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Where the Love-light Gleams  by Lindelea 7 Review(s)
harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 5 on 1/22/2006
I was grinning by the end of the first sentence! Fang indeed! Mind you, being so isolated the couple may need a big fierce dog!

Author Reply: Fang, indeed. Perhaps they ought to have named him Puff! *g*

I'd imagine the sons who are out tending the sheep feel better about leaving the old couple, knowing Fang is there.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 5 on 1/22/2006
ROTFL! I nearly choked on my tunafish sandwich! *golly*wipes eyes*

I adore Harlo and Birdie! And Fang! (Do you suppose they've had Fang for four years? It would account for no First-footers all that time!) And I suppose it was lucky for Ferdi that it had *only* been four years.

And gee whiz, this exchange sounded familiar:

Birdie grabbed her husband by his shirt and pulled him closer to shriek into his ear. 'He needs something warm!'

'Nay,' Harlo said genially, leaning down to pat the hairy head of the dog. 'Fang'll do him no harm!'


Sounds like many a conversation with my late mother-in-law, LOL!



Author Reply: Shrewd guess. Fang is about five years old, I think... he probably wasn't quite so fearsome, his first Yule, but when he reached his full growth...

As to Harlo and Birdie, they came about because I was missing my brother more than usual.

My late brother was so very gifted at story telling. He could take the stalest old joke and breathe fresh life into it.

I still remember him going on and on about his hard-of-hearing coworker. Seems the guy had got a new hearing aid and was in raptures about how well it worked.

John said at last, 'Oh yeah? What kind is it?'

The guy looked at his watch and said, 'Oh, about two-thirty!'

He had us ROFL, literally.

demeter dReviewed Chapter: 5 on 1/22/2006
Well, he had thought about going First-Footing. And he was warmed, and fed, and a bit drier. Now if he only has not taken in so much wine that he can not remember the way home, he'll be all right. I giggled the whole way through this. Harlo and Birdie reminded me so much of Billy Crystal and Carol Kane's old couple in "The Princess Bride". And, a radio station in the city where we lived when my grown children were little used to play an original Christmas story about a couple on the American western frontier, starring a grumpy old man named "Harlow"! This brought back some memories.

Author Reply: I had forgotten about Billy Crystal and Carol Kane! What a hoot! I just might have to dig out "Princess Bride" again; it's been years since we watched it.

A grumpy old man called Harlow! LOL!

(But Harlo is anything but grumpy!)

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 5 on 1/22/2006
Now, I always thought that Fang would be just the right name for a chihuahua. And Blossom for a rottweiler.

I don't blame Ferdi for being a bit offish at the sight and sound of dogs - his experience of them is Not Good.

And the mutual incomprehension of this bucolic Darby and Joan is most entertaining - four years' worth of First Footing gifts in one go? Although the four mufflers will come in handy.

I'm not surprised he gave up. But much more First Footing and he'll be in no condition to run any further!

Author Reply: I actually knew a chihuaha named Fang. He was named for Phyllis Diller's husband.

Must admit I never knew a rottweiler named Blossom. But I did know one named "Kewpie" (like the doll). AKA "Cutie Pie" and "QP". Go figure.

Darby and Joan?

Thanks!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 5 on 1/22/2006
And I quote from an Internet source:

In the UK, Darby and Joan is still a way to describe an elderly and mutually devoted married couple who live a placid and uneventful life, often in humble circumstances.



Author Reply: What a lovely description! Thanks!

Garnet TookReviewed Chapter: 5 on 1/22/2006
Poor Ferdi. This has got to be the strangest Yule he ever had. No. Wait. Forget I said that. We're talking about Ferdi after all. At least the dog was just protective of his masters. A good thing in their situation.

Hope there are no more difficulties in his way, but knowing Ferdi, there's a great deal to come.

Sorry I'm so slow reviewing. Now, I'm off to the next chapter.

GT.

Author Reply: LOL! It may be the strangest Yule to date. There may be a stranger one in the works, if he spends Yuletide in Gondor someday. Not sure about that yet.

Actually, the story is winding down. I had hoped to finish it by the weekend. We'll have to see.

I appreciate your taking time to comment!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 5 on 1/22/2006
How wonderful to see Harlo and Birdie, and poor Ferdie, facing Fang and his own fears. Poor Hobbit! Heh!

And the deafness and repeated stories in stereo, and mulled wine--lovely, lovely descriptions.

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