Peanuts, Flower, Cute shirts, and Tornadoes

Let's talk about Boiled peanuts...

I posted a picture of the boiled peanut stand in my last post (from Samuel's baseball game).  Oh, the yumminess!  Those boiled peanuts were SO GOOD.  It didn't occur to me that some of you might not know what a boiled peanut is.  OH MY...you are missing out!  Boiled Peanuts are sold on the side of the road, at gas stations, baseball games, state fairs, etc.  Whenever my family would drive to the beach for vacation or go to the north Georgia mountains we always had to stop and get some boiled peanuts!

So here's what you need to know (from Wikipedia of course)....
Boiled Peanuts are popular in some places where peanuts are common. Fully mature peanuts do not make good quality boiled peanuts; rather raw or "green" ones are used. "Raw" denotes peanuts in a semi-mature state, having achieved full size, but not being fully dried, as would be needed for roasting or peanut butter use. After boiling they take on a strong salty taste and become softer with the length of cooking, somewhat resembling a pea or bean, to which they are related.  Boiling peanuts has been a folk cultural practice in the south of the US since the 19th century, where they were originally called goober peas. In late August, when the peanut crops would come in, unsold and surplus peanuts would be prepared in a boiling, and extended families and neighbors would gather to share conversation and food. Like a fish fry, peanut boils have been organizing principles for social gatherings. Like okra, black-eyed peas, collard greens and pork barbecue, boiled peanuts are symbols of southern culture and cuisine.

SO, there you go...a little culture and histroy lesson right here on Moments With My Miracles:)! 

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We have this one lonely peony that has bloomed at our mailbox.  It is truly beautiful!

This next picture is mainly to show you the ADORABLE shirts made by my friend Jennie.  I did a blog for her business in exchange for the shirts:)!  I love when I can do stuff like that.  Check out her blog to see the cute monogramming she does at www.stitchybritchesshop.blogspot.com.

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In the last few weeks, we have had 3 tornado warnings which means we have spent a lot of time like this...

The warnings yesterday actually resulted in some tornado touchdowns in Tuscaloosa.  They weren't near us thank goodness and we had no damage.  We have 20-30 big pine trees in our yard.  It's times like these that I really wish it wasn't so expensive to cut down those trees!  And clearly, I need to clean out our hall closet.  The problem is that I really do clean it out every few months, but it's just too easy to throw things in there and it gets messy so quick.