All in Living Like a Hobbit
When we moved into our home last year, this pueblo-style playhouse had been built into the basement by the previous owners. I immediately knew I wanted to turn it into a Hobbit Hole for our children (and let’s be honest, myself), but it took me a while to come up with a good plan and find the time to get started.
A few weeks ago, one of those glorious yet terrifying midwest thunderstorms swept across our town and knocked down our power lines right after dinnertime. After realizing we didn’t own any flashlights aside from the ones on our phones, I was able to find a few candles to light up our room after the storm. (Don’t worry, I also ordered flashlights later, too.)
A few days later, a friend shared that she was making her own ‘emergency candles’ on her instagram story and I thought, yeah, I should do this too! Candle-making is one of those things I had always wanted to try but had just assumed it was impossibly difficult — but I was quite surprised! It wasn’t too bad! If you’re feeling intimidated, don’t be! You can do it!
Today we are welcoming Chas Burrell to the Tea with Tolkien blog! Chas is the incredibly talented woman behind the blog, At Home with Chas. After following her on Instagram for years and learning so much from what she’s had to share, I asked her to write this post for the Tea with Tolkien community. I know many of us are just beginning to learn about the wonderful world of bread-making, so I know you’ll love this introduction. I also recommend subscribing to her youtube channel for helpful how-to’s!
There are few things in this world more comforting or satisfying than making your own bread. Whether it be your first attempt as you watch the yeast activate and your dough come alive. Or as a seasoned cook that bakes most every day to grace your family table with warm, hearty goodness. Bread-making truly is an art form that everyone at any skill level can enjoy.
As a young girl I knew I wanted to know how to make food, REAL food. Not food from jars or cans or boxes. I wanted to know how to make things from scratch and that included breads! As I got older I began dabbling in the bread world. Making the simplest pancakes, sweet breads, muffins, and the like all homemade and from scratch…
Last month, I published my first ever eBook — Thirty Days in the Shire — a guide to slowing down, living simply, and becoming more of a Hobbit at Heart. The book includes a list of thirty challenges to complete within the thirty days, along with five hobbity habits to begin putting into practice.
One of the hobbity habits is to stay at home as much as possible, inspired by the tendency of most Hobbits to prefer their cozy chair by the fire over any and all sorts of adventure.
This weekend, I was able to get started on my first project in our home: repainting the back of this bookshelf! After seeing the way Haleigh of Sweet Sequels painted her bathroom walls, I knew I wanted to do some kind of a mural too!
Since we would be moving before September when we host our family’s annual Hobbit Party, we wanted to throw one last Hobbit Party in our house with the friends we’ve made over the past three years here. This one was a bit different because it was in the middle of summer rather than the beginning of autumn, so I tried to keep things a little more bright and refreshing rather than cozy and warm.
I realized that it's been a while since I've shared about what my hopes are for Tea with Tolkien and how I hope to serve you, my dearest reader!, so I wanted to take a few moments to write it all out for you...
After carrying it as his own for sixty years, Bilbo has felt the weight and the slow-changing power of the One Ring. As he celebrates his Eleventy-first birthday, he has not aged visibly since he was fifty -- an effect of the Ring that leaves his friends and relatives puzzled (and envious).
As I've been reflecting on baby names and trying to decide on a name for our newest little one, I've been putting together this list of Tolkienian baby names to share with all of you! This list is in no way exhaustive, but I've included all of the names that I thought would be nice for a little hobbit lad or lass in case you're also searching for one.
“Eat little at a time, and only at need. For these things are given to serve you when all else fails. The cakes will keep sweet for many many days, if they are unbroken and left in their leaf-wrappings, as we have brought them. One will keep a traveler on his feet for a day of long labour, even if he be one of the tall men of Minas Tirith.” -The Fellowship of the Ring
To the man who wrote of quaint hobbit-holes and grand kingdom halls, friendship and hospitality were valued in a heroic sense. He is often quoted, “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” And oh, how true it is.
