Recently in period dramas Category

For all you Downton Abbey lovers out there, the UK's The Telegraph posted some sneak peak photos from the filming of season 3. I posted four of the photos here. You can go to their site to see the rest.

Please note that there are spoilers ahead so don't read any further if you don't want to see or hear them! (Normally, I would never read a spoiler but with DA withdrawal I can't help myself!)

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(Hey, is that a wedding ring on her finger? ;-)

Fun! I can't wait for season 3! :-)

Part 1: My thoughts on Part 1 are here.

Last night I finished watching the last hour of the Titanic mini-series. I must have been in a better mood because I did enjoy the last part more than Saturday night's viewings. Although the sinking of the ship was not as flashy as other movies, there was enough drama to make me feel for those who did and did not survive. In the end, the love story that most touched me was the one between the Mantons' maid and manservant. The fact that they always loved each other without fully realizing it until it was too late seemed plausible. His final act of love to will his house to her destitute father was touching.

The scene that most broke my heart was when Jim Maloney realized that there was no escape for him and his daughter so he would simply try to comfort her in his arms as they died. My first instinct was that he should not give up and fight to the very end but I suppose if he knew it was hopeless he wanted to give his daughter
a few last moments of peace and security in his arms until it was too late. I can't even imagine what I would do in that situation...I don't want to think about it or I'd lose all composure.

So all in all I would call this a "one time" movie. Something that I am glad I watched once but I wouldn't watch it a second time. How about you? What did you think of the mini-series?

Last night I watched the first three hours of The Titanic mini- series. I had high hopes for it but I was a little disappointed.

First it was a little confusing. Things were said and done that didn't make sense. Then in episode two they flashbacked and gave more background to what was going on. It answered questions but it still seemed odd.

Second, I am all for a good love story. I am a romantic that is ready to cheer a new couple but some of the love stories seemed a bit contrived and forced. While I could see how Paolo was instantly smitten with the maid Annie Desmond it seemed a stretch to also have Georgiana and the millionaire's son fall in love over such a short period of time.

And did I miss something? Did Mary (Jim Maloney's wife) know Peter Lubov beforehand? Do they have a history? That would make more sense. I don't believe she merely looked at him and had such a "connection" that she disregarded her children and hubby to make out with him on the deck. I don't get it. The only "love story" that seemed to make sense and held my interest was the reconciliation between John and Muriel Batley. Muriel may have been a bit nasty (although she's nothing like Lady Manton) but at least they fleshed out her character more and I was interested in her story.

Perhaps, that was the problem. The characters weren't developed enough for me to care about them. Or maybe I was just too tired and not in the mood to watch. Or maybe Downton Abbey set my expectations too high. Whatever the reason, I'll finish watching the last part tonight and hope for the best. It's not as if I didn't like it... it was just not as good as I hoped it would be.

UPDATE: My thoughts on Part 2 are here.

This is going to be a short post since we are on Easter break right now. I tried watching the second part of Great Expectations last night but I was so tired that I kept drifting in and out of sleep until I woke up and didn't know what the heck was going on. I gave up and went to bed instead. This morning I was able to finish watching and my emotions are mixed.

The storyline itself is rather dark and depressing and I just never really clicked with the actor playing Pip. It's not that I didn't enjoy the movie; rather, it just was not one of my favorite stories. I was pleased with the bits of redemption that came at the end - Pip reconciling with both Joe and Magwitch. Estella finding love.

My favorite character was Herbert Pocket (the little red headed brat in part 1) who changed his ways and became Pip's most loyal friend. It is interesting to note that the actor Harry Lloyd who played Herbert is actually a descendant of Charles Dickens. Fun fact. :-)

Well, we have plenty to watch next week with Julian Fellowes's Titanic on April 14 and 15.
Plus Masterpiece's The Mystery of Edwin Drood on April 15th. My DVR will be working overtime!

Have a great day, hopefully, enjoying some gorgeous spring weather! :-)

I checked my DVR settings last night and noticed that I had a lot more recordings on there than I realized. Between the family recording favorite shows and movies, we were at 96% capacity. So I need to go and watch or erase some stuff! I almost never watch a show "live" so when I finally was able to sit down last night I was hoping to watch Once Upon A Time and Great Expectations but I never got to OUAT. I'll come back and comment on OUAT's episode later this week. (UPDATE: I posted about OUAT and Grimm here.)

It's been many, many years since I've read Great Expectations and a long time since I've seen the 1999 version, which stared Ioan Gruffudd (currently on another fave show Ringer) as Pip, Justine Waddell (who I loved in Wives and Daughters) as Estelle and Charlotte Rampling as Miss Havisham. I was a little surprised, but excited, when I first heard that Gillian Anderson would play Miss H since I always pictured the character much older. However, I thought Gillian's version made the character much more believable. Her mental illness and neurosis seemed plausible. Whereas before, the character seemed over the top.

The Setting - Masterpiece did a wonderful job conveying the somberness and a taste of despair in the setting and tone of the movie. I told Brian that after watching it I had the need to go take a fresh shower and open the windows or let some light in the room. The muck and grayness weighs on your spirit after awhile, but that only added to the story.

Pip and Estelle - Was Pip supposed to be that handsome in the book? I can't remember. The actor had such a runway model/pretty boy look to him it was almost distracting. Either way, you can't help feeling sorry for Pip and wanting to spare him the pain to come.

