Long work day on the homestead. Ready for a break. Some KBV Jims’ Special Flake Oct 23 in the Ashton XX Pebble Grain.
Some water to drink.
Some water to drink.
***What Are You Smoking, October 2025?***
- Thread starter JimInks
- Start date
- Status
That pipe looks like it's built for a great medium smoke . . . . love the bowl size, fittings and the generous stem. Built for a purpose and I bet it delivers.
Figured something like that, but your wording demanded a smartalec reply, at least in mho!
Eventful Couple of Days, and a few great smokes which I'll cover first, and then the gobbledegook in Skippable Drivel.
The new double day, half bowl rotation I've adopted for my three new pipes has worked out better than I thought it would. All three pipes are in tobacco testing stage now, which I always enjoy. Trying to find the right tobaccos for the specific pipes. In my admittedly limited experience, I find very few workhorse or all-round pipes and they need to be treasured. For whatever reason, it seems to me that a pipe is an individual and responds accordingly. So I'll show the picture of the three now-broken-in pipes that are undergoing the selection process.
Also seems to me, and again I really don't know what I'm talking about but I'm learning, that the smoker somehow gets an inkling of what the pipe is going to like, or the type of tobacco it's going to like. That's what happened with all three my new gems. Two are still waffling but they're joined by a half dozen or so others that are also undergoing tobacco selection or revamping for various reasons. Here's the pic of yesterday's trials:
The top pipe is the McQueen pipsqueak "Seafarer" in cherrywood. It was kinda used as an alrounder, which it really isn't. Doesn't smoke ribbon cut well - none of the pipsqueaks do, actually. They all seem to prefer flakes or crumbles, probably because of the small bowl size and central draft hole. Whatever. In any case, three absolutely stellar smokes with Arango Balkan Supreme, Bengal Slices and Black Frigate. None interfered with each other, and I'll now use this pipe in my travel kit when I want a 20-25 minute smoke en route or upon arrival of wherever I'm going. The pipsqueak pipe I've dedicated to BF is too long to fit in the case, so this works out well.
The middle pipe is the new (and now well broken in) Olivewood Lubinsky. My suspicions were that it was going to like Balkans, and It took to Brigham English Mix, Arango Balkan Supreme, and of all things, Sunday Picnic, which I tried on a hunch (and the jar was out!) because it smokes quite a bit like a Balkan, ie all the way through boldly. Worked. I'll try others later, but I did mention before I was having a bit of a problem with an increasingly restricted draft. Figured the draft tunnel was plugging up, and I was right. A small drill bit removed some debris from the channel. The bowl coating (hate that stuff), was the culprit, and my surgical effort was rewarded with an excellent draw and a tobacco bias that works very well indeed. A nice company pipe for an evening Balkan.
The bottom pipe, my previously Black Frigate dedicated Ropp J06, was simply not getting enough use because I only have 1 1/2 tins of my favourite Navy left, so the trick was to find a couple of other Navy or Balkan style tobaccos that would not interfere with the amazing affinity the pipe has for BF. Again, Arango Balkan Supreme and Bengal Slices to the rescue. A great and successful Triple Play. The Jo6 will get a lot more smoking which it deserves, and better yet, is a perfect fit in my travel kits, which are right now getting more use than my pipe rack.
Hmmmm . . . . looks like I've covered everything from yesterday, so won't go the Skippable Drivel Route. Will return late tonight or more likely tomorrow morning with tonight's smoke.
One of these days I'll get back on a regular schedule, but a lot of cleanup to do, and pending fishing and photo trips this month to do. I'm pretty much recovered from my operation, my tastebuds are returning fairly well (yah - t'was the meds mostly), and my biggest whine right now is this dirty filthy rotten eczema itch which was caused from overindulging in foods I was sensitive to while freezing and canning.
I also was reminded in this forum visit tonight that this was Meer Monday. So I guess I'll smoke a meer tonight and talk about it Tuesday. Cheers.
The new double day, half bowl rotation I've adopted for my three new pipes has worked out better than I thought it would. All three pipes are in tobacco testing stage now, which I always enjoy. Trying to find the right tobaccos for the specific pipes. In my admittedly limited experience, I find very few workhorse or all-round pipes and they need to be treasured. For whatever reason, it seems to me that a pipe is an individual and responds accordingly. So I'll show the picture of the three now-broken-in pipes that are undergoing the selection process.
Also seems to me, and again I really don't know what I'm talking about but I'm learning, that the smoker somehow gets an inkling of what the pipe is going to like, or the type of tobacco it's going to like. That's what happened with all three my new gems. Two are still waffling but they're joined by a half dozen or so others that are also undergoing tobacco selection or revamping for various reasons. Here's the pic of yesterday's trials:
The top pipe is the McQueen pipsqueak "Seafarer" in cherrywood. It was kinda used as an alrounder, which it really isn't. Doesn't smoke ribbon cut well - none of the pipsqueaks do, actually. They all seem to prefer flakes or crumbles, probably because of the small bowl size and central draft hole. Whatever. In any case, three absolutely stellar smokes with Arango Balkan Supreme, Bengal Slices and Black Frigate. None interfered with each other, and I'll now use this pipe in my travel kit when I want a 20-25 minute smoke en route or upon arrival of wherever I'm going. The pipsqueak pipe I've dedicated to BF is too long to fit in the case, so this works out well.
The middle pipe is the new (and now well broken in) Olivewood Lubinsky. My suspicions were that it was going to like Balkans, and It took to Brigham English Mix, Arango Balkan Supreme, and of all things, Sunday Picnic, which I tried on a hunch (and the jar was out!) because it smokes quite a bit like a Balkan, ie all the way through boldly. Worked. I'll try others later, but I did mention before I was having a bit of a problem with an increasingly restricted draft. Figured the draft tunnel was plugging up, and I was right. A small drill bit removed some debris from the channel. The bowl coating (hate that stuff), was the culprit, and my surgical effort was rewarded with an excellent draw and a tobacco bias that works very well indeed. A nice company pipe for an evening Balkan.
