Curiosities

Images are copyright (C) Steven Gibb 2019
All rights reserved

Cruise weekend 2017

A murmuration of waxwings

Cedar waxwings are common in Saskatoon so it's not unusual to see small flocks of them in trees around the various neighbourhoods . . .

. . . but occasionally we are treated to much larger flocks of these beautiful, sleek little birds . . .

. . . flocks so large that they fill up whole trees . . .

. . . and darken the sky, like this murmuration of waxwings looking for food in the Nutana area on March 23. They stayed for only a few minutes before moving on.

Beaver family preparing for winter

Beavers have built their own condo unit along the east bank of the river near a neighbouring strip of human-type condos

Construction materials are tree limbs, mud, sand and anything else they might dredge off the river bottom, including this large mussel

In the river surrounding the lodge, the beavers have anchored numerous tree branches that will eventually become winter food but for now are a place for muskrats . . .

. . . and birds to hang out

Nearby, as darkness falls, one beaver hauls a log to help reinforce the lodge, while a second stops for lunch . . .

. . . chewing the bark . . .

. . . from a fresh cut branch . . .

. . . then pausing for a yellow-toothed smile for the camera . . .

. . . before finishing off with a satisfying scratch

More from Ye olde curiosity shop

Passersby mug for the camera beside a classic car they wished they owned

Not the usual stool sample you find in the woods

Speckle-necked bird on a rock near the CPR trestle, likely the result of a fling between a Canada goose and a snow goose

What do you get when you combine wheelchair and a loveseat? This…..and it can move fairly quick and can turn on a dime.

Abandoned puppy at river landing

Could this be the famous lost spike?

Things you might miss while you're texting . . . such as Armageddon

Barn with a Charlie Brown face

A story begging to be told

Smoke from northern forest fires darkens city at mid-day June 29

Mom and baby coot share tender moment

Check out these chompers

Here comes Peter Cottontail, hoppin' down the bunny trail

Swainson's hawk takes a gopher to lunch

Slack line enthusiast Mitch McKee practices on the riverbank near Saskatoon's former ski jump

Jeff Janzen with his "signature car" in memory of his son Shawn Janzen "Poet" who had died in a car accident

Some of the 800-plus signatures on the car as of May 30, 2015

Happy to find a sunny spot to relax

Flowers bloom along 12th Street, despite the weather

Someone's misfortune is someone else's lunch

Ditto . . .

. . . But would you mind not watching me eat?

End of the line

What was the first clue Saskatoon needs controls on infill housing?

Spring in his step

Guess who's got . . .

. . . The penthouse suite?

A colourful day of Cruising Saskatoon

Beautiful blue 1936 Ford among the hundreds of cars lining Saskatoon streets during Cruise weekend

The quintessential pink Cadillac

I don't recall 1929 Model A Fords actually looking like this. Mind you, I don't recall 1929 at all.

This red convertible is larger than my first apartment

Busker contributes to the enjoyment of the day

Taking a closer look

Like a box of Smarties

The backstory of one old-timer

Louie . . .

. . . meet Shaggs

Lemon-lime Studebaker

Mad Max wannabe

Deep purple Ford pickup, front . . .

. . . and rear

And what would Cruise Night be without the cruising?

Heron's visit to the weir

The weir receives a lot of visitors, including some you don't see there very often, like great blue herons . . .

. . . like this one seen flashing a pelican flying by . . .

. . . before taking off . . .

. . . for a short flight . . .

. . . to another fishing spot

Evening in a marsh with a flock of yellow-headed blackbirds

Yellow-headed blackbirds are by no means rare but this marsh southwest of Saskatoon . . .

. . . seemed to have an inordinate number of them living there

Here one is captured in mid-flight darting through the cattails

The young of the species are brown and pale yellow with their colours turning to black and bright yellow as they mature

One young blackbird comes in for a landing . . .

. . . where it sidles up to the other bird, perhaps to compare snacks or, more likely, to try to steal the other bird's larger snack as well

Whatever the case, the visit was short-lived with both flying off to find a new perch

Lost and found department at Rosewood's Hyde Park

One minute they're so quiet and easy to care for . . .

. . . The next minute they're running off and getting lost.

What's a spotted sandpiper mother to do?

Perhaps call in an aerial search by your tern friend . . .

. . . Who confirms the sighting and sends the kid on its way home . . .

. . . But it's tough slogging through all that surface vegetation . . .

. . . But at last, shore is nearby . . .

