Dreamflower
· 27 December 2008
· Chapter 30: Sam's Hat
Beautiful! This is marvelous, GF. I love Sam's practicality in the face of Rosie's asking about his hat--just the kind of thing a lass would think of, too!
I'd love to see Rosie's half of the conversation, when she tells Sam about what happened to her and her family in the Shire. Somehow, I can imagine Sam feeling even worse over that, even though none of it was not his fault.
I also loved the silent conversation with Frodo. These two don't really need words anymore.
Author's reply
LOL! Rosie must be credited for waiting so long to ask this especially pressing question. At least she won't be tempted to march off the barrows to get the hat back! She'll just have to make Sam another one. ;)
Sam would feel bad about everything they went through, but I don't know that he'd feel guilty about it. There was nothing he could do to stop it, and he would realized that had he stayed, he would have just been another hobbit in the ruffians' clutches.
They don't need words; just a look is enough to tell them all they need to know.
Larner
· 27 December 2008
· Chapter 29: The Twelve Days of Yule
Ah--that hat I have being "lost" in a wardrobe in Crickhollow, although I'm not certain who it was who saw to it that it did end up misplaced! And Frodo is most diplomatic!
I'm glad Lotho is a decent Hobbit in this story. Who would have expected it of him to leave loaves of gingerbread? I need to make some--haven't had any for years!
Author's reply
I'm sure no one is mourning the loss of that hat, except Sam and Rosie of course. Frodo has a lot of practice at diplomacy, which came in quite handy for him. ;)
My Lotho does have his decent moments. He does want to be a good hobbit, and he actually accomplishes at times. It makes his downfall all the more bitter though.
harrowcat
· 27 December 2008
· Chapter 30: Sam's Hat
Wonderful GF. Like a boil that needs lancing the Tale needed telling. I loved the phrase that she needed to hear in order to begin to know him again and that he realises that there is more than just his story to tell.
Author's reply
Sam must have seemed vastly different to his friends and family, and they didn't have the benefit of seeing those changes slowly take place as we did. OTOH, Rosie and those left behind have endured as well. They both need to relearn each other.
Thanks for reading!
shirebound
· 27 December 2008
· Chapter 30: Sam's Hat
That's delightful, and it rings so true. :)
Author's reply
Thank you dear! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Grey Wonderer
· 27 December 2008
· Chapter 29: The Twelve Days of Yule
Bravo! I am glad to finally get a chance to sit down and enjoy all of these. I just adore the story of Sam's hat. It's perfect. Each one was as entertaining as the last. No wonder Squiggy was in such a hurry to post it all! Milo and Frodo there at the end gave such a nice touch of fore shadowing to it all along with Sam's hat of course. Happy Holidays and thank you for brightening mine this year.
Author's reply
Squiggy has been busy on a sequel about Sam's hat. ;) He should be unveiling it soon.
Sam's spider sense is tingling. I can see this as the start of the Conspiracy, him just writing a casual letter to Merry about Frodo gathering all the Bagginses for Yule, and Merry taking the next logical step. Sam will likely be wearing his hat when he writes it. :P
Thanks for reading!
cookiefleck
· 26 December 2008
· Chapter 29: The Twelve Days of Yule
Enjoyed these glimpses and especially the comical/touching vision of Sam wearing his hapless hat so proudly!
Author's reply
I can actually see Sam wearing that hat to market, and horrifying Marigold with it! lol! She at least will be happy that it gets lost in the barrows. ;)
Thanks for reading!
nancylea57
· 26 December 2008
· Chapter 29: The Twelve Days of Yule
i like to see lotho cast as semi decent once in a while thank you for sharing and happy new years.
Author's reply
I don't like to villanize characters, especially the villans. It makes them rather one-dimensional, not to mention boring and predictable. I do think there could have been redemption for Lotho, if he had but lived.
Thanks for reading!
Antane
· 26 December 2008
· Chapter 29: The Twelve Days of Yule
So that's how that hat came to be! :)
Merry Christmas! Christ is born! Glorify Him!
Author's reply
Yes, we finally learn of the making of the hat. Too bad Gandalf never got to see it. :) Thanks for reading!
harrowcat
· 25 December 2008
· Chapter 29: The Twelve Days of Yule
I am so glad that the hat got a mention or two. All these are lovely GF & Co. I especially like like the finding of the Yule Log and the replanting to honour the tree.
