Almost forgot...Happy Orthodox New Year from Saint Michael's!
Even though it's late...a good bottle of champagne is in order. Cheers!
Photographed near Rama, Saskatchewan on March 20, 2020.
Sunday, January 14, 2024
Yellow-Headed Blackbird
It was late spring, the weather was beautiful and gardening duties were under control...time for a road trip.
Spent most days in North Dakota where they'd had lots of snow and spring rain. That means all the ponds and sloughs were full of water, which in turn means a habitat for migrating birds. Saw yellow-headed blackbirds just like this one in most every wetland I came across. Good for them.
Photographed near Plumer, North Dakota on June 19, 2023.
Saturday, January 13, 2024
Big Prairie Sky
We're currently in a deep freeze here in southern Alberta...definitely not good road trip weather. So, in the meantime, here are a few pictures taken when it was good winter road trip weather.
Gotta love the prairies...wide open spaces and an even bigger sky.
A five-minute drive will get me out of town and into the countryside. Everyone should have that luxury.
Photographed near Winnifred, Alberta on January 28, 2017.
Friday, January 12, 2024
New Bruises and Broken Boards
As soon as I pulled up I knew something was distinctly different from my visit of just a few months earlier and quickly realized just what it was...the landowner had let cattle into the area to graze.
Cattle are not particularly kind to old wooden buildings so the old church endured some new bruises and broken boards. Sad to see.
Glad the small cemetery nearby has a sturdy new barbed-wire fence that will keep it out of harm's way for many more years to come.
The Congregational Church near Gros Ventre-Tothill, Alberta was photographed on November 8, 2023.
Tuesday, January 09, 2024
Vapour Trails
I've always enjoyed watching the vapour trails of jets taking people to faraway places. And this time the event was quite spectacular.
The sun was just rising as two vapour trails intersected in the sky...what a beautiful way to begin the day.
Photographed at Congregational Matthaus Cemetery near Schuler, Alberta on December 10, 2017.
Sunday, January 07, 2024
"Щасливого Різдва!"
According to the Julian calendar, it's Christmas today.
"Merry Christmas!" from Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church.
Supper tonight will be perogies and farmers sausage (with all the fixins, of course) followed by traditional Ukrainian honey cake for dessert. And after all that good food (and something far from traditional)...popping a fine bottle of champagne just seems like the thing to do. Happy Christmas!
Even though I'm only half Ukrainian doesn't mean I can't celebrate this special day whole heartedly. Enjoy the holiday!
Photographed near Boyle, Alberta on February 19, 2021.
Friday, January 05, 2024
Amaryllis Flowers
A few photos of some showy amaryllis flowers that bloomed in my indoor garden a few weeks ago. Each flower was over six inches in diameter.
The highlights on the blooms were created by narrow slats of light streaming through the Venetian blinds.
Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on December 17, 2023.
Wednesday, January 03, 2024
A Beautiful Place out in the Country
Known locally at "The Little Stone Church."
Holy Trinity Anglican Church was photographed at Deer Creek, Saskatchewan on July 16, 2023.
Monday, January 01, 2024
Sunday, December 31, 2023
Two Weeks in September
My end-of-the-year post focuses on one two week long trip from this past September...one photo from each day of the trip. Enjoy!
September 12, 2023
Windcrest S.D. No. 3938 near Crestwynd, Saskatchewan.
This abandoned schoolhouse always seemed to be a little elusive on previous road trips but "today was the day," as they say, so I went a little out of the way for a look. It's been a long time since anyone went to school here but it still looks pretty handsome out on the open prairie.
September 13, 2023
Federal Grain Elevator at Moreland, Saskatchewan.
Built by the Golden West Company in 1916-17 and later operated by Federal Grain. At the time of my visit it had been closed for sixty years...several years longer than it had been in service.
September 14, 2023
Tonset Church and Cemetery near Lignite, North Dakota.
