Farewell to Downton Abbey

For six seasons I've enjoyed spending Sunday nights at Downton Abbey.  It's been a long time since I've felt so invested in a show ... but from the first episode Downton Abbey was pure perfection.

Here are a few things I loved most about the series (spoilers ahead - read after viewing the finale!):

At its heart, Downton Abbey is a family saga.  I love a big, sprawling, old fashioned family saga, whether it is on TV (Upstairs-Downstairs) or in book form (the Jalna series by Mazo de la Roche).  It is fascinating seeing a family change over the years, as life and history unfolds around them.

I loved Mary and Matthew's romance, from the very slow reluctant beginnings to the so perfect proposal in the snow.  Matthew made Mary warmer and more human.  When Matthew died, I wondered how Mary would go on ... and enjoyed seeing her eventually come back to life as an independent woman pursuing love, and finally finding it again with Henry Talbot.

I also loved Sybil and Tom's surprising romance.  They met when he was a chauffeur to the family, and she was the crusading, free thinking Crawley daughter.  There was a sweetness and a mutual respect about their relationship that I loved.

And Tom Branson?  My favorite character.  He was somewhere between the servants and the aristocratic Crawley family.  Seeing him experience life at the estate was a unique way to experience it as a viewer.  Plus, he was warm, kind, and handsome.  Definitely my favorite.  (And I liked the sparks that flew in the finale with Edith's editor, Laura Edmunds -- she seems like a wonderful potential match for Tom.)

I loved the very slow and tentative romance between Mrs. Hughes and Carson, from the moment they held hands at the beach through his proposal, their lovely wedding, and the way they settled in as a married couple.  Even when Carson was curmudgeonly, I pulled for them!

Molesley!  I never thought I would say it, but I absolutely loved Molesley.  He was a bumbling character at first, but he was kind and smart, and slowly found a way to pursue his dreams of being a teacher.

I oohed and aahed the Christmas episodes with the beauty and splendor of the big tree, and the glimpses of holiday life.

I enjoyed Edith's search for love, with all her stumbles, with interest in the wrong man (more than once - oh, how I related to that!).  Edith was a prickly character, and (much like Mary) not always likable ... but I wanted her to find happiness. I was so glad when this finally happened in the finale!

I liked the feisty Daisy, who went into service as a very young girl but found a family with her father-in-law Mr. Mason, and surrogate mother figure, Mrs. Patmore.  When Daisy studied and her pursued her education, I cheered. She was such a human character, who would take a few steps forward, and then back ... but things finally seemed to be falling into place for Daisy in the finale.

I admired the warm, loving relationship between Robert and Cora, even when scenes broke my heart a bit (like their last night with beloved dog Isis, or Robert's reaching out to Cora when his ulcer burst).

And of course I loved the Dowager Countess, with her sharp, insightful wit, and her weekly memorable lines.  My favorite:  "Vulgarity is no substitute for wit." 

The finale was just perfect.  I love the way the series ended with "Auld Lang Syne" and the sense that life would go on for these characters long after the show ended. 

So Downton Abbey, Crawley family, downstairs staff, I raise my cup of tea to you.  Thank you!  

If you have enjoyed Downton Abbey too, what were your favorites from the show?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments.

Book Review - Last in a Long Line of Rebels by Lisa Lewis Tyre

Book Synopsis:

Debut novelist Lisa Lewis Tyre vibrantly brings a small town and its outspoken characters to life, as she explores race and other community issues from both the Civil War and the present day.

Lou might be only twelve, but she’s never been one to take things sitting down. So when her Civil War-era house is about to be condemned, she’s determined to save it—either by getting it deemed a historic landmark or by finding the stash of gold rumored to be hidden nearby during the war. As Lou digs into the past, her eyes are opened when she finds that her ancestors ran the gamut of slave owners, renegades, thieves and abolitionists. Meanwhile, some incidents in her town show her that many Civil War era prejudices still survive and that the past can keep repeating itself if we let it. Digging into her past shows Lou that it’s never too late to fight injustice, and she starts to see the real value of understanding and exploring her roots.

