We go on an outing.

Since you guys were so enthusiastic (no death threats, yay!) about my county fair photo essays, I'm giving you another one.

A couple days ago we went out for lunch and to run some errands.

Smokey drove and Matthew ate a doughnut-y thing. I got to sit in the middle row of the van and knit. Woot!

First stop was at Lennie's auto repair. Lennie has been our new best friend ever since he charged us $300 for some body work that every body shop in Minneapolis wanted $1000+ for. We pretty much have Lennie on retainer.

Remember the county board's "meth dealers go away" campaign with all the yellow signs?

Apparently some of the signs were red.

I call this Still Life with Oil Pan, Tire, and Funnel.

Lennie has a Bobcat and a dog. The dog was very friendly. I don't know about the Bobcat.

Then we headed down US Hwy 8 into Minnesota for lunch.

Ethnic diversity in rural Minnesota (or Wisconsin, for that matter) is when an African-American drives his Japanese-made truck to the Mexican restaurant for take-out made by Swedes.

How did we know the food was made by Swedes? Because it is in Lindström. Everyone who drives this way from the Twin Cities knows Lindström, the Little Sweden.

The famous Lindström water tower, a rosemaled coffee pot.

They had to build a new water tower but thank FSM they still kept the old one. There is a lot of growth in this area; it is within l-o-n-g commuting distance of the Twin Cities, but it is still rural and has a chain of lakes.

Giants in the Earth was required reading in my high school English class. Trivia fact for the day: Karl Rolvaag, governor of Minnesota in the early sixties, was a descendant of the book's author, Ole Rolvaag. The Emigrants by Vilhelm Moberg is similarly about Scandinavians who settled the farmland in the Midwest.

Problem: I think she is supposed to be looking back to The Old Country, but really she is looking west. Maybe she is looking back the way they came from Minneapolis.

Lindström is a pretty little town.

There is a little plaza on Main Street with a miniature Statue of Liberty. The pavers of the surrounding plaza memorialize veterans from the area.

Sadly, but realistically, they left blank pavers for future names.

While Matthew and I were busily snapping photos of the plaza, Smokey drove around. And found this.

Somebody is really, really into antique auto stuff...

and odd lawn art.

Elsewhere in town, a rooftop ventilator was taking careful aim at the nearby chimney.

Comments

[Carrie]

Maybe that guy just liked signs...

[tut-tut]

There is something not quite right about that elephant . . .

[becky]

Will Still Life with Oil Pan, Tire and Funnel be available on Etsy?

Last week my husband asked if we had to go "do stuff" so that I'd have something to blog about!

[Miss T]

Great photos!

[Jeanne]

How have I managed to miss Lindstrom after all the years in the metro area?

[Kirstie]

Thanks for sharing your day! Fun pics!

[lisa]

I just love these photos of yours! My dh gives me grief about taking pics, but you NEED your camera ALL the time if you're going to get treasure like this!

[Sheepish Annie]

I do love armchair travel...the gas is cheap and I don't have to wear shoes! Can't beat the sights, either. Thanks for the tour!

[Susan]

Love it all! Thanks for sharing!

[BigAlice]

Heh, I love the water tower. Mmmm, Swedish-made Mexican is my favorite.
Thanks for the pictures!

[Chris]

Love the tour - that ventilator is a hoot!

[elizabeth]

That is the worst looking elephant I've ever seen.

But I love the coffee pot water tower! And exploring new places, albeit virtually.