. . . Now, just make sure mom doesn't get her hands on me

VICTORIA PARK UNDER RECONSTRUCTION: Beavers are a common sight on the river in Saskatoon but there seems to be a particularly industrious clan that has moved into Victoria Park. They've built a home practically on the doorstep of the Racing and Canoe Club and have been felling trees at an impressive rate. Many of the downed trees are close to the riverbank but the beavers have also made a start on a number of huge trees further into the park, pushing the city to put protective wire fencing around some of them.

Beaver's-eye view of a nearly felled tree

Beaver lodge built where the boat launch normally sits

Two trees down and two more on the way

One of several cut trees

Wire has been wrapped around some trees to prevent further damage

It's all happening just a short commute from downtown

Temporary king of the world

As demolition continues on one section of the Parrish and Heinbecker mill . . .

. . . A half demolished second section nearby . . .

. . . Provides a lookout point for displaced pigeons . . .

. . . As they watch as their home disappears beneath their feet . . .

. . . Like clinging to the railing of the Titanic . . .

. . . The only thing missing is Kate "Wingslet"

THE FARNAM BLOCK'S LAST DAY: March 17, 2015

With a huge excavator sitting behind the Farnam Block, you just knew this wouldn't end well

The demolition crew started at the rear of the building, working its way forward

The business across the street had a clear view of the proceedings

Preparing for another bite

Reminders of past events came to light but . . .

. . . Moments later they were gone

Worker stops for quick coffee break

Interior decor gets a fleeting look at the outside world

Although clinging with all its might, a tenacious chair is unable to stop the powerful steel jaws

A broken reminder of Lydia's Pub

Sun and dust combine to create a spooky effect

Little is left of the front of the building

The excavator goes to work pulling up and pulverizing the rubble . . .

. . . While two of the workers seem to have taken a break to visit the beach

So how did we go from here . . .

. . . To here . . .

. . . To here?

It's difficult to say, but all that is left now is the final cleanup . . .

. . . And, of course, some heartfelt tributes left behind . . .

. . . For Lydia's Pub . . .

. . . And Turning The Tide book store . . .

. . . And, most appropriately, a Celtic tribute to honour the passing of this long-time home for local music, which occurred ironically on St. Patrick's Day

ANOTHER HISTORIC LANDMARK COMING DOWN: It's been a bad time for historic Saskatoon buildings. The century-old Farnam Block and the Barbie Doll-sized "Merry Mansion" next door, have lost their battle with Father Time, and now the iconic agricultural landmark, the former Quaker Oats Mill, is also coming down. The plant was built by the Saskatoon Milling Company in 1909 at Avenue N and 18th Street, and was taken over by the Quaker Oats company in 1912. It closed in 1972 and was later operated by its current owners, Parrish and Heimbecker, another grain milling company that, coincidently, also began operating in 1909. While much of the mill remains standing for now, demolition is quickly proceeding at the north end of the complex. Human history buffs will not be the only ones sad to lose the old mill. It has also been home to countless generations of pigeons that live in the nooks and crannies and grow plump from the grain that gets dropped along its way into the plant.

The morning sun illuminates the Parrish and Heimbecker sign . . .

. . . And casts a warm glow on the massive silos on the south and east sides of the mill

Silos on the northeast corner of the site

No place is safe from graffiti artists

Railway sign marks a short spur line that serviced the mill

Solitary window overlooks the corporate sign

South side of the plant is seen through the security fencing

A couple of railway cars remain . . .

. . . In place beside the condemned mill

View of the southwest corner of the plant . . .

. . . Where a crow hovers over the roof near a passing pigeon . . .

. . . Before landing for a short rest

Disturbed by the noise and commotion of the demolition crew . . .

. . . Pigeons are constantly on the move . . .

. . . Settling briefly on the rooftop along the west side of the mill until another loud boom . . .

. . . Sends them airborne again

Here a flock circle around a structure like a ship's crowsnest . . .

. . . Before landing on the walkways, augers and support beams of a cluster of grain bins . . .

. . . A short distance from the current demolition zone

Most of the current demolition work is taking place on the north side of the plant

Rubble is appropriately piled at the bulk shipping and receiving door

A large excavator rips into the walls . . .

. . . Turning them into piles of rubble

Like some huge mechanical raptor, this claw-like machine rips down walls with relentless efficiency

. . . Taking only minutes to make walls quickly disappear

Panic in the pigeon ranks as their home comes down

A trio of them stop briefly to survey the destruction

Guts of the mill left exposed . . .

