Maybe I should start a barn blog . . .

It I do it is easy when people send me barn photos. Other people have sent me barn photos and I should have asked if I could post them. I cleaned out a bunch of emails recently and did not keep a bunch of stuff..

This photo is by Dale Redekopp who lives in the Edmonton area. Love it.

A bit of self indulgence

I had framed 16"x20" posters of these two photos made. They are hanging up in my office. A bit of a first for me.

Missed one from yesterday

I meant to include this in yesterday's post.

So much for riding the motorcycle

This morning on the way to work.

The bale as prairie art

Or my attempt at same.

Random barn

Abandoned Saskatchewan church

I know a couple of people that had been here and I had to see it for myself. I know nothing of the history of this place. I will say it is kind of northeast of Clair, Saskatchewan. There is a small cemetery on the grounds that looks like it has less than twenty burials. I heard from one source that the church was never completed and never used. I have nothing to verify this.

Someone I know told me they were here in 2010 and were inside on the upper level and told me you could see another domed church in the distance. There is another church not far away that I did visit as well. I took a look inside. It is very unsafe, the floor is collapsed in a few spots. One of these days it will collapse. I am glad I got to see it when I did.

I thought I would try it in black and white. I like the effect.

Langmeade School, Saskatchewan

Northeast of Paynton, Saskatchewan across the North Saskatchewan River. This would have been quicker to get to if the Paynton Ferry was in operation. The ferry will not be running for probably a few more weeks so I had to take the long way to get here. This is a fairly typical Saskatchewan one room schoolhouse. There is not much close by. 

Along Highway Five, west of Humboldt, Saskatchewan

I cannot resist a good barn photo.

Owls

A year or two ago on my way down Eagle Butte Road...one morning I saw these owls perched on a dead tree by a pond.

I was surprised to see them out in the bright sunlight . . . they seemed mesmerized by the sun and all its splendour.

Made my day.

- Michael Truman

Abandoned elevators in Petersen, Saskatchewan

A rail line used to run by here. Nothing much here anymore.

Good Friday in Petersen, Saskatchewan

You can see this off in the distance from Highway Five that skirts Petersen, Saskatchewan. This place is almost a ghost town. There are a few buildings and a couple of inhabited houses. This church is long abandoned. It was build on the edge of a swampy area. If you walk across the church grounds it is like walking across a wet sponge.

You can use Google to streetview this place.

The church is locked. It is a home to birds.

In daylight it looks slightly spooky.

In the distance you can see the abandoned Petersen elevator.

Green! I saw some green!

Saw some patches of green grass today. 

This being Alberta winter will make a few dying threats. I was going to get my motorcycle out of storage this weekend. The forecast now calls for snow. That plan is now being kicked over to another day. In the meantime I will see if I can come up with some better blog posts.

Quick elevator post

Adventures in Saskatchewan

More to follow once I recover from my weekend.

Sometimes you just find a barn that you have to post

Verdant Creek

Kootenay National Park, British Columbia.

Off to the Big City

I hadn't been to Vancouver, British Columbia for a few years so I only thought it best to correct the situation by spending a week in my favourite city.

Above and directly below . . . over the Rocky Mountains.

I arrived in Vancouver by mid-morning . . . just in time for a late breakfast. This is Canada Place with its sail-like roofs.

A detail from the historical Saint Paul's Hospital. The hospital is still open but is scheduled for shutdown in about five years. I hope the Emergency Unit at this location remains open,  lots of elderly people in the neighbourhood.

Out for a walk in the rain . . . a cascading water fountain and vibrant green grass.

The view from my hotel room on a clear day.

A seagull hanging out in the harbour on Granville Island.

In 2010 there were many handmade mosaics set into the sidewalks in the City of Vancouver. This one shows a fireworks display over the Burrard street Bridge.

I love Pacific Northwest Coast art. Several clans/tribes have lived in the area for thousands of years and each clan has an art style specific to their culture. 

This carved mask was on display in an exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The mask, carved in 1998, represents the supernatural being Puk'mis who is the keeper of lost souls who have drowned. The carver, Tim Paul, is of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Nation and has been carving since he was a child. He attained "head carver" status decades ago and I'm honored to know him; I can still remember the first time I phoned him...five minutes into the conversation it was like we'd known each other for a lifetime already...it's a rare and cherished relationship. He is currently working on a sixty-five foot totem pole that will be installed at the University of Victoria on Vancouver Island. All the best carvers in the area will be helping him work on the pole. If things work out, he will be carving me a small totem pole later this year.

I enjoy visiting the native art galleries and a trip to Vancouver inevitably means I'll find a carving that I "just can't live without" in one of them.  This traditional "Otter Bowl" was carved by young Talhtan (northern British Columbia) artist Sage Nowak. (Photo courtesy of the Douglas Reynolds Gallery.)

Right next door to my hotel...a pair of seagulls sitting on top of Saint Andrew's Wesley United Church (which is undergoing extensive renovations to make the church "earthquake-proof.") These pink-blossomed cherry trees were on a roof-top garden across the street from my hotel . . . there are hundreds of roof-top gardens in the city. During my visit there were an estimated six thousand cherry trees in full bloom on that day.

Out for a walk later that day and on the way back to the hotel I met an elderly lady who was cleaning up the gardens in front of the church and was making things look fine and presentable to everyday passers-by. Kudos to this sweet lady!

The view from my hotel room on a "big-white-puffy-cloud" day . . .

. . . and the view on a "threatening rain" day . . .

. . . and a night view.

On the little ferry (about twelve passengers per trip) from Granville Island to the foot of Burrard Street.

The "crazy building" that hangs over a very busy thoroughfare. There is a concrete pillar inside that holds the building upright. I heard that the penthouse is going for fourteen million dollars . . . imagine that!

On the way home . . . the Rocky Mountains.

The trip from Calgary to Medicine Hat on a small Beechcraft prop plane. It's really noisy inside the plane but the view is pretty good...nice turquoise-coloured engines and fins too.

It's good to be home.  Can't wait for the "Otter Bowl" to arrive.  Cheers and Happy Gardening!

- Michael Truman