Andrea
· 19 August 2012
· Chapter 10: When Winter First Begins to Bite
Oh dear! And winter has just begun! (Perfect title, btw)
Does it really sound like fireworks? I've only seen the results of ice storms, broken branches mostly.
Author's reply
JRRT gave me some great title material for these particular chapters!
Well, actually, to me it sounded more like gunshots-- but so do some fireworks, and that's more like something Bilbo would have heard than gunshots! But, yes, it's that sharp explosion-y sort of sound!
Andrea
· 19 August 2012
· Chapter 9: There Came an Early Snow
What fun! I like Belladonna's Tookishness!
But Farmer Button remembered his talk with Squire Baggins. The harvest had been lean, and it was a long time 'till Spring. He sipped his ale and kept his own counsel.
I fear he will be right after all.
Author's reply
Yes, Belladonna's about as Tookish as they come!
Yes, he will...
Larner
· 13 August 2012
· Chapter 10: When Winter First Begins to Bite
Too much of anything can be devastating, as you have certainly experienced more than once. Have seen one ice storm such as described here, a couple of tornados, and my share of nasty windstorms here and abroad, as well as several floods. Each is a marvel to experience and to evaluate afterwards, I've found.
Author's reply
Absolutely!
Natural disasters are sort of a marvel, but still, they are experiences I would rather avoid when possible! Yet they are valuable experiences as well.
shirebound
· 13 August 2012
· Chapter 10: When Winter First Begins to Bite
if they could sacrifice their elevenses and their tea, he could sacrifice first breakfast at least.
*sniff* Such a hardship for our beloved hobbits, but they are always resilient and practical.
Author's reply
I think it would be common in times of hardship for the parents to stint themselves for the children. But I think young Bilbo is very special in realizing that he can try to do something for his parents as well.
They are resilient and practical, and both qualities will be sorely tried as the Fell Winter comes upon them.
But there will be lots of comfort, too!
eiluj
· 13 August 2012
· Chapter 10: When Winter First Begins to Bite
Only dread indeed!
And this is only Blotmath....
They'll all be glad of that wood before the winter's over ... will wish they had more.
There's a mountainous (not simply hilly) community about ten miles from me which is infamous for large numbers of trees falling in ice storms; every few years it's just devastated (the tree guys and landscapers from all over the county are kept busy for months). My brother was visiting recently for my mother's birthday. We ate at a restaurant in that town which looks down over a valley with a golf course, and my brother asked, "Didn't there used to be a lot more trees?" because a significant number of the oldest pines were gone (no shortage of other trees, though).
Luckily I'm about about 1000' lower and haven't lost any trees to ice -- though I could happily spare some of the neighbor's 50' Leyland cypress hedge that shades my garden.
Author's reply
They will be very glad of the wood.
I had never realized what an ice storm could do to trees! But our second winter after we moved here they had a dreadful one, and we literally jumped from our beds at the sound of what we thought was gunfire on the street! Some of the trees, it seemed, literally exploded. We were stunned at the damage! Luckily none of the damaged trees were ours-- our lot had no trees when we moved in, and the two we'd planted were too small to be damaged.
Antane
· 13 August 2012
· Chapter 10: When Winter First Begins to Bite
I feel for Bilbo and his parents for stinting themselves. That poor tween but his heart is in the right place to see that his parents had more for breakfast.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes, it is! He has a goodly store of Pity, even at this age!
Antane
· 10 August 2012
· Chapter 9: There Came an Early Snow
Three cheers for Belladonna - someone who still knows how to have fun! Bilbo may not know it completely, but how blessed he is to have her. Love the Tookish of it all.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
I think he knows his mother is special and Tookish. I don't think he has any idea of how Tookish he is as well!
demeter d
· 6 August 2012
· Chapter 9: There Came an Early Snow
I wonder if memories of his Mother's determined Tookishness and his parents's embarassing public embrace were among the warm memories a cold,tired Hobbit used to cheer himself in the middle of his own great adventure years later? A cold day warmed by good food and loving friends and kin. I felt like I was right there!
Author's reply
I hope that they were! I hope that the memory of his parents' love was a great influence on him!
I am glad you enjoyed this!
shirebound
· 6 August 2012
· Chapter 9: There Came an Early Snow
I love reading about the warming and delicious foods hobbits eat, especially when it's cold outside.
And from Bilbo, whose face was flaming with embarrassment: "Mama!"
But a determined Took is a force to be reckoned with.
Truly! Good for her.
Author's reply
I love reading about the warming and delicious foods hobbits eat
*grin* Me too! And writing about it as well, LOL!
Yes, good for her! She truly was the "remarkable Belladonna Took"!
Larner
· 6 August 2012
· Chapter 9: There Came an Early Snow
And they have good precedent to be concerned, after all.
Author's reply
Yes, they do. Very good precedent indeed!
