The View from Here

A ranch sign south of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan near Spring Valley.  

The beautiful view made for an enjoyable drive through the countryside.

Photographed on October 26, 2017.

Red Rock Coulee

Some late summer fun a few years ago.  Since I'm my own boss I decided to give myself the afternoon off and take a drive in the country.  A visit to Red Rock Coulee was long overdue...it's always a captivating  and wondrous experience to walk amongst the ancient boulders.  Enjoy!

A word of caution: the coulee is home to several wild animals including scorpions and rattlesnakes so keep an eye out for them during your visit.  I've nearly stepped on a rattler more than once but thanks to its rattle I got out of the way in time.  The rattlers blend seamlessly into the landscape and are difficult to spot so be vigilant.  And, if you pick up a rock there may be a scorpion beneath it so be prepared.  

All that said, Red Rock Coulee is a wonderful natural area well worth visiting.  Nature is often a little more than what one bargained for...and for me, that's a good thing.   

Photographed north of Etzikom Alberta on September 20, 2017.

County of Forty Mile Sign

This impressive sign stands west of Seven Persons, Alberta along the Crowsnest Highway (Alberta Highway 3).  I've always been a fan of these big chunky wooden signs and the pronghorn logo is a nice tip of the hat to the abundant wildlife in the area.

Within the boundaries of the County of Forty Mile are Red Rock Coulee, Writing On Stone Provincial Park, Milk River Canyon, Etzikom Windmill Museum, several infamous towns and hamlets such as Manyberries, Nemiskam (or is that Nemiscam?) and Orion, a reservoir named Rattlesnake Lake, lots of wide open country and more.  Lots of cemeteries too.

It also has a port of entry named Aden that has the distinction of being the least used border crossing in all of the U.S.A.; less than 1200 crossings each year.

Let me digress for a moment...I'd been down in Montana for a few days and when looking on a map for a different route home I discovered the Aden border crossing.  So, after filling up with gas in Chester, Montana I headed north towards the border.  The well maintained gravel road soon became "the middle of nowhere" as it passed through a very isolated part of the American plains...gave a whole new meaning to the phrase "off the beaten track."  That said, the trip went well and when I reached the border crossing all the Canadian border guards rushed out to greet me.  I wasn't sure what to make of it until they let me know I was the first "new guy to cross the border in months."  Well, it made my day too!  Almost wished I'd had a bottle of champagne to give them for the celebration.  (Just a note, the Aden border crossing is mainly used by farmers in the area so a "new guy" crossing the border was a treat I'm sure.)  Now, back to Alberta and the County of Forty Mile... 

The southern side of the county offers some of the best views of the Sweet Grass Hills (which are just across the border in Montana) to be seen from Alberta...they are an especially beautiful sight at sunrise and sunset.

This sign is an invitation to all these things.  When you see it, turn south to take in all the sights of the county.  

Hope you enjoyed.

Photographed near Seven Persons, Alberta on August 5, 2017.

Walter

This is Walter.  He lives on the hillside near Daisy's house and is rather elusive.  I've been trying to get a photo of him for years so this was my lucky day.  That said, I hear him more often than I see him but I'm sure he likes that just fine.  The way I see it, he's a definite asset to the neighbourhood.  Best wishes to him.

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on September 24, 2022.  

Skabo

As the crow flies...

About thirty-five miles southwest of Lac Qui Parle Church in southeastern Saskatchewan stands Skabo Lutheran Church on the flat plains of North Dakota.

The church was initially built by Norwegian settlers as a prairie school house in 1918.  In 1948 it was converted to a church where services were held until the 1980s at which time regular services ceased.  The interior of the church has been regularly maintained since its closure.

And in 2002 the church underwent an exterior restoration with much of the work being completed and funded by former parishioners and relatives of area settlers along with some hired help.  My visit here some fifteen years later revealed the church to still be in fine condition and the cemetery well tended.  

The name Skabo (pronounced ska-bow, emphasis on the "bow") comes from the homesteader's native city of Skabu, Norway.  Somehow the "u" was replaced with an "o" and the new name stuck.  The signs display both spellings of the name.

Thanks to the Williston Herald for helpful information regarding this pioneer church and cemetery.  And thanks again to those area residents who provided vital information about this and other churches, cemeteries, school houses and points of interest in Divide County, North Dakota.

Photographed near Grenora, North Dakota on October 27, 2017.

Lac Qui Parle

The Lac Qui Parle Scandinavian Lutheran Congregation was established in 1905 and was named after Lac Qui Parle County in Minnesota, the former home of these mostly Norwegian immigrants.  

"Lac Qui Parle" is a French translation of the native Dakota name meaning "lake which speaks."  There were no French-speaking people involved with this settlement, neither is there a lake.  I believe the chosen name had much to do with their homesickness for Minnesota.

The church remains active to this day, as does the cemetery where the first burial took place in 1906.  The church building was completed in November 1915 and remains in fine condition; the interior being particularly well preserved.  The severe lines and angles of the exterior are in sharp contrast to the rich yet soft indoor ambience.  There's something about the combination of baby blue and white that is so comforting.   

 

As is seen in the photographs, both the church and cemetery are meticulously kept.  "Thank you" to those who care. 

On a personal note...  I grew up not far from Lac Qui Parle but the trip through the area was so much more than just a memory...it really was "all new" to me, and that was more than a welcome and pleasant surprise.  I ended up driving around the countryside until well after dark, just taking in the ambience of the past presence.  

Photographed near Torquay, Saskatchewan on October 17, 2017.

Dauphin Train Station

This handsome CNR train station in Dauphin, Manitoba was built in 1912 and designated a Heritage Railway Station in 1990.  I can't remember ever seeing a train station built of brick before so this was a treat.

I couldn't actually back up far enough to get the entire building into the camera frame except for this one angled view.,,but I'm sure you get the idea.  It's a beauty!

Photographed on August 23, 2022.