Quincy's {Preview}

More smiles and eyebrow-raises to come!

...you'll see what I mean :)

*Ring Bling*

One upon a time, a good friend and co-worker encouraged me to start a blog.

Said good friend is now engaged to be married.
These photos are for her.  Congrats again!

Last of the Summer Florals

Watching the sunset yesterday I suddently realized the lack of flowers I had photographed this summer.

I have been so busy I missed the whole summer! 

In a frenzy I grabbed the last of the fading sunlight and snapped a few photos

of our few remaining flowers in bloom.

Volunteering: The Armed Forces Retirement Home

The law firm I work for is very active in the community.
This year, we were a proud sponsor of the 9/11 National Day of Service & Rememberance, an event organized by the non-profit organization Greater D.C. Cares.

Twelve attorneys and staff volunteered at The Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C.

One of the gentleman was nice enough to tell me a bit about the history of the grounds.

You can read a little bit about it here.  Very interesting - Lincoln lived here during the Civil War.

Our group was separated into two separate teams - one visited with residents while playing

pool and ping-pong, wrote postcards to service members overseas,

and one helped upkeep the grounds by repainting faded crosswalks.

 We aren't professional crosswalk painters - but I think we did a pretty darned good job :)

Last, but not least, our group of volunteers.

Dimuel {2 Weeks}

Toya and Lamar welcomed Dimuel into the world.

I have been looking forward to meeting this little guy, and he did not dissapoint!

Dimuel {Preview}

Dimuel is here! 

Adventure: Backpacking in McAfee Knob

I love backpacking.

It's one of those things... after a while I start to get the itch.  I have to hit the trail.

This trip will have been my 5th trip out and I have another one planned this fall.

I have been dying to go to McAfee's Knob but no on was ever willing to make the 5 hour drive.
Finally!  I had some takers!

The hike was only rated at a 3/5 difficulty level, and reportably has some of the most amazing views,

 so I decided to take the weight and pack my SLR.  Was I happy I did.

Oh, I also brought 2 other cameras... My Lomography Fisheye 

and my Olympus Stylus Tough (my "indestructible camera")

This was the first clearing we came to

I was so happy to see we were nearing the top!

We have arrived!

McAfee Knob.  Check!

After checking out the Knob, we hiked down the mountain a ways to set-up camp.

Jackie and I decided to hike back up to watch the sunset.

It was breathtaking.

This is, by far, my favorite shot from the trip!

I took a lot of HDR images while at the knob.  It really helped bring out the details.

The especially fun part was hiking .7 miles back to camp through the pitch-black woods! :)

Edit: Video here

Update: this blog post later got me published on the front of a local VA magazine.  Pretty cool!!