Jasman

A handmade sign commemorating the location of a pioneer school.  

Every once in a while I run across a school sign that really stands out from the others.  This is one of those... a modern folk art tour de force.

Photographed south of Juno, Alberta on November 28, 2021.

Who's Hoo

A great horned owl perched in a stand of aspens near Milo, Alberta.

Photographed on October 28, 2018.

Peter and Nellie

A large tiger lily decoration at the gravesite of Peter and Nellie Stanicki.

Photographed at Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery in Gorlitz, Saskatchewan on July 27, 2021.

Над верхівками дерев височіють куполи Сходу

Domes of the east rise above the tree tops.

This beautiful church of Byzantine architecture is the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Elia in Wroxton, Saskatchewan.      

 

The cornerstone.  This is the third church of the congregation and was built in 1953.  The two earlier churches were built in 1902 and 1913.

The bell rang with a pure tone all through town and into the distance.  Chances are I woke up a few sleepyheads that early Wednesday morning.

Photographed on July 28, 2021.

Saint Elias near Wroxton

Welcome to Saint Elias Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery.

The church is in a grove of trees set back from the road.  

The headstones in the left foreground are atypical of those usually found in Ukrainian pioneer cemeteries.  Someone took the time and made the effort to build custom molds for these distinctive markers.

The bell tower is just above the hall entrance.

The outdoor altar stands just behind the church.  In the warmer months I'm sure many weddings, baptisms and funerals would have taken place here.  

The blue-framed window is the only exterior church decoration. 

The congregation formed in the early 1900's and built their first church of logs.  The church seen here was constructed in 1938.

Cool shade under the trees was welcome on what was quickly becoming a hot summer day. 

The sign is almost hidden by trees.

Photographed near Wroxton, Saskatchewan on July 28, 2021.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Saint Margaret's Church.

Photographed in the Cypress Hills of Alberta on November 12, 2021.

Holiday Greetings from Veregin

Holiday Greetings!

A lifesize nativity scene in the Village of Veregin, Saskatchewan.

Photographed on January 7, 2020.

All Saints at Bellis

The gate is open...

...to All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The church is just on the outskirts of town.

And adjacent to the church is a prominent bell tower beside a stand of aspens.

For a small country church is has a vast array of window shapes and sizes: tall and narrow below the dome, tiny and square on the outer transepts, pointed-arch on the transept angles, wide rectangles on the apse and a rounded arch above the front doors.  And best of all...they compliment each other. 

The original church marker is almost lost in the lilac bushes.

A picturesque setting.

Photographed at Bellis, Alberta on September 18, 2021.

Near Smoky Lake

An old hand-hewn log building near Smoky Lake, Alberta.

Looks like it may have been a barn on the lower level with a home on the top floor.

It was only four days until Christmas and I couldn't help but wonder how the holiday might have been celebrated here at the time: wake up and add logs to the fire, feed the cattle and milk the cow, the barn cat would like some of that fresh warm milk...she's a good mouser.  Maybe there were a few treats left by Saint Nicholas in the stockings hung by the stove for the kids.  Time for breakfast...fried eggs, toast grilled on the cast iron stove with homemade butter...fresh sausage from the neighbour down the road.  Be fun to go out and play in the snow while it's bright and sunny, make snow angels, build a snowman and then help mom with the baby while she gets Christmas dinner ready.  A prayer of thankfulness...turkey with stuffing and mashed potatoes, whipped cream on pumpkin pie for dessert.  Twilight time...light a candle or two, leftovers to nibble on, dad tells a story while mom rocks the baby to sleep then early to bed after such a joyful day.  Different times.

Photographed on December 21, 2020.

Saint John in Cereal

Saint John the Baptist Anglican Church in Cereal, Alberta.

Photographed on December 1, 2021.