Joe and the Mrs. - Joe seems like such a loving character but how was it that he got married to his wife in the first place? Was she hiding her viciousness during their courtship or was he so passive that he let her call all the shots? Whatever the reasons, Joe's bit of happiness seems to have left with Pip.

Orlick - The actor that played Orlick did an excellent job and thoroughly creeping me out. Kudos!

Jaggers - After seeing him I have to go watch a movie with Hercule Poirot. In fact, I think I already have one recorded on my ridiculously full DVR. Sigh.

That's it for now but for more discussions about Great Expectations and OUAT go over to Dawn's charming blog By Sun and Candlelight for Masterpiece Monday.

Have a great day!

Previous posts: Introduction , Parts 1-2 , Parts 3-4 and Parts 5-6.

This post is later than usual since half of us had the flu this weekend, myself included. Thankfully I am better today, which is good because I am woefully behind on housework. Since today is laundry day I had tons of washing and folding to do and I was able to catch up on the laundry and my Dickens. What an ending to a fabulous mini-series! It was painful to watch the heartache of some scenes but splendid to relish in the joy of others.

A Four Hankie Episode - There were four times when tears were actually falling from my eyes. First was when Sergeant George was crying in the arms of his reunited mom. (Love that George! And his best bud Phil!) Second was when Esther was crying as she held her dead mother. (Give the poor girl a break, dear Lord.) Third was when Richard was apologizing to Ada just before his last breath left him. Fourth was when Mr. Jarndyce released Esther from her engagement so she could marry her true love. Although, those tears became happy tears as we saw Esther and Mr. Woodcourt finally share that kiss we knew they had been dying to have. (Swoon!)

Mystery Solved - I'll admit Mr. Bucket grew on me over the last episodes. From his cheekiness to his tenacity to his occasional disguised tenderness. In the end he did get his man, or woman, in this case.

A Fave Scene - I love when Esther tells off Mr. Skimpole, like a lady, and he leaves town (at least temporarily.)

Hard Lesson to Learn - I find it timeless that Ada married Richard with the hope that once they were married his obsession with the Jarndyce and Jarndyce would come to an end, or at least be tempered, but instead it got worse. How many girls still do the same today? Marry a man with serious issues hoping that they'll change once they are married. More often than not, it does not change and often it gets worse. Not that I blame Ada for marrying Richard in her situation. It's just sad that he came to his senses too late. On the other hand, at least he was able to make peace before he died.

An Act of Honor or Selfishness? - I am torn in my feelings for Lady Dedlock. I suppose she thought she was doing the honorable thing by leaving Sir Leicester and sparing him the pain of seeing her but I can't help thinking that she was chickening out. She should have humbled herself and pleaded with Sir Leicester to forgive her or at least faced her punishment and given him the opportunity to have it out with her. Had she stayed and faced the music, so to speak, she'd still be alive and she wouldn't have caused him a stroke, literally. But that may simply be hindsight talking.

The "You've Got A Lot of Nerve" Award - Goes to Mr. Guppy, the Ladies Man, who proposed to Esther again after nearing becoming physically sick at the mere sight of her not too long ago. Yeah. Buh-Bye.

"Best Line of the Night" Award - Goes to Sir Leicester, "Poor Tulkinghorn. What an end. To be shot in the heart by a domestic servant." A domestic servant? The horror.

Well, that was a lot of fun. I hope you enjoyed the mini-series too. I'm looking forward to next week when Masterpiece begins again. (My DVR is going to be working overtime that night - Great Expectations, Once Upon a Time, Amazing Race and the return of The Killing.) I'll have a week's worth of after hours TV recorded in one night. LOL. Have a great day!

Previous posts: Introduction , Parts 1-2 and Parts 3-4.

Time for A Good Cry - Maybe I was feeling a bit PMS...maybe I was missing my own mom... but the scene between Lady Dedlock and Esther had me nearly sobbing. (This can easily be done when all the house is asleep, lights are off and I allow myself to emotionally enter into the story.) When Esther begs to be a part of her mother's life and concludes that she is the curse of the family and should never have been born it is almost too much to bear.

Weird Love Triangle - I don't know what to feel about Mr. John Jardyce. Part of me sympathizes with his love for Esther and feels that it is genuine. However, I can't get over the "ew" factor since he has always been portrayed in a fatherly light, not as an older but distinguished suitor. You can feel the awkwardness as he and Esther try to be romantic. (Even the notion of it makes me queasy.) Perhaps time would slowly have changed her (and my) mind but when Mr. Woodcourt comes back on the scene you know her heart still pines for him. When you see his looks and those puppy dog eyes, you know he couldn't possibly be as cruel as his mother and he does not care if she was or was not of noble birth. Rather, he sees himself as the unsuitable suitor since he does not have enough money to make her a declaration of love.

Speaking of Cruel - Mr. Guppy was sort of growing on me with his unintentionally comedic ways and his Muppet-like mouth but the scene where he nearly loses his lunch at the sight of Esther's scars makes me loath his behavior more than Mr. Skimpole. My only consolation is that he will be entrapped in the presence in the company of his bizarre interesting mother.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. - One good thing about Mr. Guppy's behavior is that it was a turning point for Esther in dealing with her illness and scars. She was finally able to take off her veil and face the world without hiding. However, it has not hardened her tender heart as we see when she comforts and prayers for Joe on his deathbed.

