Saint Joseph's Cemetery

This was the first time I'd visited Saint Joseph's Cemetery when the grass was green.  All my previous stops here had been during late fall or winter and, for one reason or another, I was never very pleased with the photos from those occasions.  A trip to a cemetery is always appealing to me in so many ways and this time the photos were "on the mark."

This pioneer cemetery is a half mile off the main road.  Driving is not an option as there is no trail to the site so walking in is the only way to see it.  Personally, I like these locations that are "out of the way."  The walk in gives me a little time to enjoy the wide open spaces while I anticipate what's ahead.  I think there's also a bit of selfishness involved in that so few people ever get to see these places first hand.

Above is the gate sign for Saint Joseph's Cemetery.

The walk in.  The cemetery sign is visible about midway on the horizon.

A view of the cemetery from under the gate sign.

The main marker that lists those known to be buried here.  Yes, there was a church at one time.

A cast concrete headstone that is still in great condition.  I personally like these but they don't last for very long.

A marble headstone at a child's grave.  This little "lamb" marker will last for centuries.

A few shots of ornamental wrought iron and plain steel crosses with the latter marking "unknown" graves.  I love the hand made decorative crosses and the fact that someone was thoughtful enough to mark the forgotten graves.

The flower detail on the gate sign.

It was now late-morning and the temperature was rising...time to get back to the air-conditioned car.  I can't handle the heat like I used to.

Saint Joseph's Cemetery is in farming country north of Foremost, Alberta.

Photographed on May 9, 2019.

The Virgelle Ferry

One for BW Bandy...

November 27, 2017

The old ferry (retired).

December 1, 2017

The new ferry (in operation during the warmer months).

The Virgelle Ferry crosses the Missouri River and can save up to an hour in travelling time.  I'm usually through the area either too early or too late in the season to take advantage of the trip.  One day I'll get lucky.

Old Vegreville School

On my way to Lamont County last winter I happened past the Old Vegreville School.

Love that peachy-coloured stucco against the fresh snow...the art deco styled entrance adds some intrigue too.

There was no sunshine for the first three days of the trip making the sky the same colour as the snow.  Did I mention the foot of fresh snow?  Made the country roads exciting to say the least.

Photographed on January 5, 2019.

Let's All Go To Sunday School

A sign commemorating the Schuler Church of God in southern Alberta.

The sun was just rising behind the sign which helped me in achieving some glowing photos.

Photographed on September 16, 2019.

Roads

November 14, 2016

Coming home along Highway 41 near Schuler, Alberta.  A five minute downpour resulted in a double rainbow above the sun drenched hills.

March 21, 2017

Along Secondary Highway 500 in southern Alberta.  The bridge in the distance is where the road crosses the Milk River.  Writing-on-Stone Park is just a few miles west and the Aden border crossing is about fifteen miles southeast.

October 18, 2018

I see my share of "wide open prairie landscapes" but this is likely the most barren landscape I've seen in some time.  If you follow the road it will lead you to the pioneer Bethel Bruderthaler Cemetery.  Some distance south is the town of Zurich, Montana; remember these?: Grain Elevators in Zurich

February 27, 2018

The road that passes through the ghost town of Glen Kerr, Saskatchewan.  I'm glad someone put up a sign.  Not too far away is the old one-room school house that now serves as a community hall.

July 12, 2019

A summer day in farming country in the Eastend area of Saskatchewan.  I didn't have a chance to get out on many road trips this year so it was a real treat to get away for a few days.  Eastend is a favourite (and close) "go to" spot.

June 30, 2017

Along Battle Creek Road in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan is the "West Benson Trail" turnoff.  Good luck with this one if it rains.

November 25, 2018

Four horses in a pasture near Stampede, North Dakota.  A little used road way out in the boonies.  Lots of old cemeteries, churches and homesteads in the county.

August 11, 2017

A road past a field of sunflowers west of Hilda, Alberta.  In a word: "Happy!"

October 14, 2018

Fall in Vulcan County, Alberta.  I've spent many enjoyable hours traveling the grid roads and trails here in search of pioneer school locations.  There were about one hundred and twenty one-room schools in the county and most of them have been marked with a memorial sign.

May 21, 2017

Driving along Highway 232 between Havre, Montana and the Wild Horse border crossing.  At this intersection is some "road art" attached to the top of a fence post.  The same artist has attached samples of his work all around Montana, Alberta and Saskatchewan.  They generally strike me as cynically fun folk art.

November 30, 2016

A tough old willow tree growing in a ditch not far from Comrey, Alberta.  It was a very foggy day and bitterly cold...everything was covered with a thick frost.  A friend was supposed to join me on this trip but when I told him how remote it was he chickened-out.  What can I say...no sense of adventure!

August 11, 2017

A road allowance not far from the sunflower patch shown above.  About half a mile down this rutted trail is Hilda Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery.  I parked the car and walked in...no bugs, no wind, just a nice sunny morning.

October 21, 2018

On my way back home to Medicine Hat, Alberta along Highway 232 (again) in Montana.  Only fifteen miles to the Wild Horse border crossing.

I love road trips!

More "road" photos here: On the Road

Two Windows and a Baptismal Font

These photos were taken in the Foremost United Church in Foremost, Alberta.

Shown above is the window behind the altar.

To the right of the altar is the baptismal font bathed in the coloured light of the stained glass window.

Three additional and equally attractive stained glass windows from the same church but with a "farm life" theme and additional information can be seen here:  Three Windows

Photographed on May 29, 2019.

The Lightning Tree

Near Richmound, Saskatchewan...I stopped here to take a photo of the Little Water Pumper windmill and just across the road was an old homestead and a lightning tree.

Photographed on September 16, 2019.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Subtly decorated for Thanksgiving...this is Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

The reflected light from the stained glass windows is quite awe inspiring.

This is the original hand-carved altar from Italy (circa 1910's).

Photographed on October 7, 2017.

Saint Peter's at Cosine

Saint Peter's Church and Cemetery at Cosine, Saskatchewan.  The church is truly a relic of the  past...but what a spectacular relic it is.

I love the hand-made iron crosses in the cemetery.

Note the child-angels with trumpets on the sign posts.

The crucifix in the cemetery.

This big beauty must have sat well over a hundred parishioners.

My guess is the steeple was lost to a Saskatchewan gale.

Photographed on December 12, 2017.

Thursday Afternoon

How did you spend your afternoon today?  I needed to do some work at Saint Margaret's Church so after lunch I grabbed a camera and off I went.

Above is the "Summer Road Only" sign that stands beside a township road that heads eastward...

...which is a nice little detour along the way.

A few miles down the road is the fallen-down Congregational Church.

Back on the main road and approaching the Cypress Hills.

Three deer on the hillside.

Rusty orange fall colours are everywhere.

My destination: Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery.

This is Sage.  He lives nearby and usually comes over to say "hello."  He has a good life out in the hills. 

However you spent your afternoon, I hope it was a good one. 

Photographed on October 10, 2010.