Brownville S.D. No. 4677

A one-room school near Dollard, Saskatchewan.  The only thing that's changed in recent times is the new red metal roof.  

For a time it was used as a community hall but now appears much as it would have back in the school days.

Inside looking out.

A felt crest that many of the kids would have had their mom sew onto their favourite jacket.

Photographed on June 13, 2020.

Fairview

Morning light inside the little stone church...a heavenly sight.

Photographed on May 19, 2020 at Fairview Methodist Church near Davin, Saskatchewan.

Sunset on the Balcony

Looking southeast at the end of yet another day.

Photographed from my balcony on May 6, 2020.

Green Meadow S.D. No. 423

A marker for Green Meadow School.  

This sign is a two-for-one with the older enameled sign mounted on the lower portion of a newer black metal one.

A smaller wooden sign on steel posts accompanies the larger.  No idea whether this one pre- or post-dates the above but I think it's a charmer.

Photographed near Wimmer, Saskatchewan on a stormy January 19, 2021.

Боднарі́ взимку

Bodnari in Winter.  

A beautiful sight along a country road.

Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church near Alvena, Saskatchewan.

For a summer view and more information:  Боднарі́

Photographed on November 26, 2020.

Thirteen

Saw this little guy/girl at the Old Stone Church near Abernathy, Saskatchewan.

This is a thirteen-lined ground squirrel native to the area.

Pretty curious to see what I'm up to...instinct working overtime.  Be wary of humans.

Photographed on May, 18, 2021.

Early in the Morning

The colours in Noël's garden at about 5:30 in the morning...my favourite time of day at this time of the year.

Photographed on June 12, 2021.

Flintoft S.D. No. 4783

The sign above the door of Flintoft School...

...a pioneer schoolhouse near Wood Mountain, Saskatchewan.

Looks like someone tried to make it a home not so long ago.

Photographed on August 9, 2018.

Velvet

A buck with velvet covered antlers.

Once he decided I wasn't a threat he proceeded to nap in the shade of the lilacs for a good hour.  Good for him and good for me. 

Photographed at Dann and Jackie's on June 22, 2021.

Katherine and Michael

A ceramic photo that definitely captures a happy moment in time for the Werbeski's.

Photographed at Saint Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery near Montmartre, Saskatchewan.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church

The remains of a stone church near Markinch, Saskatchewan.

At the time I didn't notice but one of the tree branches follows the gable end roof line.  It had been a long day and must have been in auto-pilot mode.

Not many country churches face eastwards as this one does.

It took a lot of manpower... 

...and horsepower to hoist these stones.

Another auto-pilot moment...the curved branch seems to be cradling the round window on the west wall.

A more extensive collection of photos of the church including the cemetery taken fourteen months previous can be seen here:   

Bethlehem Lutheran Church and Cemetery

Photographed on May 17, 2021.

Sunday Morning

Yellow tea roses on a Sunday morning.

Heavenly fragrance.

Photographed in Linda's yard on June 13, 2021.

Saint Elias

Saint Elias Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery.

There's no other way to put it other than..."It's a sweetheart."

Near Wandering River, Alberta.

Photographed on February 19, 2021.

Wilton Birmingham S.D. No. 2291

The Wilton Birmingham School sign is just outside the hamlet of Birmingham, Saskatchewan.  This country school district existed for sixty-five years.

The metal sign is accompanied by a sizeable stone monument.

The white border around the plaque simply glows in the late afternoon light.

The information on the plaque is slightly different than on the metal sign...the first five years are not recorded on the plaque.  Could be the school district was created in 1907 but the school wasn't built until 1912?

Photographed on October 28, 2020.

Markinch Elevators

The grain elevators in Markinch, Saskatchewan.  

The large silver one in the foreground appears to be just a large annex.  I wonder how the grain trucks get in to unload their haul?

Photographed on May 17, 2021.

Saint Margaret's

Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery in the Cypress Hills of Alberta. 

Spent the better part of this past Saturday tending to an assortment of gardening duties around the church.  Near the end of the month a small work party of dedicated volunteers will help out with whatever needs doing on the grounds...there are still a few of us around.

Little church in the big hills.

Photographed on June 12, 2021.