him not to run himself off the rail. 

Oh yes! Bates is a good man to know and Robert asks him for his help in letter retrieval. The first effort failed.

~No Luck~

The second effort works! Who knew that Bates is also a pickpocket?!

~Success!~

Now there are many other stories floating about...so many. Please feel free to pick up a thread and run with it. Do you wish to discuss Edith's story with Mr. Drew? Mary's story with her Desire of Suitors? The Lord Asygarth and his daughter Madeleine Allsopp's story? Harold and Madeleine's story? (What an odd couple!)The ongoing Thomas/Tom antagonisms? The catching of Sarah and Tom by Thomas in the Gallery? The ticket in the coat pocket? Mary's decision concerning same. Oh my! Any one of these could lead us a long way down a number of paths. Any specific quotes?

I thought I'd mourn Matthew forever. Now I know that is not true. There'll be a new life for me. ~Mary to Gillingham 

Oh please do share more!

I found a clip on PBS where the stars of the show discussed whom Mary should choose. Fun!

But let us wrap this puppy up with a bow. Cora asked Carson to plan an outing for the staff because of all the extra "kerfuffle." That's another story you might wish to discuss. 

~All Seems to be Well~

You can always hold my hand to steady yourself...We're getting on, you and I, we can afford to live a little.

~Mrs. Hughes to Carson

And the best news? There will be a Season Five!

Downton Abbey Discussion

Downton Abbey, Season 4, Episode 8, 69 wonderful minutes ☺
If you haven't had the chance to watch or don't wish to be spoiled, please close the door quietly on your way out.  ~~~

The future of Downton Abbey rests with "the kids" Edith, Mary, and Tom, those pigs, and probably with the farmer Mr. Drew there as well. Great foreshadowing here. And that's all I'll say about that this week.

I had really hoped that Daisy and Alfred would get together, but he's leaving both Ivy and Daisy as friends. In the end, neither would have him. Ivy says that she doesn't want to be tied down since she doesn't know what the future has in store causing Mrs. Patmore to exclaim, "You're an optimistic generation." 

Daisy says, "I loved you, Alfred — it's time for you to go your way and me go mine. Friends forever." 

Wasn't the advice that Mr. Mason(Daisy's father-in-law) gave her wonderful? Someone ought to write it down! Okay, talked me into it:

There won't be too many people you love like this in your life and he is one. You need to say goodbye without anything jagged between you. 

And that moment between Mrs. Patmore and Daisy...precious. 

But these are the little stories compared to the others. The biggest one will be whether Bates killed Green by pushing him in front of a bus, but more on that later.

The one with the longest repercussions for Downton Abbey and the Crawley family will be the story of Edith and her baby.

What did you think of the story that Edith and Aunt Rosamund came up with? Clever what? Hahahahahha... They'll be heading off to Switzerland to learn French. Talk about adding a bit of levity. To Edith's credit, she would like to keep the child with her in Great Britain to be raised locally; she's not sure that a Swiss upbringing would be right. Her grandmother objects saying that Switzerland has everything to offer except conversation. 

So much to discuss here, but I'll leave some for you to pick up! I do have to hand it to Violet for being perceptive and facing the facts head on. It's more than we can say for poor Cora who goes blithely on unaware with a "Golly, life's full of surprises!"

Did you love the collective noun for a group of suitors? A Desire of Suitors? And there is much ongoing interest in Mary's group of three thus far: Charles Blake, Evelyn Napier, and Lord Gillingham. Is Fellowes pointing to Blake who seems to be quite handy with little George? 

Which is more than we can say for Great-Grandmama Violet who beats a hasty retreat when crying George arrives. The first photo shows Violet calmly discussing the Tea Pot Dome Scandal with Isobel, but don't require her to be with infants.

Back to a lesser, side story that is building...Moseley and Baxter's developing friendship. Lovely dialogue between them — "I know what it's like to feel fragile. We don't care much about Barrow below stairs, but give us credit for making up our minds about you." And then Moseley, our Eeyore-like Moseley, stood up to Thomas telling him not to be a bully.

Mary was very busy in this show with suitors and realizations. Discovering that Gillingham's man Mr. Green was Anna's attacker caused her to ultimately go to Gillingham (who has the strangest habit of showing up at Downton whether invited or not) and request that he let Green go. In that final photo, she has just learned from Gillingham that Green is dead.

And she was not too busy to go visit Jack Ross after Tom told her that he had seen Rose and she had not been shopping. They had a wonderful conversation. In the end, Jack will step aside like the gentleman that he is and like the mature adult that he is. Rose is still a party girl who wishes to hurt her mother and has openly said so.

Poor Anna. She went to London with Mary, which gave Bates the opportunity to request a day off saying he wished to go to York. Did he go to York or did he go to Picadilly and do in Mr. Green? It remains to be seen. Anna is very concerned. We're all very concerned.

