Downton's Legacy

If I may be allowed to quote from Facebook, a couple of days ago, Inky Debra Marvin posted the following:
I miss Downton. There are few shows that captured me the way it did from the first five minutes. I made faces during a couple episodes, but I sure looked forward to each new episode.

I didn't respond, but the thought stayed with me as I tried to think of a show that I felt measured up to the way I also felt about Downton Abbey. I still can't. The show had a unique quality partly due to the historical setting which allowed a feast of fashion finery, but also because of the mysterious - to me - relationship between the upstairs gentry and the downstairs servants. I learned something new every show.

Downton Abbey Season 5

Yet it wasn't until today that I realized Downton must have rubbed off on me because my heroine in Sweet Love Grows, maintains a staff befitting an American heiress of an agricultural estate. I especially enjoyed writing the discourses between Amelia and Williams, her butler, while her time spent with young Charlie, the stable boy, never failed to touch my heart. Would it do the same for readers?

One reader emailed this week and said she wanted my novella to be longer so she could read more of those relationships. I like to believe I've handled them well enough to say I was a student of Downton Abbey.

But I'm treading water here, because there are at least four Inkies who are experts on the hierarchy of the nobility, the upper crust society, and those who serve them.

And speaking of...did you catch Inky Susie's post on Monday where she talks about her love of Regency Romances and in particular, her own Love Inspired release, The Reluctant Guardian?  I can't wait until it's released in a few weeks.

What about you? Do you long for Downton Abbey like the rest of us? Or have you found something to replace it? Do share.

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Anita Mae Draper's historical romances are woven under the western skies of the Saskatchewan prairie where her love of research and genealogy yield fascinating truths that layer her stories with rich historical details. Her Christian faith is reflected in her stories of forgiveness and redemption as her characters struggle to find their way to that place in our heart we call home. Anita loves to correspond with her readers through any of the social media links found at

www.anitamaedraper.com.

Readers can enrich their reading experience by checking out Anita's Pinterest boards for a visual idea of her stories at www.pinterest.com/anitamaedraper.

Farewell to Downton Abbey

Photo credit: 123RF stock photos

Sunday night, an era comes to a close when the final episode of Downton Abbey airs in the U.S. on PBS. (It has already been broadcast in the U.K., so no spoilers please, you lucky folks who have already seen it!) You remember your local Public Broadcasting Station, don’t you? You know, those fine folks who air documentaries and other shows for your elderly parents? In my house, PBS had pretty much become a kids-only network—a safe place for my youngins where the cartoons aren’t violent and the characters aren’t back-talking brats. We in the over-30 crowd got our entertainment elsewhere. At least, that was true until 2011 when a British period piece became a smashing success across the pond.

How did such a show become PBS’s most watched program in two decades? How about luscious costumes, witty lines, and delightful British accents for starters. 

At its core, Downton Abbey is a soap opera, filled with drama, sparkling dialogue, and more drama. Don’t believe me? Just consider Lady Mary. The poor woman has had more affaires de coeur gone bad than a leopard has spots. And don’t get me started on unlucky Lady Edith! Her tragic love life is almost as depressing as the relentless calamities endured by the longsuffering John and Anna Bates.

Then add a large cast of characters and a glimpse of life in another time, both its good and bad, for both its rich and poor. 

How big of a phenomenon is Downton? Well, there are the many “Which Downton Character are You?” quizzes such as those here, or here, or here. (All of which claim I’m either the dowager countess or the earl himself, so I guess I’m secretly nobility.) Of course, if you're not careful, you might end up being matched to one of Downton's many dead characters. This LA Times article lists them all. Or mostly all.

Then there were the many (and enormously funny) "If Downton were on Facebook" spoofs like this one:

There were Downton spoofs for little tykes:

And their older siblings:

If you want to go "low brow" Downton:

There are Disney Downton spoofs:

Cast members used their newfound fame in creative ways to raise money for charity:

And, of course, people around the world have created literally thousands of their own Downton spoofs, parodies, and tributes of varying quality, cleverness, and appropriateness. (The Downton theme song on an accordion? That's just so...wrong!)

So Downton, we bid you adieu. Sunday nights will never be the same without you.

Side Saddle Found *Updated

by Anita Mae Draper

I can't imagine anyone riding a sidesaddle with ease, and yet when I watch the fox hunt on Downton Abbey, I see Lady Mary doing just that and keeping up with the men with an aura of grace.

