Greensboro Daily Photo

Shiloh Baptist Church

Here we see a view of Shiloh Baptist Church located at 1210 South Eugene Street, near where the street turns into Elm-Eugene.  According to the News and Record's archives, Shiloh Baptist has been experiencing internal strife for the last fifteen years as evidenced by their frequent turnover in leadership. However, Shiloh Baptist, located in the Warnersville community, has a rich history and held a legendary place in the civil right struggles of the 1960's (reference and here). It would be great if the church would develop a website and post their history and share photos from their archives.

Shiloh Baptist has such an interesting roofline and adds to this view of a sunny Greensboro sky full of fluffy clouds. Have a great Sunday everyone. 

Coffee Shop Temperatures

The crisp air makes it perfect coffee shop weather. Time to download a good book and head out for a fresh cup of java. The above photo was taken in the Starbucks at Jefferson Village. We like to feature the independent coffee shops at Greensboro; however, Starbucks provides their employee with benefits and the customers with a good dose of personal service. We stopped by to try the blonde, light-roast, coffee-- something fun to do. 

In Greensboro, a high of 41 and low of 25 is predicted for today. At least we're not dealing with record snowfall like in Alaska. As a matter of fact, we really haven't had any snowfall at all, just a little cold snap. Perfect coffee weather. Do you know the temperature of an average cup of coffee?  From about 165-185 degrees-- perfect for warming you up quickly. Have a great weekend and let us know how you are spending this three day weekend.

Fall is For Football..... and the Grimsley/Page Game

Fall is the season of football, from high school to college to the pro games, most Americans have vivid memories of attending and watching football in the fall. Football transitions us from hot sunny days, where one gets a stadium sunburn, to chilly days where plaid woolen blankets and hot chocolate are about the only thing keeping spectators in the stands. In Greensboro, this past Friday's fall weather was just perfect for the annual Page/Grimsley game, held at Jamieson Stadium. Page and Grimsley are arch rivals and while in some sports (like ladies' varsity volleyball) Grimsley dominates, for sure, Page dominates in football.

The 54-game rivalry found Page victorious Friday. It was the fifth year in a row for the proud Pirates. Grimsley blue was dominated by Pirate red every step of the way right down to the 49-0 final score (read more here). On both sides of the stadium, the crowd was well behaved and school spirit was mighty strong. Here's to fall football, healthy rivalries, gracious winners, gracious losers and respectful fans. Regardless of which of our 17 high schools with foodball teams* wins at the local level, let's hope that Greensboro is well represented in the state playoffs so we can all cheer for our district. Happy Monday, everyone; happy fall football, aficionados. 

*(Guilford County has so many special programs, we hope our count of 17 is accurate. If not, please let us know and we'll come back in and correct the number).

September Weather Events

Across the USA, September has been a month of extreme weather events. Some cities had their wettest day in history. Binghampton, NY got 7.49" of rain in one day (9/7/11). Houston's 9/13 temperature of 102 was the hottest on record so late in the year. On 9/15, International Falls, MN had a record low of 19 degrees. These record busters go on and on (more here). As for Greensboro, September 7th was a gulley washer (video here) and yesterday was a little wet, too. However, in all, September has been sunny and dry in Greensboro-- with a little wind thrown in.

As fall knocks on the door, our garden looks dehydrated, scruffy and overgrown. The leaves at the top left of the photo are eggplant that has stopped producing. The marigolds are just about ready to call it a season and the legumes have flat, empty pods. The tomatoes were barren. We're decided to plop ourselves down on the above bench and herald the arrival autumn which comes, like it or not, tomorrow.

Produce Stand

It is late summer and makeshift produce stands around Greensboro are becoming less frequent. However, this one at the Citgo/Quik Mart on Battleground Avenue near Target is still quite busy. And, the melons and heirloom tomatoes look tasty. About 4:15 yesterday afternoon, a strong thundershower hit Greensboro. We don't know if the vendors at this produce stand had to batten down the hatches; however, all seemed in good order when we drove by just after the storm. The couple in the middle sat down, likely to weather the storm together. To see two people sit a minute and truly enjoy each other's company was a good, grand finale to a busy work day.

