The Hobbit Hole VII - But not yet weary are our feet...

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome to The Hobbit Hole!

But not yet weary are our feet...

• First thread: New Zealander builds Hobbit hole
• Second thread: The New Hobbit Hole
• Third thread: The Hobbit Hole III - Journey to the Cross-roads! (Congratulations, we filled it up!)
• Fourth Thread: The Hobbit Hole IV - The Road Goes Ever On...
• Fifth Thread: The Hobbit Hole V - Where Many Paths and Errands Meet...
• Sixth Thread: The Hobbit Hole VI - And Whither Then? I Cannot Say...

New verse:

Upon the hearth the fire is red, Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet, Still round the corner we may meet A sudden tree or standing stone That none have seen but we alone. Tree and flower and leaf and grass, Let them pass! Let them pass! Hill and water under sky, Pass them by! Pass them by!

Still round the corner there may wait A new road or a secret gate, And though we pass them by today, Tomorrow we may come this way And take the hidden paths that run Towards the Moon or to the Sun. Apple, thorn, and nut and sloe, Let them go! Let them go! Sand and stone and pool and dell, Fare you well! Fare you well!

Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are all alight. Then world behind and home ahead, We’ll wander back to home and bed. Mist and twilight, cloud and shade, Away shall fade! Away shall fade! Fire and lamp, and meat and bread, And then to bed! And then to bed!

See also: http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net

Web page for our moot reports and troop support information!

[JenB]

Ugh, barely did Day 1 - taking time off for being sick was a mistake. I haven't had dinner yet. Must find something. It's really cold here, but not snowing, at least.

Will this winter never end? I am reminded of Narnia.

[Wneighbor]

Sprigs of fresh basil around your kitchen while you're cooking will deter flies. Why do you want to get rid of ladybugs?

[JenB]

Perhaps, or maybe it's just a good way to start the story. Or it could be a convention, like the woodcutter's youngest son in so many European fairy tales.

Have read some Chinese fairy tales, but not any Japanese. Hmm... Anyway, some of the characters in Kenshin are based on real people, and some are inspired by real people, and then there are the Shinsengumi (really cool name!), who were a real group and show up occasionally.

[RosieCotton]

Taking time off when you're sick may keep you from getting sicker! I wouldn't worry about it.

Ugh...what with the Tae-bo yesterday and the running today, my whatever-muscle-it-is-that-runs-on-the-outside-of-the-hip is really stiff and sore.

[Wneighbor]

I can't seem to get any thyme to grown here. It's becoming a frustration point because twice it has looked like it was really taking off only to up and die! Suddenly like! But, it doesn't grow wild around here so I'm sure it's not acclimated to the area.

[RosieCotton]

Here it mostly seems to grow in flat, well drained, sunny areas...like big lawns or the center place (whatsit called?) on the freeway or cemetaries. Open areas. But there...it grows like crazy, to the point where it cuts down on lawn mowing requirements. I think they may even plant it on purpose on the freeway things so it's easier to keep neat.

Wonder if ours is hardier than the storebought kind? Hm...if I get some growing here, maybe I could send you some to try?

[Fedora]

Will this winter never end? I am reminded of Narnia.

LOL! If you find a faun in your closet, you know you're in trouble. . .

[JenB]

Running out to look for happy carbfree ice cream. Back shortly.

Fedora, there are no fauns in my closet. Considering their reputation, I'm just as happy...

Rosie, forgot to mention that my sister had to finish off Escaflowne before I gave her Kenshin. Yesterday she mused, "that thing with Dilandu was a little odd, wasn't it? I wasn't expecting that. I thought he was Allen's brother, not Allen's sister."

I am a little worried about her. Oh well. When you and I both rich, and can fly to each other's places for Animoots, I'll drag her along.

[RosieCotton]

I'd like to get her and Margaret together sometime!

Running out, too...gotta return a cookbook and see if I can bribe Dad into taking back some library books for me, since I returned some to the college for him...

