Whitepool Grain Elevator November 12, 2016

Some days I get a obsessive desire to drive out to visit some places. This has been posted about on other blogs and when reading about it I wanted to see it. For some reason I like to see old grain elevators on the prairie.

This is in Saskatchewan, a little west of Dodsland and north of Highway 31. There is no road to it. It is abandoned and out in a field with a "No Trespassing" sign posted by the road. There was no town called Whitepool, it was just the place name for this elevator. There is a rail line running past it.

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Respect the sign

It is faded and in rough shape. The sign says "PRIVATE PROPERTY NO TRESPASSING". I take photos and stop to check out what interests me which could be anything on any given day. There are times when I will notice something off in a field and will stop for a look. I look to see if there are any signs posted. There are instances where you have to take a hard look to see if they are there.

There is a lot of stuff where I cannot get a closer look as it is behind a fence and signs are posted. I ran across an old cemetery recently and was about to investigate when a sign said it was on private land and there was no access to the site. On occasion it can be a bit confusing as Crown Land, or land owned by the government, is sometimes fenced. Zooming in with a camera only does so much when trying to get a closer look. If I run across the owner I will ask if I can get access. It is rare when that happens. I have innocently trespassed a few times because I could not see a sign anywhere or any indication I was on private land. I never take anything from any spot I visit. Collecting stuff does not interest me and I have no place for putting anything if it did.

Rural crime is definitely an issue. I try to have some business cards on me so that if someone asks what I am doing I explain I am taking photos and hand them a card to say who I am. I doubt criminals do this. I do my reasonable best to respect other's property. 

Twin Butte General Store

I have been here before and posted about it before. I am posting about it again simply because this place is that damn good. Twin Butte is between Pincher Creek, Alberta and Waterton National Park, Alberta. There is a store, post office, and the restaurant that specializes in Mexican food. After a quick trip to Waterton on November 27, 2016 I made a point to be here when I was getting hungry. Timing is key.

This place is an absolute gem. There is nothing in Twin Butte except for a couple of houses and a community hall. There used to be more many years ago. The store does not sell much. The decor is unique. 

On weekends this place has live music. I really need to be here sometime when I can catch an act.

I do not know how I managed to get a kitchen shot with no one in it. Usually there are two people in the kitchen and you can watch everything being made. I live over two hours away from here however I have driven here just for the food. This time I opted for the pulled pork chimichanga. I am not really a fan of Mexican food but it is so good here that I order it anyway. Anyone looking to open a place serving could take lessons from these people.

This place was busy when I was there on a Sunday. I got luck getting some photos with no one in them. Check them out online sometime.

Christmas lights

I thought this was fun. Near Pincher Creek, Alberta November 27, 2016.

Krassna Church and Cemetery

Highway 21 just a little south of junction where it meets Highway 321 in Saskatchewan on November 12, 2016. I spotted the cemetery off in a farmer's field from the highway. It is on the west side of the highway. By the time I got stopped I noticed this sign just off the highway. Being the sort of person that I am I had to visit. I know that this area of Saskatchewan had German settlers from Eastern Europe. 

The walk from the road to the cemetery. I did not see any "No Trespassing" signs while crossing the field.

A couple of plain markers. The church ceased to exist in 1944.

The arch has a list and key of all of the grave sites. Most of them are in the 1930's and earlier. One is from 1991. The site is very neat and ordered.

This is the only one I saw in need of restoration. This place is well kept.

I love running across unique crosses.

Very few cemeteries do not have a reminder of the war years. People from all over Canada served. I doubt there is an area of the country that was not affected.

Graves of children affect me as well as the very simple markers. To me the very simple markers say that those left behind did not have much and did their best to mark the site. Not that long ago people had some very tough times to live through.

Rural Art

Spotted in Delburne, Alberta November 20, 2016. Finding stuff like this is always fun.

Near Eastend, Saskatchewan

Just a drive in the middle of nowhere once again on November 11, 2016. The gravel road I was on followed a railway. I spotted an abandoned property on the other side of the tracks.

The problem with this time of year is the green has gone and everything is so dry and dusty. You would almost think you were in a desert area.

The truck almost looks like you could start it and drive away.

Hatton, Saskatchewan November 12, 2016

A cemetery on a hill is all that remains of Hatton, Saskatchewan. 

Apparently this was quite a community at one point. You can drive past this on Highway 635 north of Highway 1. 

You can still see the graves. A few are very overgrown.

You can barely see it but off in the distance is a train on the rail line that runs past where Hatton once existed.

Meeting Creek, Alberta November 20, 2016

Sometimes you run into foggy days.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

I hope all of you are having a great time with family and friends.

Ranch Sign

Unique ranch sign along Highway 39 between Thorsby and Drayton Valley, Alberta that I had to take note of on November 19, 2016. The ranch is in Alberta, the flag is the provincial flag of Saskatchewan.

Observation School

Finding historical markers along main highways is too easy. I like seeing them in the middle of nowhere where you do not expect to see them. This marks where a one room schoolhouse once stood along Highway 635 in Saskatchewan. This is November 12, 2016. No snow is anywhere in sight. Give it a day or two and the whole landscape could be covered in snow.

There is nothing nearby.

What I find interesting about this one is this is the first one I have run across where there are two different school markers for the same place. Someone wanted to make sure it was remembered.

Winter in Alberta

Trying a bit a winter landscape art near Meeting Creek, Alberta November 20, 2016.

The Last Quilt

I drove over three hours one way to visit my mother on the weekend because sometimes you should visit your mother. I took mom out for dinner. Back at her place it somehow  came up in conversation that this was the last surviving quilt she had that her mother had made. 

My grandmother passed on quite a few years ago. As long as I could remember my grandmother had made all of us quilts and we received several from her through the years. My last one wore out a few years ago. It is one of those odd things that come to mind when you note the passage of time.

A lot of quilts are works of art and I admire the skill that go into making them. The ones made by my grandmother were meant to be used. We took care of them and got years of use out of them and were grateful to get one as a gift from her. Everyone in the family had one. The bedding she made was warm and comfortable to the point where you did not want to get out of bed. Unfortunately through years of use they eventually wore out. I would love to have my hands on one now. You can buy bedding but it is not the same.

She was four foot eleven and never weighed over one hundred pounds. Her home was always spotless and she had an energy and efficiency about her. Her flowers won prizes, her garden was a work of art, and she was an excellent cook. To this day I am not sure how she accomplished everything. She was a wonderful grandmother and I loved to visit her. With her being gone all these years there are fewer and few reminders of her with the passage of time. Hang on to the things that mean something.

Winter in Alberta

Near Linden, Alberta November 19, 2016.

Winter in Alberta

A very foggy day with some frost and a few inches of snow on the ground near Meeting Creek, Alberta November 20, 2016.