If you like these makeshift, roadside produce stands,  here is a link to a directory of pick-your-own farms, roadside farm markets, and farmers markets throughout North Carolina. Eat Wild is another great resource. The first thing we thought about this photo was that it was a "Norman Rockwell moment." As it turns out, that is the name of a business, licensed by the Norman Rockwell Estate, to turn your portraits into "Norman Rockwell Moments." 

Dog Days of Summer

 

Dog Days are "the hottest, most sultry days of summer." They refer to a time period that is hot, the air is stagnant, and it can be "marked by dull lack of progress."  Humans tend to sit around "dog-tired" hoping for rain. Some believe that wounds heal more slowly at this time. Dog Days are named for Sirus, the Dog Star because the Romans believed that Sirus' close proximity to the sun was the cause of this oppressive weather event (Wiki).  "The Romans sacrificed a brown dog at the beginning of dog days to appease the rage of Sirus" (Wiki).

Climate and latitude influence when Dog Days take place in a given community. In the Southeast, they have been going strong since July-- maybe letting up a little the past day or two.  August 16th also happens to be the Feast Day of Saint Roch, the patron saint of dogs. So, today is a DOUBLE dog day for us! We couldn't resist the opportunity to share this photo of two canines resting beside their respective owners in the Greensboro Arboretum. The brown dog at the right is thinking....... "I hope there aren't any ancient Romans in Greensboro!" The gray one, as vigilant as the gander who holds his head high guarding the flock, says, "don't worry, man, I got ya covered."  Neither is aware that 34 years ago today (8/16/77) Elvis Presley died.

Have the dog days of summer affected you at all? Are you looking forward to Indian summer?

The Yin and Yang of Daily Living

As our faithful readers know, on Fridays, we usually participate in Skywatch Friday, showing you a little slice of the sky above Greensboro. This week, we share a sight that has been fairly typical this spring. To the north, you see a dark, foreboding sky. To the east, and off on the horizon, you see the sky breaking open with sunny, blue and white warmth. Cold/warm, wet/dry, destructive winds/calm air; Just when you think you can put your wool sweaters away, you need to dig them back out. Just when you think the April showers are behind you, you need your umbrella.

Spring 2011 in Greensboro has been characterized by weather extremes.  The Chinese explain this with yin/yang, asserting the polar and opposite forces in nature are interconnected, giving rise to each other. The dichotomy is not as much good and bad as it is a balanced, mutual whole. The plant grows so that it can bloom and produce and then it falls to the earth awaiting a new cycle. So, as we enter the weekend, regardless of the weather, ponder how it fits with the balanced whole. As for the yin/yang of daily living, life is usually easier towards the center of the continuum, as opposed to listing at one of the extremes. Here's to a balanced, Mother's Day Weekend, celebrating mom if she is living in the lower half of the photo and remembering her fondly if she has already drifted to the upper half.

Winds of Change

"The wind of change is blowing through this continent." This quote is associated with the 1960 speech made by British Prime Minister Harold Macmillian in reference to Britain's intent to grant independence to their territories in Africa. Today, we evoke the quote in reference to the recent tornadoes and damaging winds worldwide.  In the South, Alabama and North Carolina were hit especially hard. Before that, Japan experienced the tsunami and earthquake. It will be a long time before these communities recover. The world is interconnected in this Internet age, and, as Thomas Friedman will be quick to tell you, adversity in one corner of the world affects communities near and far.

As the winds come and go, Greensboro's skies have gone from blue to gray, from filled with cumulonimbus clouds to zero visibility. Here, we share a few of the international flags flying over Uniworld Auto Sales at the corner of Patterson Avenue and Holden Road. Japan's unfurled, red-dot flag stands between the British, French, Italian, and North Carolina flags  to remind us of our interconnectedness.

If you have a chance, visit some of our international friends at Skywatch Friday or the City Daily Photo Community where you can continent-surf without leaving your desktop in Greensboro.

