My great-great-great-great-aunt Hazel
(Okay. She was just my great aunt.)
This photo could have been taken for Hazel's 1916 graduation from high school or a later graduation from normal school or business school or maybe simply because she got a new hat. Nah, that's doubtful. But, it could have been an engagement photo. The story goes that she was engaged to a man named Arthur, but my great grandmother guilted her into breaking the engagement and staying home to take care of her. And she did...for years and years.
Now that all my great aunts are gone, I can tell you that Aunt Hazel was my favorite. She was fun and witty, and never fussy about her house. She never made a kid feel uncomfortable. I loved her.
I figured that Aunt Hazel, with the photo taken in the late teens or early 20's, (1920's, that is), would make a perfect segue to...
Right! (You are just too clever!)
Sunday night's episode of Downton Abbey!!
Okay, you know I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on this episode...or the previous episode...or any episode at all. Is there anyone who doesn't like Lord Grantham? Is there anyone whose heart doesn't break for Cora? Is there anyone who wonders if Edith is ever going to be happy? Is there anyone who is sick of Bates?
And is there anyone who is starting to wonder if Mary has any heart at all?? (And she was always my favorite!)
Wasn't that last scene just heartwrenching!
Wasn't that last scene just heartwrenching!
Is Mrs. Patmore losing weight?
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Anti-Abbey Snobbery
Anti-Abbey Snobbery
Have you noticed that there seems to be a group of people out there who feel intellectually superior for not having watched Downton Abbey? I was made aware of this by an online article I read somewhere recently, in which the author had a sort of contempt for Downton Abbey, contrasting it with Brideshead Revisited and other works. In my most recent issue of BBC History Magazine, Paula Byrne writes, 'Having finally finished the proofs of my Jane Austen biography, this month I'm setting to work on the history of the country house in the English novel...Downton Abbey will not feature!'
Really? Does anyone care? Did anyone ever say that Downton Abbey was the great British novel? I think people like it because we love the character development, the costuming, the house itself, the clever, witty writing of Julian Fellowes, the superb acting of Maggie Smith, the great villains in Thomas and O'Brien, etc.
So Downton naysayers, back off. Let us enjoy Downton Abbey and go pick on someone else. Besides, I remember in the 1970s, when some literature groups were claiming that A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh wasn't good children's literature. Yeah? Well, let's ask the children about that, shall we?
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'Green Tea & Ginger'
Natural, Homemade Vegan Soap
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