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.

Not Forgotten on Remembrance Day

Bless him and all who have fought for our freedom. 

Photographed at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cemetery near Desjarlais, Alberta on November 9, 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"

The Brown Ranch

As much a memorial to the Brown family as it is to ranch life.  God bless them.

Photographed at the Johnson Memorial Cemetery of Whitlash, Montana on October 17, 2024.

Something New at Saint Margaret's

The traditional burial plots at Saint Margaret's are becoming few and far between.  But never fear...

A new columbarium has been installed on the southwest corner of the cemetery.  

Of note, the piles for the concrete foundation were dug fifteen feet down to provide stability for the weight of the granite columbarium.  And during the excavation process, long buried stones were brought up to the surface and those stones were smooth and water-washed.  In the long and distant past the area must have been a river bed or lake.  Ponder on that for a moment.    

I love the reflections on the polished granite surface.

Photographed at Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery near Eagle Butte, Alberta on October 15, 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.

North Prairie Lutheran Church and Cemetery

Beautiful church and cemetery in central North Dakota.

The congregation was established in 1897.  The church building shown here was built in 1916.  Still loved after a century of time.

Photographed near Leeds, North Dakota on September 16, 2023.

Japanese Lilac Tree

Probably the most beautiful Japanese lilac tree I've seen anywhere.  Very showy and the fragrant blooms are intoxicating.  A perennial favourite.

Photographed in New Hillside Cemetery on the outskirts of Medicine Hat, Alberta on July 1, 2024. 

End of Time

Photographed at Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery near Eagle Butte, Alberta on June 2, 2024.

Saint Margaret's

Lots of spring rain followed by summer heat means lots of groundskeeping at Saint Margaret's.  I have to admit it's been hard to keep up with things this season but so far so good. 

Definitely a beautiful place out in the country.

Photographed near Eagle Butte, Alberta on July 6, 2024.

Springtime in Heather's Garden

I cleaned up and planted a few annuals plus a couple of perennials in Heather's Garden earlier this week.  It was a beautiful day for gardening...warm in the sun and cool in the shade, my kind of day.

It won't be long now before all the new plants grow some roots and start to fill out.  

Even after all these years, watching plants grow never seems to get old.

Heather's garden here in the hills has several clusters of stones, a few shells, a piece of driftwood and other decorations.  I noticed a small pile of stones behind the church so I decided to add them to her garden.  She liked to accent her garden with stones so I think she'd like this.     

Photographed at Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery near Eagle Butte, Alberta on June 24, 2024.

Heather's Garden

Gardening has been keeping me busy; there's always lots to do in spring to get everything looking nice again.  And yesterday I finally had a chance to get out to Saint Margaret's to clean up Heather's Garden.  I wasn't sure what I'd find...last summer was one of the driest seasons on record plus there was some bitterly cold weather over the winter months. 

I wasn't expecting much (occasional pessimist that I can be) but was pleasantly surprised to find that most of the perennials had survived...and one of the prairie crocus was already in full bloom.  In a nutshell, all the really tough plants made it through some extremely harsh conditions.  Maybe one day I'll learn their innermost survival secrets but in the meantime I'll simply enjoy doing my best to take care of them.

We've been lucky this spring to have had some rain and a few showers.  So far we've already had more rain than we had all of last year.  Nice to see things turning green and flourishing.  In three weeks or so I'll plant some annuals and a few more perennials to fill in the empty spots.  I think Heather would like that.

Photographed at Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery near Eagle Butte, Alberta on May 19, 2024.

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.

Killed by Lightning

This is the Ralph Pioneer Cemetery.

I grew up not far from Ralph but never knew of this little pioneer cemetery.  Over six years ago now I was on a trip through my old stomping grounds, and with some research and knowledge under my belt, set out to experience my past in a different light.

Five headstones remain in the tall prairie grass in the long abandoned cemetery but only three are identified; from the indentations and remnants of wooden crosses I discovered while walking through the cemetery, there are several more "unknown" graves.

Bernard Halbert Engelrup

February 14, 1916 - September 2, 1917

Audrey Miller

1934 - 1937

Charles Johnson

1852 - August 18, 1905

At the age of fifty-three he was struck and killed by lightning.

Photographed near Ralph, Saskatchewan on October 17, 2017.