After a history filled Saturday we decided to continue on with that theme when we visited
Kim on Sunday. After visiting in the morning and a scrumptious lunch we headed out to Bellevue House. Built in the 1840's, this house was home to Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald from 1848-1849.
Sir John is standing in the corner of the dining room to greet you as you come in. The house was very dark and it was an overcast day to boot too!
So many different rooms, I believe this was a small parlour off the main one.
This is the front parlour.
Mrs. Macdonald's room. She was a very sickly lady, tragically dying very young. It is very hard to tell but this room was so dark. We all commented that it wouldn't have helped her mood being in such a dark room!
A maid's room.
The guest room was gorgeous. light filled and very large.
The master bedroom. The furniture was magnificent. This house was in tip top condition and extremely clean despite the number of visitors. It felt incredible to walk in the same rooms as our first Prime Minister.
A boot bath! can you imagine trying to get in and out of this thing?
In one of the pantries the original shelving was still in place.
The kitchen fireplace.
Down in the basement were many interesting things.
I love the old crocks.
The laundry room. The contraption in the back washed the clothing, some sort of rock washer?
Beautiful house and so meticulously kept.
All the tour guides were in period costume and were happy to answer any questions.
Despite the dreariness it didn't rain while we were there so we were able to enjoy the gardens. Two young ladies were weeding and answered a few questions for us. I wanted to know about the shawl she was wearing. She knit it herself and it wrapped around and buttoned on the back.
The house across the street from Bellevue House. So much to see and do in Kim's city. We will be back!
Look, what is that foreign object in the sky? Is it...yes, it is the sun! We have had two sunny days in a row! Unbelievable! I have gardened and hung out wash, lovely.
We had such a great weekend. I wanted to thank Kim for a lovely day on Sunday. How blessed am I to find such a wonderful bloggy friend and have her live so close we can visit each other. What more can you ask for!
Take care.
Robin
The gentleman and his lady... Pretty Cardinals. :-)
ReplyDeleteWe forget how dark, old houses were.
I remember Tasha Tudor remarking on this fact. She liked her home dark. It reminded her of a cozy chipmunk's den. :-)))
Simply gorgeous place, to tour. And so happy-making, that it is so well cared for.
Luna Crone
Hi Luna, we do forget how dark old homes were. When my Oma was having their farmhouse built she requested large windows on all sides of the house. She got her wish on two sides with smaller windows on the other sides.
DeleteI love Tasha Tudor! I was lucky enough to pick up a book of hers recently at the thrift store. Loved it!
Have a good day!
A magnificent home! Love the period costumes.
ReplyDeleteIt was magnificent! I would happily go back again and we probably will in the Fall. The young fellows looked very snazzy too in their costumes.
DeleteHave a lovely afternoon!
What a beautiful home. About that boot bath ........yes, hard to get in and out, but can you imagine the difficulty the maids would have keeping it CLEAN??? YIKES!
ReplyDeleteJeepers Dee, I didn't even think of that! It would have been hellish to clean. The part where your toes would go may open up, I can't remember.
DeleteTake care!
We love visiting historical homes and buildings. Don't think I've ever seen a boot bath before. So glad to be getting some sunshine and warmth tiday.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, we are really blessed to have some historical homes in our area to visit.
DeleteI am enjoying the sunshine too!
Have a good weekend!
Good Afternoon! You post the most interesting things. I love to tour historical homes. Like you, I love their display of crocks. The boot bath would be a killer for me! lol Thanks so much for sharing your visit thru pictures.
ReplyDeleteHi Mildred, I am glad you found the post interesting! I obviously love old homes too. At one of the venues I picked up a pamphlet that contains information about a self-guided Heritage Walk through our little town. Can't wait to walk it!
DeleteMy parents collected crocks for years. When my Dad passed away and my Mum moved in with my brother and his wife she gave each of us some.
Have a lovely day Mildred!
what a fun post today. thanx for sharing Robin, I got to take a tour I'll probably never get to take in "real life"
ReplyDeleteand it is fun having a friend//fellow blogger living so close by...AWESUM ☺☺☺
{ ....the boot bath probably is constructed better than those we use now !!!! ♥♥
You are quite welcome! I read Kim's blog for a year or so before I finally commented. I KNEW we would become friends. We enjoy so many of the same things it is wonderful. Too bad we don't live in the same town but one hour isn't much to drive! Chuck says it is good we don't live in the same town. We would get into too much trouble! ; )
DeleteTake care!
Hello, I love the tour of the home and the costumes. I am happy to see the sun out today too. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day and weekend ahead
ReplyDeleteHi Eileen, I so loved taking this tour. We spent two hours at the house. It was wonderful, after the official tour you are allowed to wander where ever you want.
DeleteGlad you are enjoying some sunshine too.
Have a great weekend!
The cardinals are delightful, Robin, and what a gorgeous home! I love things from the early time periods. Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, the cardinals have started to come back to the feeders. I guess they are done raising the first batch of babies!
DeleteSo glad you enjoyed my tour.
Have a good weekend!
