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Miss Dora Baggins' Book of Manners by Dreamflower	14 Review(s)
Kaylee Arafinwiel	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/20/2016
My dear Miss Dora, I begin to think I should Copy Out the contents of this Particular Chapter onto a Separate Paper, and Place it in the Kitchen as a Reminder. I have seen Specialty Timepieces with the Six Meals of the Day marked rather than the Hours; this Also might be Useful, provided I can save the Coin for such a Purchase. Failing to Eat more than First Breakfast (or Breakfast, more usually, but quite a Small one) and Dinner is quite Inconvenient to even a Big Person's Health. I shall Consult my Healer, and perhaps ask my Mother about acquiring such a Timepiece... Thank you for this Timely Reminder of Proper Meals! Your Friend and Reader, Kaylee (P.S. Dreamflower: https://www.etsy.com/listing/196716320/bag-end-hobbit-meal-time-clock This sort of thing)

Kaylee Arafinwiel	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/3/2009
My Dear Miss Dora, I am well pleased to see that my Mealtime Manners are quite Correct, though I blush to think I have already missed First Breakfast and only had a handful of chocolate Biscuits for Second Breakfast (which is not a proper Breakfast at any rate!) I also missed Elevenses, much to my consternation. Well, it is 11:38, so perhaps I may find something for a bit of Elevenses Late, and be excused on that ocunt? At any rate, I need Something to eat, as my Classes begin promptly at One (giving me no time whatsoever for Luncheon) and run straight through to Five O' Clock (though I have a break in which I may take Tea or nibble on Something, from Three to Three-Thirty). I then must wait for my Transportation to arrive to take me Home, as I live too far from my School to walk there. It arrives between Five and Five-Thirty when on Time, but possibly Later. As such, my Meals are most horribly Interrupted, and though I do my Best to take them Properly, I fear I am most Inadequate at it. Please Advise me how to Proceed in this Case! (I am not permitted to Eat between One and Three, or between Three-Thirty and Five, except for the occasional Sip of Water. The Classroom does not permit Food otherwise. At All.) Your loyal Reader, Kaylee Arafinwiel Author Reply: My Poor Dear Miss Kaylee! How dreadful! I can't Imagine what your People are Thinking! To coop Young People up All Day and then not Allow Proper Meals! I am so Sorry I can think of no Helpful Advice in such a Horrible Situation! Men are a Very Strange Race! Oh, this is Simply Awful! Sincerely, Miss Dora This has really upset Miss Dora. She thinks you must be starving to death, and she is very worried about you! Dreamflower

Eärossë	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 5/2/2009
Thank you for adding the question about Hobbits with Adverse Reactions to certain Foods. I am allergic to wheat, and I am quite happy that Ms. Dora understands that. Please send her my thanks.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/18/2006
Again, a wonderful chapter, and so very instructive! Of course, individual families will have their own variations on this schedule, but it's nice to realize when each meal OUGHT to be offered. I imagine Frodo and Bilbo, in their dressing gowns, sitting at the table, each with his own book, scandalizing Dora when she comes to call. Hmmm. A plotbunny there, I think..... Author Reply: Of course, Miss Dora is dealing with the Ideal, here, and of course, the Baggins way would just have to be the most Proper! LOL! But, yes, I generally think about every two hours is how six or seven meals a day works out, so I begin with "elevenses" which gives me one firm time, and work out from there. Yes, a bachelor household would not quite prove up to Miss Dora's standards. Can't you see the two of them scrambling, if they realize that she's the caller at the door?

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 7/24/2006
Uh, six meals a day, and then Dora is talking about third and fourth helpings? My stomach hurts if I only think about that much food! Anyway, after reading through this chapter I am sure Dora would find it Very Improper how the four Travellers were fed on the Quest! I can see her lecture Aragorn and the others about Proper Hobbit Meals ;) Author Reply: Well, hobbits clearly have a far different metabolism than humans. Otherwise all of them would be as round as butterballs, and they would have to roll instead of walk, LOL! Oh, I'm sure! She would have been horrified to realize how her young relations and connections were being "starved". Yet she does remember the Fell Winter, as she was a child during that time.

Nienor Niniel	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 7/16/2006
Oh, the importance of Hobbit meals... enjoyable update! Nienor Author Reply: Hobbit meals are most important. I see food--it's preparation and consumption, as the central fact of hobbit life. I'm glad you enjoyed this.

PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 7/12/2006
Well...there's no "boarding house reach" with Miss Dora Baggins at the table, eh? (hehehe) You know...I can't help it, but I keep having these visions of Miss Dora having luncheon or supper with a young Peregrin Took who doesn't quite have these particulars down to a knack yet... Do you see the bunnies hopping your way??? ;-) I'm doing my best to shoo them in your direction! Although I make light of the situation, I'm really enjoying this lovely tale! Pippinfan Author Reply: No, I don't think she approves of that! It's not to say it doesn't happen--but probably not where she could see! LOL! That would be cute. But, oh, poor Pip! (looks in dismay at the new bunnies clustering around the ankles) I'm so glad you like it!

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 7/9/2006
All very right and proper I must say although Miss Dora does seem to have a bit of a thing against mugs! Sorry about the late review Dreamflower but RL intrudes. At least I have saved the list of stories I haven't reviewed yet. Author Reply: giggle She does, doesn't she? Oh, goodness, I don't mind how long someone takes to review--I'm just glad to get the reviews in the first place! And I know what it's like to play "catch up".

Pearl Took	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 7/7/2006
This goes quite nicely with Merry's history of Hobbit mealtimes. ;) One can tell Dora was a well raised hobbitess. Author Reply: I loved that chapter of GF's fic! It was so funny, because I was working on this--about three-quarters done with it when her fic appeared, and there she was quoting the bit about "two dinners", which was also one of my inspirations! Syncronicity is just delightful!

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 7/7/2006
Ah, we have come to Food. A most Important Subject, indeed. (Oh, Dear. Miss Dora seems to be Infecting me with Random Capitalization DisEase.) It strikes me that, what with the six meals, at least four of which feature relatively substantial food that requires cooking, Hobbit chefs must be pretty much tied to the kitchen all day. That probably makes the Compliment to the Chef all the more welcome at any meal. And, of course, food is a great subject for dinnertime conversation, since there's so much of it, and its preparation is so time-consuming. I did not know it was impolite to use a knife to push things like peas onto a fork. I always thought that the knife was the proper thing to use. But that's why we have Miss Dora, to show us the Right Way. Author Reply: snerk RCD, very dreadful--it usually affects genteel spinsters, though it can spread to Those Who Read Their Writing, LOL! Yes, if a hobbit were indeed a professional cook, he or she would probably be in the kitchen for about twelve hours. I think in most households, however, the cooking chores were probably shared out among the family members--JRRT tells us that young hobbits are taught to cook even before they begin to "learn their letters", and he makes no gender distinction. Cooking apparently belongs to anyone who can, and it seems, anyone who can, does. I've learned a few things myself. Miss Dora is nothing if not Informative!

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