After the Storm in North Carolina

This weekend, North Carolina experienced its worst storm system in two decades: High winds, and excessive rain, too fast, were the main culprits. For the most part, Greensboro was spared; however, throughout North Carolina, 22 people are dead, 100 injured, and 800 homes need repairing (read WFMY story here). This photo was taken on Saturday at Latham Park and Wendover, just after the waters receded. Earlier, Latham Park was flooded. As bottles, cans, logs, yard debris, and other random items floated by, birds were flying low, from branch to branch, enjoying the fresh air and warm sun. Birds are a symbol of the soul, "flying free of the earth-bound body and seeking the heavens" (reference here), 

This week, as we reflect on the spirit of God's passing over homes during the Jewish Passover and on Jesus' ascending to heaven during Easter, birds hover, swoop, and soar, reminding us there is beauty and hope in a new beginning. Please hold in your hearts those who have lost loved ones and homes this week.

True Vine Baptist Church

True Vine Baptist Church is located across from the McIver Education Center at the Corner of Textile Drive at 1404 Summit Avenue. The ranch-house church is readily identifiable as a Christian institution by the cross nailed to the brick on the north side of the facility. The congregation is led by Pastor Jerry A. and First Lady Vanessa Allred. The congregation's motto is, "We are family; we care, we share and work in love together" (see website). While in existence since 2000, True Vine has only been in the present location since they purchased the property in 2003.

Surrounded by this past week's icy, crisp snow, the church has the illusion of being located in rural, peaceful silence when, in reality, it is located in a bustling area of East Greensboro not too far from Highway 29 and Wendover Avenue. The scene evokes the lyrics from George Bennard's Christian hymn, "Old Rugged Cross." "On a hill, far away stood an old rugged cross.." Read the lyrics and isten to the piano part at HymnSite.com (Scroll through GDP's previous religious photos  here).

A Bennett Belle en Route

We're thinking this young woman is a Bennett Belle as she was walking down Pastor Anderson Way in the direction of Bennett College with a backpack in tow. Belles are the mascot of Bennett College, a small historically-black, women's college established in 1873. Belles have many great traditions and a very rich history. One of their next big events is a January 28th dance at Proximity Hotel which they are co-sponsoring with UNCF. Bennett College is one of the great institutions of higher education mentioned in a 2008 YES! Weekly article about "boutique" schools in the Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem region-- the Triad (read more here).

As we reflect on this week at Greensboro Daily Photo, we are thankful that Sheryl Lieb taught us more about her father's life in the produce and deli business in Greensboro. We are glad to have chatted with a Proximity Public School alumna, as she inspired us to photograph the school. Finally, we enjoyed the Lawrence Welk dialog evoked in the comments for the ZINK post.

We're glad that the weather has eased up a little bit and it is not so cold and icy out today. Stop back tomorrow for our Sacred Sunday feature. Thanks to those who helped a local scout troop with cookie sales. Our biggest order was one for twenty boxes.

M. Lieb and Son Gourmet Foods

The back view of a brick building, located at the corner of Washington St. and Pastor Anderson Way in East Greensboro, reads "Deli M.LIEB & SON Gourmet Foods." The business must have come and gone as an internet search produced no results. One reference to a local "Lieb" is Paul Lieb.  Paul Lieb partners with Jeff Gorelick in the Foster-Caviness Produce Business and formerly, he owned Greensboro's Best Wholesale Foods with his father. We're betting M. Lieb was the grandfather. The building looks like it supported a business around three generations ago and appears to have been built in the early 20th century. It is amazing what one uncovers walking around Greensboro on a snowy day. The van and trucks have owners who were at a nearby business, Thermal Controls Corp, which we will feature soon.

Coble Farm on West Friendly Avenue

Locals will recognize this farm on West Friendly Avenue, just past Guilford College Road. The snow really evokes yesteryear. This is an image of what Friendly used to look like-- before townhouses, apartment complexes and Friends' Home West sprang up. All around this property are modern buildings; however, this barn and silo are reminders of all the farms that used to be in the area. If you are interested in rural farm land & related NC links, here is an interesting link. Guilford County is the third largest of North Carolina's 100 counties and, until the last few years, seemed considerably rural (as evidenced by all of the roads ending in _______ Dairy Road [Gallimore Dairy Road, Carlson Dairy Road, Thacker Dairy Road, Williams Dairy Road, etc.]) . To learn more about preserving open space in Guilford County, this is the link for you! 

