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NORTH BLOOMFIELD - It takes Kathryn Detweiler an average of three days to prepare an Amish wedding dinner.

It took Jay Barbe two years to restore the 1966 Mack Truck used by his father's garage.

Detweiler and Barbe both displayed their talents Saturday at the North Bloomfield Historical Society's 10th annual Historical Days festival in the township commons at the intersection of state Routes 45 and 87.

As Amish boys played baseball on the commons, Detweiler and a crack staff were busy inside the dining hall at the United Methodist Church putting the finishing touches on a meal she began three days ago.

Detweiler said she cooks for weddings, businesses and fundraisers, and it's more pleasure than work.

''Since I was 12 years old I've enjoyed cooking,'' she said. ''I've been collecting cookbooks since I was 12.''

Included on the menu Saturday were potatoes, chicken, roast beef, date pudding and nine different types of pies.

Detweiler said she usually prepares food for gatherings of about 300 people. The largest gathering she cooked for is 500, which took her a week to assemble.

As Deteweiler was getting the dinner ready, Barbe was showing off the truck his father Bob bought brand new from the Mack Truck factory in Allentown, Pa., in 1966.

Barbe said the truck was used mainly to haul steel to Detroit, other places in Michigan and even Canada. He estimated there were ''a couple of million'' miles on the odometer.

He finished the restoration - a tribute to his father - the week before Christmas and took the truck to a show at the Mack Truck factory on Father's Day weekend.

It's not used just for show, though, Barbe also uses the truck to pull his boat. He said he draws a lot of attention when he's on the road.

''It turns quite a few heads,'' he said.

jgorman@tribtoday.com