After all the drama of last week's show, tonight was a quieter hour - meaning not quite as compelling.
We meet Baxter, the new maid. She seems nice, but she is in cahoots with Thomas. What is their connection? I wonder if he is blackmailing her or holding something over her in order to get her to spy on the family?
Mr. Bates finds out from Mrs. Hughes that Anna was raped. He does not know the identity of the rapist, although he suspects Gillingham's valet. There is a scene where Mr. Bates and Anna connect again, and she is moving back to the cottage. He has, however, vowed revenge: "Nothing is over. Nothing is done with."
Mary learns that Gillingham is engaged, and sheds a tear. Edith does not hear from Gregson, and she worries. Meanwhile, she visits Dr. T. Goldman, M.B.B.S., F.R.C.S. (Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons). Could she be pregnant?!
Mr. Napier, who was a friend of the late Mr. Pamuk, visits. He is working in the area, and will be visiting again, with his boss, Charles Blake.
Alfred takes a test for cooking school at the Ritz, but he is not accepted. Carson actually encourages him in his ambition.
Carson offers a job to Molesley, and Molesley thinks it over. (Carson offers the footman position when he thinks Alfred will be leaving.) Molesley tells Carson he supposes he can accept after "mature deliberation." Carson then rescinds the job offer.
There are some good scenes between Isabel and the Dowager Countess. Isabel places a young gardener in need of work at the Countess's estate, and a paper knife goes missing. This leads to a deliberation about the gardener's honesty between Isabel, the Dowager Countess, and Dr. Clarkson.
Tom Branson considers moving to the United States with baby Sybie. This is not resolved, so we will probably hear more in future episodes.
Grantham loans money to a local farmer who is in dire financial straits after his father's death. When Mary and Tom discover this, they seem to have a sort of grudging admiration for Grantham and his decency.
There is a fun little scene when Cora tells Mrs. Padmore they will be ordering a refrigerator. Mrs. Padmore, who always holds to the old ways, resists. Cora asks if there is anything old that she would like to move on from, and Mrs. Padmore replies that she would like to move past corsets.
The trailer for next week shows Mary meeting Charles Blake. Sparks seem to fly - although more estate related rather than romantic. The conflict between the Dowager Countess and Isabel Crawley seems to continue.
What did you think of tonight's episode? What was your favorite scene? Do you think that Mr. Bates will discover the truth about Anna's rapist? Why is Edith not hearing from Michael Gregson? Did you have a favorite line from tonight's show? I hope you'll comment with your thoughts!
Happy Friday from a very chilly Atlanta! We are used to January temps in the 30's - low 50's, and it was 12 degrees this morning. That means good weather for coffee and blogging.
My first favorite this week is Chat Patti. This is a little South Indian restaurant in Atlanta (near Target on North Druid Hills Road, a few blocks from I-85). You order at the counter, where you can see the food behind the counter (like a cafeteria) and also see photos of the food with names of dishes. There is no English menu, so this is a good place to go if you know South Indian food or if you are an adventurous diner! South Indian food is vegetarian, and does not include mushrooms, so I am happy with anything on the menu. I had basmati rice with chana masala (curried chickpeas) and an eggplant, okra, and potato masala (delicious but VERY spicy -- I had to order some yogurt to cut the spice). My friend and I split an order of samosas (fried potato appetizers - very yummy!). The samosas are served with chutney (sweet sauce) and green sauce (spicier). I have loved Indian food since college, and could easily eat it several times a week!
My second favorite is New England Coffee. I live in the deep South and only discovered this old (since 1916) coffee company recently. I absolutely love every blend I have tried -- from San Francisco (bold and dark) to Breakfast Blend (light and smooth). I highly recommend this coffee!
My third favorite is simple: flannel sheets. When it is 12 degrees on a cold night, flannel sheets are a wonderful invention.
Hi all!
I'm hosting my first ever vintage Valentine giveaway contest at Birdhouse Books.
The contest will run from Tuesday, January 21, 2014 until Thursday, January 30, 2014. The prize will ship within the United States only.
The winner of this contest can choose the Valentine of their choice under $10 at my shop, Birdhouse Books. I will package it carefully and ship it to you so you can give it to your sweetie for Valentine's Day, frame it ("how to" and example here), tuck it into a card to gift, use it to scrapbook, or just enjoy it.
You'll find my shop here: Birdhouse Books on eBay. You can peek at my vintage Valentines under $10 here: vintage Valentines under $10, all with free shipping!
It's easy to enter! Just visit Birdhouse Books at the link above, and let me know which Valentine you would like to win.
Please leave a comment below with the name of the Valentine you like best, and be sure to include your email!
The winner will be picked by random drawing on January 30. Thanks for visiting!
UPDATE on 1/30/14. A winner has been selected. Congratulations to Stephanie M.! Thank you all so much for participating! I really appreciate your visits and comments.
It's Music Monday at Birdhouse Books! Today I'm sharing one of my favorite songs, "Concrete and Clay." This song was recorded by British pop band Unit 4 Plus 2 in 1965. It was written by group members Tommy Moeller and Brian Parker. It is a catchy song with a bit of a Latin beat, and you may remember it from the movie Rushmore. This is one of those tunes that just gets stuck in my head, and I end up humming it for days after hearing it.
