Eagle's Nest Ranch

A summer camp in the beautiful Cypress Hills of Alberta.

Photographed near Eagle Butte, Alberta on September 19, 2025.

Cacti

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Happy!

Winter has returned to the prairies!  Windy, blowing snow and freezing cold.  

These shots of sunflowers were just what I needed to cheer me up.  Hopefully they'll do the same for you.  Enjoy!

Photographed west of Hilda, Alberta on August 11, 2017.

Kirkpatrick Grain Elevator

The Kirkpatrick grain elevator was originally built as an Alberta Pacific Grain Company elevator in 1924.  In the late 1960s it was purchased by Federal Grain Limited who in turn sold it to the Alberta Wheat Pool in the early 1970s.  Some time in the 1980s is was sold again to an independent farmer.  

And the good news is...all these years later it is still in use.

Photographed in Kirkpatrick, Alberta on October 23, 2025.

Bethlehem Lutheran at Dalum

A handsome Danish-style church I ran across just by chance.  It's in wonderful condition and looks to still be in use.

The building behind the church is most likely a hall for pot luck suppers and wedding receptions.

The cornerstone.

The cemetery is right next door to the church...

...and most of the headstones bear Scandinavian names.

A commemoration plaque celebrating the centennial.

Photographed at Dalum, Alberta on October 22, 2025.

Long Shot (Saint Margaret's near Eagle Butte)

Was out at Saint Margaret's to plant some fall bulbs in Heather's Garden about three weeks ago.  When finished I decided to head over to Elkwater for a late lunch and captured this shot of the tiny cathedral in the beautiful Cypress Hills of Alberta along the way.

Have a nice weekend!

Photographed on October 16, 2025.

The Alberta Pacific Grain Co Ltd

It's been more than a few years since I've been through Dorothy, Alberta.  At the time, the grain elevator was in pretty sad condition... 

...but now it has a fresh coat of paint and a new roof.  "Thank you" to all those who gave this prairie sentinel a new lease on life.  In other words, thanks to those who give a damn!

Photographed today at Dorothy, Alberta on October 23, 2025.

Out for the Day with Daisy

Out for a ride around town with Daisy a couple of days ago.  

She's looking great for 14+ years old, don't you think?

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on September 22, 2025.

A Beautiful Place Out in the Country

Saints Peter and Paul Russo Orthodox Church of Dickie Bush was photographed near Wasel, Alberta on September 20, 2021.

Canola

A trio of shots from a couple of weeks ago.

I don't much care for wind turbines in the landscape but they do make for some dramatic photos.  Who ever thought that a field of canola could be so electrifying?

Photographed on July 9, 2025 near Elkwater, Alberta.

Saint Anthony's near Haight

An attractive country church and cemetery near Haight, Alberta.

I couldn't find any history of Saint Anthony's but birth dates on the headstones date back as far as 1831...almost two centuries.  I'm no spring chicken but that seems like a wonderfully long time ago on the prairies.   

Photographed on June 23, 2025.

Peony

Saw this peony in full bloom on a recent trip to central Alberta.  Don't think I've ever seen one this dark rosy red colour before...a treat for certain  Looks beautiful amongst the marble and brilliant white painted headstones.

Photographed at Saint Michael Archangel Roman Catholic Cemetery near Saint Michael, Alberta. 

Pysanka

The big, beautiful, revolving Pysanka in Vegreville, Alberta.   

Photographed this morning, June 26, 2025.  A lovely way to start the day.