Peal a Peck of Peas

Well it's usually known as "shelling," but I had to try to think of something that started with a P. Yesterday my Mother-In-Law picked me up a peck of peas and some new potatoes at the farmer's market. When I was little I remember shelling peas with my mom, and my grandmothers. I think it is becoming one of those "lost arts." Most people will buy peas already shelled, but it is a really soothing Southern tradition to sit around with a few friends and shell them yourself. I can remember helping my mom and her mom "Honey" shell peas while sitting under the trees in her front yard.I shelled some in the kitchen last night, and today I finished while sitting on the back porch swing with my feet in the paddling pool. Tonight we are going to be eating dinner at one of our friends house, but I'm thinking Thursday night is going to be a Purple Hull Party in my kitchen. Just how much is a peck of peas? Well it is about 1/4 of a bushel. I posted a picture of my bowl. I'd say it is enough for 4 people to have a bowl full :)
I also found the prettiest magazine in Target the other day, called Flea Market Style. I don't usually splurge on an almost $10 magazine (a book-no problem, not a magazine), but it has some of the best decorating and artistic ideas. I have added their blog button to my page, so click and check it out!

Southern Fun

Regardless of wealth, age, gender, race, religion, or orientation there is one thing that all Southerners can agree on.... MOSQUITOS... they are the bloody devil! There are people who make fun of us Southern people with our OFF and Bug Zappers. Anyone that thinks we're crazy has obviously never dealt with anything like the attack we had last summer. We had to get out of our cars and run to get in the house before we were carried away! I had several friends in college from Australia that would rant and rave on and on about how they had never seen so many dang mosquitos, and we oughta sleep inside of "those nets you see on movies about Africa."

With all this said, I must add that there is something rather gratifying about zapping the rotten little beasties. A couple weeks ago I bought Jon a tennis racquet mosquito zapper from Ross's dress for less, then he went and found some more cheaper and more powerful out at Harbor Freight Tools. We have been like two kids with a great new toy! Tonight we turned on the front porch light, and the back porch light, and we waited for the sun to go down. Then one of us would shake the azalea bushes while the other swatted the ones that flew up out of them. Between the two of us we cooked about 100 of the little blood suckers tonight. I feel like we both made our own small contribution to humanity :)