What a sweet, dear story! I just adore your Gaffer--he's such a lovely person, and such a good father! And I could just imagine young Bell as he described her.
“Oh, I’m sure she regretted it plenty,” Gaffer laughed, “but she put up with me anyway. Remember that lads, when you start courting. Romance and passion are all well and good, but if ‘ee want to be happy into yer elder years, ‘ee’d be better off marrying a lass as can tolerate you. Adoration only goes so far.”
A very wise and excellent bit of matrimonial advice. Really, it goes both ways, and marriages these days would last a lot longer if people paid heed to it.
Author's reply
The image of the Gaffer in love and so nervous around his lass is an appealing one, as is the image of him indulging his children in one of their favorite stories for what is possibly the thousandth time. A good father, and a good husband, is Hamfast Gamgee. :)
Yes, that advice does go both ways, as does the advice he gives his daughters. While you do need to think about yourself, in a marriage its much more important to do what is best for the relationship. We've lost track of that somehow.
Larner
· 11 December 2005
· Chapter 4: Bell
Beloved, blessed Bell, whom we know only through her impact on her husband and son in the Master's works. Lovely she sounds in this, and a worthy mother of her son.
Author's reply
Bell would have been proud of her son had she lived to see the day of his return from the Quest. Of course, she would have been proud of Sam had he done nothing more than tend the gardens his entire life. How unfortunate that she was taken away from her family so soon, before her youngest children could really know her. I imagine that Sam inherited many of her qualities, most especially his loyalty and protectiveness.
shirebound
· 11 December 2005
· Chapter 4: Bell
How lovely! You beautifully capture a child's need to hear the same story over and over, and enjoy it every single time. And you bring such "humanity" to the Gaffer! These are my two favorite passages:
“Oh, I’m sure she regretted it plenty,” Gaffer laughed, “but she put up with me anyway. Remember that lads, when you start courting. Romance and passion are all well and good, but if ‘ee want to be happy into yer elder years, ‘ee’d be better off marrying a lass as can tolerate you. Adoration only goes so far.”
“For 'ee girls, I tell 'ee this: find a lad who’ll do everything he can to make 'ee happy, even if he ain’t always successful.”
Author's reply
I'm bound and determined to bring humanity to the Gaffer. He's too often portrayed as a mean, even abusive, father, and I don't see him like that at all. He clearly loves Sam, and by extension the rest of his children, and if he ever does have "harsh words" to say to them, that's no different than any other parent scolding a child when its needed. So my Gaffer is a big fluffy teddy bear underneath that somewhat gruff exterior. ^_^
Children do love to hear the same stories, as do all hobbits in general. Any story about their mother they would especially love, and this one is far and above their favorite to hear, even if the boys do tease from time to time.
RenaissanceGrrl
· 7 November 2005
· Chapter 3: My First Camp Out
Poor Sam. No scary parent stories. *I* have more than he does, and at a younger (relative) age than that! Teeheehee.
Hatcher. Lol. I shall forever imagine my psych professor as a ghost Hobbit now...
I loved it. It really sounded like Sam; you got his voice very well. ^_^ I can easily imagine this being an essay he wrote for Bilbo in the course of his lessons, a few years after the fact. (He sounds a little older than six; or even nine.)
Author's reply
I always hated it when everyone else had a story about something and I didn't. Though, I can't imagine Sam feeling sorry about this one, lol. Nodinas Hatcher gets a brief mention here. He's a popular ghost. :)
You'd be amazed at some of the things six year old kids will say or reason out on their own. My youngest neice has always talked like an adult, even at that early age, mostly because she grew up in a house full of adults and much older kids. I can see the same happening with Sam, spending all that time with the Gaffer and Mr. Bilbo.
Bodkin
· 7 November 2005
· Chapter 3: My First Camp Out
Sam is so sweet and serious about his adventures. The other two are humouring him a bit - but he is the one providing the ideas!
Author's reply
They're humoring him a lot, lol. They'd much rather just sit and eat their food and talk about their siblings or whatever else comes to mind. But as this was all Sam's idea in the first place, they're going along with what he says. I can't imagine Sam *not* being sweet, and he does take his adventuring rather seriously, which makes him all the more sweet.
Thanks so much for reading! I'm glad you enjoyed this. :)
Larner
· 7 November 2005
· Chapter 3: My First Camp Out
If only all adventuring was as pleasant.
Author's reply
Or as easy! Camping out in one's yard is a lot easier than packing up a car and driving 100 miles to the mountains. *sigh* If only everything in life were as simple as it is in the Shire.
Thanks for reading!
Dreamflower
· 7 November 2005
· Chapter 3: My First Camp Out
How on earth did I manage to miss the notice for this?
I love it! Sam is just so very *Sam* in this, even at this young age--earnest and filled with his admiration for Bilbo and Bilbo's stories. I adore the way he leads the other two into doing as he says. It's quite easy to imagine that this is a Sam who could hold his own in the Wide World one day, or that he would be capable of becoming Mayor and leading the Shire.
