Wanderings

     Aril over at Eccentric Amblings and Ramblings From Gnat Bottomed Towers makes my wanderlust either dissipate or get enhanced because I get engrossed in her outings of old churches, historic properties, and a host of other interesting places. With a Saturday to myself, I decided to do a bit of wandering around the area myself. IT was absolutely sweltering-I even used the air conditioning in the car, which I  hate. The minute I stepped out, of the car, I was soup. Still, in an effort to work on getting out a bit more and trying to take a decent picture, I drove down the highway, around the back roads, and through little hamlets that you might miss if you blinked. I found a few old churches, not Aril's version of old, but old for Minnesota, and a sad  ball field, patiently waiting for spring 2021 when suited players will take the field again.  I found some other places to explore on another day. These were just a few pictures-not the best. I need to play around with my camera settings. I hope you enjoy.

     This church is one of my favorites in my area. For the size of the community, it is massive!. I'm not catholic, but I can even appreciate Mary standing watch in the window. It sits up on a hill with  a large cemetery next to it. At the bottom of the hill is the sad and lonely ball field that normally should be packed with fans on the bleachers watching ball games on summer evenings. The bleacehrs are behind the back stop. 

     There are a couple places we like to go-one is a bar and grill, and the other a sort of supper club/old time restaurant that has an incredibly delicious fish fry, but also other favorites. The lines are out the door on Fridays-usually, but they did a mean take out during lent this year. Both are generational owned and operated.

     This church, in a little village about 8 miles from the one the previous church was in, is a bit less ornate, but still beautiful. They have modernized with solar panels. this  community is home to a bar and grill that has the best  pizza in all of Minnesota.

     The pictures above is the garden area outside the third rural church I stopped at. The church itself is not as fancy and elaborate as the other two, but inside and the grounds are so beautifully maintained. This church is across from the delicious burger/bar joint with the people lined up waiting to get in. One of my nieces was married in this church.

     As for up close pictures of the ball field, here's the abandoned visitor dug out. The weeds are the only occupants. Behind the fence on the home dugout you can see the chalk spreader, just sitting there unused since the games have been put on hold. A few teams are up and going again, but with a shortened season, are just sharing a neighboring communities fields.

     That was my day wander in teeny town Minnesota. All these church's are over 100 years old, which being in such a rural setting, the ornate nature of them is something. Had it been a different time, I would have stopped for a beverage, most likely seeing someone I knew. That will come again.