Detour exit 277

Last summer, a client in Texas asked me to pick her up some "Caribou Cream" a specialty from Minnesota.  It is made in Northern Minnesota.  I've had friends and relatives looking and I haven't been able to find it yet.  But when I saw a billboard for this specialty shop, I decided to check it out.

A billboard sent me here ...

They didn't have it there but at least they had heard about it.  But I had an enjoyable 4-5 mile round trip drive looking as I drove to Mahtowa, Minnesota. There was this perfect little country church.

Minnesota Country church

On the edge of town was this quaint little town was this tiny little church that so exemplifies "outstate Minnesota."

Seasonal Challenge

One of the unique things that caught my eye was the string of mailboxes that were just hanging there ....

Box 1

Some were hanging in a what looked like the hoops from a barrel.  ~ ~ This was a wonderful idea considering the large amounts of snow and how the plows needed to clear off the road.  If the plow hits the mailbox, the rings will protect it and it will swing instead of flying off a post.


Box 2

There were many more examples.  Each resident in this country community had their own interpretation of a swinging mailbox.  It caught my eye and made me smile.

Box 3

When I got back onto State Highway 35, there were Pine trees on both sides of the road.  I had started out with a light snow.  But in this area, hoar frost has settled on the trees over night.  It wasn't a safe place to pull over for taking pictures and I was driving alone so you don't get to see a picture.  But it was amazingly beautiful with the crystals of white snow on the outer edge of the branches.  The white offset against the dark green pine trees. Miles and miles of gorgeous glittering trees lined the road. 


There were two special blessings on the trip.  The first was the eagle that flew over my vehicle as I drove down the road.  The second was the elderly man that was walking from the grocery store to his home.  I had stopped at a Holiday store and as I pulled in I noticed the man walking into the store.  It was obvious that he had slipped and fell in the snow from the grocery store to the gas station.  There was snow from his knee to his hip.  He was warming up in the gas station.  He left as I was checking out.  I asked the clerk if she knew him and she did.  He lived a few blocks down the road.  I stopped and picked him up.  It was a short; three block ride but when he got out he repeatedly blessed me.  He was a believer in God and my following the promptings of God to stop and then to offer a ride, blessed the man in a very special way.  All that he had was words and prayers to offer in blessing me for my help ~ what more can a person ask for?