. . . As the demolition continues non-stop

Passersby leave personal remembrances Monday night on posters outside what is left of the former Lydia's Pub

FARNAM FAREWELL: If you'd hoped to get a souvenir photo of a pair of Saskatoon landmarks before they're demolished, you're too late. Demolition began in earnest on the Farnam Block at dusk on Monday, Mar. 16, while the iconic "Merry Mansion" next door was flattened Friday, Mar. 13. The Farnam Block was built by Arlington Ingalls Farnam, an early Saskatoon real estate speculator, who put up the impressive brick apartment and commercial building at the corner of Broadway and 11th Street back in 1912. The Farnam Block, with 10 apartments, along with commercial businesses on the main floor and in quaint, below-street-level shops, has been a prominent anchor of Broadway Avenue. In later years it became better known as home for entertainment businesses, most recently Lydia's Pub; venues that helped kick-start careers of many local musicians, ranging from a young Joni Mitchell to the Sheepdogs. The current Farnam Block owners also owned the tiny house, cum store, located immediately West on 11th Street. The pint-sized building was labelled as the Merry Mansion in a song by Humphrey and the Dumptrucks. Future plans for the site have not yet been announced, but don't be surprised if (at least temporarily), in the words of Joni Mitchell, they paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

Farnam sign reflects the years of neglect the building has suffered

Hopefully this plaque will survive the demolition

Street view of the Farnam Block

Out front

Entrance to the former Lydia's Pub . . . how many people have staggered down these steps over the years?

Door into Lydia's

Lydia's arched entryway

Poster for a rival bar

Steps lead down to lower level commercial space which is now blocked with snow

Like an internet troll awaiting unsuspecting passersby, street art creature inhabits his chilly below-ground hiding space

According to the yellow signs, trees growing along the south side of the building are protected by the city . . .

. . . Yet minutes later, the scene has changed. (Presumedly all the trees were not on city land.)

The building has fallen prey to graffiti artists . . .

. . . Even if one is well meaning

Which is likely to survive longer, the building or this ice cycle clinging to a downspout behind the Farnam?

Behind the Farnam Block sits a tiny house, cum store, where a tree's shadow falls across it like the bony fingers of death

Reminders of battles fought and lost remain fastened in place in one of the windows

Rear view of tiny iconic building . . .

. . . Door decorated with art and graffiti

The tide indeed has turned

LOVE IS IN THE AIR: Aside from the riverbank, Saskatoon is not exactly known for having any natural, dramatic lookout points where young lovers can go to gaze out on the world and dream about tomorrow. However, countless couples have compensated for more than a century by adopting a man-made structure that offers one of the best views in the city -- the CPR bridge. Built in 1908 and with the pedestrian walkway added a year later, the bridge offers a panoramic view of the weir, the university and the downtown, and a tempting place to leave a permanent reminder of one's true love. (NOTE: The love locks have since been removed, having fallen prey to the city's spring cleaning crew.

Love truly is in the air

Some expressions of love are carved, some are painted

Thousands of lovers and general sightseers use this walkway every year

Among them at one time were Roland and Janice . . .

. . . And Al and Yo

Since a new stairway was added recently, padlocks have become a popular means of proclaiming one's love . . .

. . . Including E.K. and B.G.

. . . And A and E and M, in hot pink . . .

. . . And Adrien and Gabriel, and a small lock with a Paris link . . .

. . . And don't forget Regan and Victoria . . .

. . . Or a pair of joined locks signifying a January engagement and a July marriage

Last but not least, a romantic message from Randy

DAYS OF OUR LIVES: People may not be crazy about Saskatchewan winters but try being a bird, like the flocks of pigeons that make their home on Saskatoon's bridges and buildings; spending most of the time huddling in the cold, freezing their butts off, waiting for the occasional mild day when they can thaw out before the snow and frigid temperatures settle back in again.

So, this is what 30 below feels like?

Finally, a mild, sunny day but they certainly didn't consider pigeon comfort when they built the Sid Buckwold Bridge

This place doesn't have much of a view but at least there's running water

Alright, who jumped first?

Who goes down there?

