Short Pump, Virginia

Trevor Dickerson works to confirm a tip and scoop the big boys that dominate Richmond news. Tevor, founder and managing editor of Downtown Short Pump (http://www.downtownshortpump.com/, also linked on the right), has heard there is a possibility Ukrops food stores are up for sale and that the Harris Teeter food chain of North Carolina is buying them. Ukrops has been a Richmond institution since 1937. As for the scoop? Trevor broke the story!

Copperas Creek

Several have commented that it has been a while since I posted anything about the dogs. This evening Toby claims the leather recliner for an evening nap while ...

... Sadie works on a bone and ...

... begs for a ride in the car — one of her favorite activities.

This is the first time I've posted a video from someone else. This performance is so stunning it is well worth sharing.

African thunderstorm

Shared via AddThis

Short Pump, Virginia

Paul Steinberg works with his daughter Alyona during drawing classes he offers Monday evenings at the Daily Grind.

Gayton & Short Pump, Virginia

Gayton

Pastor Jay Smith prays with a member during services at Cambridge church.

It's a wild scramble for a bucket of candy following the children's sermon at Cambridge church. The sugar high probably didn't wear off for hours.

Short Pump

This and the following images could easily be a part of series on the many moods of Jenine.

Short Pump, Virginia

A.C. — or Alexander — watches Sadie through the window from inside the Daily Grind. His father Ryan runs Short Pump Heating and Air. "A.C. is the next generation," Ryan says ... no pun intended.

Sadie watches A.C. from the other side of the glass. She would give anything to get into the Grind one time. For her, it is the font of many good things — snippets of bagels, muffins, sandwiches, wraps and cheese — all of which she has either grabbed from or been given by Grind regulars.

Kenai is named for the peninsula where her mother grew up, a little reminder of Alaska she carries in her arms. The five-and-a-half month old is a bundle of personality, a charmer who draws people like a magnet.

Short Pump, Virginia

Daily Grind

John is particular. He wants the right bagel ... the one that he chose ... and he's willing to get down on his knees to see that Ramey knows which one it is ...

... and she does ... to John's delight!

Copperas Creek

More, left, takes Jivleen his favorite human for a walk. The boot on his back left paw cushions a corn that greyhounds get. It feels like a perpetual stone under his foot.

Note: one of my images is featured on Your Photo Tips.

Richmond & Short Pump, Virginia

Richmond

Odds and ends tonight: Water glass on a table in a West End restaurant ...

Short Pump

Lemons displayed in Whole Foods Market ...

Canada geese feed on wild grass seed heads in a Short Pump field.

Richmond & Short Pump, Virginia

Richmond

Fan District

Russ — a colleague from years past on a road trip through Richmond — surveys Kuba Kuba, a Cuban restaurant in the Fan District known for it's excellent cuisine and strong, sweet Cafe con Leche.

Short Pump

Shannon waits for her parents to join her during a coffee and conversation group this evening at the Daily Grind.

A jet cuts through clouds over Short Pump at sunset.

Richmond & Short Pump, Virginia

Richmond

Shocco Bottom

Tessa, right, fights stringy cheese while Sondra, center, carves into her serving during a birthday celebration in her honor. The venue is Bottoms Up Pizza — for many the best pizza in Richmond. We learned today their nachos rate pretty high on that list too.

Short Pump

Copperas Creek

We are doing some remodeling on our house and Eugene is shouldering most of the load. You can see some of his tile work on the floor to the left. He comes from Ukraine via Moldova. He is Christian and his grandfather Jewish. In honor of his grandfather he holds services in his home every Friday evening.

Image taken with a Leica M8

Short Pump, Virginia

July's full moon is called the Buck Moon by Native Americans. This is the month when bumps that will become velvety, new antlers first emerge on skulls of male elk and deer. It is also called Thunder Moon for summer storms that occur this time of year. Colonial farmers named it the Hay Moon because it comes in time the first cutting of the summer. Under any name it is a beautiful sight.

Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Gayton & Short Pump, Virginia

Gayton

Geneva greets fellow members at Cambridge church as morning worship begins.

Chris, left above and below, steps into the water to be baptized by Win Davis, right, pastor to youth and young adults at Cambridge.

Jason captures the rhythm set by the worship team led by his father Mike. Jason is leaving in a few days to help build a school in Zimbabwe.

The service ends as it begins ... with song.

Short Pump

Lindsay trade a kiss with her mother Carla at Mexico Restaurant in Short Pump.

Short Pump & Williamsburg, Virginia

July 4th

Short Pump

Sarah, right, works at the Daily Grind. She displays a painting local artist Paul Steinberg, left, did of her. Sarah is leaving for two weeks in Costa Rica tomorrow the morning.

Sarah is known for frothy cappuccinos that rise above the rim of the cup.

Paul spends the morning sketching at the Daily Grind.

Kristen Joseph hangs some of her work at the Daily Grind. She is a student at James Madison University. She will have a show at the coffee shop in August.

Williamsburg

A woman and her granddaughter dance to a polka band in the Germany section of Busch Gardens park.

Luminous light sticks, necklaces and ears are offered for sale outside the Festhaus as park goers wait for fireworks begin.

Fireworks light up the night sky over the Festhaus in celebration of the 233rd anniversary of the founding of the United States.

A park worker appears out of the darkness, illuminated by the light sticks he is offering for sale.

One young park goer collapses on her father's shoulder on the tram ride back to the parking lot at the end of the evening.

Short Pump & Richmond, Virginia

Short Pump

Copperas Creek

Wahokia, rear, re-injured a back muscle and spends a couple of hours on a heating pad this afternoon. Toby, front left, and Sadie, right, quickly scramble up next to him. We call them healer dogs. Whenever someone is sick or injured the dogs nestle against them.

— Guest Blogger Dianne Bangham

Richmond

West End

Jenine scores on Skittles this evening. Nic, owner of SuCasa, gave her five quarters, a large cup to catch her prize, and pointed her toward the dispenser.

"And how many Skittles did you eat?" asks Jenine's father Sam. The answer is on her face.

Short Pump, Virginia

Chef Michael Trak bathed in evening light beside the blue SeaFire sign, is a culinary artist. Whether seafood, steak or Mediterranean cuisine, the patriarch of the family who owns SeaFire Grill, GrapeVine II and GrapeVine Bistro offers excellent fare. We are fortunate to have his talent in our community.

Robin's blue, named for the egg not the bird. The fragment attests to yet another hatching.

The theme today seems to be blue. Sadie spots blue dog, a favorite toy, and tries to gauge whether or not it is in reach.

Short Pump, Virginia

Copperas Creek

Sadie is exhausted from three days at Doggie Day Care. We're having new flooring laid and it is better for her to go to day care than be under foot. I'm told she plays hard there, that it's always a full day of run, bump, bite, bark and growl. She often curls on the back seat of the Jeep and sleeps all the way home. This evening it's her favorite red chair. She refuses to go to bed, preferring to wait for me even though she's tired.

Detail of sunrise reflecting off books onto a wall. (See yesterday.) Dianne wonders if it is a ghost, or ... ghost writing ... ghost scribbles ... ghost doodles ... ghost graffiti ... ghost art?