Beth Jukuri delivers the rural mail from Chassell out to Tapiola on the country roads. During the winter months, her patron’s mailboxes don’t always win the battle with the snowplow that keeps the roads open so the mail can get delivered. This first photo was one of her patrons solution to their box getting taken out by the plow...quite ingenious, I think and it gives a whole new meaning to the term, mailbox. Beth’s second photo is what her route looks like these days, since the storm last weekend. Pretty narrow, so I’m guessing Beth hopes she doesn’t meet many cars along the way.

Today’s video report is from U.S. Postal Contract Delivery Driver, Dan Vaught, who lives in the U.P., and has a route much like Beth’s. He’s demonstrating the proper way to clean out your mailbox, so your mail delivery won’t be interrupted because the Carrier can’t get to your mailbox.

Remember...it's YOUR responsibility to keep it
clean, or you won't get your mail!

A new meaning to the phrase Mail..."BOX"

Today's pictures, as well as the previous week's pictures of the storm, makes you appreciate the modern snowplows and the drivers keeping at least 1 lane open. In the 'good old days' you could be snow bound for weeks; and let's hope you had the fruit cellar full to keep body and soul together. Not to mention the strength to chop the wood and get it into the old stove. We all know the old stories of our ancestors waking up to find the water in the wash basin frozen. What hardy souls!