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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
May 29 2020, 11:20am
Post #1 of 45
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TIME - May 29
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Today in Middle-earth
May 29, 2941 (S.R. 1341)
1. The weather turns trollish; and the Company realizes Gandalf is missing.
(from Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth)
..."...Soon it was nearly dark.... ...Not until then did they notice that Gandalf was missing. So far he had come all the way with them, never saying if he was in the adventure or merely keeping them company for a while. He had eaten most, talked most, and laughed most. But now he simply was not there at all!
..."Just when a wizard would have been most useful, too," groaned Dori and Nori (who shared the hobbit's views about regular meals, plenty and often).
...They decided in the end that they would have to camp where they were.... ...They moved to a clump of trees, and though it was drier under them, the wind shook the rain off the leaves, and the drip, drip, was most annoying. Also the mischief seemed to have got into the fire. Dwarves can make a fire almost anywhere out of almost anything, wind or no wind; but they could not do it that night....
...There they all sat glum and wet and muttering, while Oin and Gloin went on trying to light the fire, and quarrelling about it. Bilbo was sadly reflecting that adventures are not all pony-rides in May-sunshine, when Balin, who was always their look-out man, said: "There's a light over there...!'
..."...Now it is the burglar's turn... ...You must go on and find out all about that light, and what it is for, and if all is perfectly safe and canny," said Thorin to the hobbit. "Now scuttle off, and come back quick, if all is well. If not, come back if you can! If you can't, hoot twice like a barn-owl and once like a screech-owl, and we will do what we can."
...Off Bilbo had to go, before he could explain that he could not hoot even once like any kind of owl any more than fly like a bat. But at any rate hobbits can move quietly in woods, absolutely quietly.... ...he got right up to the fire—for fire it was—without disturbing anyone. And this is what he saw.
...Three very large persons sitting round a very large fire of beech-logs. They were toasting mutton on long spits of wood, and licking the gravy off their fingers... ...Also there was a barrel of good drink at hand, and they were drinking out of jugs.
...But they were trolls... ...Even Bilbo, in spite of his sheltered life, could see that...
..."...Mutton yesterday, mutton today, and blimey, if it don't look like mutton again tomorrer," said one of the trolls.
..."Never a blinking bit of manflesh have we had for long enough," said a second....
......After hearing all this Bilbo ought to have done something at once. Either he should have gone back quietly and warned his friends that there were three fair-sized trolls at hand in a nasty mood, quite likely to try toasted dwarf, or even pony, for a change; or else he should have done a bit of good quick burgling.... ...Of the various burglarious proceedings he had heard of picking the trolls' pockets seemed the least difficult, so at last he crept behind a tree just behind William.
......Bilbo plucked up courage and put his little hand in William's enormous pocket. There was a purse in it, as big as a bag to Bilbo. "Ha!" thought he warming to his new work as he lifted it carefully out, "this is a beginning!"
...It was! Trolls' purses are the mischief, and this was no exception. "'Ere, 'oo are you?" it squeaked, as it left the pocket; and William turned round at once and grabbed Bilbo by the neck....
..."...Blimey, Bert, look what I've copped!" said William.
..."What is it?" said the others coming up.
..."Lumme, if I knows! What are yer?"
..."Bilbo Baggins, a bur—a hobbit," said poor Bilbo, shaking all over, and wondering how to make owl-noises before they throttled him.
..."A Burrahobbit?" said they a bit startled. Trolls are slow in the uptake...."
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
We have been there and back again.
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
May 30 2020, 1:00pm
Post #2 of 45
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Today in Middle-earth
May 30, 2941 (S.R. 1341)
1. Gandalf keeps the trolls arguing until dawn.
(from Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth)
...""No sooner did Tom see Balin come into the light than he gave an awful howl. Trolls simply detest the very sight of dwarves (uncooked)... ...before Balin, who was wondering where in all this commotion Bilbo was, knew what was happening, a sack was over his head, and he was down.
..."There's more to come yet," said Tom, "or I'm mighty mistook. Lots and none at all, it is," said he. "No burra-hobbits, but lots of these here dwarves... ...As each dwarf came up and looked at the fire, and the spilled jugs, and the gnawed mutton, in surprise, pop! went a nasty smelly sack over his head, and he was down. Soon Dwalin lay by Balin, and Fili and Kili together, and Dori and Nori and Ori all in a heap, and Oin and Gloin and Bifur and Bofur and Bombur piled uncomfortably near the fire...