Two types of side saddle riding habits

My riding has always been done in a western saddle with heeled boots and a wide-brimmed hat. Likewise, my saddle contains one central horn..

And yet, when I attended a museum auction in the spring of 2014, I was the only bidder on an old decrepit side saddle and therefore became the proud owner after dishing out twenty-five dollars. 

Old broken side saddle auction find in Saskatchewan

As you can see from the above photo, the leather has been ripped and sewn, then ripped again. Who knows how many times it has been repaired. On the horns, the leather is so dry it is scaly to the point of white shiny patches. I couldn't even fathom what the maroon velveteen is supposed to be.

It is just as bad underneath where parts of dried leather have broken off and perhaps even mice had nested inside. The nails look old, but are more round-headed than square, which puts the saddle no earlier than the late 1800's. Overall, the saddle seems irreparable. 

Old broken side saddle auction find in Saskatchewan

A friend who owns horses took the saddle to a friend of his who repairs saddles and leatherwork. Months later, I got the side back with the confirmation that it wasn't worth repairing. It also seemed to be missing something as it didn't look like the side saddles the man was familiar with. 

Indeed. The following image shows two side saddles built in Brisbane Australia in the 1900-1910 period.

Ladies' side-saddle made by L. Uhl & Sons Ltd, Brisbane, 1900-1910. Courtesy of the State Library of Queensland and Wikipedia

If you look at the difference between these two and mine above, you see that where my two horns basically curve inward, the 2 Aussie ones curve away from each other. It's because in these ones, instead of the right leg going between the horns, it curves around to the outside of the upper horn, and then the left leg is held beneath the lower horn.

Invented in 1830, the lower horn, known as the Leaping Horn (or Leaping Head) revolutionized women's riding. It held the leg secure and enabled women to stay seated while jumping hedges or leaping whatever was in their way. 

Not only didn't my side saddle have a leaping horn, but it appeared that one had never been part of it either. 

My research took hours to complete, and I'm still not exactly sure, but here is what I finally found at the Side Saddle Lady Museum...

Like I said, the above photos are not proof that my saddle is almost 200 yrs old, because there are too many discrepancies for that, but it shows that it was made in the style of a Welsh one which could have been the style in the whole of the British Isles. 

One aspect that points to it being an antique side saddle is that modern ones don't have the 3rd horn on the far left side which was originally used as a handhold for balance. According to the Side Saddle Lady Museum, "...gradually the offside pommel diminished in size, and by the 1870s/'80s it had often disappeared."

But what is the purpose of the maroon fabric? If it's to pretty-up the piece, it's not doing a very good job. And if it's to provide a practical pocket like the one on the right, there should at least be an opening, don't you think? 

I sure hope someone sees this post and lets me know more details.

In case you're wondering, I bought the saddle as an educational piece for when I do my readings at libraries and book clubs since it fits in with the historic Austin setting.

As a final note, my research led me to news that Lady Mary and the Downton Abbey TV show have made riding side saddle quite trendy again. In fact, there seems to be a shortage of side saddles as people of all ages are exploring this venue of physical activity.

It reminds me of the movement from skiing to snow boarding - with less pressure on the knees, and the ability to ride as long as you can balance yourself. It seems that people with certain injuries who couldn't ride astride are now able to ride again using a side saddle.

So I'll take this moment to send a bouquet out to all the organizations who teach and encourage the art of riding side saddle.

The Devon Horse Show in Philadelphia is one such show and deserves mention here for the numerous classes and opportunities for young and old riders to test their skills. If you'd like more information on their upcoming show, check their website. 

I'll leave you with this adorable image from the photo gallery of the Devon Horse Show which proves you're never too young to learn how to ride side saddle. 

3 yr old Junior competitor, Heather Lee O'Rourke, competing in the side saddle division of the Devon Horse Show

*UPDATE - I discovered an excellent video of Angelina Jolie learning how to ride side saddle while firing a weapon on the set of Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life

And in case you were watching the action and missed how she sat on the side saddle, here's a still image of the scene...

What do you think about riding side saddle? Have you ever done it? Interested in finding out? Care to share?

