After a hiatus to create a kegging system and get my fermentation temp under control, I am going to brew this weekend. I've upgrading to a 10 gallon system, made a counterflow chiller, made everything hook up with quick connects, and all that's left to do is brew. The pictue is my starter I made less than 24 hours ago, it was rocking this morning, ill build it up one more time before pitching sometime on saturday. I'm pumped.

I aged some of my single hive clover mead on hibiscus petals. At bottling I dosed a few bottles with peppercorns to add a little spice to the sack style mead. This one still has the strong clover honey flavor with nice hibiscus notes, but the peppercorn is too much. I believe there was three in this one. Its pretty powerful on the back of the palette, but not unpleasant. Would be really nice if it wasn't starting to feel like a Texas summer already. I'm very happy with the color and it has legs like a tawny port. I'm going to make 5 gallons of the same mead and put it all on hibiscus petals and play around with it some. Maybe less peppercorn, and perhaps red pepper flake. Cheers!

Most of us know this saying, it has been echoed in movies, on bumper stickers and t-shirts going back for 40 years. But when Charlton Heston uttered those same words, musket held high above his head, they seemed (at least to me) to have new meaning. They seemed alive. And I truly believe that they mean more now then they ever have. No longer is it a middle finger to liberals or the anti-gun left. No longer is it something that you might hear some drunken redneck say after a wrestling match. It is now more than ever a battle cry for those of us who believe that to be truly free, you must take up arms against those who would take that freedom. This isn't just a right or privilege, but the duty of everyone living within the arms of this great country.

I was very saddened today to hear of Mr. Heston's passing. He led a great life and was indeed a great man. In the very essence of the word he was a patriot. and he will be truly missed. My prayers go out to his family and loved ones, that they may find solace. And know that the inspiration he instilled in so many of us, will live on.

I would encourage anyone who reads this to join or renew your membership to the national Rifle Association in Mr. Heston's name. Show those who would take this right from you, that though a face of the orginization has passed on, his dedication and passion for America and Americans lives on in all of us. www.nra.org