Puff Cigar Discussion Forums

MarkinCA · 07-05-2008, 01:31 PM

[SIZE=3]Thanks for your continuing contribution in this tread Richard. Its tough being temporarily in an area that suffers the effects from a fire. We had it down here in the Santa Clarita Valley area about a year back or so with the number of fires that races through here from all directions. Smoke is all you see, smell, and sleep with during the event.

The garden is looking great mi amigo...

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EvanS · 07-06-2008, 02:10 AM

Great updates Richard. I sure hope all remains well for you, given what's going on up there. Be safe and stay cool. my friend

tzaddi · 07-06-2008, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvanS

Great updates Richard. I sure hope all remains well for you, given what's going on up there. Be safe and stay cool. my friend

Man was it smokey yesterday and today. They lit a back fire at Shasta Dam Saturday morning. It's already 102° on my back deck. By Wednesday we are expected to be in the 115° + range. I resorted to turning on the air conditioning to filter the air and the cooling doesn't hurt

. Just reporting and not so much complaining, there are many out there who have had to evacuate.

Evan, I believe you are the only one besides myself that has posted to this thread who actually visited Casa Cordero and the surrounding Tobacco Plantation. Peace out my brother.

gvarsity · 07-06-2008, 02:38 PM

Quote:

After much trial and error over the years I kind of have a routine when there is a storm… tripod, manual settings=focus set to infinity, lens wide open and shutter speed set to 30 sec… after that it is just as you say happenstance. As far as the fires, they are a fact if life around here but they stress level seems to rise every year. I clear as mush brush as I can during the season and then it's all up to happenstance the great crews of Cal Fire. Good to hear from you.

I'll be slipping a little note with these instructions into my camera bag. I have always wanted to catch some lightening pics and didn't have a good plan. Up at my family cabin in Northern Minnesota we regularly get lightening storms in the late summer.

A couple of years ago my wife an I were up there and it was like a horror movie. Big clap of thunder the lights go out and then just lightening strike after lightening strike lighting up the house. No rain just lightening we both freaked ourselves out a little bit.

The crop updates look great. Tobacco really is a beautiful plant. When you examine your plants and the leaves of the plants do you think in terms of wrapper fille binder quality or are you growing more as pipe tobacco? I see you have some perique which isn't commonly used in cigars.

I don't envy your 115° + weather let alone the smoke and fire risk. Stay safe.

tzaddi · 07-06-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gvarsity

I'll be slipping a little note with these instructions into my camera bag. I have always wanted to catch some lightening pics and didn't have a good plan. Up at my family cabin in Northern Minnesota we regularly get lightening storms in the late summer.

A couple of years ago my wife an I were up there and it was like a horror movie. Big clap of thunder the lights go out and then just lightening strike after lightening strike lighting up the house. No rain just lightening we both freaked ourselves out a little bit.

The crop updates look great. Tobacco really is a beautiful plant. When you examine your plants and the leaves of the plants do you think in terms of wrapper fille binder quality or are you growing more as pipe tobacco? I see you have some perique which isn't commonly used in cigars.

I don't envy your 115° + weather let alone the smoke and fire risk. Stay safe.

If you are getting a lot of strikes you can shorten the shutter speed. This formula works best with a dark sky. If your camera has a "bulb" setting or longer shutter speed then that can be used when the the strikes are few and far between, but the tripod on a steady surface is a must.

There are parts of the plant that are better suited for wrappers (lower primings) and some parts that are best for filler (upper) but I have found that on the way to curing a wrapper may turn into a binder if if has had a rough time, like tearing or holes. When blending for the filler I have thrown in a leaf of wrapper, because as they say, "non one is the boss of me."

, when I am rolling or the other saying… "ignorance is bliss."

tzaddi · 07-09-2008, 02:42 PM

Just to let you know, here is a map indicating the nearest evacuation area, issued yesterday. I have my fingers crossed because I have so much "stuff". I seriously doubt it will come any further but one never knows nor has an apparent choice in what events shape their lives.

Here is a photo I took last night around midnight looking west from my driveway. The fire is about 4 miles away.

weak_link · 07-09-2008, 03:11 PM

Wow Richard...that's kinda unnerving. Hope they can get the planes launched soon to dump some water on the fire for 'ya. You'll be in my thoughts hoping for the best.

CigarGal · 07-09-2008, 03:26 PM

Stay safe, Richard...we are praying for a fast end to these fires

tzaddi · 07-09-2008, 03:36 PM

Thanks for your caring thoughts, I will play safe and remember what is important. Sincerely…

If you want to be in on the action here is a link to see what is going on.
http://www.enplan.com/fires/

rumballs · 07-09-2008, 03:44 PM

Richard - this thread is such a neat and unusual read that I decided it belongs in the "Hall of Fame" forum. Hope that's ok

Keep up the detailed pictures and writeups, and stay safe!

tzaddi · 07-09-2008, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmblz

Richard - this thread is such a neat and unusual read that I decided it belongs in the "Hall of Fame" forum. Hope that's ok

Keep up the detailed pictures and writeups, and stay safe!

I am honored, at times it reads more like a blog but hey, such is life. Thanks for the recognition. There are times when publishing to this thread has smoothed out a "bump in the road" and the multitude of friends it has delivered fills my heart.

—Richard