tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post5526705389113621416..comments2023-08-20T07:32:23.751-04:00Comments on cakes & crafts, et cetera: Midsummer Madness: A Birthday in Middle EarthCarrie Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-19529650453764995472011-08-12T01:02:08.780-04:002011-08-12T01:02:08.780-04:00This is near the caves of SD which are AWESOME, an...This is near the caves of SD which are AWESOME, and is where the beautiful woods are, etc. OK, I'll stop commenting now, but ran across your LoTR mania party ;) and wanted to tell you I'm a LoTR fan too and Nebraska is where I feel like I'm actually in Middle Earth. No kidding. You could email me if you want more photos etc. What I think is kinda odd in fact is if you look at a map of nebraska there's a central river that runs through it that reaches the Missouri River, which is a golden brown muddy river that borders the state...which, ironically, is what Brandywine river means: Sindarin for "golden brown river," and Westron for "border river." The Platte river splits up and goes North just like it does in The Shire, and Nebraska has these lush rolling green hills, it looks like Ireland. Makes me wonder sometimes if Tolkien didn't look at a map of Nebraska when he mapped out the Shire. Anyway...here's the link: http://www.stateparks.com/fort_robinson.htmlK.J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14000518857772765880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-11224976865985097172011-08-12T00:22:01.842-04:002011-08-12T00:22:01.842-04:00I guess I should also say that this lodge makes a ...I guess I should also say that this lodge makes a wonderful Prancing Pony...THESE people you could start with. No, I don't work for them or own the lodge. <br /><br />http://www.unclebuckslodge.com/accommodations.htmlK.J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14000518857772765880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-71302426374473758202011-08-12T00:06:17.678-04:002011-08-12T00:06:17.678-04:00as a tolkien fanatic myself I'm so glad to see...as a tolkien fanatic myself I'm so glad to see young kids who love this book also. I was worried that Harry Potter would outshine a true literary masterpiece that Tolkien's books are. For some it has, but to your kids, who obviously have good parents, it hasn't. What great ingenuity. When they get older...out of nightmare age...take them on a good two weeks LoTR hiking trip through a good wooded river area...and have real black riders scare the @#$% out of them in the middle of the night ;) The state of Nebraska, believe it or not, is an awesome landscape for any LoTR venture. It is by no means a flat state, and the vast green rolling hills look just like the shire, the Niobrara, although shallow in some years, a great Anduin, perfect with Emyn Muil landscaping on both sides. Toadstool park makes for great downs, and there's enough horse country to make any Rohan fan proud. Fort Robinson and Chadron State Park make for great hikes through amazing woods. If you called a Cherry county or even talked to the local ranchers and told them what you wanted to do...they'd LOVE to make your adventure marvelous. I'd be surprised if they didn't. Nebraskans love to show people their state, and the older ranchers are GREAT with kids or anyone who shows interest in the beauty of the land up there. And it is beautiful. Just type in "Nebraska sandhills" in google photos, or "Niobrara." It's beautiful.K.J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14000518857772765880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-35234618029557470912008-08-28T21:00:00.000-04:002008-08-28T21:00:00.000-04:00Yes, Christie, good job with the soundtrack. I es...Yes, Christie, good job with the soundtrack. I especially like the quaint Hobbit music at the beginning of the Shelob clip, but when Aragorn(?) defeats the spider, the music is appropriately more dramatic.Joannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11993425482639867998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-27028586590974908392008-08-28T08:40:00.000-04:002008-08-28T08:40:00.000-04:00Impressive birthday bash, as always!Impressive birthday bash, as always!Carrie Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06127457431977992115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583672022739105091.post-64082080216440326152008-08-27T12:02:00.000-04:002008-08-27T12:02:00.000-04:00What a great party--and what attention to details!...What a great party--and what attention to details! I love the way that "Shelob" seems to be hanging in a web, for instance--that was a nice touch on somebody's part. The Ringwraith has a very ghostly look--nicely done. Good use of authentic LOTR music with the videos!Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04844146889427095954noreply@blogger.com