Wall of Bales

From this past fall...a wall of golden straw bales near Sylvan, Manitoba.  This is the most captivating display of bales I've seen in recent history...modern art at its best in the prairie landscape.

Photographed on September 23, 2023.

Chickens

One of my first jobs as a kid on the farm was to collect the eggs laid by the hens.  My mom always liked white chickens and this was, at the very least, a fond memory.  And as everyone knows, fresh eggs are the best. 

Photographed in Margaret, Manitoba on October 16, 2022.

Straw Bales

Photographed near Grove Park, Manitoba on October 15, 2022.

On the Beach

Photographed on the shores of New Iceland, Manitoba on September 22, 2023.

International Peace Garden - Peace Chapel

The Peace Chapel is the only building I know of that stradles both the Canadian and American border.  

The chapel was dedicated in 1970 and completed just a few years later in 1972.  It is open year round but in winter it's best to phone ahead a few days in advance of your visit so arrangements can be made for snow removal.  Although the chapel is austere and designed as a formal space one can arrange for non-denominational services of a more personal nature to be conducted here...get married or buried or baptised...or maybe just get together with some friends and family to celebrate life and all it has to offer. 

The photos show the inner glow of the chapel in the early morning light on a lovely fall day.  It was nice to just sit down and enjoy life in the present, in peace.  

Photographed in Manitoba and North Dakota on September 17, 2023.

Tommy the Turtle

Tommy the Turtle greets visitors to the border town of Boissevain, Manitoba.  

He gets his name from the Turtle Mountains that span the Manitoba/North Dakota border just south of town.  The "mountains" are much like the Appalachians: expansive, forested, rolling hills.  Quite beautiful.

Say "Hi!" to Tommy when you're in town.

Photographed on September 17, 2023.

A Beautiful Place Out in the Country

Saint James Anglican Church at Bluff Creek, Manitoba.

Photographed on August 19, 2022.

Mechanics Keep the World Moving

The Rebillard's headstone in Haga Cemetery.

Mechanics...

...and songbirds.  Nice.

Photographed near Arborg, Manitoba on October 18, 2022.

Early Fall at the Arts Park in Boissevain

Something to brighten up a winter's day...

The Arts Park in Boissevain is a community green space wholly run by volunteers.  And even though it was getting late in the gardening season there was still plenty of greenery and blooms to see.  

A couple out for a walk stopped to say hello while I was enjoying the garden.  They said most of the volunteers were older folks but there had lately been some interest shown by a few youngsters.  Here's hoping all the generations can work together to keep this community garden beautiful for years to come.  

The thought and expression, creativeness, hard work and realisation shown here is above and beyond any expectations.  "Thank you" to all those who make our lives just a little bit brighter.

Photographed in Boissevain, Manitoba on September 15, 2023.

Two Weeks in September

My end-of-the-year post focuses on one two week long trip from this past September...one photo from each day of the trip.  Enjoy!

September 12, 2023

Windcrest S.D. No. 3938 near Crestwynd, Saskatchewan.

This abandoned schoolhouse always seemed to be a little elusive on previous road trips but "today was the day," as they say, so I went a little out of the way for a look.  It's been a long time since anyone went to school here but it still looks pretty handsome out on the open prairie. 

September 13, 2023

Federal Grain Elevator at Moreland, Saskatchewan.

Built by the Golden West Company in 1916-17 and later operated by Federal Grain.  At the time of my visit it had been closed for sixty years...several years longer than it had been in service.  

September 14, 2023

Tonset Church and Cemetery near Lignite, North Dakota.

I'd stopped here some years ago but relished the idea of once again traveling the winding one-lane road through the countryside for another visit.  I liked this photo of the church partially hidden by trees and shrubs, lending it to a slightly mysterious air.  The church and cemetery served the area from 1916-1968...and are both still lovingly cared for.   

    

September 15, 2023

Ralph Allen Railway Museum in Oxbow, Saskatchewan.

Heading east from Estevan on an overcast and cool Saturday morning, a cup of coffee in the cupholder and no particular place to go.  Along the way I passed through the Town of Oxbow where I found this fine old train station on main drag.  I wish they could all be as well-kept as this one which now serves as an historical museum.   

September 16, 2023

Salem Lutheran Church and Cemetery near Kelvin, North Dakota.

