Saint Joseph's Colony

Last week while driving along a road near Leipzig, Saskatchewan this statue unexpectedly came into sight as I neared the next crossroads.  Gray sky to the east...

...and blue sky to the west.

The surrounding area of seventy-seven townships (over 2700 square miles) was mainly settled from 1905 to 1907 by German Catholic immigrants from the United States.  They named it Saint Joseph's Colony.

It is a Saskatchewan Historic Site...and a captivating sight it is out on the open prairie.  I enjoy researching an area for a road trip but no amount of research will tell you everything...and that's a good thing.  I love coming across these "unexpected" treasures.

Information courtesy of GRHC (Germans from Russia Heritage Collection).

Photographed on November 18, 2019.

Heritage Farmstead

A designated pioneer farmstead east of Battleford, Saskatchewan.

These places are a reminder of the not-so-distant past and, maybe even more importantly, they give a multitude of wild birds and animals a home.

Charles Lee had a pretty nice house.

Photographed on October 24, 2019.

Blue

When I finished up my gardening duties for the season I decided to take a road trip north of Saskatoon.  I'd never been through the area so everything was "new to me."

I stopped at Stump Lake-Hillside Cemetery soon after lunchtime and was greeted by Blue.  As you can see he's a Blue Heeler.

It was one of those days that was overcast but so bright it almost hurt to look up into the sky.  The light seemed to intensify the colours making Blue actually look "blue" and the autumn grass a glowing golden colour.  Notice Blue's peachy-red coloured socks.

As it so happens, three year old Blue takes care of the two fellows who in turn take care of the local cemeteries.  He does a great job, wouldn't you say?

Blue gave me a tour of the cemetery.

He listens well too.  When it was time for him to get back to work and for me to go all I had to do was say "stay" and that was that.  He's a sweetie.

Photographed near Canwood, Saskatchewan on October 25, 2019.

Farming was My Life

"Farming was My Life"

A headstone in Saint Pascal's Cemetery near Leipzig, Saskatchewan.

Photographed on November 18, 2019.

Elevator in Gronlid

An old Searle/Federal grain elevator in the hamlet of Gronlid, Saskatchewan.

This was the first time I'd seen both logos still intact and visible on an old elevator.

Photographed on October 25, 2019.

Church near Whitkow

Church of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ Ukrainian Catholic Church is an abandoned church near Whitkow, Saskatchewan.

Each of the three domes is topped by a decorative wrought iron cross.

The arched windows in green and gold are simple but attractive.

The church sits in a small grove of trees...and some caring soul still mows the lawn too.

Photographed on October 24, 2019.

Kerrobert Library

Sunrise on the historic Kerrobert Library in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan.  This one's a charmer!

Photographed on November 18, 2019.

Wing School

An abandoned pioneer school near Wing, Montana.

It's an unusual design for a country school.

Photographed on October 21, 2018.

Barn near Simmie

Love the parged concrete walls and rounded, arched roof with two cupolas and five lightning rods!  The cattle raised here were blessed with good housing.

Photographed on Friday the 13th, October 2017.

Seventh Day Adventist Cemetery near Leader

A late summer photo of the cemetery monument...

...and another in winter.

The Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society is responsible for marking many of the historical sites around the province.  Kudos to them.

My previous visits here had been during winters with heavy snow cover.  It wasn't until a recent visit this past summer that I first saw these three graves.

A handful of old and weathered headstones in the prairie grass...

...and frigidly attractive in winter. 

Photographed on February 26, 2018 (winter) and September 26, 2019 (late summer).