Nutcracker Sentinels

Here we have more of the Christmas decorations in the Chateau Laurier today. 

A side corridor in this hallway is flanked by nutcrackers.

One of the Christmas trees in that corridor.

And here's a view from outside.

Moving back towards the main lobby gives us these.

Chateau In Season

This wreath hangs outside the Chateau Laurier hotel.

Inside, it has been a tradition for many years to have decorated trees in the lobbies and corridors. Companies pay for trees to be decorated, with proceeds going to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Visitors can come and see them. Last year I believe it was still done, but the areas were only open to hotel guests due to Covid restrictions.

A glance here includes a bust of Wilfred Laurier in the background. The hotel was named in his honour when it opened in 1912.

This space off the main lobby leading to a restaurant beyond includes several black and white portraits hanging on the walls. They are from the works of the esteemed portrait photographer Yousuf Karsh, who had his studios in the Chateau for the second half of his career.

Back out into the main lobby.

And beyond into one of the corridors. I have more from here over the next two days.

Peace On Earth

Merry Christmas.

For this occasion I focus on churches, taken over the last few weeks. Wreaths are on the doors at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church downtown.

This is one of the primary entrances to the sanctuary.

Wreaths are also present at Notre Dame Basilica.

These are taken on another morning, early before dawn. Centretown United Church includes these wreaths on their main entrance.

Here we have St. Giles Presbyterian Church in the Glebe.

Some lights were on inside, and the stained glass windows caught my eye, drawing me across the street.

A couple of blocks away is Fourth Avenue Baptist Church.

Another day in mid-December, I was back around Notre Dame and took this shot from the grounds of the National Gallery. A much brighter day than the one above, and a careful eye will note that both of the Christmas trees were in the upright position this time.

A photo shoot was underway underneath the sculpture Maman, by Louise Bourgeois. 

A short walk away is the Elisabeth Bruyere Hospital. Connected to it is Mother House, and this is the main entrance. This is the home of the Sisters of Charity, otherwise known as the Grey Nuns. Elisabeth Bruyere came to Ottawa as a young nun and would establish educational and hospital institutions here, leaving a large legacy in the city and the country. There's a church inside the convent for the sisters; I have been inside once during Doors Open. The main entrance fits the place.

A few days back I was coming back from the Portage Bridge area and stopped at Cathedral Hill. Here we have Christ Church Cathedral, an Anglican church.

Its neighbour is St. Peter's Lutheran Church.

And some blocks to the east, I finish with two shots from where I started: St. Andrew's. The back part of the church emerges from the modern office building behind it.

This is the front entrance of the church, with Christmas green on the wreaths and lining the entrance.

Aberdeen

I returned on a Sunday morning to Lansdowne to visit the farmer's market. This is the main market in the city, and carries on through the year. During the months from November into April, the farmers are inside, with an emphasis on local growers. During the warmer weather they're outdoors on the north side, in Aberdeen Square. The weather on this morning was clear, sunny, and cool. 

I stopped briefly in the Christmas market in the square. It wasn't open for business yet, but some vendors were getting organized for a ten AM start. The previous night, a windstorm had blown through the Ottawa Valley. It was probably the remnants of that system of tornadoes in the American mid-west.

These two didn't know what to make of each other.

I went inside, where things were underway. The Pavilion dates to the end of the 19th century, used as an exhibition hall. It remains in use today, and each week hosts the market on Sundays. During December, the farmer's market also takes place on Saturdays. The market is off this weekend and next weekend for the holidays, but will be back in January.

Along with farmers and their produce are artisans and Christmas offerings.

I made some purchases: a couple of large jugs of apple cider, a smaller jug of pear cider, some jam and honey, and some baked goods. The place was busy. Masks were seen worn by visitors and vendors.

Handcrafted wooden toys by one of the regular vendors.

And these caught my eye.

A last view inside the building. The Aberdeen is the last survivor of its kind in the country of the 19th century, and has been designated a national historic site.