Dreamflower
· 20 September 2005
· Chapter 4: Part 4
This is terrific.
Sam, practical as always, is quick to see the advantages of Pip's idea. And Sam's enthusiasm should help Pip's confidence a bit.
And I love the encounter with Merry and the Gaffer. Merry may be a bit ticked at Pippin himself, but don't let anyone *else* say anything about him, LOL!
Poor Gaffer. I think he's a bit lonesome.
Author's reply
I don't write Sam often and so I was worried about him in this story but so far he seems to be staying in character. I am having fun with the Gaffer though. Sam makes me nervous but the Gaffer is loads of fun! He is a bit lonely but he's had lots of visitors lately. And yes, Merry won't stand for anyone else picking on Pip. Glad you like this one.
Baggins Babe
· 20 September 2005
· Chapter 8: Part 8
'Never question free cobbler, lad.' Words of wisdom for all of us! Loved that, and Frodo's embarrassment at the admiration of the lasses, and Hamfast's gentle teasing about his flashing eyes! *snert*
Poor Pip - I hope he doesn't do something silly (this is Pip we're talking about!) now he knows that Mr Tunnelly has given up on him. Glad he didn't buy any pain - Pippin and unsupervised painting sounds like an utter disaster to me.
Eagerly awaiting the next chapter.
Author's reply
I sort of split this chapter between the humor at The Ivy Bush and Pippin's problems. I really am having fun with Hamfast in this story so it is good to know that you are enjoying him also.
I am certain that Pip will have some sort of reaction to all of this but the next chapter is still in the works and so I am not completely sure what that reaction will be yet. LOL And I almost let him get his hands on that paint but voted against it at the last minute! Thank you for reading!
Larner
· 19 September 2005
· Chapter 7: Part 7
Ah, yes, the best parts of Baggins, Brandybuck, and Took all three, our Frodo! And love that Frodo did lose his temper but did it in a way to show up the old goat properly! Love it!
Author's reply
I always enjoy putting Frodo in take-charge situations for some reason. I also like for him to become a bit flustered or angry from time-to-time but I do think that he was clever enough to come out on top of most verbal arguments, especially in The Shire. Glad you enjoyed it. I had fun with this part.
Larner
· 19 September 2005
· Chapter 8: Part 8
Somehow I've managed to miss a chapter, so I'm going to have to backtrack to find it.
Love Frodo being sorry he lost his temper, evidently, with Tunnely. The old goat!
And it sounds as if Pippin's learning what Tunnely thinks of him in spite of everything Frodo's tried to do.
Author's reply
Frodo's best intentions where Pippin is concerned have not gone as planned but on the other hand, Frodo was going to have to explain things anyway. Hobbits love their gossip too much for this not to have gotten to Pippin sooner or later. I saw that you had found the missing chapter and now you are all caught up. I should have more posted soon if all goes well. Thanks so much for all of the reviews and for reading!
MaidenofValinor
· 19 September 2005
· Chapter 8: Part 8
aw...poor pippin! those pies sound good.
my favorite line: "eat your cobbler, meriadoc."
for some reason that cracks me up...
Author's reply
It's funny that you should mention that line because it made me laugh when I wrote it. I can hear Frodo saying it and I think that was what made it funny for me. I've wanted pie all day myself and I think I was hungry when I wrote this. Thanks for reading and I'm glad that I wasn't the only one who laughed at that part! LOL
Andrea
· 19 September 2005
· Chapter 8: Part 8
Oh dear, they were not fast enough! Must have been the second round of cobbler ;-)
Poor Pippin! What will he think now, what will he do?
Hopefully, Frodo and Merry are still in town to pick him up!
Can't wait for the next chapter!
Author's reply
Yes, they over-did the cobbler a bit in this chapter. When I look at this story it seems as if all they've done is eat cobbler. LOL But hobbits do love to eat. Pippin has had a shock with this and as to how he will take it, I am not completely sure myself. But more as soon as possible! Thanks for reviewing!
henry
· 19 September 2005
· Chapter 8: Part 8
Poor poor Pippin! what a terrible way of finding out.
Too bad Frodo didn't get to talk to him first.
I can't wait for next chapter.
henry
Author's reply
Frodo did know that he needed to speak to Pippin quickly but Pippin got the news before Frodo could manage it. Now, Frodo will have his hands full trying to sort it all out. So glad you are still enjoying this one and I do thank you for reviewing!
