Monday morning was an important date for a group of senior members of Dry Creek Baptist Church.
With cloudy skies and no assurance of the sun shining, at 8:30 a.m. 18 seniors boarded the church bus for an outing to the Amish Community near Scottsville, Ky. to spend the day observing, buying and just enjoying the life of these hard working, humble people.
The many “stores” held the harvest for would-be shoppers and despite a slow drizzle falling from the sky, there were many bargain hunters parked at the stores.
Tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbage, squash, onions, peppers, field peas and many other vegetables were available. There was also canned jellies, jams, pickles and chow-chow for sale.
The biggest attraction for many visitors was the Daniel Hoover Sorghum Mill, which specializes in making sorghum. Our group spent several dollars at the store. They sell to the public and ship their product all over the world.
Bro. Donald Owens, the gracious pastor that he is, had his van on hand to bring home the many boxes of food that the group purchased. To tell the truth, we believe the van was loaded, and that was okay with Bro. Donald.
At the Sorghum Mill, we saw a man who was born and reared in the Dry Creek Valley, Tommy Crips, son of the late Austin and Lucille “Tincy” Crips. Tommy and Jeff Cantrell, Smithville, were visiting also. It was so good to see and talk with Tommy.
While, at the Sorghum Mill, we learned so much about this product, which serves as a substitute for sugar. Delicious sorghum is one of the oldest natural known sweeteners. It was used by the early settlers, which makes it a part of our heritage. Sorghum makes food tasty and nutritious. It is a high energy food source that contains nutrients such as, calcium, iron, potassium and phosphorus.
Today, chefs use sorghum as a flavoring, seasoning ingredient and sugar substitute.
Habegger’s General Store, the biggest store in the Amish Community, has what its name implies, just about anything shoppers would want. Dried fruits, spices, nuts, home-canned goods, flour and meal.
Sourdough bread with varieties to choose from, pies, fried pies and others are made fresh every day.
This was the group’s first stop and where they enjoyed a delicious lunch that included ham, turkey and other meats and cheese on sourdough bread. They ate lunch and headed out on their trip back home.
Many thanks go to Jimmy and Becky Womack for being our guides and directors on the trip. They know every nook and corner of the Amish community, There is no electricity and the families work hard from early morning until sunset, tilling the soil and reaping an abundant harvest in their community.
A big thanks to our dear pastor, Bro. Donald Owens, for his love and care to the seniors at Dry Creek Baptist.
To our devoted bus driver, Albert Tomilson, “Thank you very much!” We also thank Bobby Robinson for driving the van and getting our food home safely. We love and appreciate you.
Special get-well wishes go to Mr. Dwight Cripps, a native son of the Dry Creek Valley. He had a cornea transplant at the eye center in Nashville. He is now at his home, receiving treatment to his eye. Our prayers, love and best wishes go to him as he recovers.
Jimmy and Judy Kimbrell attended the Kimbrell Reunion in St. Joseph, Saturday.
Jeanette France saw her doctor in Cookeville, Monday. It is nice to know that she got a good report. She has been trying really hard to recover from her knee surgery. Our love and best wishes to to this dear lady.
It is “fall kraut” making time in the Dry Creek Valley. The sign being right and two large bags of cabbage, Tuesday was the day to make kraut at the Frazier home. There were five people on the assembly line.
In the first position was the gentleman with the wooden kraut shredder. Number two and three were in charge of cutting up the cabbage, one gentleman and one lady. Number four was the lady with the chopper, who was in charge of making chopped kraut. The last position, number five, was as you can imagine, this “old lady” who has been making kraut for generations. Her job was to pack the kraut, shredded and chopped, into sterilized canning jars. Then she covered it with a mixed solution of water, white vinegar and pickling salt. And, finally, she placed sterilized can tops on and sealed them. This recipe yields 40 quarts of snow-white kraut. After making, you place in a cool, dark place for several weeks.
We send get-well wishes to Linda Fuston, Faye Elrod, Birdie Bennett and Lillie Vaughn. These nice ladies need to be remembered in our prayers. Our love and best wishes go to all of the sick.
Dry Creek Baptist has many activities planned for the month of October. On Oct. 15 there will be a 4-wheeler ride up Wilder Hollow, down Pea Ridge Hill to the head of Dry Creek. The church provides the food. There will be plenty to eat, fun and fellowship.
On Oct. 29, the church will have Mary Joines Fall Harvest Festival. We are honoring Mary who was in charge of this event for several years. There will be a hayride, a chili supper and trunk or treat after supper.
Everyone is welcome, Bro. Donald Owens, pastor.  
Correction: The Pea Ridge Reunion met in a building belonging to the Mt. Moriah Church. I am sorry to have called it a community center. It is not. The church built and owns the building. I’m very glad to correct this mistake and my apology to the church.