Author's reply
Yes, that hat seems to have stolen the show. lol. Merry and his cousins taking over for the older generation is mirrored by the planting of the tree's daughter. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
shirebound
· 25 December 2008
· Chapter 29: The Twelve Days of Yule
Frodo blinked at Sam, who stood on the porch wearing a tall shapeless felt bag* upon his head. “New hat?” Frodo guessed wildly.
“Rosie made me a wizard’s hat,” Sam said proudly. “Ain’t it grand?”
This is definitely my favorite moment here! I love finding out the 'origins' of Sam's beloved hat.
Author's reply
Beloved, maybe, but destined to have a very short adventure. He's going to have some explaining to do to Rosie when he comes back sans hat. ;)
Thanks for reading!
Dreamflower
· 25 December 2008
· Chapter 29: The Twelve Days of Yule
What a delightful series of vignettes! I love all these glimpses into the characters of your Shire universe! You really have kept the foreshadowing subtle--there enough to flavor things with anticipation of the coming departure, yet also leaving the characters still oblivious.
I especially loved Everard making Vinca's crossbow! And the glimpse of Willow, happy in her new life, and expecting her first child was a treat!
Author's reply
Thank you, DF! The foreshadowing was a given, but I didn't want to ruin the hobbits' last innocent Yule in their beloved Shire. Still, I do see this as the point where things get started, at least with the Conspiracy.
Everard will be very glad he made that bow for Pervinca, despite his friends' misgivings. ;) Willow and Corbin are a great couple. She might have been dismayed at breaking Merry's heart, but she clearly made the right decision.
Thanks for reading!
Socrates399
· 24 December 2008
· Chapter 29: The Twelve Days of Yule
I LOVE the etiology of the shapeless felt bag!
Author's reply
I had originally thought to have all the hobbits get gifts they would take on their travels, but the only thing that spoke to me was this odd ornament of Sam's. Glad you enjoyed it!
harrowcat
· 28 September 2007
· Chapter 28: Bed of Roses
Good Lad, Frodo. This reminds me a little of 'Leaf by Niggle.' Namarie and Be Well. Come back soon!
Author's reply
Except if this were "Leaf", Frodo and Lobelia would have ended up replanting all the gardens with their thoughts. :D Frodo does get his point across though. Unfortunately, it's completely lost on Lobelia. ;) Thanks for reading!
Andrea
· 28 September 2007
· Chapter 28: Bed of Roses
Lobelia was livid, but when she began to rave at the nursery owners, Frodo stepped forward from the crowd, regarded her with his cold Baggins glare, and that was the end of that.
Wow! The Look again! I always love it when Frodo applies it!
But Lobelia must have been also very persuasive, if the nursery owners used such drastic means to fulfill her orders.
... and she did everyone the favor, though she always considered it the ultimate of slights, of never entering the contest again.
Well, as I've always said, Lobelia is a lost cause ;-)
I totally agree with Larner that we will miss you and your stories very much!
Three or more months without internet access? That's hard, indeed!
At least you will have a lot of time to write new stories - in the old-fashioned way. And I'm looking forward to reading them when you will be online again :)
I wish you all the best!
Author's reply
Frodo's LOOK is his best weapon. No one can withstand it, not even old Lobelia. Lobelia isn't so much persuasive as she is frightening! Too bad the nursery owners didn't think to go to Frodo for help in the first place. It would have saved everyone a lot of heartache.
I'm able to get to the library at least once a week, but I usually only have time to check my email and skim my flist. I'll try to get some writing done in my absence though. :D
Larner
· 28 September 2007
· Chapter 28: Bed of Roses
Ah, that's our Lobelia, wanting her own way and her own advancement at as little cost or exertion to her as possible and as much at the expense of others as is possible; and our Frodo, insisting all be made RIGHT. I so love it when Frodo Baggins employs the LOOK! Heh!
So, you must be away from us for a time? Ah we will miss you. Is there aught we can do to speed your return? For we find we do well with regular doses of your wit!
Author's reply
Lobelia certainly knows how to create controversy, doesn't she! She'll step over anyone so long as it keeps them from stepping over her. Frodo's the ultimate hero here, as he should be. He couldn't possibly let such foolery continue once it had been brought to his attention - and no one can withstand the LOOK. :D
I'm at the mercy of contractors, so unless you know how to demo and rebuild, I'll be gone for at least three months, if not more. I'll try to get some writing done in the meantime. ;)
Larner
· 28 September 2007
· Chapter 27: Most Beautiful
Ah, live and learn, live and learn. And Sam does learn and, from two teachers here--Frodo to teach him to accept one DOES live and learn, and the Gaffer to teach him the skills needed for what is known.
I appear to have missed this. I'm glad I found it.