What do you think?

Just the sweetest "well hello" lately. I am very fond of Robert and Cora and, as some of you know, feel that this marriage is the glue that truly holds Downton together. Just sayin'...

And the show ends with Mary walking off with her suitors and these three interested observers. 
So many wonderful quotes from Violet:
1. No life appears to be rewarding if you think too much about it.
***   2. In response to Isobel's "only me"... That greeting betrays such a lack of self-worth.
***
3. In a conversation with Edith... All of life is a series of problems that we must try to solve. First one and then the next and then we die. 
(Or something like that. I have a similar philosophy, though I hope it's not quite as jaded. We have a series of problems, joys, too, and we get to die.) 
***
Other good ones...
If you thought a man was involved in a crime, but you thought he was in the right, would you say anything? (Mary questioning Blake)
***
If you're going to complicate your life, make it for the right reasons. (Mary to Rose)
***
Marriage is a challenge even when everyone wants it. (Mary to Jack)
***
I don't believe in types, I believe in people. (Tom to Sarah Bunting)
***
Can you believe that next week is the final episode this season? It all went by so fast. Turning the floor over to you!

*Magazine Shoot

Gosh you make Wednesdays so much fun around here with the Downton Abbey discussion. I really enjoyed reading all the comments that came in and responding to them and trying to get you to continue the discussion. If you haven't checked back, feel free. Some folks have very interesting ideas and observations! 
♥♥♥
Today, how's about some pretty pictures without too much commentary? (I have grands getting out of school at noon and I must hustle.)

 Dear Diane, who blogs privately, sent me this beautiful magazine. 

 I sat down to read immediately and the next day created myself a little photo opportunity.

 I smiled to think that the Clementine sticker could work as a Valentine's Greeting. Gotta love serendipity.

 This article was very intriguing and helpful.

 Who doesn't also love Downton Abbey for the beauty of its rooms and the color of its walls? I have been taking note of this bedroom color for weeks now.

 Cora says:  I just appreciate that they matched the wall color to my eyes.

This article is based on a new book coming out about The Real Downton Abbey and features the woman who was really living in the Abbey in this time period. She's very lovely and that little boy. Is he the "real George"?
Hope that the weather is moderating where you are. It's just beginning to crank up here.
A lovely day to you... *I am such a trickster! ☺

Downton Abbey Discussion

Notice: This week we are discussing Downton Abbey Season Four, Episode 7. It aired on my local PBS station Sunday, February 9 at 9 pm. The prior week's episode airs just ahead of the new program so one can catch up that way. I am sometimes tempted, but usually resist as I have already watched these programs three times each. So, without further ado, if you're not supposed to be here, scoot! We will not hold it against you. 
~♥~♥~

I called this my oh no episode because I kept saying "oh no" throughout. Well see what I mean...

Bates learns that Robert will be going to America to help Cora's brother Harold and Bates will, of course, be expected to go along as Robert's valet. He doesn't think that Anna will be able to handle it...obviously, she won't, if those tears in the hall are any indication.

Mrs. Hughes takes it up with Mary who is quite snooty about it all expecting details. This fries me quite frankly. Do these people never learn to trust those most loyal to them? Bates learns that Mary knows that Anna was attacked and she knows that he knows; what neither of them yet know is that Mr. Green is responsible. On top of it all, Lord Gillingham returns toward the end of the episode with his valet this time. Oh no. 

I do enjoy contrasts. In the first, Mary is demanding to know why Bates shouldn't travel with her father and in the second she rescues pigs with Blake. She can be quite plucky that gal, if she needs to be.

A big oh no with this storyline as I didn't want anything to happen to Violet. Lots of delicious chatter between Isobel and Violet as Violet was in and out of delirium during her bout with bronchitis and saying whatever was on her mind. ("Take this nurse away and give me a new one. This one talks too much. She's like a drunken vicar.") Not that she's ever needed to be delirious before as an excuse. 

Isobel was, as always, a heart to serve. (That and she has come to love this in-law family of hers — "They took me in. They're my family.")

 It was wonderful to see Violet's softening as she realized how much Isobel had sacrificed to take care of her. Lovely.

I really wish that Jack would marry Rose and take her to the United States or wherever he'd like to take her. Just move her along. 

In this episode, we meet the woman who may become Tom's love interest. Umphhh...she's no Lady Sybil.

