I am finishing off my Earnscliffe series- as well as the Doors Open series today. This terrace is a nice spot for some shelter from a summer sun. Some of these details on the property and inside might be from Macdonald's time, but others have been more recent. Inside, the house is beautiful, with one of the rooms set aside- Macdonald died there, and it's largely still set up in the same way as in that time. Another detail inside that I liked was a portrait of a little girl above a comfortable bench on the second floor landing, with a view of the rooms below. Macdonald and his wife Agnes had a daughter, Mary, who had developmental and mobility issues, and Macdonald had the space set up for her so that she could see visitors arriving at the manor to come see her father.
Since Doors Open was in early June, the lilacs were still fresh on the trees at Earnscliffe. It was such a pleasure to visit the place, which has regularly been on the Doors Open circuit, but which I had never gotten to before.
Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful terrace. Nice place for the warm summerday to sit there.
ReplyDeleteI love the hous in last photo.
Hugs
Fantastic! Thanks for taking us along.
ReplyDeleteThose stone residences are magnificent.
ReplyDeleteI've learned so much from your tours and thank you for sharing! (Also agree with Stuart about those magnificent stone residences - they make one wonder what secrets the walls held.)
ReplyDeleteStunning building design. Love the outdoor setting in the second photo.
ReplyDeleteLovely buildings you showed us the past times.
ReplyDeleteI really like the places of the first and the second photo!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a place I would want to return to from time to time.
ReplyDeleteThat's an inviting place to sit!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful place. I love those two outdoor spaces.
ReplyDeletea lovely place. i like the window bench for his daughter. :)
ReplyDeleteIt really is a beautiful home...I'd love to see inside.
ReplyDeleteJane x
"Doors Open". You are always on the move. Do you ever wake up and say today: Doors CLOSED"? hahahaha Rest. It's the weekend, my friend.
ReplyDeleteThat shot with the lilacs is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLovely images to finish with.
ReplyDelete@Linda: thanks!
ReplyDelete@Orvokki: the details here really appealed to me.
@Linda: you're welcome!
@Stuart: they certainly are.
@Kittie: thank you!
@Gemma: I did too, so I made a note of photographing it.
@Marianne: thanks!
@VP: thank you!
@Revrunner: it'll be in Doors Open again, though not always each year- sometimes it trades off with another embassy or ambassadorial home in this area, so I'll come back here.
ReplyDelete@Marleen: it really is.
@Sharon: so did I.
@Tex: it was quite poignant, having that place overlooking the downstairs.
@Jane and Chris: something to keep in mind for an Ottawa visit if you're around during Doors Open.
@Birdman: it's been quite a long series with only a couple of interruptions!
@Janey: thank you!
@Lauren: thanks!
In some ways John A. was a tragic figure in his personal life. It is interesting about the girl's picture overlooking the downstairs. Many older houses had an opening to the downstairs beside the upper hallway.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice that they open the house for the event since it is a part of our history.
ReplyDeleteI still have a bunch of Doors Open pics I haven't posted - will do so soon.
Another great tour, interesting about the little girl, sad but showed that her parents had so much love for her.
ReplyDeleteSuch a nice series! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteJanis
GDP
I liked your Open Doors series again this year, William, and this house and garden formed a wonderful final.
ReplyDelete@Red: as it turns out, this was exactly that case- there was a second staircase leading down from that landing to the second entrance, and the space above that hall was left open, so anyone on the balcony had a clear view down.
ReplyDelete@Red: this place trades off quite often with the French embassy or the Swedish ambassador's home as places on the Doors Open circuit. Next year it's likely the French embassy, which is a short walk away from here, will be part of the tour.
@Denise: I found that very touching.
@Janis: you're welcome!
@Jan: I knew that I wanted to use this place as my finale for the series early on.
looks like a lovely place to spend time.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great terrace William, much more cool that a garden..
ReplyDeleteRight, you'll find me at that table in the first shot, having a drink and reading... :-)
ReplyDeleteNice ending.
ReplyDeleteA lovely place ! Thanks for sharing , have a good day !
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you took us along on this tour. It's a treat to see some of the beautiful, interesting and elegant buildings in Ottawa.
ReplyDelete@Tammie: it is!
ReplyDelete@Geoff: the place appealed tremendously to me.
@Ciel: you wouldn't be the only one!
@Randy: thanks!
@Country Gal: thank you!
@Kay: it has been a pleasure showing these places.
A very attractive home! I love the outdoor seating!
ReplyDeleteMust be nice to actually live there!
ReplyDeleteIt is a pretty place. I especially like the first two images.
ReplyDeleteI like the fence. I could see growing something like rattlesnake beans.
ReplyDeleteI like all you have shown. Beautiful places .
ReplyDeleteThose pictures (and descriptions) just whetted the appetite to see the inside. I know. It wasn't permitted. Loved the lilacs.
ReplyDelete@EG: so do I.
ReplyDelete@Norma: it would be.
@Jack: thank you.
@Whisk: thanks!
@Carolann: thank you.
@Mari: it's quite a place.