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Birthday Surprises by Baggins Babe	7 Review(s)
Tigger	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 3/7/2006
Sorry for not reviewing to this before now, but when it was posted originally, I wasn't home and then...Anyway... Wow!! Only hobbits would think of using a parsnip in such a manner...ROTFLOL!!! Sounds like the Keeper of the Royal Armour may need to smith new armour for Aragorn, Faramir and the rest of the lot from Gondor and Ithilien. By the time they get back, they'll be two sizes bigger from all the good cooking of the Shire. :oD Oh and the shushing as going through Bag End to keep from waking the children...I could so see that. snicker Then that description of how Aragorn felt. I've had that feeling of my tongue having a fur coat on it before. Mind you, not from drinking too much. Usually from waking up after surgery, but regardless it's not a fun thing. That cure from Gaffer sounds rather powerful. After everything Aragorn's been through, something that would make him feel like his head was about to shatter off of his head does have quite a kick to it. ;o) The youngest Gamgee lass is very wise in her advice to the men and hobbits in horrible shape around the kitchen table of Bag End. :oD Looking forward to the next installment of Aragorn and Faramir's Excellent Adventure in The Shire. :oD Author Reply: Tigger! I was wondering where you were, as I know you were eager to see this chapter. I think the smiths in Gondor will be kept busy when they return - unless they jog all the way home! :-)) I could see those tall Men shushing each other and tripping on the way along the passages. Glad it made you smile.

Mirkwoodmaiden	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/24/2006
My dear BB! Once again you amaze me with your ability to write about Hobbits and humans having a wonderful time in the Shire! The descriptions of the food "Fluffy mashed potatoes....Mmmmmmm!" made my mouth water and I could just the spread of food at the Ivy Bush before me!!! I loved the drinking songs in the Green Dragon!! Sam being indignant at the use of a perfectly good parnip made me roll up! A wonder depiction of a pub crawl Hobbit-style. If only we could have the Gaffer's hangover recipe, could have saved me from a few tender heads meself! I love how you have Bergil blushing at the racier bit of songs!! LOL!!! Really enjoyed it m'dear! MM Author Reply: I think I saw the Gaffer's recipe as being rather like the one Jeeves serves to Bertie Wooster! Wouldn't it be bliss to sit in a pub with these Men and hobbits, just soaking up the fun? sigh A hobbity pub-crawl indeed! I'm sure Sam was very indignant at the improper use of a parsnip! Dear, practical Sam!

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/23/2006
"See!" said Frodo. "Tol' you it was an.......ana.....tom'cally impossibibble!" LOL! A parsnip, you say? When Faramir falls off his chair while listening to the famous Verse Seventy-One, it must be really... well, interesting ;-) The food served at the "Bush" sounds delicious. I know some people though, who would be much more interested in the recipe for the Gaffer's remedy. I think, Rose might have had a very good reason not to tell Aragorn immediately about the ingredients. And her little namesake is just sweet: Silly," she said. "Too much beer not good." "Great fun though," Aragorn murmured, and everyone agreed. Great fun, indeed! Thank you, that's what I really needed today! Author Reply: I'm so glad this was just what you needed and I hope it helped. I think Rose will tell Aragorn what is in the Gaffer's cure, but she had to minister to the suffering first. Little Rosie is very sweet - and very sensible too!

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/23/2006
I think I haven’t reviewed this before. This story is so much fun – I had always wanted Aragorn to visit the Shire, not only to come to the bridge, and to have him meet the parents of Merry and Pippin. So I am always happy to see one of the very few fics who tell this tale. This visit to Hobbiton and Bywater should do a lot to convince the Hobbits there that not all men are bad. They buy what they want instead of ‚gathering’ it, are kind and courteous, and to get drunk together is somehow connecting, I suppose ;-) The image of the King and his Stewards and the Elves and all the others singing obscene songs is hilarious! Now I only wonder if they will remember Verse Seventy-One in the morning at all eg Very interesting idea to heal Frodo’s sea-longing and the spider bite through one of the Ent-draughts! I love that! Oh, by the way, maybe this is interesting for you, concerning your note at the beginning of the first chapter: 1380 is the correct date. At the moment I’m reading „The Lord of the Rings : A Reader’s Companion“ from Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull. There are not only many explanations (archaic words, connections to other works and so on) but it contains a lot of corrections, made with the help of Christopher Tolkien. There they wrote that in the ‚Tale of years’ it is said in the entry for 1469 that Sam was 1476 ninety-six. That means he is born in 1380, too. In the 2004 edition of LotR his birth in the ‚Tale of years’ is moved from 1383 to 1380. Author Reply: You're right - this visit willl show the hobbits that not all Men are bad. They are seeing signs of a wider world and hopefully now believe everything the Travellers have told them. Many thanks for the info - I've read a number of books, guides, readers companions, and they all mention the conflicting dates for Sam's birth. I shall look out for the book you mention. I've always felt 1380 was the right date. Thank you for reviewing.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/23/2006
Oooh! You've outdone yourself with this chapter! Thhis is just marvelous--I love the visit to the market, and the description of the gifts. How wonderful that the hobbit sized bowls and pitchers are "just right" for two little girls! And I did so love your sneaky little references to other things--Snowdrop Goodchild! grin And the part about the spider bite, and the lembas connection to the Sea-longing--perfect references! The idea that Merry and Pippin slipped Frodo some Ent-draught was a marvelous one--someday you are going to have to expand on that for us, show us the meeting with Treebeard, and how they were able to manage sneaking the Ent-draught into him. I do so love the song Watkin's Ale! One of my favorite songs--I love the rendition by the Baltimore Consort on the CD of that name. Um, and I want the recipe to the liver and bacon casserole--it sounds yummy! Author Reply: I like to get in any number of sneaky references - well spotted! As for a story based on Merry and Pip secretly dosing Frodo with Treebeard's special brew - very interesting! I shall see what arrives but thanks for the bunny. I'll give it a good home! Not quite Ent-draught in the original sense, and didn't make him grow. He probably didn't even taste just a few drops in tea. 'Watkin's Ale' - a very funny song - and a very old one. I have it on a c/d called 'Nutmeg and Ginger - Songs from Shakespeare's London.' So pleased you enjoyed all the fun.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/22/2006
"Silly," she said. "Too much beer not good." "Great fun though," Aragorn murmured, and everyone agreed. For everyone! g Readers and partakers alike!!! Author Reply: Thank you - I hoped you'd enjoy it.

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/22/2006
"I have considerable power, you know," said Pippin. "I shall make this food disappear!" "I think we're all going to manage that," laughed Faramir. Rusty Overhill was sitting by the inglenook, chuckling to himself, an incident so rare that the landlord came out to look. "Well I'll be jiggered! You've got that miserable old bugger laughing! D'ye know, we alus said he'd only laugh when the King comes back!" Yay, happiness! Little hobbit lasses in big laps, and wonderful food and drink and song and company... :D Author Reply: Ah yes, little hobbit lasses in big laps. Too cute, not to mention the food, drink and good company. Glad you enjoyed it.

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