elanor winterflowers
· 17 May 2007
· Chapter 4: A Mother's Work: Eglantine
What a lovely mother Eglantine was! I have a real soft spot for her, and you write her quite beautifully. A wonderful portrait of this admirable family. I loved all the little details of the presents and the relationships, and the quick fixes for lunch and dessert!
Author's reply
I set myself a little challenge to write a Pippin story with no Merry and Frodo in it, LOL! But it was fun to see his interactions at that age with his older sisters, who I see as reacting to him with a combination of indulgence and exasperation, LOL!
Pearl Took
· 17 May 2007
· Chapter 4: A Mother's Work: Eglantine
All right . . . bad me
I've only read the Took story :-(
I'll read the others, I promise
This was so cute, all the mishaps on a special day - very normal when one has wee children. And I liked Nell's question at the end, I'm sure that got asked a lot in the days when little ones were born at home.
Well done, dreamflower :-)
Author's reply
Yes, it's one of those rules laid down by Murphy: whatever can go wrong will go wrong at the worst possible time.
I am sure it did. Children were I'm sure, often just in the next room, hearing their mother's cries. It could be very frightening, I'd think.
harrowcat
· 17 May 2007
· Chapter 4: A Mother's Work: Eglantine
And we love all of them - mainly because of Authors like you! *wipes authorial brow and offers to change nappies!*
Author's reply
Why thank you so much, harrowcat! And we authors love faithful Reviewers like *you*!
I'm sure Eglantine appreciates the offer!
Larner
· 16 May 2007
· Chapter 4: A Mother's Work: Eglantine
And that last makes all the moments before--and the pain of eight years earlier--well worth it.
Author's reply
It does, doesn't it?
Grey Wonderer
· 16 May 2007
· Chapter 4: A Mother's Work: Eglantine
This is adorable. Poor Paladin. He meant well but just look at the mess he made. LOL
Author's reply
Yes, poor Paladin! He really didn't think, did he? LOL!
elanor winterflowers
· 15 May 2007
· Chapter 3: A Mother's Work: Esmeralda
Poor little one! But what a gentle little scene, and so sweetly conceived. A lovely start to a spring day--thank you!
Author's reply
Thank you, dear! I meant to respond to this days ago, and was so surprised to realize I hadn't!
I was working for sweet and gentle, so I am glad that it came across that way.
GamgeeFest
· 14 May 2007
· Chapter 3: A Mother's Work: Esmeralda
Aw! Poor Merry, missing his nursemaid. I love that he invited her husband to come live with them - that's such a Merry thing to do. But I can't help but think that in another year or so, Frodo will be leaving also. This is just a hint of things to come, I fear.
Author's reply
LOL! Merry sees no reason that everyone he loves can't be under the same roof!
This *was* meant to foreshadow the following year: Frodo's leaving will be much more difficult, though for "my" Merry, the actual event is partially ameliorated by the fact that he's visiting Bag End himself at the time ("A Place for Gandalf")--it doesn't really hit him until he gets back to Brandy Hall and has to face Frodo's empty room. Then he realizes that it's truly permanent, poor baby.
GamgeeFest
· 14 May 2007
· Chapter 2: A Mother's Work: Bell
LOL! Life is never boring at Number Three, or whenever Merry's around! First Mari, then Sam, then all three girls! This is one day she'll be happy to see end. Wonder if she'll tell Hamfast about Sam's close call?
Author's reply
No, not with all those kids! And Merry is *so* helpful! (*rolls eyes*). I'm sure Bell's had less hectic days.
Will she tell the Gaffer? I'm quite sure--though her version is likely to be very watered down! After all, the danger's over and done, no need to scare him.
GamgeeFest
· 14 May 2007
· Chapter 1: A Mother's Work: Primula
LOL! That is only too true. Boys and their toys - never changes no matter how old they get. And let's face it, these were rather appealing toys! I loved Frodo's bemused reaction to the theft of his toys and Gilda's, Esme's and Primula's reactions were perfect.
Author's reply
It really doesn't. We females aren't too different, with our own "toys", but we are a lot less blatant about it, LOL! And we don't usually swipe them from the kids! (And our "toys" often don't look like play.) I'm glad you think they were appealing though--I'd love to have such a thing myself, actually.
Poor little Frodo--if it had been other kids, he'd probably have asserted himself sooner, but when it was his father and uncles, he wasn't quite sure how to deal with it. Mum to the rescue!
And of course, Gilda and Primula had seen it before, I'm sure. And Esme had a new side to her husband revealed!
Baggins Babe
· 14 May 2007
· Chapter 3: A Mother's Work: Esmeralda
Poor Merry, missing Dahlia and not really knowing how to express it. You're right about his separation anxiety too. I loved Esme - so loving and kind with both her lads, and poor sweet Merry saying sorry for upsetting Frodo and being 'bad.' *sniff* And sensible Frodo to volunteer to write a letter!
