Well it’s been a while since my last entry. I’ve been busy plugging away in my studio, lots of pebbles being carved & painted for my latest fish carving’s habitat. It took lots of time to process the photos that have been collecting in the folders on my laptop. And lastly, I been committing more time to my daily Gaelic studies. These are a few of the reasons for neglecting my wee journal … well that & procrastination.

For the past couple of weekends Pam & I have been wandering around this area exploring & learning more about the countryside as well as shooting more photos, of course. Last Saturday we found ourselves in an area 15 kms north of here where there were 3 of the forest fires that threatened 3 small communities, some summer cottages & fishing resorts. And much closer to home, {so to speak}, La Ronge itself where these fires were the cause of the cause of a week of extreme smoke plaguing the town of La Ronge ….

I hope the following few photos that can depict the devastating effects of forest fires … although good old ‘Ma Nature’ does turn this destruction into a positive. The Jack Pine, for instance uses the extreme heat to help in the reseeding & Morell mushrooms love to grow in areas that have recently recently been burned. The earth is quite amazing isn’t it? One area on the Allan Trails near English Bay, SK even had a cabin & an outbuilding left untouched by the fire but surrounded by a burned area!{click on photos below}

The Allan Trails Hiking & Skiing area near English Bay

This oldest church in northern Saskatchewan

This oldest church in northern Saskatchewan & another of the province’s treasures from the past that was threatened by this sumer’s forest fires.

Anyway it was an experience I not forget too soon … hope you enjoy the following few photos. More photos are being uploaded to our Flickr album regularily … Click on any of the thumbnails on the right margin to view the others too.

Uill, gun tèid e gu math dhomh an-duigh
Well, wish me luck for tomorrow …

Cuibhil-meaban