Love is Blind - I haven't spoken of Ada yet. I feel for her and her plight in watching the slow ruin of her beloved Richard. Who has not watched a loved one make wrong choices, bad decisions or influenced by bad company and has also been helpless to stop it. Unfortunately, the giving of Ada's inheritance to Richard seems like it will not help him but push him further into his obsession.

Three Strikes, You're Out - I was a bit surprised that Mr. Tulkinghorn (likened to "the Old Enemy himself" by Sergeant George - I love that guy) was actually shot. He seemed like the cockroach type - the ones you can't get rid of. I guess it was only a matter of time until one of his victims struck back.

I am looking forward to the final episodes!

Previous posts: Introduction and Parts 1-2.

This week I watched Parts 3 and 4 of Bleak House but my comments will be short(er) since I am putting the baby to sleep and typing with one hand.

Development - The biggest development is the deepening mystery surrounding Nemo, Lady Dedlock, Esther and how they are all related. Mr. Guppy may be a creepy little character talking about his angel but the boy knows how to dig around and uncover hidden facts about the case.

Most Fickle - Richard continues to worry Mr. Jarndyce, as well as Esther and Ada, with his lack of commitment to his profession. First it was the medical profession, then the law, and then the army and now he wants to quit altogether in order to pursue his court case. You know things are going bad when he argues to his lawyer that he knows better since he has "studied the law" - for a whole month or two.

Most Annoying Character(s) - Mr. Tulkinghorn continues to spin his webs and catch his prey. Mr. Skimpole is even more irritating this week as he explains that although Esther would most likely die, even if she did live, she'd be so scarred that people will be sickened to look at her face. Yeah, that boy is a real charmer. Explain again why he is there, Mr. Jarndyce?? A close third would have to be Mrs. Woodcourt. How can a man so good and noble have such a pest for a mother?

Best catch-phrase - When Brian and I are tired and we can't seem to hop to our feet fast enough, we'll exclaim, "Shake me up, Judy!" Every time I see the actor that plays Mr. Smallweed in another movie, I can't help but think of him as this character.

Best Snicker - Spontaneous combustion? Is that even possible? (Do I admit that I actually googled it to see if it was?) At least it made an interesting plotline.

Best Bring Your Own Hankie Scene - First, can I say that I looove little Charley! (And where can I find little Charley to be my lady's maid/mother's helper?) It is touching to see the love Charley has for Esther and it broke my heart to see her in tears as she handed Esther the mirror. But the clincher was when Ada did not care about the scars on Esther's face and was only relieved to that she was alive and well. As they held each other and cried, I cried too.

And with that I must bid you a good morning. The little ones are calling and my sleeping babe has jumped off my lap and is running down the hallway looking for mischief. Have a great morn!

Welcome to the first installment of A Date with Dickens. As I mentioned in a previous post, since I am going through Downton Abbey withdrawl (but see the update below!) and the next Masterpiece Classic doesn't start until April 1 with Great Expectations , I am rewatching Masterpiece Theater's Bleak House by Charles Dickens. On the Monday mornings (Monday afternoons, if you are on the East Coast) of March I'll share my thoughts on that week's episode. Here we go.

The Setting - The whole feel of this Dicken's story is reflected on the cinematography of the show. It is dark and somber. However, the scenes in the gardens and the countryside are beautiful and bright. They remind me that even within the dreariness there is always beauty and hope to be found.

Lady Dedlock - When I first saw this series it took me awhile to get used to seeing Gillian Anderson as Lady Dedlock and not Scully from the X-Files but once I put that out of my mind, she fit the role perfectly. Her subdued manner and boredom with her station is well played. You feel for her and the pain she is experiencing due to the death of the mysterious Mr. Nemo. You know that her quiet investigation will not go unnoticed now that the nasty Mr. Tulkinghorn is suspicious of her.

Mr. Tulkinghorn - Mr. Tulkinghorn reminds me of a cat chasing a mouse. He takes great pleasure in toying with his victim. He has the look of the devil when he is quietly scheming and plotting what he shall do next. There is certainly more mischief coming at the hands of this man.

Esther - Can I just say that I love Esther! The opening scene of Esther being belittled, humiliated, and told that it would have been better had she never been born was painful to watch. You can imagine what this kind of mantra had on Esther's vision of self-worth. Although, living with that sort of humility has also allowed her to be so empathetic to the pain of others. You see it even in small ways such as her giving the handkerchief to the mother whose baby died and how she'll turn a conversation in order to spare someone's feelings. Then when she finally meets a man who turns her head and her heart, you can't help but root for them!

Mr. Woodcourt - Mr. Woodcourt seems like a perfect match for Esther. He has the same understanding heart and he sees the inner beauty of people, just as she does. The looks Mr. Woodcourt gives Esther at the dinner table makes me swoon. These two were made for each other but love never comes easily, especially in a Dicken's tale.

John Jarndyce - When I first saw this show I had a hard time figuring out Mr. Jarndyce. I wasn't sure if he really was the benevolent philanthropist or if he had more sinister intentions. I don't want to give anything away so we'll leave it at that.

Richard Carstone - I want to love Rick. He seems like a good man and he is facing unusual circumstances but his restlessness and feeble attempt at pursuing the medical profession only make me worry for him.

