Monday, January 21, 2013

Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens...what a treat

Had a great visit out to Charlotte the other day except for slipping and sliding all the way home. The weather was wonderful going out and while we were visiting but, for some reason the Weather Monster caused us havoc all the way home...

Went to Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens while we were there and I must say, I can't wait to return! If it was that beautiful this time of year...whatever will it look like come spring?? And, it was a great way to get knowledge, exercise, and sunshine into the kids for the day (as well as a break from the iPhone)! Here are some pics of our fantastic family outing...















Monday, January 7, 2013

Remember the Old Five and Dimes...


Have you ever fried raw peanuts? If you have, you probably do not buy the ones in the can anymore. Nothing like freshly fried, Spanish peanuts. A bit of cooking oil, an iron skillet, plenty of paper towels, a slotted spatula, a ton of salt, and you're good to go. Just made a jarful today and, I can't help but recall my first batch of freshly fried, Spanish peanuts...

Not at home, rather at the old (and many years closed) Sterling Store in the Pike Plaza Shopping Center in North Little Rock. My mom would shop there often when it opened in the 60s and, she always gave me a quarter plus a penny for tax to purchase a half a pound of freshly fried, Spanish peanuts. The check out lady would come to the peanut machine (sort of looked like a popcorn machine) which was located in the middle of the store and use little weights to measure and bag up my purchase. Gosh, they were fresh, hot, and delicious. Certainly not like the canned ones in the five and dimes of today...