THAT was what people rave about I think.
The scene: A rainy day in the orient. Drops trickle through the cherry trees and land with a patter all around. The soft gurgle of the waterfall splashing into the koi pond can be heard nearby. A lone tree frog croaks in the distance. The rainy season is arrived.
The pipe: A beautifully carved deep bowled meerschaum sitter crafted by the careful hands of a Turk artisan, the smell of spices and heavy smoke waft through his shop.
The fill: A lightly dried, as dry as one gets as a storm passes through, mix of sweet Captain Blacks Original and the nutty hominess of Half and Half.
The load: The bowl was first gently filled and tapped with Mon Kapiitaan’s finest leaf. A generous pinch was added in a gesture to the good Captain himself. Then the fine, slightly greasy shredded leaves were carefully laid upon a thin sheet of linen allowing the air to waft through the aromatic offerings. A small mound of H&H leaf was also prepared similarly, adding a sense of adventure and intrigue to the journey ahead.
In a twist of madness The mind was struck with the conception of layering the simplicity of H&H with the wildness of Captain Black. Dare I? Yes. A layer of pure H&H was laid in the bottom of the bowl and gently pressed in deftly with a digit. The remaining Captains leaf was poured upon it. Then, using the Frank technique, the final obese pinch was added and topped by a light pressing to register the engorged load below the rim as to not waste a single shred on the floor. Finally a draft hole was obscenely, but carefully opened within the center of the mass.
It was time.
But wait! What’s this? An additional gift?
The side: A dish was prepared in advance for this voyage. A saucer on which set an extra fancy fine milk chocolate, a few lumps of cured pork jerky, and a small glass of cold, lightly sweetened espresso.
Now.
With little haste, and salivary excretions from glands excited in anticipation….
The light….
The flame was danced across the surface of the bowl occasionally flicking below the rim. The stubbornness of the leaf only heightened the anticipation. Just as the frustration began to peak, the flavor began to flow in fine whisps in and out. The fire had been received. Throughout the journey additional flame was needed to coax the ember to life and to extract the richness held within. A slight gurgle could be detected now again. This, shall be accounted by the inclimate weather. As the leafy level receded the journey began to shift as the more aggressive layer was breached. Let forth the immense clouds. With little effort the satisfaction is extracted with each inward breath. The vapors throughout, wafting into the sinuses to fulfill the experience. As a haze fell upon, be it the weather or the offerings, or both. A curious event occurred. The ember would no longer blaze. No amount of coaxing, cajoling, or even through brute force would it remain a lit. Alas, the spirits have spoken, the journey is finished. With a sigh, the offerings remains are returned to the earth from which it came, to be shared throughout the ages with captains evermore.
To you, I give, take but a moment to truly relish that in which you live.
TLDR; Too bad, you missed out.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The scene: A rainy day in the orient. Drops trickle through the cherry trees and land with a patter all around. The soft gurgle of the waterfall splashing into the koi pond can be heard nearby. A lone tree frog croaks in the distance. The rainy season is arrived.
The pipe: A beautifully carved deep bowled meerschaum sitter crafted by the careful hands of a Turk artisan, the smell of spices and heavy smoke waft through his shop.
The fill: A lightly dried, as dry as one gets as a storm passes through, mix of sweet Captain Blacks Original and the nutty hominess of Half and Half.
The load: The bowl was first gently filled and tapped with Mon Kapiitaan’s finest leaf. A generous pinch was added in a gesture to the good Captain himself. Then the fine, slightly greasy shredded leaves were carefully laid upon a thin sheet of linen allowing the air to waft through the aromatic offerings. A small mound of H&H leaf was also prepared similarly, adding a sense of adventure and intrigue to the journey ahead.
In a twist of madness The mind was struck with the conception of layering the simplicity of H&H with the wildness of Captain Black. Dare I? Yes. A layer of pure H&H was laid in the bottom of the bowl and gently pressed in deftly with a digit. The remaining Captains leaf was poured upon it. Then, using the Frank technique, the final obese pinch was added and topped by a light pressing to register the engorged load below the rim as to not waste a single shred on the floor. Finally a draft hole was obscenely, but carefully opened within the center of the mass.
It was time.
But wait! What’s this? An additional gift?
The side: A dish was prepared in advance for this voyage. A saucer on which set an extra fancy fine milk chocolate, a few lumps of cured pork jerky, and a small glass of cold, lightly sweetened espresso.
Now.
With little haste, and salivary excretions from glands excited in anticipation….
The light….
The flame was danced across the surface of the bowl occasionally flicking below the rim. The stubbornness of the leaf only heightened the anticipation. Just as the frustration began to peak, the flavor began to flow in fine whisps in and out. The fire had been received. Throughout the journey additional flame was needed to coax the ember to life and to extract the richness held within. A slight gurgle could be detected now again. This, shall be accounted by the inclimate weather. As the leafy level receded the journey began to shift as the more aggressive layer was breached. Let forth the immense clouds. With little effort the satisfaction is extracted with each inward breath. The vapors throughout, wafting into the sinuses to fulfill the experience. As a haze fell upon, be it the weather or the offerings, or both. A curious event occurred. The ember would no longer blaze. No amount of coaxing, cajoling, or even through brute force would it remain a lit. Alas, the spirits have spoken, the journey is finished. With a sigh, the offerings remains are returned to the earth from which it came, to be shared throughout the ages with captains evermore.
To you, I give, take but a moment to truly relish that in which you live.
TLDR; Too bad, you missed out.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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