Finger Lakes Visit, Part 1

 I spent a long weekend in Pittsford, NY.   And we all know what is in Pittsford.   Friends were talking a class at Hobby House and had rented an AB&B and welcomed us to join them in the house.  Don’t have to ask Stacy and I twice.   Off we went and, in true Robin and Stacy style, we hit some sights on the way.  

Our adorable little Air B & B just steps away from both the Erie Canal and Hobby House Needleworks.  Below, out our kitchen window you could see the canal.   This really was the perfect location.  

Before arriving in Pittsford, NY,  we stopped in Canadguia where we visited the Sonnenberg Mansion and Gardens.  

Image, this is ONE of several summer homes of the Clark-Thompson Family - no relation.   This one is said to be their favorite.    Before the town and trees grew, there was a view of the lake from the house.

We entered the grounds passing the Caretaker’s House and the greenhouses.

The asparagus fern above and the jade plant below were HUGE.

From the Caretaker’s we walked to the grounds and the nine formal gardens that Mary Clark-Thompson designed using her trips abroad as inspiration.   From 1902 until 1919 she employed hundreds of workers to make her vision a reality.  

We passed the deer park which was acres of open land.   Rounding a corner, we were at the Japanese Garden.  

The Tea House was constructed in the traditional way with shoji screens.

A 12th century Buddha is featured in the garden.

There are four gates to enter the garden; this is what was the front gate.

From the Japanese Garden, we entered the Italian Garden and so did the rain!

This is the Italian Garden from the balcony of Mrs. Thompson’s sister’s bedroom.

This is a small view of the Blue and White Garden.   Best I could get from the protection of the porch because of the downpour!

We entered the house to a fabulous tile floor.

Straight ahead from the entry, was a round room with the same tile on the floor.  

A well appointed Library with a tin-type record player and a portrait of Mary Clark-Thompson

Needlepoint pillow on the sofa.

Mrs. Thompson’s desk in the Study.

Fireplace in the Drawing Room

Same room from the opposite end of the room.

The Billiard Room - The placard for the room said that Mrs. Thompson had the walls adorned with samplers.   We asked the Docent about the samplers and she said they were all at the Ontario County Historic Society….conveniently about a mile away.    We called the Historical Society and unfortunately they do not have any on display.   Fortunately, when she found out she was talking to the Vice President and the Treasurer of Delaware Valley Historic Sampler Guild (a little name dropping doesn’t hurt) and they we have a Conservation Grant we give each year, the curator was happy to arrange a visit for us.   She said she would need a week’s notice and we are setting up a visit when we return in October.

Dining Room

Crazy Quilt on the best in a guest room.

This handwork was extraordinary!

Surface embroidery pillow on the bed.   This is the only bedroom that DID NOT have an en-suite!!

This next bedroom was Zilpha’s bedroom. Sister of Mary Thompson.   Zilpha was a school teacher in Canandaigua and spent a lot of time at Mary’s home.  This was a HUGE bedroom, actually larger than Mary’s own room. 

Awesome balcony off of her room that overlooks the Italian Garden.

This is the first oriental rug of this color I ever remember seeing.   It was stunning.

Some of Zilpha’s closet finery.

The next bedroom, real Tiffany lamp?  

The door on the right is one of two that open to the balcony above the drawing room.

Another en suite bathroom.

With double sinks even in the late 1800’s!

Sitting area of same room

Balcony view 

Mrs. Thompson’s bedroom.

The sewing room off of Mrs. Thompson’s bedroom.

Bedroom from the opposite wall.

The Double Arched bedroom, complete with double arches and two full bathrooms.  

One of the two bathrooms

The Port-Cochere bedroom was added during renovations in the early 20th century.  

This bedroom also included a bathroom and a shared outside balcony.

Mrs. Thompson loved peacocks.   This tapestry was hanging in the upstairs hall.

The back of the home.   The row of doors on the ground floor enter into the dining room.

The Carriage House

The Peacock House/Aviary

Mrs. Thompson had several aviaries which were heating with hot water piping to keep the bird comfortable in winter.   She house hundreds of birds from up to 250 different species.  Construction of the aviaries began in 1902 and the cluster of buildings was completed in 1912.  

Woodland Garden

I would be just as happy as can be to sit and watch nature from this bench.

We ended our tour with a delicious chicken salad wrap lunch at the cottage restaurant onsite.  

Halfway through Day 1 and there are so many more photos, I had to break this into two posts.    Stay tuned………