A New Visitor

The newest visitor to my balcony is this male Downy Woodpecker.

I used to see him only occasionally but he's now a daily visitor.

He's pretty showy with his red nape, striped head and spotted wings.

Peanuts are his favourite.

Photographed on February 8, 2021.

"K"

I was on my way from Wynyard to Regina, via the back roads of course, and just around a corner was Kutawa School...a complete surprise!

In need of a fresh coat of paint but other than that the building seems to be pretty solid.

The original paint scheme was white with navy blue trim.

That flagpole is as straight as the day is was made.

Photographed near Punnichy, Saskatchewan on January 21, 2021.

"J"

Saint John Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Weirdale, Saskatchewan.

A hot summer day with not even a hint of a cloud in the sky.

This big country church has been well maintained over the years...looks like the lawn had just been mowed before my visit.

The dome and cupolas are constructed of a stippled tin alloy giving a softer overall appearance to the church. 

Photographed on August 6, 2020.

"I"

An elegant little church in the Saskatchewan countryside.

This is Profitis Ilias Greek Orthodox Church.

It is a privately built and owned church decicated to Saint Ilias.  The blue door is "the finishing touch." 

Ilias is yet another spelling for Elia, Elias or Elijah.

The ornately designed wrought iron gate at the entrance to the church. 

Photographed near Endeavour, Saskatchewan on March 19, 2020.

A Daisy Day

A few days ago we had a beautiful weather day...+14°C, a tee-shirt and a windbreaker was plenty warm enough.  A great day to take Daisy for a walk.

Photographed on February 2, 2021.

And now for something completely different...

Some friends are vacationing in Hawaii and yesterday they were hiking through some lava fields.  

Gee...I hope they didn't get a sunburn!

Photographed by Linda Gordon on February 6, 2021.

"H"

Saint Helen's Anglican Church at Stellaville, Alberta was built in 1912.

The crenellated parapet combined with the Rural Gothic architecture are familiar to many Anglican churches of the time.

A small cemetery sits comfortably behind the church.

The original stained glass window, which came from Italy, was relocated to Saint Saviour's Anglican Church in Vermilion, Alberta.

Information courtesy of the Alberta Register of Historic Places.

Photographed on February 22, 2020.

"G"

Gelowitz School is near Killaly, Saskatchewan.  The school was built of local fieldstone in 1907 and was in operation until 1964...well over fifty years.

A metal sign as well as a memorial stone cairn have been erected at the school site dedicated to the pioneering spirit of the students, teachers and trustees of Gelowitz School.

This is a small barn built at the same time as the school.

All things considered, the school building is in nice condition.

The small wooden building behind the school appears to be a granary.

There is a very friendly black lab that lives at the farm next door to the school.  She likes to play fetch.

Information courtesy of the Gelowitz School District Reunion Committee.

Photographed on October 11, 2020.

Big Yellow Field

A big yellow field near Acadia Valley, Alberta.

Photographed on July 14, 2018.

"F"

Farming Valley School is a one room school near Cereal, Alberta.

This is one of only a few pioneer schools I've seen with the distinction of having a bona fide bell tower...and an oversize one at that!

The original wooden school sign above the covered entryway.

A closer look at the bell tower.  The size of the openings suggest it may have been used as a lookout (though I can't imagine what anyone would be looking out for).

This metal sign is just inside the fence line along the main road. 

Photographed on July 15, 2018.