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Testaments of the Past  by Dreamflower 12 Review(s)
Grey-OrcReviewed Chapter: 2 on 4/24/2017
I'm not sure whether I'm correcting an error or about to learn something, but I'm a little puzzled by the use of the word "receipt" in your stories. It's in this chapter and the next one at least. Where I'm from, a recipe is a set of instructions for cooking and the receipt is what you're given when you pay for the ingredients, so a "receipt" box full of cooking instructions seems like an odd term. Puzzlement aside, this story needed a tissue warning. I found my eyes getting misty a lot and I wanted to give Merry, Pippin and Sam great big hugs. I think I can only admire your patience with legal language when you go through and write up all the wills and renunciations and such. I could never do it. Refer to them in a tale if I ever wrote one, perhaps, but never write them and have to deal with all the "be it known", "where as this and whereas that", etc. I love reading your stories, again and again. I'm rather looking forward to the completion of Fatty's adventures in Gondor (unless I'm confusing you with Lindelea there -- I re-read hers often enough, too). I can only admire those of you with the imagination and confidence to write about such well-loved characters.

Author Reply: Actually, "receipt" is also an archaic usage in this case. Originally the word was used for both cooking directions and for instructions for various healing potions (hence the abbreviation "Rx" for a prescription) while the use of it in the modern way came later. Like Tolkien, I sometimes like to use the old-fashioned meanings for words.

I must credit Gryffinjack for the legal documents. She is an attorney in RL, and while we discussed what the various Shire laws were, she was the one who came up with the legal laguage. Though I did have fun writing out the calligraphy for Frodo's Certificate of Adoption!

Both Lin and I have stories with Fatty in Gondor. Mine's been on hiatus for a long time but it is NOT abandoned; I fully intend to complete it.

Thank you so much for the long and interesting review!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/24/2006
Ah, dear--what a thing to remember! Poor Daisy, and dear Folco! Hehehehehe!

Author Reply: *giggle* Yes, poor Daisy, indeed! And poor clueless Folco--and poor Fatty, who had to keep his friend's foot out of his mouth, LOL!

Anso the HobbitReviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/16/2006
Hehehe! This is just so sweet. All the glimpses into their past and how they remember everything with such fondness, even if they take turns at being embarrassed at times.

Author Reply: Yes, they do enjoy remembering their times with Frodo--even if it does make for a bit of blushing!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/23/2006
Love the treasured letters. They seem so much part of a Frodo who craved security.

Folco - foot firmly in mouth. I enjoyed the story of Daisy and the smallclothes. The sort of thing that is funny in retrospect.

And the recipes - I think Bilbo's special recipes should be published for all to enjoy!

Author Reply: I think that is a goodly part of why he kept those things--a way to always keep his dear ones with him. Yet in the end he could not take all of those things with him to the Undying Lands, and had to leave most of them behind.

That's our Folco! And the story was almost entirely Jackie's--I loved the way she captured my Freddy and Folco and their dynamic!

Well, if you peek at the Author's Notes, you will indeed find the recipes for the Honeycakes and the Cinnamon Whirls. And links to a few of the other recipes!

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/20/2006
Very sweet that Frodo kept all those letters...

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Yes, Frodo kept a good many things that he could not bear to part with, but he couldn't take with him on his voyage either. There is still a lot more in that box. Do remember to look in the Author's Notes!

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/20/2006
This is so fun and so wonderfully creative. :) Poor Daisy!

Author Reply: *grin* Yes, poor dear, to have to suffer through Folco's "Foot-in-mouth" disease! That whole little flashback was Gryffinjack's idea and execution, and I thought it adorable!

Baggins BabeReviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/20/2006
I know exactly what other reviewers mean about feeling as though we've spent all morning with Sam, Merry and Pippin - and how delightful is that?

Loved the attention to detail and the reminders of other stories, and the reciept and documents are amazing. Thank you both!

Author Reply: Well, *I* think it would be delightful to spend all morning with the lads, myself, LOL!

Yes, we thought it would be so neat to see the contents in *full* so to speak--all the minutiae there and so forth.

And documents are not the only things they will find...

KittyReviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/20/2006
I seem to remember most of these letters from earlier ficlets, and they are as funny as they were then :)

Well, what they found wasn't that bad altogether. They must've had a lot of fun to tease each other with their childhood misdeeds afterwards. Not to mention the dancing smallclothes. Great idea! *rofl*

And the recipe box was a great find! Though I am a bit surprised about the mess Pippin and Merry made in the kitchen. One should think hobbits wouldn't waste so much food ;)

Author Reply: Yes, many of them *are* from earlier stories, mixed in with some new things. Actually, two of my "earlier stories" came from *this* story: "Marching Orders" and "Dear Frodo" were written because I had *way* too many letters for us to include in *this* story!

The recipe box was fun. My Pippin and Merry usually get into a flour fight when they bake, they just do, but they always clean up after themselves--and they don't waste *too* much--it doesn't take but a little flour to make a *big* mess.

And you will discover just what a find the recipe box is, once you see the Notes!

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/19/2006
Wow...lol, I feel as if I've just spent all morning with the lads! I rather like that feeling. :-)

"You'll have to move faster than that, Sam, if you want to keep Pippin out of a larder..."

LOL! There were some really funny quips in here--and I remembered some of those letters from previous tales! :-)

Whenever Merry speaks about how he felt when Frodo went to live with Bilbo, leaving him behind...I always get teary-eyed. And I did tonight. :-P

Going through that strongbox is going to take some time--and I'm looking forward to it all.

Pippinfan


Author Reply: We tried to create that feeling, making sure not to leave out any meals--let's see--first breakfast, check, second breakfas, check, elevenses, check--luncheon--yep.

And we are trying to combine some flashbacks to older stories with some new revelations!

Merry's sadness at "losing" Frodo when he was so young always tugs at my heartstrings as well--lots of my tales reflect that.

It is taking longer than Jackie and I thought--there are some neat things in there; don't forget to peek at the Author's Notes, for you'll miss some of the best stuff, if you don't!


SlightlyTookishReviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/19/2006
This is a fascinating story, I'm so glad to see it updated! I loved seeing their memories, so many familiar from stories I've read! :)

Author Reply: Yes, we are trying to mingle flashbacks to other stories in with some altogether new material.

Don't forget to peek at the Author's Notes. You really should get a look at the wonderful legal documents Jackie created, as well as a couple of other neat surprises...

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