and made him love her and he had never stopped doing so.’
I just finished editing what is in essence my first book. Long story the second has been contracted while the first was still in the throes… But I read these words yesterday and did the double take.
Since that’s what the heroine of my first book does, to save her son..oh and herself…the hell with anybody else, like his people, something he tries most unsuccessfully not to come to terms with… that might have been why I did the double take. It wasn’t. It was because they were connected with a favourite place…the Glencoe Lochan.
Bonnie eh? And so inspiring…in all weathers. After a wee trip up the hills, just the place for a quiet walk, though I have been known to sprawl all my length here. But enough of that and the fact Glencoe under another name is the setting for that book. Lord Strathcona, one of the organizers of the Canadian Pacific Railway, built the Lochan. In case you’re wondering how that came about, well, long before he was chosen to drive the last spike at Craigellachie, British Columbia. he was born in Forres in Scotland. But his wife wasn’t. At least she became his wife after being just that to him in every way that counted for forty years. Quite a convention breaker for the time. And what a love story.
Isabella Hardisty did one stupid thing in her life. That was to take up with a hot-tempered and abusive man called, James Grant. But she had the courage to leave him and, along with their small son, Jamesie, seek the protection of the then young, Lord Strathcona.
He built the Lochan in Glencoe, after acquiring the estate there and he did it, to remind her of the homeland she so pined for. Despite that the couple returned to Canada, because her home was her home. But the Lochan exists to this day. What a symbol of, and testament to, everlasting love.
The Lochan in November
shehanne moore 
How could you not write (and fall in love) with all that splendid beauty around. Off to sulk and rue the mole hills of Berkshire. Incy
Bet there’s plenty nice mole-hills there though. And Incy, you write bloody good wherever!
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Okay, this explains why so many places in western Canada are named Starthcona.
It’s great to have that beautiful landscape as your inspiration! I also tend to be inspired by landscapes as well as melodies and song lyrics. Or sometimes I just rip off a classic poem like “The Rape of the Lock.” Thanks for sharing the photos, Shey! xoxo
I ask no questions re that poem. Lol. I do remember reading about it years ago in an Anya Seton book called Devil’s Water. OOH. Re the Strathcona and Canada, that is why. Seriously, re inspiration, the brain can get fired on anything, which makes inspiration so great. After it gives us that spark we never know what is next and that is …..scary, different, everything, Years ago for me it was song lyrics, now it is places. I squirrel them away. It may be another three before I place them in a story. I guess it is all a weaving of all the threads, even the ones we don’t know are in our hands. Carolee, thank you for coming by to read this old post. It means a lot to me xx
Reblogged this on Kate McClelland.
Kate, you are no just kind, you are AMAZING doll xx thank you.
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Great Post Shey- Just discovered it from your current one. A truely amazing love story and one worthy of a location in your His Judas Bride. Pxx
Pau;, first time we came here we messed up the directions, in fact we messed them up and walked miles through snow the wrong way, actually they were simple directions to a simply beautiful place, ANYWAY… the story is amazing. and it resonated with me. xxxx for reading
What a beautiful story, and pictures. Just perfect for a virtual trip through time and miles 🙂
My lord, I had forgotten this post but never the story. It is the most amazing story. Ordinary boy makes good far from his homeland. The past in terms of hers??? Well, something with resonance today still and then there’s the Lochan. Quite the unconventional couple they were actually.