......Thorin came last—and he was not caught unawares. He came expecting mischief, and didn't need to see his friends' legs sticking out of sacks to tell him that things were not all well... ...he jumped forward to the fire, before they could leap on him. He caught up a big branch all on fire at one end; and Bert got that end in his eye before he could step aside... ...Bilbo did his best. He caught hold of Tom's leg—as well as he could, it was thick as a young tree-trunk—but he was sent spinning up into the top of some bushes, when Tom kicked the sparks up in Thorin's face.
...Tom got the branch in his teeth for that, and lost one of the front ones... ...But just at that moment William came up behind and popped a sack right over Thorin's head and down to his toes. And so the fight ended. A nice pickle they were all in now: all neatly tied up in sacks, with three angry trolls (and two with burns and bashes to remember) sitting by them, arguing whether they should roast them slowly, or mince them fine and boil them, or just sit on them one by one and squash them into jelly: and Bilbo up in a bush, with his clothes and his skin torn, not daring to move for fear they should hear him....
......It was just then that Gandalf came back. But no one saw him. The trolls had just decided to roast the dwarves now and eat them later---that was Bert's idea, and after a lot of argument they had all agreed to it.
..."No good roasting 'em now, it'd take all night," said a voice. Bert thought it was William's.
..."Don't start the argument all over again, Bill," he said, "or it will take all night."
..."Who's a-arguing?" said William, who thought it was Bert that had spoken.
..."You are," said Bert.
..."You're a liar," said William; and so the argument began all over again. In the end they decided to mince them fine and boil them...
..."...No good boiling 'em! We ain't got no water, and it's a long way to the well and all," said a voice. Bert and William thought it was Tom's....
......And so the argument began all over again, and went on hotter than ever, until at last they decided to sit on the sacks one by one and squash them, and boil them next time.
..."Who shall we sit on first?" said the voice....
..."...Now stop it!" said Tom and Bert together. "The night's getting' on, and dawn comes early. Let's get on with it!"
..."Dawn take you all, and be stone to you!" said a voice that sounded like William's. But it wasn't. For just at that moment the light came over the hill, and there was a mighty twitter in the branches. William never spoke for he stood turned to stone as he stooped; and Bert and Tom were stuck like rocks as they looked at him. And there they stand to this day all alone, unless the birds perch on them; for trolls... ...must be underground before dawn, or they go back to the stuff of the mountains they are made of, and never move again....
..."...Excellent!" said Gandalf, as he stepped from behind a tree, and helped Bilbo to climb down out of a thornbush. Then Bilbo understood. It was the wizard's voice that had kept the trolls bickering and quarrelling, until the light came and made an end of them....
......They searched about, and soon found the marks of trolls' stony boots going away through the trees. They followed the tracks up the hill, until hidden by bushes they came on a big door of stone leading to a cave.... ...among an untidy litter of plunder, of all sorts from brass buttons to pots full of gold coins standing in a corner. There were lots of clothes, too, hanging on the walls—too small for trolls, I am afraid they belonged to victims—and among them were several swords of various makes, shapes, and sizes. Two caught their eyes particularly, because of their beautiful scabbards and jewelled hilts.
...Gandalf and Thorin each took one of these; and Bilbo took a knife in a leather sheath. It would have made only a tiny pocket-knife for a troll, but it was as good as a short sword for the hobbit.
..."These look like good blades," said the wizard, half drawing them and looking at them curiously. "They were not made by any troll, nor by any smith among men in these parts and days; but when we can read the runes on them, we shall know more about them.""
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
We have been there and back again.
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
May 31 2020, 1:02pm
Post #3 of 45
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This is Book Spoiler is continuing our look at Elves and Men in The Silmarillion... for a moment of Tolkien-zen.
From Of the Coming of Men into the West: The Silmarillion
... "Then Caranthir looked kindly upon Men and did Haleth great honour; and he offered her recompense for her father and brother. And seeing... ...what valour there was in the Edain, he said to her: 'If you will remove and dwell further north, there you shall have the friendship and protection of the Eldar, and free lands of your own.'
... But Haleth was proud, and unwilling to be guided or ruled, and most of the Haladin were of like mood. Therefore she thanked Caranthir, but answered: 'My mind is now set, lo, to leave the shadow of the mountains, and go west, whither others of our kin have gone.' When... ...the Haladin had gathered all whom they could find alive of their folk who had fled wild into the woods before the Orcs, and had gleaned what remained of their goods in their burned homesteads, they took Haleth for their chief; and she led them at last to Estolad, and there dwelt for a time.
... But they remained a people apart, and were ever after known to Elves and Men as the People of Haleth."
