The Tolkien Coming of Age Club 2 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Samwise · 04-09-2006, 04:25 PM

Thank you, Miss Hilde! Christopher would like to say hi, too!

Hewwo !

/

Child of the 7th Age · 04-10-2006, 12:58 AM

Hello everyone! I have been deeply engrossed in family affairs of late. Being a hobbit mom can sometimes be hard! Hopefully this will come to an end in about a month and my life will resume.

Son is in 12th grade and trying to figure out where he'd like to go to college. Back in the ancient days, applying to college was easy. You picked out three reasonable choices, sent in your application, and generally got back acceptances. For those blessed with younger hobbits, let me tell you things are not so easy! (Poor Pio has already heard an earful of this.) Perhaps this state of affairs is only in the U.S. and other countries haven't gone beserk. But, in the U.S., if you have a student who loves academics and has his or her sights set on competitive schools, or is trying to win a merit scholarship, be prepared to fork out generous amounts of dollars on SATI's, SATII's, AP's, and applications and then get set for some large headaches.

After endless visits to schools, applications too numerous to count, and a hefty number of rejections, son has actually gotten in to a few colleges. (This description is only a slight exaggeration.) Moreover, son takes after his mom and and has decided to study something utterly useless (maybe philosophy or ancient studies

), which delights me no end. Tomorrow I push him onto a plane at 6 a.m., and he flies up to Chicago to look at the university and see if it's a "match" so that we can send in a deposit. I hope it works out.

What tickled me is that son checked to make sure that U Chicago had a Tolkien course. It does - jointly sponsored by the university and the divinity school. He was also brave enough to give a link on his resume to the RPG forums on the Downs, listed boldly along with his student literary magazines, as indication of his writing expertise! (Maybe that explains the rejections?) One of his essays on his application to Chicago talked about his affection for Lord of the Rings. He posts on a college admissions website and is always telling me how many of the other students tell him they've included an essay related to Lord of the Rings on one or more of their college applications.

For better or worse, I guess things are changing. That just wouldn't have happened in the ancient days when I applied to undergrad.

Hilde Bracegirdle · 04-10-2006, 04:07 AM

Good providence to both of you, and I hope Chicago is a good match! Any school with a Tolkien course sounds promising to me!

Estelyn Telcontar · 04-12-2006, 07:43 AM

I brought one of my quilts with me today. It seems appropriate to us geezers, who so often tell those young 'uns that life isn't a bed of roses - this bit of life is!

Hilde Bracegirdle · 04-12-2006, 10:16 AM

If life is no bed of roses, how clever to cover that bed with a rose quilt. It won’t fade nearly so fast and the thorns aren’t even worth a mention! Hmm...maybe I should learn to quilt a garden instead of cultivate it!

Mithalwen · 04-12-2006, 10:50 AM

I aspire to being a decent gardener but I know that quilting is beyond me. When I was at school the needlework teacher said my patchwork was the worst she had ever seen. Her other subject was handwriting where I was equally lacking!

I have a cousin in Australia who is quite an expert at quilting. Obviously the talent was not from any shared genetic heritage :P I love the colours of that quilt. But I will stick to real roses myself - much easier to grow!!!!!!!!

Samwise · 04-12-2006, 05:33 PM

Quote:

I aspire to being a decent gardener but I know that quilting is beyond me.

Me as well. But, bein' a lover of roses,(

) I really enjoy lookin' at these.
Very pretty, Miss Estelyn!

mark12_30 · 04-17-2006, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar

I brought one of my quilts with me today. It seems appropriate to us geezers, who so often tell those young 'uns that life isn't a bed of roses - this bit of life is!

Glorious, Esty. Having heard rumors of your skill for so long, it's good to see at last.

Sharon-- all the best for your son. May his college experience be enriching, fortifying, enlightening, and may he steer quite clear of any and all deadly snares and traps.

My snowhobbits are thriving. We're remodelling/ redecorating our house-- forest theme. Ideally my living room would resemble a flet. Too bad Strider insists on having couches and chairs... but the men and hobbits do have a sense of what's comfortable. I suppose I can let myself get spoiled by it, again.

mark12_30 · 07-13-2006, 01:44 PM

The interior remodeling is mostly done: Woodland colors (a little too much tan and not enough green, but I'll work on that.) Wooden six-panel doors. The new kitchen floor has a fallen-leaf pattern. I like it. And I moved a ficus into the living room, and trained the branches to fan out in a semicircle so that it looks like a "White Tree of Gondor". THe bathroom is done in greys and blues. Now to add a mossy fountain...

We even have a back deck, thanks to Strider and his dad working on it all last week. ( Why is it that men-folk build flets four feet off of the ground, surrounded by a railing, and unattatched to any trees? And then they put "deck chairs" on it, and place the large gas grill so that it blocks the garden view? At least, it did; it's been moved.)

Strider says: "You have your flet now. Are you happy?" Of course I am! I even have two snowhobbits and a ranger to share my new flet with. I am a lucky lass. It's close to the beech trees, and the oak woods, and the rest of the garden.

