Hi everyone...here are my replies.
I just want to thank the Fruitcake gang for letting me be a part of such a wonderful project. It was so much fun!
If I missed anyone just PM me.
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Henny,
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Whooo hoooo Em... it's great I will give you a full report on it later...PROMISE!!!
I’m still waiting on that full report, Missy!
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Sally,Quote:
Let me try to string together some coherent thoughts here. I'll use Shylee stringing popcorn and dried cranberries together as my inspiration. First, the thing that made my jaw drop more than anything was Sheila's audacity in suggesting that Shylee come live with her full-time. It's emblematic of how out of touch she is. I wonder if she even comprehended the full import of just how inappropriate and offensive that suggestion was.
In
Sunflowers Sheila was pretty much the quintessential no-show from the beginning. And although we never got to meet her in that fic, I’m sure pretty much everyone got the message that she was disagreeable and “out of touch” as you so eloquently stated. I really tried to bring Sheila across in this fic in a way that made it seem like she’d always been there…getting in the way and making outlandish demands…
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Even though we didn't get to see it, I gathered that Tara managed to defuse the situation, calm Willow down, and tell Sheila in a firm but polite way that that wouldn't work.
If you want my honest opinion…I don’t think it really matters what happened next. Sheila was never the point of the story…it was essentially about Tara’s inner journey…whether or not she told Sheila off (distraughtly or in a calm collected fashion) is irrelevant…the question is: At the end of the day what did Tara learn? What did she gain?
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This was beautiful - it had a dreamlike quality to it that had echoes of Moon, even though they were two very different stories. Tara is so contemplative. Shylee is a joy. The six geese were such a nice touch. Of course, Sal is my favorite goose. I'm glad that no one suggested cooking them up for Christmas dinner when Willow asked what they should do with all the geese in their barn.
Thank you, Sally.
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Just one little thing, young whippersnapper Miss Kitty…
Hehe…whippersnapper? I like that…
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Tara's 35 in this story right? I hardly think that qualifies as middle aged, and I'm not just saying that because I'm 32. Ah, youth - it's wasted on the young
I knew I was going to get a tongue lashing for that…. Hehe (that’s why I left it in there)
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MichelleQuote:
What a wonderful tale. I loved the line about geese only speaking honk. Very funny. Your grown-up Wilow and Tara still radiate the love and completeness within each other that was a hallmark of their relationship on BTVS. But age has broght depth to them.
Thank you. What a wonderful compliment.
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You evoked the true meaning of Christmas, that of being part of a family (whether biologic or chosen) and sharing love with that family. May we all received that gift this holiday season.
Amen to that sista
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Debra, Quote:
Great job on this story. I hadn't read your draft because I've been so busy so that means that I actually got to read a story on the board for the first time.
Thank you. And I think reading things on the board first most fun way to do it anyway.
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And what a treat. I love that the story is so incredibly packed. There are so many themes here. There's the love of W/T for each other and for their child and the way that the house stands for things that come between them. There's the overwhelming theme of believing in what you can't see. I mean isn't that the entire meaning of faith? Yes, the entire meaning. It's so obvious that Tara believes in much more than she can see and to her credit. I'm glad that she found the letter and the ornaments. It was quite a beautiful addition to the story and really created some closure with her father. Of course closure with her mother-in-law is another story.
I didn’t even realize all the themes I had running through it until I had read over the final draft for the third time.
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Actually I'm a little jealous that Tara gets to call her mother-in-law Sheila. I'm not kidding you when I say that after over 6 years, I still don't have any clue what to call my in-laws. No one has ever said "call me ..." or "call me ...." My wife says she doesn't know what to tell me. I spent about 5 years just not ever addressing them directly unless they were looking at me, either that or speaking to Rachel: "I think it's your mom's lead..." (when playing 42). About a year ago I started combining that technique with tossing in the word mom on a very rare basis. I have no idea.
I guess I’m a little late to add my sympathies for this part…because I think I read that this issue with your mother in-law has been cleared up. Though I can say that I’ve been there too with my “mother in-law” but only because I’m
never sure about things like that…I still feel uncomfortable addressing her directly in any way…and I’ve pulled the “Honey, it’s your mom’s turn” too.
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Great story.
As always, Debra…Thank you.
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MaryQuote:
What incredible pictures you paint...You are one of the most evocative writers I've read on this board. You also cover the range of senses well: it's easy to focus on sights, sometimes sounds, but you give us the olfactory and the tactile and even the gustatory. You just invite the reader to dwell in the scene you create, and it works wonderfully.
Thank you.
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I love stories w/ a touch of the otherworldly, and this was a delightful example thereof. The image of Tara, alone at the house and sensing her father's presence, was just so remarkably well done. I could feel myself in the attic w/ her (and wouldn't we all like to be in the attic w/ Tara?) when she was searching for the stars and her father led her to the picture. You gave such a fantastic image of the footsteps that she could....almost...see...
Oh I do too. I love the idea of ghosts...it's so frightening and exciting.
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And the letter--that was really well done, Ems. It wasn't overstated or overwrought--it just held the melancholy of a man looking back on his life and knowing that he ended up so far away from where he wanted to be. He can still see that road, but he feels helpless to get there.
Thank you so much. I had worried when writing it that I wouldn’t be able to make the letter believable…I didn’t want it to sound out-of-place or sappy.
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Now, about Sheila. Would you ask her to come over here? Just for a minute? Great--I'm gonna bitch-slap her for a few....OK, I'm back. That arrogant, presumptuous bitch! I like, though, that you didn't give a tidy wrap-up. This is way too complicated for that. Instead, Tara has a newfound sense of hope that she can manage it, that perhaps there is a peace to be found.
Ooooo such violence! Naughty, but understandable. Sheila wasn’t very lovable in this fic.
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The whole story was so evocative, Emmy...I just wish I could have seen it better. At 42, my eyes are those of a geriatric geezer whose best years are behind her. 35 is middle-aged? Don't make me come down there, young lady...
Hahaha! I so knew it would be a sensitive subject…that’s why I left it in there.
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Emmy, you clearly put a lot of thought and energy into this. You crafted an excellent story. Well done!
Thank you, so much.
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JeanneQuote:
I've been having computer problems for the past few days, but I was so desperate to read you story that I've stayed up into the wee small hours of the morning waiting for my comp to work long enough for me to read & reply to your wonderful Christmas-y magical creation.
Awww…is your computer okay now? And how sweet are you for braving the wee hours of the morning just to read my fic!
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Okay, practically everyone else has already said it, but, I have to agree - WOW!
Thank you…
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Emms, you've outdone yourself, I need to completely revise my definition of the word magical.
Winter Harvest is the most moving, beautiful, amazing, magical story I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
I have no words sweetie... it was beautiful & breathtaking and I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for sharing it.
No…thank you, sweetie, for leaving such lovely feedback. You are one of my favorite writers and I appreciate your kind words so much.
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CazQuote:
Emms - Nice one! I always feel sorry for Tara, knowing how much her father despised her. It's nice to read a story where she finds out that her Dad did love her. Having him watch over her was so sweet.
Thank you so much. I’m glad you liked the story.
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Sasha Quote:
This was simply a beautiful story, it gave me chills (in a good way!). The whole atmosphere of it was so wintery, and seemed to have that 'it's cold outside but I feel warm inside' feeling that you get when you've got a hot waterbottle on a really cold night, which is my favourite time of year. And as a huge animal lover myself, Tara as a vet was greatly appealling to me! I just loved this, such a calm, healing thing to read.
Oh good, sweetie, I’m glad you liked the story. It was strange to be caught in another winter fic so soon after my contribution to Elemental…I was surprised that I could summon any imagery that was even slightly different from Moon…LOL I had thought I was pretty tapped out…
Thank you so much for leaving feedback!
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Cyd,Quote:
I've been slacking on my reading a bit the last few days and now I'm sorry for such an injustice. This is fine work. As usual, your atmosphere and unique phrasing were delightful and my favorite part. I like the extra sensory presence in this one. I also like that there is closure for Tara's relationship with her father but it is a realistic sort of bittersweet one. Nice how you worked the geese in there...I would have suspected that to be a sore thumb but it was actually quite enjoyable.
There's no such thing as slacking...it's called healthy time-management, and I implement it frequently. hehe. I haven't even finished feedbacking all the stories yet....so If you want to point the slacker-finger...it might as well be pointed at me.
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Finally...way to rile up our 'seasoned' compatriots with that middle age remark, Emms!
I KNOW!
It was fun, too!
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Carleen,Quote:
I'm so glad you decided to write a follow up story to Catching Sunflowers in Bloom. It's such a memorable story and it's wonderful to experience more of that world.
Thanks Carleen. I wasn't so sure when I started this fic that it would get such a wonderful response. But I guess everyone wasn't bugged too much in revisiting
Sunflowers.
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I especially like that Tara was finally able to come to terms with her father and that, in doing so, she's able to find some sort of inner peace regarding her relationship with Sheila. The way you handled it is so subtle. Of course, that's what you're good at -- setting up a beautiful scene and then just letting it flow naturally. Awesome, Emmy. Thank you so much for sharing this.
I thought Tara deserved some sort of resolution regarding her father. I'm glad I was able to write that, here.
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Chris,Quote:
Well, what can I say? You had no trouble at all recapturing the 'Sunflowers' spirit - the mixture of magic and real-life where one seems to heighten the other. The real world is so much more intense thanks to the lyrical way you paint it, and the magical elements so powerful, as they happen in such a realistic setting. The early passage where Tara thought back on the possible haunting activity while Willow was away had me riveted - way to take what's sadly become all too cliche nowadays, a ghost with unfinished business - and make it seem as fresh and new as if it had never been done before
Thank you. I love ghost stories so the opportunity to turn this into one was too good to pass up.
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As for Sheila... well, I like how you don't just paint her as 'antagonist', she's a person with good and bad points, but Shylee living with her instead of Willow and Tara? Don't think so - her entry to the story, where she let loose all the exuberance she'd kept contained while she stayed with her grandparents, pretty much said everything that needs to be said about what environment she'll be happiest growing up in. And what's wrong with having a goose wander through the kitchen? It's not like geese carry the black plague or something. I do think there may be something to Tara's goose world domination theory though - but in that case, it's good for Shylee to befriend the geese now, so they'll no doubt put her in a position of comfort and authority once the geesocracy takes over
LOL! I do hope so Chris…I do hope so. I think you’re right about Shylee…the story left no doubt where she belonged. I don’t think that was ever really a question either…Sheila’s concern was completely unfounded and her suggestion that Shylee come and live with her was preposterous.
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Tara's father is a really complex figure, even moreso it seemed to me than in 'Sunflowers' - but then, I suppose dying probably lends you a new perspective on things. I'm glad Tara discovered that he did have some good moments, even if he never managed to express them - regardless of how he treated her, she's his daughter, and I can imagine how upsetting it would be for her to be unable to believe that he loved her as his child, in some way.
I never did go into Tara’s father too much in Sunflowers…which I don’t really regret because that story was more about Willow and Tara than anything else…but it was nice to be able to bring some more dimensions to him now.
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PuffQuote:
I loved Sunflowers in Bloom so it was lovely to read an addition to the story. Kind of spooky though. Oh and Mrs Rosenberg needs to be bitch slapped into next week. Shylee is a cute pie and what a wonderful use of the required elements Santa Goose hee hee.
Hehe….yes, I think we all agree that Sheila needs a good punch in the balls.
Thank you so much for leaving feedback. And I’m so happy to know that you liked Sunflowers!
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JustinQuote:
I hadn't read CSIB till we started this collaboration, so I just quickly want to say I really enjoyed that story.
Thank you.
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This story is the perfect continuation to that. I like the way that Tara is able to reconnect with herr father and regain hope that he hadn't always been the uncaring man she knew at the end.
Thank you, again. When I finished Sunflowers I knew I wanted to revisit it at some point. The back story between Tara and her father was never discussed in the larger story so I thought it would be fun to write it now.
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I have to say a big bah humbug to Sheila though. I find her reasons for wanting to take Shylee away a little suspect. I mean there have been people before who grew up on a farm, and without growing up to become an axe murder or, which is worse, a republican. So was it really that she was upset about there being livestock in the kitchen or did she not want Shylee being raised by two women? Anyway I'm sure Tara was able to dissuade her from persuing it further.
As for Sheila, I think it was that she was just being disagreeable and wanting things to be done her own way.
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I have to admit that when I read that my first thought was, 'roasting in a nice white wine sauce'
LOL!
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I also liked the idea of the geese plotting world domination. I always knew geese were up to something.
They did seem smart didn’t they? Like they were up to no good…hehehe
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Watty! Quote:
Last thing I want to do is to start comparing the 12 stories and saying which one is the “funniest”, “sweetest”, “most epic” etc etc. But I will, just this once, because I feel that Winter Harvest is the most powerful of the stories. I think the others in the group won’t mind me saying that. You continued with the themes you painted in Sunflowers so well. Detailed and realistic descriptions are what we expect from you and you certainly didn’t disappoint. I have come to the conclusion that it’s your artist’s eye that makes your writing so pleasurable to read. It is almost like looking at a painting.
Thank you. Though…most powerful?… I don’t know… *mumbled sounds of humility*
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Nice to see that even though they’ve been together that number of years, they still can’t stand prolonged separation. Sometimes a relationship fades when you spend too much time apart; or you develop habits that are not couple-y; or you get out of sync. Sigh, I’ll stop projecting now.
Coming together was sort of the theme in Sunflowers… I thought it would be nice to continue that in this fic, showing that they still had trouble spending time apart.
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This Sunflowerverse Tara is one who, as she admits to herself, can be clingy. She seems to need the reassurance of her family. Perhaps it’s her history with her father, her brother running away, but it also manifests in her need to gain Sheila’s approval. But I like seeing these insecurities evaporate when she thought of Willow and Willow wearing a cardigan that held meaning for them.
I think we all can relate to that on sum level. Sometimes it’s the smallest of things that brings life into perspective.
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I said in fb for Sally that I don’t believe that love alone conquers all. What you have shown us, is love and communication and working on the relationship – those combine to make the relationship work.
Beautifully spoken, Watson.
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I’m not the most emotional person when it comes to reading fanfic (only a tiny handful of fics have ever made me cry) but when it became clear that it was Tara’s dad haunting her, a very noticeable tingle crept up my spine. If I were Tara, being alone in the farm, with a... I’d freak out.
I absolutely love your writing, Watson…you are they type of writer that can create so much emotion in your readers (me included) so for you to tingle from something I’ve written makes me all swoony.
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And the way you used smell, as opposed to sound or sighting, to suggest an otherworldly presence, that was so inspired. Smell is more subjective, but it’s also something we cannot avoid. We can close our eyes, use earplugs but smell is beyond our control. I am very happy that Tara’s dad made the redemption effort even in death.
I wanted to focus on smell, because it’s one of our most powerful memory inducers. It’s so hardwired into our psyches that it can take a person back in time into the deepest recesses of our memories.
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Oh, Shylee. Love how you smoothly added her in. No need to introduce her, she is such a part of their lives that it’s natural for her to be included. No backstory, but we don’t need it, not at this point. In a way, I’m not surprised she can see her grandpa and Santa, children are more sensitive than us after all.
I actually introduced her in the epilogue for Sunflowers…I was just too lazy to reintroduce her. Hehe.
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SithLordWiccanQuote:
I can really lump this in the same category that I put Sally and justin's fics. Angsty to the point of , yet with an ending that just can't make me sad. And of course, I had to go print "Catching Sunflowers in Bloom" to catch up, and found it much the same. Thanks for exposing me to one of my top ten W/T fics.
I feel quite honored to be lumped into a category with Sally and Justin. Thank you for taking the time to read Winter Harvest and of course for taking the time to print Sunflowers.
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MeretriciousQuote:
i really loved the whole mood you set here. on one hand, you have the everday type dealing with family issues, and then you have the supernatural more spine tingly way of dealing with family issues. the idea of getting closure from beyond the grave with a difficult family member definitely resonates for me, but i doubt i would handle it as well as tara did.
Sunflowers always had a touch of the metaphysical so I thought the whole “ghost” theme fit in, here.
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agree with everyone that sheila needs a good bitchslapping, preferably with that pecan log. and willow saying "it takes mom a while to adjust to things...it's because she doesn't understand about stuff", could ya vague that up a little willow? such a realistic nonexplanation. i really enjoyed this emms.
Thank you, sweetie. LOL about the bitch-slapping…I think there were a few other people here that felt that same way. I wouldn’t want to be Sheila right about now. LOL
Thank you for leaving feedback!
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TaraliciousQuote:
This was a heartwarming and poignant continuation of CSIB and the by-product is that it inspires me to go back and reread that story again to fill in the gaps in my aging memory of what transpired.
Aww, that’s sweet.
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As adults we bear the scars of our childhoods and keep them close to us allowing to unconsciously affect our relationships with other adults.
Children are innocent of this and have faith in the intangible, hence they have immediate acceptance of the existence of otherwordly spectral forces such as ghosts or Santa Claus.
Wow, that’s exactly where I was coming from by having Shylee be the one that could actually see Tara’s father…and then Santa at the end. Thanks for leaving feedback!
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DWQuote:
I want to kill Sheila. Otherwise... very sweet. Sometimes all you need to know is that the person you want to prove yourself to the most did think about you.. and better yet, loved you. Of course, you already know this... since you wrote it
I don’t know…I think kill might be a little harsh when a good kick in the pants would suffice Hehe…but I know what you mean. Thank you for leaving feedback!
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Cam,Quote:
As always, Emmy, you create such a vivid portrait from the get-go that I fall right into the scene. The holidays can be such a stressful time, especially with family...even more so with family like the devil woman--I mean Sheila. I love that both you and Sally tacked the emotionally intense issues, but in such different ways. Whereas hers was grittily real and painfully angsty, yours delved into the mystical and magical that embodies the Christmas spirit. Both were simply beautiful.
Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed the story. I thought my story should show a bit of dysfunction since I was the one whining for angsty stuff when the elements were being assigned. hehe
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Terra,Quote:
Emmy, you do such a wonderful job of paying attention to details...
Yep…that’s my mission statement. Hehe. Thank you.
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This story kept lulling me into a melancholy state. I just wanted to curl up with it and go to sleep.
Was that a good thing…or a bad thing?
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I particularly liked the exchange between W/T about the intentions of the geese. LMAO.
Thank you. The geese were kinda the highlight of the story for me. hehe
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Shylee - Too cute.
Shelia - Too uptight.
Santa Claus - I've known all along that he was real!
Or is he….?
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