And I love the story of the young Cottons eavesdropping and learning "language", LOL! That was hilarious, and only too believable.
And I like that the Gaffer never straps his children. I always feel that corporal punishment would be relatively rare in the Shire--not unheard of, but that it would not be used frequently. Mainly, I suppose, because of the peaceable nature of hobbits, and also because JRRT said they indulged their children.
Really a sweet story!
Author's reply
Thank you! Sam is well on his way to being the hobbit we meet during the Quest. He can lead by suggestion and so he mistakingly believes that he isn't leading at all!
LOL, who *hasn't* eavesdropped and learned all sorts of things they shouldn't! Tom and Jolly would have gotten away with it, if Jolly'd had enough sense to keep his own mouth shut. At least he will from here on out. :)
The Gaffer's only raised his belt once to Sam (much later after this story) and it was for something that Sam didn't even do (the fire that Merry started during the Harvest Moon Dance). I can well imagine how horrified Hamfast must have been to discover his mistake. But you're right, it's hard to imagine the hobbits using corporal punishment except in the most extreme cases. The Gaffer might be gruff and have an edge to his words, but I can't see him as one to regularly hit his children, as other authors have suggested.
I'm glad you enjoyed this! Thanks for reading!
Armariel
· 6 November 2005
· Chapter 3: My First Camp Out
What a delightful, enchanting story, love the ghosts and Sam is just.......ummmmm *hugs him* Delicious!
Author's reply
The ghosts of the Shire have that same unique blend of mischeif and innocence as the hobbits that live there. And Sam is just too precious for words at any age. I'm glad you enjoyed this. Thanks for reading!
shirebound
· 5 November 2005
· Chapter 3: My First Camp Out
I love Sam's imagination, and his urgent need for a "real" adventure! And this just cracks me up:
"Mr. Bilbo says so.” There. They can’t possibly go arguing ‘gainst Mr. Bilbo.
Author's reply
Sam is a most unusual hobbit, but his friends put up with him because they love him. :) I can imagine that Sam would crave to have a "real" adventure after listening to endless hours of Bilbo's stories. LOL, Sam puts a lot of stock into what Mr. Bilbo says, but Robin found a way to argue with it anyway. Glad you liked this. Thanks for reading!
Nina the powerwriter
· 30 July 2005
· Chapter 1: A Hectic Morning
Awww...Hamfast having to take care of all those children alone is sad, but he seems to know what he's doing. Lovely story!
Author's reply
Sorry for taking so long to respond to this!
Hamfast has a lot on his hands at the moment, and if he doesn't know what he's doing just yet, he'll figure it out before too long. Thanks for reading!
Isilhen Daegol
· 29 July 2005
· Chapter 2: Pork Chops and Apple Sauce
Oh, that game sounds fun. It's somewhat like "you can have a door but not a window." I have no idea if that game actually has a name, but that's how it always starts out. It's rather funny to see people try to guess what you can or can't have. And Halfast would've put me to shame in the round robin. I am not good at improvising songs. These little slices of everyday hobbit life is what you write best, I think. I always love to read them, even though the reviews may be a bit delayed in coming...
Author's reply
The game is actually based on a game my friends and I used to play on the way to and from band competitions. It would start with someone saying "I'm going camping and I'm taking..." I just changed camping to the Free Fair, and changed the rule from first letter of your name to the beginning sound of your name, as not all hobbits can read. The Round Robin song was just a blast to write and wasn't too hard for me. Whenever I failed to make a rhyme or keep the cadance even, I just blamed it on the character, lol! ;)
I do enjoy these "slice of life" stories. They're a great way of getting into the characters' head and life without having the agenda of a plot to move the story along. Thanks for reading. I know how busy you are. :)
RenaissanceGrrl
· 27 July 2005
· Chapter 2: Pork Chops and Apple Sauce
Took me a day or two, but I got to it. Hmm. I liked it, but it's been topped by some of your other work. I'm not saying it's bad--it was good overall and hilarious in spots, but it's not my favorite. I LOVED the Round Robin! It would've taken me, like, six months just to write the song, lol, so I am again in awe of your mighty skills. ^_^ BTW, how many chapters are you doing (if YOU even know), are they going to continue in chronological order, and how much time do you plan to cover? (Of course all of that is subjet to change, what with Squiggy...)
Author's reply
These are similar to the Of M&P fics: no particular order, just little "slices of life" as I happen to think of them, and they tend to be fluff.
That song came quite easily to me, which surprised me. Poor Gaffer though! His kids give him no rest. He took it all in good humor, being the good father that he is.
French Pony
· 26 July 2005
· Chapter 2: Pork Chops and Apple Sauce
How fun, to have everyone all cooking and gaming and singing together. It sounds like a very jolly time.
Author's reply
It certainly kept them all entertained while they worked. They would have found many such ways to make sure tasks go by faster, and gaming and singing would be the more popular ones. :)
Thanks for reading!