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My Review:
When I was a young girl I loved mysteries.  The most perfect mysteries included a hidden treasure or antique, an old house, and details from the past.  Last in a Long Line of Rebels is exactly the kind of mystery I looked for.  I am delighted to have found it.  

The 12 year old protagonist, Lou, is a smart, brave girl.  She is determined to save her beloved family home.  At different times she pursues trying to get the house on the historic register, and looking for missing gold that disappeared during the Civil War.  She enlists the help of her friends, and begins a summer long adventure.

I loved the setting of this book, the charming, rambling old house with many additions and family history, and the junk and treasures that accumulate in the yard and her father's shop as part of his work.  Lou describes the business.  "Now we don't just pick up stuff - we resell it, too.  Everything's separated into four piles:  the salable, the fixable, the recyclable, and Mama's things.  She's an enviro artist, which means she welds the junk together and makes a bigger pile called 'art.'" (p. 5).

Lou, her family, and her friends are all well drawn characters.  I enjoyed the descriptions and dialogue that build this mystery and move the story along at a brisk pace.

The author does a great job of capturing the small town, childhood summer, and Lou's urgency to save her home.  One of my favorite passages in the book conveys this perfectly:

"...the inky-black sky was full of bright stars.  I knew from science class that even though their light was just now reaching us, some of them were already dead.  We just lived too far away to know any better.  That had always bothered me.  Maybe everything was just a glimmer of what used to be  What if my house, my old life, was already gone and I just didn't know it yet?  I couldn't see anything to do but wait." (p. 121).   

The mystery in this book and the deeper theme of overcoming prejudice is compelling.  I could not put this novel down.  I wanted to see what would happen next.  I'm sure that young readers will feel the same.  Last in a Long Line of Rebels is a perfect summer read, especially for young people who love mysteries - and a well told story.  

About the Author:

I grew up in a small town in Tennessee surrounded by my crazy family and neighbors. I learned early on that not every child had a pet skunk, a dad that ran a bar in the front yard, or a neighbor that was so large his house had to be torn down to get him out. What else could I do but write?

I’ve wanted to write for as long as I can remember. I think this is because I come from a long line of storytellers. I loved listening to my dad tell me about the escapades of his youth, like how he “accidentally” pushed his brother out of a two-story window, and “accidentally” shot his aunt’s chicken with a bow and arrow. Apparently he was accident-prone.

One of the stories they told me involved the name of our piece of the country. I lived in a tiny spot that the locals called Zollicoffer. When I asked why it had such a strange name, they said it was named after General Felix Zollicoffer who had camped nearby during the Civil War. One day I happened to ask my mom where exactly the camp had been. That’s when she pointed down the road and said, “Probably over there. That’s where some kids in the 50’s found GOLD.” And just like that, LAST IN A LONG LINE OF REBELS was born.

I received this book from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Pat Conroy: A Remembrance

I made the mistake of reading the news on my phone late last night, and I learned that Pat Conroy had died of cancer.  Like many readers, I am so saddened by his passing.

The Prince of Tides, with its evocation of Lowcountry life, its intricate tale of a family, and the beauty of its language, is one of my favorite novels.  The quote that most resonates with me:  “These are the quicksilver moments of my childhood I cannot remember entirely. Irresistible and emblematic, I can recall them only in fragments and shivers of the heart." 

I felt a certain connection with Pat Conroy.  Like him, my life has moved between Atlanta and the coastal south, and I always feel a bit of my heart is still at the coast (Savannah in my case, coastal South Carolina for Pat Conroy).

When I was a baby we lived in a little carriage house apartment on Peachtree Circle in Atlanta.  Years later I learned that Pat Conroy bought the house that owned our apartment, and of course the carriage house as well.  The carriage house became his home office. He wrote The Prince of Tides in the carriage house where I lived as a baby.  No wonder I felt a special connection to this book!

My parents met Pat Conroy and his father at a book signing for The Prince of Tides at Rich's, North DeKalb Mall.  They talked at length and both men inscribed a book with long personal messages.  The message from Pat Conroy's father was signed "The Great Santini."

For years my father went to a barber shop at the Darlington Apartments on Peachtree.  Pat Conroy's father, Colonel Donald Conroy, lived there, and often visited with other older residents in the lobby sitting room areas.  As my mother would sit there, waiting for my father, she would visit with Donald Conroy, and when my father came out of the barber shop, he would join them as well.