Pearl Took
· 19 September 2005
· Chapter 8: Part 8
The best laid plans . . .
Poor Pip, I hope this doesn't blow his confidence that Sam has given him. Wonderful that Frodo figured Merry had said something to Mr. Tunnely.
I eagerly await more :)
Author's reply
I just knew that Frodo would be on to Merry in some way if not entirely sure of what Merry had said or when. The Gaffer and the cobbler kept him from getting the full truth. Pippin's self confidence has taken another hit and someone will have to do some repairs. Thanks for reading and I hope to have more of this one posted soon!
SlightlyTookish
· 19 September 2005
· Chapter 8: Part 8
Poor Pippin! It's never easy to hear gossip about yourself. I guess Frodo and Merry are going to get it now for keeping the rumors from Pippin. Eee, I love this story!
Author's reply
So glad you are still enjoying it. It just keeps getting longer and longer. I figured it would be over by now by it keeps taking new turns. I seem to have lost control. Thanks for reading and more is on the way!
Pipspebble
· 19 September 2005
· Chapter 8: Part 8
Oh, my poor sweet Pippin! What an awful thing to happen to him, just as he was getting the hang of it. I'm really enjoying this story, and hope you post more soon! :-)
Author's reply
Pippin did get news that he shouldn't have gotten and especially in the way that he got it. It would have been far better coming from Frodo. I am very glad that you are enjoying this one and I am hoping to have more of it up very soon if work doesn't get in my way. Thanks for reviewing!
Auntiemeesh
· 19 September 2005
· Chapter 8: Part 8
If only Pippin was able to follow directions and stay at Bag End! The poor lad, I hope he doesn't let this discourage him too much. I must say, I was terribly relieved that he couldn't find any paint, though, as the thought of him being let loose with a paintbrush and no instructions left some rather dizzying images behind, lol.
Now I'm going to be fantasizing about poor-man's pie all day. My mom just called them milk pies and always made them with the leftover crust whenever she made pies. Mmm, so yummy!
Author's reply
It was a tough call and I nearly let him find that paint! LOL I could see the results of that one too and I did start to go in that direction, but another idea jumped in there and off I went.
I am so surprised that someone else has hear of my favorite pie on earth! (or in this case, Middle Earth) We need to get together and eat pie one of these days. It sounded rather hobbity to me and so I included it in the list of pies for sale. Now I am starving for one! LOL
Bodkin
· 19 September 2005
· Chapter 8: Part 8
Oh dear. Pippin's recently returned confidence is going to be shattered by this. I think he needs time with Sam - and a bit of confidence-building, rubbing-Tobias's-nose-in-it success in carpentry. Frodo and Merry would support him - but he doesn't need littlest cousin support at this moment.
I'm glad Frodo's reputation for omniscience is maintained. He knows Merry has issued threats - but that he has been subtle about it. And free cobbler will help!
I hope Pippin doesn't stomp off in a mood. Or go back and chop up his nicely sanded wood. He's not about to be a happy bunny.
Author's reply
I doubt that this will do anything at all to help Pippin's recent problem with self confidence. Seems that Pippin got more than just a pie for his money.
Frodo knows Merry far too well to suspect that his younger cousin had nothing at all to say to Mister Tunnely in spite of filling his mouth with a third breakfast. Merry is lucky the cobbler arrived when it did or Frodo would have figured it out.
Thanks for reading and there will be more before long.
melilot hill
· 19 September 2005
· Chapter 8: Part 8
Poor Pippin! This isn't the way he should've found out about Mr Tunnely quiting. I hope it doesn't make him feel too bad about himself.
Author's reply
Yes, Pippin got the news in a very bad way. It isn't at all what Frodo had hoped for. Now, Frodo may have a bit of damage control to do on top of all of his other duties as older cousin. Poor Frodo is having a very busy summer! Thanks for reading!
estelnalissi
· 19 September 2005
· Chapter 7: Part 7
Better and Better! This is one of those more than you ever expected stories that grows in the telling. Notice the trend that the numbers of reviews per chapter is steadily rising? This reminds me of a sleeper, a movie that goes from obscurity to an overwhelming, "must see." Who'd have thought such a superficially simple plot idea could evolve in to this oh so funny yet insightful, sensitive long tale, as long as the midsummer's days in which it is set.
