FBurgNews » Blog Entries.Local

You Don’t Need a Now Page

Author: Chris ODonnell From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Jun 28th, 2024
Category: Blog Entries.Local

I added a /Now page to this blog back in January. I deleted it when I uploaded this post. Unless you are going to update weekly, it's probably going to be out of date. I've written 20 or so blog posts since I published my now page in January. If you want to know what interests me right now, read the blog!

Also, this idea that every blog should have this collection of same named pages sounds a lot like Facebook. The indie web should be messy and chaotic. It's bad enough that millions and millions of WordPress sites all share a very similar information architecture. As a practical matter, a category called "now"" might be a better place to write about what interests you now. Pages in a blog are generally relatively static info. If you overwrite your now page weekly/monthly/annually you lose that look back at what interested you in the past.

And finally, if your self-proclaimed interests on the now page are not represented in your up to date content, what does that say? Maybe your interests changed, which is normal and expected. Or maybe the now page was performative and not really indicative of how you spend your time.

I don't see the point, so mine is gone. You do you.

Summer Coffee and Smoke

Author: David From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Jun 28th, 2024
Category: Blog Entries.Local

This week, I finally got around to planting a couple of trees we acquired about a month ago. They should have been put in the ground right away but I had to wait for a back issue to be (mostly) mitigated. They are finally in the ground, in the midst of an extreme heat wave. Time will tell how well they do.

After that morning chore, I retired to the screen porch, with a Caldwell Lost & Found Cream Machine. Despite the heat, I also had a cup of cappuccino. We often enjoy a cappuccino in the afternoon. It's a faux pas to order cappuccino in the afternoon in Italy, but in this house, the rules don't apply.

The Cream Machine had been hiding in the humidor since July of 2023. The light brown 6 1/4 x 52 Toro is wrapped with Ecuadoran Brazilian-seed Arapiraca tobacco. The rest of the blend is Dominican, consisting of a Dominican Piloto binder, with Dominican Piloto, Dominican HVA and Dominican Habano fillers. The cigar is hefty but has an open draw when cut. As suspected, the flavor profile started off mild, with creamy peanut and graham cracker notes. There's a hint of white pepper and cheddar. Through most of the smoke the flavor was consistent and the cigar burned well. I was enjoying the pairing with the creamy cappuccino.

In the last third of the Cream Machine, it started developing a bitter note. Interestingly the ash became very flaky at the same time, and started leaving a bit of a mess in my lap and chair. Could be I was smoking too fast or perhaps just the nature of that particular stick. The flavor was not unpleasant, but also a significant twist that I did not find as enjoyable. Overall the experience, coupled with the relaxation, made for a delightful afternoon repast.

Cheers!

Summer Coffee and Smoke

Author: David From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Jun 28th, 2024
Category: Blog Entries.Local

This week, I finally got around to planting a couple of trees we acquired about a month ago. They should have been put in the ground right away but I had to wait for a back issue to be (mostly) mitigated. They are finally in the ground, in the midst of an extreme heat wave. Time will tell how well they do.

After that morning chore, I retired to the screen porch, with a Caldwell Lost & Found Cream Machine. Despite the heat, I also had a cup of cappuccino. We often enjoy a cappuccino in the afternoon. It's a faux pas to order cappuccino in the afternoon in Italy, but in this house, the rules don't apply.

The Cream Machine had been hiding in the humidor since July of 2023. The light brown 6 1/4 x 52 Toro is wrapped with Ecuadoran Brazilian-seed Arapiraca tobacco. The rest of the blend is Dominican, consisting of a Dominican Piloto binder, with Dominican Piloto, Dominican HVA and Dominican Habano fillers. The cigar is hefty but has an open draw when cut. As suspected, the flavor profile started off mild, with creamy peanut and graham cracker notes. There's a hint of white pepper and cheddar. Through most of the smoke the flavor was consistent and the cigar burned well. I was enjoying the pairing with the creamy cappuccino.

In the last third of the Cream Machine, it started developing a bitter note. Interestingly the ash became very flaky at the same time, and started leaving a bit of a mess in my lap and chair. Could be I was smoking too fast or perhaps just the nature of that particular stick. The flavor was not unpleasant, but also a significant twist that I did not find as enjoyable. Overall the experience, coupled with the relaxation, made for a delightful afternoon repast.

Cheers!