This Skywatch Friday post is our last photo for 2010. As you count down to New Year's Eve, please remember to be safe. Likely, the GDP family will be seated in the living room watching the ball drop from Times Square in NYC as we plan our year-in-review post for January 1st. All of the City Daily Photo sites are encouraged to post their best photo of 2010 tomorrow. Stop back and see what we selected!

Mixed Blessing

Well, as it turns out, a White Christmas, for many, was a mixed blessing. Travelers were stranded all up and down the east coast. Atlanta saw a White Christmas for the first time since the 1880's.  Greensboro has several inches of snow on the ground and the roads are still icy. At least schools are out and children are warm and safe at home with their families. We hope you are making the most of the inclement weather. We're ready get out and take some photos.

For New Year's Day each of the city daily photo group of 1,200 + cities worldwide is supposed to post their best photo of 2010. We have a photo in mind but are always open to the suggestion of our readers. We're about to start our third year of Greensboro Daily Photo and look forward to another year of getting to know our city and readers even better!

Fire Station Number 5

Saturday, December 4th, Greensboro saw its first snow. The day started out with snowbirds (buntings) pecking around and, sure enough, by early afternoon, big flakes came our way. Since the snow came mid-day on a Saturday, people were already out driving around. Usually, with the slightest hint of snow, we Southerners run to the store for bread and milk and retreat to the TV screen!

City-wide, firefighters were on high alert as car accidents and house fires are not uncommon in times of inclement weather. Here we see Fire Station #5, located at the corner of Wendover Avenue and Westover Terrace. To celebrate the first snow, somebody at the station made this life-sized snowman. This first snowfall was the perfect texture for making snowmen and snowballs. While the snowman in the photo doesn't have a corncob pipe, a button nose, or two eyes make out of coal, he DOES have buttons, eyes, ears, and a mouth all made out of Chips-Ahoy cookies!

First Frost

On Sunday, we woke to a time change (fall back) and the first frost. Greensboro was blanketed in a light, but undeniable, frost. The above photo of a fall rose and a rose hip was taken in our yard on Saturday. The roses were an unexpected, November gift. By Sunday, the gentle frost made the roses look soggy and wilted. 

Our fall roses evoke memories of when they bloomed in June, adding a touch of summer pink in November. The rose hips, however, are the burnt orange of fall. They are important to the plant because they send a message to the rose that it is time to prepare for winter. If you haven't prepared your roses for winter, read here. We were caught off guard and have done nothing to get our plants ready for winter (mulch and water are needed). 

We're sharing this bokeh photo with Mellow Yellow Monday. Have a great week everyone! And winterize.... inside and out!

Woolly Worm Time in North Carolina

People have been using woolly worms to predict winter since pioneer days. To determine the severity of the winter, you look at the brown band of color on the woolly worms, or pyrrharctia isabella. The thinner the brownish-red ban, the harsher the winter will be. If the colors on the wooly worm in our yard are a prediction, winter will be pretty mild this year. Much brown, little black!

If you are fascinated by this topic, then consider attending the 33 Annual Woolly Worm Festival, just west of Boone, in Banner Elk North Carolina the third week in October. Last year's winner of the Woolly Worm Race was a young boy from Chapel Hill. Maybe we'll pack up our woolly worm and head west!

We're sharing this with Camera Critters and Weekend Reflection.

Last Hurrah of Summer

Labor Day, celebrated the first Monday in September, has been a federal holiday since 1894. In the USA, Labor Day weekend is the last big vacation weekend of summer. For many, the holiday helps with the transition from the lazy days of summer to the busy school days of September. Our holiday is not usually as much about workers and trade and labor unions as is the May 1st celebration held in much of the world. Many people from Greensboro head to the beach; however, with Hurricane Earl threatening the coast, this weekend might be spent closer to home. The mountains around Asheville are an option this weekend. We think we'll stay in town and use some of our tomatoes to have our own little Tomatina Festival like they do in Spain, where people literally immerse themselves in tons and tons of ripe tomatoes. What are you doing?

Hope somebody in Spain posted about La Tomatina for Skywatch Friday! 