We have been there and back again.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
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(This post was edited by grammaboodawg on May 31 2020, 1:05pm)
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 1 2020, 10:27am
Post #4 of 45
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Today in Middle-earth
June 1, 2941 (S.R. 1341)
1. The Company enters the woods.
(from Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth)
..."[Gandalf, Bilbo and the Dwarves] leave early and make haste. They enter the woods and continue east on road through the trees. Their road and the woods run into the valley on north as they pass an out-thrust 'toe' of a hill. They make camp near the valley from the north."
[Since this is so short, let's see how hobbits like to camp... for a moment of Tolkien-zen]
From Three Is Company: The Fellowship of the Ring ... "Leaving the road they went into the deep resin-scented darkness of the trees, and gathered dead sticks and cones to make a fire. Soon they had a merry crackle of flame at the foot of a large fir-tree and they sat round it for a while, until they began to nod. Then... ...they curled up in their cloaks and blankets, and were soon fast asleep... ...A few creatures came and looked at them when the fire had died away. A fox passing through the wood on business of his own stopped several minutes and sniffed.
... 'Hobbits!' he thought. 'Well, what next? I have heard of strange doings in this land, but I have seldom heard of a hobbit sleeping out of doors under a tree. Three of them! There's something mighty queer behind this.' He was quite right...
... ...The morning came, pale and clammy. Frodo woke up first, and found that a tree-root had made a hole in his back, and that his neck was stiff. 'Walking for pleasure! Why didn't I drive?' he thought, as he usually did at the beginning of an expedition... '...Wake up, hobbits!' he cried. 'It's a beautiful morning!'
... 'What's beautiful about it?' said Pippin, peering over the edge of his blanket with one eye. 'Sam! Get breakfast ready for half-past nine! Have you got the bath-water hot?'
... Sam jumped up, looking rather bleary. 'No, sir, I haven't, sir!' he said.
... Frodo stripped the blankets from Pippin and rolled him over, and then walked off to the edge of the wood... ...When he returned Sam and Pippin had got a good fire going. 'Water!' shouted Pippin. 'Where's the water?'
... 'I don't keep water in my pockets,' said Frodo.
... 'We thought you had gone to find some,' said Pippin, busy setting out the food, and cups. 'You had better go now.'
... 'You can come too,' said Frodo, 'and bring all the water-bottles.' There was a stream at the foot of the hill. They filled their bottles and the small camping kettle at a little fall where the water fell a few feet over an outcrop of grey stone. It was icy cold; and they spluttered and puffed as they bathed their faces and hands.
... When their breakfast was over, and their packs all trussed up again, it was after ten o'clock, and the day was beginning to turn fine and hot. They went down the slope, and across the stream where it dived under the road, and up the next slope, and up and down another shoulder of the hills; and by that time their cloaks, blankets, water, food, and other gear already seemed a heavy burden."
We have been there and back again.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 2 2020, 11:09am
Post #5 of 45
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This is Book Spoiler is more about Elves and Men in The Silmarillion... for a moment of Tolkien-zen.
From Of the Coming of Men into the West: The Silmarillion
... "Haleth remained their chief while her days lasted, but she did not wed... ...the headship afterwards passed to Haldan son of Haldar her brother. Soon however Haleth desired to move westward again... ...though most of her people were against this counsel, she led them forth once more; and they went without help or guidance of the Eldar... ...passing over Celon and Aros they journeyed in the perilous land between the Mountains of Terror and the Girdle of Melian. That land was even then not yet so evil as it after became, but it was no road for mortal Men to take without aid... ...Haleth only brought her people through it with hardship and loss, constraining them to go forward by the strength of her will. At last they crossed over the Brithiach, and many bitterly repented of their journey; but there was now no returning. Therefore in new lands they went back to their old life as best they could... ...they dwelt in free homesteads in the woods of Talath Dirnen beyond Teiglin, and some wandered far into the realm of Nargothrond. But there were many who loved the Lady Haleth and wished to go whither she would, and dwell under her rule... ...these she led into the Forest of Brethil, between Teiglin and Sirion. Thither in the evil days that followed many of her scattered folk returned."
We have been there and back again.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 3 2020, 10:57am
Post #6 of 45
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This is Book Spoiler is more about Elves and Men in The Silmarillion... for a moment of Tolkien-zen.
From Of the Coming of Men into the West: The Silmarillion
... "Now Brethil was claimed as part of his realm by King Thingol, though it was not within the Girdle of Melian... ...he would have denied it to Haleth; but Felagund, who had the friendship of Thingol, hearing of all that had befallen the People of Haleth, obtained this grace for her: that she should dwell free in Brethil, upon the condition only that her people should guard the Crossings of Teiglin against all enemies of the Eldar, and allow no Orcs to enter their woods. To this Haleth answered: 'Where are Haldad my father, and Haldar my brother? If the King of Doriath fears a friendship between Haleth and those who have devoured her kin, then the thoughts of the Eldar are strange to Men.' ...Haleth dwelt in Brethil until she died; and her people raised a green mound over her in the heights of the forest...
