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A Shire Sketchbook by Baggins Babe	8 Review(s)
Mirkwoodmaiden	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 6/19/2006
My dear BB!! Again you astound me with your ability to depict Hobbits in their natural environs, Home and hearth and lots of good food and ale on hand to drink!! wonderfully homely! I especially loved the description of Elanor's dress. I could see the dress in my minds eye!! And I could see how Elanor was going to look in it!! I love your description of Rufus' birthday mathom from Elanor! > She unwrapped a paper bag and took out a knitted mouse with a long piece of >wool for the tail. Rufus darted up and began to tap his new toy, then carried >it into the kitchen and placed it on his cushion, where he sat guarding it, >lest others decide to play with it. Rufus reminds me of Toffee!! LOL!!! I can just see Rufus standing sentinel over his possession! I really like the last bit talking about how they don't celebrate the Ring's end in the Shire. It was a well done description and well thought through. Very Hobbity. I like what Frodo says "But this is why we did it - so that children could play and grow, free of the Shadow. A New Age, a new order, a new generation, free from fear and dominance." Well put and very like Frodo!! Love it, dear MM Author Reply: MM! Thank you for all those kind comments - glad you enjoyed your visit to the Shire! I think Elanor would look gorgeous in that dress - which fitted perfectly of course. Naturally Rufus wants to guard his new toy - someone else might run off with it. You never know what Pippin might do when the mood takes him! :-))

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 4/1/2006
A great day for Ellie, to have all these presents and a wonderful party! How exciting for her to get this beautiful dress embroidered from the Queen herself! Can you imagine what Sam would’ve said if someone had told him before the Quest his children would be getting birthday presents from the King and Queen? grin Btw, I love your little references to the Sandymans. It is so good to know they don’t have to suffer under Ted any longer! Author Reply: Yes, Ellie certainly had a dream birthday - and Sam would never have believed that his family would be receiving gifts from the King and Queen. He probably still has to pinch himself! Ah well I have plans for the Sandyman family! The story which follows 'Birthday Surprises' will reveal all!

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 3/28/2006
Delightful and absolutely perfect! What a wonderful hobbity day, with gifts, good food, happy memories and lots of wee!Gamgees! And Frodo? Merry's right you know. Merry? Frodo's right, too! sighwonderful* Author Reply: What more could anyone want? Gifts, good food and lots of little Gamgees!!! Squeeeeee!!!!! ahem Yes, that was a cousinly put-down, wasn't it? Shut up and eat your cake! Probably not the first time Frodo's told Merry that. :-)) Thank you for all your comments and I'm glad you enjoyed another visit to 'Reunion-verse.'

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 3/28/2006
Oh this is so sweet BB. I can just picture that dress and I love Rufus' present. I'm sure that he knew that a dead frog wouldn't be acceptable but a live one would be enjoyed. Author Reply: Exactly! No-one would want a dead frog (I stepped on one which my cats had left for me!) but a live one is fine. A friend's cat regularly brought the same frog indoors for a visit! That dress sounds gorgeous - a little girl's dream. I can imagine Elanor being beside herself.

demeter d	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 3/27/2006
Again, a wonderful chapter. ..."this is why we did it, so children could be born free of fear"... A perfect summing up of the whole quest! I like to see that both giving, as in the outside world, and receiving, by the Hobbit custom are included in your world view. Over-all, a sweet loving picture. And I LOVE Rufus's "gift". Author Reply: Yes, I think Frodo would appreciate that he did succeed when he could see the children playing. From what I've read in the 'History of Middle-earth' and JRR Tolkien's letters, I gather the hobbits received gifts on their birthdays, but early in the day. It was not proper to receive gifts at the party, otherwise it looked as though guests were 'paying' to be there. And I think there would have been something of a blending of customs after so much to-ing and fro-ing between Men and hobbits. Ah yes, Rufus didn't want to be left out with the gift-giving! :-))

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 3/27/2006
Yes, Merry--shut up and eat cake! Indeed the right thing for the day! And love Rufus guarding the toy mouse--my poms do that, you know. Had one who'd guard a piece of bread for hours rather than eat it! Author Reply: giggles I can picture your little dog guarding the bread! I love poms - adorable dogs! One of my dogs used to guard dog biscuits. I doubt that is the first time Frodo has told Merry to shut up and eat cake! :-))

Ami	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 3/27/2006
How very special and poignant. But this is why we did it - so that children could play and grow, free of the Shadow. A New Age, a new order, a new generation, free from fear and dominance." I'm glad that Frodo is finally able to appreciate this, but I still wish he could have been revered among the Shire folk. I also caught up on the previous chapter, and I have to agree with other reviewers, this one needs a sequel to see the lasses get their gifts. Author Reply: In my AU Frodo is revered in the Shire - Aragorn makes sure of that by writing to the Shirefolk (Reunion in Minas Tirith). However, I'm sure Frodo disliked fuss and would much rather see the children enjoying themselves than have lots of adulation for himself. I'm busy working on a follow-up to the previous chapter - I decided I also want to see the lasses receive their gifts.

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 3/27/2006
What a happy, lovely story. (And tomorrow is my birthday, so I'm enjoying this especially!) what perfect gifts, even from Rufus. "How does the King know about my birthday?" "He knows everything" giggles Rufus darted up and began to tap his new toy, then carried it into the kitchen and placed it on his cushion, where he sat guarding it, lest others decide to play with it. Awww, even happy kitty. And I just love thinking about being as excited as "a dog with two tails". I'll have to use that sometime. :D Author Reply: Well happy birthday for tomorrow (or today as it is here........I think). Have a lovely time. Aragorn knows everything, I'm sure, especially important things like little hobbits' birthdays. :-)) Glad you enjoyed it - you're nearly always first to review. How do you do it?

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