I know it is just a television series. A bit of a soap opera. A serial. I know. I know, but, I just cannot seem to help myself. I am filled with anticipation, a wee bit of sorrow, but mostly excitement for Sunday night’s premier of the final season of Downton Abbey.
I don’t mind so much that Downton Abbey will end. I know that all good things must, I am just, well . . . I just cannot wait to see what all my friends across the pond already have seen. They have all been very discreet and not spoiled the plot lines and ending for us, and I thank them.
Lady Violet is sure to have her share of pithy phrases, and if I must confess, I really like the Dowager House the best. Thomas will be typically Thomas, I’m sure. Mrs. Hughs and Mr.Carson will say “I do” (or will they?). There are hints in the trailers about the Ladies Mary and Edith, their love lives, car races (see, Tom, I told you there are “guy things” at Downton) . I do hope Edith finds someone to love her who doesn’t leave her at the altar, or die. The Bates? Will they find peace in their lives and maybe a wee bairn? Will Sibbie and George get to play in the nursery together again? What about Branson? I’ll miss Mosely . . . ah, but is isn’t over yet. If fact, it hasn’t even started, so, I think I’ll just put on a pot of tea and see if there are any Christmas cookies left in the tower of tins to tide me over until the opening bars of the Downton theme start stringing their way across the telly.
When I saw this jar of Downton Abbey orange marmalade at Cost Plus World Market over the holidays, I plucked it right off of the shelf like a Sunkist orange grower. I brought it home in sweet anticipation. A certain young lad enjoyed a good bit of it on English muffins over the Christmas visit. Ezra really likes orange marmalade, and seems to especially enjoy this export from the Crawley collection. Our charming little tyke starts planning his breakfast the moment he gets out of bed, with “orange jelly” often the first words out of his mouth in the morning, but, I digress, as grannies often do.
Off I go, to start my day, in sweet anticipation of the beginning of the end of Downton Abbey. How about you? Are you a fan of the series? Is another series on your watch list?
Lifeonthecutoff's Blog 
Dear Penny,
You know my love affair with this bit of whimsy has been true. My heart already aches with the knowledge that it is finally over. I have my lace
hanky ready to wipe my tears as I face the future without my favorite English “drama”. My poor husband is not going to be surprised. Lots of things seem to make me shed tears these days!
I did love Upstairs, Downstairs though and Mr. Hughes was the epitome of a butler. I cried buckets when Lady Marjorie went down with the Titanic. So I have been through this angst before and survived. Thank goodness there is always another series just around the corner. So glad you wrote this. I loved every word and wish I had some of that marmalade for my toast and tea. By the way I have read every spoiler and not told you a thing!
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No, Marilyn, I am not surprised, though I was delighted to see your comment just now an am thinking I should have a lace hanky nearby as well. What a lovely thought. Our poor husbands – though Tom did show some interest with Matthew Crawley’s cars (may he rest in peace).
I loved Upstairs, Downstairs as well. In my smugness, I was surprised when I discovered what a fan my mom was of the original series. I thought I was Queen of PBS. Ma was way ahead of me.
I was tickled pink (or should I say orange) that our little guy liked orange marmalade. Children often don’t care for it because of the pieces of rind. Not our Ezra. 🙂 This one is really quite good. My good friend Sharon gave me a Downton Abbey lemon curd last year, which was equally as good. You are a good and true friend, Marilyn, for sealing your lips and not spilling a spoiler. Thank you. Now, I must go and calm myself down and get through this day.
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I’m as excited to watch the show tonight as you are Penny! Kate, Eoin and I will be tuned in together and I just may pick up a jar of orange marmalade to have with tea during the show! This will be our last little holiday activity together since Kate leaves on a 6 am flight Monday 😦
Ezra has very sophisticated taste by the way, I’ve never known a child to care much for orange marmalade 😉
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It is good to hear that the three of you will be able to watch this together tonight, Janet. Enjoy it. Yikes. That’s an early flight, with an early ride to the airport. Traffic should be fairly light heading to either airport. Safe travel to Kate.
I thought so as well. Many adults have never acquired a taste for orange marmalade, let along a young child. If I go back soon, and there are any more left, I’m sure I’ll pick up a few to have on hand. 🙂
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Sweet anticipation to be sure! Just hearing the opening music tonight might bring a tear. Scrolling though all of your questions has me even more excited now, Penny! Downton Abbey is the only series I watch. I love your special Marmalade jar. (I think I must visit Cost Plus World Market, too.) I think you should save the jar to hold a pretty bouquet of garden flowers… and sweet memories! 🙂 Isn’t it fun to know that we will all be watching together? ♡
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It is interesting how much Downton Abbey caught on here in America, isn’t it, Dawn? (I didn’t even mention Daisy or Mrs. Crawley. 🙂 ) It really has been a good period drama – and the costuming has been superb.
