Redneck Anniversary Trip

     My husband and I  just celebrated our 13th anniversary.  We took an overnight trip to a big city to visit an attraction we had been wanting to see for a long time. So, where do rednecks go for anniversary trips?  Here's a hint:

 

     Yeah, we made the long journey to the big city of Moline, Illinois to check out the headquarters of our favorite brand of tractors.  Now, it was not quite what we expected.  Our first glimpse of their beautiful grounds gave us the first inclination that we weren't in Kansas anymore!

 

 

  The pristinely manicured lawns, the fabulous architecture and the absence of mud, overalls, and mucking boots told us that we had reached John Deere heaven.

 

 

 

     As we entered the building, it was absolutely silent.  My husband inhaled and savored the scent of new rubber.  A gleam in his eye told me that I had chosen well.  He was thrilled to tread on this sacred ground. 

 

 

    We were free to browse as we wanted.  Each cab was opened and you could sit in them and dream. 

 

 

 

     The view from the driver's seat!

 

 

 

 

 

 

     One half of the room was dedicated to agricultural vehicles, the other to construction vehicles.

 

 

 

 

 

My husband had to check out this road grader after seeing how tiny the steering wheel was.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are thinking about upgrading our family vehicle!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Reading the information about this particular mower blew my mind. 

 It said that this was the 5 millionth tractor to roll off the assembly line!!! Amazing!!!

 

 

Well, I guess we can mark this one off our "bucket" list!

 

 

 

    Honestly, this was one of the nicest places we have ever visited. We are making plans to return with our kids soon.  We love the simple things in life...........but you'll get that in a small town!

 













Amish Antics

     If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that we live in an area that has an Amish settlement.  We  often see their buggies going through town; we wonder about the ones we hear in the middle of the night.  We also often laugh at the paradoxes that they exhibit in their quest for a simpler life. I saw a buggy headed down the street today. I didn't think anything about it, until I looked closer.
     To understand the irony of this picture, you have to understand the prejudices that are prevalent in a rural area.  There is always the perpetual argument and fight for dominance among the green tractor owners and the red tractor owners. You have to stand up for the brand that you think is the most reliable, has the most power and looks the best in the field.  Even among the pickup truck owners, there is the argument for or against the bow tie or the blue oval.  You have to be loyal to one or the other, there is no middle ground.
   As I saw this buggy pass today, I saw evidence that the argument even exists among those who don't even own vehicles:

     Can you see it?  Right there in the center:

     I'm pretty sure that Ford hasn't included a line of buggies in their 2014 production line, so the owner must have stuck it on there himself.  Knowing the drive of the Amish to remain morally upright, I doubt that the emblem was stolen, but I do wonder if they bought it somewhere.  I have seen the Amish making unusual purchases before, I think I would laugh if I saw one of them buying an emblem for a pickup truck.  Yet, they seek approval and by siding with one of the arguments among rural residents, they feel a part of the crowd.   Those of us who know that the blue oval is behind the times now have proof..................but you'll get that in a small town.