Mrs. Hughes was, once again, magnificent as she confronted Mr. Green telling him that she knew exactly who and what he was and that he had better "stop playing the joker and keep to the shadows." He tells her that he and Anna were drunk and both to blame. Mrs. Hughes did not buy it for a moment, "You and only you are to blame." Mr. Green learned from her that Bates did not know that he was the attacker and had the audacity to thank Mrs. Hughes for the information. She was completely indignant "Don't thank me!" I thought that she was both brave and foolish for who knows what he might have done? He could have hit her over the head and run off. 
And then in that wonderful final scene, Green tells on himself and we see the light dawn and the dark descend on Bates' face in seconds. It was so good. So well played.
The episode was relentless from start to finish. I'll be brief this week of necessity (real life beckons). I know that I can count on you to keep the chatter going. I've only scratched the surface and there is so much more to say...Robert's goodbyes to his women and his amusing admonishment to Tom. Edith's story is extraordinary and she had so many good lines: I would have loved his baby; I can't see over the top of this; I don't want to be an outcast. Then there's the whole Alfred, Daisy, Ivy thing (providing some comic relief if it weren't so poignant) plus the Moseley and Baxter thing and this thing and that thing. Well, you just fill us in on your favorite or your least favorite or whatever you'd like to say about this week's program or any prior program. Shhhh about any future ones, though. 
Catch you later... I need to learn how you're all faring in this latest mess of winter weather.

Downton Abbey Discussion Episode 6

*If you have not watched the most recent episode (6) last Sunday (and perhaps you have not with the Superbowl and all) this is a discussion of that program. Please skedaddle while the skedaddling is good! My local PBS station calls this episode #5 because they lump the first two shown together as #1. That is incorrect and probably is a ruse to fool us all. I don't know. All I know is that everywhere else, including the UK, this one is known as Episode 6.*

This was the episode where we learn that Edith is pregnant her symptoms being consistent with the first trimester of pregnancy. 

Yup. We all saw that coming. She does not tell her parents, even when they are both quite tender with her. 

Edited to Add: Kristi brought up an interesting point in comments. What do you think? By design or by accident? 

~Edith and Sir Anthony Strallan on left and Michael Gregson on right~

I particularly liked the scene between Robert and Edith in front of the fire. He tells her that he loves all his children equally and she responds that she does not know why parents say that when it is, of course, not true. 

How do you feel about that? Do all parents love their children equally? Personally, I do not think it is humanly possible to do. I do think it is nearly possible for a parent to treat both children equally, but to love both equally? Nope. I'm with you, Edith.

Robert's birthday is coming up and Rose and Cora are planning it together except that Rose has an extra surprise that she keeps secret even from Cora with Mrs. Hughes's help. That surprise is the handsome Jack Ross who arrives with five band members and a good deal of enthusiasm both for the job and Lady Rose. 

(Baxter  had reported to Barrow what she had overheard about Lady Rose and Mrs. Hughes keeping a secret. She seemed reluctant to do so, though.)

I really enjoyed the discussion between Jack and Carson. Jack handled Carson's question about visiting Africa with geniality and skill saying that his family had been in England since the 1700s. 

Robert and Cora both embraced the Jazz evening. Violet's response to Evelyn's (Evelyn?!)  question about  liking jazz was so funny. She wondered if the band knew what the others [also in the band] were playing. And I liked how Cora told Robert (who was fretting over her brother Harold) to "Come to bed and dream of Ragtime."

The story with Peg was resolved with a good deal of banter between Isobel and Violet. Peg's story is really just a throwaway from what I can tell...didn't go anywhere in particular other than to give the characters something to do and the discussion back and forth. We do learn that Isobel can be a great snoop. Dr. Clarkson actually defended Lady Grantham this week saying that she won the argument between herself and Isobel.

Mary has two likely suitors show up in Charles Blake and Evelyn Napier (Right. His name is Evelyn. Apparently,  Evelyn used to be a masculine name. Girls were not named Evelyn until the 1880s.)

 Evelyn is an old friend of Mary's going back to Season 1. Quite frankly, I had forgotten him. Charles is a Socialist. Evelyn and Charles are staying at Downton while they do some research on why the large estates are failing. Mary would like information about that in exchange for the hospitality, but she is unlikely to get it because Charles is nearly insufferable. He has, however, met his match in Mary who can be pretty insufferable herself. So now we have three possible suitors for Mary: Mr. Gillingham, Mr. Napier, and Mr. Blake. Whom do you prefer? I'm taking bets. ☺

Loved the fact that Mrs. Hughes and Mrs. Patmore worked together to get Moseley back on board for Alfred is off to London to study as a chef after all. Poor Daisy! I had hoped that the two of them would get together. Sigh.

My favorite scene of the week? Perhaps yours, too? Back to the nursery with Tom, Isobel, and Mary who share what it was like to have known love. At the end, Isobel leans back in her chair, totally relaxed and smiling and says, "Aren't we the lucky ones?" 

♥ True. So true. True love is never wasted.♥

Now I have saved some major story lines for you to discuss. Need a hint?