We've had lots of rain here in southeastern Alberta this spring and that's made the prickly pear and pincushion cacti very happy. Haven't seen them bloom like this in years.

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on June 23, 2026.

Pincushion cacti photographed by Richard Aujesky.

Prickly pear cacti photographed by Michael Truman.

Everybody Knows This One

The Witch House was photographed near Dollard, Saskatchewan on Hallowe'en Day, 2025.

Western Grain Elevator at Gravelbourg

Of the nine grain elevators originally in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan there are two still standing.  To the west is the Pioneer Grain Company Elevator. 

And to the east, and shown here, is the Western Elevator Company Limited built in 1915. Beside the elevator stands a caboose painted with a mural depicting the early days in Gravelbourg.  The elevator was restored by and is part of The Gravelbourg & District Museum. 

Photographed in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan on Hallowe'en Day, 2025.

Old Hillside Cemetery

Old Hillside Cemetery was established on six acres of land along Seven Persons Creek in 1884 by Saint Barnabas Anglican Church.  Five years later a section of this parcel of land became the Roman Catholic Cemetery.  Burials here continued until 1919 (Catholic) and 1923 (Anglican) and was officially closed in 1934 at which time The City of Medicine Hat took charge of the cemetery.  All further interments were at the New Hillside Cemetery, located west of town, which is still in use to this day.  As with all things historical...exact dates vary from one source to another.  

And then there's that goose that kept an eye on me while I took photos...most likely looking for a place to build a nest.

Thanks to the Saint Barnabas Anglican 

Church Archives.

Photographed on April 22, 2017.

Milk River Valley Church of the Brethren

One of my favourite abandoned churches that's way out in the middle of nowhere.

The Milk River Valley Church of the Brethren is located northwest of Kremlin, Montana and west of the Fresno Reservoir in Hill County.  It is also known as the Kremlin-Gildford Church of the Brethren and has long been abandoned.

For those who aren't familiar with the area, this church is less than forty miles southeast of Comrey Cemetery in southeastern  Alberta.  And I'm sure everyone knows where Comrey is, right?!  

The inside-looking-out window views in the two photographs directly above are views of the cemetery across the road from the church and what may have been a parsonage.  The original parsonage burned down during the construction of the church between 1915 and 1918 and I believe this may have been its replacement.  Other than that, I could find no other online information about the church or cemetery.

Enjoyed my trip into the wilds of Montana that day and seeing this old abandoned church, well...made my day!

Photographed on May 21, 2017.

Quiet Nook School

The following quote is from William Peter Baergen's "Pioneering with a Piece of Chalk - The One-Room Country Schools of Alberta 1885–1982"

"The descriptive, poetic name was suggested by

Mrs. Perley, who said that, except for the occasional 

squeal of red river carts over the Victoria

Trail, or the shrill whistle of a steamboat on the

river, it was a relatively quiet nook. Opened in

fall 1912 in this cosmopolitan mix by Mr.

Coyne, who did not finish the term. Mr. Perley,

a trustee who had taught in the United States,

finished the term on a permit, as he had no

Canadian certificate. A two-room school was

built on NE 6 and the original one-room was

sold for use as a community centre. Closed in

1957 and the children were bussed to Vilna. It

also became part of the Quiet Nook

Community Centre. In 1964, it was donated to

the Shandro Museum of artifacts for its final resting 

place."

Photographed at The Historical Village and Pioneer Museum (now closed) near Shandro, Alberta on November 09, 2024. 

The Spinning Cloud

Ran across these photos while organizing a hard drive the other day. 

Maybe it's just me but this cloud appears to be spinning 'round and 'round.  Pretty cool!

These photos were taken north of Cascade, Montana along Mission Road.

Photographed on November 24, 2017.

Fenster's Time Share

Fenster's Time Share in Hamlet, North Dakota.  

Don't forget to book your stay.

Photographed on June 20, 2023.

Post Office in Monitor

The abandoned post office building in Monitor, Alberta.  I love the facade and that the lettering is still legible after all these years.

Photographed on November 6, 2024.

Saint Margaret's Church

New front steps, wheelchair ramp, door and window sills and window frames were installed at Saint Margaret's Church this past summer and fall.  Thanks to everyone who donated their time, money and effort to keep the little church in the hills looking good.

Photographed on October 16, 2025 near Eagle Butte, Alberta.