You know me well. 🙂 I will save the jar, and for just that purpose. I may try to buy a few more of the orange marmalade, though I suspect they are sold out. It is very good, I must admit.
Enjoy tonight’s drama.
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I promised myself I would watch it once I finished my book. But I have to revise it, so I’ll start after that. At least I know several people who own the DVDs of the seasons.
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First things first, L. Marie, and you are wise to wait until your book is done, then, you can perhaps borrow the seasons and get in all the episodes. Last night’s did not disappoint me . 🙂 I see you have a post up. I’ll check later today when I get back from a meeting.
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We watched all but the last two series of Downton but oddly, and I can’t explain why, decided to give up on it at that stage. I’m not sure if we just lost interest or what. It does seem to happen with us and these long running series. I hope you enjoy this last season anyway.
Grannies do tend to digress but I’m all in favour of it. I smiled at your grandson and the orange jelly. Mine was here over night recently and having toast and jam. Except the jam was strawberry, which he told us he loves… just not the lumpy bits. So Grandma and Grandpa set about taking the nicest fruity bits off his toast! LOL! I would never have done it for my own kids…
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Cath, I think that was right about the time that Anna Bates was raped. I know quite a few viewers who stopped watching right about then. I’m not sure if it was the rape, which was horrible, or that the many scenes in the remaining episodes were so dark. At any rate, Sunday’s episode was very pleasurable for me and I’m sure I will enjoy it. Tom does not watch it with me, however, it looks like a car race is going to take place from the trailer, and I’m sure he will be watching that.
I am imagining this delightful Grandma and Grandpa scene, with you both plucking out the bits of strawberry in your grandson’s jam. Love it! Along with digressing, we grannies often tend to be much more indulgent than we were with our own kids. 🙂
Happy New Year. I hope you haven’t been in the path of all that flooding.
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That’s right, Penny, and then they locked Bates up for an entire season and I just didn’t enjoy that at all. I’d forgotten that… so you’re probably right. I’m so glad you enjoyed the start of the new season.
Very much more indulgent, 🙂 and inclined to realise that some minor misdemeanor is not the end of the world that their parents think it is. Age and experience teach us that I think.
Happy New Year to you too. No, thankfully the flooding is not near us this time, but thank you for asking. Feel so very, very sorry for the folks whose homes or livelihoods have been ruined.
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Ha! i just left a reply and the Internet ate it up! I lost connectivity just as I pushed “send,” but let me just summarize by saying I LOVE Downton, and as tired as I was on Sunday night I managed to stay with it until the end! And I was not disappointed. I can hardly wait to see if Edith finds true love. That’s my “wish” for the show’s final episodes. I’m still hoping that somehow there’s been a mistake and maybe Marigold’s father will reappear. If I were Julian Fellowes, I’d go in that direction! 🙂 Love your marmalade jar…hold onto that, I think. And Ezra already shows he has good taste!
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I wish the internet would eat up the rest of the Christmas cookies. hehehe Seriously, it is so frustrating when that happens, Debra. Sorry it happened to you.
I was not disappointed with Downton Abbey either. I’ve thought the same thing about Marigold’s father. I will let Julian Fellowes know you suggested it. 🙂 Without saying too much here, so I don’t spoil it for anyone, I did enjoy Mrs. Patmore’s fact-finding for Mrs. Hughs regarding Mr. Carson (cough, cough). 🙂
I have one for lemon curd as well, thanks to my dear friend Sharon. I will keep them. Ezra does have good taste. I’m intrigued that he likes orange marmalade. Children usually don’t like it because of the rinds. That’s our boy.
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Oh i love marmalade! I used to hate it as a kid however when we stayed in the UK, wow. It’s so much better over there! And perfect with a cup of tea 😀
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It is nice to hear from you, Laura. Happy New Year. Most children don’t seem to like marmalade, but, our little Ezra loves it, and really enjoyed this brand. I can only imagine how wonderful it would be in the UK. One of these days I will try to make it.
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I’m a big fan and very much enjoyed the final series, which I thought the best for a while. Sadly we missed the Christmas special so I’ll have to buy that on DVD. Enjoy… 🙂
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I agree, Perpetua; this last season is wonderful with much of the feel of the earlier ones. I’m enjoying this final season, tissue in hand, and while I will hate to see it end, it has been such a delightful Sunday night pleasure.
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