Zen moments with your pipe

[Sir Humpsalot]

I went outside today. It's 11am here and it's already past 60 degrees.

I packed up some Bright VA flake in a cob and lit it up. I sat down on the top step of the stairs leading to my house, my back against the wall, one leg a step down from the other.

As I'm sitting there, a dark shadow soars over me. I look up to see a full-grown red tailed hawk, just soaring on the wind currents. I get up to watch and see the hawk making a somewhat circular pattern, perhaps eyeing some prey. I look around, I start to walk around. I see a black cat, but it is much too large. I believe there is a rabbit's nest nearby, but I don't see where. I look back up to see where the hawk is circling and then I see something truly unusual.

The hawk flaps a few times, gaining some altitude, as a tiny bird, certainly no bigger than a robin, perhaps a sparrow, comes flap-flap-flapping directly at the hawk, diving at it, then darting away. Then again. I watch this smaller bird, no doubt protecting its nest, go after the hawk again and again in an aerial dogfight, the fast agile fighter against the slow, steady, bomber.

They disappear from view.

[ShaulWolf]

That's pretty awesome.

The barracks is pretty noisy usually. Cadets crowded into a castle like structure with a large open floor in the center, the "quad". Tall concrete walls bounce sound around and make everything echo, so during the day when everyone is out the noise can be intense. But now it's just past 0100, and everyone else is in their racks or at their desk studying. The only lighting right now is the soft florescent lights, and they seem dim compared to the cloudless sky with its full moon. Now it's quiet, ghostly quiet. The only thing you can hear is the breeze that circles around the gallery (the open hallways). I'm sitting by one of the pillars with my pipe, shielded from the breeze, and just listening to the wind.

[Mad Hatter]

Those small birds are always doing that. If I had to guess I would say they are grackles, maybe defending a nest or maybe just harassing the hawk the same way they do the squirrels. Nature moments are the best

[DubintheDam]

....Sitting today in a cafe having a Chimay Blue Belgium beer, happily puffing away on some Scottish Cake, I look over my right shoulder and hanging on the wall is an old collections of pipes in a rack....it's zen baby!

[dogsplayinpoker]

Sitting on my front porch, sun setting through the trees watching the first hummingbirds of the season enjoy our numerous feeders. Puffing away contentedly on some Hal'O'the Wynd and sipping some sweet mint tea. Lovely day.

[PipesandGOP]

Enjoying a cup of coffee just as dark as the night sky, my dog sitting at my side as I lean back in my chair slowly indulging in a bowl of commonwealth, the perique (I meticulously added hours earlier) dancing against my nose while letting the warmth from the smokey latakia totally consume me, leaving only enough for my thoughts and the stars on a night in the 60's with just enough breeze to cut the humidity while not enough to smoke up my bowl. A perfect night in Carolina

[physiognomy]

[CigarGal]

Phys, how did you get in my living room?? lol

[PipesandGOP]

man that is zen phys.. just one ? candle, roaring fire, newspaper sitting right beside both? lol