Chilly morning in Atlanta. I actually got up and put on Levi's instead of shorts this morning. Surprisingly, the hummingbirds are still around and I have dozens feeding in kind of a panic. Yesterday they actually drank a whole feeder full of nectar which usually takes them a week. I got a close inspection from several this morning when I was out feeding the other birds. It really starts the day off right when the little fellows get right in your face and thank you for the juice. They are trying to store up for their big migration to Latin and South America and they are unusually late in departing this year. Couldn't have anything to do with climate change though.
Busy day with doctors and other tasks yesterday. Got my seasonal flu shot and all my routine blood work done. Madam doctor was pleased at all the weight I've lost and it showed in my BP (120/70) and I am sure it will have a positive impact on my Hemoglobin A1C and lipids as well. I'll know in a day or two but if my morning tests are any indication, and they are hovering around 100, then I should be good.
Speaking of flu shots...a crudely made sign was spotted on a telephone pole yesterday that read "Swine Flu shots will give you Gulf War Syndrome". What's the deal with that?
I got all the hot peppers processed into hot sauce and canned yesterday. All those peppers yielded 6 pints of scorchingly hot sauce. Probably won't be able to eat it all but I have a couple of chili head friends that I am sure will help. The jalapenos from the garden this year were exceedingly hot, actually hotter than the serranos, and the sauce is a blend of the two with some cayenne thrown in for goof measure. As my Granddaddy used to say...it's so hot you'll have to use the creek to keep from setting the woods on fire. Good stuff!
Started my baking for the big Historical Society fundraiser this weekend (The Great Flea Fling) with a couple of batches of walnut and cranberry biscotti. I will do another couple this morning after I go get more eggs and baking powder. I am also on the hook for setting up tents which is a pain but only because of all the "help" I will have and that with daylight time I will have to do all the work in the dark on Saturday morning.
Time for another cup of coffee and then off to the grocery and back to baking. I mentioned the other day that I have gone back to the 'French press" for my morning coffee and damn if it doesn't make the best coffee! I am using a dark roast bean from Trader Joe's called "Bay Blend" and it makes a fine strong, full bodied cup and using the press method extracts every nuance from a quality bean. If you don't mind the little bit of sediment in the cup, which I don't, then it is definitely the best way to brew a good cup of coffee outside of an expensive espresso machine.