Mr. Guppy - When Mr. Guppy first showed up I thought he was going to be a comedic character but he has turned into a creepy stalker. (And I don't know why but whenever I see him I think of that creepy character Johnny Depp plays on Dark Shadows. )

Character That Will Most Likely Send Me to Confession - It is one thing when you see a character that is obviously evil, such as Mr. Tulkinghorn, but the characters that get most under my skin are the ones that pretend to be innocent such as Harold Skimpole, AKA "I am but a child." Child my arse. His selfishness and his indifference to the welfare of not only innocents but his own wife and children burns me up. I still wonder why in the world Mr. Jarndyce keeps him in his company. At least he is not fooling one person. Esther is on to his tricks and I love her more for it.

The Scene That Actually Made me Cry - It wasn't when the poor woman's baby died in her arms or when Esther was being verbally abused. It was the scene with Mr. Neckett's three orphans that had me in tears. I was touched not so much by the misery of their lives but by the strength of their characters to do whatever it takes to survive and to stay together as a family. When Charlie said her little brother was not afraid of the dark and his innocent little face, matured beyond it's years, showed that he was not afraid and he conquered his fear for the sake of the baby, it broke me.

Well, that is all I have time for today but feel free to leave your own comments. I'd love to read them!

Next week, I'll watch parts 3-4. See you back on Monday!

Oh, wait! I forgot to give you a bit of Downton Abbey news. Here is an article I saw the other day on Twitter: Exclusive: Most of Downton Abbey Cast Re-Signs Through Season 5! Who's Holding Out? Season 5?! That means there's plenty more Downton coming over the next three years! Yay!

(Sorry, this was supposed to be up in the morn but with all the flood fiasco I didn't get to post it until late Monday.)

It was a little sad this morning not being able to share any Downton comments with you. Dawn over at By Sun and Candlelight was also feeling the void so she started Masterpiece Monday to discuss Sunday night's Masterpiece show. I love the idea and I was eager to join in but last night they all watched Charles Dickens' The Old Curiosity Shop but our local station was playing Upstairs, Downstairs. I guess it really didn't matter since I tried to watch The Old Curiosity Shop when it first aired but I just couldn't get into it. I thought it was a little boring. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood.

The next show they are watching is South Riding. I saw it last year and it was decent but I'd have to rewatch it to remember it well enough to discuss. The only problem is that my local PBS station is fundraising for the next couple of weeks so I'll have to watch it online if I want to participate. Frankly, if I am going to watch Anna Maxwell Martin star in a show, I'd much rather watch her in Bleak House, which I looove. And now that I think about it...watching Gillian Anderson in Bleak House will get me prepped for watching Great Expectations on April 1, which also stars Gillian.

Yes, I think that's what I'll do. I looked at the calendar and I'll divide the episodes into two hour blocks

Sunday, March 4: Parts 1-2
Sunday, March 11: Parts 3-4
Sunday, March 18: Parts 5-6
Sunday, March 25: Parts 7-8

The following Mondays I'll post my thoughts and comments. If you'd like to join along and don't already have the DVD, you can watch it streaming on Netflix or Amazon Prime.

Here is a trailer for Bleak House, although it mostly focuses on Lady Deadlock and not any of my other favorite characters.

I think this will be a great preparation for the next Dicken's story from Masterpiece Theater, Great Expectations on April 1 & 8. Yay!

Watch Great Expectations Preview on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

Then.... when we are done with that we have the premiere of Julian Fellowes' mini-series Titanic starting on Saturday, April 14 .

This blog's TV Talk Mondays will be jumping this spring! I can't wait!

Note: This post is just for fun. If it does not seem proper for a Catholic blog, then skip this post.

Today is Fat Tuesday, where we get to indulge a little before the beginning of Lent but instead of drinking and wearing beads I'm indulging in my last bit of Downton fun for awhile!

Here is a video clip of an interview from the Jonathon Ross show that the Crawley sisters (Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael, Michelle Dockery) did December of last year before the Christmas Special aired in the UK. (Caution: Some of Ross' comments are a bit vulgar but I had to laugh at the Carson album.)

I loved seeing the various actors from Downton Abbey in their modern garb, especially these two photos from The Clicker. Some of the downstairs characters are almost unrecognizable! Who knew O'Brien was so caliente!

Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith), Phyllis Logan (Mrs. Hughes), Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary), Lesley Nicol (Mrs. Patmore), Sophie McShera (Daisy) and Jessica Brown Findlay (Lady Sybil).

Joanne Froggatt (Anna), Dan Stevens (Matthew), Elizabeth McGovern (Lady Grantham), Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary) Hugh Bonneville (Lord Grantham) and Executive Producer Gareth Neame.

Now, if you want to keep your image of the Downton girls as they were on the show, then only look at this photo from Dailymail.co.uk and DO NOT scroll down to the ladies looking the opposite of modest and proper for the cover of Marie Clare.

Carson and Mrs. Hughes are not going to be pleased with such wild abandonment to proper decorum!!

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Clare Calbraith (Jane), Amy Nuttall (Ethel), Jessica Brown-Findlay (Sybil), Laura Carmichael (Edith), Zoe Boyle (Lavinia), Joanne Froggatt (Anna), Michelle Dockery (Mary) and Sophie McShera (Daisy).

That's it for now. Have an extra piece of chocolate before Ash Wednesday tomorrow!

With the holiday weekend, I feel like today is Monday and that I am not late with this post. So I'll just keep thinking that and not feel bad for the tardiness. ;-) I can't believe Downton Abbey is over! What am I going to post on Monday mornings now? Sigh.

