ian's castle

This post is especially for my bloggy friend, Mary, over at her winsome http://bellwhistlemoon.blogspot.com. Recently some folks asked me if I really lived in an English castle as they'd read in an online interview. These pictures of Harlaxton Manor/Grantham Castle, or Ian's castle, as I think of it, don't do it justice. The place is even bigger and more magnificent than it looks. I spent my junior year in college living here while I studied the Revolutionary War from the British perspective. And believe me, the British have a vastly different view of George Washington and all those Patriots than we do:) I also studied Shakespeare and 18th-century literature. It was the most amazing experience of my life!

Here is the castle at twilight taken from the gardens. The setting sun turns all those turrets and the clock tower a shimmering gold and it almost hurts your eyes to look at it. To get here you drive down "the long mile," past huge gate houses and a side garden and an immense mews (stables) before coming to the very intimidating front door. All it lacks is a moat:)

Here's the castle in a slightly more Gothic mood. I did think of this amazing place in detail when creating Ian and his crumbling Scottish abode, though I think if Castle Roslyn was truly this magnificent, he'd never have left for Kentucky! Do you think Lael would have liked it? Or would she have found it too formal and stuffy? As for me, I loved every minute and cried when I left.