Esquire_of_Rohan · 19 August 2008 · Chapter 2: 25 Rethe, S.R. 1422: The Three Travellers Remember
Very good. Well done.
Author's reply
Thank you! I'm sorry I didn't see your review sooner!
Dreamflower's Dribs and Drabs by Dreamflower
Reviews (362)
GamgeeFest · 5 July 2008 · Chapter 12: A Decent and Respectable Hobbit
What a lovely set of drabbles! I really enjoy your Drogo, so kind and thoughtful, if a bit on the boring side.
Author's reply
Oh my! I just now found this review! Thank you, dear! Boring is in the eye of the beholder--at least, Primula did not find him boring! *grin*
Antane · 25 June 2008 · Chapter 12: A Decent and Respectable Hobbit
What a lovely ending!! Love too Frodo's thinking of his father at Rivendell and Bilbo's words. Sorry to be so late in reviewing and I still have to read your essay on the Ring too. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Thank you! I've thought for a while that Drogo deserved a bit of attention, and Father's Day seemed appropriate! I thought that hearing himself called "Frodo son of Drogo" for the first time might make Frodo think of his father; Bilbo, I am sure, would have known how his late cousin would have felt.
Andrea · 19 June 2008 · Chapter 12: A Decent and Respectable Hobbit
These are great, Dreamflower! Drogo must have been a remarkable hobbit, just look at his son :) While there is no doubt that Drogo was a decent and respectable hobbit, I'd say that he was also an adventurous one, for he married Primula Brandybuck! So, Lobelia was after him, too? Then to flee was a wise decision, indeed. And I loved the stone!
Author's reply
Drogo must have been a remarkable hobbit, just look at his son :) That's exactly my take on him! *grin* And of course there was more to him than met the eye, as Primula discovered for herself--I like to think she was attracted by his kindness, generosity and inteilligence! Yes, that's a bit of fanon from my own universe: Lobelia had her eye on Drogo, and pursued him to distraction. Bilbo arranged the visit to Buckland to get him away from her, just before his own adventure. By the time he got back, Otho had married her, and the two of them, with the help of Bilbo's Uncle Longo, were trying to take Bag End. Lobelia never forgave Drogo for "rejecting" her. I really wanted something at the end to tie it together, and the stone seemed like a good idea.
Raksha The Demon · 18 June 2008 · Chapter 12: A Decent and Respectable Hobbit
A touching and credible exploration of the life of Drogo Baggins. I really loved the bit about the stone, and its turning up on the shores of Aman...
Author's reply
Thank you! I wanted something to tie it together at the end, and I knew I wanted Frodo in Aman thinking about his father. It just seemed the right thing.
Larner · 17 June 2008 · Chapter 12: A Decent and Respectable Hobbit
Ah, such a marvelous tapestry of vignettes, giving us a long picture of the individual who was Frodo's father and his relationship to his cousin Bilbo and his son.
Author's reply
Thank you! I've always felt that Bilbo and Drogo must have been close, since he took in his son and adopted him. And if they were close, then they must have had things in common. As to Frodo, he was 12 when his parents died--they had to have had quite an influence on his formative years. I'm sure that Drogo was a wonderful father.
Elena Tiriel · 16 June 2008 · Chapter 12: A Decent and Respectable Hobbit
Hi Dreamflower, What a lovely, lyrical tribute to Drogo Baggins! Your drabbles made him into an interesting character, and I really enjoyed reading them. Nicely done! - Barbara
Author's reply
Thank you! I think Drogo's often underutilized in fic--I think that he must have been a very good father, for Frodo turned out so well.
Baggins Babe · 16 June 2008 · Chapter 12: A Decent and Respectable Hobbit
A wonderful look at an oft-underrated character. Drogo is a facinating hobbit - and he must have been more interesting than people think. He was a Baggins, and he captured a Brandybuck lass. Lovely story for Father's Day, Dreamflower.
Author's reply
He was a Baggins, and he captured a Brandybuck lass. Yes, he did. And not only a Brandybuck, but the granddaughter of the Old Took as well. I think that Primula saw past his staid Baggins exterior to his kind and generous heart and his keen intelligence. Thank you, dear!
shirebound · 16 June 2008 · Chapter 12: A Decent and Respectable Hobbit
“Master Elrond called me ‘Frodo son of Drogo’, not ‘Frodo Baggins‘.” I never gave that a thought! This is a lovely series of 'snapshots' at the making of a very remarkable hobbit.
Author's reply
It occurred to me that hearing it like that the first time might have startled Frodo a bit, and made him wonder what his father would have thought of all this. "Snapshots", yes, that's sort of what I had in mind, a little scrapbook of moments in his life. Thank you!
Baggins Babe · 27 April 2008 · Chapter 11: Bounty
Ah yes, I can see this so clearly. I'm sure the hobbits were better than anyone when it came to foraging, and Sam probably the best of all. Frodo-lad will learn a valuable lesson. Delightful as always.
Author's reply
I always imagined that on the Quest the hobbits probably helped to feed the Company. And Sam, with his affinity for plants, would probably be very good indeed at foraging!
GamgeeFest · 26 April 2008 · Chapter 11: Bounty
Yep, it's important to know how to forage and Sam will be forever grateful to his Dad for teaching him such a valuable skill, which he will then pass on to all his children.
Author's reply
I think you are quite right! And he will be able to tell Frodo-lad of his own experience just how important it is to be able to forage and find food in the wild.
Mum's the Word · 25 April 2008 · Chapter 11: Bounty
Wonderful, Dreamflower! And sweet, and beautifully full-circle (or down through the generations; I can imagine lots of Gamgee/Gardeners asking the same question in their time. This also handily answers my questions about learning foraging, etc., only from a book. There are some things that definitely need hands-on, personal instruction. Well done, very well done!
