Traveling Adventures of a Farm Girl

The Anderson Mansion is a beautiful two-story mansion that is now home to the Macoupin County Historical Society. Open during the Spring festival that most of the locals call the Strawberry Festival, we again toured this lovely mansion that is home to a unique stained glass window bought at the World-Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.

Touring the home, seeing the tractors and vendors is high on the list of things to do at this site that sits on 16 busy acres, but eating our way through the event is at the top of our list. With a choice of chicken and noodles, ham and beans or grilled pork chops visitors often have two complete meals then top it off with strawberry shortcake. Then after all, who could resist the kettle corn?

The mansion is open for touring June thru August on Sundays from 1-5 or by special appointment. Call 217-854-2850 or 217-854-3916 for information. The next big event at the Macoupin County Historical Society is the Fall Festival which is always held the third weekend in September.

The American Harvest restaurant in Springfield, Illinois celebrates the farmer and supports locally grown products. On May 24th, American Harvest restaurant offered a wonderful six-course meal that Chef’s Jordan and Aurora Coffey was aptly titled, “First Harvest”.
The food on the menu celebrated the first harvest of spring and my husband and I enjoyed every bite!

American Harvest’s motto is “True to the Season, True to the Region”,The next scheduled meal will be with a New York theme. “We do this every month and always on a Thursday,” Chef Jordan said.

To learn more about these great dinners and their everyday meals that also promote the freshest ingredients from local farms, check out the website http://www.americanharvesteatery.com and their goal is a simple one, to offer the freshest ingredients, sourced from local farmers in Illinois

The third week of February, the Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine Club hosts a giant flea market and antique tractor show. If you are looking for a great winter getaway keep the show in mind. We stay in Sebring and this year we took time to tour Florida Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Museum at Highlands Hammock State Park. They offer a trolley tour and we were able to see the natural flora and fuana as well as an alligator or two!

At the Flywheeler’s show, the non-profit organization was founded to promote interest in restoring, preserving and exhibiting antique internal combustion engines, steam engines, antique tractors and autos and more. The show offers a large flea market and a very neat village
with a myriad of different and unique buildings filled with collections and historic items. The Flywheelers shiow is set on almost 240 acre. Log onto the website at http://www.floridaflywheelers.org/ for event dates. and details about upcoming shows! See you there!

Bailey Shea Williams drives her ATV Quad Racer at harrowing speeds. However this young woman thrives on the speed and has won several titles including the first female to win a National contest. Bailey was set up at this year’s 2012 National Farm Machinery show in Louisville, KY. She was signing autographs in the Dixie Chopper boot. Art Evans, founder of Dixie Chopper took a few minutes to share the history of his development of the revolutionary zero turn mower. Watch for the whole story in the September issue of Lawn & Garden Collector Magazine!

To learn more about Bailey and Dixie Chopper, check out their website at http://www.dixiechopper.com.

The Honey Locust trees exploded into bloom on I-74 just south of Galesburg last week. We noted this beautiful site heading north. The Lord blesses travelers on occasion with His glory!