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Posted on 11/03/2004 6:16:42 PM PST by HairOfTheDog
Eleventh Thread: Wedding Edition: The Hobbit Hole XI - No One Admitted Except on Wedding Business!
New verse:
Upon the hearth the fire is red, |
Still round the corner there may wait |
Home is behind, the world ahead, |
I'd definitely do THAT, then call the first guys, tell them you got a couple of other bids, but you'd really like for them to do it, if they could get their fannies in motion! ;o)
...or maybe I should just go with the siding....
Nothing prettier than Christmas lights reflecting off water, or snow.
/Do you need to replace the siding on the whole house?
I'm afraid to find out!
It's nothing that absolutely needs to be done right now, but in a couple of years or so. I have some loose shingles and I wouldn't be suprised if there were a couple of soft spots around.
Sometimes it doesn't stay cold outside long enough here for the inside of the house to cool off too. We have actually resorted to opening the windows for awhile so the house would be chilled enough to light the fire. A fire is nice, and we need one rarely enough that the work of it is novel.
Didn't Thomas Hudson have a fireplace in his house in Bimini?
I've not seen that one!
Grr...got the dogs a new toy, which they LOVE. However, the squeaker hasn't died yet. They are making much use of it.
I checked out the website with the corduroy shirts.
It is my considered opinion that, with the Latin and Island populations here, and their love of bright colors, you would stand out in the extreme wearing one of those quiet shirts here in Miami :-)
I have to admit to being slightly stunned by the plain earth colors on those shirts ;-)
My dad almost flunked kindergarten because of his inability to cut a straight line and draw simple shapes. He still can't do either. I model myself after him.
His strategy is to be rich enough to pay someone else to wrap Christmas presents for him.
I'll be looking over your story, writing mine (all of a sudden, I love the plot again, even if I know I can't get some scenes right). That's in between studying.
Do all of your characters use bad grammar, in which case I will concentrate merely on the narrative?
G'nad nominated his former commanding general, and supplied the cover letter (still in slightly unfinished condition). I think it says all that needs be said.
From:
To: Lieutenant General John F. Sattler, Commanding General, First Marine Expeditionary Force
Subj: GIFT OF APPRECIATION
Dear Sir,
It is with great honor that we address you on behalf of greatful citizens of the United States. (insert your description of our organization)
Your service as the Commanding General of IMEF during this dynamic era of our history has been nothing short of superb. You have aggressively pursued our nations enemies, and have made the world a better place. Your love for your Marines, sailors and soldiers is demonstrated in your day to day leadership. Your men and women trust you with their lives, and we know they are in good hands.
We cannot imagine the agony you feel at the loss of every life. We know this is a burden you must bear along with the mask of command. In war, loss of life is inevitable, but we know you will always safeguard the welfare of your charges with the utmost diligence.
As a small token of our appreciation of your exemplary service, please accept these two knives. It is the least we can do to show our appreciation. Also included are additional CRKT knives that we ask you distribute to deserving Marines and sailors. These knives have been distributed to troops of every branch in every theater of operation. We know they will be put to good use by IMEF. We will send more knives as time goes on.
Again, it is an honor for us to address you, and provide these knives for service to your command. God bless the United States, the Marine Corps, and may He bless you and keep you sir.
*Sniff*... ok, g'nad, I think if you ever want it you have a future writing tearjerkers...
Pretty cool!
I mostly just wanted help with the narrative. And this late in the game, there's not much that can be done, I know.
I tend to be too verbose. If I were writing this for anything real, a lot of scenes would need to be scrapped, I think.
IMO - and I'm only about five chapters in - the narrative works really well for the sort of story you're telling. It is verbose, yes. But that works with this style. Heck, think about "The Hobbit" - that's overly verbose in places.
So far it works pretty well. I've found maybe three errata that aren't part of the story. The only scene so far I might cut is the ruined brownies/Mother's pie story. Unless that is going to be important later.
It isn't really important...except as a kinda Mother / daughter bonding scene. The family gets so left behind in what comes later that it probably doesn't make sense to put so much about 'em in, but...it's also a story she might sort of recognize.
I'm supposed to take Stephen to the Wal-mart of dooooooooom in a few minutes here. I'm stalling.
I thought it might be a story you put in for some private reason.
Really, so far, there's not much to criticize. If you could speed up the action, you should, but I don't know how. You could brutally hack out the sweet family scenes and just get her stuck in the princess's world quickly, but I don't think that's what you want.
And you either write like me, and self-correct as you go along, or you've already proofread this. There aren't many problems at all.
My own story is progressing slowly, but it's taking shape. I have hopes of finishing the first half before I go home. And I need to study but I don't want too!
Outstanding letter, and great idea!
It has turned out to be a musical weekend! Just got back from a "Messiah Sing" at our Parish, and I didn't do too badly for not having sung some of those choruses for almost 30 years!!
Been doing lots-o-housework getting ready for the inlaws next week. Am trying to as much as possible well ahead of time to avoid stress as the big day rolls closer. Have been baking cookies and making dough to keep and bake next week. (this is *NOT* a low-carb Christmas!!) Baked a bunch to send to my brother and his little family. My first niece is due the 27th!! Also baked a few for big'ol who is a big'ol cookie monster. Settled on a jam-filled thumbprint shortbread cookie for the cookie exchange. I'll bake those tomorrow. Found a ginger bread-type cookie online somewhere that is just yummy:
Amish Ginger Cookies
From the Frankenmouth Community Cookbook
3/4 c butter, softened
1 c sugar
1 egg
1/4 c unsulfured molasses
2-1/2 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1-1/2 tsp baking soda
(I added 1 tsp. vanilla and a dash of salt (<1/8 tsp))
extra granulated sugar
Cream butter and sugar; add egg and molasses and mix well. Add remaining ingredients and mix until well combined. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and roll in extra granulated sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 5-7 minutes in a preheated 350F oven. Allow to cool for a minute on baking sheet, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.
(A rounded tablespoon measures enough dough for a 1" ball. I rolled them in "raw" sugar that has a nice caramel color and large, pretty crystals.)
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