Denton Abbey Inn and Downton Abbey Out

We spent the past week with our daughter and son-in-law in Texas. It was good to see them and also to spend a little time in a land with no snow. On the flight from Mpls, Kevin looked out the window and said the snow line was at Faribault, MN. Hardly seems fair. So close, and yet we've got so much snow and temps well below zero degrees F.

BUT, as the Dowager Countess says, 'Stop whining and find something to do,' I'll proceed with the explanation of the above mosaic:

Top Row, L-R:
Our son-in-law's feet. It's what happens when you work at Reaper too long.
Our daughter and our son-in-law, the 'public consumption' photo (he doesn't let just anyone see his feet) at her office at UNT
At the Atomic Candy Store on the Denton square.
Lots of old time candy, everything from Necco wafers (my favorite!) to Slo Poke suckers (used to remove dental fillings).

Middle Row, L-R:
Paul
Berries on a tree in their yard - I've no idea what they are, but they're not grapes.
Denton County Court House
Kevin & Judy (proof that Scandinavians don't die; they just fade away) at Abbey Inn (not quite Brit's Pub in Minneapolis, but nice. And they're new, so we'll have to give them a little time to catch up.)

Bottom Row, L-R:
Angela's SmartCar, which Kevin and I got to borrow one day - parked at Recycled Books.
Holly & Berries hedge
Hector & Boots
Reading enjoyment (Dorothy L. Sayers and Rick Steves)

Downton Abbey Recap:

Okay, this is it. When I watched that episode, relieved to see Mary and Matthew happy at last and everything going right with the birth of their son, I was so disgusted at the extremely unhappy ending. Julian Fellowes, how could you! I washed my hands of the whole thing. I swore I'd never watch another episode!  

(at least until another episode is available).

Then again, when someone wants to leave the show, I suppose there's no choice but to write them out of the script somehow.

I did love the Highlands scenes, but I wonder where Fellowes thinks he's going with this new rabbit trail involving Rose. Any thoughts on that?

What about Edith? Does this new relationship remind anyone else of Jane Eyre or Rebecca?

So please, share all your thoughts on this Season Three wrap-up. We'd love to hear them!

I think there's a Season Four in the works. Think there will be a Season Five? What are you expecting to happen?

While I'm waiting for Season Four to arrive, I think I'll watch Bleak House. It's time for a nice, dark Dickens' story with that great character, Mr. Tulkinghorn. And how did he pop into my mind?? Remember Rebecca? There is a connection, I promise.

And my favorite, Mr. Smallweed.

bbc.co.uk

'Shake me up, Judy!'

***

'Oh, Matthew!'

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Drama. Period.

All of Kyle Hilton's 'Downton Abbey' paper dolls can be viewed at Vulture

Yes, it's already over. That Season Two of Downton Abbey that seemed like it took forever to get here, is now done.

Am I normally a huge TV fan? No, unless it's PBS' Masterpiece Theater, Thursday night Mystery, or the first few minutes of a 'news tabloid' show (That's all I can take of Ann Curry) in the morning or a political debate.

But you know what really draws me in? Period Dramas! Cranford, North & South, Rebecca, Bleak House, Jeeves and Wooster (okay, that doesn't fit, but I do like it - a lot), Winds of War, Island at War, Foyle's War (are you seeing a theme here?), Gosford Park, etc.

I enjoy all of those. But suddenly there's one that snagged viewership like never before - and I'm no exception: Downton Abbey. It was written by Julian Fellowes (whom we fondly remembered as Kilwillie from Monarch of the Glen), who has managed to keep us all on the edge of our seats from one episode to the next (and one season to the next!)

The story started with the sinking of the Titanic. Now we're into the 1920s. Okay, so people are calling it a soap opera. BUT, (and you can see I'm getting very defensive here) there's no gratuitous sex and violence, the script is intelligent and extremely witty, the costuming is gorgeous, the historical accuracy is...um, accurate? and they speak with a great British accent (actually, several different accents, but most are from within Britain.) What more could you want? Oh. And it's easy to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys. And we know the bad guys are losers.

How on earth does Julian Fellowes come up with this stuff??? He's brilliant! And now we're waiting for Season Three.  Keep up the good work, Kilwillie!

I'm asking for a show of hands here: Is anyone else out there a Downton Abbey fanatic?

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