The highlight of the entire show was Mary and Matthew finally getting together at the end. Originally I predicted that the good news would be that Bates was released and the cliffhanger would be whether or not Mary actually marries Sir Richard. Well, it turned out to be the other way around.

Anna & Bates - Anna and Bates' story was the major cliffhanger. The two most heart wrenching and tear-inducing scenes were, first, when Bates was sitting alone in his cell, holding a photo of Anna and sobbing. The second was when he was declared guilty and Anna cried out. (Anna is an amazing actress!) I still don't know whether or not Vera Bates killed herself and framed it to look like Bates (Gene Tierney style) or whether Sir Richard had a hand in her death. I guess we'll have to wait and see!

There seemed to be a lot of character development and maturity in this episode.

Daisy - Daisy has really grown over this episode. I love that she finally connected with William's father and found someone to love her as a daughter. And I loved that he took her under his wing and gave her fatherly advice. Thankfully, she took his advice and had a mature conversation with Mrs. Patmore and bettered her station in life.

O'Brien - O'Brien seems to be coming around and I like her more and more. I was happy that she took no pleasure in playing a role in Mr. Bates verdict. I love that she called out Thomas for his callousness in regards to Bates ruin. We can only see if her slow conversion will continue or if she'll go back to plotting with Thomas. (I don't think Thomas will ever reform. We may understand his behavior better but I think he is just too good at being bad for the writers to change him.)

Lord Grantham - Lord Grantham may not be completely off the hook for his exploits with Jane but he is redeeming himself in my eyes. I am so glad that the secret of Mr. Pamuk is finally out in the open and I love the way he handled Mary in the situation. I think his indiscretions with Jane actually served to soften his heart and be more forgiving of the weakness of human nature. I loved that he did not care about the scandal that would come to Downton. He was more concerned that Mary not commit herself to a man she neither loved nor even liked. I also enjoyed the scene where he and Cora were speaking of Sybil and he kissed Cora, looked at her a moment, smiled and kissed her again. It was as if that loving spark he and Cora shared in Season 1 was being found once again.

My only wonder is how Lord Grantham would be fine with Mary running off and marrying an American cowboy but he still was upset over Sybil marrying a chauffeur. It will be interesting to see if Sybil and Branson do return to Downton with their new baby. I'm sure Branson will feel awkward being waited on by his old friends. I also wonder if the upcoming Catholic storyline will have to do with the folks in Ireland.

Edith - Will I ever be able to type Edith's name without "Poor Edith" automatically coming out. I want that girl to find some happiness! She has paid for her past sins and she truly has a loving heart. When will she find a proper suitor? Will it be Anthony Stallan? Will the Patrick return? Will she decide to join the convent? Who knows.

Mrs. Crawley - I was so glad to see that the "tenacious but lovable" Mrs. Crawley was back and not the "new & annoying" Mrs. Crawley. She was the voice of reason to Matthew as he continued to brood and stubbornly refuse to let himself love Mary, which leads us to the final and best story of the night.

Matthew & Mary - You could feel the tension building as Sir Richard was ready to explode every time he saw Matthew. It is no wonder that it finally came to blows. I don't know which was more enjoyable, seeing them duke it out or hearing Granny's best line of the night when Sir Richard said he wouldn't see her again, "Do you promise?" She was in rare form tonight!!

I am so glad they did not make us wait until Season 3 to see Mary and Matthew finally get together. Especially since Matthew was starting to get on my nerves with his "we don't deserve to be happy" melancholia. Come on, Matthew! It is time to turn off The Smith's soundtrack (as much as I love them) and play New Order's True Faith. (What I am listening to right now. Yes, I am a child of the 80's.)

I don't think I appreciated the final touching scene with Matthew and Mary the first time around. (It was sort of hard to get into the mood while trying to get a crying, cranky baby to sleep) but last night I rewatched it while the rest of the house was asleep. I was touched by the tenderness, even though my mind kept thinking, "What in the world is Mary doing outside without a shawl or a jacket? And why isn't Matthew offering his jacket to her? I know I'm inexperienced with snow since I live in Cali but isn't snow supposed to be cold??"

However, I finally pushed those thoughts out of my mind and enjoyed the scene. My favorite part was when Mary told Matthew he would have to propose properly, down on one knee etc. I love that look he gave her. I see it often in Brian when he looks at me. It says, "Sometimes you drive me crazy, girl, yet I can't seem to live without you and as ridiculous as this request is, I am going to do it anyway because I love you..." Swoon. Okay, maybe I was reading too much into it but that's what screamed out to me. ;-)

Okay, my computer time is up for the morning so I'll stop here. I leave you with a little tidbit of news from AceShowbiz.com about the upcoming Season 3.

"Downton Abbey" has just wrapped its second season in the U.S., but talks about the upcoming chapter have been brewing. In a recent PBS chat session, Brendan Coyle confirmed what people might have predicted of his character after seeing the second season finale as saying, "He [John Bates] begins series three in prison."

While he refused to reveal more details of Mr. Bates' future, the BAFTA Award nominee was willing to share other tidbits from the upcoming season. "There is a wedding...or two?" he teased before adding, "Shirley MacLaine is amongst us....the scripts are superb...stick with us."

Talking further about the addition of MacLaine to the cast ensemble to play Lady Grantham's mother, Coyle gushed, "This casting is ingenious...she is much loved here, her scenes are brilliant and I can assure you she will be a dazzling addition to Downton Abbey."

