System Day 2026

(Banner by Jonathon Estes CPG: 307 Meerschaums) PSA CPG MUG & COASTER EVENT See last post for details--here's the order form: CPG MUG & COASTER EVENT   Long as Tobacco’s mild perfume Shall scent each happy curate’s room, Oft as in elbow-chair he Smoaks, And quaffs his ale and cracks his jokes So long, C. Peterson, shall last thy praise, Crown’d with Tobacco-leaf for bays; And whosoe’er thy brand shall see Shall fill another Pipe to thee.* Welcome to System Day 2026!  Today we celebrate the 3rd and final patent Charles Peterson was granted in the US for his Patent System Pipe, which continues to recall us from whatever stress and strain we've undergone to reflect, relax, and realign ourselves. There is a somewhat rare literary form called the "Short Short," meaning a short short story.  Here's some for your enjoyment and edification from around the world. There's a lot to admire here and some amazing photography--as I find time and again--as well as thoughts worth pondering.  What strikes me, looking over each story, is just how varied and incredible examples exist of the System.  I hope you'll join me in thanking each PG who shared with us this morning. Enjoy!   D. O. Fricke.  I was a confirmed "smooth only, medium to larger bowl" pipe smoker. Then by the luck of the draw I purchased a Peterson 309 sand blasted 2024 PPN CPG spigot limited edition (173/175). I thought I was setting for the blasted and was a little disappointed at the apparent diminutive size. Boy was I wrong! The size is surprisingly large (it holds as much tobacco as my Pubs! I get 1½ to 2 hours smoke from it), though it is light, easy to clench, and carries a small footprint. And the sandblast? I'm sold. The texture is a perfect Goldilocks, not too rough and not too smooth, just right. And the the blast adds enough extra surface area to dissipate the heat well even for the thinner walls. Everything about it made it my idea of the perfect smoke for me. It is so special to me that after smoking it every other day for four months I set it aside to keep it for special occasions and bought another just like it (sans the special edition numbering and chimney).  Still sold, I added two more Peterson 309s to my wheelhouse (smooth spigot, smooth heritage) for 4 total. Photo is of the Peterson 309 spigot ready to go with some Peter Stokkebye Luxury Bullseye Flake.   Bobby Haven CPG. My current Peterson wheelhouse would have to be my 305 sandblast spigot and my rusticated 80s army mount.  I tend to prefer a shorter smoke, and these 2 are perfect for that. To me, the 305 smokes as great as it looks, and that little 80s, the newest to my small but growing Peterson collection, is just a handy, cool little smoker. As for favorite baseball team, being born and still living in Georgia, I have to pull for the Braves! Gary…