My Music Monday song this week is "Bizarre Love Triangle" by New Order. This is a fun New Wave dance song that was released in 1986. It was popular on the radio and in dance clubs during my college years, and brings back lots of fun memories. This song was also featured in the movie Married to the Mob (love that movie!). I've always loved the chorus:
"Every time I see you falling
I get down on my knees and pray
I'm waiting for that final moment
You say the words that I can't say."
What a perfect night of Downton! This was easily my favorite episode of the season, chock-full of plot developments, romance, and great lines.
The show begins with Mary, Tom, and Edith meeting with the tenant farmer about the pigs. He is handsome and kind, and Edith thinks about getting him to adopt her baby. Poor Edith is grasping at straws.
There is a lovely tea scene, with (to Carson's consternation) babies in the parlor. Mary learns that Blake likes babies when Blake reaches for baby George and holds him.
While Tom is in town, he spies Rose flirting with Jack Ross at a cafe.
On the way back to Downton, Tom sees the young woman from last week's political rally on the side of the road. She has had car trouble and he stops to help. Her name is Sarah Bunting, and she is a school teacher in the village. She talks to him about his life with the Grantham family. It seems she distrusts the aristocracy, just as he did before he met Sybil. Tom tells Sarah: "I don't believe in types. I believe in people."
Rosamund comes to town to talk to Edith about the baby. She immediately shoots down the idea of passing the baby along to the tenant farmer. She suggests they vacation in Switzerland, so the baby can be adopted and raised there. The Dowager Countess gets involved in the plan. When Edith raises objections to her child being raised (horrors!) Swiss, the Dowager replies: "Switzerland has everything to offer, except perhaps conversation. And one can learn to live without that."
There is yet more screen time spent on the (seemingly endless) Daisy - Alfred - Ivy love triangle. Alfred proposes to Ivy and she turns him down. Daisy goes to see William's father, Mr. Mason, who advises her. When she sees Alfred and tries to part on good terms, Alfred declares his romantic interest. She turns him down. I think that after talking to Mr. Mason, she remembers how William loved her, and she wants to be loved like that again (as first choice, instead of being loved by default).
Tom tells Mary about Rose and Jack. When Mary confronts Rose, she is defiant. She says they are engaged, but it appears the engagement is primarily to gall her mother. Mary goes to London with Anna, in order to talk to Jack Ross. He has already decided to break off the engagement. Mary and Jack have a nice scene together backstage at the theater.
Mary also meets with Gillingham in London. She finds out he has broken off his engagement, and she does not discourage his interest. She asks him to fire his valet Green (who raped Anna), although she does not tell him why.
While Mary and Anna are away, we see Bates taking the day off and quietly walking away from Downton. He says he is going to York.
The Dowager Countess introduces Isobel to an old family friend, Lord Merton. There seems to be a mutual interest as they walk through the village. Later, Lord Merton sends flowers to both ladies. The Dowager seems miffed that her bouquet is smaller.
Downton Abbey hosts the village's annual church bazaar, all organized by Cora this year.
Rose is still irked with Mary about Jack.
Robert returns, weary of Prohibition, and delighted to see Cora.
Gillingham arrives to see Mary. He tells her that his valet, Green, died suddenly when he fell into traffic and was run over.
Mary relays this information to Anna.
Romance seems to be in the air, as Baxter and Molesley have a flirtation. He shows off his strength with a carnival game. He defends Baxter against Barrow.
Mary is surprised, and pleased, to see Blake. He throws his hat into the suitor ring.
Blake and Gillingham leave together to drive back to London. Robert says: "What sort of ménage has that turned into while I've been away?" In a wonderful image, Rose, Edith, and Isobel lean forward to watch Blake, Mary, and Gillingham walk away together.
What did you think of this week's show? Did Bates kill Green? Should Mary choose Blake or Gillingham? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments, below.
My online reading group, Curl Up and Read, has monthly theme reads. This is a small, friendly group, and you should join us if you enjoy discussing books.
We recently read Dewey, the Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron. This is the true story of a small town library in Spencer, Iowa. One cold winter morning librarian Vicki Myron opened the book deposit box and found a tiny, freezing kitten. He was a little striped yellow tom, and she fell in love with him. So did the other librarians; they named this little kitten Dewey, and he became a library cat.
Vicki was a single mother, and Spencer was going through some tough economic times. Dewey had a long and happy life at the library, and made a remarkable difference in the life of the librarian and the entire town.
The anecdotes in this book are very charming, and sure to please an animal lover (especially anyone who loves cats), as well as readers who enjoy small town Americana.
I have recommended this book to several friends and family members. There is even a version of the story available for children. You will find a lovely tribute page to Dewey at the Spencer Library website: Dewey's Page.
Hi all!
I had a nice email exchange with someone who is doing advertising for Bissell UK; they are using some retro themed advertisements. She said I could share these retro ads with you.
Both ads feature vintage housecleaning toys for girls. Do you remember toys like this from your childhood? I vividly remember cooking and cleaning toys from the 1960's. The top ad is especially neat, as it features a grown-up Bissell with a matching toy set. I love retro housewife ads, and think this is one is fun!
This is an older ad. It features a Bissell toy for a little girl - and a fabulous dollhouse, too.
Happy Friday! We have had snow and ice and then some more snow in Atlanta. I am happy to say that the sun is out and most of the snow has melted away. I grew up in a warm climate, and love snow for about three hours. Then I am ready for it to hurry up and melt. My friend Bob of Gilliland Records took these gorgeous snow pics in the North Georgia mountains, and said that I could share them with you.
When it snows I want comfort food, ideally as simple as possible. I just discovered the Tandoor Chef line of frozen foods. Their selection of Indian food includes many vegetarian and vegan options. The dishes are natural and preservative-free. I love, love, LOVE their Channa Masala. It is a spicy chickpea dish, and each package makes two servings. I serve it in a bowl over rice. Delicious!
On snowy days I also tend to go into "Snow Day" mode and spend more time than usual goofing off. This week I discovered a fun app for iPad or iPhone called QuizUp (also coming soon for Android). It is an insanely addictive trivia game. There are over 350 categories to choose from. They are widely varied and include Musicals, Children's Literature, Words, Classic Movies, 1960's Music, and much more. You choose a topic and then the app matches you with another player (from anywhere in the world). You play a short trivia game, very fast paced. It is so much fun!
How are you doing this week? How is the weather in your part of the world? I would love to hear from you in the comments, below.