Mithalwen · 07-13-2006, 02:10 PM

Although I am not always great with heights, I still like the idea of a flet - I might need more than a woven screen to feel comfortable ... but if one had the money (and in my case a more substantial tree...... ) wouldn't these be fantastic? Might have to get a Euromillions ticket tomorrow ..after all I have the treelights now

)

http://www.blueforest.com/?key=treehouse

04-09-2006, 04:25 PM	#1
Samwise Faithful Spirit Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: #3 Bagshot Row, Petaluma, Ca Posts: 2,299	Thank you, Miss Hilde! Christopher would like to say hi, too! Hewwo ! / __________________ Giving thanks unto the Father...In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.~Colossians1:12a,14 * * * * * * * I am Samwise son of Hamfast, if by hoe or trowel I can get these weeds out of your garden, I will.You have my shears!;)

04-10-2006, 12:58 AM	#2
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Hello everyone! I have been deeply engrossed in family affairs of late. Being a hobbit mom can sometimes be hard! Hopefully this will come to an end in about a month and my life will resume. Son is in 12th grade and trying to figure out where he'd like to go to college. Back in the ancient days, applying to college was easy. You picked out three reasonable choices, sent in your application, and generally got back acceptances. For those blessed with younger hobbits, let me tell you things are not so easy! (Poor Pio has already heard an earful of this.) Perhaps this state of affairs is only in the U.S. and other countries haven't gone beserk. But, in the U.S., if you have a student who loves academics and has his or her sights set on competitive schools, or is trying to win a merit scholarship, be prepared to fork out generous amounts of dollars on SATI's, SATII's, AP's, and applications and then get set for some large headaches. After endless visits to schools, applications too numerous to count, and a hefty number of rejections, son has actually gotten in to a few colleges. (This description is only a slight exaggeration.) Moreover, son takes after his mom and and has decided to study something utterly useless (maybe philosophy or ancient studies ), which delights me no end. Tomorrow I push him onto a plane at 6 a.m., and he flies up to Chicago to look at the university and see if it's a "match" so that we can send in a deposit. I hope it works out. What tickled me is that son checked to make sure that U Chicago had a Tolkien course. It does - jointly sponsored by the university and the divinity school. He was also brave enough to give a link on his resume to the RPG forums on the Downs, listed boldly along with his student literary magazines, as indication of his writing expertise! (Maybe that explains the rejections?) One of his essays on his application to Chicago talked about his affection for Lord of the Rings. He posts on a college admissions website and is always telling me how many of the other students tell him they've included an essay related to Lord of the Rings on one or more of their college applications. For better or worse, I guess things are changing. That just wouldn't have happened in the ancient days when I applied to undergrad. __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote. Last edited by Child of the 7th Age; 04-10-2006 at 01:04 AM.

04-12-2006, 07:43 AM	#4
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	I brought one of my quilts with me today. It seems appropriate to us geezers, who so often tell those young 'uns that life isn't a bed of roses - this bit of life is! __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

04-12-2006, 10:50 AM	#6
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	I aspire to being a decent gardener but I know that quilting is beyond me. When I was at school the needlework teacher said my patchwork was the worst she had ever seen. Her other subject was handwriting where I was equally lacking! I have a cousin in Australia who is quite an expert at quilting. Obviously the talent was not from any shared genetic heritage :P I love the colours of that quilt. But I will stick to real roses myself - much easier to grow!!!!!!!! __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

07-13-2006, 01:44 PM	#9
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	"The White (Ficus) Tree Of Gondor" The interior remodeling is mostly done: Woodland colors (a little too much tan and not enough green, but I'll work on that.) Wooden six-panel doors. The new kitchen floor has a fallen-leaf pattern. I like it. And I moved a ficus into the living room, and trained the branches to fan out in a semicircle so that it looks like a "White Tree of Gondor". THe bathroom is done in greys and blues. Now to add a mossy fountain... We even have a back deck, thanks to Strider and his dad working on it all last week. ( Why is it that men-folk build flets four feet off of the ground, surrounded by a railing, and unattatched to any trees? And then they put "deck chairs" on it, and place the large gas grill so that it blocks the garden view? At least, it did; it's been moved.) Strider says: "You have your flet now. Are you happy?" Of course I am! I even have two snowhobbits and a ranger to share my new flet with. I am a lucky lass. It's close to the beech trees, and the oak woods, and the rest of the garden. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

04-10-2006, 04:07 AM	#3
Hilde Bracegirdle Relic of Wandering Days Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: You'll See Perpetual Change. Posts: 1,480	Good providence to both of you, and I hope Chicago is a good match! Any school with a Tolkien course sounds promising to me!

04-12-2006, 10:16 AM	#5
Hilde Bracegirdle Relic of Wandering Days Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: You'll See Perpetual Change. Posts: 1,480	If life is no bed of roses, how clever to cover that bed with a rose quilt. It won’t fade nearly so fast and the thorns aren’t even worth a mention! Hmm...maybe I should learn to quilt a garden instead of cultivate it!

07-13-2006, 02:10 PM	#10
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	Although I am not always great with heights, I still like the idea of a flet - I might need more than a woven screen to feel comfortable ... but if one had the money (and in my case a more substantial tree...... ) wouldn't these be fantastic? Might have to get a Euromillions ticket tomorrow ..after all I have the treelights now ) http://www.blueforest.com/?key=treehouse __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace