Well before Tolkien wrote about hobbits and elves, someone built a handful of homes that are fantastical interpretations of the houses that can be found in an the English village. Instead of a thatched roof, skillfully placed shingles ripple and curve like the scales of Smaug the dragon. Arched windows echo the roof. Carefully chosen stones add color (and more of an American Arts and Crafts flavor) to this facade. Last year, we happened to drive past one of the other similar homes just as workers were ripping off the roof. I do not have the nerve to check on that house. Who has the skills or the cash to replicate those curving shingles? Instead, for now, I will find joy in this still-intact architectural gem.