Author's reply
Live and learn is exactly what his father was trying to teach him. Sam might know a lot about gardening, but he still has much to learn, and there's no better teacher than experience. And thanks to Frodo, Sam knows he can ask for help without appearing silly or helpless.
I'm gald you found this too, and that you enjoyed it!
shirebound
· 28 September 2007
· Chapter 27: Most Beautiful
anything you plant here will make it the most beautiful garden in all of Middle-earth
What a lovely, wise conversation, and Frodo said all the right things. Sam needed the same nurturing, patience, and love as anything he grows in the soil.
Author's reply
Frodo might doubt his abilities to deal with a distraught Gamgee lad, but he proved he's more than capable of handling it. Sam will remember this encouragement and it will be one of the many reasons he is so devoted to his master later on in life. :D Thanks for reading!
Antane
· 27 August 2007
· Chapter 27: Most Beautiful
Sorry it's taken me so long to get to this sweet, loving, encouraging story! Most beautiful because love was planted there and not just flowers. :)
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Sam will have better luck with the lilies next time. For now, he's reassured of his skills, his father's faith in him, and his friendship with young Master Frodo. No wonder he wanted Frodo's little bit of garden to be the most beautiful. :)
Thanks for reading!
Periantari
· 20 August 2007
· Chapter 27: Most Beautiful
I love the Frodo's comfort for Sam-- indeed Sam shouldn't despair for making the gardening mistake. I love Frodo's care/comfort for dear Sam-- i love ficlets that have Frodo being the one to comfort Sam. Lovely scenario you wrote about, GF! =) ♥
Author's reply
Sam doesn't get enough comfort in fan fic. :) Frodo would never hesitate a moment to offer it to him, even if he wasn't entirely sure here how to go about doing so. But he did an admirable job. :) Thanks for reading!
Lindelea
· 19 August 2007
· Chapter 27: Most Beautiful
Aww. And now I find myself intrigued by the idea of laughing layabouts.
Author's reply
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed this, and that you were inspired to write some laughing layabouts. :D
elwen
· 19 August 2007
· Chapter 27: Most Beautiful
Awwwwwwwwwwww! What a beautiful tender scene.
Author's reply
Thank you, Elwen!
Agape4Gondor
· 14 August 2007
· Chapter 10: In a Flash
This was fun! Dear Merry - I remembered when my two sons were little - I even asked the doctor if they would ever accept and love each other. He assured me they would - but it took well into adulthood! Now they are best friends. I hope the same for Merry and Berry!
Author's reply
Merry has always been rather competitive and he's showing his true colors here - in more way than one! Berilac is such a sweet lad though, and completely oblivious to his cousin's rivalry. Don't worry about them, they'll end up being very good friends and they'll come to rely on each other as they grow up and begin to take over their fathers' duties. :)
Althea
· 14 August 2007
· Chapter 26: A Fool's Hope
I just feel like crying for Sam. I want to cry for Frodo too, but in this story my heart breaks for Sam.
Author's reply
It couldn't have been easy for Sam to stand back and watch his friend suffer and wither away. He would want to keep on helping him in any way he could, and when he realized that he simply couldn't, it truly must have broken his heart.
Althea
· 14 August 2007
· Chapter 27: Most Beautiful
Frodo knew exactly what to say to ease Sam's sorrow over his failed seedlings. It's always a pleasure to read a story like this in which Frodo goes out of his way to help young Sam. No wonder Sam was so devoted to Frodo in later years. I'm glad the Gaffer was so understanding. Thanks for this sweet look at the growing friendship between Frodo and Sam.
Author's reply
LOL! But Frodo *didn't* know what to say, he was pretty much winging it. Thankfully, it turned out to be exactly what Sam needed to hear and Frodo will be a little more confident now in his ability to comfort his new friend. Frodo and Sam were truly meant to go together and the beginnings of that can be seen here: Sam wanting to please Frodo and do a good job, Frodo just wanting to reassure Sam and make him feel better. The Gaffer, of course, knew all along that Sam was likely to fail. He also knows the best teacher is experience. If Sam is to learn to be a gardener, then he must be a gardener. ;)
Thanks for reading and for your lovely review!
Agape4Gondor
· 13 August 2007
· Chapter 7: The Story of a Garden, by Frodo Baggins
Oh my goodness gracious. What a delightful story. And I loved the signature line!
Author's reply
*rereads signature line* Ah, yes, Frodo has a knack for eloquence, doesn't he? He truly treasures Sam, even at such a young age, and can see how special this young hobbit already is.
Thanks for the review!