 

Sun Tea

A fun, practical summer activity is making sun tea. However, drinking sun tea can come with some risks if there are bad bacteria in the water. Above, we are using a glass pitcher to make sun tea because our old, glass container-- specifically designed for brewing sun tea-- broke. When we went the big box store, we learned that today's sun tea containers are only available in plastic. While plastic is safer than glass around children, we were concerned that it could be unhealthy to drink tea brewed in plastic in direct sunlight. The average summer temperature in Greensboro is in the mid/high 80's and we were well above average this summer; so, we must confess, much sun tea was brewed and consumed at the Greensboro Daily Photo household with no known gastrointestinal issues!

Tea is ahead of coffee and second only to water with respect to beverage of choice around the world. Tea plant's scientific classification is camellia sinensis. Regardless of whether tea is white, green, black, or oolong, the leaves were harvested from camellia sinensis. No matter how you make it or drink it, tea is a pleasing beverage that is popular worldwide.

We're sneaking into Mellow Yellow Monday with that singular YELLOW millefiori decoration on the pitcher. Oh, a couple of tomatoes and marigolds on the left margin are approaching yellow!
 

The Isley House

Sorry we're a little late in posting but our Internet service was out during last night's thunderstorm. Technical difficulties, for sure! Most thunderstorms are usually an hour or less. In our end of the county, we saw lightning and it rained for at least four hours! Now, back to the post...... If you are local, before reading, see if you can guess where this log cabin is located.

This log house is located downtown on the property of the historical museum next to the Central Library and across from the Greensboro Children's Museum on busy Church Street. From this view, all is tranquil. The Isleys, German immigrants, moved to Greensboro from Pennsylvania in 1788. They settled in the eastern part of Guilford County on Bethel Church Road. In 1972, the log house was moved from its original location when the historical museum took it apart and reassembled it here. If you are a real history buff, Christian Isley's estate records, dating back to 1845, the time of his death, can be found here. To us, the photo is the calm after the storm. 

 

"D" is for Dog Days

"Dog days" are the hottest days of summer. In our part of the world, the southeastern United States, August is prime time for dog days. People say that wounds take longer to heal and infection is more likely during this time when the air is sultry and stagnant. According to Wikipedia, "Dog Days were popularly believed to be an evil time 'when the seas boiled, wine turned sour, dogs grew mad, and all creatures became languid causing to man burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies' according to Brady's Clavis Calendarium, 1813." In Greensboro, yesterday was one of the DOGGONE hottest, muggiest days yet. Maybe there is something to those dog days! 

In the photo above, these dogs, getting acquainted at a recent Dog Walk, don't seem a bit concerned! Perhaps the beautiful canines (Sirius and Sirisita) are planning to meet at Greensboro's Bark Park, quite a popular canine destination! 

For ABC Wednesday, "D" is for "Dog Days."

 

Dodging Thunderstorms, Chasing Rainbows

Dodging thunderstorms and chasing rainbows about sums up the week in Greensboro. The air gets so hot and steamy that you think you can't stand it, then the skies open up and relief comes in the form of rain. The sun comes back out and the rainbows appear. The other day, on Bryan Blvd., I saw a double rainbow; one of the rainbows began on one side of the road and arched to the other. 

The above photo was taken from the parking lot of Carolyn Allen Park, just behind Kernodle Middle School. On dry days, people are playing Ultimate Frisbee on this field. Happy Skywatch Friday where hundreds of people share a little slice of the sky above their city.

 

Decaying Contrails

Condensation trails, shortened to contrails, are artificial clouds of condensed water vapor made by aircraft engine exhaust. In Greensboro, frequently, contrails are seen in the western end of the county around the airport. We took this photo earlier in the week between 6-7 pm when air traffic seems to be at its peak. Atmospheric conditions determine the amount of time a vapor trail persists and when they begin to dissipate (as in the photo above), they are said to be decaying. These contrails arc over the spring sky adding texture to the view. Perhaps they are actually vapor from the collective sigh of relief of taxpayers who met the April 15th deadline.

The opposite of a contrail is a distrail-- when the moisture gets absorbed from a cloud. If you are still reading this post, likely you are interested in these phenomena and should read more here! We are sharing this photo with our Skywatch Friday friends.