Larner
· 3 August 2012
· Chapter 8: Twenty-one
I am glad that Adalgrim remembered Bilbo's birthday, and hope that the harvest is at least a bit better than he'd anticipated. A most busy day, and no wonder Bilbo's fallen asleep!
Author's reply
Well, as I suppose you can guess, the harvest is not doing well at all in this particular year...
Antane
· 2 August 2012
· Chapter 7: Task Accomplished
I hadn't realized that I missed a chapter here - this is such a delight to see Drogo and Bilbo interacting. :) *hugs them and you*
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
I've always thought that Bilbo and Drogo must have been close, if Bilbo took in his son!
Antane
· 2 August 2012
· Chapter 8: Twenty-one
So Dora is already that way so early in life. I can see now where she got it from. And wee Drogo...too cute to see him here. 21 is a big deal after all! :)
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes. Well, she clearly understands about "proper" already!
I love writing the hobbits we only know as adults as children!
I fear that Bilbo's 21st year is a bigger deal than anyone realizes yet...
Andrea
· 31 July 2012
· Chapter 8: Twenty-one
"Won't you join us for second breakfast, dear?" asked Belladonna, as Bilbo flipped through some of the pages of the new book.
"Mommy said I could if you invited me," she [Dora] answered. "It wouldn't be proper if you did not invite me."
*Grins* She started at a very early age to give good advice ;-)
A beautiful birthday for Bilbo, which he and all the others enjoyed greatly.
Author's reply
*grins back*
It looks that way. At least she began early on to worry about what's proper!
He needs a happy birthday right now...serious times are ahead.
Andrea
· 31 July 2012
· Chapter 7: Task Accomplished
My congratulations to young Bilbo! He did very well with the hole, which of course his father knew all along.
Author's reply
Yes, Bungo is a wise father! He knew he could trust Bilbo to try his best (and that he'd be there to catch him if he should start to fall).
shirebound
· 30 July 2012
· Chapter 8: Twenty-one
What an utterly delightful birthday!
Author's reply
Thank you! I thought young Bilbo deserved a great party after working so hard all summer!
Larner
· 24 July 2012
· Chapter 7: Task Accomplished
Oh, but I'm so glad he did well at it. And of course Drogo likes him, as will Drogo's son one day.
Author's reply
Yes, he worked hard at it.
In my 'verse, Bilbo and Drogo are very close-- and this was the start of it.
shirebound
· 23 July 2012
· Chapter 7: Task Accomplished
Wee!Drogo, how adorable. What a marvelous, rich story you're crafting for us.
Author's reply
All hobbits were wee once upon a time! *grin* So Drogo must have been. It was fun imagining his first encounter with his older cousin.
And thank you dear!
Andrea
· 17 July 2012
· Chapter 6: Consequences
Once again I admire Bungo's education methods. Really clever!
And I agree, "Fuddlebuckets" is a great hobbity word :-)
Author's reply
I am so glad you agree about Bilbo's education.
I just adored "fuddlebuckets" when I saw it!
Larner
· 17 July 2012
· Chapter 6: Consequences
Yes, a good responsibility can be the making of a person, be he Man or Hobbit. I so admire Bungo's wisdom here.
Author's reply
Bungo is a wise hobbit, and he knows that his son needs to learn to stand on his own.
shirebound
· 16 July 2012
· Chapter 6: Consequences
"...the next time Chop suggests something daft like stealing Gandalf's fireworks or Siggy decides that pummeling one another's teeth out is a good way to earn money, he will have the wisdom and the backbone to say 'no'."
I'm sure it worked, that is, until a certain number of Dwarves came to call. :)
Author's reply
LOL! Of course, I am sure Gandalf himself had something to do with that! *grin*
Antane
· 10 July 2012
· Chapter 4: Turning Three
I love the presents and how pleased Bilbo was and giving them to his mum and pa. I think of Frodo doing the same with his parents. :)
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes, I've written of Frodo's faunthood day, and it was Bilbo himself who took the lad out to find his gifts! I am sure he thought of his Uncle Bingo on that day!
Andrea
· 10 July 2012
· Chapter 5: Lessons
A wonderful story! I very much enjoy reading it.
"Twelfty" is a funny word indeed. I liked Belladonna's explanation why it isn't used any more ;-)
And I can very well imagine that Bilbo made mistakes on purpose to make Siggy feel better. It didn't work, though. But his father proved to be a very good teacher and found another way to solve the problem.
Antane
· 10 July 2012
· Chapter 5: Lessons
Yes, I would say some Bagginses were going to be make their mark later on... :)
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
*grin*
Larner
· 9 July 2012
· Chapter 5: Lessons
What a wonderful childhood our Bilbo knew. At least he had friends, and he has the respect of his father.
Author's reply
I think so! I am sure that Bungo and Belladonna were wonderful parents! And I am also sure he had friends, especially among his cousins.