I'd stopped here some years ago but relished the idea of once again traveling the winding one-lane road through the countryside for another visit. I liked this photo of the church partially hidden by trees and shrubs, lending it to a slightly mysterious air. The church and cemetery served the area from 1916-1968...and are both still lovingly cared for.
September 15, 2023
Ralph Allen Railway Museum in Oxbow, Saskatchewan.
Heading east from Estevan on an overcast and cool Saturday morning, a cup of coffee in the cupholder and no particular place to go. Along the way I passed through the Town of Oxbow where I found this fine old train station on main drag. I wish they could all be as well-kept as this one which now serves as an historical museum.
September 16, 2023
Salem Lutheran Church and Cemetery near Kelvin, North Dakota.
Had spent the better part of the day exploring north-central North Dakota, an area rich in Scandinavian pioneer history. But, before crossing the border into Manitoba for the night, I wanted to make one last stop to see this lovely country church in the Turtle Mountains. The church was originally built at another location in 1914 but years later when the highway was established it was moved to its present location in 1939 for easier access by the church parishioners. Looks ever so good in the early evening light.
September 17, 2023
A threshing machine on a hill overlooking some cows by a pond near East McHenry, North Dakota.
Another day out seeing the sights in north-central North Dakota. Ample amounts of winter snow, spring rain and summer showers kept the landscape green and lush well into fall. Lots for the domestic and wild animals to eat and drink...good for them. Sometimes a simple view like this really does make my day.
September 18, 2023
Stone and concrete sculptures near Brandon, Manitoba.
Saw these last year but just had to take a few more photos of them. As it turned out, this was my only photo stop of the day as I spent the remainder of it visiting my sister in Brandon.
September 19, 2023
Old Saint Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery near Gardenton, Manitoba.
A revisit I had been looking forward to since I first saw it last fall. Old Saint Michael's was built 1897-1899 and was the first Ukrainian Greek Church in all of Canada. My previous visit had been in the morning so, in order to get a different view of things, this time I stopped by for a late afternoon perspective. A beautiful historic site that looks good anytime.
September 20, 2023
Old Saint Elias Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Cemetery and Bell House at Sirko, Manitoba.
Deep in southeast Manitoba, only a mile north of the border, stands Old Saint Elias Church. As well as the log church built circa 1908, there is a log bell house of traditional design and a large cemetery on the grounds. It is said that the church is one of the best examples of Bukovynian architecture in all of Canada. Definitely a "must-see" when traveling along Sunbeam School Road.
September 21, 2023
Saint Peter Dynevor Anglican Church and Cemetery near East Selkirk, Manitoba.
A huge stone church built 1853-1854 on the eastern bank of the Red River that replaced a smaller church built nearby in 1836. The new church faces towards the river, which would have been the main thoroughfare of the day. Chief Peguis called this his home church.
September 22, 2023
Beach scene near Camp Veselka, Manitoba.
I had a few hours to explore the Gimli area before lunch with a friend in Winnipeg Beach. My first stop was just north of town at a summer camp where there was an old church. After taking some pictures I traveled a little further east where I could hear water splashing. Soon a beach scene came into view...I was on the shore of Lake Winnipeg.
September 23, 2023
Saint Michael's of Archangels Roman Catholic Church near Meleb, Manitoba.
A country church built in 1917-1918 by Polish settlers. The church was named after the chief builder, Michael Gottfried and all the other pioneers named Michael. That was a very popular name at the time. The church closed to regular services in 1960 but is still maintained by a heritage committee.
September 24, 2023
Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery at Maryville, Saskatchewan.
It seems I can't get enough of this old beauty. Anytime I'm within a hundred miles of it I'll gladly make the detour to see it once again. Mysterious, lonely, magnificent, solemn, abandoned...and all but forgotten.
September 25, 2023
Carrot River Valley Lutheran Church and Cemetery near Carrot River, Saskatchewan.
The last photo stop of my trip...only about a mile off the main highway was this spartan but welcoming country church in a lovely autumnal setting. Regular services every Sunday morning at 11:00. Then I was on my way home.
Happy trails to you!