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My 2015 Photography Year in Review

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Thanks to Edith from Edith Levy Photography, I learned of a blog project run by Jim Goldstein of JMG Galleries.  In her most recent post, Edith shared that Jim encourages photographers to post their best images of the year.  Thanks Edith, for inspiring me to give it a shot.  Be sure to visit Edith’s blog.  Her images are wonderful, including incredible shots from Cuba and Israel.

As you know, the year started as I neared complete recovery from my motorcycle wreck, and promptly jumped into a race for the Virginia House of Delegates.  At the midyear point, my medical practice closed, and I worked to start a new one from the ground up.

This has been quite the year, and needless to say, photography (and riding the bike) took a back seat. Even still, time with the camera provided me much needed breaks from the wild ride that was 2015.

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Looking forward to another year of reading your stories, being inspired by your photos, and benefiting from the gift of your friendships in 2016!

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Crackers: A Family Tradition

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This re-blogged post is about a beloved family tradition, and as you read this, I am traveling to Williamsburg to spend a few days with the whole fam damily (thanks Jan for that fun description!).  Not a day goes by that I do not reflect upon the fact that I am fortunate to have such a great family, and the most amazing parents.

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LB's avatarLife on the Bike and other Fab Things

For as long as I can remember, my family has celebrated the holidays with Crackers.  They adorn the table, and ultimately our heads, for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.  While crackers have become all the rage these past few years, my family has been celebrating with them for decades.

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According to Wikipedia, crackers are part of Christmas celebrations primarily in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries such as Australia, Canada, NewZealand, and South Africa. 

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So how did my American family come to embrace the Cracker?  My Grandfather hailed from the Isle of Wight, and I am quite sure that he and my Aunt Christine brought the tradition to us.

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The Cracker was created in 1847 by Tom Smith ( http://www.tomsmithchristmascrackers.com/ ).  In its simplest form, a cracker is a small cardboard tube covered in a brightly colored twist of paper. When the cracker is pulled apart, a chemically treated card strip, similar to that…

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Fashions for Evergreens

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For the past 9 years, the Inn at Virginia Tech has hosted Fashions for Evergreens, a Christmas Tree competition.  Established in 2006, the event enourages local businesses and organizations to come up with a theme, and create a professional, designer quality Christmas tree.  The trees are on display throughout the holiday season, and members of the public get to vote for their favorite tree.

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After enjoying a Raspberry Martini at the Continental Divide Lounge, my friends and I took a tour of the trees.

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The atmosphere was magical, filled with light and color.

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Prices Fork Elementary School’s theme was a Merry Mocha Christmas

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The Virginia Quilt Museum went with a blue theme

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Matt Hagan Outdoors celebrated outdoor sports

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The Linus Project, an organization that hand makes blankets for critically ill children, adorned their entry with blankets

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Radford Health and Rehab decorated their beautiful tree with photos of residents in their younger days

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Sew Biz covered their tree with hand crafted ornaments

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What a fun evening, and we definitely felt the magic of the season.

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Before I close, let me tell you just a little bit about the Inn.  Located on the campus of Virginia Tech, The Inn is designed in the Collegiate Gothic style and like the other buildings on campus, is made with Hokie Stone.

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Hokie Stone is dolomite, a mineral found in the Appalachian Mountains (pronounced Ap – uh – latch – uhn) and is prevalent in Virginia, Tennessee, and Alabama.  Virginia Tech’s quarry operations produce some 50 tons of Hokie Stone per week, or about 2,500 tons per year.  Individual stonemasons shape about a ton of stone a day

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Hope you’ve found time to enjoy the magic of the season!

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Rockwood Manor

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Every December, some friends of mine and I host a fundraiser to benefit local charities, and this year we held the event at Rockwood Manor.

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Built in 1876, the home, now turned Bed and Breakfast, is simply stunning.  I’d loved to have spent hours taking photos, but as I was working the fundraiser, I didn’t have as much time as I’d have liked.

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The history section of the website notes that “the home was designed by architect Burkholder and built by contractor Pettijohn, who were both from Lynchburg, Va.  Oversized brick with decorative slag were made on-site.  The house boasts sixty-five extra-large windows, some with Jefferson-style openings that rise into the twelve-foot ceiling;  seventeen fireplaces on five chimneys; ornate plaster work; and medallions.  Outside over the windows is wrought iron on a tin metal box framework”

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The perfect porch for sitting and sipping.

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Parquet floors, made of alternating walnut and ash, add even more warmth and beauty.

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The floating staircase

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The Dining Room

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The ceiling of the Sitting Room

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Glasses waiting to be filled

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Perhaps an old smoke house?  I wish I’d had time to find out!

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One of many historic items to be seen on the property.

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Hopefully I can return at some point and learn more about the history of this treasured home.

Thank goodness the family knew it’s value and sought to restore rather than sell.

 

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Frank Beamer and The Hokies!

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Some of you will read the title and think “What’s a Hokie?“, while others of you will be familiar with the nickname of my favorite college football team, Virginia Tech.

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Frank Beamer has been the Head Football Coach at Virginia Tech for the past 29 years and you would be hard pressed to find a more beloved coach.  Not because of the number of seasons he has coached (29), the number of wins (279 career wins, 237 at VT), and the 23 consecutive bowl appearances. Rather it is because of his character, integrity, and humility.  He has been an educator, a source of strength and comfort after the April 16th mass shooting, and a father figure and mentor to the young men that he has coached.  Coach Beamer is retiring this year at the age of 69, and the celebrations, accolades, and love have been pouring in.

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Coach Beamer’s last home game was a couple weeks ago and thousands of people gathered before the game to greet him as he took his final walk to the stadium.  The following photos were my effort, despite the shade, to document an incredible day

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Coach Beamer arrived amidst a sea of people (check out the paint on the face of the fan next to him).

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While others think the school colors are a strange combination, VT fans believe they are reminiscent of fall.

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We’ve not had the best record this year, and we were not expected to win the game.  Even still, a sellout crowd, hundreds of former players who returned to celebrate their beloved coach, and tribute videos on the Jumbotron marked the day.  We laughed, we cried, we cheered, we sang.  It was an incredibly emotional day.

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Despite going into overtime, the Hokies did not win.  This day, though, was all about Frank.  From the second the game ended, all eyes turned to Coach Beamer.  Surrounded by photographers, he spoke to the fans.

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The team lifted him on their shoulders and carried him from the field while we watched, and cried, and cheered some more.

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(yes, I need more zoom)

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It took a long time for me and the rest of the fans to exit the stands.  I just didn’t want to leave.  Once I did leave, though, I wandered around soaking up the sights and sounds.

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The road in front of Lane Stadium has been named after Coach Beamer.

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Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va

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As I walked back to my truck, I saw one last opportunity for a shot.  Coach Beamer played football at Virginia Tech long before he became the Head Coach, and in 2002 his number was retired.

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If you are still with me here at the end of this long post, know that I am grateful.  Frank Beamer means so much to the Hokie Nation.

He’s just a good, good man.

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Enough

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I had another post ready … but the latest mass shooting in America made me put it on hold for tomorrow.

There has to be more of a response than “Thoughts and Prayers”

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Warmth

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Tomorrow in the US, we celebrate all that is good about family, friends, food, (and football).  We also celebrate the non-monetary gifts of sharing our time, our good fortune, and our love.

Wishing you warmth and many Thanksgiving blessings!