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By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Mar 1st, 2025 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

In the early days of blogging, RSS feeds were a popular way to stay updated on blogs and news sites. I still rely on RSS to follow most of the blogs I read. Even if a site doesn’t advertise it, most publish an RSS feed that can be accessed through a ne…



The Patron of Handgunners: St. Gabriel Possenti’s Remarkable Story

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 27th, 2025 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Today, February 27, is the Feast Day of St. Gabriel Possenti, also known as St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows.Gabriel Possenti was a Catholic seminarian in Isola del Gran Sasso, Italy. According to tradition, in 1860, Gabriel used his marksmanship to …



Fire & Flavor: A Chilly Evening with Bourbon and a Fine Cigar

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 23rd, 2025 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

This weekend, I’m trying to squeeze in a couple more bourbon and cigar pairings before my post-surgery break, which means embracing the cold.After an early dinner on Friday, with the sun still lingering above the horizon for another hour or so, I poure…



The Road to Relief: A Journey Through Pain, Surgery, and Recovery

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 21st, 2025 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

The past year — more precisely, the last 14 months — has been a relentless rollercoaster of pain and the ongoing search for relief. The chronic pain in my back and lower extremities has been constant, sometimes debilitating. Throughout this ordeal, I h…



Braving the Cold: A Winter Smoke with Black Label Morphine

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 16th, 2025 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

We were hit by another winter storm last week, and the bitter cold is expected to linger. Getting outside to enjoy a cigar has been a challenge, so I’ve retreated to the local cigar lounge more than once lately. On a recent afternoon, despite the “offi…



A Vieux Carré, a Cigar, and a Quiet Sunday Evening

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 11th, 2025 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Sunday afternoons are our time to relax, reflect on the past week, and prepare for the one ahead. It’s still not quite warm enough outside for Sunday afternoon cocktails on the deck, accompanied by a cigar, but the “apéritif” tradition continues. Since…



Saint José Sánchez del Río: A Martyr’s Faithful Witness

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 10th, 2025 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Today, February 10, marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint José Sánchez del Río. On this day in 1928, a 14-year-old boy was executed by Mexican government forces for refusing to renounce his Catholic faith during the Cristero War. This period …



Sunset, Smoke, and a Sip: Le Carême Pastelitos & Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 8th, 2025 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

Mother nature is teasing with brief interludes of pleasant weather — between reminders that it is still winter. During a recent afternoon that hinted at spring, I reached for a Crowned Heads Le Carême Pastelitos LE 2023 for a quick smoke. Seeking a mil…



Road Trip Relaxation: Cigars, Coffee, and Good Company

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 7th, 2025 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

My wife had an appointment in Winchester, VA, recently and asked if I’d make the two-hour drive with her. Since there’s a cigar lounge in town that I follow on social media, I had an extra incentive to play chauffeur for the day. (Of course, her asking…



Winter’s Intermission: Bourbon, a Cigar, and 50° Bliss

By From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 5th, 2025 • Category: Blog Entries.Local

It was a warm weekday in the late afternoon, with the temperature climbing above 50° — a worthy cause for celebration, especially in February. The sun still hung above the horizon as dinner wrapped up, so I quickly grabbed a cigar and poured myself a b…