NPR's Community Idea Stations 50th Anniversary Gala!

Due to our affiliation with the Camera Club of Richmond, me and another photographer had the privilege of photographing National Public Radio's local Community Idea Stations WCVE 50th anniversary gala.

It was such an elegant and formal event, yet it was also so incredibly festive, fun, and warm. I loved working with that terrific group of people. They were professional, caring folks who loved what they did, and it showed. It was an honor to be a small part of it all.

One of my duties was to stick by Judy Woodruff  and photograph her with important folks (I was told who they were because I really didn't know), as well as get candid shots. She was so professional and personable. It didn't matter who she had conversations with or for how long it lasted, she was exceptionally well-versed and always so classy and warm. I was in awe, honestly.

What a great night! Here's just a smidgen of what we saw.....

The Rice House

I was so incredibly excited when we were invited to a social gathering at the Rice House recently.

I was told I could photograph while I was there, and after socializing a bit I wandered off in several directions for a few snaps. It was a super cloudy day, and all day long there was a threat of rain, but we didn't get a drop. A gift!

What a fantastic modern home and, even more amazing, the location and the view - on a hill right on the James River. Spectacular!

Unfortunately, the house is not open to the public these days, but it can be rented for weddings, private gatherings, business events, and the like.

What a great place!

Abundance in Bed 32.

I've been monitoring our new herb bed in lot 32 once or twice a week and it's growing nicely!

We've had plenty of rain so we haven't had to water much. And that's OK with me because the hose is down the hill and we have to unroll it until it's almost completely off the reel to get it to our bed. That's the easy part. The hard part is winding it back onto the reel so it's not twisted and bent and you're not covered in mud afterwards. We rarely succeed with the latter.

But the trade off is that we have a bed that gets great sun! And if I have to make a choice between plenty of sun or the trouble of lugging the hose, I'll take sun and lug the hose any day.

Can't wait to dry a few herbs, like this or this.

I'm keeping an eye out for fresh and healthy recipes that incorporate lots of herbs, like this.

We have 33 plots available in the condo, and most of them are taken. There's lots of interesting things to be seen in the other plots...

James River Wild

Living near the powerful James River always keeps things interesting! I'm in awe of it, just like I am with the ocean.

The James flooded this weekend. The flooding wasn't anything close to what we've experienced in the past, thank goodness, but amazing nonetheless.

Floating piers were lifted and flipped, some to reveal the scarred underbelly of styrofoam that keeps them buoyant.

Attempts were made to secure the floating piers to keep them from drifting downriver.

River banks were filled up to treetops.

Huge trees floated at a brisk pace as they moved down river.

Natural and man made debris got caught up in flooded nooks and crannies.

Walkways to the public marina and pier were flooded and impassible.

Railroad tracks, beyond the river banks and over the hill, were flooded and hundreds of tadpoles were swimming between the rails in a captive puddle.

Parking lots were closed.

But things always continue to move forward in a river town, regardless of how bossy the river might get.

The weather was lovely on Sunday. There were two weddings at Rocketts Landing Boathouse over the weekend, and plenty of photos were being taken by the river. And there were bunches of dewy-faced kids milling around who were decked out in stunning formal wear for what looked like prom night or a high school social (so cute!). Both the Boathouse and Conch Republic restaurants were fully packed, inside and out.

I love River life.