When we read of Pat Conroy's pancreatic cancer diagnosis, my mother wrote him a letter.  I hope he read it before he passed.  He was such a gifted writer, and such an iconic part of southern culture.  I am remembering him today. 

Weekend Window Shopping at Birdhouse Books - Vintage Easter

Hi vintage friends,

I have more vintage Easter postcards and cards in my store this week.  You'll find just a few of these little treasures below.   They are all available at:  Birdhouse Books on eBay.

I have about 25 more vintage Easter cards to list and then I will be moving on to vintage children's books.  One of my friends surprised me with three boxes of books from a wonderful local estate last weekend and I have some AMAZING vintage children's books to share with you.  Soon, I promise!

This unusual vintage Easter postcard is a variation on a "big letter" postcard.

 This lovely vintage Easter postcard features an angel in flight.

This lovely L.H. Conwell vintage postcard has an illustration of purple and white tulips.  It would be so pretty framed!

I love this sweet 1908 vintage Easter postcard with happy chicks in the grass, and sitting on an open barrel.

This unusual 1908 Rotograph postcard is a RPPC (real photo postcard) with a picture of an Easter egg and daffodils.

This lovely unused vintage Easter postcard is one of my favorites -- it has such a pretty illustration of three sweet bunny rabbits.

As always, you will find many more vintage cards - and books as well! - at Birdhouse Books.   Come visit!

Dear Abby - Meet Ralph (A Rescue Spotlight)

Dear Friends,

This is my first ever rescue spotlight.  I am so excited to share the story of some special rescue dogs and cats here, to give you a glimpse at pet rescue and how it works in such a wonderful way.

I would like to introduce you to Ralph.  Ralph is a 9 month old Terrier mix (American Staffordshire, Parson Russell, Miniature Bulldog and "other").  He is a very handsome dog with striking coloring and very cute ears!  I am grateful that he was willing to be interviewed here.

Abby:  What is your background and how did you end up in rescue?

Ralph:  I started life in Mississippi. I don't know why, but I was placed in a "kill" shelter there when my owners could no longer keep me. In December 2015 I was chosen along with many other dogs to make the trip from Mississippi to New York, in the hopes that I'd be adopted. Only a few days after I arrived at the Scottsville Veterinary Hospital/Animal Shelter, Karen Jones came and adopted me!

Abby: How were your first days at your new home?

Ralph:  My first few days at the Jones household were very very exciting! I wasn't sure what was expected of me or where anything was. I even had to be reminded to go to the bathroom outdoors and not in! Karen and Owen were very tired keeping up with me all day. But after just a short while, I started to settle down. Karen and Owen got me a crate and I quickly learned to go in it when I needed a break.  

Abby: What are a few of your favorite things?

Ralph:  Some of my favorite things are the soft blue blanket in my crate, tennis balls (I LOVE to chase them along with just about anything else!) and any kind of toy with a loud squeaker! I've also started going to doggie daycare a couple of days a week. There are lots of other dogs there and I absolutely love playing with them all day. I come home really tired! I also went to obedience class for six weeks and now I know "sit," "stay," "down," "come" and "heel." I like practicing my commands because I get lots of treats!

Abby:  Do you have any tips for people who want to adopt a rescue pet?

Ralph:  If I were giving tips to anyone considering adopting a dog, I'd remind people that puppies have LOTS of energy and need LOTS of your time! Be sure you're ready for that! I'm already a lot calmer than I was two months ago and I know I'll grow up into a great dog! 

Karen, who is Ralph's Mom, shared a great story about Ralph's name: "Ralph's name was "Chip" before we adopted him. But we liked Ralph better -Owen's dog growing up was Ralph and it also reminded us of A Christmas Story - since we got him right before Xmas." 

I love that! Ralph is such a great name. Thank you, Ralph, for visiting my blog today and sharing your story. I really enjoyed it, and hope that readers do, too. 

Readers, if you want to share your dog or cat's rescue story at View from the Birdhouse, please just leave a note including your email in the comments. 

Thanks for visiting today. I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

Love, 

Abby xoxoxo