Peanuts are peas, not nuts. Like peas, they have seed container pods,(shells) for the peanuts. There are usually two or three peanuts in each shell, which can be eaten alone, or put in candy, cookies, and other dishes. Peanuts can also be used to make peanut butter, and for industrial uses. Peanut plants are unusual because its pods grow underground. Peanuts are also called groundnuts, goobers, goober peas, ground peas, and pindas. Peanuts are an important crop, especially in warm places. 19-22 million tons of peanuts are harvested around the world each year. Africa and Asia grow about 85 percent of the world’s peanuts. Leading peanut growing countries include India, China, The United States, Sudan, Senegal, and Indonesia. The leading peanut
growing states are Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma, and Florida. When roasted or made into peanut butter, peanuts have more energy-giving calories than a piece of beef steak that weighs the same amount. Most peanuts are used to be eaten. But in industry, low quality
peanut oil is used to oil machinery, and also as ingredients in soap,face powder, shaving cream, shampoo, and paint. Peanuts are also used in making
nitroglycerin, which is an explosive. The solids left from making peanut oil are used as feed for livestock. Nothing is wasted, and even the shells are ground into powder, which is used in making wallboard, cork substitutes, and
abrasives. Peanuts are 47.5 % fat, 26 % protein, 18.6 % carbohydrates, 5.6 %
water, and 2.3 % other. The peanut plant is an annual that grows 2 and 1 half
feet high, and 3-4 feet across. There are two types of peanut plant: The Bunch, and the Runner. Farmers must harvest the peanuts at just the right time, or the peanuts might not be ripe, or they could be too ripe. At the processing plant, large, unshelled peanuts are cleaned, polished, whitened,
and marketed. To whiten the peanuts, they remove their dark outer skins. They also roast and salt them, or use the peanuts to make peanut oil. To make
peanut oil, the peanuts are run through machines that grind them into little bits, and then they squeeze out the oil. I hope that this article inspires you to try a new recipe that uses peanuts.

One morning before we ate breakfast, Adam noticed a squirrel sitting on our back porch, eating acorns. It was very interesting to watch it eat. It sat up on its hind legs,and held the acorn in its paws. It chewed very fast, and spit the shell out between bites. Another squirrel soon joined it, who seemed more energetic then squirrel one. Squirrel two alternated between climbing a tree and eating acorns. A few minutes later, they ran off. Then, two different squirrels appeared and they played for a while, before they scampered away as well. We haven’t seen any squirrels that close before. Squirrels are very cool and interesting animals, unless they get into your ceiling, which happened to us one time.

By Rachel M. Heironimus

I recently read “The Seventeenth Swap” by Eloise McGraw. It was about a boy named Eric Greene, who wants to get a pair of red cowboy boots that are on sale for $17.99 for only one week. But the problem is, he doesn’t have any money. So he starts swapping things. There are several times when he wants to give up, but at the end, he’s glad he didn’t. I liked it and would give it 4 out of an available 5 stars.

You can buy “The Seventeenth Swap” on Amazon.com

By Rachel M. Heironimus

I finished reading “Thimble Summer” recently. It was about a girl named Garnet, who lives on a farm with her father, mother and three brothers. One night, she and her oldest brother Jay are outside together, and Garnet finds a silver thimble. She thinks it’s magical. That night it rains, and ends the long drought. After that, many wonderful and exciting things happen to Garnet and her family. I liked it and will give it 4 stars.

You can buy “Thimble Summer” on Amazon.com

I recently read “In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson”. It was about a girl named Shirley Temple Wong, who recently came to America from China with her mother, because her father was in America already. She can’t speak English, and she doesn’t like America at first, but in the summer she hears about Jackie Robinson, and that changes everything. It was an okay book, so I’ll only give it 3 out of 5 stars.

“In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson” is available on Amazon.com

“Gone-Away Lake” was about a girl named Portia and her little brother, who went to visit their cousin, Julian. One day, Portia and Julian decide to go exploring. They find a swamp, and on its banks, a summer resort! They also find two people still living there. I liked it a lot and would award it 5 stars!

You can Purchase “Gone-Away Lake” on Amazon.com

“All-of-a-kind Family” is about a family of five children, all girls. They have lots of fun together, going to the library, visiting the seashore, visiting friends, and much more, including lots of surprises. It was very good and I would give it 5 out of 5 stars!

You can buy “All-of-a-kind Family” on Amazon.com

I finished “The Terrible Wave” today. It was about a girl named Megan, who was the daughter of one or the richest citizens in Johnstown. She was one of the survivors of the Johnstown flood. It was very good and I would give it 4 stars.

You can buy “The Terrible Wave” on Amazon.com