Colorful Field Trip

We just returned from Iowa visiting our daughter Lucyna.  I have dubbed this foray as a "colorful field trip." 

Not wanting to drive the expressways we decided to cut through the country.  The roads were a bit snowy at times but certainly travel-able.  The plus part was there was no traffic.  I mean - no traffic.  There were a few cars in the towns we went through, but we didn't have to follow any slow-moving vehicles or plod through construction.  It really was a pleasure.  We drove straight south until we reached the Mississippi River and crossed over to Red Wing, Minnesota.  Yes, that is where the Red Wing work boots are made.  In fact I have a pair and wear them often now that we are in the Northwoods.  The whole town is Red Wing this and Red Wing that.  We even ate at a restaurant in the former Red Wing Pottery building that had been converted to little shops.  We didn't know that Red Wing made pottery.  The original kiln was kept in tact and is now surrounded by the parking lot.  The part that was colorful was right after we crossed the bridge.  A 10 year old boy was shoveling snow out of his driveway.  He was wearing the brightest purple coat I had ever seen.  Stopped to get gas.  Everyone in the Kwik Mart, everyone sitting in their trucks at the pumps was wearing bright purple and gold.  Ah, yes, we were in Viking territory with just crossing a bridge.  So we enjoyed our Minnesota leg of the trip viewing everything purple and gold: garage doors, flags, outdoor Christmas trees, signs.  Stopping to get gas in Iowa - again at a Kwik Mart - (They have this area of the midwest wrapped up.) - I walked in only to get knocked in the head with a huge kiosk of black and gold - University of Iowa Hawkeyes - which happened to be our destination.  Now we saw all the same things as before - just in black and gold. 

Lucky for me that I look good in hunter green and  gold.