I just finished restoring a BB&S Londoner, so I'm breaking it in with some Escudo Navy De Luxe. Nice smoker with a nice smoke. No tunes tonight, and no drink. Just sipping on the baccy.

The smoke of the moment is Haddo's Delight in a Winslow Crown 200. Jimmy Buffett on iTunes and a glass of Dogfish Head Worldwide Stout. This is some good living.

It's been a while since I've posted.

My how the collection of pipes has grown. I've become an eBay whore. It's amazing what you can find on eBay. I've scored some amazing pipes and some jewels in the rough for next to nothing. I've since bought a buffer, some Tripoli compound, a pipe retort, a polishing/restoration kit from Walker BriarWorks and assorted other items. I find the restoration and cleaning of estate pipes to be soothing and satisfying. It's really fun and fulfilling to take a $5 pipe that looks like it's been thrown in a fire and return it to its former glory. I really am amazed at how much can be accomplished from some real basket cases.

Tonight's smoke is some Anniversary Kake in a Crown Winslow 200. I have a full glass of Auld Asheville Vintage Ale, Jimmy Buffett on shuffle on iTunes, a chair, an air cleaner, my Kindle, my computer and my pipes. Just finished an order of hot and Cajun wings from Wingstop. Next up is a bottle of Stone Brew's Russian Imperial Stout. A man can't ask for anything more. I truly am blessed. It's a wonderful Friday night.

Another interesting smoke. I can see what all the fuss is about. Very little strong aftertaste, but it was sweet, cool and felt like it had a fair amount of nicotine. All in all I will be revisiting it.

I pulled out my Savinelli Professor 602 for a full bowl of Squadron Leader (see previous post for link) and tried my second attempt at a Frank pack.



I need to break up my tobacco a little bit more and work on the crown pack, but I really like this method (after I got used to a lighter draw).

I'm debating what pipes to take to Key West and whether I should bother taking any tobacco with me. I'll probably take an aromatic pipe, an English pipe (probably my Peterson Aran) and my knockaround Wessex. Key West is a major cigar city, but I don't know what the pipe culture is like at the various shops. I wasn't paying much attention last year. I know that at least one of the shops carries pipes and tobacco, but I need to make sure that I at least have enough to get me by for a couple of days if I can't find anything I want. The cool thing, though, is that you can smoke in the outdoor bars and my favorite bar is Schooner Wharf, which is completely outdoors.

I stopped at the local B&M for another fix on my TAD. I had heard great things about Squadron Leader, so I figured I'd give it a try. My first impression as I opened the classic tin was "Wow! This stuff is *pungent!*" Smoky and very heady. My second impression was that it's really moist too, so I've set a bowlful out to dry.



In the meantime, I need to take my picture for Self Portrait Thursday, but I'm kind of stuck as to what to do. Perhaps I'll go get my tripod and do something in the Tiki Bar.

Pictures to come, as well as my thoughts on Squadron Leader. I also purchased some Carter Hall and some MacBaren Dark Twist Roll Cake, which I'll get into later this week.

pleasure

I had truly forgotten how nice a slow aromatic smoke can be. I hit the treadmill last night, got up a good sweat and once done, sat down with my sweetie to watch the rest of Angels & Demons. Art's Blend in a Savinelli Punto Oro 622. About 1.5 - 2 hours and I never got the bowl very hot until the last few puffs. Laura said it smelled like chocolate. Who am I to argue?

I was at : 6901 Maynardville Pike, Knoxville, TN 37918,

Flake...

Last night was Irish Flake in a Peterson Killarney. I think I still have the nicotine jitters.

I was at : 7117 Regal Ln, Knoxville, TN 37918,

Long Day

Last night was a Savinelli Clark's

Favorite and Escudo Navy Flake. Mmmmmmmmm... tonight is a Wessex billiard with Lane MV1000. Nice and long-lasting smoke after the monthly HR meeting.

I was at : 8801-8857 Tennessee 1, Knoxville, TN 37923,

The Plan

Posting from my Droid. Wessex knockaround pipe with Art's Blend in the bowl. Good stuff. Kept the first light going for 73 minutes. Not bad. Show is OK but not a whole lot of new revelations.

I was at : 237 Geneva Ln, Knoxville, TN 37923,

Last night's smoke was Sweet Killarney in a Savinelli Professor 602. Nice, mild smoke.

This afternoon while still working on my hobby room I've sparked up the English pipe again. Peterson Aran 01 banded with some Smoky's English #2 blend. This time I let it sit and dry for about 25 minutes or so, loaded up 1/3 of a bowl (still breaking it in)and have already gotten about 45 minutes or so out of this bowl with three or four relights when I put the pipe down.

I'm going to start posting some pipes I find interesting. I don't have time right now, but maybe later tonight. Perhaps I'll also start posting pictures of my pipes as I smoke them.

This afternoon's smoke is one that was recommended to me by the folks at Puff and Pipe Smoker Forum. An English-style blend, I really like MacBaren's HH Vintage Syrian. It smokes cool, with only a little tongue bite (which may just be my smoking style). It's spicy, but Laura doesn't mind the room note, saying that it doesn't smell like much of anything.

I've jarred this tin and am really interested to see what it does over time.

Where to start?

I was a cigarette smoker for years. About 14-15 years or so ago I discovered the pipe. I bought a CAO Meerschaum and some tobacco from Smoky's in Knoxville. I smoked that baby until I broke the tenon, and then put it away.

Over the years I put the cigarettes down, picked them up, put them down, started smoking cigars (still do on occasion) and then came back to the pipe fold. I'd forgotten how relaxing a good pipe can be. You're forced to stop and take your time with a pipe. Too fast and it gurgles, or it gets really hot or you get a bad case of tongue bite.

I still will grab a cigarette every once in a while, usually when at work and stressed, or when out at a bar/party and can't smoke a pipe/cigar. But my passion has become the pipe. I love a good cigar when hanging out at the B&M with my friends. But I'm in love with pipe design, tobacco blending, the history, the culture and everything else that goes along with it.

I'm sitting here smoking a new pipe. A Peterson Aran smooth 1/4 bent (my first P-Lip Pete), destined to be my English tobacco pipe. I bought it at Smoky's along with a couple of ounces each of their two English blends. This one is packed with English #1, a nice, spicy, not overly aromatic blend. A fine, dry, cool smoke. I think I'm going to like this English adventure.