Author's reply
That's just it, he doesn't quite know how to express it. Esme's a very good and understanding mother, I think. And she would know how poor Merry's crossness would upset Frodo.
Well, a letter would be just the thing for Frodo, who loves to write, to think of!
Queen Galadriel
· 13 May 2007
· Chapter 3: A Mother's Work: Esmeralda
Aww! What a darling little story! Poor little Merry, not knowing how to deal with missing Dahlia. Esme certainly has her hands full, doesn't she? :) How good of Frodo to help Merry write the letter. I'll bet Dahlia will miss her little charge, too. Who couldn't?
Just one little thing--you have Eglantine instead of Esmeralda here:
Eglantine had not realized how hard Merry would take his nursemaid’s leaving.
And yes, I'm anxious to see Eglantine's own chapter too! :)
God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
Yes, poor little Merry's just too young to understand how to deal with missing an important person in his life.
Frodo would want to help Merry cope, and I'm sure that writing a letter would be just the thing he'd think of!
Yes--I need to get in there and change that! Thanks! 8-)
And I hope to have Eglantine's chapter up by Wednesday!
PIppinfan1988
· 13 May 2007
· Chapter 3: A Mother's Work: Esmeralda
*sigh, sniffle* This was another hanky story; so sweet, so beautiful. Poor little Merry feeling so insecure! Good thing Frodo and his mummy are there and so very understanding. :-)
PF
Author's reply
For some reason, Merry, insecure at any age, just gets to me. I suppose it's because he seems so competent and self-assured in his plans, but you can see by his very determination to *be* with the people he loves--whether Frodo, Theoden, Eowyn, or Pippin--that he *still* has separation anxiety!
Frodo is always understanding of his "sprout", and Esmeralda is a very good mother.
Antane
· 13 May 2007
· Chapter 3: A Mother's Work: Esmeralda
And there is another goodbye to come too. I dread that knowing how badly he reacted to this one, but it's completely natural and Frodo helped him through it and they will both survive their own parting and still remain close.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes, this is a deliberate foreshadowing of the following year, when Frodo leaves for Hobbiton.
In *my* Shire, Merry is with Frodo at Bag End when the decisions are made ("A Place for Gandalf") and so, even though he's sad, it doesn't *really* hit him until he gets home to Buckland and sees Frodo's empty room. ( "Seven, Going on Thirty-nine") I'm afraid he really does grieve then. But he's just a little older, and perhaps weathering *this* parting helped him a little.
harrowcat
· 13 May 2007
· Chapter 3: A Mother's Work: Esmeralda
I love your Esmeralda and it is such a shame that she only has Frodo and Merry to lavish such love upon.
Author's reply
It is a shame that she did not have more children. But she did very well by those she *did* have.
Kitty
· 13 May 2007
· Chapter 3: A Mother's Work: Esmeralda
It is understandable that little Merry is so anxious to have everyone he loves around after losing his nursemaid. Though it must be difficult for his mother.
And it must have hurt Frodo when Merry said he loved his lessons more than him – it’s a pity the age difference is too much to give them lessons together. But Merry has to learn he can’t always be with everyone, as hard as it is just now.
Author's reply
But Merry has to learn he can’t always be with everyone, as hard as it is just now.
This is a lesson he never truly learns--years later, after the Quest, he is still fretting about any of his loved ones that he cannot keep near. But I think that is part of his tenacious and protective nature.
Kitty
· 13 May 2007
· Chapter 2: A Mother's Work: Bell
Poor Bell! As soon as she is turning her back ... I’m not sure whose „help“ was worse – Sam’s or Mari’s! And the last line got me *rotfl*
But now I am wondering – how on earth did Sam and Rosie survive *thirteen* children and keep their sanity? In your AU they have at least Frodo, too, to keep an eye on them, but in canon ...*shakes head*
Author's reply
Children "helping"--every mother's nightmare, LOL!
Yep--13! Of course, by the time little Tolman came along, Elanor was 21, so I'd imagine that the older kids helped mind the younger ones. Still, I think Sam and Rose had excellent examples of dealing with large broods from their own families: 6 little Gamgees and 5 little Cottons, LOL!
Kitty
· 13 May 2007
· Chapter 1: A Mother's Work: Primula
*lol*
Little Frodo was adorable, ssssspitting at everyone – particularly Mac should have known better than to tease him so.
When Frodo started unpacking the box and all the adults joined in, I nearly ended up in hysterics. Oh yes, that is so typical! Many years ago, I visited a friend, and she showed me a large model railway construction (is that the right word?) and asked if I knew what it is. I said a bit perplexed „A model railway, of course“ and she shook her head and corrected: „The plaything of my father!“
And the hubby of a friend of my mother gifted his son parts of a similar construction to have himself something to play with *grin* They do never truly grow up.
Author's reply
Somehow, I think, even knowing better, Mac would have teased! LOL!