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Anita Mae Draper's stories are written under the western skies where she lives on the prairie of southeast Saskatchewan with her hubby of 30 plus years and the youngest of their four kids. When she's not writing, Anita enjoys photography, research, and travel, and is especially happy when she can combine the three in one trip. Anita's current release is Romantic Refinements, a novella in Austen in Austin Volume 1, WhiteFire Publishing, January 2016.  Anita is represented by Mary Keeley of Books & Such Literary Management. You can find Anita Mae at  www.anitamaedraper.com

Delirious for Downton

 

by Susanne "Dowager Duchess is #1" Dietze

My friends across the pond are enjoying another season of Downton Abbey (as are some of my American friends, thanks to the internet). The British television series about the fictional Crawley family (the Earl of Grantham, his wife and daughters) and their servants in the early decades of the 20th century is an international hit...and quite addicting. While I'm very, very curious about my friends Bates, Edith, Tom (stay away from that pushy schoolteacher, Tom!), and the rest of the upstairs/downstairs gang, I've held out from peeking online to see episodes.

Still questioning the wisdom of this. I could have answers!

But I wouldn't necessarily be able to speak about them, which is half the fun.

It's already available for preorder on Amazon! Look how big the babies are now!

Meanwhile, I have my Downton Abbey possessions to comfort me (yes, this is a sad joke).

Last year I scored for Christmas. Mom gave my daughter and me D.A. necklaces that are super fancy. Here's my daughter's necklace. (You can buy them on Amazon, Macy's, The PBS Store, or even on the R.M.S. Titanic--they're everywhere!).

$25 can make you look like a million bucks! Now...let's have a ball so we can wear them.

I was also given Downton wine last year (according to the label, it was chosen by butler Carson). I photographed it next to Downton Abbey wrapping paper, which I found at World Market right after Christmas (they also sold D.A. china, white with little gold and black flourishes).

Ooh la la! I'm just like the Crawleys!

Christmas dessert was taken care of, too, since I was given a D.A. plum pudding. It was dense, sweet, and chock full of raisins.

Of course we set it on fire! If you look closely, you can see the blue flames.

And this year my friend gave me some D.A. tea. It's delicious!

Yum! Other flavors are available, too, but this is mine!

Looks like there are lots of new D.A treats for 2014, too.

Scouring Amazon, I found new goodies for this year. Behold, a cd of Lord Grantham's favorite Christmas tunes! Elizabeth McGovern (Cora) sings! The classical pieces look fabulous. Of course, this isn't the first D.A. cd. There's a soundtrack out, too. (I've heard it, and it's great.)

Available here

I think this cookbook may end up on my Christmas list, because I want to eat just like Lady Mary does (assuming she eats chocolate, tea sandwiches, and opera cake).

Yum again!
 

Want another book with pretty pictures? It includes photos, anecdotes, and recipes for "kedgeree, orange marmalade, asparagus tarts, cream of watercress soup, Irish stew, lemon barley water, meringues with red berries, parmesan straws, Christmas pudding with brandy butter and more." I'm not sure how I feel about lemon barley water, but if Carson serves it, I'll go for it!

Want it under your Christmas tree? Click here.

Looks fun to me. But if your budget is a little tight (and $11 for an ornament isn't ridiculous sounding, which it is to me) why not bring a little D.A. to your tree with this bell pull?

Ring ring!

If only I could ring for Carson.

Speaking of Carson, he's written a book on staff management. It'll be out Nov. 25.


If you're having problems with your footmen, click here.

Is there nothing that man can't do?

Last but not least--because I could go on forever, trust me--is the official board game. This is something I may have to buy so I can play with my local D.A.-fan friends, and haul in a suitcase to next year's ACFW for some cutthroat competition with a few Inkies.

Oh mercy. Guess what I want for Christmas.

Whom shall I be? Why am I even asking this when Tom is an option? If Deb Marvin beats me to that punch, I'll call the Dowager.

Hmm.

Oh wait, looks like our options are Faceless Anna and Faceless Barrow (aka Thomas, not to be confused with Tom, thank you very much). I'll pick the red Anna.


It looks a bit like Clue, but the directions describe tasks to complete.

Squee! Roll the dice and have a sip of D.A. tea while the Christmas cd plays in the background. We're on!

Who's with me?

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Susanne Dietze writes historical romance and has a bit of a Downton Abbey addiction. Just a bit. You can visit her on her website, www.susannedietze.com