Green eggs and Sam

That feels better

A little lower please

Great, the crappy weather is back

I wish that was only dandruff

GRAFFITI WARS: There's a non-stop battle raging throughout Saskatoon for "artistic" control of prime public real estate. You may not witness it happening but it's going on constantly, usually at night, but by day you will see the aftermath almost anywhere you look throughout the city. It's a multi-foe battle being waged between numerous graffiti artists, the police and the workers tasked with the never-ending job of painting over the art or eyesore, depending upon one's perspective. Judging by the amount of graffiti on Saskatoon's bridges, walls, buildings, fences, etc., it's clear the battle is not being won by the police or the cleanup crews. Even the taggers are in conflict, not being content to leave other's work alone, they feel compelled to deface that as well. The photos below are from one popular graffiti location, the support pillar on the eastern end of the railway trestle adjacent to the weir. They show the results of the ongoing nocturnal battle that's taken place from mid-2011 to the present, and the incarnations the pillar has been through during that time. (Click on photos to enlarge)

June 25, 2011: This is how the pillar looked at that time.

July 17, 2011: A few weeks later it was totally changed.

Sept. 11, 2011: By September, another artist had left his own stamp overtop of the other.

Sept. 12, 2011: That clearly didn't sit well with the next nocturnal visitor.

May 16, 2012: Cleanup crews finally painted over the mess but even the paint couldn't hide the permanent graffiti chiseled into the concrete.

May 9, 2013: A year went by with only a couple of additions.

Nov. 1, 2013: By November, it was once again out with the old and in with the new.

Aug. 6, 2014: Alpha remained top dog for many months but by August, crews had again painted over the latest masterpiece but couldn't be bothered covering up the whole thing.

Oct. 4, 2014: That left a partially clean slate for a few new Picassos to leave their overlapping marks.

Nov. 1, 2014: Which brings us to the present, along with yet another messy overlapping tag.

Ye olde curiosity shop

The adventurous Mr. Dumpty in happier times.

Halloween transformer: from Denny Carr . . .

. . . into Denny Truck

When was the last time you saw a white caboose . . . or a caboose of any colour?

Swingers beware!

Taking their parking seriously

Similar message, different place

Heels over head for parkour

Another parkour player hanging around

Kevin Pee-Ace art

Hanging gardens of Babylon

Two-toned tree

Rail line to nowhere

Post-fireworks checklist

Could that be Homer Simpson?

Sign says it all

But do you know the way to San Jose?

Hitched hikers

Keeping watch

Taking speed enforcement too seriously

Like catching lightning in a bottle

Radissonhenge

Trendy couple

Clearly written by a man

You know your road is crap when even the patches fall off

Always tough to get good help

Adding an electronic sales pitch

Downtown busker

Road apples different today than grandparents&amp;#039; era

Garden of good

Traffic Bridge in miniature

Timbe-r-r-r-r!

How long do you suppose this sign will last, standing in the street, before it gets mowed down?

Bigfoot spotted near Victoria Park

Murderers' row

Picasso-like image of new art gallery

DOORS & FENCES: Maintain privacy but also are a place to express personal style, creativity, interests or opinions

THE SHADOW PEOPLE: Vampires avoid the sun so are rarely seen, but here's evidence of a lesser known group that thrives on it

Saskatoon's six-foot leash limit is so unfair!

For some reason, cameras always make my tires look 10 pounds fatter.

It may not look like much, but it's still faster than the bus service.

Stop running, you don't have to pee on every single light pole!

Ouch! My shadow face just hit that tree!

Step on a crack, break your mother's back.

Shouldn't the pathway have sharrows?

Look, master, I'm doing my Quasimodo impression.

Check our shadows, dear . . . we are the same height.

Here's how it works. You let me sniff yours and I'll let you sniff mine.

JIGSAW ART: An imaginative sculpture has been located on the boulevard at University and College Drives, assembled like a giant 3-D jigsaw puzzle.

The artist riveted together hundreds of pieces of metal in various shapes and sizes . . .

. . . to build this large sculpture of a human head . . .

. . . with a tree growing through the middle.

COULD ONE OF SASKATCHEWAN'S LEAST POPULAR BERRIES BE THE NEXT SUPERFRUIT?: Buffaloberries (AKA bullberries) have been used for food and medicinal purposes by First Nations people for centuries. The berries make delicious pies, jelly, syrup and wine, and while they are plentiful in Saskatchewan, many people are unfamiliar with them. Others who are aware, often ignore them because they are tart when eaten raw, and picking them is tricky -- like plucking a porcupine. Researchers have been studying the bright red berry and its potential health benefits, and it's being touted by some as the next superfruit.