The upcoming third season of "Downton Abbey" will be set in the 1920s. This era will affect the the characters, in fashion, entertainment, travel, work as well as society. According to The Hollywood Reporter, fans can expect to see slim low-waisted flapper silhouette as corsets are no longer trending. The ladies will additionally style their hair in bobs and flapper spit curls.

In entertainment, the characters may enjoy cocktails which at that moment make their debut in London's first night clubs. Ragtime jazz will play in dance halls, as the characters will dance the Black Bottom, the Shimmy and the Charleston. Two new inventions, gramophone and the crystal radio, will add pleasure in their lives.

In language, the characters will be using new slang and phrases such as "bee's knees" (the ultimate compliment), "cat's meow" (another top compliment), and "giggle water" (alcohol). In society, women will enter workplace as they are not only limited to domestic duties.

"Downton Abbey" season 3 will begin filming this spring and will premiere in U.K. in September. It, however, will not air on PBS until early 2013.

Let the countdown begin, my friends!

UPDATE: I also posted this today: A Bit of Downton Fun.

(Usually hosted by Jen at Conversion Diary.) This week hosted by Hailey at Betty Beguiles.com.

Until Next Year, Dear Downton - It's been a busy week and these Quick Takes will be perfect to catch you up. For Valentine's Day Brian got me the Downton Abbey Season 2 Blu-ray. We were so excited to finish the series. It was a Valentine treat! I won't tell you what happens but if you don't want even a hint then please skip to the next Quick Take. This episode wasn't as emotional as others have been but there were two moments when I reached for a hankie - one was sad tears and one was happy tears. Brian thought this episode was a little anti-climatic but I think that was because one major storyline was resolved but a number of other storylines were not. After all, Season 3 needs drama too. The one thing I did not enjoy was the various Ouija board scenes. We could have done without that. But all in all it was a great season and I can't wait for season 3!

That's Amore - Speaking of Valentines, I was looking through a box of mementos looking for an old cassette tape of Dean Martin's greatest hits. (Yes, I am so old I can remember when we used to have ghetto blasters and Walkmans!) I wanted to find it because when Brian and I were married for our honeymoon we went on a road trip to Northern California and we played that tape over and over again. (There are a number of greatest hits CD's but none of them had the exact songs from that cassette.) Whenever I hear Return to Me or You Belong to Me or Memories Are Made of These I can't help but think of our courtship, our long distance relationship, our honeymoon etc. (Music can be powerful like that - transporting you to the places that your memories hold!) I know he loved that tape and I wanted to find the list of songs from it so I could download them for him. I burned a CD that he could listen to in his car or download into his iPod. He was so touched and excited. :-)

Love "Letters" - I also found in my treasure box a collection of love letters - the traditional hand written ones but also old blank cassettes that were "letter tapes" that Brian and I made when we were dating. We lived 400 miles from each other and we tried a number of things to bring us closer. We each had small tape recorders and we'd leave them in our cars. Whenever we were in the car (at the time I was commuting to San Diego a few days a week) we'd turn the recorder on and just chat about how our day was going, what was on our mind etc. I found my old recorder and started listening to one of the tapes. It was recorded shortly after we made it "official" that we were in love and were thinking about marriage in the future. It was funny to hear him talk about a possible job opening at Pebble Beach. (He had just left the seminary before we met and was doing various temp work. He got his current job at PB two weeks before we were married. Talk about trusting in God to provide!) He shared about his hopes for the future and how much he loved me. It brought tears to my eyes because he has kept his promise to love me and take care of me and our future children. He has been a better husband and best friend than I could have ever imagined. I think now I'll go back and listen to one of my letter tapes that I recorded and remind myself of the promises I made to him to be a good wife and mother to his children. :-)

Free Kindle Giveaway -I know that many of us in this Catholic blogging mom community are eagerly awaiting the release of Hailey Lord's (beloved blogging mom, fashionista and this week's QT host) new book Style, Sex, and Substance: 10 Catholic Women Consider the Things that Really Matter. If that wasn't exciting enough, if you preorder your book you can enter to win a new Kindle Touch. Fun! Just place your order and then head to Betty Beguiles.com to enter. I'll be ordering and entering as soon as I'm done with this post!

Pampered Chef Online Party - My sister-in-law Maria is hosting a Pampered Chef online party. I found out about Pampered Chef a few years back through a friend. I bought a few products and still love using them today. So if you are looking for some kitchen items, please feel free to browse Maria's Pampered Chef page. (Orders due 2/26.) These are some of my favorite products.

Sick of Spam - You may have noticed that a week or two ago I switched the comment box to allow people to comment without having to sign in. It did allow for people to comment more often but it also allowed the spambots to easily post spam comments. Normally it's not too bad and I just delete them at the end of the day but the other night my inbox was filling up like crazy. It downloaded over a hundred spams in minutes and they kept coming. I had to turn the comment box to requiring you sign in first. Sorry about the inconvenience. By the way, why do they call it spam? Is it because they both are poor substitutes for the real thing?

That's it for today. I was going to post about the boys speech therapy and preschool decisions but it became too long for a quick take so I'll post about it later today if time allows.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Happy St. Valentine's Day! Lots of love to all my family and friends (and anyone else who may be be hanging around the blog.) Thanks for listening to me and giving me a chance to step away from the business of life and have a little creative fun online. :-)

Since it is Valentine's I am giving you a treat. You can choose which of these Valentine's you prefer. If none of them are of any interest to you then you probably clicked on this blog by mistake. My apologies. Google is to your left.

