Downton Abbey

"The cheek of her!  It was all I could do not to give her a slap."

It isn't often another character has a line that rivals those of the Countess.  But last night, Anna delivered this line with such sincerity, it was one of my favorites.

This is my Downton tea tray from last night.  I would love to be able to ring my little bell and have my servants come running.  The only servant at our house is myself.  The teacup is a replica of the china pattern used in first class on the Titanic.  The dish holding my scone was a Christmas gift.  It has no markings on the bottom.  It is an older dish.  The pitcher fits in one of the wells and a lid fits the other.  I have no idea what it's intended use is.

I had anxiously been awaiting the sixth and final season of the program.  I had not read anything online, as I wanted to enjoy this season week by week.  My family starts groaning when Sunday night arrives and I have dibs on the television.

I usually watch the prior season when they rebroadcast it.  This holiday season was a bit hectic so I didn't take time to watch.  I did watch the Kelli O'Hara hosted countdown prior to Downton last night and that helped to refresh my memory.  (I also noticed how much some of the characters had aged/changed since season one.)  I wonder how different Downton would be if Dan Stevens had not decided to leave the show?  I found it interesting that 251 costumes will be used this season.  (I can hardly wait to see what the ladies are wearing.)  Over a thousand wigs have been used during the series.  How uncomfortable that had to be.  

I don't want to spoil the show for anyone, so I won't give any details about the plot, but I will share some of my awards from the first episode.

Tip of the Hat

Cora's when they were attending the Mallerton Auction.  I loved the color on her.

(I noticed time is progressing and hats are going by the wayside on last night's episode.)

Favorite Costume 

Dowager Countess of Grantham's green dinner dress (I loved the detail in the back of this dress)

Mean and Evil Award

Miss Bevin  (I think she could be great friends with Sarah Bunting.)

Wooden Spoon (Stirrer of the Pot)

Denker  

She just couldn't wait to head up to the big house and let them know staff was going to be cut.

(Really, two housemaids were cleaning that entire home?)

I'm Blushing Award

Mrs. Patmore in the middle of the "true marriage" discussion.  

(It was so refreshing to see a character on television who was embarrassed when talking about this subject.) 

My Scene of the Night

The downstairs staff dancing to the gramophone, while Robert and Cora snacked on cold chicken in the scullery. "Is this the refrigerator?"

Countess Zingers

"Does it ever get cold on the moral high ground?"

"Sometimes its good to rule by fear"

"There's never a dull moment in this house."

Happily Ever After - (If I wrote the show)

Mrs. Patmore and Mr. Mason

("A man could speak of me that way at my age.")

I hope all of you enjoyed the first episode as well.  I watched it a second time when it was rebroadcast at midnight.  I am so engrossed in the plot the first time, I don't notice all the details.

The January hostess has some medical issues, so Rainy emailed to let me know the teapot will need to stay a bit longer at my home.  The end of the year got very hectic and I didn't take time to post to the blog.  (We visited a tea room in Ann Arbor Michigan and I returned home to house guests.)  It was so nice to see that the teapot from team Darjeeling had arrived at Ingid's and she posted about her wonderful tea parties.  Hope all of you are having a wonderful new year and the January hostess is back on her feet soon.

Sips and Smiles,

Teresa