The Dressing Table . . . Downton Abbey and Linderhof

I adore Downton Abbey

It's a period I'm quite fond of

That period between the wars

When there were still English country houses

And house parties

Not only the story line but I enjoy

the peek into the rooms

of "Downton"

How the sets are decorated

And I love the bedroom scenes

(not the steamy sexy ones)

But rather, the ones that take place

at the dressing table!

And a lot of scenes do

For they're either getting ready for bed

Or getting ready for the day

Or getting ready for dinner

And what better time to talk to your Lady's Maid

Than when you're at the dressing table!

Lady Mary has one

With a bit of lace, a mirror, scent bottles and lotion jars

And a picture in a silver frame

And so does Lady Edith

With lamps and candles

And a mirror, of course

So that you can comb your hair, put on your "face"

And ask questions . . . of yourself!

At Linderhof

I've had a dressing table "forever"

It's in what is really a closet off the master bedroom

Separated from the bedroom by French doors

And it has a window, a full size window

And so, early on, I chose to make this space

my "dressing room"

With table and chair

It's where I sit last thing at night to comb my hair

(but, alas, not 100 strokes)

And first thing in the morning when I "put on my face"!

An English sofa table serves as the dressing table

A cherval shaving mirror sits on top

(It's not an antique but rather a Bombay purchase -- 

with Christmas money one year.    The one on top of Husband Jim's dresser is an antique)

A small silver tray holds jars of lavender and lotions

The brushes were gifts from Husband Jim

The one on the left was a wedding present.

And (like Lady Mary) a silver dresser set

to brush my hair

(but alas, not those 100 strokes!)

The piece of "lace" came from Italy this fall

The small Asian box was bought by husband Jim over 40 years ago

Two lamps with crystals

And the perfume bottles

Every dressing table needs perfume bottles!

And on the right -- two Bibles

A very old one that belonged to my German uncle and was given to me by my cousin the day of his funeral, because he knew I would want something to remember Uncle Laurence by.    And I did! And the bigger one was given to my mother when she was baptized.

It's a peaceful place,

this dressing table of mine

And although I don't have an Anna to take care of my clothes

and wait on me.

I do feel special whenever I sit at my dressing table

Alas, I am still trying to figure out how, as a married lady, I can have breakfast in bed!