KathyG · 26 January 2024 · Chapter 12: The Perils of Perfection
This essay could go into "Dreamflower's Musings", I'm thinking.
The Purple Path by Dreamflower
Reviews (39)
KathyG · 26 January 2024 · Chapter 14: Concerning the Shire, Part One: Politics
You know, it occurs to me that your three "Concerning the Shire" essays would go nicely in your "Dreamflower's Musings"! Why don't you transfer the essays there?
KathyG · 23 July 2021 · Chapter 9: Rainy Day at Bag End
Any chance that they got to visit the shops after lunch, or was it just too wet after that downpour to be feasible? This one-shot of yours is one of my favorites!
Drea Walker-Skye · 20 May 2017 · Chapter 12: The Perils of Perfection
A variant I've used is "the first law of songwriting...dare to suck".
Drea Walker-Skye · 20 May 2017 · Chapter 12: The Perils of Perfection
A variant I've used is "the first law of songwriting...dare to suck".
Andrea · 13 May 2017 · Chapter 11: Day After Day a Good Day
Perfectly fitting for each of them indeed. But what I liked most, was this one: If anything was wanting, it was Mr. Frodo. But Sam could see the West through his window. He slept soundly, dreaming of their reunion.
Andrea · 13 May 2017 · Chapter 9: Rainy Day at Bag End
Wow! What a treasure! I think lots of people would love to have this set of "action figures" :-)
Larner · 21 April 2017 · Chapter 16: Concerning the Shire, Part Three: Occupations, Business and Trade
I added in both trade and farm partnerships in which various entrepreneuers were able to raise capital to help fund their new businesses or make larger purchases such as new plows, draught animals, or additional farmland by receiving grants from investors, either known or secret, who would receive dividends in either funds, products, or foodstuffs until they were bought out by those in whose enterprises they'd invested. A northern farmer who raised sugar beets might purchase farm shares in a pipeweed plantation and receive a certain number barrels of cured pipeweed per year, while those who owned the plantation might reciprocate and receive so much sugar in return; a carter might purchase a new wagon due to investment from one who manufactured furniture, and repay it by providing so much cartage per year, and so on. But I DO love Carlo's mercantile business!
Author's reply
I love the additions you've always made within your Shire, showing the hidden side of the Shire economy, and I've no doubt that in mine, much of this occurs as well. The barter, especially, is something that would go on in any agrarian society, but I also like the hidden investors you have in your Shire--I do hint a bit at that with some of the things Bilbo did--particularly with his dragon gold after returning from Erebor. I first thought of that idea when I wrote "Pippin the Protector"; I needed a shop where that sort of encounter could take place, and it was fun to think up a backstory for the Brownlocks' stores.
Larner · 20 April 2017 · Chapter 15: Concerning the Shire, Part Two: Education
I agree with a good deal of this, but think that in the larger families such as among the Brandybucks and Tooks, there might have been someone actually hired to do the teaching, and that one reason young Hobbits might choose or be sent to work for these families was because they would be expected to learn to read, write, learn basic arithmetic skills, and learn to keep records and do basic bookkeeping while they were working within Brandy Hall or the Great Smials. Thus they would be more likely to be successful once they were out living on their own and perhaps running businesses or farms of their own. Good thoughts here!
Author's reply
Well, in the Brandybuck and Took families, there sort of were--only they were *always* relatives. In Brandy Hall, it so happened to be Uncle Dinny for the last few decades of the Third Age, and the senior servants who may have also taught the new servants answered to him. And among the Tooks, being more numerous, there were usually three or four cousins who were tutors. And one of those was directly responsible for teaching young servants. With the exception of Bilbo and his father (who WERE Family Heads themselves) the family members who tutored were always given a special stipend, so I guess you could call them hired. I agree that many families might have used your reasoning for sending their young ones to service among the Great Families.
Larner · 20 April 2017 · Chapter 13: She Who Watches
She is blest so many times over, having found a love amongst Hobbits and learning that their progeny are so wonderful and worthy! And Gandalf will so often slip out from Olorin to share that love with her!
Author's reply
My "Gandalf" decided that Gandalf he would remain, so long as he had mortal friends to tend to on the Western side of the Sea. And I think that his Gandalf form would be a special comfort to Adamanta/Mirime since that was the way her descendants knew him. Also, I think he always liked being Gandalf. 8-)
Andrea · 17 April 2017 · Chapter 7: Good husbandmen must moile & toile
A great birthday present indeed! And I found it very fitting that Frodo Gardener learned how to read with this book.
Author's reply
So did I. And since Elanor had a special book, I thought Frodo-lad should have one, too!
Antane · 14 April 2017 · Chapter 11: Day After Day a Good Day
Ah, Sam, still torn in two. I love Frodo's section the most. :) Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
No matter how long Frodo has been gone, his friends will always be thinking of him.
KathyG · 13 April 2017 · Chapter 15: Concerning the Shire, Part Two: Education
Such lessons would consist of basic reading, writing and arithmetic, and not much more. For the majority of Shire hobbits that would be as far as lessons went, especially among the working class hobbits. Had anybody but Bilbo taught Sam, that's probably as far as his education would have gotten, too. However, given what we see in The Lord of the Rings of his knowledge, I have a feeling that his education ended up going much further than that. In fact, I suspect that he had the privilege of learning much that a young member of the gentry would have been taught. That would have stood him in good stead when he became the mayor. What do you think, Dreamflower? I hope that one day, you'll write about Sam's beginning lessons under Bilbo! And about how his education progressed before it finally came to an end.