You are bang-on about the toys of course, which is what makes it all so funny.
Larner
· 13 May 2007
· Chapter 3: A Mother's Work: Esmeralda
Separation anxiety, eh? Alas, poor lad--having to understand why folk might go away; and of course Mummy is the one who deals with it most.
And now Dahlia's gone home to Whitfurrow to her new husband's home? Love it, of course! Heh!
Author's reply
Yes, poor baby--for the first time he has to deal with someone going away and leaving him. Imagine how much harder it will be next year, when it's Frodo...
Poor Esme, having him at her heels like a forlorn puppy. But she's a good mother, she can handle it.
And Dahlia has left to make a new life for herself--but she'll always remember her first little charge with love.
Bodkin
· 13 May 2007
· Chapter 2: A Mother's Work: Bell
Bell can hardly get too disapproving of Frodo's efforts in childcare, while Marigold is busily spreading soot throughout her whole smial! She's a good mother - it's not surprising her kids turned out pretty well balanced.
Author's reply
No, she knows it's not easy to keep track of kids all the time! And she knows Frodo is a responsible lad, and will be even more vigilant after this.
I like to think she was a nice motherly influence on both Sam *and* Frodo for several years. Although it's clear that the Gaffer must have been widowed before the Quest, we're not given an exact date, so I have her live right up until the winter before Bilbo leaves.
Bodkin
· 13 May 2007
· Chapter 1: A Mother's Work: Primula
Men never really buy toys for kids - the number of Christmases that go by with children watching television while their dads assemble the gifts and try to ward off their sons. I love the conclusion here - of course they can't play properly without their lisping burglar!
Author's reply
LOL! Don't I know it! After our son grew up and left home, my husband and I decided to do an Angel Tree child at Christmas (I don't know if you have that in the UK--retailers put up a tree in the store, with the names, ages and wishes, of disadvantaged children. You choose one or more to purchase a new gift for. It's administered by the Salvation Army.) Anyway, we'd "adopt" one girl and one boy--I'd get to pick out the girl's gift, and he'd get to pick out the boy's.
The first year we did it, he was so taken with the gift we picked--a toy truck, with a trailer, that contained a motorcycle and a fishing boat. He *had* to take it out of the package, to "make sure it worked", LOL! And he looked so forlorn when I wrapped it up to take to the donation point! So, of course, I went out and bought him the exact same rig for *his* Christmas. He loved it--can you imagine? And he kept it out to look at and play with, until he finally ended up giving it to one of our grandsons a few years ago. And a couple of Christmases ago, I just flat out got him a remote control car...
Antane
· 12 May 2007
· Chapter 2: A Mother's Work: Bell
A sweet story and I know very true since my sister has eight children here herself and things can get a bit hectic. :)
Namarie, God bless, Antane
Author's reply
Eight?!?
God bless your sister! Goodness!
And I'm glad you liked the story, LOL!
Queen Galadriel
· 12 May 2007
· Chapter 2: A Mother's Work: Bell
*chuckles* Poor Bell! Yes, what a day. Marigold is so cute! Haha! Reminds me of the time my little sister tried to *eat* soot. Scared us to death. I just love seeing Bell mothering all these youngsters!
God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
Isn't Marigold a cutie? I picture her as being a little bit like Pippin--not quite so much so, as she's not a Took--but very active and inquisitive and imaginativer compared to her older brothers and sisters (except, possibly for Sam, but he's a lad and older, and spends more time with the Gaffer, so he has less time for mischief).
I think Bell must have been a splendid mother, calm and reassuring, but also firm as well.
Inkling
· 12 May 2007
· Chapter 1: A Mother's Work: Primula
Oooh, "The Hobbit" action figures! If that poor movie ever gets made, I suppose we'll be seeing some of these, though not so nice as Dwarven-made! This was charming--I especially liked Mac; he doesn't often get good scenes. And Frodo's lisp and spitting on everyone...loved it!
Have a lovely Mother's Day, my dear!
Author's reply
*snerk* "Action figures"! Of course, that's exactly what they *were*, LOL!
I'd never written Mac very much until recently--I credit Lily for bringing him to the forefront of my mind lately.
And don't you know, Frodo *had* to lose those baby teeth sometimes. And while "baby-talk" in fics often irritates me when overdone, I just melt at little kids who lisp.
You too, dear!
elanor winterflowers
· 11 May 2007
· Chapter 2: A Mother's Work: Bell
Wonderful characters and dialogue--and I learned a new word: mort!
You do a great job on Bell Gamgee--I like that lady!
Author's reply
Yes, as used in that fashion, it means "much" or "a great many". I like the old-fashioned rustic sound of it.
I like Bell very much. I think she was a motherly influence on Frodo during his early years with Bilbo.
elanor winterflowers
· 11 May 2007
· Chapter 1: A Mother's Work: Primula
What a wonderful box! I would be down playing too!