Happy Birthday to J. R. R. Tolkien!

Happy 125th birthday to J. R. R. Tolkien! To celebrate his birthday on this somewhat neglected blog, I'd like to make a list how his writings have made a difference in my life:

1. ENJOYMENT AND GOOD TIMES
Ever since my sisters and I were younger, playing Middle-earth characters (and making up a few of our own) has been one of our favourite pastimes. Whether we were swimming, saying good night, carrying in the groceries, or an assortment of other things, Sam, Gimley, Gollum, Bilbo, Ori, Legolas, Bain and everyone else were included into the activities and always livened things up.

2. ROLE MODELS AND ENCOURAGERS
Tolkien himself is a wonderful role modle (especially in literary persuit) and we can learn so much from him. The same is true of his characters. When I'm met with a difficult situation, I frequently think of Bilbo, Aragorn and the other heros. If they could do it, than so can I! (Another way they can encourage is if you have a lot to clean up, just imagine the orcs are coming and it helps you clean faster. 😉)

3. WONDERFUL WORDS
This one's a bit obvious, but of course the words of Tolkien are brilliant, and, at least in my way of thinking, you won't be board reading The Hobbit. :) And if you look up "Tolkien quotes", you're sure to find priceless gems of wisdom.

4. TREASURED FRIENDS
This is one I will be forever grateful for. When I first was looking at blogs, the way I found many of the blog friends I still have today is that they were also Tolkien fans. Without that similar interest, I don't know if I would have found you amazing people. I'm so glad the Lord used it to bring your friendship into my life.

5. PERSONAL DISCOVERIES
Three great discoveries I made through the world of Tolkien are ones that help me day by day. . .
-I'm a hobbit. That's important? Yes! Watching the Hobbit, I found that I am very like a hobbit-- Bilbo especially because I see in myself a Baggins and Took. I love home, I love adventure, I love growing things, I love the comforts of home.
-Life is the great adventure! When asking someone what they've been doing, I often say "what adventures have you been having?" because I've come to see that everyday is an adventure and has things for you to learn and do. It's given me a greater love for life.
-There is a plan for all of us. Think of all the heros in Tolkien's stories. They didn't see it all the time, but there was a purpose for each of them. Isn't that one of the most important things to learn?

That's my little list. I would love to hear what you have learned from Tolkien and how his works have changed your life! Did you do anything to celebrate his birthday?

Have a splendid 2017, fellow Tolkien fans!

Love, S. F.

P.s. This was written with autocorrect, so I apologise if there are any typos. :)

Happy Birthday, Tolkien / One Last Time Q&A

 Hullo there. Today happens to be the 123rd of J. R. R. Tolkien!

 I'm not sure who made this, but I love it and agree with the saying at the end:

 

Also, Sarah awarded us the "One Last Time Q&A". Thank you so much, Sarah!

R U L E S 

1. You Must be tagged to take the Q&A quiz

2. You must tag (notify) at least three other bloggers (or whatever they are on) for this Q&A

3. You must answer the following questions to the best of your ability

4. You must have seen The Battle of the Five Armies to be tagged/take the quiz

Q U E S T I O N S

 1. Tell your story of how you came to see the movie(s) or got into Tolkien in the first place.

 Myrtle: I was a wee lass, my father put on The Fellowship of The Ring, we were watching Bilbo's birthday party, and I thought: People having a party.

  Yyyess. (You know how Bilbo says it)

 

Les: Once upon a time, I turned the leaves of an ancient book unto one
titled, "The Elf-Dragon." And you beheld it, and that was my story. Enda.

S. F.: Oh, Middle-earth has pretty much always been in my life. In fact, I have been told that when we were watching "The Two Towers" along time ago, I turned around to my parents after watching Gollum and said to them, "My precious!" :)

2. Who are your three favourite characters in The Hobbit Trilogy?

Myrtle: That's like: What's your favourite, Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner? 

Les: My eyes were cheated by some spell when first I glanced over
this question. I mistook a little "deaths" between "characters" & "the"
And that did not make my sisters' answers any more cohesive.
But then I read the question. Hmm. Favourite character trios:
Thorin & Nephews + Thranduil & Son & Tauriel + Bard & Family
...with a dragon and every other elf included for good measure.

