White Valley Lutheran Church

An historical church on the southern Saskatchewan prairie...

...with a wonderful one-of-a-kind cross.

I greatly appreciate these handsome history plaques that are provided by the Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society together with the local community groups.  An admiral step towards preserving our history. 

The church would comfortably seat at least a hundred people.

A close-up of the "modern-style" altar.

The window above the front doors...no stained glass here but that big blue prairie sky more than makes up for it.  

Also on the grounds...

...stands a marker for the Northwest Mounted Police Trail.  

Photographed south of Dollard, Saskatchewan on May 10, 2022.

In the Garden

A trio of photos from where I was "working" today. 

All the neighbourhood birds stop by for a drink and or a bath in one of the three bird baths in the garden.  The one in the photo is the deepest and is the robin's favourite.  They expect it to be cleaned then filled with cool clean water on a daily basis.  When this isn't done they will stand on the edge of the bird bath and scream to the high heavens as soon as they see you out in the yard.  They learn quick...and of course they get their way.  

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on June 8, 2022.

Hope Lutheran in Kayville

The old Hope Lutheran Church in Kayville, Saskatchewan.

The phrase "all hope has been abandoned" seems fitting in this case.

Photographed on May 26, 2022.

Rock Mountain S.D. No. 4189

This is a one-of-a-kind pioneer school sign near Coronach, Saskatchewan.

The sign is dual-layer steel.  The foreground is a cut-out with the background layer providing depth of space for the coloured images and text.  

Someone really loved the little one-room schoolhouse that used to stand here.

Photographed on May 26, 2022.

Guardian Spirit

Sage is forever the guardian spirit at Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery.

From his comfortable seat under a tall spruce tree he keeps a watchful eye on all that happens in the churchyard.    

For more about Sage, click here: Sage and here: Sage is Home

Photographed near Eagle Butte in the Cypress Hills of Alberta on June 3, 2022.

Irises

A close-up of some irises blooming.  The shades of purple and green are just the perfect contrast. 

Photographed at Lawrence's office in Medicine Hat, Alberta on June 4, 2022.

Balloon Festival

There was a hot-air balloon festival here this past weekend.  Much of Friday and Saturday was too windy but Sunday morning was calm and sunny so just before 7:00 a.m. the balloons began launching from an open field north of town.  I'd been busy with some early morning gardening but had stopped on South River Road for a rest when, one by one, the hot-air balloons began rising in the sky.  They always give me that thrill of boyhood adventure..."Around the World in Eighty Days" and all that.  Collectively, to me, they look like Christmas tree ornaments just floating above the landscape.  They certainly do capture the imagination.  Enjoy!

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on May 29, 2022.

Castle Butte

A marvelous natural site near Bengough, Saskatchewan.  Enjoy!

Photographed on May 26, 2022.

Antonia and Lukas

During a recent visit to Buffalo Gap Cemetery I found this stained glass window encased in a glass block.

Antonia...

...and Lukas.

The glass block decoration adds that "little something extra" and sits midway between the couple's headstones.

Photographed near Buffalo Gap, Saskatchewan on May 26. 2022.

Paisley Brook S.D. No. 3434

I wasn't sure if this one was still standing or not but since it was a beautiful spring day I decided to take a chance and go for a drive to see for myself.  As it turned out, the schoolhouse was still standing and in pretty nice condition.  The flag flying above the marker was almost new...obviously someone cares about this pioneer school.  It even has it's original wooden siding and cedar shake roof.

Swallows had a few nests under the eaves so they were dive-bombing me while I took pictures...just protecting their babies.

Something unusual is the relatively truncated bank of windows.  The windows usually fill most of one side of the building but not in this case.     

Photographed near Big Beaver, Saskatchewan on May 26, 2022.