 

April Showers... Bring May Flowers

This is what Greensboro looked like yesterday. As we exited Bryan Blvd., waiting at the red light on New Garden Road, this was our view.The eastbound car appeared to be swimming in wet asphalt. The sky and the street are the same color. As desolate as the intersection appears, it is actually a very busy intersection in a populated area of town. The curved roof on the horizon belongs to St. Paul's Catholic Church. The view reminds us that the northwest end of Guilford County is actually hilly. 

This composition is similar to a sunny day photo we took out near the Piedmont Triad International Airport. We do hope that the rainy weather yesterday means that May flowers are just around the corner and offer this for our international buddies at Sky Watch Friday.

 

Cherry Blossoms Invade Green Valley

* We interrupt our allergies to bring you this photo.* Taken yesterday, precisely 48 hours after allergies kicked in, this scene reveals the culprit of our watery eyes and nasal congestion!  These cherry trees on Green Valley Road at the eastern edge of Friendly Shopping Center are proof positive that we are out from under the throes of old man winter, and that spring is upon us. In an effort to situate the photo in Greensboro, we captured a little bit of Wesley Long Community Hospital in the background. 

As we transition out of a week of 18th-century-inspired posts, we cannot help but recall the myth that as a child, George Washington, Commander in Chief during the Revolutionary War, reportedly chopped down a cherry tree with his new hatchet and admitted to doing so. 

This is our contribution to Sky Watch Friday!

 

...this is the steeple.....

This is the church and this is the steeple.... at Centenary United Methodist Church on Friendly Avenue. On Wednesday, February 10th, winds over 50 mph ripped through our town and huffed and puffed and tried to blow (among other things) this church down. Fortunately, the church is made of brick and all that toppled was the 25 foot fiberglass steeple. The steeple has been in place since the 1980's when it replaced a smaller one. 

This is our Sacred Sunday shot, when we take time to reflect and be thankful that Greensboro made it through the wind storm. The photo is grainy because we took it at night with minimal ambient lighting. It reminds us of an x-ray. We're sharing this with the Monochrome Weekend crowd to let the world see the teetering steeple.

 

Not in Kansas

Here is a view of a light pole at the corner of Yanceyville and Cypress Streets. On Wednesday, winds of over 50 miles per hour ripped through Greensboro and left a trail of items askew and teetering. We snapped this photo the day after when all was calm, the skies were blue & the air still, but brisk. Owners of the cozy green house above are lucky that the mature tree in their yard did not topple with the relentless, persistent winds. 

Students in nearby Aycock Middle School reported that the historic school, built in 1923, sounded as if the walls were whistling. Floorboards and doors were creaking. Debris was tap, tap, tapping on the schoolhouse windows. Knowing that all are safe, we are happy that students could experience such an interesting weather event. If they ever have a writing prompt that starts with.... "it was a cold and windy winter day"........ they'll be set!

We're posting the scene on  Sky Watch Friday where you can view skies and weather events from Greensboro to Siberia and back!

 

Snow and Fog: Time to Reflect

This is a view in northwest Guilford County, a couple of mornings ago just before the sun rose. It has been an emotional week for us at Greensboro Daily Photo. With the opening of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in downtown Greensboro we got help document and share a fabulous moment in time. 

However, yesterday, our dear friend Alice Moore, frequent commenter on Greensboro Daily Photo, slipped into eternal sleep. Alice was a lifelong resident of East Greensboro, a photographer, historian, and Francophile. Alice provided us with much food for thought not only about Greensboro, but about life in general. She will be sorely missed as will her comments on this blog. This photo with its breathy, nebulous aura reminds us of her absence. If you could see souls dissipating, surely, this is what they would look like.

We're posting this photo on Sky Watch Friday and, if you follow our link, you can see hundreds of sky views from around the world...... somewhere, out there, is a warm, sunny day.

 
 

Guilford College Co-ed

This photo was taken on Sunday afternoon around 12:45 pm along the Friendly Avenue entrance of Guilford College. If we had to guess, we would say that this co-ed, dressed in her Sunday best, was walking home from church. If she is a Quaker, she was walking home from "meeting."

The Quakers first came to the area in 1750, naming their settlement New Garden. The land was described as "this majestic wilderness." By 1837, they opened a co-educational New Garden Boarding School. As explained on the Guilford College website, the campus was even a station on the Underground Railroad. In the 1800's, the school evolved into Guilford College-- the fourth oldest degree-granting institution in North Carolina. Guilford College is designated a National Historic District by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Students can't help but feel that they are part of something special.

