Must have been a pretty nice house back in the day.
Photographed near Wasel, Alberta on September 19, 2021.
Sunday, February 19, 2023
Friday, February 17, 2023
A Beautiful Place Out in the Country
A lovely Sunday morning at Negrych Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery.
Every once in a while a place evokes forgotten memories, déjà vu or some fleeting emotion that's simply difficult to describe. My short visit here was all that...wrapped up like a present for a truly wonderful experience. It's one of those things that I will not soon forget.
It's good to slow down every now and then to enjoy those special moments...whatever they may be.
Photographed near Venlaw, Manitoba on my birthday in 2022.
Thursday, February 16, 2023
Hague Water Tower
The handsome CNR water tower in Hague, Saskatchewan.
I'd stopped to see the water tower the previous summer but since I was in the area again a return visit was in order. It's still in beautiful condition...and also learned that the tower is used as a symbol in the town logo.
Photographed on October 9, 2022.
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Driving Miss Daisy
I had the pleasure of Miss Daisy's company this past Sunday.
It was a warm day so she had her window wide open for the whole trip.
We usually end up at Hillside cemetery where we can drive slowly down the narrow lanes...she has lots to sniff and I don't have to deal with traffic. Can't beat that for a Sunday drive.
Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on February 12, 2023.
Містер і Mісіс Сул
Містер і Mісіс Сул.
Mister and Missus Sul.
John and Mary together for all time.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Photographed at the Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery of Saints Peter and Paul near Sunville, Manitoba on August 19, 2022.
Friday, February 10, 2023
Great News!
Some great news to share.
My dear friend David Carter arranged for a meeting with the archivist at the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre here in Medicine Hat, Alberta today. We soon established a mutual understanding that the preservation of our heritage was vastly important.
In brief...the photos I've taken covering much of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba along with isolated areas of North Dakota and Montana will now be preserved in perpetuity in the archives of the Esplanade. Everyone with an interest in our history will have access to the photos of the historic sites I've had the pleasure to experience first hand.
And what better way to celebrate than with photos of the Congregational Church at Gros Ventre-Tothill...
...and Daisy!
It's been a wondrous day of gratitude and appreciation that works both ways, and all around. I'm feeling somewhat blessed at the moment so excuse me for blushing. I believe a glass of champagne is in order.
Daisy at the Congregational Church was photographed near Gros Ventre-Tothill, Alberta on October 2, 2022.
Wednesday, February 08, 2023
Дванадцять хрестів
Дванадцять хрестів
Twelve crosses
A small selection of handcrafted wrought iron crosses that grace the domes and cupolas of both large and small Ukrainian churches in the beautiful province of Manitoba. Enjoy!
Saint Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church (1900/1921)
Venlaw, Manitoba
July 24, 2022
Saint Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church (1900/1921)
Venlaw, Manitoba
July 24, 2022
Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church (1904/1933)
Ozerna, Manitoba
July 25, 2022
Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Ascension (1911)
Ruthenia, Manitoba
July 26, 2022
Saint Peter and Saint Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church (1904)
Rossburn Farms, Manitoba
July 26, 2022
Saint Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church (1918)
Glenhope, Manitoba
August 19, 2022
Saint Peter and Saint Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church (1940)
Sundown, Manitoba
August 21, 2022
Saint Elias Ukrainian Orthodox Church (1908)
Sirko, Manitoba
August 21, 2022
Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church (1898)
Stuartburn, Manitoba
August 22, 2022
Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church (1924)
Rosa, Manitoba
August 22, 2022
Anyone interested in the symbolism of the crosses may find the above collection thought-provoking as well as a little bit puzzling. My overall view is not so much an explanation as it is an understanding.
From what I've read the crescent moon motif was introduced after the seventeenth century in Ukraine to commemorate the triumph of the Christian faith over Islam. When Ukrainian settlers immigrated to Canada the crescent moon was kept as an ornamental element on the wrought iron crosses that decorated the domes and cupolas of their churches.
During the early days of immigration it seems that at times both Catholic and Orthodox churches used the crescent moon at the base of their crosses and both faiths used the trefoil (three-barred) cross and the Latin (crucifix) cross.
As is was, there were no "set rules" so the artists who designed and sculpted these attractive wrought iron crosses had a creative hand in expressing their native heritage and displayed it proudly on the churches they built in their new homeland.
Thanks to Crosses of East Slavic Christianity among Ukrainians in Western Canada by A. M. Kostecki.
Sunday, February 05, 2023
Squirrelly
I was out at Daisy's house in Elkwater to shovel some snow a few days ago.
No sooner had I picked up the shovel when the resident squirrel started chattering excitedly at me. I'm sure he or she knows there's no serious threat but one must stand one's ground, right? Pretty cute from this human's perspective.
Less than an hour later I was finished and everything was back to normal...much to the squirrel's delight I'm sure.
Photographed in Elkwater, Alberta on February 3, 2023
Thursday, February 02, 2023
Ukrainian Pioneer Mass Grave
It stands on the site of a tragic event that occurred well over a century ago near Patterson Lake, Manitoba.
The sign reads:
"Ukrainian Settlers Mass Grave"In May 1899 scarlet fever struck the first group of Slavic families who camped at this site. Forty-two children and three adults died."This memorial commemorates the suffering, perseverance and courage of those pioneers who overcame tragedy."They carved homesteads out of forest and made life possible for us: their descendants."Parkland Ukrainian Pioneer Association 1978."
The site is home to (from left to right): the large one hundredth anniversary monument, a fiftieth anniversary jubilee marker, a guest book housed in a waterproof box atop a steel pole, the carved wooden information sign, a cairn listing the names of all those buried there, a headstone for an infant and a white budded cross at the foot of the burial mound.
The burial mound is prominent in the above two photographs.
To the south is a canola field...
...and to the north, across the road and behind the aspen trees is Patterson Lake.
The grounds are impeccably kept.
The reflection of the sky in the large monument had me awe struck for the entiretiy of my visit...almost as if heaven came to ground and was there keeping watch.
Photographed near Olha, Manitoba on July 27, 2022.
Out for a Walk
An off-leash area where dogs can simply enjoy doing "dog stuff."
Looks like she's doing just that. Good for her.
Photographed near Police Point Park in Medicine Hat, Alberta on January 11, 2023.