Short Pump, Virginia

Whole Foods

Aubrey finds Whole Foods a little to noisy for her liking. 

Photograph taken with a Canon 5D Mark II

Copperas Creek

The dogs and Dianne relaxing for the evening are a fitting way to end the month.

Taken with an Apple iPhone

Short Pump, Virginia

Daily Grind

It is open mic night again at the Daily Grind. There is a good contingent of artists with an eclectic blend of music ...

... including Harry Gore ...

... rocking with good friend Chris Branch ...

... and a father with his two son pulling down some Blue Grass.

Photographs taken with a Canon 5D Mark II

Gayton, Virginia

Carver Talent Show

This year the talent show at Carver Elementary School included a young Michael Jackson ...

... a new twist on hula hoops ...

... and Jenine, left, in a dance group called the Chipmunks. (She says it was OK, but she's really a singer.)

Photographed with a Leica M8

Short Pump, Virginia

Children at Cambridge church dance during Wednesday evening activities.

Photograph taken with a Leica M8

Nashville, Tennessee

Long-time friend Joe is a newspaper editor, great investigative reporter and man with the bow tie. I was best man in his wedding 20 years ago. We are both in Nashville for meetings and are preparing to share some bison before going our separate ways.

Photograph taken with a Leica M8

Nashville, Tennessee

Dinner at P.F. Chang's outside Vanderbilt University.

Photograph taken with a Leica M8

Short Pump, Virginia

Daily Grind

Chicago Cy makes another appearance at the Daily Grind ...

... and Farris accompanies him on the trumpet for a number.

Photographs taken with a Leica M8

Short Pump, Virginia

Lindsey makes an appearance at the Grind. 

Photographed with a Leica M8

Short Pump, Virginia

Cambridge Church

Kelly in a kaffia. It just doesn't quite work ....

Photographed with a Leica M8

Short Pump, Virginia

Daily Grind

Greg's outings are not as frequent as they were, so when we see him it is a delight.

Photographed with a Leica M8

Short Pump

Daily Grind

Edna, one of the carefree spirits at the Daily Grind.

Photograph taken with a Leica M8

Short Pump, Virginia

Cambridge Church

It is Youth Sunday at Cambridge church. Win Davis — Youth and Young Adult pastor — asks the children if they would rather have a small package of candy now or a larger one later? It is a lesson in life priorities.

But this Sunday is not about children. Our College-age adult praise team leads the congregation in worship ...

... with Jamal on drums ...

... Brice demonstrating a maturing that heralds him coming of age as a musician and ...

... Elliott threading rhythm through the performance on the base ...

... it moves the congregation.

I have heard of wearing your religion on your sleeve, but have never before seen it tattooed on a foot.

Daily Grind

My favorite itinerate folksinger and songwriter Brad Yoder wandered down from Pennsylvania today to sing at the Daily Grind ...

... to a packed house ...

... including Alexander, who attends with his parents ...

... Brad always brings his soprano sax and plays a few variations on old songs ...

... but it is always his elegant fretwork and touching balladeering that captivates the crowd.

Photographs taken with a Leica M8

Short Pump, Virginia

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day celebration finds Sam ...

... Jenine ...

... and Alison at Mama Cucina Italian restaurant for a round of good paste and Tiramisu.

Photographed with a Leica M8

Richmond, Virginia

Kathy, design editor for CommisionStories magazine, posts spreads of the latest edition of the publication — due out in March.

Photograph taken with a Leica M8

Short Pump

Dianne choses apps for her new Palm Pre smartphone while enjoying a Black Cherry soda and waiting for her meal at Pizza Fusion.

Just outside of Pizza Fusion is one of the many piles of snow dotting our community. As they melt, they send out little tendrils of water which freeze making the area around them treacherous to walk through.

Photographs taken with a Leica M8

Short Pump,  Virginia

Copperas Creek

Morning begins with yet more snow* ...

... as Sadie lingers after breakfast to check the trees for squirrels* ...

The Daily Grind

... while on a day most offices close Sam shovels snow for customers looking for warmth, WiFi and hot coffee at the Daily Grind** ...

... where Jenine vamps in hat and scarf** ...

... and Farris, her brother, slips behind her to add silent comment on her performance  before** ...

Copperas Creek

... at the end of the day, Sadie puts on her own performance racing in circuits through the snow before flying back into the house to settle in front of a warm fire for the evening.*

*Photographs taken with a Canon 5D Mark II

**Photographs taken with a Leica M8

Birmingham, Alabama, to Richmond, Virginia

Birmingham

The day quickly becomes a travel adventure. Delays in Atlanta keep our plane on the ground in Birmingham, leaving a half hour late ...

Atlanta

... but the pilot makes up the time in the air, only to have a broken plane in Atlanta ...

... delay the leg into by Richmond. Its replacement  ...

Richmond

... finally wings over the James River two hours late. The old Railroad Bridge, foreground, and the Nickel Bridge are a welcome sight.

Photographed with a Leica M8

Birmingham, Alabama

We are in Birmingham making final plans for a professional communicators meeting in Chicago this Spring. Jennifer, above, is the current president of the organization. She says that one of her disappointments as president is the few times she has been able to use the gavel.

After meeting all day dinner this evening is with Mark, above, and Jennifer. He and I have shared experiences — including working as a media team doing good work in difficult situations. He explains to Jennifer that now is the moment when he supposed to pretend that he doesn't see me raising the camera. It's the small things a writer can do for a photographer that make the difference in their relationship.

Jennifer, left, is the current president of the organization. I am, right, president elect. There is one obvious thing I will carry from her tenure into mine: No lack of attitude.

Photographed by guest blogger Mark Kelly

All images taken with a Leica M8

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

This beautiful child breezed past me as I was sitting in the terminal at Detroit's airport. I guessed at the exposure and squeezed off two frames. Her dad came trailing behind, but spoke little English so I never got her name, just awkward thank you's for taking her picture. He then scurried off after her.

Photographed with a Leica M8