The bottom pipe, my previously Black Frigate dedicated Ropp J06, was simply not getting enough use because I only have 1 1/2 tins of my favourite Navy left, so the trick was to find a couple of other Navy or Balkan style tobaccos that would not interfere with the amazing affinity the pipe has for BF. Again, Arango Balkan Supreme and Bengal Slices to the rescue. A great and successful Triple Play. The Jo6 will get a lot more smoking which it deserves, and better yet, is a perfect fit in my travel kits, which are right now getting more use than my pipe rack.
Hmmmm . . . . looks like I've covered everything from yesterday, so won't go the Skippable Drivel Route. Will return late tonight or more likely tomorrow morning with tonight's smoke.
One of these days I'll get back on a regular schedule, but a lot of cleanup to do, and pending fishing and photo trips this month to do. I'm pretty much recovered from my operation, my tastebuds are returning fairly well (yah - t'was the meds mostly), and my biggest whine right now is this dirty filthy rotten eczema itch which was caused from overindulging in foods I was sensitive to while freezing and canning.
I also was reminded in this forum visit tonight that this was Meer Monday. So I guess I'll smoke a meer tonight and talk about it Tuesday. Cheers.
Relaxing after a wonderful salad, halibut and sugar snap peas dinner with strawberries for dessert. Tomorrow will be an off diet day. I'm a quarter of the way through this bowl of year 2019 C&D Yorktown in a smooth medium bend 2021 Peterson POTY Terracotta 4AB No.108/500 military mount with a silver cap and a tapered black vulcanite AB stem. Community Coffee, neat, is my drink. I recorded the Dodgers-Brewers game knowing that the Jays-Mariners game would overlap, and am watching something that m'lady wants to see before I go to that ball game. Works for me because I can speed through the over used commercials. Daisy the Feral Princess doesn't care one way or another because she is busy supervising the inside of her eye lids.
I'm a quarter of the way through this bowl of year 2019 C&D Yorktown in a smooth medium bend 2021 Peterson POTY Terracotta 4AB No.108/500 military mount with a silver cap and a tapered black vulcanite AB stem. Community Coffee, neat, is my drink. I recorded the Dodgers-Brewers game knowing that the Jays-Mariners game would overlap, and am watching something that m'lady wants to see before I go to that ball game. Works for me because I can speed through the over used commercials. Daisy the Feral Princess doesn't care one way or another because she is busy supervising the inside of her eye lids.
Ravenwood Three Farthing Stone in an Altinay translucent meerschaum billiard
Earlier I smoked a cigar. Arturo Fuente Brevas Royale Natural
Earlier I smoked a cigar. Arturo Fuente Brevas Royale Natural
A late dusk walk with my wife and the demon dog, smoking my Lane 1Q/Burley Light Without-A-Bite (patent falsehood) mixture in the Peterson emerald rusticated 106 billiard. I do really like this mix, it’s just brainless and pleasant, like the other dogs that aren’t on this walk.
I kid, I love the little freak.
I kid, I love the little freak.
Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Toro while playing golf today.
Now smoking year 2023 H&H Viprati in a straight smooth 2022 Peterson Red Killarney 606 pot with metal accents around the shank and a tapered black acrylic p-lip stem. Watching the Dodgers-Brewers game.
Capstan Yellow in the Peterson. Enjoying some quiet time in the backyard.
Wilke’s Maple & Rum in Ropp Vintage Stout apple.
Year 2012 GL Pease Cairo in a Savinelli Noce 626.
Last of the C&D Burley Flake #2 in a Peterson 606 or 608. Love this burley flake, time in a jar has really softened it.
Last of the C&D Burley Flake #2 in a Peterson 606 or 608. Love this burley flake, time in a jar has really softened it.
Bade adieu to the end of Sukkot with a bowl of Presbyterian (sample) in my non-aromatic lat pipe, a Savinelli Bacco 321 rusticated bent author. Then it was time to batten down the hatches and get ready for the storm. The tomatoes survived the weekend blast, hope they can keep it up this time. 9/10
Bird report: House finch, California scrub-jay, White-crowned sparrow, Dark-eyed junco, California towhee, Chipping sparrow, California quail, American crow, Band-tailed pigeon, Mountain chickadee, Northern flicker, Western bluebird, and Spotted towhee.
Now cooking some red beans for chili while watching gold and silver go up, up, up. Certainly better than watching my LA Kings get torched in Minnesota.
Bird report: House finch, California scrub-jay, White-crowned sparrow, Dark-eyed junco, California towhee, Chipping sparrow, California quail, American crow, Band-tailed pigeon, Mountain chickadee, Northern flicker, Western bluebird, and Spotted towhee.
Now cooking some red beans for chili while watching gold and silver go up, up, up. Certainly better than watching my LA Kings get torched in Minnesota.
And So To Bed again tonight in the Dunhill Red ark 021 F/T
Tonight is Per P. Jensen Port Guardian in a 2007 Savinelli Pipes & Tobacco Magazine POY 24/75. Bourbon in the glass, and listening to Miles Davis - Kind of Blue. 
Last edited:
Peter Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake in a Savinelli Hercules 315EX 
Now smoking KBV Prince of Wales 2023 in a straight smooth terracotta 2014 Sherlock Holmes Baker Street bulldog with sterling silver band and a tapered black p-lip stem. Molly Danger came out to be with us for a short while, but she got bored and went to bed.
- Status