New Cumberland, Pa.

First two photos of this post by guest blogger Stanley Leary

Today I spoke at a conference for international mission photographers. Jeff Raymond, left, director of photography at ABWE hosted the meeting. The title? "How to be better at just about anything." A bit presumptuous on my part, but I had fun with it — and several said they did too. There were close friends in the audience — like Stanley — folks I don't get to see often enough because we're so scattered. It was good. Plus, I made a few new friends.

It was a quick trip — up yesterday afternoon and back this evening — as this weekend is Dianne and my wedding anniversary. Jeff and his staff graciously provided a cake commemorating the occasion, as well as a generous gift certificate to take Dianne out for dinner.

ABWE's beautiful headquarters in New Cumberland seen in the rain, which I drove through most of the way home, and ...

... the view from their front door.  What should have been a 4-hour drive became a 6-hour one ... 

Short Pump, Virginia

... but I made it to the Daily Grind in time for the last song of the last set of a Friday evening concert by Eric and Annisa Handy — good music accompanying an excellent sandwich and delicious hot  chocolate on a beautiful evening after a long day in the midst of more good friends. 

Life is good!

Richmond, Virginia

The baby squirrel fell from his nest. Robin Kidd spends makes time during her day to feed it and he is thriving.

Richmond & Short Pump, Virginia

Lunch with Kristi and Don in Richmond's Shocco Bottom.

Sunset over Gaskins Road in Short Pump.

Richmond, Virginia

Either side of the glass: Chris Mize with his stepson, Caleb, reflected in window of his car.

Short Pump, Virginia

Elements in the night ... quarter moon over Copperas Creek ...

... welcome flag and birdhouse ...

... design element for hanging wind chimes.

Short Pump & Richmond, Virginia

First fall colors arrive along Copperas Creek. The days grow short, soon the evenings will be cooler and the majesty of autumn will be upon us.

Family and friends gather around Rita, left, and Mitch Trak, center, as they bring their son Noah (in Mitch's arms) to St. Bridget church in West End Richmond for baptism. 

Mitch and Noah await the beginning of the baptismal service. Mitch and Rita are part of the family of Chef Michael and Mary Trak. The family owns and runs three excellent restaurants in Short Pump area: Grapevine II, Seafire Grill and Grapevine Bistro.

Mich Trak holds his son, Noah, as Rev. John Arkesteyn, a deacon at St. Bridget, baptizes him. Noah's Aunt Marianne and Uncle Gabor look on. Rita is hidden by her husband.

The extended family gathers for impromptu pictures after the baptism.

Chris Mize, also Noah's uncle, is a local artist working in the Short Pump area. He presented a book of reproductions of his paintings to his mother for her birthday. Several years ago he painted our grandson, Max, below. 

Max's portrait was one of Chris' first commissions. Now we can't afford him!

Short Pump & Gayton, Virginia

Customers wait out the passing remnants of Hurricane Hanna at the Daily Grind in Short Pump. Rain bands passed through the area all morning dumping as much as 6 inches of rain to the west of us.

Assistant fire marshals Sabrina Steele, foreground, and Jim Dabney, rear, route traffic around minor flooding on Three Chopt Road in Short Pump. They wait for Department of Motor Vehicles employees to arrive and set up barriers. The road traces the colonial route Thomas Jefferson traveled from Charlottesville to Williamsburg when he served in the House of Burgesses.

Margaret enjoys a visit from Tobie in her apartment at Spring Arbor in Gayton. She is recovering well from pneumonia and has regained her voice.

Richmond & Short Pump, Virginia

Good friend and colleague, Roy Burroughs — pulled pork plate with double fries and a basket or two of hush puppies later — celebrating his 40th birthday at one of his favorite haunts, Extra Billy's Bar-B-Q in Richmond.

Spiny sea urchin and fish in one of the several salt water tanks at the Seafire Grill in Short Pump.

This little fellow is my favorite fish at Seafire. There were once 20 like her in one of the tanks. This is the lone survivor, and has been for nearly a year. I always look forward to seeing her.

Short Pump, Virginia

A sun catcher doing what it does along Copperas Creek.

Short Pump, Virginia

Sadie as she does so often — waiting on us for something to happen — this time to go for a walk.

Moseley, Virginia

Orangutans greet visitors and beg for food at the Metro Richmond Zoo.

Gibbons balance on the bulkhead around their island at the zoo.

Giraffes are one of the big attractions at the zoo. Ferris Jarrar feeds one of them as his family looks on.

A colorful parrot perched along one the paths through the zoo.

Allison, Janine and Sam Jarrar on the sky ride above the zoo's zebra and rhinosceros exhibits ... 

... followed by Ferris and Shawn Jarrar.

Feeding time for the South African penguins.

Gayton, Virginia

It is a busy morning at Cambridge church. Keegan Jett, center, waits with his stepfather, Price McLean, right ...

... for Jim Riddell to baptize him ...

... afterward Keegan's brother, Caleb, center, responds to Win Davis, right, during the children's message ...

... while Jim Riddell manages to somehow work a large-mouth bass caught by C.L. Gregory into his sermon (well, some of Jesus' disciples were fishermen!) ... 

... and Judy Offenback welcomes Chad Stillwell into the fellowship.

At Spring Arbor, Dianne, right, helps her mother with lunch. Margaret is responding well to treatment for pneumonia. The painting on the wall of a clipper ship under full sail is an example of Margaret's art when she was younger.

Northern Neck, Virginia

Passersby enjoy the music of Dan Bowen as he plays along Main Street in Kilmarnock, Va. Bowen can usually be found playing on Carey Street in Richmond, but he ranges as far north as Boston performing as a street musician.

Barbara and Ken, left and center, with Dianne, right, on their dock at sunset along Harvey's Creek, near Remo, Va.

Kent Eanes returns to Harvey's Creek after an evening of fishing on nearby Mills Creek. Eaves is a photographer specializing in stills for the movie industry.

Richmond & Short Pump, Virginia

Craig Martin at lunch at Kuba Kuba in The Fan district of Richmond.

Harry Gore reviews songs for a concert at the Daily Grind Coffee House and Cafe in Short Pump.

Harry Gore in concert at the Grind.

His fingers fly across the frets ...

... as Kelly Ostrum, above, and  Allison Jarrar and her daughter, Janine, listen.

Short Pump & West End Richmond, Virginia

Downspouts look more like fire hoses than drains during torrential rains in Short Pump this morning.

The heavy rain flooded John Rolfe Parkway, a new road cutting through Short Pump. The parkway is named for the 17th century English settler who established tobacco as the economic base of the Jamestown colony and married the Native American princess Pocahantas.

Krispy Kreme donuts roll off the conveyor at the bakery in West End Richmond.