Redneck Santa

Ho, ho, ho......

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Snow Day!

Saint Benedict Church, Richmond, Virginia

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A Memorable Day

Friends and family gathered today at St. Benedict Church in Richmond Va to say fair well to Charles D. Curley. The sun shown brightly, the cold held off, a loan diesel train horn blew in the distance and he was laid to rest.

Charles D. Curley * 9/3/1921 - 12/11/2009

Today my dear Uncle Charles Curley passed away at the age of 88 in Richmond, Virginia. The oldest of eight kids he is pictured above in what is a classic, and favorite, photo of mine. It should have been around the early 1940's when it was taken. The young lady on the left is none other than my mother, Pat (Mema), still alive and well and caring for her devoted husband, all her children and grandchildren.

Uncle Charles (or Choo Choo as he was known to his own grandchildren, and great grandchildren) was a very interesting, funny, fellow and was dearly loved. About a year ago I had the opportunity to photograph Charles and spend some time with him in his home. Having landed on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day +1 his stories of the war run deep. His memory of that time culminated in a book he published years ago which is a fascinating read. It was also during this time in France that he learned to drive steam locomotives and his love for trains never diminished. Charles was very active in Richmond for a man his age and will be very missed by his family and friends.

You can see my earlier blog post here: Tribute To My Uncle
Read his obituary here: Richmond Times Dispatch
Sign his guest book here: Guest Book

We love you Uncle Charles. May you rest in peace.

You were a very cool guy. Thanks for serving our country...and for being my Uncle.

A Baker With a Big Heart

Our Cubz gathered last night for the annual Holiday Bake Off where the kids bake goodies during the week and enter them for a chance to win. Coming in First Place in the Artistic Category for his cupcake rendition of a scout camp out was my good buddy and Webelo Luke. The scene below is worthy of a ribbon for sure.

What I had not noticed until Luke brought it to my attention was that he had carefully crafted a miniature of myself, the Cubmaster, fast asleep under my "I love Boy Scouts" blanket and my camera safely perched upon my chest.

Its many small moments such as this that make being a scout leader well worth the time and effort. I was touched.

My son Reilly with his almost award winning cake he made with his older brother; Chef Liam.

Transiting the Sun

NASA/Thierry Legault

In this tightly cropped image, the NASA space shuttle Atlantis is seen in silhouette during solar transit, Tuesday, May 12, 2009, from Florida. This image was made before Atlantis and the crew of STS-125 had grappled the Hubble Space Telescope. The photographer made this image using a solar-filtered Takahashi 5-inch refracting telescope and a Canon 5D Mark II digital camera.

I've been a fan of Popular Science Magazine since I was kid. Marry that with photography and my interest sky rockets. See more of the year's best Scientific Photos by clicking HERE.