You mow grass? We bale it.

Sometimes we refer to ourselves as "Grass-Farmers".  Take away all the modern-day drug culture and look at that description as it really is, word-for-word.  We grow grasses.  A multitude of them.  Before we were farming full-time we didn't know how many grasses there were.  There's timothy, rye, fescue...
and none of them that we grow are ornamental, they all have a specific purpose.  Healthy blood, healthy heart, healthy coat, healthy eyes...the list goes on.
Dear Farmer lets the grass grow to seed head, and then he cuts it, tedders it, rakes it, and bales it.  Because we are organic farmers, NOTHING chemical goes on the grass!  Nature walks on it, that's it.  This process of making hay takes time with sun and no rain.
Where we are Dear Farmer gets two good cuttings of hay.  The first cutting is okay, it grows fast and is hard to get in.  Spring usually rains a great deal, and to get in the hay amidst the rain drops is difficult.  It needs to have a solid four days of sun.  The second cutting is the best, it grows well because of the spring rain, and has the most nutrician.  It's not usually difficult to bring it in, it's getting to it all, because it's all ready at the sametime.  Sometimes there's a meager third cutting...it's only taken if Dear Farmer thinks we're going to be really short on hay from the winter.
The best part of hay-season is watching Dear Farmer skip out to his tractor, with a big grin on his face!  He's going to be playing with his "toys" all day.
So, the family waves good-bye to him(dressed in our swimsuits), knowing we won't see him until the dew nearly sits on the grass.  He's off to do his "Grass-Farming".

What did Dear Farmer do for his birthday?

In our large family gifts are usually time together, not so much opening boxes or having things.  Last year the children at home started the tradition of all pitching in together for Dear Farmer's birthday...
this year children at home took Dear Farmer out for his birthday gift to the "John Deere Historical Site" in Grand Detour, IL.  If you're a "John Deere"-fan, it's a must!
Check on their website first, to confirm when they are open, admission was only $5.00 for ages 12 and up-we went on a Saturday, they were open from 9-5.  We packed a picnic lunch, they have a beautiful pavilion to lunch in, and they have nice clean bathrooms as well.
The site is approximately one block long, and maybe a quarter block wide.  It's absolutely beautiful and well kept.  You are given a guided tour in small groups with other visitors.  We were a small group all by ourselves, but there was a couple that tagged along with us.  I only felt bad for the other couple when it came to "Do you have any questions?" from the tour guide.  The Pied Piper always has tons of questions.  I'm sure the couple would have gladly moved on.

On site there are several buildings of interest:

• One building is an excavation site of the original blacksmith shop built by John Deere where the company first started.  In that building is a movie about John Deere, and many artifacts from the dig. 
• One building is a replica of the blacksmith shop where an actual blacksmith was giving a demonstration as well as a verbal "tour" around the shop.  The blacksmith was entertaining and informative!  What a craftsman!
• One building was John Deere's home.  The family owned the property for a number of years, so family pictures and furniture were decorating the home.  There are also a number of period pieces to complete the lived-in look.
• One building is the neighbor's house, where there is a gift shoppe.  We didn't go in there...I had eight small children with me, and was not planning on purchasing anything for them.

The entire time there was about an hour and a half, not too long for the littlest, and just right for the parents.

Having seen this John Deere site, it makes Dear Farmer want to go to Moline, IL and see the corporate HQ. I don't know anything about that, we'll have to look into it for next year's birthday.

If you head over that direction, there is more to do in the area.  Lee County in Illinois has a well organized visitor's bureau.  

The highlight of Dear Farmer's birthday...he said it was being with his family!  What a great guy!!!

*Do I need to tell you no one paid me to say anything about anything?  We just had a great time, and would love you others to have a great time there as well!