......In this way it came to pass that the Edain dwelt in the lands of the Eldar, some here, some there, some wandering, some settled in kindreds or small peoples... ...the most part of them soon learned the Grey-elven tongue, both as a common speech among themselves and because many were eager to learn the lore of the Elves. But after a time the Elf-kings, seeing that it was not good for Elves and Men to dwell mingled together without order, and that Men needed lords of their own kind, set regions apart where Men could live their own lives, and appointed chieftains to hold these lands freely. They were the allies of the Eldar in war... ...many of the Edain had delight in the friendship of the Elves, and dwelt among them for so long as they had leave; and the young men often took service for a time in the hosts of the kings."
We have been there and back again.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 3 2020, 11:27pm
Post #8 of 45
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The magic (and power) of words! :D //
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We have been there and back again.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
TIME Google Calendar
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 4 2020, 11:25am
Post #9 of 45
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This is Book Spoiler is more about Elves and Men in The Silmarillion... for a moment of Tolkien-zen.
From Of the Coming of Men into the West: The Silmarillion
... "Now Hador Lórindol, son of Hathol, son of Magor, son of Malach Aradan, entered the household of Fingolfin in his youth, and was loved by the King. Fingolfin... ...gave to him the lordship of Dor-lómin, and into that land he gathered most of the people of his kin, and became the mightiest of the chieftains of the Edain. In his house only the Elven-tongue was spoken; but their own speech was not forgotten, and from it came the common tongue of Númenor... ...in Dorthonion the lordship of the people of Bëor and the country of Ladros was given to Boromir, son of Boron, who was the grandson of Bëor the Old.
... The sons of Hador were Galdor and Gundor... ...the sons of Galdor were Húrin and Huor... ...the son of Húrin was Túrin the Bane of Glaurung... ...the son of Huor was Tuor, father of Eärendil the Blessed. The son of Boromir was Bregor, whose sons were Bregolas and Barahir... ...the sons of Bregolas were Baragund and Belegund. The daughter of Baragund was Morwen, the mother of Túrin... ...the daughter of Belegund was Rían, the mother of Tuor. But the son of Barahir was Beren One-hand, who won the love of Lúthien Thingol's daughter, and returned from the Dead; from them came Elwing the wife of Eärendil, and all the Kings of Númenor after.
... All these were caught in the net of the Doom of the Noldor; and they did great deeds which the Eldar remember still among the histories of the Kings of old... ...in those days the strength of Men was added to the power of the Noldor, and their hope was high; and Morgoth was straitly enclosed, for the people of Hador, being hardy to endure cold and long wandering, feared not at times to go far into the north and there keep watch upon the movements of the Enemy."
We have been there and back again.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
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CuriousG
Gondolin
Jun 4 2020, 2:38pm
Post #10 of 45
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There's a lot to unpack in this one!
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1. Once again Tolkien has a female character who isn't "just average" but remarkably strong-willed.
2. She's not just head-strong, she also wins the heart of her people. There is no thought about finding a man to follow instead of her.
3. She makes mistakes (the decision to head west).
4. She repeatedly rises to the occasion and isn't a one-hit wonder.
And then on another note, Tolkien seems to like building decentralized societies as much as centralized ones (Numenor, Gondolin, Gondor, etc.). I'm thinking of decentralized examples such as: the Shire, Ossiriand, Bree-land, and the People of Haleth. I don't think he really has anything in between. It's clear that the decentralized places don't construct great things like Gondolin, the Argonath, and the world-ranging fleets of Numenor, and he seems to think both society types are valid and worthwhile.
Just my 2 pennies.
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 5 2020, 11:07am
Post #11 of 45
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This is the last visit of The Silmarillion Book Spoilers about Elves and Men... for a moment of Tolkien-zen.
From Of the Coming of Men into the West: The Silmarillion
... "The Men of the Three Houses throve and multiplied... ...greatest among them was the house of Hador Goldenhead, peer of Elven-lords. His people were of great strength and stature, ready in mind, bold and steadfast, quick to anger and to laughter, mighty among the Children of Ilúvatar in the youth of Mankind. Yellow-haired they were... ...and blue-eyed; but not so was Túrin, whose mother was Morwen of the house of Bëor. The Men of that house were dark or brown of hair, with grey eyes... ...of all Men they were most like to the Noldor and most loved by them; for they were eager of mind, cunning-handed, swift in understanding, long in memory... ...they were moved sooner to pity than to laughter. Like to them were the woodland folk of Haleth, but they were of lesser stature, and less eager for lore. They used few words, and did not love great concourse of men... ...many among them delighted in solitude, wandering free in the greenwoods while the wonder of the lands of the Eldar was new upon them. But in the realms of the West their time was brief and their days unhappy.