You really are in touch with your characters. You have the patience and wisdom to let them experience everything their story can hold. No hurried cobbling together of loose ends because you're already chasing new plot bunnies that distracted you when they nibbled your ankles.
Even reading your responses to your admirers is more pleasurable than I expected. Notice how many times you reacted with joyous, abandoned, LOLs. Maybe it's partially because you are so quick to laugh that you so ably keep your readers laughing.
Every single time I read those words, foot guards, I see Pippin wearing, waddling and sleeping, in them and my grin spreads as wide as a watermelon rind.
Tunnley did such a number on Pippin's self-confidence, he imagines the worst whenever he stops to contemplate his project. Then, the minute Sam gives him a task or puts his hands on Pippin's gloved hands to guide him through a skill, like measuring, Pippin rebounds. He's radiantly happy and practically levitating with enthusiasm. You show how a good teacher creates opportunities for a pupil at any level to succeed and find joy in the doing and learning.
I just want to know what in the world is Frodo going to do with Pippin with Sam gone for a whole afternoon and evening. What ever he conjures up to fill those many, many, hours, I hope he barrs the barn door, with Pippin on the outside!
Author's reply
Thank you so much for the long, lovely review. I am so glad that you are enjoying this one. I never quite know where these things are going or how long they will eventually be when I start them. I almost never have a master plan or even so much as an outline. This was supposed to be a very short little story but as you can see, it is way past that point now. I do think that Sam would have made an excellent teacher because he is patient and encouraging. I suspect those traits helped him to become an excellent father when his own children came along so in a way, he is getting a chance to practice on Pippin. As to barring the door, well, the next chapter will tell that tale.....thanks again for reading and reviewing!
Anso the Hobbit
· 18 September 2005
· Chapter 7: Part 7
Good old Frodo! And Merry and the Gaffer too! :D They all knew what was needed to put that Tunnely in place. Excellent! :D I do wonder why Pip is sleeping in the barn though? Maybe he wanted to be there earlier than Sam so he could show that he had learned something.
Author's reply
There will be more about Pippin's sleeping in the barn in future chapters. It isn't as simple as it looks and I am glad that you picked up on it. I am having such fun writing the Gaffer in this one so I had to let him in on Frodo and Merry's confrontation with Tunnely but Merry got the last word on it all. LOL Thanks for reading!
Baggins Babe
· 18 September 2005
· Chapter 7: Part 7
Oh my! Forceful Frodo! So often he is written as a mousy sort who is afraid to stand up to people but I like to see him as the 'Lord of the Manor' occasionally. Loved Merry having to keep his mouth full of food to avoid blurting anything out!! Hobbits! I enjoyed the Gaffer's timely intervention too - he couldn't resist a little fun at Mr Tunnelly's expense, could he?
Looks as though Sam has gained a job - I giggled at Sam's decision not to wake Pippin in case the hammer went flying. No wonder Sam survived the journey to Mordor - a sensible and practical hobbit, our Sam.
Looking forward to the next one. Thanks, GW!
Author's reply
Yes, Sam's seen what Pip can do with that hammer and he knows better than to approach Pip while he's armed so to speak. LOL Glad you enjoyed Frodo in this one. I don't believe he had trouble standing up for himself or his family pre-Quest, at least and so I try to write him a bit like a young Bilbo in some ways. I do like him when he takes charge.
Andrea
· 17 September 2005
· Chapter 7: Part 7
"Merry’s mouth dropped open. He had completely forgotten his breakfast now. Frodo was angry."
Wow! It takes a lot to make Frodo angry, but if he gets angry, I don't want to be his opponent ;-)
But Mr. Tunnely deserved every single word!
And the Gaffer came just in time to participate in the argument - a great show for all the patrons in the Ivy Bush.
Last but not least, I liked Merry's comment.
"... That’s how we do things in Buckland."
Author's reply
Frodo did most of the talking and so I decided that it was only fair to let Merry have the last word. LOL
Thanks for reviewing and I am glad that you are enjoying this one. More will be coming soon.
MaidenofValinor
· 17 September 2005
· Chapter 7: Part 7
Go Frodo! Go Frodo! That Tunnelly is a JERK!! They got him, though. I was laughing aloud. Very good work!
Author's reply
So glad that it made you laugh! I love when that happens!