Sharonb · 12 April 2017 · Chapter 13: She Who Watches
Such sweet sadness. Maybe Olorin can help her understand her contribution to the defeat of Sauron through her progeny from Tuk.
Author's reply
I think he can.
Antane · 11 April 2017 · Chapter 12: The Perils of Perfection
This is great advice for any writing or any field. As they say a crappy first draft (which is what first drafts are far after all) is better than no draft. You learn by doing. Le hannon! I've made great friends here and elsewhere who have basically made vertical takeoffs in how quickly their writing improved. Namarie, God bless, Anne Marie :)
Larner · 11 April 2017 · Chapter 11: Day After Day a Good Day
So right for each of them!
Author's reply
Thank you!
Andrea · 9 April 2017 · Chapter 6: A Night By the High Hay
"Yes," said Pippin. "There are clearly huorns in the Old Forest." That's what I thought after the second reading of LOTR. Several others followed. I've lost count ;-)
Robbie · 8 April 2017 · Chapter 9: Rainy Day at Bag End
Loved it. I like the four of them spending time together back then, and think you did it fittingly - a dripping wet Sam is likely to have happened several times.
Author's reply
Yes, I am quite sure Sam was often dripping wet--of course, on this particular occasion, he had no real reason to be, which is why Frodo scolded him. (So many portrayals of Sam and Frodo forget that Frodo's 12 years older, and quite likely to scold Sam if he needs it!) I love to show the pre-Quest friendship of the four. It's one of my favorite things.
Andrea · 8 April 2017 · Chapter 5: Beyond the Dreams of Avarice
That is the power of the Dragon Gold! Bilbo is wise indeed to ignore its lure.
Author's reply
Not only wise, but he knows himself well. He would hate being lured by something like that. Which is not to say he is totally unselfish, but what he craves is not treasure, but peace and quiet, good food, and home. Not the sorts of things money can buy.
Larner · 7 April 2017 · Chapter 9: Rainy Day at Bag End
What a delightful way to spend the day! And love that Merry didn't want Thorin, Fili, and Kili to die this time. He is so sweet!
Author's reply
Of course not! He's creating his own little AU with those little "action figures"!
Antane · 6 April 2017 · Chapter 10: How May I Help You?
I will dare to cheat and ask two questions... It's intriguing that in Rivendell Bilbo says he wants his story to end, And they lived happily ever after and Sam says But where will they live? What does he mean? Does he have an inkling already, without truly realizing it, that his life and the lives of his two masters will not end in the Shire but in the West? What/who does Sam see in the Emyn Muil with 'other vision' - the mighty lord that wrapped his glory in cloud and the transfigured Frodo outside the Sammath Naur - is this the same person, ie Frodo as he would appear as Lord of the Rings himself? Le hannon, Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Actually, I think Sam is more practical than that: when they left the Shire, Bag End had been sold to the S.-B.s. I think Sam was thinking wistfully about the fact that he might never live in Bag End again. Little did he know! I think that is as good a guess as any. It seems quite logical that he might see Frodo that way, perhaps a vision of the way the Ring was trying to tempt Frodo.
Antane · 6 April 2017 · Chapter 9: Rainy Day at Bag End
I love this sweet story! Especially the ever expanding toys from Bilbo's adventures. Imagine such fun putting a hobbit off his feed for a bit. :) Great stuff. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes, I figure those toys saw a lot of use over the years! Thank you, dear!
KathyG · 6 April 2017 · Chapter 9: Rainy Day at Bag End
Great story! I love how Frodo showed such concern for Sam's health when he arrived dripping-wet, and how Sam got to join in the fun with the other hobbits. Wonder what the Gaffer's going to have to say when his son returns home? Hopefully, Sam's own clothes will be dry when he does--I don't think Hamfast would think much of his son showing up in Bilbo's clothes! =) Hope you'll soon post this on Fanfiction.net and Archive of Our Own!
Author's reply
Frodo would always worry about his younger friends, which is why Sam got a scolding from him. Sam will have his own clothes back, and go home when the rain's over. And being an honest lad, he'll probably tell his Gaffer that Frodo wasn't best pleased over him endangering his health. My version of the Gaffer is not one to flog a dead horse, so he'll probably just say, "Well, I hope as you learnt a lesson about gallivanting around in the rain." and let it drop.
Larner · 5 April 2017 · Chapter 8: Fruit and Flower
Oh, the perfect format for this glimpse of the creation of Sun and Moon.
Author's reply
Thanks! I thought that a dribble would get the main idea across even better than a longer format.
Larner · 5 April 2017 · Chapter 7: Good husbandmen must moile & toile
Ah, the PERFECT gift for Sam from Frodo! And a wonderful adaptation of the real-world wisdom Sam embodied.
Author's reply
I have wanted Sam to know some of Tusser's wisdom for years and years and years! But I couldn't quite pull it off. The prompt immediately made me think of that. But it wasn't until I looked at the Longfather Tree for Sam that I realized what the solution would be!