... The years of the Edain were lengthened, according to the reckoning of Men, after their coming to Beleriand; but at last Bëor the Old died when he had lived three and ninety years... ...four and forty of which he had served King Felagund. And when he lay dead, of no wound or grief, but stricken by age, the Eldar saw for the first time the swift waning of the life of Men, and the death of weariness which they knew not in themselves... ...they grieved greatly for the loss of their friends. But Bëor at the last had relinquished his life willingly and passed in peace; and the Eldar wondered much at the strange fate of Men, for in all their lore there was no account of it, and its end was hidden from them.
... Nonetheless the Edain of old learned swiftly of the Eldar all such art and knowledge as they could receive... ...their sons increased in wisdom and skill, until they far surpassed all others of Mankind, who dwelt still east of the mountains and had not seen the Eldar, nor looked upon the faces that had beheld the Light of Valinor."
We have been there and back again.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 5 2020, 2:18pm
Post #12 of 45
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So well said and great observations. I like how fully you see what's going on. She reminds me a lot of Faramir in her wisdom, humility, fortitude and loyalty of her followers. Even if there are mistakes and things don't go as she wished, to have the trust and honour of your followers is the most wonderful definition of a leader.
We have been there and back again.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 6 2020, 1:13pm
Post #13 of 45
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Today in Middle-earth
June 6, 2942 (S.R. 1342)
1. Gandalf and Bilbo retrace their journey.
(determined from text)
..."At each point on the road Bilbo recalled the happenings and the words of a year ago—it seemed to him more like ten—so... ...he quickly noted the place where the pony had fallen in the river, and they had turned aside for their nasty adventure with Tom and Bert and Bill.
...Not far from the road they found the gold of the trolls, which they had buried, still hidden and untouched. "I have enough to last me my time," said Bilbo, when they had dug it up. "You had better take this, Gandalf. I daresay you can find a use for it."
..."Indeed I can... ...But share and share alike! You may find you have more needs than you expect."
...So they put the gold in bags and slung them on the ponies.... ...After that their going was slower, for most of the time they walked. But the land was green and there was much grass through which the hobbit strolled along contentedly. He mopped his face with a red silk handkerchief—no! not a single one of his own had survived. He had borrowed this one from Elrond—for now June had brought summer, and the weather was bright and hot again."
We have been there and back again.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 7 2020, 12:19pm
Post #14 of 45
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Today in Middle-earth
June 7, 2941 (S.R. 1341)
1. The Company begins to feel the pressure.
(determined from text)
..."The road now runs due east. With few provisions, they hurry along and can see ruins on hilltop to the north. South of the Road, a ravine of the Bruinen comes close. The Road then turns NE as they pass a valley from the north and camp.
...They did not sing or tell stories... ...They had begun to feel that danger was not far away on either side. They camped under the stars, and their horses had more to eat than they had; for there was plenty of grass, but there was not much in their bags, even with that they had got from the trolls."
We have been there and back again.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 8 2020, 11:32am
Post #15 of 45
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Over the next few days, let's look at some Book Spoilers about the meals of Middle-earth... for a moment of Tolkien-zen.
From At the Sign of the Prancing Pony: The Fellowship of the Ring ..."But Nob, the hobbit servant, came bustling... ...He brought candles and a tray full of plates.
... 'Will you be wanting anything to drink, masters?' he asked. 'And shall I show you the bedrooms, while your supper is got ready?'
... They were washed and in the middle of good deep mugs of beer when Mr. Butterbur and Nob came in again. In a twinkling the table was laid. There was hot soup, cold meats, a blackberry tart, new loaves, slabs of butter and half a ripe cheese: good plain food, as good as the Shire could show, and homelike enough to dispel the last of Sam's misgivings (already much relieved by the excellence of the beer)."
From Minas Tirith: The Return of the King ... "'This is the storehouse and buttery of my company of the Guard,' said Beregond. 'Greetings, Targon!' he called through the hatch... '...here is a newcomer that the Lord has taken into his service. He has ridden long and far with a tight belt, and has had sore labour this morning, and he is hungry. Give us what you have!'
... They got there bread, and butter, and cheese and apples: the last of the winter store, wrinkled but sound and sweet; and a leather flagon of new-drawn ale, and wooden platters and cups. They put all into a wicker basket and climbed back into the sun... ...Beregond brought Pippin to a place at the east end of the great out-thrust battlement where there was an embrasure in the walls with a stone seat beneath the sill. From there they could look out on the morning over the world."