S. F: What? This is a hard question. *cough, cough* *scratches head* Bilbo. . .Thorin. . .FiliKili. <- They can count as one character, can't they?

3. Did you cry in The Battle of the Five Armies, and if so, which scene(s) and what type (sniffling, sobbing, choke-crying)? 

 Myrtle:  Bain and Bard gave me the feels,but I didn't cry. With Fili, I tryed to cry, but the tears would'nt come, neither with Kili. Inside, however,... well you know; you've felt it. I turned my head when Thorin ... was ... given the fatal ..............

'twas, of course, Master Baggins' first, heart-wrenching, breaking sob, that drew my tears. No sobs. Just tears. I bear my scars inside. My biggest cry was the end credits; I saw Les and S.F. sobbing, and quietly followed them, One Last Time.

Les: By all means. That is why I accepted bringing a very comforting pocket handkerchief with me to yonder cinema.
Response to № 2: when Bain came to his father's aid + Durin's Sons passed into the Timeless Halls + many other occurences.
The ilk of tears: all of the above, most strongly in the mentioned scenes. To say nothing of my weeping on S.F.'s shoulder and snuggling under her arm and pulling away when...Kili...and bowing my head in sobs...and sometimes vocalising queer squeaks and chokes. Bilbo rent my heart. I entirely understand not why, yet Thranduil provoked me to much pity and sorrow as well.
Let us stay away from what the end credits song did, darling.

S. F.: A LOT. Tears came to my eyes when it said "The Hobbit", Bard and Bain made me sniffle, Smaug made me sob, Bilbo's acorn scene made me cry hard, the "One Last Time" scene started tears that basically didn't stop until the credits were over, Fili's you-know-what had me screeching into my pocket handkerchief, Kili's you-know-what had me choking up, and Thorin's you-know-what was a mixture of both and many tears. And Hobbiton/the Hobbit theme/Bilbo and the Last Goodbye made me CRY.. Did I cry? Yup.

4. Were the deaths compelling to you, and if so, whose?

Myrtle: Yes. Our

Les: The above, the below. Although some felt—including Smaug's—rushed.

S. F.: All of the Durins were, I can't pick just one.

5. Overall, were you satisfied with the movie itself?

Myrtle: I do not know what "Satisfied" means right here. I CRIED. And I need a movie about Arda's afterlife.

Les: To Myrtle I gratefully say, Gi hannon! Already doth my minde compose happier endings.
I offer thanks unto Sir Peter & his company for the long and dedicated journey they took us on.

S. F.: Absolutely. Thank you so much, Sir Peter Jackson and Co.!

6. Describe the movie in one word.

Myrtle: I don't know if that is doable. But then again, mayhaps it is.

Les: Enmeshed-with-emotions.

S. F.: NOPE. Also, epic. Also, majestic. Also, emotional. You see? "One does not simply choose one word to describe BOTFA."

WE NOMINATE. . .

Kara
SW
and anyone else following this blog who hasn't been nominated for this yet!

Until next time,
S. F. and all of us 3FS!

Don't Play With My Feels

Click to receive the full torture.

No. Just no. Help. *sobs* *tears* *screams* It'll be okay. No. Help...

Dearest fangirls,

There is a new Battle of the Five Armies poster. What's that? A new B.o.t.F.A. poster?! *gasp*

The King Under the Mountain Thorin. Oooohhhh....

The Elven army about to battle...Orcs on mountain goats? Looookk at Dale in the background. *sniff, sniff* Looks like Thrandy still has his beloved Irish elk. *gasp* What's going to happen to it?

Legolas and Tauriel. What---nnnnooooo. Elves aren't supposed to cry or be dirty or hurt. What happened?

Thorin, Fili and Kili. In armour. Nope. Wrong. They look to determined and prepared and ready for battle. Please, tell me it's no true.

Master Bilbo Baggins. Sthap. Sthap. Don't do this to us. *buckets of tears*

I won't leave you on that sad note. Here's an adorable hedgehog to make you happy:

Love ~ S. F. the Man-Hobbit

September 2nd 1973

This day in 1973, our beloved Professor John Ronald Reuel Tolkien passed "Into the West." 

Thank you so much for blessing the many lives with your stories and for encouraging us to make the difference.

And all will turn
To silver glass.
A light on the water,
Grey ships pass
Into the West.

~ S. F.