Hello all - we got back from visiting the in-laws over Little Miss J Lee's Spring Break this past weekend down in sunny(& HOT!) southern Arizona. We were there for just about the whole week and fun was had by all. My pipe hobby related adventures follow:
Shortly after arriving my father-in-law asked me to follow him out to the shop. He fancies himself a bit of an amateur wood-worker so I knew something was up. He pulled out some wood and began to tell me the tale of it. He figured it to be "spice pine" and he said that he had acquired a few pieces of it from his father's old homestead. He explained that his father had acquired the wood originally from a job just after WWII had ended. Ol' Gpa had agreed to dismantle an old railroad hotel that sat just off the Union Pacific line in the old mining town of Morenci, AZ. The copper mining company had just bought the land and the hotel had sat empty for a few years and they had no intention of using it. Gpa had used the wood (the spice pine) he reclaimed; along with lots of old railroad ties; to build a house for his wife and kids (7 or 8 at the time). My father-in-law, in turn, had reclaimed a bit of the wood for the old home site.
Once the tale of the wood had been told is when he pulled out the plans he had drawn for a pipe rack. He explained that he wished for us to use some of the 'spice pine' to make a simple pipe rack. I was floored by the gesture. Needless to say that the time we spent in the shop making the pipe rack and the resulting product is something I will treasure for the rest of my days.
One day we visited an antique store in my in-law's hometown. I found an incredible old meerschaum with great coloring. It was a traditional shape but had an anchor and ship and/or mermaid theme carved on the front. It had a dark yellow bit. I couldn't make any markings for identification. I checked the pipe for faults and found none. The man said that he would take no less than $50 - too rich for my blood. I'll pass along the location if anyone is interested. I wish I had brought my camera.
I must admit that I puffed cigars mostly during the trip; but I found plenty of time to have a few bowls of Frog Morton under the Arizona stars out in the country where my in-laws call home.
I also used the Pipe Store Locator on this here site and found a listing at a location we would be at for a day trip. While there, amongst the tins of 2010 Christmas Cheer, I found a tin of 2007. I snatched it up and it found it's way to the cellar next to the other tins of Christmas Cheer.
It's always nice to be away from work - but this trip was particularly enjoyable. Best to all.
Shortly after arriving my father-in-law asked me to follow him out to the shop. He fancies himself a bit of an amateur wood-worker so I knew something was up. He pulled out some wood and began to tell me the tale of it. He figured it to be "spice pine" and he said that he had acquired a few pieces of it from his father's old homestead. He explained that his father had acquired the wood originally from a job just after WWII had ended. Ol' Gpa had agreed to dismantle an old railroad hotel that sat just off the Union Pacific line in the old mining town of Morenci, AZ. The copper mining company had just bought the land and the hotel had sat empty for a few years and they had no intention of using it. Gpa had used the wood (the spice pine) he reclaimed; along with lots of old railroad ties; to build a house for his wife and kids (7 or 8 at the time). My father-in-law, in turn, had reclaimed a bit of the wood for the old home site.
Once the tale of the wood had been told is when he pulled out the plans he had drawn for a pipe rack. He explained that he wished for us to use some of the 'spice pine' to make a simple pipe rack. I was floored by the gesture. Needless to say that the time we spent in the shop making the pipe rack and the resulting product is something I will treasure for the rest of my days.
One day we visited an antique store in my in-law's hometown. I found an incredible old meerschaum with great coloring. It was a traditional shape but had an anchor and ship and/or mermaid theme carved on the front. It had a dark yellow bit. I couldn't make any markings for identification. I checked the pipe for faults and found none. The man said that he would take no less than $50 - too rich for my blood. I'll pass along the location if anyone is interested. I wish I had brought my camera.
I must admit that I puffed cigars mostly during the trip; but I found plenty of time to have a few bowls of Frog Morton under the Arizona stars out in the country where my in-laws call home.
I also used the Pipe Store Locator on this here site and found a listing at a location we would be at for a day trip. While there, amongst the tins of 2010 Christmas Cheer, I found a tin of 2007. I snatched it up and it found it's way to the cellar next to the other tins of Christmas Cheer.
It's always nice to be away from work - but this trip was particularly enjoyable. Best to all.
