The World's Largest Gopher

He's eight feet tall and weighs in at three thousand pounds.

Photographed in Eston, Saskatchewan on October 7, 2021.

Somewhere near Ravenscrag

A few shots from a recent road trip in southwest Saskatchewan.

It was my first taste of winter this year.

Looks like the end of the road but it actually curves to the right just after it dips down into that first coulee.

Love this landscape in every season.

Photographed on November 20, 2021.

Saint Michael's near Rhein

Saint Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery as seen from the road.

I've stopped here a number of times but this was the first time with no snow cover. 

The bell tower and hall stand on the west side of the grounds.

Two cupolas and a small dome grace the church.  Other than the metal roofs, the buildings appear to be mostly original.    

The cemetery is well populated with headstones dating back over a century.

Another view.

Saint Michael's was built in 1924 and is the second church of the Holy Ascension Orthodox congregation.  

The original parish, Holy Ascension Orthodox Chapel (circa 1902), is one mile south and is now fondly known as Kaplychka.

Photographed near Rhein, Saskatchewan on July 28, 2021.

At the Cathedral

A few moments to enjoy the peaceful space within Notre Dame d'Auvergne Cathédrale.

Photographed in Ponteix, Saskatchewan on November 19, 2021.

Cando School

A pioneer school and teacherage near Big Stone, Alberta.     

I had found the school by chance a few years previously but failed to make note of the location so I more or less forgot about it.  Then, about three weeks ago while on a road trip in the Hanna area, I chanced upon it again.  First thing I did was mark the location on my GPS device then take some photos.

There was no sign at the school but now that I had a location I could research the area to see if I could identify it.       

According to William Peter Baergen's "Pioneering with a Piece of Chalk" this is Cando School.  

The teacherage was the former Niles School which was moved here after it closed.  

Of interest, Cando School was named after Cando, North Dakota.  Niles School was named after a homesteader who was killed by a lightning strike while unloading his earthly possessions in front of his newly built shack.

Photographed on November 7, 2021.

Porky

On a recent drive through Grasslands Park in southwest Saskatchewan...

...I met up with this porcupine.

We were more than happy to make acquaintance with each other.  

Porcupines really are quite friendly.

Photographed on November 19, 2021.

Brush Hill

Down this road is Brush Hill Reformed Church...

...but let's first take a look at the cemetery.  Gated, fenced and nicely kept.  Someone has planted columnar aspens along the open eastern side.  A memorial cairn and miniature representation of the church are neighbours within the cemetery.  

Obviously someone cares about the dearly departed here.

Now, a view of that church just down the road.  Trees and brush have now almost surrounded the structure.

The cairns at both the church and cemetery are "dedicated to the pioneers" and were constructed in 1995.

Pointed-arch louvres high up on the bell tower.  Ring!

Certainly a landmark.  

In winter:  Church at Brush Hill

Photographed near Vegreville, Alberta on September 21, 2021.

Just Passing By

Even though seemingly abandoned, the structure still looks remarkably solid.

This is in farming country near Wiseton, Saskatchewan.

Photographed on October 7, 2021.

Fonehill Cemetery

A small country cemetery near Fonehill, Saskatchewan.

A handful of graves are marked but the majority are "Unknown."  

The mature trees create a park-like setting.

Fall colours.

Fonehill is also known as Phone Hill.

Photographed on October 10, 2021.

Kutawa S.D. No. 477

A summer visit to Kutawa School.

The Heritage Schoolyard sign reads:

"A program dedicated to the preservation of country schoolyards for their wildlife and historic values"

Leaving the grounds of old schools, churches and cemeteries for wildlife habitat is admirable.  

There is a small lean-to addition at the back of the building.  

Chalkboards cover most of the south and west walls...

...with a bank of windows facing east.

My favourite shot...kid's drawings on the bulletin board.  Each picture has the name of the budding artist too.

Kutawa School was open from 1921 to 1963.

Six months earlier it looked like this:  "K"

Photographed near Punnichy, Saskatchewan on July 26, 2021.