Holiday Greetings

Christmas is fast approaching and every year I make up a simple greeting using one of my elevator photos. I liked the bright red colour of this elevator I took of the Springside, Saskatchewan grain elevator. Red is associated with Santa's red suit, and many of the decorations are red or have red in them.
Merry Christmas everyone, and if you don't celebrate Christmas may you enjoy the festive period coming up, including New Year's which many celebrate on January 1.
Traditions are both comforting and cumbersome. Why not add spice to tradition and enjoy the moment.
I noticed that the link to Chris Attrell's grain elevator site had changed so I've updated it in "My Links". I hope this didn't frustrate too many of you.

Holiday Greetings

I wish everyone the best of the holiday season and may you have much to look forward to in 2009. In spite of the looming difficult economic times, now is the time to tap into the goodness of human nature and do what we can to see each other through the hard times.
Even though we may be losing part of our history as the prairie grain elevators are torn down, we must do like we do when we lose an old friend: Remember the good parts and use those memories to add to the goodness of our own lives.
Happy blogging!

Saving the elevators

I came across this video done by CBC back in 1996, wherein the town of Inglis, Manitoba wanted to save the 4 elevators as an historical site. They realized that it would cost them $70,000 per elevator and weren't sure where they would get the money. I googled the name, Inglis, Manitoba and they seem to be promoting the four remaining elevators as an historical tourist attraction. Good for them. I would suggest that if any readers are traveling through Manitoba that they make sure to stop in and have a look at what prairie towns used to be like.
Upon further investigation, I've also found some photos from Inglis, calling the elevators, "Inglis Grain Elevators Historic Site". There are two photos including a map. Inglis is just north of Russell, Manitoba, just off Highway 16.
Good for Inglis and Manitoba for keeping history alive like this.

Marengo, SK

I received a comment on my YouTube site about Marengo. I checked my slideshow-video and realized that Marengo was not included as one of the 100 elevators. I have photos of 110 elevators and decided to limit the video to 100 in commemoration of Saskatchewan's Centennial in 2005.
I'm posting the photo here with a link to the YouTube video (that omits Marengo), in case the video's of interest as well.

Same elevator, different story

It seems the Hepburn elevator is a favourite of mine. I found a write-up on this grain elevator and thought I should include it as it shows how a community can save these prairie icons if they have the will and the where-with-all.
A spiral staircase to the top with a tea house? Food for thought. I'm sure they'd appreciate everyone's financial contribution to the idea. It sure would be a good tourist attraction.
And, here's another photo rendition of this elevator.

Celebrating snow in Kenaston

I've posted this photo previously (See November 2006) but I "messed" with it in Photoshop to dress it up a bit and as a way of helping Kenaston, Saskatchewan celebrate their long, snowy winters. It's not too many places that would choose a permanent snowman as their town symbol.

Elevator Reflections

These elevators in Richlea, SK are reflected in the water standing beside the road nearby. The wide open spaces with people few and far between make for a different lifestyle. To use a pun, being alone and so far away from others leaves much time for reflection.

Prairie landmarks

While driving in the prairies one notices what "sticks out", what's different in shape and form from the rest of the scenery. Prairie elevators provide the variety that the eye appreciates while scanning the distance. This photo of the Glenside SK elevator (as taken August 2001) is a good example of how the old wooden grain elevators liven up the horizon. Every time one is torn down a part of our vision is lost forever.