Had spent the better part of the day exploring north-central North Dakota, an area rich in Scandinavian pioneer history.  But, before crossing the border into Manitoba for the night, I wanted to make one last stop to see this lovely country church in the Turtle Mountains.  The church was originally built at another location in 1914 but years later when the highway was established it was moved  to its present location in 1939 for easier access by the church parishioners.  Looks ever so good in the early evening light.               

September 17, 2023

A threshing machine on a hill overlooking some cows by a pond near East McHenry, North Dakota.

Another day out seeing the sights in north-central North Dakota.  Ample amounts of winter snow, spring rain and summer showers kept the landscape green and lush well into fall.  Lots for the domestic and wild animals to eat and drink...good for them.  Sometimes a simple view like this really does make my day. 

     

September 18, 2023

Stone and concrete sculptures near Brandon, Manitoba. 

Saw these last year but just had to take a few more photos of them.  As it turned out, this was my only photo stop of the day as I spent the remainder of it visiting my sister in Brandon.

September 19, 2023

Old Saint Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery near Gardenton, Manitoba.

A revisit I had been looking forward to since I first saw it last fall.  Old Saint Michael's was built 1897-1899 and was the first Ukrainian Greek Church in all of Canada.  My previous visit had been in the morning so, in order to get a different view of things, this time I stopped by for a late afternoon perspective.  A beautiful historic site that looks good anytime.      

September 20, 2023

Old Saint Elias Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Cemetery and Bell House at Sirko, Manitoba.

Deep in southeast Manitoba, only a mile north of the border, stands Old Saint Elias Church.  As well as the log church built circa 1908, there is a log bell house of traditional design and a large cemetery on the grounds.  It is said that the church is one of the best examples of Bukovynian architecture in all of Canada.  Definitely a "must-see" when traveling along Sunbeam School Road.   

September 21, 2023

Saint Peter Dynevor Anglican Church and Cemetery near East Selkirk, Manitoba.

A huge stone church built 1853-1854 on the eastern bank of the Red River that replaced a smaller church built nearby in 1836.  The new church faces towards the river, which would have been the main thoroughfare of the day.  Chief Peguis called this his home church.

  

September 22, 2023

Beach scene near Camp Veselka, Manitoba.

I had a few hours to explore the Gimli area before lunch with a friend in Winnipeg Beach.  My first stop was just north of town at a summer camp where there was an old church.  After taking some pictures I traveled a little further east where I could hear water splashing.  Soon a beach scene came into view...I was on the shore of Lake Winnipeg. 

     

September 23, 2023

Saint Michael's of Archangels Roman Catholic Church near Meleb, Manitoba.

A country church built in 1917-1918 by Polish settlers.  The church was named after the chief builder, Michael Gottfried and all the other pioneers named Michael.  That was a very popular name at the time.  The church closed to regular services in 1960 but is still maintained by a heritage committee.

September 24, 2023

Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery at Maryville, Saskatchewan.

It seems I can't get enough of this old beauty.  Anytime I'm within a hundred miles of it I'll gladly make the detour to see it once again.  Mysterious, lonely, magnificent, solemn, abandoned...and all but forgotten.  

 

September 25, 2023

Carrot River Valley Lutheran Church and Cemetery near Carrot River, Saskatchewan.

The last photo stop of my trip...only about a mile off the main highway was this spartan but welcoming country church in a lovely autumnal setting.  Regular services every Sunday morning at 11:00.  Then I was on my way home.        

Happy trails to you!

Fall Colour

Some fall colour near Winnipeg Beach, Manitoba.

Photographed in September 22, 2023.

Summertime

Big yellow fields...a familiar and always delightful sight on the prairies in summertime. 

Photographed near Ukraina, Manitoba on July 24, 2022.

"З Днем Святого Миколая!"

"Happy Saint Nicholas Day!" from Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Photographed near Keld, Manitoba on August 23, 2022.

Kingsley Church, Cemetery and School

An early-afternoon stop at Kingsley, Manitoba where I discovered a red brick school next door to a small country church and cemetery.

Brick schoolhouses are always a little special here in the prairie provinces...there aren't many of them.  This one was built in 1907 and operated until 1968.

And as luck would have it, the school is being renovated to its former glory.

Near the school is the unassuming Kingsley United Church which dates back to 1882.

The interior is frugal...

...but the pews are rich in colour (and history).

One must have to stoop pretty low to "remove" a bible from a church.

Just a little north of the wood-frame church is the cemetery that is bordered with a post and chain fence.

There are well over one hundred burials here.

Information courtesy of the Manitoba Historical Society and Find A Grave.

Photographed on August 17, 2022.