From Flotsam and Jetsam: The Two Towers ... "'I lit a bit of fire,' said Pippin. 'It cheered us up in the fogs... ...A fire is handy. I will make you some toast. The bread is three or four days old, I am afraid.'
... Aragorn and his companions sat themselves down at one end of a long table, and the hobbits disappeared through one of the inner doors... ...they came back laden with dishes, bowls, cups, knives, and food of various sorts.'
... 'And you need not turn up your nose at the provender, Master Gimli,' said Merry. 'This is not orc-stuff, but manfood, as Treebeard calls it. Will you have wine or beer? There's a barrel inside there--very passable. And this is first-rate salted pork. Or I can cut you some rashers of bacon and broil them... ...I am sorry there is no green stuff... ...I cannot offer you anything to follow but butter and honey for your bread. Are you content?'
...'Indeed yes,' said Gimli...
... ...The three were soon busy with their meal; and the two hobbits, unabashed, set to a second time. 'We must keep our guests company..."
... 'You are full of courtesy this morning,' laughed Legolas. 'But maybe, if we had not arrived, you would already have been keeping one another company again.'"
We have been there and back again.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 9 2020, 11:07am
Post #16 of 45
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Let's see more about mealtime in Middle-earth... for a moment of Tolkien-zen.
From A Shortcut to Mushrooms: The Fellowship of the Ring
... "Frodo now accepted the invitation [of dinner with the Maggots] gratefully, to the relief of Pippin and Sam... ...Two of Maggot's sons and his three daughters came in, and a generous supper was laid on the large table. The kitchen was lit with candles and the fire was mended. Mrs. Maggot bustled in and out... ...In a short while fourteen sat down to eat. There was beer in plenty, and a mighty dish of mushrooms and bacon, besides much other solid farmhouse fare. The dogs lay by the fire and gnawed rinds and cracked bones."
From Three Is Company: The Fellowship of the Ring
... "At the south end of the greensward there was an opening. There the green floor ran on into the wood, and formed a wide space like a hall, roofed by the boughs of trees... ...torches with lights of gold and silver were burning steadily. The Elves sat round the fire upon the grass or upon the sawn rings of old trunks. Some went to and fro bearing cups and pouring drink; others brought food on heaped plates and dishes.
... 'This is poor fare,' they said to the hobbits; 'for we are lodging in the greenwood far from our halls....'
... ...Pippin afterwards recalled little of either food or drink, for his mind was filled with the light upon the elf-faces, and the sound of voices so various and so beautiful that he felt in a waking dream. But he remembered that there was bread, surpassing the savour of a fair white loaf to one who is starving; and fruits sweet as wildberries and richer than the tended fruits of gardens; he drained a cup that was filled with a fragrant draught, cool as a clear fountain, golden as a summer afternoon.
... Sam could never describe in words, nor picture clearly to himself, what he felt or thought that night, though it remained in his memory as one of the chief events of his life. The nearest he ever got was to say: 'Well, sir, if I could grow apples like that, I would call myself a gardener...'"
We have been there and back again.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
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CuriousG
Gondolin
Jun 9 2020, 4:16pm
Post #17 of 45
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You had me at "butter and honey for your bread."
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Now I need either a 2nd breakfast or a 2nd lunch, or possibly both. 
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 10 2020, 12:27pm
Post #18 of 45
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Here's another Book Spoiler that teaches us step-by-step coney cooking... for a moment of Tolkien-zen.
From Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit: The Two Towers
... "'Sméagol always helps,' he said. 'He has brought rabbits, nice rabbits. But master has gone to sleep, and perhaps Sam wants to sleep. Doesn't want rabbits now..?'
... Sam, however, had no objection... ...At least not to cooked rabbit. All hobbits, of course, can cook, for they begin to learn the art before their letters (which many never reach); but Sam was a good cook, even by hobbit reckoning, and he had done a good deal of the camp-cooking on their travels... ...some of the gear in his pack: a small tinder-box, two small shallow pans, the smaller fitting into the larger; inside them a wooden spoon, a short two-pronged fork and some skewers were stowed; and hidden at the bottom of the pack in a flat wood box a dwindling treasure, some salt. But he needed a fire, and other things besides...
... '...Now, Gollum,' he said, 'I've another job for you. Go and fill these pans with water... ...Don't you damage one of my pans, or I'll carve you into mincemeat...'