Cowen’s Gap Aliner Ascape Rally

Author: Chris ODonnell From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Jun 27th, 2024
Category: Blog Entries.Local

Trip:44
Nights: 148-151

Last year I accidentally created a camping rally. We did it again this year, but I can’t claim it was an accident this year. I knew what I was getting into. Every attendee from last year, except one couple from Texas, was there. I guess people had a good time. We also got several new attendees this year. Unlike some camping rallies with organized workshops and seminars, this one is much more unstructured. The only planned event was the potluck dinner on Friday night.

Cowen’s Gap is a really nice state park. That is 2 for 2 with PA State Parks. The state seems to be doing a excellent job with its parks. Cowen’s Gap is about 1000 feet above sea level, and we needed that 1000 feet as it was 100+ all weekend at sea level. It was around 90 at the campground. Good thing we all had air-conditioned campers!

We arrived at camp on Wednesday evening and didn’t really do much beyond hang out with the other early arrivers. On Thursday, we went out birding before it got hot, with plans to hit the lake beach after lunch. However, after lunch it was too damn hot for the beach, so we went into town to find ice cream and then visited President Buchanan’s birthplace, and his cabin, which is now stored on the campus of a $72K per year private boarding school. That price is not a typo. The ice cream was fabulous, so good that we went back again on Saturday. Thursday night was spent socializing at the campground.

Photo Collage

On Friday we went to the beach early, before it got too hot, then back to the camper for lunch. That afternoon, we met a group of fellow campers at a local brewery for beer and air conditioning. Friday night was the potluck dinner. After that we were pretty wiped so we retired to the camper and AC to play cards before crashing. On Saturday, I had a list of 5 museums to visit. We only made it to two of them. The first museum was the Fulton County PA History Museum in McConnellsburg, PA. It is simply the best local/small town museum that I’ve seen. They do a fabulous job of putting their artifacts into context. Also, a local gunsmith that builds muzzle loaders by hand was in his workshop there, and we spent over an hour chatting with him. An extended conversation with somebody that is super passionate about something I know nothing about is always a treat. Everybody that we interacted with in McConnellsburg was incredibly friendly. It seems like a really great small town. After lunch at a local deli we went over the mountain to Chambersburg, PA to visit The Old Jail, which is exactly what you think it is. It was interesting, although they could work on their tour a bit. There must be some fascinating stories that they could be telling, but it is all very general. After that, we went back over the mountain to McConnellsburg for ice cream again, before heading back to the campground. That evening was spent socializing, as all the previous evening were. On Sunday morning, we packed up and headed home.

Photo Collage

And with that, the 2nd Northeast Aliner Ascape Rally is in the books. Next year’s event has already been announced, also in PA.

Celebrating the Eve of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist

Author: David From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Jun 26th, 2024
Category: Blog Entries.Local

One of the oldest celebrations in the Catholic Church, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist was June 24. Traditionally, a bonfire marked the eve of the Saint's birthday. For our part, we decided to enjoy a small commemoration with a fire, food, cigars, and drink.

We were joined for our celebration by a good priest friend, the evening starting out with a delicious slow cooked pork dinner. Afterwards we retired to the back yard for the main event. I grabbed a couple of the newly redesigned Wise Man Maduro selections from Foundation Cigars. We poured The Macallan Edition No.1 Scotch, and Colleen set out a selection of cheeses and salami to nibble on.

The fire was small, in deference to the high temperatures outdoors, and sat further back from the fire pit than usual. Still, it was warm!

Foundation Cigars recently released a redesigned Wise Man line. The Wise Man Maduro and Wise Man Corojo. The older El Güegüense and Wise Man Maduro lines were discontinued. The new cigars are made at the My Father Cigars factory, another change. The previous lines were produced by the Aganorsa team

The 6 x 52 Toro has a dark reddish, Mexican San Andrés wrapper. Two Nicaraguan binders from Nicaragua Estelí and Jalapa regions, with a mix of fillers from Estelí, Condega and Jalapa.

The Wise Man Maduro was an excellent smoke. The cigars had been resting in my humidor for 6 weeks. I prefer a little longer rest for new arrivals but they performed wonderfully. The medium to full bodied smoke had hints of toasted nuts, earth, and sweet chocolate. There was a pleasing cedar spice throughout. At the cigar progressed, there was an occasional increased tasted of the spice, but the flavors remained in balance. Smoke production was thick with a creamy mouthfeel. The cigar was quite enjoyable and I suspect with just a bit more resting time, the spice notes would even out.

Afterwards, we cooled off inside with some chocolate icebox pie. All in all, a feast fitting to celebrate the birth of St. John the Baptist, the last and greatest prophet.

Cheers!