Next on the schedule was a short drive to the historical section of Monticello to enjoy the stately old historic homes with the fall colored trees covering the road, if anyone had any question that winter was just around the corner, the beautiful painted tree’s sent a clear message that before long winter would be here. What better way to warm up after a chilly drive than to arrive at the Prairie Fire Glass studio for a pre arranged demonstration on the art of glass sculpturing?  The owner lead the group through a demonstration of how a beautiful multicolored hand made glass was made. The glass started as simple melted glass at over twenty eight hundred degree’s then through multiple process of adding layers of glass and color, the final finished  piece was placed into a curing oven to allow time for it to slowly cool to avoid cracking. The demonstration held the undivided attention of everyone in excess of an hour, someone observed that they had never seen the car group so speech less and quiet.
After a longer than anticipated lunch break at the Brown Bag, a local deli sandwich shop, The group was taken back on the drive to Arthur, Illinois  which is the home to the states largest Amish Community.

After a short trip to Arthur the group was taken to an Amish Grocery store known for bulk spices and traditional Amish food items, the women enjoyed shopping for various spices and food items not normally found in their local grocery stores. One of the male participants offered the group some advise, he recommended that they not eat the special breakfast oat mixture after observing what it did to the horses as evidenced on the roads we were driving.  Next stop on the Amish event was a short drive to Miller’s Dry Goods; this business reminds one of the old Woolworth’s or Penny’s stores of the past. This store is packed with yards and yards of cloth, and general merchandise for the Amish community. This business is nestled in an Amish settlement surrounded by dairy cattle that provide the milk for the family dairy business. Some of the group  where offered an opportunity to shop at the dairy store for what ever they needed, funny no one knew anything about the dairy business. The group could not figure out if any dairy supply items would work on a British car.

The group was taken on another short drive to observe the Amish farmers working their fields with the traditional horse drawn farm equipment; one farmer was plowing his field with a one bottom plow drawn by six large Belgium horses. Another farmer was working his hay field with the traditional horse drawn rake. While driving we encountered numerous horse drawn traditional Amish buggies, many of the passengers in these buggies seemed to enjoy looking at the British cars.  It was difficult to drive these roads and avoid those horse apples, I am sure everyone knows what they are?  Most of the event participants quickly noticed they were in the country, all they had to do was to inhale and there was no question! While on the drive the group made stops at the Amish Tools plus Hardware store, this business like all others is stocked for the Amish community.  They even sell metal galvanized buckets not the plastic ones we all see now in stores.

After visiting many down town Arthur shops specializing in Amish hand made items ranging from oak furniture to locally produced jellies, jams, and cheese the group was ready for the highlight of the day, a sit down dinner at the Amish farm home of Ruth and Roscoe Yoder. The dinner was arranged months in advance by Denny Elimon. After traveling a short distance in the country the group arrived at the Yoder Farm. Our host, Ruth Yoder, had prepared a feast fit for any British Royal family. The lanterns were started and positioned to provide light and a special dining atmosphere. The meal was very unique in that you are not ask what you would like to order, They do not have any menus, They do not have a set price, They prefer a donation, it is served family style which means when any serving is gone it is time to fill up the bowl. After feasting for well over an hour on home made fresh bread, fresh family secret jam and peanut butter, the main meal and deserts were fantastic.  We all quickly learned that you cannot eat everything offered, this was proven when the fresh baked cherry, apple, and pumpkin pies arrived. The women seemed to enjoy trying to figure out what they were eating, how it was prepared, and later being offered the opportunity to purchase some of the secret home made items.

After allowing our Amish host to look at the British cars, by lantern in pitch dark, you see they were just as curious about the little British cars as we were about their life style, it was time to call it a day. We had been treated to a full day of vintage transportation ranging from trains to horse drawn farm equipment and now it was time to head those British cars home for what may well be the end of driving events for the year. However, immediately after thanking our host, members of the group began to discuss the next event which will be the annual Christmas party, no question this event and especially the hospitality offered in the Amish home of Ruth and Roscoe Yoder dinner will be remembered for some time.