Author's reply
I do think that foraging would have been a skill taught in a hands-on manner, by parents or uncles or cousins--they would want to be sure that their young would be able to recognize wholesome and edible plants! (But I bet that there were lots of useful tips, all the same, in Merry's herbal!)*grin*
Larner · 25 April 2008 · Chapter 11: Bounty
Ah--I LOVE this, Dreamflower! Yes, the reasons are rife for learning to recognize food in the wild, and particularly for Hobbits. Certainly what lessons Sam got from his father, Bilbo, and Frodo would serve him well during their journey! And in the end it comes round as the new generation as symbolized by Frodo-lad finds himself following his father through the wild, too. Yes!
Author's reply
I think there are many good reasons indeed--and I've always felt that all hobbits would have been competent to not starve to death in the Wild, at the very least! (But Sam, perhaps, more competent than most.)
Raksha The Demon · 24 April 2008 · Chapter 8: Kindling Courage (the Finding Courage Remix)
Ooh; a great Gandalf's-eye view of Pippin's leap! And nice usage of the kindling imagery, so appropriate for the bearer of Narya.
Author's reply
Did you see Dana's original? I loved her color imagery, and thought that Gandalf's POV of that leap would be most suitable! I've always thought Narya is underutilized in fic--it seems to me that there are many occasions in canon where hindsight hints that Gandalf might have been busy kindling the spark in hearts that were doubtful...
Raksha The Demon · 24 April 2008 · Chapter 11: Bounty
Excellent vignette! You have a lovely feel for not only hobbit language, but the speech patterns of the Gaffer and Sam. And the ties between the generations, all learning the same valuable lesson, are a wonderful touch. Extra brownie points for capturing the gardener in the souls of Gaffer and Sam -and the next generation that will one day carry that vocation as a name.
Author's reply
Oh, thank you so much! I do worry about getting their "voices" right! And the skill of foraging seemed to me to be the sort of hobbity lesson that *would* be taught, generation after generation! I try to never forget that they are all avid and passionate gardeners at heart, and to show that--I'm glad you think I succeeded!
Grey Wonderer · 24 April 2008 · Chapter 11: Bounty
Dear, practical Sam. It pays off in a big way for him here and I love the way his father taught him and then he passes it down to his little one. Gives a sense of family.
Author's reply
Thank you, GW! Yes, you caught just what I was aiming to show!
PIppinfan1988 · 24 April 2008 · Chapter 11: Bounty
That was brilliant! And I enjoyed how the wisdom was passed down from father to son... Absolutely wonderful!
Author's reply
Just one of those lessons that all young hobbits should learn, considering how important food and eating are in their society! So glad you liked it! Thanks!
harrowcat · 24 April 2008 · Chapter 11: Bounty
It never ceases to amaze me how you all find these neat little holes to fill and so brilliantly too!
Author's reply
JRRT left us so many neat little holes. He showed us Sam thinking that he'd have to find what else he needed for that stew--and I showed him finding it, LOL! (And also how he knew what to look for, and how he valued the knowledge by passing it on!)
Jay of Lasgalen · 24 April 2008 · Chapter 11: Bounty
I love this. My son's a chef, and he uses wild garlic (which he picks while out walking the dog) in his restaurant!
Author's reply
I've never had occasion to put this bit of book-learning to practical use, but I can easily believe it! I'm sure that sometimes the wild plant has an even better flavor!
Kitty · 24 April 2008 · Chapter 11: Bounty
Well, even if not every hobbit has to go on a Quest, the one to destroy the One Ring was certainly proof that it has its merits to know more than the garden vegetables. These two things are connected very nicely here. And I think for Frodo-lad there's a story to be told ...
Author's reply
I think that foraging was an important hobbit-skill, and just as the Fell Winter and the Quest proved it so, I'm sure there will be occasions for Frodo-lad to also learn the value of this new skill! And, yes, I can just imagine Sam telling him of that coney stew!
Antane · 24 April 2008 · Chapter 11: Bounty
Sweet stories. Never know when a little info can be useful... Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Knowledge is almost always useful sooner or later! 8-)
Dinossiel · 24 April 2008 · Chapter 11: Bounty
Frodo-lad hurried to keep up with his father’s stride. It was an early spring day, and he wondered why they were not in the garden. There was a mort of work to be done this time of year. “But Sam-dad! Why do we need to go looking for greens?” Wonderfully done. "applause" Frodo-lad seems to be the one who is going to be a gardener like his Dad and Grand-dad. Just a wonderful story. In fact, you should write a few chapters to this effect, going more into detail. Maybe a chapter per section?
Author's reply
Yes, Frodo-lad will definitely be a gardener just like his dad and grand-dad! I don't know if the bunnies will cooperate in showing more of this or not!
Lindelea · 24 April 2008 · Chapter 11: Bounty
Perfect! in haste, Lin
Author's reply
Thank you, dear!
Bodkin · 24 November 2007 · Chapter 10: A Premature Celebration
Short-term gains - short-term victories. The hobbit victory was sweeter for the waiting.
Author's reply
And all the sweeter for the fact that the hobbits dealt with the problem themselves--Gandalf was very wise in allowing that to happen. As for the ruffians, well, their victory was not only short-term, but very costly to them in the end.
SurgicalSteel · 24 November 2007 · Chapter 10: A Premature Celebration
Oh, thank goodness that didn't last forever. *shivers*
Author's reply
Yes, thank goodness! I don't often deal with the darkness that was the Troubles in the Shire--it's very often shuddersome. But this little scene just came to me.