PIppinfan1988
· 17 September 2005
· Chapter 6: Part 6
What a clever little Pip!! We used to "detour" our English teacher in high school. One question about his family and he was off on a tangent. ;-) Which explains all my grammatical errors! lol
“Very well,” Merry said. “It sometimes seems to me that I don’t fit anywhere around here. Pippin isn’t speaking to me because I’m older and you won’t let me handle Mister Tunnely because I’m not old enough! There ought to be something that I’m the proper age for.”
“There is,” Frodo said. “You are old enough to follow my instructions and you are old enough to fix your own snack while I finish with Pippin’s lesson.”
Loved it! I really do love your world of hobbits. :-)
Pippinfan
Author's reply
I think Merry is having a bit of middle child problems even though he's an only child. I had several teachers that could be taken away from the lesson with the right words. It was wonderful! Was someone supposed to teach me grammer? Oops!
Pearl Took
· 17 September 2005
· Chapter 7: Part 7
W O N D E R F U L!!!!!
Just wonderfully done by all our hobbits!! If the Tooks are a bit Scottish then the Brandybucks must be a bit Irish :) Pip may never build anything else, but I'm sure now he'll turn out a fine three-wheeled wheelbarrow :)
Author's reply
I was rather proud of them all in this chapter. Now, I do hope that Pip can manage to build his wheelbarrow. Looks like Sam has been elected to continue the lessons. I wonder how he will react when he hears the news? (I never know how these things are going to come out.) Thanks for the review and I am glad that you like it!
Pearl Took
· 17 September 2005
· Chapter 6: Part 6
Uh oh . . . Is Merry about to put his foot in it? Frodo has done a good job with Pippin, he and Sam are a good pair to have around :)
Author's reply
Who Merry? LOL
Yes Frodo is doing quite well with all of this and once again, it is a very good thing that he has Sam around.
Pearl Took
· 17 September 2005
· Chapter 5: Part 5
Bravo Sam!!! WOOHOO!!!
Mister Tunnely is scum, hurting our Pippin like that!
Yeah Merry! He's come around nicely.
Author's reply
More of Merry's coming around in future chapters and well, Sam is always on the right track more or less. Thanks so much for reading this one!
GamgeeFest
· 17 September 2005
· Chapter 7: Part 7
Merry is such a prat. I love him. :) Tunnely got his comeuppance and then some. It's never a good idea to tick off Frodo. He's a force to be reckoned with when he has the mind to be. Tunnely will be regretting his rash behavior in ditching Pippin. And Pippin sleeping with the hammer has to be the cutest thing yet. Sam is so patient with him and such a good teacher. I'm loving this story. Oh, and the font was fine, back to normal. :)
Author's reply
I think of Merry in this as attempting to come into his own. He thinks he's all grown up and that he knows everything even though he still has a way to go. Pippin has the opposite problem in that he isn't sure he knows anything at all. Frodo does have a very big job on his hands with these two.
Glad you liked that sleeping with the hammer thing. I have to keep the story centered on that hammer you know. LOL
Thanks for letting me know about the font. It is a big relief!
Bodkin
· 17 September 2005
· Chapter 7: Part 7
Well done, Frodo. You can see he is a hobbit of authority. He was crushing enough even before Tobias made him lose his temper.
Merry did well to keep him mouth full of food to avoid comment until the end - I can forgive him his last words to Tobias - but Mr Tunnely might not.
And Sam is just the perfect person to teach Pippin - in fact, he would be the perfect person to teach pretty much anyone. I think the Gaffer is quite pleased to be consulted.
I wonder if we will get a chance to see Pippin's skills in some story set later?
Author's reply
Frodo has enough of Bilbo in him to be able to out-talk most trouble-makers and the Gaffer did say the perfect thing at the perfect time which always helps. Merry did do pretty well but he just had to get in a parting shot. Let's hope that Mister Tunnely fears those crazy Bucklanders enough to let it pass. As to if you will get to see Pip's carpentry skills in a future story, well there is Larner's "Gifts and the Benefits of Scholarship" even if I don't get 'round to it. I just loved that!
SlightlyTookish
· 17 September 2005
· Chapter 7: Part 7
Go Frodo, go! *applauds* It was great to see Frodo sticking up for his family here. I loved Tobias' comeuppance, and of course getting to see Sam and Pippin's interaction was wonderful as usual :)
Author's reply
I always enjoy it when I can write Frodo in control, or in this case, a bit out of control for a good reason. There will be more with Sam and Pippin and more of this story which seems to be getting longer by the minute. LOL