Larner
· 26 July 2005
· Chapter 2: Pork Chops and Apple Sauce
Lovely, lovely birthday.
Author's reply
Aren't birthdays the funnest? No wonder hobbits were so fond of them. ^_^
Larner
· 26 July 2005
· Chapter 1: A Hectic Morning
Excellent depiction of a morning after losing Bell. Love the family feeling.
Author's reply
I've known many a morning like that growing up. We've all had those hectic mornings, and the larger the family, the more hectic they tend to be. Fortunately for the Gamgees, this isn't a "typical" morning.
MaidenofValinor
· 25 July 2005
· Chapter 2: Pork Chops and Apple Sauce
I think that I would rather
Wallop my children good,
For making up a silly song
In front of the neighborhood.
Great song!! ^that^ is my favorite verse! I think I woke my cousin up with my laughing. I do that often, I've noticed...
How lucky the Gaffer is to have such helpful children. That applesauce sounds delicious!
Author's reply
Yep, Hamfast knows how to get his children's attention, lol. It must have been hard for him to pretend to be cross for as long as he did. The Gaffer is lucky indeed. He has good kids, when they aren't misbehaving that is. ;)
Dreamflower
· 25 July 2005
· Chapter 2: Pork Chops and Apple Sauce
Oh how lovely!! A recipe fic!
And what a sweet little story, no angst, no one hurt, all the children singing and doing their jobs. It is a crying shame that such a scene would be frowned upon nowadays, allowing children to work with knives and boiling water!
And I had to love the game and the song. Especially this verse:
He eats it every day now,
As witnessed by his bum.
LOL! Just delightful!
Author's reply
We coddle our children far too much nowadays. They grow up not knowing how to do all sorts of things. But since the children of the Shire learn how to cook before they learn anything else, they would be quite used to using knives and such at an early age.
That game is actually a version of one I used to play with my friends to and from band competitions. Great way to pass the time if you could find someone who didn't know how to play it, lol. And then of course, as soon as they did figure out how to play it, we would change the rules. ;) And the song, lol - Gaffer gets no peace. He's a good sport, though.
shirebound
· 25 July 2005
· Chapter 2: Pork Chops and Apple Sauce
You got me hungry! And I adore those mathoms (especially Sam's, of course).
:D
Author's reply
It does sound delicious doesn't it? Sam's gift is my favorite also, naturally. Gaffer may say he doesn't approve of Sam "learning his letters" but I like that think he was actually quite proud of the fact that Sam could read.
Bodkin
· 20 June 2005
· Chapter 1: A Hectic Morning
A morning in the Gamgee household seems fun! I'm not sure what - or who - would be the most exasperating. It's no wonder Sam took up gardening practically from birth. Poor Hamfast.
Author's reply
I've known many mornings like that in my youth, but they were never quite as fun as that. ~_^ I, personally, would find the crying the most exasperating. Hamfast has to be one tough cookie to let Sam walk away after that.
Hamfast is having a time of it right now, just as they all are. The adjustment phase is always the hardest.
Thanks for reading!
French Pony
· 19 June 2005
· Chapter 1: A Hectic Morning
This was very cute. I loved the way the older boys egged the girls on in their fight over the ribbon, and I really got a sense that this was a family adjusting to a radical change in their lives with grace and good humor.
Author's reply
That Halfred is a trouble maker, isn't he, though I'm sure he had his sisters' best interests at heart. ;) This is a hectic time all around for the Gamgee household, and they're all doing the best they can under the circumstances.
Thanks for reading. I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Dreamflower
· 19 June 2005
· Chapter 1: A Hectic Morning
Goodness! You have certainly captured the feel of smial full of young hobbits! I especially love the way Halfred was giving his sisters his impartial advice, LOL!
Is the scenario that Bell died in childbirth with Marigold? That's the impression I am getting.
I'm definitely looking forward to more of these. The Gaffer's a good father, but it's no wonder he was grumpy and crusty by the time of the Quest, if that's what he had to put up with everyday!
Author's reply
Yes, where would families be without a brother or sister who loves to stir the pot up a bit, lol. I'm sure Halfred thought he was giving his sisters very sage advice indeed. ;)
You're close, but not quite there. Bell became ill soon after giving birth to Marigold, and died a few months later.
Once everyone settles into their new routines and adjusts to life without their mother, things should settle down a bit, so don't feel too bad for poor old Gaffer. Things won't always be this hectic, lol. Of course, with six kids to raise, things will never really settle down *completely.* ;)
shirebound
· 19 June 2005
· Chapter 1: A Hectic Morning
This is a marvelous look inside No. 3! I do love how everyone is doing their best, and of course Sam saying "Gaffy" just melts my heart.
:D
Author's reply
This time of adjustment is difficult for the Gamgee family. They have to relearn how to do everything, get into new routines and timelines. It's hard on them all. And of course, little Sammy saying anything is just too adorable for words. :)
Thanks for reading!