awwwwsome

This is from a lot of people:
1. Stop talking about politics for a moment or two.
2. Post a reasonably-sized picture in your LJ, NOT under a cut tag, of something pleasant, such as an adorable kitten, or a fluffy white cloud, or a bottle of booze. Something that has NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS.
3. Include these instructions, and share the love.

How about a puppy and a kitten playing together? (In this one, Coba and Nocturne are focusing on the same toy, which both are about to pounce on. No, really. Sorry for the slight blurriness; neither of these animals tends to stay still for more than three seconds unless they are stone cold asleep, and an in-focus pic of both, together, while playing? Don't make me laugh).



OK, you got a dose of cute. Go vote. ;)

Thought I'd share some more cute.

I have Teh Cute. Oh, yeah. More than I could have imagined when by some stroke of insanity I decided to adopt a puppy and a kitten at the same time.

Miz Kitty Nocturne and the wee blueberry fluffball now play together, on a regular basis. They wrestle. They pounce one another. They share toys. Coba bites gently and Nocturne pulls her claws. It's just completely ridiculous.

Critters can be so fun.

Also, is being stubborn.

( Photographic evidence )

Any history buffs and architecture fans out there? Help?

OK, so I am perhaps 40% done both outlining and scripting 'The Bone Shard' which, regrettably (for me, albeit possibly not for those who may be enjoying the Danielle/Shard stories) appears to be approaching a full-blown graphic novel in the making. I'm happy about this although I'm also nervous, and dammit, I WILL finish the darn thing. I will.

I also digress. My problem is this: the physical setting of the story. It is set in a more-or-less mid-to-late Victorian England AU. (Much of it very AU, like, well, it is peopled with furries). This story is mostly set in a large, remote estate house, and the house, specifically, is what I'm concerned with. What I need are examples of older dwellings in which a very good family might inhabit (and possibly has for generations). The architecture should predate Victorian architecture (I think, anyhow) but I don't want to set it in a castle...at least, not one that hasn't been modernized. To, uh, 1800s modernity, anyhow. This is a place you might expect to see suits of armor in, but not necessarily turrets and moats.

Does anyone with more experience in this stuff than I, or perhaps who has been in Europe more recently, have examples or suggestions of mansions/manor houses I might use to base the grim House of Redpride? Links and images are LOVED.