Brauns Law - September 2020

Brauns Law - September 2020

404-418-8244 Sept 2020 WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM

3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 330, DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096

Georgia’s Sweetest Treat The Storied History of the Peach

The end of summer marks the peak of peach season, which is a pretty big deal here in Georgia. As far as state foods go, I’d say we really lucked out. Sure, Florida has oranges and Hawaii has pineapples, but I’ll take a Georgia peach any day. It sure beats an Idaho potato. There’s nothing better than a sweet Georgia peach on the hottest day of summer. For a state that’s all about peaches, you might be surprised to learn that peaches aren’t native to Georgia. It was certainly news to me! In fact, the story behind this delicious stone fruit spans several thousand years and countries across the globe. Peaches are actually native to China, where they were cultivated for thousands of years. Initially, experts believed that the ancient Chinese began cultivating peaches around 2,000 B.C. However, in 2014, researchers confirmed they had discovered major archaeological evidence that the peach was being cultivated in China around 6,000 B.C. They published their findings in PLOS One, a peer-reviewed journal published by the Public Library of Science. Turns out, humans and the peach go back even further than we realized. Keep in mind that early peaches didn’t look much like the sweet fruit we enjoy today. It took a few thousand years for peaches to become something we’re more familiar with — a juicy yellow- or white-fleshed fruit packed with flavor.

As the peach gained popularity, it became a status symbol. It was difficult to get, which drove the price up. But it wasn’t long until the peach found its way into the American colonies where even Thomas Jefferson had peach trees planted around his estate, Monticello. But back then, peaches weren’t being broadly or commercially cultivated. On top of being difficult to get, peaches spoiled easily. Anyone who has had peaches can attest: Fresh peaches don’t last long once they’re harvested. Because of this, peaches remained expensive until the 1800s when the growing U.S. population began providing more opportunities to take this fragile fruit to market. In response, farmers began planting peach groves in many eastern states where the temperate climates make for ideal weather for a long peach season. While peaches can be grown anywhere in the U.S., the best peaches come from temperate states, like right here in Georgia. That’s what earned us the nickname “The Peach State.” It took a lot of time and farming to bring us the peaches we enjoy today. The next time you eat a peach, whether it’s in a cobbler or fresh off the branch, remember that peach comes with a history that spans the globe and several millennia. Pretty impressive for a single piece of fruit. -David Brauns

“For a state that’s all about peaches, you might be surprised to learn that peaches aren’t native to Georgia.”

Peaches found their way from China to Japan around 4,500 B.C. Through

trade and travel, the

peach made its way across Asia and the Middle East.

By the year 300 B.C., the peach had entered parts of Europe. There are tales of Alexander the Great bringing the peach to Europe after discovering the tasty fruit during his quest to conquer the Persians, but these stories are largely untrue. The peach simply found its way around the globe thanks to good old-fashioned trade. In the 1500s, the peach made its way to the Americas. It was brought to North America by Spanish explorers. Interestingly enough, the peach made it to the Americas a century before it was introduced to England and France.

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Reuse Old Materials for Eco-Friendly Outdoor Games GOT AN OLD TIRE?

Looking for ways to get your kids outdoors while teaching them how to be more eco- friendly? Try saving your old tires and soda bottles to make these fun outdoor games for the whole family! TIRE SWINGS Have you ever played swing games like Tumbling Tower? Build a tower of cardboard boxes and see if your child can use their feet or shoes to kick it down while swinging! Tire swings are great for games or just enjoying the outdoors while the wind rushes through your hair. Few pieces of outdoor play equipment are more enticing

than a swing for children and adults alike. This project doesn’t cost very much, either. You just need a tire, rope, power drill, and the biggest tree in your yard. If you don’t have a tree, you can make a sturdy swing post with lumber! TETHERBALL Even if a tire swing isn’t in the cards for your family, don’t relinquish your old tire just yet! Turn it into another playground favorite: tetherball. Premade tetherball sets can cost up to $100, but a DIY version can cost less than $50.

To start, you’ll need the tire, a metal pole, some pieces of rebar, cement, a round swivel eye bolt snap, and a tetherball on a rope. You’ll also need to use an impact drill with a bit made for metal. Drill a cross section of holes at the bottom of the metal pole and thread the pieces of rebar through each. Then drill a hole at the top for your round swivel eye bolt snap so you have a place to tie the rope. After centering the pole in the tire (using the end with the rebar pieces as the base), pour the cement in and let it dry. Once it’s dry, hang the ball with the bolt snap and watch your kids play tetherball for summers to come! BOWLING Have empty plastic soda bottles from your last takeout meal? Collect them, paint them white, and put two red stripes around the neck. Now you’ve got bowling pins! You don’t need a heavy bowling ball for this DIY set, either. Use a tennis or soccer ball to get the ball rolling on some family bowling at home. You don’t need games as popular as Minecraft to make special memories in your backyard. Take inspiration from these ideas and create your own family fun!

