Closing out March

The last of my last summer photos that I held to post this winter. I should have stockpiled more. 

Cpt Mo Wednesday

Vanesti School 1916 - 1957

Former one room school northwest of Wainwright, Alberta. This one is overgrown and it is hard to get a decent photo of it. I did not venture inside, I tripped over enough stuff walking around it.

This is where I saw the porcupine from yesterday's post. The school is likely its home and probably home to some other creatures.

Porcupine sighting

Took a drive on Sunday in search of an old school. I spotted a porcupine high up in a tree. This was the best shot. My subject was not wanting to pose.

Elk Point, Alberta elevator

The railway tracks were removed in 2000.

March 11, 2023.

Various Alberta barns

 - Dale Redekopp

Evening bale photo, Leduc County, Alberta

Leask, Saskatchewan elevator

 - Dale Redekopp

Cpt Mo Wednesday

 

Random Alberta barn

Death and . . .

Taxes.

Taxes, taxes, taxes.

Since I am looking after all of mom’s affairs I am looking after her taxes as well. I could do them myself but mom is loyal to her accounting firm that has done them for many many years. I had to drive an hour to the town where her accounting firm is on Saturday and drop her paperwork into their after hours drop off. The things one does for one’s mother.

Mine are a little more complicated. I am somewhat organized, not highly organized. I admire people that have natural high-level organizational skills. Any of my stuff, anything I own, is usually subjected to a rough sort and left at that. When it comes to my taxes whenever I get one of my forms I immediately put it in order in my tax folder Then I make sure I put my tax folder in the exact same place until I have all my forms. If I do not, then I might “misplace” it. I have even made back up copies of everything. 

My accountant is much closer, half a block from my residence. I dropped off my stuff in person. They should have it back to me in a few weeks. I might be getting a refund. 

Jaroslaw

Descent of the Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Church (Jaroslaw) was built circa 1950. Due to a reorganizaion of the Jaroslaw Parish this church became redundant.  There was a Closing Divine Liturgy celebrated at the church in August 2008.  I understand the church was demolished in 2015. 

- Dale Redekopp.

Très Bon!

A metal sculpture in the Big Stone, Alberta area.

At one time there was a sign between the horns advertising "Bon's Texas Longhorns." The sign is gone but now the antlers are covered with solar-powered mini-lights. Try to catch it after dark.

Très bon!

- Michael Truman

Past Presence Website

Adventures in telecommunications

Mom recently moved into a retirement community in December. I kept her phone line active in her condo that is up for sale because I thought it was needed to be buzzed into the building and also because I forgot to cancel it earlier.

You used to have actual customer service with utilities. In the past you could go to the actual phone company or one of their outlets and deal with a live person. I scanned her bill and found the phone number on the back of the bill in small print. I called it and got on of those computer programs. Pressing "zero" multiple times did not get me a live person. I think the current system is set up to discourage you from bothering them. Going through the menu multiple times (I started to get mad when it wanted to direct me to a website and email a PIN to access it) with me choosing multiple options finally got me a real live person. When I got the person on the line I asked them to confirm if they were a live person. I was getting fed up but you are held hostage to the situation since there are no other options to accomplish what you need done.

The real live person, once I got him, was quick and helpful. It was easy at that point to get the phone service canceled. Makes  you wonder why they cannot make it easy in the first place.

Beynon, Alberta elevator

This sits on a farm. The elevator itself is from Beynon, Alberta which is a ghost town. This farm is about three miles north from what was Beynon. I would have liked to see when it was moved many years ago as Beynon is in a valley and the road to this farm is a little steep.

Dale Redekopp sent these. I have photos of this elevator, these are better.

Brooksby, Saskatchewan elevator

 

Random abandoned Alberta

Cpt Mo Wednesday post

Fern Chapel School 1913 - 1949

Restored former one room school northeast of Elk Point, Alberta. I got here last Saturday to find there was a chain link fence in front of it. I wanted to get a photo of it without the fence in the photo. The area had snow the prior day or two. When I started to walk up to the fence to get a better shot I sank up past my knees in snow.

Any more photos will have to wait for spring.

Bell towers

When photographing rural churches we always look for the bell towers.  Mostly found with the Ukrainian churches, they can be very basic, traditional or elaborate.  Pictures are some of the more basic examples.  From Dale Redekopp.

It might be Daylight Saving Time but it is still winter

Naisberry

This elevator is listed as abandoned and is located east of Melfort, Saskatchewan. It is an ex-National Grain / British-American elevator and was once known as Terre Bonne Farms. We spotted a critter, possibly a racoon, up near the cupola as seen in the close up (last photo). The British American signage is barely visible in one photo. The condition of this elevator is poor.

We photographed it in May 2019. - Dale Redekopp.