Boy Killed by Runaway Team

I found this grave marker north of Cascade, Montana in Saint Peter's Mission Cemetery.

The written memorial is a copy of the news article that appeared in the Great Falls Leader newspaper dated January 23, 1917.  It reads:

"Boy Killed by Runaway Team

Leslie Craig 'J.R.' Harris, the 16-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. L.C. Harris, was killed by a runaway team near the home of his parents, south of Cascade, at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon.  The boy was driving the team near his home when the horses became frightened and ran, throwing him from the wagon and injuring him so that he died within a short time."

A tragic event.

Looking southward...

...and northward.

The cemetery is located on a hillside in a ruggedly beautiful landscape.  See more of the scenery here: Mission Road Travelogue

Photographed on November 24, 2017.

Three Windows

Three stained glass windows at the Foremost United Church in Alberta.

A couple of months ago I was on a road trip through the County of Forty Mile in southern Alberta.  I'd stopped in Foremost for an early lunch and on my way out of town I took an alternate route to my usual which led me past the Foremost United Church.

From just driving past I could tell they had some lovely stained glass windows.  I got out of the car  just as a man walked by..."by any chance would you know who has a key to the church?"  He pointed up a few blocks up the street..."the people who live on the corner might know."

I then met up with a young mother and baby who said..."try here."  After a short trek I then met up with a young lady who phoned Deb...Deb and I were to meet at the church in ten minutes...which we did.

After a talk about town and country she said..."lock up when you're done."  I love small towns.  Thank you Deb for giving me the opportunity to photograph the beautiful windows in your church!

There are several other stained glass windows in the church but these three that depict farm life were my immediate favourites.

The three windows together on the west wall of the church.

Photographed on May 29, 2019.

Roseflat S.D. No. 3596

An abandoned one-room school near Fox Valley, Saskatchewan.

This one is in pretty rough condition but I was glad to see it still standing.  Looks great against that prairie sky.

There was still a little snow left but it was sweater-weather.

These telephone poles have been stored here for years and years.

The historical sites in the area are marked with signs of like design.

This basic design just screams "Saskatchewan one-room school house."

Just as I was driving away I noticed something move in the stubble field.  I had to take a look and it turned out to be a raccoon.  I don't think I've ever seen one out here before.  Too bad I didn't have a couple of clams for him/her.

Photographed on April 5, 2018.

Balcony Garden

Gardens come in all shapes and sizes, colours and textures.

Even though most of my gardening is done for other people I still like to have some flowers out on the balcony of my apartment.

The theme this year is blue/purple, orange with a touch of white and yellow.

In two corners of the balcony are big orange clay pots from Peru.  This year they are home to dwarf globe cedars.  In the fall I'll take them out and plant them in one of the gardens I maintain.

The orange-flowered black-eyed Susan vine is doing well this year...lots and lots of flowers.

A small challenge for the blue jays.

The eyes sockets in the skulls are another great place to stash peanuts.

I planted lots of purple/blue-coloured violas this year and they all have a heavenly fragrance...especially in the evening.

The small lime-green tree in the lower-middle of the photo is a Monterey Cypress.  When the foliage is brushed it smells like lemons.  In the afternoon when the sun is high and shines through the die-cut table top the sun-ray like pattern appears on the balcony floor.

Just a note...all of these plants were available at the local garden centres this spring.  

I hope you enjoyed the garden.

Photographed on July 9, 2019. 

Église de Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc

An abandoned Roman Catholic church in Dollard, Saskatchewan.

The area was predominantly settled by French speaking pioneers in the early 1900's.

I've photographed the church on a number of occasions but not until this visit did I get the photos that I thought "captured the spirit."

The church faces north so in order to get some light on the subject (I mean that literally) I got up early in the morning and hoped for the best.  "The best" was captured in these photos.

The clouds were like a pillow of winds above the sunlit structure...really beautiful.

Photographed on July 12, 2019.

Children of Pioneers

Sacred Heart Cemetery is south of Bow Island, Alberta.

A memorial listing the names of those buried here is situated on the eastern side of the cemetery and bears the inscription: "Here Lies Children of Pioneers."

Only three of the eight graves have identifying headstones, the remaining five are marked with white painted steel crosses.

I thought it looked quite lovely against the bright blue sky and the fresh green grass.

It's a very silent and peaceful place.   

               

Photographed on May 29, 2019.

Winchasta-J'usina

I found this headstone at the Big Warm Cemetery near Lodge Pole, Montana.

This has to be one of the most striking full-colour ceramic photographs I've seen in my travels.  Lovely memorial.

Photographed on October 10, 2018.

The Church at Edson

A small abandoned church north of Kenmare, North Dakota.

Almost looks like the lights are turned on inside the church.

Winter sunsets really make my day.

Photographed on December 15, 2018.

Square Butte School

The Square Butte School in Montana was opened for classes in 1918 and served the community until 1967.  A previously built school (similar to the one shown in these photos) had been completed in the summer of 1917 but only two months later an arsonist burned it to the ground.

In the spring of 1921, Charles Lindbergh was barnstorming through Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana for flight practice and to make a dollar.  He charged $5.00 per flight but no one in Square Butte had the money to take advantage of his offer.

The town was looking forward to a prosperous future for the area but widespread drought soon dashed those hopes.

Enrollment hit a peak of thirty-five students in 1936 and a low of only eighteen in 1959.  Over the forty-nine years the school was open it averaged only twenty students per year.

The square butte after which the town and school are named.  There are lots of interesting rock formations throughout the area.

A pair of horses in a pasture just north of the school.  One was curious, the other not so much.

Another interesting site in Square Butte can be seen here:  The Frozen Corpse in the Jail

Historic information for this post courtesy of the United States Department of the Interior, the National Park Service and the National Register of Historic Places Program.

Photographed on April 19, 2018.

Summer Garden

I spend many enjoyable hours gardening in this yard.  I've spent the better part of the past week pruning the shrubs and making sure everything looks its best.

Above: the front yard is full of ferns, vines and shrubs of all kinds.

Welcome to the back yard.  The round fountain in the red brick circle is a solid piece of carved granite.  It makes just the best noise (and it's one of the cat's favourite spot for a drink).

Great place for a bar-b-que.

Great place for a glass of wine or a beer.

The big tiered fountain in the back makes a big splashing sound.  Birds love to bath in the top tier.

This is Oliver.  He keeps an eye on me when I'm working.  Whenever he thinks I need a rest he comes by for a cuddle (and a treat).  The other cat was inside having a cat-nap.

This is a nicely enclosed area for anyone who wants some privacy.

One last look before it's time to go home.  (Mental note...don't forget to turn off the fountains.)

Photographed on July 4, 2019.