Hangin' Out in Rivendell
No walkin' for me today. I quite like it here in Rivendell. The road may go ever on, but not yet.
Fun was had by all in my "Walk to Rivendell" board yesterday as folks got to finally tear into the mystery packages that they had patiently been waiting to open on September 22. It was fun to hear about folks who broke into their packages at exactly 12:01 am and walkers who sat on the floor with their husbands rummaging through their gifts and walkers who graciously let their kids open the present that had been tantalizing them for days.
And everyone had breathless stories to tell of what they received and excited thank yous to post across the miles to the friend who had sent them the gift. Several walkers took digital photos of themselves with their gifts or toasting the group with a mug of ale to link to the board. I took my camera with me during my final miles yesterday and took photos of myself in the pouring rain at the very moment my pedometer told me I was in Rivendell. -Bad- idea. As John scolded me later, "electronics and water don't mix.". After a minute or so in the rain my camera started making these god-awful buzzing noises. Yikes. I honestly thought my camera was toast sacrificed to the enthusiasm of the road, but after a day of drying out, not only does it seem to be working again, it even still has the pictures of me reaching Rivendell with my hiking staff in the pouring rain :). Whew.
Lalaith posted late last night to say how much she enjoyed the package I sent her. She was surprised to hear that I made the Elf leaf earrings and she said she loved them and wore them all day yesterday. She said she liked the Canada souvenirs and her daughters were surprised to find a gift for them and they really enjoyed their Kinder-Eggs. She especially loved the cross-stitched bookmark with the name "Lalaith" on it and she said she was going to put it in a place of honour, inside her Bible. She laughed and said she might have to explain to a lot of church-goers what "Lalaith" means, but that was OK :).
The reports of gifts opened made it clear the packages were prepared with great imagination and care. There were several hand-made gifts, earrings, jewelry boxes, bookmarks and beadwork. There was amber jewelry from Poland and rock candy and humbugs from England. Nandiel put English sand, shells and feathers in a jar and sent them as part of Emerlute's gift. Hiking gifts like pedometers, hydrators and my hiking staff proved popular. Many people sent photos and maps. There were journals, quill pens and Tolkien posters. One walker received the One Ring in a small blue box. Lots of gifts with leaf motifs, representing both nature and the Elves. Lots of Elven inscriptions, written, beaded and drawn. Lalaith sent Amrunelen books of poetry by Robert Frost and William Wordsworth. So many unique and creative ideas.
And it was very telling how many people commented that they now had great ideas for -next- September 22, when, they say, we surely will do this again :).
Fun was had by all in my "Walk to Rivendell" board yesterday as folks got to finally tear into the mystery packages that they had patiently been waiting to open on September 22. It was fun to hear about folks who broke into their packages at exactly 12:01 am and walkers who sat on the floor with their husbands rummaging through their gifts and walkers who graciously let their kids open the present that had been tantalizing them for days.
And everyone had breathless stories to tell of what they received and excited thank yous to post across the miles to the friend who had sent them the gift. Several walkers took digital photos of themselves with their gifts or toasting the group with a mug of ale to link to the board. I took my camera with me during my final miles yesterday and took photos of myself in the pouring rain at the very moment my pedometer told me I was in Rivendell. -Bad- idea. As John scolded me later, "electronics and water don't mix.". After a minute or so in the rain my camera started making these god-awful buzzing noises. Yikes. I honestly thought my camera was toast sacrificed to the enthusiasm of the road, but after a day of drying out, not only does it seem to be working again, it even still has the pictures of me reaching Rivendell with my hiking staff in the pouring rain :). Whew.
Lalaith posted late last night to say how much she enjoyed the package I sent her. She was surprised to hear that I made the Elf leaf earrings and she said she loved them and wore them all day yesterday. She said she liked the Canada souvenirs and her daughters were surprised to find a gift for them and they really enjoyed their Kinder-Eggs. She especially loved the cross-stitched bookmark with the name "Lalaith" on it and she said she was going to put it in a place of honour, inside her Bible. She laughed and said she might have to explain to a lot of church-goers what "Lalaith" means, but that was OK :).
The reports of gifts opened made it clear the packages were prepared with great imagination and care. There were several hand-made gifts, earrings, jewelry boxes, bookmarks and beadwork. There was amber jewelry from Poland and rock candy and humbugs from England. Nandiel put English sand, shells and feathers in a jar and sent them as part of Emerlute's gift. Hiking gifts like pedometers, hydrators and my hiking staff proved popular. Many people sent photos and maps. There were journals, quill pens and Tolkien posters. One walker received the One Ring in a small blue box. Lots of gifts with leaf motifs, representing both nature and the Elves. Lots of Elven inscriptions, written, beaded and drawn. Lalaith sent Amrunelen books of poetry by Robert Frost and William Wordsworth. So many unique and creative ideas.
And it was very telling how many people commented that they now had great ideas for -next- September 22, when, they say, we surely will do this again :).