I did not grow up in Minnesota but my husband did. And he's always been proud to be a Minnesota boy. In fact, when we first moved to Arizona - people would say "Where are you from?" and naturally I would say "North Dakota".. and without fail, my husband would lean over and in my ear he'd say "Can't you just say you are from Minnesota?" Too funny!
Anyway - during all our AZ years whenever I'd call someone "nice".. he'd say "Nice?.. or Minnesota nice?"
Minnesota nice is a whole different level of nice. And now that I live in Minnesota, I was lucky enough to experience "Minnesota nice" one day last week.
I drive by a house on my way to take the kids to school each day. The little couple (easily in their 70's) that lives in this house has a GIGANTIC garden! It's obvious that they take their gardening serious - it's surrounded by an 8 foot tall electric fence.
So one day last week - I decided to stop and introduce myself... and ask a few gardening questions from the experts.
They were funny and sweet - we had a few good laughs. He gave me quite a few tips on keeping the wildlife out of my garden.. and then they offered me some of their Cherry Tomato plants. Just like that... without asking.. he offered them to me along with some pots for some replanting of my own tomato plants he told me I would need to do soon.
And look - his plants are so much bigger than my pitiful little tomato plants.They told me to plant these on my patio in pots when the weather gets warmer.
I promised I would stop in later this summer and let them know how it's going for me. I could sit and talk with them for hours. Soaking up their years of gardening and canning knowledge.
And that my friends.. is Minnesota NICE!! Pin It
12 comments:
nice Minnesota post,lol Heidi,its great listening to the oldies they are full of knowledge
ya, sure, dontcha know it!! we grow em good up here in minnie soooota
that is a 'country people' thing. I am from the city and moved to the county (well country to me, there is still a store 5 mintues away) 3 years a go. it is amazing to know my neighbors and talk to strangers. lol
How Minnesota NICE was that?????
I have relatives in Minnesota and they to are Minnesota Nice. Hugs
Sounds like our southern hospitality.
It's not uncommon to have neighbors share with one another just because. My favorite time of year is spring...folks drive past our country house and wave to us even though we don't know them.
Thanks for sharing.
I love your story.
This sounds like my neighborhood, too, and is one of the reasons I LOVE living in Minnesota!
Great post Heidi. Counrty folk are so nice. Good luck with the tomatos.
Too funny! I had the pleasure to visit Minnesota for the first time a few years ago, and that was one thing that really struck me.. how nice they were. I wanted to move there right away. And I'm from the South, where hospitality is legendary, and have lived in rural areas where people weren't' so nice (but very decent and wonderful in other ways)...
Nice! :^)
We lived in ND one summer and still tell folks about 'Nort Dakoooota' nice!
I'm in Rochester and we have so many visitors from other places and they always say, "Everyone here is so NICE." Nice to meet someone else in Minnesota. :)
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