The New Hobbit Hole

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Rose was a big fan of the Hornblower books, but I didn't know much about them until seeing the TV series. After that I went back and read the first book. I was impressed with how faithful to the book the TV series was.

Well, time for me to go hunt down first breakfast, I think. Rain has paused for now, but it will be back later... and so will I!

[Sam Cree]

Thanks, everyone, for the New Year's wishes.

I see we are talking about the weather, which is one of my favorite subjects.

Well, I just hope the tropical weather can continue to be as quiet as it has been so far....if we do get a hurricane in FL, I vote for it hitting Palm Beach instead of here again.

[Sam Cree]

I read and enjoyed Patrick O'Brien's stories of Aubrey and Maturin. Do you think then, that I'd like the Hornblower ones? Perhaps the miniseries can be rented.

Going out to run some errands, will check in later.

[osagebowman]

There is probably a dozen or so books in the Richard Sharpe series, read them all, Cornwall also wrote several on the American Civil War or War Between the States if you prefer. He has branched out into Arthurian period and recently wrote a book on the 100 years war, a Longbowman's Story (or tale), reasonably good but not great imho.

[Alkhin]

I read and enjoyed Patrick O'Brien's stories of Aubrey and Maturin. Do you think then, that I'd like the Hornblower ones? Perhaps the miniseries can be rented.

OH OH...can I weigh in on this one too?!?! I have begun reading the O'Brien stories too! I knew within the first page I would like them...I was expecting to find a very dry and dull and monotonous and verbose 18th century style of writing...instead, it is very engaging and interesting. It is a bit tough getting past all the parts that describe the ship, but I love the characterizations and Aubrey seems such a lovable character.

Russell Crowe is going to be in "The Far Side of the World" which is set to come out next year. Billy Boyd is Barret Bonden, the coxswain...

What *does* a coxswain do, anyway????

best,
Alkhin

[Alkhin]

Mr Boyd, signing a cup for a fan at Comic Con...'Barret Bonden'

I'm going to be torn now...which will I anticipate more in 2003? Seeing The Far Side of the World with all its swashing 19th century sailors, or The Lord of the Rings with my favorite hobbit in full Gondorian regalia??????

[Sam Cree]

I didn't know they were making a film of one of O'Brian's books. Funny, I thought Crowe would have made a better Maturin, dark, brooding, Irish. Wasn't Captain Aubrey a blond?

Anyway, I'll definitely look forward to seeing it, though perhaps not as much as TT. I wonder where they'll get square rigged men of war from the early 1800's?

I have a great cookbook, based on the meals described in the novels, called Lobscouse and Spotted Dog. 2 ladies from Long Island researched how everything was cooked in the early 1800's (which is fascinating just to read) and, with O'Brian's approval, published a cookbook on just about everything his characters ate.

I made the venison pasty from it, which is just excellent. Next I may try one of the puddings, which require large quantities of suet. I know they'll taste good.

[Sam Cree]

Boyd will make a perfect Barret Bonden, I think.

[Sam Cree]

I thought the cover illustrations for the series were beautiful.

[Sam Cree]

Hey, wake up, everyone!

[HairOfTheDog]

Hey! - I was about to come in and say the same thing!

Sure is quiet! - I checked in several times today, but since no one was around when I did, I just stayed on my projects.

I now have the house of a good citizen. It is clean and tidy, my laundry is done, my drawers are all organized. I watched Fiddler this morning and cried while I folded laundry. Boy there just isn't any movie that can hit all my emotions the way that one does.

Now I am watching FoTR, and Frodo just pulled Sam into the boat. [snif] Was an emotional sap I am today!

How were the days of the Hobbit Hole residents?

[Sam Cree]

Hi Hair

I'm still grieving over the loss of 2JM from the thread.

I've never seen "Fiddler," and asked my wife and she has never seen it either. Is it worth renting?

I've half a mind to watch FOTR again...but maybe I should wait 'til I forget some of it...which may not be likely. But I do have a copy of "Army of Darkness."

BTW, I don't really suppose this thread needs any classing up as the best folks in FR hang out here anyway, and have the greatest chitchat, I mean "thoughts."

[Sam Cree]

"I now have the house of a good citizen. "

I need to do that and follow your example. It's something of a disaster around here, regarding housekeeping.

[HairOfTheDog]

Yes, I hope when 2J feels she has her life back in priority, she will return to us for visits! - We have to be somewhere on the list of important things! - But I can understand if we are number 4, maybe 5.

Fiddler on the Roof is so absolutely worth renting! - Please do! It is wonderful. It is a story of Jews in pre-revolution Russia, but it is really a story of maintaining traditions in the face of changing times, and it is about fathers and daughters. It is my all time favorite movie. It won several academy awards. The music is wonderful. It makes me laugh, and cry, and laugh through tears. Sold yet?

[HairOfTheDog]

I got into a sortof lax lifestyle for awhile there. I can function if my desk is clean, and the rest had been neglected. Not now. Everything is tidied. It is the end of the process I started last week when I rearranged the furniture. Tomorrow I do the barn. I used to have very high standards with my barn. The aisle and the cobwebs in the corner were always swept. Been lax lately. No more!

[Sam Cree]

"Sold yet? "

Yes. My wife (of 28 years) is Jewish of Russian descent (Chazanof). She has these beautiful brown Slavic eyes that I've never been able to get over. Our parents were all horrified when we married accross cultures so many years ago, but it turned out to have been just a great thing to do. And my daughter is everything.

[HairOfTheDog]

I think you will both love it. It is completely authentic-feeling, like FoTR is. Was filmed in a small village in Yugoslovia.

Knowing what you know about the traditions (and a bit about breaking them) I think you will feel it. You should just go ahead and buy it. ;~D The Special Edition DVD (don't know if there is any other version) has some wonderful features on it too that you will enjoy after you have seen it.

[Sam Cree]

Yeah, I think it's (much) harder to accomplish anything when clutter is around. I've got to get moving and square things away here too.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Good evening, all...

Boy, I don't remember such a slow day on the Hobbit Hole, even for a Saturday...

We're safely home. We went out this afternoon to see the movie Signs, with Mel Gibson. It's an absolutely terrific movie, IMHO, and I would recommend it to pretty much anyone (it may be scary for little kids though.) It features an alien invasion, but that isn't really what the movie's about.

We got caught in the rain coming out of the movie. The area is under a flash flood warning, so we came home earlier than we had planned. But that's ok, because we get to see the Williams sisters in the U.S. Open Tennis final.

mmmm, black lycra....

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

I read and enjoyed Patrick O'Brien's stories of Aubrey and Maturin. Do you think then, that I'd like the Hornblower ones?

I'm not familiar with the O'Brien books, but based on the cover picture you posted it looks like they were stories of seafaring in the 1800s? If so, then you probably will enjoy the Hornblower books. They were written by C.S. Forester, and concern the adventures of British Navy man Horatio Hornblower, from his start as a teen-aged Midshipman all the way up to his later years as an Admiral. The early books are set during the 1790s and early 1800s, just before and during the Napoleanic Wars. The first book in the series is Mr. Midshipman Hornblower.

By the way, is venison pasty what I think it is? Basically, a meat and vegetable pie sort of thing? I grew up with pasties as a staple of my diet... no venison though, usually beef and pork were the meat used.