How Great The Yield From A Fertile Field: Sardis

After the wettest six months on record to start the year, July and August have been very dry. Fortunately, July was cool. August however, is ending very hot and humid, and the crops are starting to look stressed. I spent the day yesterday at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur. It was a warm 99 degrees in the afternoon at the showcase of agriculture. Fortunately, there was a breeze blowing most of the day, and several exhibits had air conditioned tents. Much water was consumed in the 8+ hours we spent there.

Last fall, at the Hospital Lumiere Benefit Auction, we bought a two night stay at the Orchard Bed and Breakfast in Sardis, Ohio. We had never visited the Sardis church before, and had never stayed in a B & B before, so we thought this would be a good opportunity for both.
So, last weekend we finally got around to using our purchase. On Friday, we drove to the beautiful Ohio River valley in the southern Ohio/West Virginia hills. After checking in and eating supper at Marv's Place in historic downtown Sardis, we headed up into the hills to visit the old Sardis church and cemetery. On Saturday we headed into the West Virginia hills in search of the old New Martinsville church and cemetery. The "country" roads are all narrow winding roads that follow creeks, climb hills, and follow ridge lines. The weather and the views were beautiful. We found the church and looked around inside (we were given a key), then enjoyed reading the names and dates on the graves. The grave diggers and undertakers need to be brave working on some of these hillside graveyards!

We saw lots of deer and wild turkeys as we drove around in the hills. The farms were usually built on the tops of the ridges, so the roads would pass right through the barnyards. At times, it was hard to tell the road from driveways. At one point in our wanderings, we crossed the Ohio River on the Fly Landing Ferry (operating continuously since 1815) from Sisterville, W.V. to Fly, Ohio.

The Victorian home that we stayed in was very nice and comfortable, and hostess Doris Miller fed us well and took good care of us. We enjoyed wonderful worship and fellowship with the Sardis congregation on Sunday, then we headed up to Amish country for a stop overnight on our way home.

Old Sardis Church. Now the Fellowship Center.