Prairie Rose

My favourite rose of all time...simple and fragrant.

Photographed near Maple Creek, Saskatchewan.

Bethel Lutheran Church

A lovely country church near Fosston, Saskatchewan.

There is a cemetery just west of the church.  About one third of the grounds behind the church are covered by native aspen trees.

The oversize bell tower is a standout!

Most of the names on the headstones are of Norwegian descent.

Photographed on March 18, 2020.

Sage

Sage lived with David Carter out in the west end of the Cypress Hills at Saint Margaret's Church where Sage allowed David to be his pack leader.  He was quite a sweetheart and if he really liked you he'd let you give him a tummy rub.

Sage would keep an eye on me while I was weeding and gardening around the church...that is, until a ground squirrel would pop up it's head and then he'd be off on a chase.

Sadly, about a month ago Sage was attacked and killed by a cougar about three times his size.  He didn't have a chance. I miss seeing him on my trips out to the church.  His ashes will be both spread and buried in the cemetery there.  Sage was only five years old.

His spirit is now guardian of Saint Margaret's for all time.

The wonderful photos of Sage shown here were taken by Geneviève Côté in late June and early July of 2018.  I thank her deeply for capturing Sage at his most natural.

Whew!  That was a long way to the top of the hill!

Sage overseeing his domain.

David Carter has written a booklet for children of all ages about Sage and will soon be available on his website here: https://djcarter.ca/

If you're in Medicine Hat you can often find David at the Farmer's Market on Saturdays at the Cypress Centre but...funerals at the cemetery take precedence over market appearances.  Proceeds from the sale of the booklet will go to support the SPCA and Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery (a non-profit organisation).

Love your pet!  Hug indiscriminately.

Thomson Ranch Gate

A big chunky ranch gate near the entrance to the Centre Block of the Cypress Hills in Saskatchewan.

Photographed on June 12, 2020.

Rock Weather

Who needs a weather app when you can have one of these?

Simple and straightforward.

Photographed near Maple Creek, Saskatchewan on June 13, 2020.

Shufletoski

Precious memories...

This is a case where a picture really is worth a thousand words.

Photographed at Point View Cemetery near Ravenscrag, Saskatchewan on June 6, 2020.

One Arch

A bowstring bridge just east of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan.

The bridge itself appears to be in excellent condition.

Dozens of swallows use the bridge for nesting.  As soon as I got out of the car they were flying all around me.

There is a farmyard behind the trees.

And what a setting...lush and green!

Photographed on June 13, 2020.

Garness Township School

I happened across this little school by chance one afternoon on a road trip in the hilly pasture land north of Powers Lake, North Dakota.  It stands alone on the top of a hill near a crossroads.

The trail leading up the hillside to the school was too muddy to drive or walk so these few photos were shot from the gravel road.

Photographed on November 24, 2018.

Clemenceau Federal

Welcome to Clemenceau!

The Federal grain elevator is still standing and I was happy to see that!

I love the way this one has aged...peeling paint and all.

This must have been the elevator operator's house...in minty green no less.

I don't think a CN train has stopped here in a long time.

The main industry of the town was lumber but after a forest fire in the early 1940's that soon came to an end.  I grew up in the southeast corner of the province so just the idea of a lumber industry in Saskatchewan was surprising.

The "Federal" and "Clemenceau" names are still legible...barely.

A few shots on my way out of town and towards Hudson Bay...that's Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan by the way.

Photographed on March 19, 2020.

Krasne Church

Saint John Bohoslav Krasne Ukrainian Catholic Church was built in 1940.  Although difficult to tell from these photos, I have it on good word the church and cemetery grounds are immaculately kept.  I'd love to see this one again when the grass is green.

The church was registered as a Municipal Heritage Property in 1989.

Photographed near Krasne, Saskatchewan on March 17, 2020.