Favourites from the Past Year

September 16, 2019

A selection of personal favourites from 2019.  Several of these locations warrant a feature post...something I'll  get to in time.  Enjoy!

Above is Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church (aka Blumenfeld) near Liebanthal, Saskatchewan.  There is also an outdoor altar,  an outdoor Stations of the Cross, a shrine and cemetery on the grounds.

February 22, 2019

The Echodale School sign is in a remote area west of Hilda, Alberta.  The South Saskatchewan River is not far away.

July 12, 2019

Creston School is a one-room schoolhouse near Shaunavon, Saskatchewan.  It sits on the edge of a valley.

November 17, 2019

Mayfield Cemetery sits on a hilltop about midway between Empress, Alberta and Eatonia, Saskatchewan.  It's a beautiful spot!

July 11, 2019

An abandoned barn in a big green field bordered with yellow and white flowers.  It's not far from Dollard, Saskatchewan.

September 16, 2019

An abandoned L-shaped house in northern Cypress County, Alberta.  It even has a bay window.

October 10, 2019

This "Summer Road Only" is north of the Cypress Hills in Alberta.  It's a nice little detour off the main road.

December 18, 2019

A rather sketchy trail that leads to Rockdell Cemetery in the R.M. of Willowbrook, Saskatchewan.  I love the vapour trails.

October 26, 2019

Just outside of Wakaw, Saskatchewan...the cairn at Saint Mary's Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery on a very cold and snowy day.

October 27, 2019

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary near Alvena, Saskatchewan.  This is one of the most captivating church buildings I've seen in recent times.

July 12, 2019

Another photo from the Dollard, Saskatchewan area...a pronghorn keeping an eye on me while I photograph the old house across the road.

July 30, 2019

The range road that passes by the Observation School sign near Tunstall, Saskatchewan...wide open prairie.

December 15, 2019

Saint Columba Anglican Church was opened in 1898.  It's a treasure to see out in the prairie near Tuxford, Saskatchewan.

Abandoned Church

The abandoned Lutheran Church in Larson, North Dakota.

It was built to last.  The walls still aren't bowing outwards and they're perfectly straight.

The steeple looks remarkably good after many years of neglect.

Here's how it looks on a gloomy day: The Old Church in Larson

Photographed on December 18, 2018.

Tractors

A headstone at Czeremchniw Polish Cemetery.

I love the tractors...growing up on a small farm, I can easily identify with farm kids.

Photographed near Buchanan, Saskatchewan on December 19, 2019.

Big Gray Elevator

The grain elevator in Columbus, North Dakota.  It's in pretty good condition.

Photographed on November 25, 2018.

Farm Dogs

I often encounter farm dogs on my road trips.

This pair of Great Pyrenees was "guarding" the road that passed by their farm, each one positioned on opposite sides of the road.  Even with all the snow they're easy to spot...they are big dogs.  As soon as I stopped they cautiously came up to the driver's door.  I rolled down the window and in no time they were sniffing and licking my hand.  A few pats on the head were satisfactory and then it was back to their posts, waiting for the next traveler.

Photographed near Fort Pelly, Saskatchewan on December 20, 2019.

Greetings to 2020

Greetings to 2020 from Église de Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc in Dollard, Saskatchewan.

Photographed at sunrise on July 12, 2019.

Farewell to 2019

Farewell to 2019 from Saints Peter and Paul Romanian Orthodox Church.

Photographed at sunset near Canora, Saskatchewan on December 17, 2019.

Crosses

December 14, 2018

Vapour trails above Saint Peter's Cemetery near Kronau.

A free standing cross or crucifix is often found in a cemetery, especially those of Catholic denomination (although not exclusively).  Often they are simply two boards fastened together in the shape of a cross while others are more detailed and incorporate a likeness of Jesus nailed to a cross.  Some of them are monumental, others are comparatively small...but each one is distinctive.  I don't think I've ever seen two that are the same.  

This is a small selection of some I've seen in Saskatchewan country cemeteries.

February 26, 2018

A winter shot of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church and Cemetery (aka Blumenfeld) near Liebentahl.

September 16, 2019

And a late summer photo of the above...  What a difference a few months and a slightly different camera angle make.

July 30, 2019

The timber cross rotted and fell into the grass long ago at Congregational Church Cemetery near Golden Prairie.

August 9, 2018

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cemetery Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery near Glentworth. The cross is white painted steel with a black metal cross insert.

September 16, 2019

The black metal cross at Ingebrigt Christian Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery near Fox Valley.

October 27, 2017

Saint Mary's Catholic Cemetery near Tribune.  This is one of the more elaborate crucifixes I've seen in a small country cemetery.

August 9, 2018

A wooden Celtic cross at Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Cemetery near Glentworth.

December 11, 2017

Sacred Heart Cemetery in Denzil.  The black and gold crucifix looks quite dramatic against the blue sky.

September 16, 2019

 The tilted wooden cross at Saint Anthony's Cemetery near Mendham.

August 10, 2018

The cross, cairn and bell tower at Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church Cemetery near Hodgeville.

March 1, 2018

The above in late winter.

December 14, 2018

The "odd one out" in this collection of photos.  This is the steel cross at the top of Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto at Saint Peter's Colony near Kronau.

Abandoned Catholic Church in Fortuna

An abandoned Catholic Church in Fortuna, North Dakota.

Photographed on October 27, 2017.

Frank Parker

A young cowboy's headstone at Frieden United Cemetery near Hanna, Alberta.

The plaque reads:

"Originally from North Dakota, brothers Frank, Jim, Ed and John drove cattle from Ardley to Watts flats in 1902.  They wintered the cattle at the Buffalo Gap spring.

"During the first year Frank became sick and died.  His body was wrapped up and allowed to freeze and in the spring he was buried and this boulder was used to mark the spot. 

"In 2015 the boulder was moved to this cemetery and dedicated to the memory of a young man, whose spirit led him to start a cattle operation on the open range.  He died before he could marry or raise a family.  His nephew, the younger son of Jim Parker, was named after him.  His parents and siblings are resting in the Hanna Cemetery." 

"Arrangements by Jim, Ken, Pat and Bill Parker, all born and raised in Hanna."

Photographed on November 14, 2018.