Memeage

[dreamflower]

gayalondiel posted this:

Comment to this post and I will give you 5 subjects/things I associate you with. Then post this in your LJ and elaborate on the subjects given.

My answers to her, behind the cut...

1. Tolkien
Well, it’s no exaggeration to say that JRR Tolkien, and LotR in particular, has been the greatest influence on my life, ever. I first read The Hobbit at the age of 15 (a bit later than many people) when I borrowed it from a classmate, and devoured it overnight. The next day I went into the school library and checked out FotR and TT. (RotK was already checked out by someone else) and devoured the first two books over a weekend, barely stopping to eat, and most certainly not to sleep. Then I had to wait almost a week to get RotK. I wept at the end, and then immediately began to read the story again. By the time I had to return my library copies, I had purchased my own in paperback, and had already read the story a third time, and was hopelessly and helplessly captivated by hobbits. I spent my remaining high school and college years re-reading the story constantly (even when temporarily interspersed with other books). My senior year of high school, I did a term paper on Tolkien and the Inklings, which led me to the writings of CS Lewis, and the momentous decision to become a Christian. As a result of that decision, I attended the small Christian college where I met my husband--and was drawn to him because I saw him reading The Two Towers. We instantly bonded over books, and LotR in particular. We’ve been married almost 33 years now. So I have JRRT to thank for my faith, my education, my husband and our life together. I’d say that’s a pretty strong influence!

2. Fanfiction

I discovered LotR fanfiction near the end of 2003. I began reading avidly--mostly at Stories of Arda, but also at other archives as well. I was amazed and impressed by the quality of the stories, and I was delighted by getting to have *more hobbits!* I have always regretted that Christopher Tolkien did not find more hobbit-related material in his father’s papers. No offense to Elves, Men or Dwarves, but Hobbits are what I wanted more of!

In early 2004, I read a story by Lulleny, called “The Prodigal Took”. I was completely blown away by that story, and could not get it out of my mind. That same night, I had a dream, and woke up with the idea for a sequel to it as clear as anything, in my head. I got up at 3AM and began to write it, even though at that point in time, I had no idea of what to do with it. I did not know how one posted fic, or went about getting on an archive. The story obsessed me for the better part of a week before I finished it. Now, I had a story. What to do with it? The story it was based on someone else’s. Nervously, I e-mailed Lulleny, and shyly asked if she’d like to see the story she’d inspired. Fortunately for me, she answered promptly and graciously, urged me to archive the story, and offered to beta it. I will always be grateful for her gentle encouragement and courtesy. After making the changes she suggested, I submitted the story to Stories of Arda for consideration as an author. After a nerve-wracking wait, I was accepted, and posted my first story--all wrong, LOL! Fortunately the archive owner was understanding, and helped me figure out what I had done wrong.

But I was hooked. That story broke the dam, and hobbit-stories just flooded out of me. I’ve been writing them ever since. Except for two Yuletide ventures into other fandoms, LotR is still my only real fandom.

I have to say, even with all of the other creative hobbies I have, fanfic is creatively fulfilling in a very special way that none of the others are. I will be writing about hobbits as long as I can, which if I have my way will be the rest of my life.

3. Katrina (sorry if you don't want to, I remember being impressed by your diary.)

Katrina was more traumatic for me than I realized even at the time. I think the ultimate results were the worst for us: my husband felt he could not stay on the coast with the ever-present danger of his having to remain at work during a storm. When we relocated to Oklahoma, we lost our home of 30 years. And though we no longer have the threat of a hurricane, the wind here can sometimes get up to gale force under just “normal” circumstances, which has a tendency to be very nerve-wracking. During the high winds that came through OK last week I had difficulty sleeping, and unpleasant dreams when I did.

And saddest of all was our visit back to the coast last summer, when we realized that we could never have back what we once had, even if for some reason we decided to return there. So much is gone forever.

I’m glad, really, that I kept that diary. It was a horrible time, but I don’t want to forget how I made it through.


4. Needlecraft

Oh, let’s see: I sew--both hand and machine, knit--both on needles and looms, crochet, and do several kinds of embroidery, including silk-ribbon, cross-stitch, regular, black work, plastic canvas and punch-needle. I love to make wearable art--my latest wearable art project was a unicorn-themed purse. I’m also planning a new LotR themed purse, as the last one I made is nearly worn-out. Truth is, there are not many types of needlecraft that I have not tried at least once, with the exception of tatting--and I have a tatting shuttle, I just have not tried it out yet.

The main sewing project I have on hand right now is a Hogwarts robe for the_arc5, and I have a couple of aprons cut out. I also have bought the fabric for a set of Roman blinds for our kitchen.

But mostly lately I’ve been knitting cotton dishcloths. I probably have enough to last me for years, but they are fun and relaxing and easy to work on when riding in the car or watching TV. It’s a great way to practice stitch patterns, and I found some really nice variegated cotton in the blues, yellows and white that our kitchen is.

5. Recipes

I love recipes. I have an extensive collection of cookbooks, and a trip to the library usually ends up with me bringing home a half-dozen at least. I like to read cookbooks--yes, read them like a book, cover-to-cover, the same way I do a novel. I also have a large collection of cooking magazines, mostly Taste of Home and its offshoots, but many others as well.

I cut out recipes, too, from newspapers or magazines, or the bags or boxes of products. I have several of those “magnetic paged” photo albums, which are terrible for keeping pictures in, but are a great way to keep my recipe clippings.

That said, I seldom use recipes for my day-to-day cooking, unless it’s the first time I try something. I usually make things up as I go along, and if it turns out well, then I will try it again and write down the steps so I can recreate it. I love cooking--its one area of life in which one can get a huge amount of ego-gratifying feedback right away! Basking in compliments on my cooking is quite as satisfying as finding a page full of reviews for a fic.

And I adore recipe!fic. I can remember the first time I read a mystery with a cooking theme, that included recipes! I thought that was a marvelous idea. I just love to write stories now that include recipes, and enjoy running the annual Recipe!fic Challenge at shire_kitchen

I heartily wish more people would write recipe fics!


So comment and tell me if you want prompts from me!