Going to the DOGS

This month's dog-themed post

is brought to you by

PUGSY

the new canine companion

of my sister's gnome,

Teerlinck the Tenacious.

Don't you just love Pugsy's

little pink hoodie?

Awwwww, so cute!

A Tolkien Blog Party

This is my post for A Tolkien Blog Party hosted by Hamlette (Rachel) at The Edge of the Precipice book blog.

[CUE SCARY MUSIC]

I Was A Teenage Werewolf Book Snob

"No way," I said to my older brother who recommended The Lord of the Rings trilogy as a great read. "I'm not into that weirdo counterculture stuff like you and the other hippies are."

"No way," I said to my school friend who recommended The Lord of the Rings trilogy as a great read. "I'm not into silly fantasy stuff about elves and dwarves. Fairy tales are for kids. I prefer to read about Real Life."

But in the mid-1970s in university, I finally succumbed. I guess I had nothing better to read, so I thought "Okay, why not? I'll give it a try."

You know what happened, of course. I was hooked instantly and forever on this marvelous epic tale of Good and Evil and everything in between. I devoured all three huge novels in a frenzy of reading. And when I finished, I was left with that bereft feeling you get when a unique and profound book has come to an end. What was I to do now?

So of course, I immediately turned around and read the trilogy again. I read it for a third time about ten years later, when I was out in the workforce battling my own Saurons, Orcs and Gollums.

Those were the days when we had to rely on our own imaginations to picture the beloved Lord of the Rings (LOTR) characters. Merchandising was pretty scarce and no internet existed to connect the fandom. I had this classic 1976 poster by Jimmy Cauty on my wall and bought the occasional Brothers Hildebrandt illustrated calendar, if I could find one.

I went to Ralph Bakshi's terrible 1978 animated movie of the first two novels in the trilogy. It left no lasting impression on me. But Peter Jackson's early 21st century LOTR film trilogy established for me (and everyone else, I suspect) the definitive appearances of all our favourites. I enjoyed his Hobbit trilogy of films as well although, in my opinion, the story was unnecessarily padded out and enhanced with new characters and storylines -- i.e. milked for every last possible penny. One long movie or two shorter ones would have more than sufficed to bring that novel to the screen.

So, how about YOU?

Are you a LOTR fan?

Have you ever been

a reformed book snob

about this or another book?

TELL ALL in the Comments!

Dance, Ye Scurvy Chumbuckets!

Today's date is, of course,

International Talk Like A Pirate Day!

And, incidentally, it's also the

* * * 15th Blogoversary * * *

of She Who Seeks blog!

No blogoversary cake this year, me hearties --

how about a healthy fruit salad instead?

And a bunch of pirate-themed LOLs!

And here's

HRH's contribution

to the festivities!

The Joy of Memes

Friday Face OFF -- Kingfisher

For this week's Friday Face OFF link party

of art featuring faces, hosted by Nicole of

DVArtist, Art, Food, Gardening blog . . .

Here's a kingfisher

done in watercolour pencils.

The instructor said it must be 

a young fledgling bird because

of how large its head is

in comparison to its body.

I think he's a cutie

and I'm happy with how

this turned out.

I must admit that I've never

been a major bird fancier

(although I do have my favourites),

but I've done so many birds

in art classes now that

I am actually developing a 

real fondness for them.

I know a lot of YOU

are birders though!

If you are, please tell us

why or how you got

involved in this popular pastime!

[Art & photo of art © Debra She Who Seeks, 2023]

Sight Gags and Sly Jokes