Herman

A train trestle that crosses the Old Man River near Monarch, Alberta.

This is Herman.  He's a happy four month old puppy.

I stopped at a farm yard to ask permission to walk across their land to get a better view of the trestle.  As soon as I stepped out of the car Herman was there to greet me.  He's pretty friendly.  The lady of the house was home and said it would be fine to walk in to get a closer look.  Herman was raring to go so off we went.

The trestle spans about two thousand feet.

After a few shots I could see Herman holding his head up in the direction of the trestle.  A few minutes later I also heard it...a train was coming.

Bonus!  Talk about good timing!

Back up to the house and Herman headed for some shade beside the owner's car.

A big adventure calls for a big nap.

Photographed on August 26, 2019.

Elinor

Some photos of Elinor Cemetery near Barons, Alberta.  I love the gate sign...simple and bold against the prairie sky.

A lilac shrub thriving amongst some well marked gravesites.  Many other graves here have been lost to time.

The only fenced grave in the cemetery.

Children's graves.

Sit down for a minute and relax.  Tomorrow is another day.

Photographed on August 26, 2019.

The River Valley

Some shots of the Saskatchewan River Valley just north of an acreage where I've been gardening for the past thirty years.  The property is seven acres and shaped much like a bow tie. At the wide south end is the township road, at the knot is the house and at the even wider north end is the river valley.

I always enjoy going out to do this or that during the growing season.  This year the focus was on planting a raspberry patch, sour cherries and Saskatoon bushes as well as the usual gardening maintenance.  Aside from the gardening aspect, I really love the view of the river valley from the back yard.  Nice place to spend some time simply enjoying nature.

A few of the tough little flowers that make their home on the dry buttes in the river valley.

The red spot in the centre of the photo is a deposit of red shale.

Little has physically changed in the valley over the years.  I take that as a good sign.

Photographed on June 28, 2018.

May She Rest in Peace

Near Cereal, Alberta.

"The Gray Homestead" from days gone past.

Photographed on July 14, 2018.

Dappled Light

Just inside the main gate to the Piapot Cemetery...the "Benson" headstone in the dappled light of late morning.

That time of day when it's cool in the shade yet warm in the sun.

Photographed on July 11, 2019.

Grain Elevators in Zurich

A pair of abandoned but very photogenic grain elevators in Zurich, Montana.

This little red one is pretty sweet.

Photographed on October 18, 2018.

Christ Church

After spending a couple of days in Vulcan County I packed up and was ready to leave for home when I remembered something.  I had been encouraged to visit this church by a few friends and since it was still early in the day I decided there was no time like the present.  I think the detour was well worth it.  It's a truly a lovely church and the well kept grounds were a bonus.

Christ Church is an Anglican church built in 1896.  That makes it one hundred and twenty-three years old this year.  It is near Millarville, Alberta and is still used on a regular basis.

The church construction is somewhat unusual in that it was built of vertically placed logs instead of the usual horizontal arrangement.

There is a large cemetery on site.

First look inside the church.

Looking up the aisle towards the altar.

An outstanding triptych of stained glass behind the altar.

A diptych of stained and clear glass on the right hand side of the altar.

Looking back from the altar.

The pump organ and baptismal font.

The grounds are spacious and beautifully maintained.

This is the only Anglican church where I've seen an outdoor crucifix.

The sign near the turnoff to the church.

The church is comfortably nestled in the trees.  I love that red roof.

And last but not least...a view of the Rockies from the church grounds.

Photographed on October 15, 2018.