[Fedora]

Hadn't heard that about flies and basil--will have to try that!

The ladybugs (actually a variety of Asian Ladybird Beetles) invade the house by the hundreds, make a loud noise which is especially annoying at night when you're trying to sleep, swarm around your head, land on you, bite, and when they die or are killed they secrete a fluid that stinks and stains.

[Wneighbor]

I think it is the heat that kills mine. It will come on really strong in the spring and fall. But, it seems to be maybe the hot weather then. Until you said that it likes dry areas there I was thinking maybe it was the drought here.... but since you said what you did... I bet it's the heat.

No, it doesn't grow wild here anywhere that I know of. I could never get it to grow except in pots at the old place either - and it always died quickly.

[Fedora]

Ugh...what with the Tae-bo yesterday and the running today, my whatever-muscle-it-is-that-runs-on-the-outside-of-the-hip is really stiff and sore.

Is it the one that gets sore after you do Roundhouse Kicks? Think that'd be your Tensor Fasciae Latae

It will help the soreness if you stretch that every few days. To do this, sit down on the floor with your legs crossed, cross one foot (let's say right for example) over the opposite (left) hip so that your (right) foot is flat on the floor beside the outside of your hip (rest your hands on your knees for support), and turn your head/torso away from your (left) knee towards the hip of the foot you crossed over (i.e., towards your right in this case), which is the hip you'll be stretching. Stay like that for a few deep breaths, up to about 15-30 seconds at least. Repeat with other hip/foot. Another way to do this is to lie on your back, pull one knee across your body to one side, and turn your head to look the opposite direction (so if you're pulling your left knee over to your right side, you'd look to the left). If you do that a few times a week for a couple weeks it'll help a lot with avoiding soreness. The soreness is worst when you first start doing that type of kick, it goes away after a while.

[Fedora]

then there are the Shinsengumi (really cool name!)

Didn't Longfellow write a poem about them that was inspired by the Kalevala and influenced Tolkien?

By the shores of Shinsengumi. . .

:-)

Yeah, it's probably like the woodcutter's son in European fairy tales, I figure. Hmm, wonder what Tolkien would have to say about it? I wish I could've attended one of his classes! :)

[Ramius]

Greeeeetins' :-)

Hey all... [sip]

[300winmag]

I got today, and took to the engraver, the final Hobbit Hole substitute standard knife. It's a Bob Dozier (a top knifemaker) design, made in Taiwan by KA-BAR. For $20 it's very nice, and I would carry it gladly. A nice feature is the pocket clip that can be used on either side if the knife. Make sure you have a set of small metric hex wrenches, folks. Those CRKTs will eventually need adjusting.

I think I have finally hit on why our HH knife feels so good. It has that nice finely-tuned "snap" to it like a match-grade Government Model, or Winchester Model 12. It feels like precision equipment. The other knives are nice, but, like a Glock, have a lot of plastic in them. Now I love my Glock, but it's just a shooting machine. It's accurate and utterly dependable, but it has no glamor.

I also found this site mentioned elsewhere on FR. It's a great source for pro-military, ass-kickin' music videos. Some are made by the troops themselves, some by talented people at home, and some are "promotional" videos by defense contractors (hint, hint).

pro-military music videos

[Ramius]

Nice shootin' there, MrsNad...

Stooopidbirds tree'n a groundhog. Who'da thunk it? Maybe they're good for hunting other things too?

[300winmag]

Well, at least I got a palindrome.

[Wneighbor]

Welcome!!!

Glad to see you sippin' here again tonight.

So. How was your weekend?

[Ramius]

Weekend was fine... tossed some rocks around on saturday, which is always fun.

Didn't do much at all yesterday. I am really, really pleased with the way the rock work is finishing up. After all those years of looking like crap, it's finally shaping up.

[Fedora]

Fedora, there are no fauns in my closet. Considering their reputation, I'm just as happy...

What, it's not like they would betray you to the White Witch or something :)