By Maryanna Gabriel
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| Owner & Farmer |
Funny as you grow taller, one’s Christmas stocking grows smaller. One learns to
compensate. The invaluable love of those that are treasured weighs in heavily.
Cinnamon sticks wrapped in brown velvet ribbon, the sounds from the fire, the
glow of candles, glorious music. Then there is Tolkein. I made a promise, in
writing, when I visited the Shire set in New Zealand that I would not publish
my photos until the movie The Hobbit was released, which is now. I kept my
promise. They had filmed only three weeks prior to my visit. I was so excited I
could barely hear what I was being told about the set by the farmer who owns it.
When Peter Jackson, the director, was flying around looking for a perfect place
the chopper landed in this farmer’s field with the cute little lake. The famous
director knocked on the door. A woman opened the door and told him to come back
in two hours, her husband was watching the All Blacks play rugby, which Peter
did! Little did they all know how impactful the fateful and historic encounter
would be for them. Now the set is as important is their farm. You can see the
idyllic setting dotted with their sheep. I have seen the movie today and it is
as good if not better than the Lord Of The Rings. It was adorable, funny, and
filled with drooling mountain trolls and all of the philosophy, action, and
enchantment one needs to feel truly inspired. The younger Bilbo’s acting was absolutely
wonderful, don’t pay any attention to that Globe and Mail reviewer who panned
it. I saw the movie without 3D and it was absolutely fantastic. The local movie theater is playing my photos before the movie if you would like to see the photos.
All very exciting and a great way to spend some holiday time. Happy holidays everyone!
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| Bilbo's House |
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| Surroundings |
