This Morning at Saint Margaret's

Tiny cathedral out in the hills.

Everything is lush and green this spring...

...and the lilacs are coming into full bloom.

The columbarium tucked away in the southwest corner of the grounds.

Peaked roof in front of a peaked hill.

Heather's Garden...new plants and field stone border.

Sage keeps his vigil under the limbs of a spruce tree.

More lilacs blooming.

The view across the coulee.

If and when you're in the area, stop in for a visit.

Photographed at Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery near Eagle Butte, Alberta on June 3, 2023.

Balloons!

Last weekend was the Balloon Festival in Medicine Hat, Alberta.  Unfortunately they couldn't launch for Friday and Saturday due to wind and lightning, but...Sunday was the perfect day.

I was out gardening early when I heard a big "whoosh!"  Only a few hundred feet above me was this big beautiful balloon sailing through the prairie sky.  We were close enough to pass a few words...a great way to say "Good Morning!"

Photographed in Medicine Hat, Alberta on May 25, 2025.

Another View

The day before "Lunch View" I had another view.  

This time with hills...and buffalo beans!

Photographed in the Cypress Hills near Eagle Butte, Alberta on May 26, 2025.

Lunch View

Took a friend out for lunch today and this was the view we enjoyed from the south window of Elkwater Park Golf Club Restaurant.  Pretty nice, if I do say so myself.

Photographed in the beautiful Cypress Hills of Alberta on May 27, 2025.

Grain Elevator near Barr Butte

A privately owned grain elevator in a farm yard near Barr Butte, North Dakota.

Seems to be in good condition and most likely still in use.  Lots of grain farming in the area.

Photographed on June 22, 2023.

Grape Hyacinths

Fresh blooms in Heather's Garden.  They have a lovely fragrance too.

Photographed at Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery near Eagle Butte, Alberta on May 14, 2025.

Castleton United Church

Welcome neighbors and passers-by...

...to Castleton United Church.

The stone cairn and plaque were dedicated in 1968.  The plaque reads:

"Castleton United Church

This cairn is erected in memory of the pioneers of the Rothbury, Castleton, Pennock and Chatsworth Districts.

During the 1890's and early 1900's, these early pioneers felt the need for spiritual guidance and fellowship.  They were also concerned with the religious education of the young people and did their best to provide it.

The first church was built in 1913 and a new one was built in 1928.

This cairn is also dedicated to those who built on this well-laid foundation of our pioneers."

A few shots inside the church...frugal yet charming.

For King and Country...a framed document listing those members of Castleton United Church who volunteered for active service with Canada's Fighting Forces.

This little country church is well worth a visit when you're in the area.

 

Photographed near Saltcoats, Saskatchewan on October 10, 2020.

Heather's Garden

An early and most welcome colourful spot in Heather's Garden this spring.  As any gardener will know...plant fall bulbs for spring blooms.

The perennials are slowly coming to life.  

As well as the crocuses shown above, I planted about a dozen saffron crocuses which I didn't get so see blooming because a deer ate all of the flowers before I got there.  That's a pretty exotic taste treat for a deer.  Hope he or she enjoyed them.  Maybe next year.

Some hyacinths popping up.  They should be blooming in about ten days.

A lamium groundcover plant was thriving as soon as the snow melted.  

The pasque flowers should bloom the same time as the hyacinths.

Photographed at Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery near Eagle Butte, Alberta on April 26 and 27, 2025.

Technology Invades the Landscape

The old Congregational Church near Gros Ventre-Tothill has some new neighbours...and not the kind of neighbours anyone wants.

My usual jaunts southward on either Eagle Butte Road or Buffalo Trail used to have the most beautiful views.  Clear sailing southward with unobstructed views at they wound their way up higher and higher into the Cypress Hills.  

But now, these massive turbines have invaded the landscape as far as the eye can see.  They're just everywhere now.  

Progress? Looks like landscape pollution to me.   

Photographed near Gros Ventre-Tothill, Alberta on April 27, 2025.

A Beautiful Place Out in the Country

More to see here: Буковина

Saint Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery was photographed near Lepine, Saskatchewan on August 4, 2020.