Have fun!

I give to you a synopsis of St. Valentine's life from UCatholic.com.

St. Valentine was a holy priest in Rome, who, with St. Marius and his family, assisted the martyrs in the persecution under Claudius II. Since he was caught marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted under Emperor Claudius in Rome [when helping them was considered a crime], Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned. (Continue reading at UCatholic.com...)

I give to you a Valentine Abbey. You can find more at Chad-thomas.com. So funny!

I give to you a post from my newest favorite Catholic Mom blogger Cari over at Clan Donaldson.

Tales from the Kid Ghetto

If you have children, you know what the kid ghetto is. You've been there. Whether you wanted to or no, you've been there.

The kid ghetto is where you're seated at the restaurant when you show up with people requiring booster seats or high chairs.

The basement you find yourself in during family reunions, where your senile great uncle and four nameless adolescent cousins are the only other people hanging out? That's the kid ghetto.

Trip to the mall? The kid ghetto there is that shockingly unsanitary play area you swear you'll never go to, but one day you push your luck one store too many and that's where you end up.

Even church has one. Oh yes, a place as welcoming and forgiving as the church has its own kid ghetto. It's the last five or six rows- the pews aaaaaaalllllll the way at the back of the church, where you're in the liturgical catch-22 of children who can't see what's going on and get restless, but aren't yet behaved enough to be trusted closer to the altar.

You know you're there when all the missals are missing covers and the smell of Desitin and apple juice hover perpetually in the air.

That's where we were today for Mass. Normally, I avoid the kid ghetto, and try to sneak my way into the no-man's land of the middle pews, but since we had to attend the 5:00 p.m. Mass, we knew we had five potential time bombs on our hands. Hunger, fatigue, and an hour of having to stay in the same 3 foot area are not a good mix if you're a kid. (Continue reading at Clan Donaldson...)

Oh, my gosh. What an episode. It was emotionally draining. I don't know where to start to make a coherent paragraph. But I know my mom will be checking the blog this morning to see what I thought. For now I will simply post the Twitter-like comments I made while I was watching the show. They pretty much cover what I thought as it was happening. If I have time later I'll make longer comments. Feel free to share your own thought too!

Okay, the ride begins!

I love the Downton Abbey theme song. Do you know you can buy the soundtrack?

Are they making Cora annoying so we'll be sympathetic to Lord Grantham's attraction to Jane?

How come every time Lord Grantham is alone Jane immediately shows up? It's ridiculous.

Sir Richard has arrived. Boo.

Thomas is working in the black market. That suits him.

Sir Richard wants Anna to be a spy? I don't think so!

Lord Grantham feels worthless. You need a cause or a hobby. #idlehands #devilsplayground

I totally had to google "Theda Bara." #carsonhumor

Carson turns Lady Mary down and her surliness comes out again.

Lord Grantham! Kissing Jane! Nooooooo! I may have seen it coming but I'm still disgusted with him.

It's a miracle. Matthew walks.

Dr Clarkson, what kind of explanation is that? #stupid

Oh boy. The writing is on the wall. Bates unknowingly bought the poison. Bates will be arrested.

Does Lavinia only wear green?

Poor Mary. She not only has to bear Matthew marrying someone else, it will take place in her home.

Lady Sybil has chosen Branson. Not sure how this will work out.

But it is nice to see Branson humbled and touched by Sybil's declaration of love. He's usually too proud.

The chasm between Lord Grantham and Cora widens. I don't like this.

Despite my feelings against Thomas that pinstripe suit and red tie looks very smart.

Cheeky Ethel eliminates the middleman. She's heading straight for the dining hall.

Well now we know where Major Bryant got his charming disposition. He's just like his father. #paininthearse

Mary is certainly stuck with her choice... And it's bringing out the worst in her.

Matthew you are a true man of honor for sticking with Lavinia but I still want you with Mary.

They are clapping for Matthew when he stands and walks. We have been doing the same with our little Matthew.

Vera wrote a letter implicating Bates. Her vile ways are reaching out beyond the grave.

Sybil on her way to Gretna Green. I'm getting flashbacks of Lydia and Wickham.

Gretna Green must have been their version of Las Vegas.

Good thing Edith knows how to drive.

Thank God they stopped Sybil from doing something she'd regret. Branson still does not sit well with me.

Oh no. Lord Grantham is alone again. Cue Jane. She should slip in any minute. Yep, there she is. Sickening.

Carson's Spidey senses are tingling. He knows something's up.

Talk about karma. Thomas finally gets a taste of someone being rotten to him.

Mrs. Crawley, don't dare through out Matthew's toy dog. But Lavinia is getting suspicious.

Thomas has been taken for the fool he is. Somehow this revenge doesn't taste sweet. I feel a little sorry for him. (It shouldn't last long.)

Lavinia, no one is rooting for you but I still like you very much.

Don't worry about upsetting Granny, Sybil. She's one tough cookie.

Lord Grantham is mad at Branson for "seducing his daughter." What about you messing around with the chamber maid? You, hypocrite, I'm still mad at you.

The Bryants want to see Ethel and Baby Charlie? How much you want to bet they want to keep the baby and throw Ethel away?

