Dunhill Pipe - 1977

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After joining an online pipe forum and slowly learning how to search for and enjoy the purchase of estate pipes, one of my new favorite places to search for used pipes has been at local antique shops. As fortune would have it, my initial attempt at finding a decent estate pipe was a giant success.

In our local antique and consignment shop, I walked away with a beautiful estate pipe. In the photos below, you will see a beautiful Dunhill Rootbriar pipe that is dated from 1977. If you take a close look at the grain and the stem and the inside of the bowl, you will see that after almost 40yrs, this pipe is still in really great shape.

Here is where it gets really good. Most of my readers will not appreciate the acquisition of pipes, so I need to explain this purchase a little more. For some, acquiring a Dunhill pipe is an important piece of their pipe collection. I have two Dunhill pipes that I've purchased in pipe shops. So, to find a great quality pipe like this on my first venture is impressive enough, but to have it be a nice 40yr old quality pipe is remarkable.

Now, the only downside is that I peaked out on my first attempt and I think every pipe will sit deeply in the shadow of this beautiful piece of history.

Quietly making noise,
Fletch

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Andy Fletcher

Andy "Fletch" Fletcher has been married for the past 22 years. He and his wife Kendra are the proud parents of five sons and three daughters, all of whom keep them laughing and on their toes. During the day he can be found fixing people's teeth, but in his spare time you can find Fletch stretching out a pair of flip-flops, creating a new pizza recipe, playing the drums, or rescuing a piece of his tie-dye wardrobe from his wife's donation pile. You can find him online where he writes on his personal blog: theMangoTimes and cohosts with his wife on the HomeschoolingIRL.com podcast.

One Seven

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When we first started having children, it seemed like all we could make was boys. I quickly honed my skills at tumbling, wrestling and the fine art of well-timed farting.  Clearly, I was meant to be a "boy dad" and I figured that was my lot in life was navigating fun while at the same time avoiding a trip to the ER.

Then, in 1999, this little girl showed up (followed by her two sisters). As it turns out, I love being a "girl dad" too! These girls were taught to keep up with their rough and tumble brothers, but they were also loved, cuddled, and cherished as beautiful daughters. 

Happy Birthday Abigail Sarah. You have been "your father's joy" for 17 years!  

Quietly making noise,
Fletch (Dad)

 

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, , ,

Andy Fletcher

Andy "Fletch" Fletcher has been married for the past 22 years. He and his wife Kendra are the proud parents of five sons and three daughters, all of whom keep them laughing and on their toes. During the day he can be found fixing people's teeth, but in his spare time you can find Fletch stretching out a pair of flip-flops, creating a new pizza recipe, playing the drums, or rescuing a piece of his tie-dye wardrobe from his wife's donation pile. You can find him online where he writes on his personal blog: theMangoTimes and cohosts with his wife on the HomeschoolingIRL.com podcast.

Enjoy The Journey

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This is one of the items I included on my list because it is advice that I often forget to follow myself. I know life is a journey and I preach to others regularly that life is a journey. I love adventure and I love change, but when the journey get's hard, I'm the first one who will forget to actually enjoy the journey. This blog post is written to myself. I need the reminder often.

Here's how I see things when it comes to this quote. The first thing to remember is this: Life is, in fact, a journey. That's what I love about the C.S. Lewis quote above. We need to view the occasional stops along the journey as inns, not homes. We are expected to keep moving. My wife often tells me and others who will listen: "This is not heaven."  In other words, stop your griping. We live in a broken world. Allow me to break this point down a little more for you. First, don't stop and get too comfortable (read: complacent) at any point along the path. I think that is the major point of the Lewis quote. Second, and this is where I need to listen, when circumstances cause the journey to become difficult, don't dwell in discouragement. Too many people around us can get stuck because life threw them a curve ball. Life is a journey. You are a sojourner. Acknowledge the disappointment, but keep moving. 

The second thing to remember about this quote is this: Remember to enjoy the journey. By this I mean, enjoy life. I choose to wrap my body in clothing that preaches: Life is Good. In the grand scheme you need to enjoy the journey that God has put you on. When I think about people who do this well, I recall people like: Joni Eareckson Tada or Horatio Spafford who both were able to bring glory to God and millions of others despite a drastic change in their journey.

“Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.”
— Horatio Spafford

Lastly, I have found great fun in realizing that everything in life can be seen as an adventure within the journey of life. This concept changes everything I do. Running errands with my kids, a shopping trip, chores are all no longer things we have to do. Instead, these are adventures that we want to do together. Adventure sounds better and it encourages you to enjoy the time together.

I know I need this encouragement. How about you? Are you stuck in discouragement? Are you just plugging along and forgetting to enjoy your journey? Tell me about it in the comment section below. Let's encourage and remind each other to enjoy the journey.

Quietly making noise,
Fletch

 

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Andy Fletcher

Andy "Fletch" Fletcher has been married for the past 22 years. He and his wife Kendra are the proud parents of five sons and three daughters, all of whom keep them laughing and on their toes. During the day he can be found fixing people's teeth, but in his spare time you can find Fletch stretching out a pair of flip-flops, creating a new pizza recipe, playing the drums, or rescuing a piece of his tie-dye wardrobe from his wife's donation pile. You can find him online where he writes on his personal blog: theMangoTimes and cohosts with his wife on the HomeschoolingIRL.com podcast.