Testimonials DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT

“My accident was too small for court, yet my insurance company was giving me the run-around. David spent a lot of time explaining my rights and encouraged me to seek diminished value as well as reimbursement for medical. My insurance said I would never get diminished value in my particular case. However, with David’s advice and guidance, I was able to get a very fair settlement. It is incredibly helpful to have someone knowledgeable and trustworthy to turn to when I had so many questions after my accident. I hope to never be involved in another car accident, but if I am, I will definitely call David, and I highly recommend him for others in the same situation.” –Josephine P.

“This is by far the best experience I’ve had with any attorney’s office. They treat every case like it’s the most important case they have, and nowhere else provides such direct contact with your attorney. David Brauns was extremely friendly and has an amazing staff. Thank you, David Brauns, for your excellent representation throughout the case.” –Jerry P.

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The Ultimate Checklist for Successful Fall Cleaning

Unclog the Gutters — Clogged gutters can attract bugs and lead to roof leaks. Have your gutters cleaned so they’re ready to handle the coming rain and snow. Rotate Your Mattress — Advice on how often you should rotate your mattress varies. We recommend rotating it every six months, in the spring and fall. Clean the Chimney — Have a professional come out to inspect and clean your chimney before the weather outside becomes frightful. Dust the Ceiling Fans — Grab a ladder and carefully clean the dust from the blades of your ceiling fans. Now is also a good opportunity to switch the rotations of the fan. Ceiling fans should turn clockwise and run at the lowest speed in the winter. This pulls cool air up and pushes warm air down. Check the Shower Curtains — Wash the shower curtains and replace any shower curtain liners that have become mildewy.

It will soon be time to hibernate for the winter. These last few weeks of nice weather are perfect for some intense fall deep-cleaning. There are numerous places in the home that many people overlook when cleaning. This comprehensive checklist will help your family enjoy a clean home to hunker down in for the winter. Deep Clean the Carpets — Treat your carpets to more than a regular vacuuming by renting a carpet cleaner or hiring a specialist. Wash the Windows — Clean the inside and outside of the glass, wash the screens, and wipe down the windowsills. This is also a good time to clean the blinds and wash the curtains. Tackle the Pantry, Refrigerator, and Freezer — Throw out all the expired foods, bad leftovers, and boxes of bran cereal that no one likes. The extra space will make it easier to organize your pantry, fridge, and freezer.

Remember that you don’t have to do everything in a single day. Deep-cleaning is a big project and trying to tackle it all at one can be overwhelming. Spread the tasks over a few weeks and take it one step at a time.

WORD SEARCH

EASY STUFFED SWEET POTATOES

Directions 1. With a fork, prick each Ingredients • 4 medium sweet potatoes • 1 15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed • 2 medium tomatoes, diced • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 tsp cumin sweet potato a few times. Microwave the potatoes on high 12–15 minutes, or until cooked through. 2. In a microwave-safe bowl,

• 1 tsp coriander • 3/4 tsp salt

• 1/4 cup sour cream • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

3. Cool potatoes slightly, then cut each potato open lengthwise. Pull the halves apart to create space to spoon the warm bean salsa inside. 4. Add a scoop of sour cream to each potato, garnish with cilantro, and serve!

ASTER AUTUMN CHILLY COLORFUL

EDUCATION FOOTBALL HARVEST LABOR

LIBRA SAPPHIRE SEPTEMBER SQUASH

combine the beans, tomatoes, olive oil, cumin, coriander, and salt. When the potatoes are done, microwave the mixture on high for 2–3 minutes.

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Inspired by EatingWell.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

404-418-8244 | WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM 3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 330 DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096

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Everything’s Peachy

Eco-Friendly DIY Outdoor Games

What Some of Our Clients Are Saying

8 Steps to Deep-Clean Your Home This Fall

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Easy Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

The Best Educational Tools to Help Students Succeed

Student Tech Success Educational Tools to Improve Digital Learning

BEANSTALK While Beanstalk is an online learning tool, the beauty of it is that the classes and videos aim to pull kids “out of the screen to do real-world physical activities.” These include science experiments, building projects, and more. Experienced teachers provide engaging lessons and learning tools, and many of them are free. EDUHAM What better way to learn about the history of our nation than through one of the nation’s most popular musicals? “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda launched this learning platform in 2016 along with the show’s director and in partnership with The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. EduHam is a free digital program for students and their families that provides history lessons on the Founding Era of the United States. It also brings art into the mix — Miranda shows students how to create their own

Kids these days face so many more distractions from academics than their parents did. It’s not as easy to focus on homework when TikTok, YouTube, and all sorts of video games beckon. Instead of trying to prevent screen time, why not allow students to engage with technology that will help promote their learning rather than distract from it? Here are three tools to help students at different age levels get the most from online learning.

performance pieces based on primary source documents, which they can then share in the app. The program is geared toward students in sixth through 12th grade, though everyone is welcome to participate.

FIVEABLE For high school students, the most

looming challenges include the SAT and Advanced Placement (AP) exams that are so important for college. Enter Fiveable, the amazing free resource that houses thousands of livestreams, study guides, trivia games, and other resources for 15 AP subjects. Started by a former teacher, Fiveable is passionate about giving students the resources they’ll need to be successful now and into the future. With so many resources out there, students can use technology in plenty of ways to help them be successful. Here’s to a fall season full of learning!

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