Sage is Home

And he has a wondrous view.

A couple of months ago my dear friend David Carter's Norwegian Elkhound "Sage" was killed by a cougar in the Cypress Hills of Alberta.  A pet quickly becomes a member of the family and their passing is truly a sad and heart-wrenching time.

This outstanding sculpture of Sage was commissioned by the Sodero Family of Medicine Hat, Alberta and was recently presented to David as a memorial gift.  Sage once again stands on guard at Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery in Eagle Butte, Alberta.

The creator of the "Sage" sculpture is Marina Cole.  Much of her outstanding and imaginative work can be seen in both public and private spaces in Medicine Hat and on her website here:
Chainsaw Spirit

The inspirational photos used in developing the sculpture were taken by Geneviève Côté.

A special thank you to Roy and Dexter who were Sage's companions and caretakers on his many visits to town.

And to David Carter...thank you for giving Sage a home he loved and still dreams about.  I've heard that the Cypress Hills are a gateway to heaven...in that case, Sage couldn't be in a better place.

Everyone who was a part of Sage's extended family misses him deeply.  You can read more and see photos of Sage roaming the hills here:  Sage

Photographed on July 23, 2020.

Myron

A gentleman's headstone in Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery near Prelate, Saskatchewan. 

Photographed on July 14, 2020.

The Big School in Corinth

This is the second Corinth School built circa 1930.

I've always had a soft spot for the "prairie grandeur" of the schools built around this time.  Schools for lots of first generation kids looking forward to a bright future.

That's quite a tilt on the bell tower.

From this angle the flagpole is almost straight up.

The cracked and failing foundation is much taller than it appears in the photos.

Ending on a positive note...North Dakota has "living skies" too!

Photographed on December 18, 2018.

The Little School in Corinth

It was late on a December afternoon and I was travelling north towards Crosby, North Dakota for the night.  Just off the highway was the village of Corinth and since there was still enough light for a few photos I decided to stop for a look.

Just on the edge of town I found this little abandoned schoolhouse, the first Corinth School circa 1910.

I think this is an old radio tower.

The second and much larger Corinth School can be seen in the background.  More photos of that next time.

Photographed on December 18, 2018.

Give Peas a Chance

A little peas.

A close-up of the burgundy and pink coloured flowers of a pea crop.

A full section of land planted to peas.

An entire square mile of white-flowering peas.

Peas at last!

There are always lots of pea crops in this part of the province.

Photographed on July 14, 2020 near Hilda, Alberta.

Palomino in a Pink Patch

A palomino in a patch of pink-flowering vetch.

This is his partner in the pasture...she has unusual colouring and markings.

Photographed near Schuler, Alberta on July 14, 2020.

The River Valley

The South Saskatchewan River Valley directly north of Prelate, Saskatchewan.

The "carpet of green" on the hillsides are wild junipers that smell like gin, fresh and aromatic.

Photographed on July 14, 2020.

Maple Tree School Sign

One of my "most photographed" school signs.

I've always liked the blue cattle-guard around the school sign, and in this case it contrasts brilliantly with the big yellow field in the background.

Photographed near Hilda, Alberta on July 14, 2020.

Winner Township School #1

Winner Township School #1 sits across the road from Bethel Cemetery in Williams County, North Dakota.

The intersecting roof lines create a covered entryway above a five-panel door.

The metal roof caps and finials are all still in place.  Notice how the roof slopes up at the base of the chimney...a nice touch.

I've seen this ball-shaped design of roof finial on a few dozen schools in nearby counties.  Simple and attractive.

These windows face east...

...and these face north.  At one time there was an addition opposite the entrance but all that remains of it is an outline on the wall.  What purpose this addition served remains a mystery.

I love this tiny round window below the roof peak on the west side...a touch of elegance.

When this school closed a somewhat larger school opened a few miles away.  You can see that one here:  Winner Township School #2

When I shot the photos of this school I was almost certain that it was another school entirely with a different name.  But some months later, while researching another road trip, I found documents online from the State Historical Society of North Dakota that listed all the pioneer schools in the state.  It turned out that I had mixed up the names and locations of two seemingly unrelated schools.    It's always a good idea to check and double check.  In this case a triple check didn't hurt.

Photographed near Appam, North Dakota on December 19, 2018.

Our Lady of Grace

A frosty winter day at Our Lady of Grace Cemetery near Castor, Alberta.

I couldn't resist taking some photos of the trees covered in heavy hoar frost.

A vast array of headstones large and small in a winter wonderland.

There is a driving trail through the cemetery.

A new addition to many of the larger prairie cemeteries is a columbarium as seen here just where the trail curves.

Photographed on February 25, 2020.