I hope you'll forgive my stream of consciousness comments, I've been a bit on the run lately.

p. 165 - what does "the Plot against your Peepers" mean? LOL! Is this just a way of saying it's offensive to the eyes?

p. 169 - what is this "rage for tea-boards" all about? Are these fancy tea-trays? I'll zip over to L&T for some searching, but I was struck by this apparent fad in the 1750s. I wonder if trends in those days were as changeable as they are today?

p. 174 - "tis well she does not hear me for she wou'd not like perhaps to have a Bishops Bum placed upon her Noddle." LOL, what the?!? Can anyone translate for me?

p. 175 - I was very interested in the evolving "Dress[es] of the Year" and then I noticed the illustration with the different crowns. On what occasions would earls, viscounts and barons wear these coronets? I'm assuming it would have to be a special occasion (would Sir Thomas have worn the baron's coronet?).

p. 185 - how does one wear a pincushion?

p. 187 - isn't it amazing how much fury Elizabeth Shackleton exhibits in her diary? I see the anger was over a "disputed Clitheroe election of 1781," which is the year Eliz. died, I believe. If anyone knows details of the election, I'm wondering if it sent her to an early grave (that and her rotten husband).

When I find time to catch my breath, I'll try to answer my own questions by doing some searching. In the meantime, I am enjoying everyone's comments (and agree with Golda's "it's like Pemberley" post below--that was my first thought). Oh, and if anyone has any enlightenment on the above, I'd be appreciative.