... ...Sam gathered a pile of the driest fern, and then scrambled up the bank collecting a bundle of twigs and broken wood... ...and made a shallow hole and laid his fuel in it. Being handy with flint and tinder he soon had a small blaze going... ...He was just stooping over his fire, shielding it and building it up with heavier wood, when Gollum returned, carrying the pans carefully and grumbling to himself.
... He set the pans down, and then suddenly saw what Sam was doing. He gave a thin hissing shriek, and seemed to be both frightened and angry. 'Ach! Sss—no!' he cried. 'No! Silly hobbits, foolish... ...Not make the nassty red tongues,' hissed Gollum. 'Fire, fire! It's dangerous, yes it is. It burns, it kills. And it will bring enemies, yes it will.'
... 'I don't think so,' said Sam. 'Don't see why it should... ...I'm going to risk it, anyhow. I'm going to stew these coneys.'
... 'Stew the rabbits!' squealed Gollum in dismay. 'Spoil beautiful meat Sméagol saved for you, poor hungry Sméagol...'
... '...Now, now!' said Sam.... '...Our bread chokes you, and raw coney chokes me. If you give me a coney, the coney's mine, see, to cook, if I have a mind...' ...Sam busied himself with his pans. 'What a hobbit needs with coney,' he said to himself, 'is some herbs and roots, especially taters—not to mention bread. Herbs we can manage, seemingly.'
... 'Gollum!' he called softly... '...I want some herbs.' Gollum's head peeped out of the fern, but his looks were neither helpful nor friendly. 'A few bay-leaves, some thyme and sage, will do—before the water boils,' said Sam... ... look for turnips and carrots, and taters too... ...I'd give a lot for half a dozen taters.'
... 'Sméagol won't go, O no precious, not this time,' hissed Gollum... '...Sméagol won't grub for roots and carrotses and—taters. What's taters, precious, eh, what's taters?'
... 'Po—ta—toes,' said Sam. 'The Gaffer's delight and rare good ballast for an empty belly...'
......Soon the rabbits cut up lay simmering in their pans with the bunched herbs... ...He let them stew for close on an hour, testing them now and again with his fork, and tasting the broth.
... When he thought all was ready he lifted the pans off the fire, and crept along to Frodo... '...Though it ain't quite what I'd call right: no stock, no onions, no taters. I've got a bit of a stew for you, and some broth, Mr. Frodo. Do you good. You'll have to sup it in your mug; or straight from the pan, when it's cooled a bit. I haven't brought no bowls...'
... ...Sam and his master sat just within the fern-brake and ate their stew from the pans, sharing the old fork and spoon. They allowed themselves half a piece of the elvish waybread each. It seemed a feast."
We have been there and back again.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 11 2020, 11:42am
Post #19 of 45
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Here's another Book Spoiler that shows us how to be a gracious host... for a moment of Tolkien-zen.
From An Unexpected Party: The Hobbit
... [As several dwares appeared at his front door] "A big jug of coffee had just been set in the hearth, the seed-cakes were gone, and the dwarves were starting on a round of buttered scones, when there came—a loud knock… …[Bilbo]pulled open the door with a jerk, and they all fell in, one on top of the other. More dwarves… …And there was Gandalf behind, leaning on his staff and laughing…
... '…Now we are all here!" said Gandalf… "…Quite a merry gathering! I hope there is something left for the late-goers to eat and drink! What's that? Tea! No thank you! A little red wine, I think, for me."
... "And for me," said Thorin.
... "And raspberry jam and apple-tart," said Bifur. "And mince-pies and cheese," said Bofur.
... "And pork-pie and salad," said Bombur.
... "And more cakes—and ale—and coffee, if you don't mind," called the other dwarves through the door.
... "Put on a few eggs…" Gandalf called after him, as the hobbit stumped off to the pantries. "And just bring out the cold chicken and pickles!"
... "Seems to know as much about the inside of my larders as I do myself!" thought Mr. Baggins…
... …By the time he had got all the bottles and dishes and knives and forks and glasses and plates and spoons and things piled up on big trays, he was getting very hot, and red in the face, and annoyed.
... "Confusticate and bebother these dwarves!" he said aloud. "Why don't they come and lend a hand?" Lo and behold! there stood Balin and Dwalin… …and Fili and Kili behind them, and before he could say knife they had whisked the trays and a couple of small tables into the parlour and set out everything afresh.
... Gandalf sat at the head of the party with the thirteen dwarves all round: and Bilbo sat on a stool at the fireside, nibbling at a biscuit (his appetite was quite taken away… …trying to look as if this was all perfectly ordinary and not in the least an adventure. The dwarves ate and ate, and talked and talked, and time got on."
