Thought I should stop in and let you know we got home safely and on time from our great adventure.
My brain is still indecisive about whether or not it’s going to be functional today, so I won’t try anything more profound. Except that your comments on my last post gave me all the warm fuzzies! I love you girls so much!!
P.S. ^ Guess what I watched on the airplane. . . ??
As far as I can see, this is the only attitude that can get you through an international trip. 🙂
We would appreciate your prayers for our grand adventure!
Of course I’ve been thinking of Middle Earth today! I’m sure some of you have too. 😉
I’ve heard so many people say that they wished they could visit Tolkien’s beautiful world, and I must say that I don’t blame them. . . But I’ve never really seen it that way.
For me, Middle Earth has never been farther than my backyard. Tolkien did not try to make The Lord of the Rings allegorical, but in the introduction to my version of The Fellowship of the Ring he said he thought it ‘applicable’.*
I believe I am a better person because I read fantasy. I know there is a lot of really bad fantasy out there, but I say it’s worth sifting through it. Because there’s books out there like The Hobbit.
Middle Earth is right here, right now. Fangorn is every tree I’ve ever climbed, and Aragorn is every hero I’ve admire. I see him in friends of ours, I see him in my Dad. I saw him in the police officer standing in the middle of the street picking up trash. I never want to underestimate the Strider’s around me–like so many people in Middle Earth did. I feel the pull of the Ring every time I’m tempted to snap at someone, or not bother to do what’s right. I pray I can resist like Frodo did. I see Arwen and Pippin and Merry in my family, and in my friends.
Whatever character you’ve been dying to meet, you can meet. They’re in you, in your heart, in those around you.
What Aragorn/Legolas/Eowyn/etc. in your life have you been missing? Middle Earth is right here around us–are we ready to fight the darkness?
*Forward to The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien, page x
I wrote a paper on archery last school year, and I was going to post it on here, and somehow it never happened all summer. So. . . here we are now. My apologies to everyone who has been waiting to read this.
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“So long as the new moon returns in heaven a bent, beautiful bow, so long will the fascination of archery keep hold of the hearts of men” (Thompson, 5).
The bow is a fascinating weapon, and it has been used since the days of ancient Egypt. Today, firearms have taken its place in warfare, but archery is still practiced as an intriguing sport, and a powerful method of hunting. It is the oldest sport still practiced. The Scorton Silver Arrow Contest, begun in Yorkshire, England in 1673 (Haywood, x) is still held today—and still for only male archers over twenty-one (Studelska, 35). It is the oldest recorded sporting event (Studelska, 35). In this paper, I will explore different types of archery practiced today, discuss the history of archery, and give some examples of archery in literature.
“But his uneasiness wore off, and in the fine weather he forgot his troubles for a while. The Shire had seldom seen so fair a summer, or so rich an autumn: the trees were laden with apples, honey was dripping in the combs, and the corn was tall and full. (75)
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
Hooray for September! (And that’s not just because it includes September 22nd. *cough*)
I’m not looking forward to the busyness of the school year, but I’m looking forward to autumn weather. (And that’s not just because I can wear my Strider boots without getting hot.) I never thought I really liked fall, but it’s been growing on me. Fall suggests everything lovely: fresh fruit; flame-colored leaves; gossamer and big, beautiful spiders (I like those as long as they don’t touch me. . .); crisp autumn mornings; cool breezes; everything pumpkin flavored; pretty scarves and gloves. . .
Happy autumn, y’all!
P.S. I got more info on Catania’s Forest up recently. . . it’s still not much, but you should get a chance to learn more soon.
In case you hadn’t yet noticed, I love this necklace!
Thank you, Spencer, it’s awesome. And yes, it still is, even when I do cartwheels and it hits me in the forehead. 😉
I can’t believe how well this turned out! And in case you were wondering, that’s my new favorite shirt.
These two are very special to me. I always connect this necklace and its story with the idea of hope. I thought the bright sparkles looked so hopeful against the ashes.
I don’t know why we had this pile of cinders in our backyard, but it made for beautiful pictures. 😉
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And yes, I totally take photo-shoots of inanimate objects. Doesn’t everyone?
Happy Saturday! 😉
Good morning, readers! We have a weekly posting schedule!
I’m going to be doing book reviews every Tuesday, if I can manage it. I don’t just love writing book reviews, but I decided I’ve read a lot of good books and I needed to share about them. But this book review should be fun, because I love these books so much!
Continue reading Book Review: “The Black Star of Kingston” & “The Green Ember”
I know these have been a long time in coming. . . better late than never, right? Anyway, I’m very happy with how they turned out!
If you don’t like hundreds of pictures of flowers, feel free to skip this post. 😉 And, believe it or not, this is the narrowed-down version.
I got a lot of good pictures of Little Brother. I guess he’s just picturesque.
I am so excited about this picture! My pictures of bugs never turn out this clear!
“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not whither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king. (193)”
–The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien