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Birthday Surprises  by Baggins Babe 10 Review(s)
AntaneReviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/12/2007
Aragorn an honorary hobbit? Cute and that he was properly honored by that. And Celeborn's letter was so beautiful.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

EstellaBReviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/21/2006
Oh, that's cute... Rosie giving Bergil courting advice! And it fits *perfectly* with the way I see their characters!

Author Reply: I liked the idea of Bergil seeking Rosie's motherly advice - glad you enjoyed it. Rose is full of common sense.

MirkwoodmaidenReviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/26/2006
Hello my dear!

Finally I'm back online!! I was wanting to say how wonderful I thought this chapter was. One of my favourite parts was the letter written but Celeborn. I just love his gift to Sam. flowers from Lothlorien especially Elanor! It was a lovely and well written and conceived idea.

Also I really like the way you have sketched out ted sandyman's familiy and given them a new life away the old drunk. Overall I thought it was a brilliant story

Much love
The PEF

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/15/2005
A loving look at the family which has grown up around Frodo, and the acceptance this family gives to all who come their way.

And I, too, want to see how E&E do at paring potatoes! Heee!

Author Reply: I always imagine that the peace and welcome granted to visitors would make the Shire a very special place.

Elves peeling vegetables - a nice thought!

FallenEagleReviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/26/2005
I love this fic, please update!

Author Reply: I so pleased that you like it - I'm busy with the next chapter but RL keeps getting in the way! Shouldn't be long though.

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/3/2005
"Right. I want some volunteers to help with the vegetables. Who knows how to peel potatoes? And if you don't know after a couple of thousand years I reckon it's time you found out!" - LOL! Just great!

I liked all the birthday gifts, especially the second set of gardening tools for Sam to give it to Frodo-lad. From the reaction of the Mallorn tree to young Fro's hug, he is as talented as his father.

Author Reply: Ah yes, young Fro is a very talented gardener already, and the mallorn knows this. He will be a good apprentice.
I thought Sam would want to give him something useful as well as beautiful.

Rose keeps them all in order - Elves, Men, assorted hobbits and a dwarf!

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/3/2005
I think that we are all dying to see elves with potato peelers!

You weave such a beautiful picture of the Shire - I want to be there. Please can I leave London and be there just for Sam's birthday, and my own which is tomorrow so thanks for the pleasure of reading this story, a real gift.

Author Reply: So you're in London too? Well, there is a bus in East London which claims to be 'Serving the Shire and Essex' - unfortunately this is Hertfordshire! I was very disappointed about that! :-))

Happy birthday for tomorrow!

As for Elves with potato peelers - my dear friend Mirkwoodmaiden, wrote a story for me, called 'Changes and Acceptances' - which is on this site - and that really does feature this very combination! I just took the idea and ran with it!

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/3/2005
Ah, such a sweet relaxing happy day, with good friends, love and laughter! Just the kind of thing I like to read, and can count on finding in "Reunion-verse".

I adored the description of the mallorn with the hobbity heart, and the gift of plants from the Elves.

Did you happen to finish your fic with Ivy Sandyman and I somehow missed it?

Author Reply: Glad more 'Reunion-verse' lived up to your expectations. I think a mallorn growing in the Shire would be a little different, and what else could Sam possibly receive but plants? At least there will be some elanor flowers for Elanor's wedding.

The Ivy Sanyman story was a stand-alone but she and the children will feature in this one, and a plot bunny sequel is biting my foot as I write. Hope to start on that when this story is complete.

TiggerReviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/2/2005
Below, the singing had stopped. Rose's voice, firm but insistent, was heard saying, "Right. I want some volunteers to help with the vegetables. Who knows how to peel potatoes? And if you don't know after a couple of thousand years I reckon it's time you found out!"

"This," said Tarondor in an almost imperceptible whisper, "I have to see!"

Tigger has to see this too. I'm loving this story and loving how much good this visit is being to Aragorn, Faramir and the other noblemen. It's giving them a badly needed rest from being the King and will be a better ruler for it when he returns to Gondor.

I can't wait for the next chapter!!

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/2/2005
Rose was performing miracles at the stove, producing platefuls of perfectly cooked bacon, eggs, sausages and mushrooms with her usual calm. Aragorn realised that she was the still point around which everything and everyone revolved. She had as much power in her own realm as Galadriel had held over Lothlorien.

I do love Aragorn recognizing Rose's "realm"! and this is so lovely:

There is nothing you crave, for you have all that is important to you - a loving wife, beautiful, healthy children and the brother of your heart healed and happy - all your treasures, and a garden to tend. You have never desired more than this, and no-one is more deserving of all that he has.

What a marvelous chapter. I adore the happy Mallorn and the sweet peacefulness of the Shire.

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