And now for something completely different...

Some friends are vacationing in Hawaii and yesterday they were hiking through some lava fields.  

Gee...I hope they didn't get a sunburn!

Photographed by Linda Gordon on February 6, 2021.

"H"

Saint Helen's Anglican Church at Stellaville, Alberta was built in 1912.

The crenellated parapet combined with the Rural Gothic architecture are familiar to many Anglican churches of the time.

A small cemetery sits comfortably behind the church.

The original stained glass window, which came from Italy, was relocated to Saint Saviour's Anglican Church in Vermilion, Alberta.

Information courtesy of the Alberta Register of Historic Places.

Photographed on February 22, 2020.

"G"

Gelowitz School is near Killaly, Saskatchewan.  The school was built of local fieldstone in 1907 and was in operation until 1964...well over fifty years.

A metal sign as well as a memorial stone cairn have been erected at the school site dedicated to the pioneering spirit of the students, teachers and trustees of Gelowitz School.

This is a small barn built at the same time as the school.

All things considered, the school building is in nice condition.

The small wooden building behind the school appears to be a granary.

There is a very friendly black lab that lives at the farm next door to the school.  She likes to play fetch.

Information courtesy of the Gelowitz School District Reunion Committee.

Photographed on October 11, 2020.

Big Yellow Field

A big yellow field near Acadia Valley, Alberta.

Photographed on July 14, 2018.

"F"

Farming Valley School is a one room school near Cereal, Alberta.

This is one of only a few pioneer schools I've seen with the distinction of having a bona fide bell tower...and an oversize one at that!

The original wooden school sign above the covered entryway.

A closer look at the bell tower.  The size of the openings suggest it may have been used as a lookout (though I can't imagine what anyone would be looking out for).

This metal sign is just inside the fence line along the main road. 

Photographed on July 15, 2018.

"E"

Saint Elia Ukrainian Orthodox Church is near Goodeve, Saskatchewan.  The congregation was formed in 1903 by settlers from the county of Halichina, Ukraine.  The church building was completed in 1908.

Farm land surrounds the old church which is just barely standing.  

For over half a century the church was the centre of the community.  A final service was held in August of 1960 after which the church was officially closed.  Saint Elia's parishioners were then left with the decision of joining another church in the area.

One lone spruce tree stands on the outer edge of the well kept cemetery. 

A memorial cairn has been built on the base of the bell tower.

In the area the church is simply known as The Pilipow Church.  The name Nykola Pilipow features prominently on the golden-coloured cast metal bell.

Information courtesy of the Saint Elia Congregation.  (Elia, Elias and Elijah are simply different spellings for the same prophet.)  

Photographed on October 9, 2020.

"D"

Saint Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic Church was established at Hryhoriw, Saskatchewan in 1907.

The first church built on the site didn't have the domes like the churches in the Old Land so the parishioners soon began collecting for a new church that would make them feel more at home.  Through many hours of voluntary labour and contributions totaling $2300.00 their dream came true in 1932...complete with a central onion dome and two cupolas.

The gate sign for the church... 

...and the cemetery.

The church still stands today as a testament to the will and dedication of these pioneers who came from the village of Hryhoriw in the Buchach County of Ukraine.

Even though a stranger to the area...the dome and cupolas make me feel at home too.

Information courtesy of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon. 

Photographed on March 20, 2020.

Too Close for Comfort

A thirteen-lined ground squirrel going about his business near Smuts, Saskatchewan.

As I approached he crouched down and then I took one step too many...

...his small body stretched out and he was gone in a flash down into the safety of his burrow.  I definitely got too close for comfort.

Photographed on August 4, 2020.

"C"

 

Creston School sits on the open prairie north of  Dollard, Saskatchewan.

It opened in 1927 and for twenty-five years was located a few miles down the road and around the corner when, in 1952, it was moved to the current location where it served another dozen years until its closure in 1964. 

This little school has stood up well against the elements over the years.  

The school rests on the edge of a coulee where the sunlight plays on the hillside.   

 

Photographed on July 12, 2019.

"B"

Brinsley Holy Ghost Ukrainian Orthodox Church was built in 1924.  The shiny brass-coloured cupolas are brilliant against the winter sky.

The cemetery has been in use since the 1910's and is large with mature trees scattered throughout.

Black, white, pink, gray and brown crosses stand on a snow covered slope on the outer edge of the graveyard.

A bell tower is tucked in around the side of the church.  

Little church in the open prairie.

Photographed near Brinsley, Alberta on February 23, 2020.