Ascension

Visiting this long abandoned church was something of a spiritual experience.  It's one of those rare places where the past seems to be ever present and memories linger.

Just a short walk west of the church... 

...is the graveyard...

...where someone still mows the grass and keeps the weeds at bay.

Walking back towards the church...

...to take a look inside...

...and up.

Above the front doors in the choir loft.

This is the only Ukrainian church I've seen where the outer trim was a golden yellow colour.

The view from the main road.

I had only taken a few shots of the church when I heard a vehicle approaching on the trail from the west.  Three ladies in a one-ton truck stopped to talk...they'd been visiting family members in the cemetery and were off to join their living family members for a Saturday afternoon bar-be-que and reunion.  We had a nice chat and not only did they know of a few locations I had missed in my research, but we knew some of the same people.  Definitely an "it's a small world" experience.

Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery is near Trembowla, Manitoba.

Photographed on July 23, 2022.

An Angel To Watch Over

An apt marker for those who work the land.

A spade and a combine (mounted on a drill bit) with an angel to watch over.

Photographed at Albion Cemetery near Deer Creek, Saskatchewan on June 28, 2022.

Leaves are Falling

When I stopped here five or six days ago there was only a fine scattering of leaves on the ground.

But today was a much different story...

...yellow leaves from the big old ash trees were everywhere.  Fall is here!

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on October 5, 2022.

Daisy and Sage

A couple of photos of my two favourite dogs.

Sage the Norwegian Elkhound would help me keep Saint Margaret's looking good while Daisy the Australian Shepherd still keeps me company while I'm gardening at her house.

Photographed at Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery near Eagle Butte, Alberta on October 2, 2022.

Spruce Coulee

Early evening at Spruce Coulee Reservoir in the Cypress Hills of Alberta.

Love the reflections, which reminds me...

Many years ago I would occasionally take a day off from what was then a very hectic gardening and landscaping schedule and camp out at Spruce Coulee.  What made it attractive to me was there were no RV's, camper trailers or motor boats allowed, a rule that still applies to this day.  So if you wanted to spend the night you needed whatever would make your outdoor stay a pleasant experience (just as long as it didn't make any noise).

One warm night I ventured out onto the reservoir in my inflatable dinghy around midnight.  Once I'd paddled to the centre of the lake I laid down with my head resting on the front edge of the dinghy and looked a little forward and a little upwards.  The star filled sky reflected on the surface of the water created a "floating in mid air" experience that was second to none. One of those things that I will remember forever.

Photographed on October 3, 2022.

Do You Like My New Place?

Pretty nice, don't you think?  The reflection of the sky in the windows even matches the colour of my car.

And it comes with a picturesque view of the lake too!

Only kidding.  This is Daisy's house at Elkwater in the Cypress Hills of Alberta.

We're here spending some quality time together for a few days just enjoying the beautiful fall weather.

Photographed on October 3, 2022.

Ghost Bird

I have no idea why the bird in this colour photograph appears as a grayish ghost image...almost looks like a photoshop creation (which is a software tool I do not use).

Maybe the name of the spot where the photo was taken is a clue.

Photographed on the grounds of Holy Ghost Romanian Orthodox Church and Cemetery in the Hairy Hill area of Alberta on June 27, 2022.

Je suis l'Immaculée Conception

A beautiful wrought iron gate at the entrance to the old monastery near Holland, Manitoba.

Photographed on August 17, 2022.

Wild Bergamot

Wild bergamot in full bloom near Bangor, Saskatchewan.

Make your own Earl Grey tea from the dried leaves.

Photographed on July 22, 2022.

Ewart School

This old schoolhouse is about half a mile off the main road and stands right in the middle of a canola field.

There was an overgrown rutted trail (suitable only for tractors and all terrain vehicles) so I parked and walked in for a better view.  

The trail led past a corral and finally ended up at an old homestead where these shots were taken.

Photographed near Ewart, Manitoba on August 16, 2022.