Branson says, "I have no shame. I have great pride in the love of that young woman and I will strive to be worthy of it." That's the best thing I've heard out of his mouth so far.

Poor Edith. You've paid for your past bad behavior. Now you need love and a purpose. I'm rooting for you.

I'm with Cora being "American."

Thomas is being nice? "It's wonderful what fear can do to the human spirit." Touché, Mrs Patmore!

Good grief, you'd think they'd all have hangovers after every fancy dinner. #gotwine?

Oh boy, the illness begins. Who will succumb??

Brave Anna. Claim your man!

Best line so far - Granny, "...wasn't there a masked ball in Paris when cholera broke out. Half the guests were dead before they left the ball room." Lord Grantham, "Thank you mama. That's cheered us up no end."

Cinnamon and milk for Spanish flu? Who knew?

Matthew and Mary are having their dance. "Can you manage without your stick?" "You are my stick." Corny, yet I still swoon.

Oh Matthew and Mary, you're killing me. Shall you kiss? And there it is.

Oh, yes. Lavinia. Back to reality.

Molesley is merely drunk. Lol. Classic.

Oh no. Lord Grantham is in a robe. He is standing in front of a bedroom. Jane wants to help. Not good. Don't you dare go there. Oh my God, I'm going to be sick.

Lord Grantham, I'm hating you right now.

Brian is scolding Lord Grantham saying, "Push her away. Get out of there. Stop it!" That's my man. You remember that!

It's not fair to Jane?? What about your dying wife? Oh how I want to smack you right now. Ugh!

Lord Grantham is trying to reason with Branson. Every word coming out of his mouth is turning my stomach. I can't look at him.

Lord Grantham asks if Jane is sick. Now Mrs. Hughes Spidey senses are tingling.

O'Brien is making up for past sins. It's strange to see her kind.

Finally a bit of good news. Anna and Bates wedding date is set. But will they ever make it??

Ah, yes. Mr Sunshine is there to steal his grandson Charlie. The one he affectionately calls the "housemaid's bastard."

I think Mr. Bryant needs to go visit the sick rooms. Maybe we'll get lucky and he'll get the flu next. #tryingnottoswear

This episode is just making me angry. I'm so disappointed in some characters.

The anger is melting. Lavinia is making me cry. "I'm a little person, an ordinary person..." she actually has much strength.

And the moment is spoiled with the presence of Sir Richard. Send him to the sick rooms with Mr. Bryant.

Oh my goodness. Will Cora die??

Thomas is still being nice?? What's his angle?

Is he gunning for Mr. Carson's job. Now that's the Thomas we know.

It's Lavinia and not Mama? She is dying to set Matthew free. Her last act of kindness and sacrificial love. I rooted for you until the end, Lavinia. Rest in peace.

Here come the tears. I'm an emotional wreck. Blast you, Downton Abbey.

Lord Grantham is holding Cora's hand but is he wishing it was Jane's? He does not look remorseful. #gag

Ethel keeps her baby. I don't want him to be poor but I don't want him living with Mr. Bryant either.

Anna and Bates. Will they get through the vows? I keep imagining the police breaking in and stopping the ceremony Jane Eyre style.

Oh God. Must I suffer another scene with Lord Grantham and Jane. How much more can we take?

A last kiss? Does no one worry about being caught in that house? I can imagine Thomas lurking in the shadows securing himself ammunition for the next blackmail. I guess not.

Sigh. I guess I can be happy Lord Grantham sent Jane away before he went to the point of no return. But my view of him is forever scarred.

Wow, Anna. A honeymoon suite! That's how I felt at Pebble Beach.

Yes, Jane. It is for the best. Keep on walking. #homewrecker

Aw, Bates and Anna. But after seeing everyone so covered up its weird seeing them undressed. And that's some white skin. #getsomesun

At least William's father gets some comfort. Keep your mouth shut, sweet Daisy.

Matthew, your grief is not allowing you to think straight. You are not cursed. But Lavinia may come back to haunt you if you do not find happiness. It was her deathbed wish.

(And you are looking a little goth in your black clothing and ultra pale skin.)

Sir Richard comes to take Mary away. If she stays with him she will revert to her old selfish and haughty ways. We get a glimpse of it whoever she is with him.

Only Matthew brings out the best in Mary.

I'm glad Lord Grantham relents and doesn't cut ties with Sybil. I pray she has a happy life with Branson.

Granny is going to spin the news and turn Branson into a desirable son-in-law. Love her.

The other shoe has finally dropped. Bares is arrested.

Anna standing there alone. Trying to be brave. Her chin is quivering...

(She too is ultra pale. Is everyone turning vampire-like?)

What a show! I can't believe there is only one episode left.

At least I don't have to wait until Sunday. My blu-ray will be playing tonight. ;-)

Well, that's it for now. As I read over this a few things come to mind and perhaps I'll get a chance to expand on it later. The marriage of Lord Grantham and Cora makes me think of how they drifted apart. How he felt useless and gave into temptation. How no one is immune to falling and it takes work to keep a marriage going properly. Second, as much as I think Vera would kill herself to ensure Bates was blamed and put to death for it, I can't help but think Sir Richard is behind all this. Third, I hope this Mary and Mathew drama is not dragged on into Season 3. It may be good for the show but it's bad for my nerves. Okay, dishes are calling so I better get to work.

Feel free to leave your comments or join the discussion at By Sun and Candlelight's Downtown Discussion.