***What Are You Smoking, August 2025?***

[Servant King]

Today's bowl was the last of an 8 oz. jar of Mac Baren Vanilla Flake in a Savinelli Miele 614 KS smooth bent apple. Grateful for the cloud cover (and even some rain) of the past few days, but this SoCal native ain't used to this kind of humidity. I'll be welcoming autumn with open arms, suffice to say. 9/10

Bird report: California scrub-jay, California towhee, House finch, American crow, Oak titmouse, California quail, Western bluebird, Mourning dove, and Steller's jay.

Now sipping a vodka tonic and trying to figure out what I'm going to put in this empty jar. I've got a tin of Stanwell Melange I've wanted to try for some time, but I've got one last tin of Vanilla Flake, and I know these square tins can have seal problems. Decisions, decisions...

 

[Goblin_Walrus]

Hey Goblin, that sounds great -- can't wait to see the fruits. My favorite tree in my folks' yard in Phoenix is their Mesquite. I just love how gnarly they grow. Mesquite is also quite a hard wood, so I have a feeling it would work very well for a smoking pipe. (The facts, of course, may not care about my feelings. And as you know, my first pipe-making attempt did not involve extensive wood research!) Good luck with the project!

Thanks for the luck, I will take what I can get!
I also love how they grow, I think they’re beautiful when folks let them get old.

 

[kcmontie]

been smoking WCC blends all day.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

5/21 MB HH Pure Virginia in a Rubio.

 

[JimInks]

Just finished smoking year 2020 C&D Virginia Flake in a straight medium brown 1922-1937 Irish Free State era Peterson 222 bullcap with a sterling silver band and a tapered black vulcanite p-lip stem. Watching the Orioles-Astros game. Ice water and bergs is my drink.


As I was posting my last smoke, Daisy the Feral Princess was head butting my hand so I'd stop typing and pay attention to her. When I put the lap top up, she laid on my lap, and got plenty of attention. I kind of laughed when she nibbled my finger since she has no teeth. Doesn't stop her though. After she was happy, Daisy went back to the kitchen eat again, and then wanted out.




The finger nibbler.

 

[dottlejockey]

Trying something new courtesy of a generous member -- Peretti Cuban Mixture in my V.F. Cherrywood Morta. Wow, that's really pleasant -- a lot going on, in a good way. A superb cigar leaf blend. (@dottlejockey)

Once again, Tamnavulin Single Malt Scotch, white-wine cask finished.

View attachment 413124

Looks like an excellent combo right there. The only couple single malts i've had with a white wine cask finish, that i can recall, were both Sauternes. Quite nice. Nice lookin morta, too.

Well, i'm still packing and prepping, but one more before bed.

Taking a load off with a bowl of Sansepolcro in a new-to-me Caminetto.

 

[JimInks]

A quarter of the way through this bowl of year 2014 Edgeworth Ready Rubbed Match in a 1984 medium bend black grain etched Savinelli Non Pareil 9310 pokerish dublin with a horn ferrule and a black vulcanite flared stem. When Daisy the Feral Princess went out, Tomato the Brave came in to eat. He's laying on my left foot right now.

 

[JimInks]

Elizabethan Match Plug sounds sooo good. Jealous of your decades of involvement in the industry (or at least the fruits of)

I just happened to be lucky to be at the Sutliff plant when I saw the vat of plugs and unreleased Va. flakes that were going to be trashed. I said, "Instead of tossing them out, would you mind giving me some so they won't go to waste?" I told them what I'd like and they gave me pounds of the stuff. I'd tell you how much was left that was dumpstered, but it'll just break your heart as it did mine.

I tried for a long time to get them to make the Elizabethan Match and Edgeworth Match as plugs. Dunno why they didn't because they'd made a fortune selling them. I can't explain why they didn't sell the Elizabethan plugs that I got either. That always puzzled me.

 

[Roach1]

Bayou Morning Flake in a Pete SPD 2011 69.

 

[irishearl]

I am always pleased with your feline reportage, Jim. You are doing the Lord’s work, and I mean to say that from the bottom of my heart.

I wholly agree. If I could be a guardian angel to stray cats upon my demise, can't think of a much better after-life.

 

[JimInks]

Now smoking year 2010 Penzance in a 1990s smooth dark brown medium bend Peterson Captain Pete XL80 bulldog with a metal accent and a black vulcanite p-lip stem. Have enough of this tin left for a couple more bowls. Harry the Hairy came in to eat, and he got a little attention from me. Before long, he was bored and tried twice to start something with Tomato the Brave. The second time, Harry knew that I was unhappy about and wanted out. It's hard to tell when he wants to play and when he just wants to be a pill. As I've noted in the past, the other ferals haven't forgotten how Harry used to be so they aren't taking any chances with him. I wish that would change, but I seriously doubt that it will. Abner the Eager used to be terrified by Harry, who does have commending presence. Daisy the Feral Princess ignores him much of the time, and Harry has learned to leave her alone for the most part. Daisy will swipe at Harry if he starts something. I think Harry means well more often than not, but is socially stunted even though he's come a long way since our first encounter. He certainly can be sweet and loving to m'lady (especially her) and me.

 

[Sandblast]

Now Sun night --- At Tue's Pipe Club, my last bowl was my own Firedance Flake (which was enjoyed by couple Pipe Club Brothers) in my Peterson System Standard 305 (smooth). I've smoked 2 more bowls throughout this week in the 305 ... VaBur's ... and during the first 1/4 of each bowl, I definitely detected a "Firedance Ghost".
But not complaining at all. The "Ghost" is kind of nice. Interestingly, it disappears during the remainder of the bowl. Got some Lakelands in the cellar & am wondering if "Ghosts" will surface in the future (!?!?).

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

starting the day with a bowlful of Barens Navy flakes out of an Dunhill 3 109shell

 

[JimInks]

Now smoking Wilke No. 515 in a smooth dark medium bend 2021 Peterson Heritage Brown POTY 4AB No. 45/500 military mount with a silver cap and a tapered black vulcanite AB stem. This was the original 515 that Basil Rathbone smoked, and the model that he smoked it in. Going to read baseball box scores. Tomato the Brave is still snoozin' by my feet. Sleepy Suzy is by my side.

 

[Roach1]

Briar Fox in a Jirsa 210.

 

[JimInks]

Part way through this bowl of year 2020 D&R Penhooker Silver in a straight smooth brown undated pre-Republic Peterson Shamrock 263 Canadian with a nickel band and a tapered black p-lip stem.

 

[Roach1]

Haunted Bookshop Cake in a small Stanwell Freehand.

 

[JimInks]

Last smoke of the day is year 2020 Angler's Dream in a 2018 natural smooth medium bend Peterson 03 apple silver spigot military mount with a tapered black acrylic fish tail stem. Reading while this bowl lasts.

 

[samuelgawith01]

Gawith and Hogarth rope in this Butz Choquin 9mm.

 

[Benedict Munsinger]

Nice summer day for a walk with Mario Pascucci -P Rust-2127 and C&D 5 O’clock Shadow