We had a nice surprise last weekend, amidst all of the activities that were going on that we were involved in, like the Kiwanis First Bank Blue Earth program on Friday and the Wine Walk on Saturday.

Our son Nate showed up for a quick visit and to wish his mother a happy Mother’s Day. Nate is transitioning from working (and living) in California to moving to the Chicago area for a new job.

Of course, on Saturday my wife, Pam, was busy at Armon Decorating with the Wine Walk, and I was busy with it, too, at the Southern Minnesota Museum of Natural History and with taking photos of the Wine Walk – photos which you can see elsewhere in this issue.

When Nate lived in Blue Earth some 15 years ago, working at Seneca, there was no Wine Walk, as it started 10 years ago. He was pretty impressed with it. Of course, having worked in the wine industry for a number of years in California, he had some comments about the wines that were being served.

He was also pretty impressed with the museum, now commonly known as the Dino Museum. He, of course, had known about it, but he still commented that it was pretty amazing for it to be located in a small town like Blue Earth.

He was not the only one. Many of the Wine Walk attendees expressed amazement at the museum and took the time to look around while sipping some bison wine (there was a bison on the label).

One guy (yes, there were some men on the walk, it was not just all women) called the museum and Blue Earth itself (he was from out-of-town) a hidden gem.

I have heard that comment before.

Nate and I toured a little during the Wine Walk as I had to take photos, and one place was the Lost Saint Brewery. Nate sampled one of Mike Lahti’s creations and called it one of the best small brewery beers he had ever tasted.

He commented on some other things going on in Blue Earth, like the Community Market at the parking lot at Ryno Repair and some other changes from when he once lived here.

That evening we all went to Azteca’s Restaurant and Nate, who is someone who has been living in the land of Mexican restaurants (California), said that was some of the best Mexican food he has ever had.

So, despite being pretty busy, we had a great visit with son Nate. And it got me to thinking. We all have a starting point for change. I know Blue Earth and Faribault County as it is today, and how it was 19 years ago when I came here. That was my starting point.

And, it has changed a lot in the years I have lived here, and not all for the good. Some businesses, people and buildings are gone.

But, as I thought about it last weekend, we still have new people, businesses and buildings here, and we still have things to be proud of.

And we still are a bit of a hidden gem in southern Minnesota. If you haven’t already done so, come check it out.

The same is true for the other small towns in Faribault County. New (and old) restaurants in Guckeen, Winnebago, Wells and a museum in practically every town in the county.

And, as you will see in our Best of Summer magazine that will soon be coming out, there are events happening around Faribault County this summer.

So you don’t have to travel far to find some interesting things to see and do. And with the price of gas, you probably don’t want to travel far anyway.

Just sayin’.