"З новим роком"

According to the Julian calendar it's New Year's Day today.

 

"Happy New Year" from Descent of the Holy Spirit Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Photographed at Mazeppa, Saskatchewan on January 7, 2020.

"Щасливого Різдва!"

Celebrating Christmas on January 7 is a tradition that dates back for centuries.  And that's a tradition I like to keep.

"Merry Christmas!" from Saint Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Photographed near Rama, Saskatchewan on March 20, 2020.

A Beautiful Place out in the Country

Time stood still for a moment.  

Saint Stephen's Anglican Church out on the open Saskatchewan prairie.

Photographed at Tangleflags, Saskatchewan on November 11, 2024.

Long Shot near Prelate

Saints Peter and Paul Church can be seen for miles around in the prairie countryside near Prelate, Saskatchewan.

Photographed on October 26, 2024.

Bethesda Church

Was looking through archived photos and found this one of Bethesda Lutheran Church looking pretty as a picture in the snow.

Some church history here: Bethesda Lutheran near Milestone

Photographed near Milestone, Saskatchewan on January 26, 2022.

Smiley United Church

The church is in good condition and still in use.

As recently as seven weeks ago, a fowl supper organized by the church was attended by about one hundred people.  (Considering the population of Smiley is currently around twenty-five people, that's an excellent turnout, don't you think?) Good on 'em!  It's always good news to hear that a small town community is doing well.

Photographed in Smiley, Saskatchewan on December 10, 2017.

Love Valley

Welcome to Liebenthal, Saskatchewan...Love Valley.

Photographed on October 26, 2024.

Ox Cart

An ox pulling a red river cart welcomes you to Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan.

A commemoration to the Carlton Trail, the only passageway through the area in the early days of settlement.  Imagine going to pick up your groceries and dry goods in an ox cart!  Those were definitely different times.    

Photographed on November 7, 2024.

Snow at the Witch House

No trip to southwest Saskatchewan would be complete without a visit to the Witch House.  

It had been exactly a month since my last visit, and the views couldn't have been more unalike.  A month ago it looked like this: Sunrise at the Witch House

Photographed near Dollard, Saskatchewan on December 2, 2024.

Colourful

Pulling into Eastend, Saskatchewan from the west today I was greeted by this wonderfully colourful house.  Can you dig it?!    

Photographed on December 2, 2024.

Sunrise at the Witch House

On this occasion my visit to the Witch House was an illuminating experience. 

Photographed near Dollard, Saskatchewan on November 2, 2024.

Day of the Dead

A day to honour loved ones who have passed along into the ether.  Enjoy this happy celebration of life and death.

Borschiw Cemetery near Haight, Saskatchewan.

September 17, 2021.

Saint Wolodymyr Cemetery near Cappon, Alberta.

November 7, 2021

Hanks Cemetery near Zahl, North Dakota.

June 22, 2023

Ukrainian Settlers Mass Grave near Olha, Manitoba.

July 27, 2022

Congregational Cemetery near Gros Ventre-Tothill, Alberta.

September 9, 2023

Sacred Heart Cemetery near Bow Island, Alberta.

May 29, 2019

Holy Ghost Ukrainian Cemetery near Ispas, Alberta.

February 23, 2020

Blessed Virgin Mary Church Cemetery near Rhodes, Manitoba.

July 24, 2022

Ostriem Cemetery near Leeds, North Dakota.

September 16, 2023

Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery near Prelate, Saskatchewan.

October 26, 2024

"Feliz Día de los Muertos"

A Beautiful Place Out in the Country

Blumenfeld Church was photographed near Prelate, Saskatchewan on 

October 26, 2024.

Four Years and One Day Ago

A stark autumnal shot taken on the grounds of Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery near MacNutt, Saskatchewan.  

The freshly painted headstones are dazzling against the orange-leaved aspen trees and blue sky.  I love capturing these "moments in time" while passing through the countryside. 

Photographed on October 10, 2020.

Sun Bath

A prairie rattler enjoying a sunbath.

I have had a few startling encounters with them over the years but...

They won't hurt you in any significant way so, please don't hurt them or run them over.  They deserve a long and full life too.  

Photographed near Mayfield Cemetery in Saskatchewan on July 14, 2020.

Summer Landscape

Lovely, n'est pas?

And now, gardening duties beckon.  See you soon.

Photographed near Westhazel, Saskatchewan on July 16, 2023.

Easter Sunday

Some handsome wooden carvings of Jesus, Mary and Joseph for Easter Sunday.

Photographed at Saint Joseph's Cemetery near Frenchville, Saskatchewan on May 25, 2022.

The East Wing of Saint Mary's

Saint Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church dates back to 1914 with additions in 1920 and then again in the mid-50's.  The photos here were taken in the latter addition completed in 1956.  I felt quite at home there in the east wing...me and it being the same vintage and all.

Photographed in Yorkton, Saskatchewan on December 17, 2019.

Tall Phlox

Something colourful and pleasant for a snowy day...

Not only are tall garden phlox attractive, but they also have the sweetest scent...something to look forward to each and every spring.

Photographed in Eastend, Saskatchewan on June 12, 2020.

Aldag S.D. No. 1361

A monument at the former location of a one-room schoolhouse in southern Saskatchewan.

"Construction of the Aldag School began in 1912 - completed in 1913.  Enrollment varied from 7 to 35 pupils.  The building was used for church services, dances, card parties and public meetings.  On June 10, 1966 a decision was made to close the school.  The students were bussed to Gull Lake."

As an aside...I grew up on a small farm near the town of Midale in the southeast corner of Saskatchewan.  Through the years the one-room school there was replaced first by a two storey brick building, then by a modern school built circa 1960.  I started school in the new building in 1962 and completed Grade 12 in 1974 in the new wing that had been added circa 1967 to the modern school.  And, believe it or not, the school is still thriving to this day.  A rare thing indeed in this day and age.  Midale has a population of about five hundred and fifty people.      

Photographed near Gull Lake, Saskatchewan on June 17, 2023.