Mailbox Monday - Dec 11

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists.

Happy Monday! I've been a busy little bee since we were last here. Christmas decorations are finally making their way through the house and the exterior is done. I'm excited to say that I wrote a new children's picture book last Monday at writing group. It's an idea I've had for a couple of years, but couldn't figure out how to bring it to fruition until now. I also had a slew of appointments last week.  More are coming this week, but after that it should hopefully slow down for a week or so. I'm looking forward to a bit of down time. I've busted my tail this year.

As far as my mailbox is concerned, there are more cards and packages in there than books these days. I did, however, grab this book I've wanted for a while but waited until Cyber Monday deals to pick up.

Brilliantly evoking the long-vanished world of masters and servants, Margaret Powell's classic memoir of her time in service is the remarkable true story of an indomitable woman who, though she served in the great houses of England, never stopped aiming high.

Brilliantly evoking the long-vanished world of masters and servants portrayed in Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs, Margaret Powell's classic memoir of her time in service, Below Stairs, is the remarkable true story of an indomitable woman who, though she served in the great houses of England, never stopped aiming high. Powell first arrived at the servants' entrance of one of those great houses in the 1920s. As a kitchen maid - the lowest of the low - she entered an entirely new world; one of stoves to be blacked, vegetables to be scrubbed, mistresses to be appeased, and bootlaces to be ironed. Work started at 5:30am and went on until after dark. It was a far cry from her childhood on the beaches of Hove, where money and food were scarce, but warmth and laughter never were. Yet from the gentleman with a penchant for stroking the housemaids' curlers, to raucous tea-dances with errand boys, to the heartbreaking story of Agnes the pregnant under-parlormaid, fired for being seduced by her mistress's nephew, Margaret's tales of her time in service are told with wit, warmth, and a sharp eye for the prejudices of her situation. Margaret Powell's true story of a life spent in service is a fascinating "downstairs" portrait of the glittering, long-gone worlds behind the closed doors of Downton Abbey and 165 Eaton Place.

I truly miss Downton Abbey and the history lover in me will enjoy digging into this one.

What was in your mailbox? Hope you have a blessed week.