Kingwood, Texas

Lillian Beard was a hearing orphan taken in by a Deaf couple. Sign is her first language. I am in Kingwood to do a story on her. In October 2008 she celebrated her 100th birthday, but that's the least of her accomplishments. I'm not going to spoil the story by saying too much about it here. I want to save it and you to savor it when it is published. Over the span of her long life she has done much to change the perception and conditions of the Deaf, mentored leaders among and for them, having a profound impact both in the United States and overseas.*

As an infant Lillian was dropped in a box on the steps of the Deaf couple in Fort Worth, Texas, who would become her adoptive parents. In this photo she is four months old.**

Lily at 16 or 17 ... **
... in her mid-20s ... **

... and interpreting for the Billy Graham Houston crusade in the mid-1950s.**

It is a tough day — up for the coverage on Lily after a few hours sleep and a nearly 12 hour trip to get here — but all that was forgotten in the rush of the story and a day ending with home cooking at the Humble City Cafe. We will eat dinner to the patter of rain on the roof of the old building.*

* photos taken with a Leica M8

** photos copied from Lillian Beard's private collection with a Canon 5D Mark II

Travel Day

Richmond to Houston

We may be smiling, but that's because we don't yet know the extent that our day will become a travel day from hell. We just off sitting on a plane for two hours while mechanics tried to fix it and now in line to see how we are going to get to Houston. The people curling behind us are at the end of the line.

One young passenger, delighted to be free from the confines of the plane, takes the opportunity to twirl and dance in her mother's shawl while her parents deal with rebooking their flights and the rest of us stand in an interminably long line waiting for our turn.

During our two hours on the plane, we mostly watched other planes come ... and go.

Our original itinerary called for leaving Richmond mid-afternoon Friday and arriving in Houston 7:00 p.m. One of the ramp workers shields his ears from jet noise as our flight finally

pushes back from the gate sometime after 8:00 p.m. We will arrive at our hotel Houston 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning.

Photos taken with a Leica M8

Gayton, Short Pump & Richmond, Virginia

Gayton

Here I am under a lead blanket, film carrier clinched between my teeth, X-ray machine buzzing in my ear, taking self-portraits during a semi-annual dental checkup.

Henry Stewart has been my friend and dentist for a long time. He gets something of a kick today out of my holding the camera at arm's length, shooting blind. Henry likes to create games and sees this as something of a game. He shares several ideas for games incorporating photography. By the way, it was a good checkup.

Short Pump

Edna, foreground, and Trevor, right, late in the afternoon at the Daily Grind. It's been a good day for both. Trevor's business is taking off. People may not be clamoring for his web design yet, but he's busy and can see the end of his first full week of work. Edna has been plagued for several days with a clogged kitchen drain. Sam, owner of the Grind, showed up unexpectedly at her house today and fixed it. She was contemplating washing greens in the dishwasher.

Richmond

An improbable image taken at a meeting ... 'nuf said ....

Richmond, Virginia

Vesta grew up the child of Deaf parents. From that background she developed into an incredible interpreter and effective advocate for the Deaf. Her influence has been particularly strong in Eastern Europe and is quickly becoming international.

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.