Photos

Everywhere you look there is beauty all around

Freshly baled hay is about to get wet

Boulder adorned with baby blue lichens

Candle Lake dock…..iPhones can produce high quality panoramic photos

Saskatchewan farm offers a taste of the old and the new

Red boat anchored on the river near Victoria Park as darkness settles

Man in red hoodie

Magpie in flight

Trees along the river

Reflecting pool

Hey, wait for me

Cranes above the South Saskatchewan River near Saskatoon

Wildflowers

Historic building future uncertain

Walking dogs at Petturson's Ravine park

Former Saskatoon railway station

Broadway Theatre at night

Harvest moon along Valley Road

Wary brown thrush

Blackbird speaks its mind

Cloudy afternoon

Sunset on Circle Drive South

Western Red Lily

Crocuses at Chief Whitecap Park

Graffiti inspector

Buildings at Innovation Place

Up, up and away

Training session

Looking down on the weir

Hard at work in Rotary Park

One of a kind

River Landing 1

River Landing 2

Walking off into the sunset

Shadow of its former self

Candle Lake: threat of rain

Candle Lake: another Rocky sequel

Candle Lake: beyond the point

Mom grebe minds nest while dad does renos

Wheat crop looking good

Ready for the combine

Checking out the thistle

Resplendent in green

From Cranberry Flats lookout 1

From Cranberry Flats lookout 2

From Cranberry Flats lookout 3

From Cranberry Flats lookout 4

From Cranberry Flats lookout 5

Warm fall day at River Landing

ST. JOHN'S ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL: A heritage property that's well worth a closer look

St. John's Anglican Cathedral on Spadina Crescent

Construction began in 1912 but the church wasn't officially opened until 1917

View of south entrance to the cathedral

Massive doors on the north side of the building

From the north side

A fierce gargoyl guards . . .

. . . the south side of building

Other features include carved fruit and vine terracotta trim . . .

. . . stained glass windows . . .

. . . and a number . . .

. . . of other . . .

. . . ornate . . .

. . . carvings

The cathedral's steeple stretches . . .

. . . 145 feet into the air

. . . featuring four clocks . . .

. . . and adorned with numerous . . .

. . . angelic cherubs

Viewed from the east bank of the South Saskatchewn . . .

. . . the Cathedral's spire is reflected in ripples on the river

RECENT COAT OF HOAR FROST TURNS SASKATOON INTO A WINTER WONDERLAND

OLD TIME RELIGION IN THE STRAWBERRY HILLS: One of Saskatchewan's best kept secrets is the wonderfully scenic Strawberry Hills, a rolling, pastoral paradise of farms and acreages just minutes east of Saskatoon along Highway 5. Besides its natural beauty and endless views, the area is also home to two quaint historic churches built in the early 1900s.

View of the Strawberry Hills from Highway 41 just as a slightly hazy sky . . .

. . . Gives way to bright sunshine on this healthy canola crop at the foot of the hills

Historic Christ Church and cemetery situated along Highway 5

Two of the many garter snakes that live in the undergrowth adjacent to the church

Wild flowers along a roadway through the hills

View to the east from near the top of the hills

Hay crop destined for winter feed awaits pick up

Rough-legged hawk rests atop a bale

Low-flying geese head toward rustic farm buildings nestled into the hillside

Weather-beaten farm building and rusted implement from days gone by

St. Paul's Bergheim Evangelical Lutheran Church located on the northwestern edge of the hills

HYDE PARK: If you're not lucky enough to live in the Rosewood neighbourhood, feel free to drop by and enjoy Hyde Park, the spectacular wetlands conservation area that graces its doorstep. A co-operative development between the City of Saskatoon, the Saskatoon Wildlife Federation and Ducks Unlimited Canada, the park is home to a wide variety of plants and is a natural stopover spot for more than 100 species of birds. While it has its own winter beauty, you will enjoy it more come spring.

Rosewood housing development overlooks a string of natural marshes . . .

. . . in the southeast corner of Saskatoon.

A footbridge frames some of the houses to the south . . .

. . . and a housing complex to the north

Even coyotes are occasional visitors.

Among the many species of birds are the blue-winged teal . . .

. . . blackbirds, of course, . . .

. . . and the graceful American avocet . . .

. . . seen here looking for lunch . . .

. . . and enjoying a selfie neck rub.

CASWELL SCHOOL: One of Saskatoon's historic gems

Centre part built in 1910, additions came later

Catching the afternoon sun

Our kindergarten

An interesting door but watch the tricky first step

Flag crackling in the wind

CRANBERRY FLATS: Lots to see and enjoy in the 10-minute walk from the parking lot to the river lookout

Parking lot puddle provides soaker tub for sparrows

No shortage of dragonflies on the trail

An abundance of wild daisies . . .

. . . and purple prairie clover . . .

. . . and coneflowers . . .

. . . and speargrass . . .

. . . and blazing stars

Mourning dove keeps an eye on passersby

Sunny day gives way to clouds moving in from the west

VALLEY ROAD: Some seasonal businesses may be closed but still lots to see and do there, aside from the Berry Barn

Straw bales now sit where grain once stood

Thousands of geese and cranes . . .

. . . can be spotted there daily . . .

. . . and you might even get a close-up

With Halloween coming, you can always pick your own pumpkin . . .

. . . from Robertson's huge pumpkin patch

CRANE SPOTTING: Whitecap park is a great place to watch sandhill cranes each fall, but bring binoculars or a long lens

The cranes and gulls have camped on the far side of river today

Though far away, there are hundreds of them

Passing kayaker gets close-up look

They seem unafraid, but 15 minutes later, a few cranes take off

Then the whole flock follows suit

Going every which way for a few minutes

Before circling back in one direction

And coming back in to land again

Then it's back to what they were previously doing

Mostly soaking up the sun

VISIT TO THE WEIR: Lunch for pelicans, entertainment for people

Hey, how's the fishing down there?

You see anything?

Glurrrp

Yumm!

Perhaps I'll see what those guys are up to.

Is this what they mean by the slippery slope?

Jeez Darryl, breeding season's over. It's time to shed your bill horn.

Ya? Well I like it, so shut your beak or I'll shut it for you!

You're just jealous cuz your's has fallen off already…and that I can also turn my bill inside out.

Enough already. Time to call it a day.

32 MINUTES IN ABERDEEN: Strip of blue morphs into angry cloud and wall of water; as clouds pass overhead, deluge hits