church convention in Pittsburgh-1

We spent last Wednesday and Thursday in the vast Lawrence convention center in Pittsburgh, enjoying the people, street scenes, and urban density.

cookout on the 4th

On the 4th I tried out my new open fire grill, using the fire wood from the wild cherry tree felled by a storm two years ago. See the results on the cutting board. And see the first local corn of the season along with the other treats in the backyard. After nighfall, we blew off some legal sparklies. The next morning I picked up the trash.

turn 67 in style

Here's one way to have a birthday in style: spend it with two people you didn't know ten years ago--your son-in-law and your daughter-in-law, who have since become treasured parts of your life. Drive to Timonium, Maryland, catch the light rail to Baltimore's Camdem Yards and watch the Cardinals beat the Orioles 5 to 1. Daughter Sarah is in her 37th week expecting so Dorcas took her out on the local town. Joel shot this pic on his i-phone while we waited for the train in Timonium.

And thanks to everyone else who wished me well. Let me scattershot some names: Hunter, Rolando, Doug, Pat, Larry, Matt, Becky, Amy, Patrick, Terresa, Katie, Sandra, Irene, Edna, Dwight, Dean, Beth, Harry, Linda...and all the rest.

police lock down neighbor farm

Just took this photo of a neighbor farm. A helocopter circles above and police train guns on the house while a troubled man inside is reported to be barricaded. Check http://www.lancasteronline.com/ for details.