I love mr. Mrs. Card and all they're really cute and I love that old house and all the things that are in it and I would like the guest room much better than the master room bedroom. I also love all the things in the basement and I've never seen a boot that before but something new period I love old things
ReplyDeleteHi Sandra, I do love the Cardinals too. As I type this one is singing outside somewhere.
DeleteThe house was so wonderful to see. I was very impressed in how everything was so beautifully preserved. The guest room was much nicer than the master bedroom.
Have a good day!
Hi Robin. I knew you'd have terrific pics! Your camera did a much better job than mine, I had to lighten my pics quite a bit and most of them are quite grainy.
ReplyDeleteYes, that smaller parlour room was for the visiting men (politicians, etc.). I remember the guide saying one of them was his political enemy, so I guess it's a case of "keep your friends close and your enemies closer". :-)
I do like the cellar, my second favourite spot, the first being the gardens.
Thanks for the wonderful post, and as always for the wonderful company and friendship. :-)
Oh Kim, thanks! I don't know that the photos are terrific but at least everything can be seen. It was so dark!
DeleteI do remember now Robyn making the comment about enemies.
The cellar is wonderful, so much lighter than I thought it would be.
Take care and talk soon!
What a cool house. I love to tour older homes like that. Great shot of the red birds.
ReplyDeleteHi Pam, it was a very cool house! It has been a museum I believe since 1964. I want to go back again on a sunny day and see the veggie gardens in full bloom!
DeleteTake care!
Belleview House is truly a gem!! But what's with the boot bath? Why did they even exist? That one looks incredibly uncomfortable. ( Google doesn't have any info on such so I'm hoping you know all about them.)
ReplyDeleteHi Granny Marigold, it is a gem! I have no idea about the boot bath. What an awkward thing! I suspect it s a homemade contraption. All she said about it was it was that shape to hold the heat in.
DeleteThank cod for modern conveniences!
Have a good day!
These historic houses can often be so disappointing. This one clearly is not. Hope you've been smearing on that sunscreen!
ReplyDeleteThis was definitely did not disappoint Mitchell! I was so pleased afterwards to be able to wander at will. I like to take my time and look at things. Luckily my two companions feel the same!
DeleteEnjoy your day!
You got some wonderful pics...I love old crocks, etc. Anything old and I am attracted to it. It was really fun seeing the quilts used on the beds. A beautiful home.
ReplyDeleteHi Rose, I grew up in a house surrounded by antiques so I definitely feel the same way you do!
DeleteIt was a beautiful home and we were very fortunate to be able to tour it.
Have a good day!
I'm so glad you had fun and I'm VERY glad the rain has ceased!
ReplyDeleteThanks Pom Pom! We have now been FIVE days without rain. I don't think we have had a dry stretch like this since March.
DeleteTake care!
I had to come back and look at the crocks again! I love them, too!
DeleteHey Pom Pom, I am fortunate that my parents loved crocks too so I have 5 or 6 of them!
DeleteWhat a lovely house to visit. That booth bathtub was different, never saw one of those before.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen, it was wonderful. I liked that we had a guided tour and then we were able to walk around on our own.
DeleteThe boot bath was crazy! I know it conserved water but thankfully we don't have to use something like that now!
Have a good day!
Aren't historical homes wonderful? I see them from the outside and always wonder about the floor plan. I tend to like "nooks and crannies" and like finding built in cupboards and unexpected rooms. Thank you for sharing these photos!
ReplyDeleteHi Marcie, I LOVE touring historical homes. Growing up my parents took us to many museums. Both sets of my grandparents lived in old homes too while I grew up in a 1960's house. There was an interesting bread baking cupboard tucked alongside the main fireplace in the kitchen.
DeleteHave a great day!
Looks like a fascinating place to visit. So much history and to think about what it was like to live there, long ago. Thanks for the tour.😊
ReplyDeleteIt was wonderful Geraldine. Life sure has changed a lot since this home was built!
DeleteHave a good day.
Bet the water stayed warmer longer in the bath but it's just a bit on the creepy side.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, thanks for dropping by! I think the bath is rather creepy too. Too claustrophobic for me!
DeleteTake care.
What a beautifully restored home. Lovely pictures, too =) I like touring older homes. Imaging how different life was back "then" and being thankful for modern conveniences!
ReplyDeleteThe two cardinals at the top are beautiful!
Hope everyone is keeping well.
It was wonderful Maggie! I would love to go again and take a closer look. The first time around was overwhelming,
DeleteEverything is just fine, just so much to do now that the weather is nice!
Take care.
Oh wow! I could live there! That is the prettiest picture of the cardinals. Wouldn't it be pretty framed and hanging on the wall! It looks like a painting.
ReplyDeleteHi Henry, it was a fabulous house.
DeleteSince I took the cardinal photo a couple weeks ago I haven't seen too much of them. They must be egg sitting!
Have a good day!
Olá Robin,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful house.
It is beautiful, and I am so happy we were able to tour it.
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
That boot bath is fascinating!
ReplyDeleteIt may be fascinating but I sure wouldn't want to use it!
DeleteEnjoy your new kitties!