On Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:26:22 -0600, tom wrote:

http://www.mahvelousmailboxes.com/ma...ail_alerts.htm

I already had the parts but I doubt you could spend a dollar for
everything if you didn't have something. The fishing float could be
replaced with something bright in color that is visible from the house.
Piece of bright red ribbon or red plastic tag for example.

What ever you use as an indicator, it is visible on the rear, behind
the box toward the house. Even if your box is at the end of a long
driveway you can tell if it is at the top or bottom.

I'm cheap.