We have been there and back again.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 12 2020, 10:39am
Post #20 of 45
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Here's another Book Spoiler that shows the treats for being a good guest... for a moment of Tolkien-zen.
[Treats for arriving]
In the House of Tom Bombadil: The Fellowship of the Ring
..."'Here's my pretty lady!' [Tom] said, bowing to the hobbits. 'Here's my Goldberry clothed all in silver-green... ...Is the table laden? I see yellow cream and honeycomb, and white bread, and butter; milk, cheese, and green herbs and ripe berries gathered. Is that enough for us? Is the supper ready?'
... 'It is,' said Goldberry; 'but the guests perhaps are not?'
... Tom clapped his hands and cried: 'Tom, Tom! your guests are tired, and you had near forgotten! Come now, my merry friends, and Tom will refresh you..!
... ...Before long, washed and refreshed, the hobbits were seated at the table, two on each side, while at either end sat Goldberry and the Master. It was a long and merry meal. Though the hobbits ate, as only famished hobbits can eat, there was no lack. The drink in their drinking bowls seemed to be clear cold water, yet it went to their hearts like wine and set free their voices. The guests became suddenly aware that they were singing merrily, as if it was easier and more natural than talking."
[Treats for leaving]
Queer Lodgings: The Hobbit
... "This is what [Beorn] promised to do for [the Company]. He would provide ponies for each of them, and a horse for Gandalf, for their journey to the forest... ...he would lade them with food to last them for weeks with care, and packed so as to be as easy as possible to carry—nuts, flour, sealed jars of dried fruits, and red earthenware pots of honey, and twice-baked cakes that would keep good a long time, and on a little of which they could march far. The making of these was one of his secrets; but honey was in them as in most of his foods, and they were good to eat, though they made one thirsty."
We have been there and back again.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
TIME Google Calendar
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 13 2020, 1:34pm
Post #21 of 45
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Today in Middle-earth
June 13, 3020 (S.R. 1420)
1. A cherished summer in the Shire.
(not from the appendices)
..."...if Sam thought himself lucky, Frodo knew that he was more lucky himself; for there was not a hobbit in the Shire that was looked after with such care. When the labours of repair had all been planned and set going he took to a quiet life, writing a great deal and going through all his notes. He resigned the office of Deputy Mayor at the Free Fair that midsummer, and dear old Will Whitfoot had another seven years of presiding at Banquets.
...Merry and Pippin lived together for some time at Crickhollow... ...The two young Travellers cut a great dash in the Shire with their songs and their tales and their finery, and their wonderful parties. 'Lordly' folk called them, meaning nothing but good; for it warmed all hearts to see them go riding by with their mail-shirts so bright and their shields so splendid, laughing and singing songs of far away; and if they were now large and magnificent, they were unchanged otherwise, unless they were indeed more fairspoken and more jovial and full of merriment....
......Frodo and Sam, however, went back to ordinary attire, except that when there was need they both wore long grey cloaks, finely woven and clasped at the throat with beautiful brooches; and Mr. Frodo wore always a white jewel on a chain that he often would finger."
We have been there and back again.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
TIME Google Calendar
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Jun 13 2020, 10:46pm
Post #22 of 45
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Cream, butter, milk, cheese - I wonder where Tom and Goldberry kept their cows! The bees probably gave Tom honeycomb whenever he sang for it.
(And who provided the flour for their bread? Maybe that explains supposed excursions to the Maggot's.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 14 2020, 12:03pm
Post #23 of 45
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Today in Middle-earth
June 14, 3019 (S.R. 1419)
1. The sons of Elrond meet the escort and bring Arwen to Edoras.
(from the appendices-no text)
...The Company had been travelling for nearly three weeks when Elrohir and Elladan meet Arwen (their sister), Elrond, Galadriel and Celeborn, Glorfindel and Erestor (Elrond's chief counsellors and Noldor of Rivendell), and other members Arwen's escort.
We have been there and back again.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 14 2020, 12:13pm
Post #24 of 45
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Great query!!! Cows... or goats? I agree the bees would cooperate. I love the idea of Maggot and Tom hooking up with p'raps trade? What would Tom bring to help a farmer? I'm trying to think of some hints of items when the hobbits were visiting the Maggots. Flour for...?
We have been there and back again.
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength." – Theodore Roosevelt
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CuriousG
Gondolin
Jun 14 2020, 3:56pm
Post #25 of 45
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Maybe Maggot paid Tom *not* to sing. Anything to put an end to Hey doll, merry dol!
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"Here's all the food you'll need for a month, Tom. Now, please, stop singing and go back home and leave us in peace." When Goldberry was asked about her husband's income, she said he was "into protection" and changed the subject.
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