Tighten my corset and find me a hair pin.

To my delight I recently discovered an ITV mini-series, Downton Abbey.
I watched all seven episodes in 3 days. This show, not unlike my other favorite show from across the pond,  has been merciless and intriguing. Sucking me in, making me want to live in a damp castle & wear lots of houndstooth print. I would eat only beans and toast. I really must get to England.

Harriet Jones, Future Prime Minister being introduced to Wendy Darling. CROSS OVER.

In all of it's Edwardian glory, I started reminiscing about my love of other period pieces. While it's not English, Anne of Green Gables (and Avonlea) set in motion my love of period pieces*. If it came on PBS (Yes, I tuned into PBS even after I was too old for Sesame Street) I watched it. I would borrow the VHS from my Mom's friend, Sharon Gunn. I have no idea how many times I watched those movies. I firmly believe that between Anne and Ariel, I have a deep desire to be a red head. I compensate by being a bottle red head.

It also instilled in me a desire to marry a dark haired guy.

 Around the same time I watched Anne of Green Gables, I remember my Mom and I watching Jane Eyre on PBS. It was literally a dark and stormy day, so dramatic. We watched all 900 hours of it. It was long, it was dreary, it was terrifying & romantic. Hello! Crazy wife in the attic! I had seen my first "gothic romance". I'm not sure which version we watched. I just remember feeling so very restless after watching it. Around this same time I read The Yellow Wallpaper in a book of short stories I had. Wallpaper still gives me the creeps.

 Now, if you knew me when I was 8 years old, you are aware of the fact that I in my brain I either lived on the moorland of England, an English Manor with great gardens or a cottage in Nova Scotia. I was often seen in period-esque clothing (my idea of them anyway), lounging with a book. My parents have a picture of me in a blouse, long skirt and straw hat reading in the garden. 8 year old Leigh also had a soft pink room with a day bed to lounge on while I read.  I was a sucker for romance even then. My 12th birthday was a proper English tea. I used my birthday tea cup just the other day while watching Abbey.
 If we went to visit my Grandma Berry, we had a couple of options for entertaining ourselves: play outside or read outside. She did not own a TV. We would spend hours on her vast property playing and reading. In my time at her house I read Mark Twain classics, Romeo and Juliet, Oliver Twist & Jane Eyre. I was 10 or so. Yes, I did read those books. Understand them totally, no. I just loved reading. Especially on my Grandma's swing. It was always there, I wonder how many books were consumed on that swing?

 Since I've run out of episodes of Downton Abbey (until January 2012!) to watch, I started poking around on Netflix to find new and exciting prospects. I found an ITV production of Wuthering Heights. Yes, I'm now totally on Team Heahcliff (eat your heart out Twilight fans). He's a lunatic, but gosh. He's Heathcliff, right? What's a gal to do?

Sorry Jerry Seinfeld. I love puffy shirts.

All this to say that underneath my love of loud rock music, jeans, minimal decor & plaid, I'm still a sucker for the drama of these movies and books. I still want a bit of floral, lace & tea cups. I'm quite thrilled that long skirts & buns are in fashion. I'm sporting a bun right now.
Ladies, I turn it over to you now. What are your favorite sweeping romances? Are you fans of the Brontë sisters? Did you want a best friend to help you recite "The Lady of Shallott" as she set you adrift in a boat? Are you a sucker for a crazed or distant man with wild dark hair? Do you hate yellow wallpaper as I do? What time period would you want to spend a day in? I'd like to be anachronistic in my time travel and borrow a little from a few of them.
 I suppose I didn't even touch on anything by Jane Austen. Thoughts?




*Obviously there is a wide range of "periods" here. If you count my mention of Austen, we span over 100 years, the late 1700's to World War I.*

What's been tickling my fancy this week.

1. England! Since we first tried fish & chips at Lucky Baldwin's here in Pasadena, I've been on a bit of a British bender. I'm quite excited for Wills & Kate to get married. There are several very crafty little subjects in England that are creating their own spin on all things royal wedding. You can take a look here.
2. The Doctor. Continuing with my British obsession, I've added Doctor Who to my favorite TV shows. The new series (they are called series in across the pond, not seasons) are available on Netflix watch instantly. If you don't know, Doctor Who is a wonderful little Sci-Fi show that's been on the BBC since 1963. They recently rebooted it and brought it back for another complete series. The characters change and the stories are all over the place, but it's a perfect little program. I highly recommend it, especially if you or someone you know loves Star Wars, Star Trek or is basically a nerd already.
3. Kalas Bowls from Ikea. They are the perfect portion for cereal, snack or soup. They are great for travel, too. Priced at $1.99 for 5, you can't go wrong.
4. Vintage Valentine's Day Decor. I love to love Valentine's Day. I've searched all over the internet for sweet little decorations and Valentines from years past. I have a  few printed out and put up in the house. Some from the Victorian Era and some from the 1940s.