Purple Hull Pea Pickin'

Purple hulls and pintos I've shelled more than my share

Cause lighting bugs and crickets danced in the evening air

And like a beacon that ol' yellow bulb it always led me home

Some how mama always knew just when to leave it on

If the world had a front porch like we did back then

We'd still have our problems but we'd all be friends

Treatin' your neighbor like he's your next of kin

Wouldn't be gone with the wind

If the world had a front porch like we did back then 

                                                                      -Tracy Lawrence

The purple hull peas that I planted in the side yard after harvested the Irish Potatoes are starting to come in now.  Every afternoon we go out and pick a "mess" of them.  You can tell why they are named purple hull peas:

Shelling peas is a nice, relaxing thing to do.  I really enjoy just sitting down, getting a bowl for the peas and a bucket for the pods, and getting busy.  Russ likes to shell them, too.

Fresh-shelled peas are a beautiful thing to look at, but a more beautiful thing to see simmering on the stove-top with some smoked sausage for a little extra flavor.  We like to eat them over rice with some cornbread.

We've eaten a big pot of them already and have already started shelling another batch of them!

Although the purple hull peas are still flowering and will continue to produce for a while, I've staged the planting so that when the purple hulls peter out, the Ozark Razorback peas and Blackeyed Peas will begin.  We'll likely put a bunch in the freezer for quick suppers later.