Except for the asphalt road, this foggy, wet, winter scene could have been a photo from a hundred years ago. We will share it on Watery Wednesday.

 

Carlson Farms Lake

This vista is from a vantage point on Tory Hill Drive, Near Carlson Dairy Road. As you can see Carlson Farms Lake is still somewhat frozen and the Bermuda grass on the golf course is brown, brown, brown on this quiet, winter day. 

The silo and hidden barn across the lake are leftover from the pre-golf course days when this property was a working dairy farm. Now these rolling hills are part of the Greensboro Country Club's Farm Course. During cold weather when golfers have retreated indoors, one can sit on the banks of the small lake and imagine the time when cows would meander down to the watering hole for a drink and back up the hill for food. While on this photo shoot, we did see a herd of deer, an Eastern bluebird, and a big yellow tabby cat hiding in the leafless bushes. Peaceful-- for now.........

View Watery Wednesday here.

 

White Christmas (a Week Early)

Merry Christmas from Greensboro, NC. 

We at Greensboro Daily Photo hope you are with family and loved ones today. Greensboro doesn't usually have snow before Christmas, so Christmas 2009 arrived with great fanfare. This house in Lake Jeanette, with the light in the entrance hallway and wreaths on every window, looks quite inviting. Soon after taking the photo, giant snowflakes covered the bushes and silenced the roads. Today, with a cup of hot chocolate and fresh gingerbread cookies, snowflakes are long forgotten and we are watching wrapping paper stack on the floor around us. We love the gifts but are even more grateful for our beautiful city, our family & friends, our faithful readers and above all, this special holiday. A heartfelt embrace from us to you. 

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Up on the Rooftop

Tonight, Santa won't have any trouble getting up on these rooftops that back up to Horse Pen Creek Road. The weather has been on everyone's mind these days, including ours. In Greensboro, all someone has to do is mention bad weather and we rush to the store to buy bread and mild. However, on this Christmas Eve Day, the weather is cooperating. You should be able to make the most of this one last shopping/travel day. 

If you have a chance over the holidays, introduce your family and friends to Greensboro Daily Photo. If you look at the column on the right, you can peruse our posts over the last several months. 

 

Frosty@Cornwallis

No winter is complete without building a snowman. We've dubbed this snowman the Mayor of Cornwallis, because he stands majestically in Irving Park in the 100 block of Cornwallis Drive. He is what snowmen look like after a few days above 40 degrees. One eye melted off and his scarf is slipping from his neck; however, this Frosty still has an air of dignity about him. We hope you have your chance to build at least one snowman this winter, that is, of course, unless you live in Hawaii or Key West!

Wanted to save this for Skywatch Friday, if this weather keeps up, Frosty will be gone by then!  Since W is for Water and snow is frozen WATER, we've decided to post at Watery Wednesday and ABC Wednesday instead! Besides, if you look hard enough, you can see a bead of sweat above his brow. Drip, drip, drip.........

 

First Day of Winter

Happy First Day of Winter, TODAY, December 21st.

Can you believe we had our first snow before winter this year? The Greensboro family above is delighting in the unseasonably early snow.  This dedicated, attentive Dad seemed to be having as much fun in the big snowflakes as the kids. Wonder if mom was inside getting the hot chocolate ready? 

We recently learned on "Are you smarter than a fifth grader" that, during the holidays, children like spending time with family even more than opening presents! Hopefully all children will build memories as picturesque as the one above during this holiday week! So, STOP and do something with/for a child!

 

Holden Road in the Rain

Last week, we were driving from the southwestern to northwestern end of Guilford County. The rain was relentless; Haz-mat was cleaning up a spill on I-85.  This is the view from the passenger's seat as we made our ride home on Holden Road.We were all tired and wondering if we would make it home safely. Greensboro was a rainy and muddy mess. 

If you have a teenagers learning to drive, show them this picture and tell them this is the reason you take your drivers' education class seriously. This is one of many reasons why you CAN'T drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Here is our contribution to Watery Wednesday!

Airstream Campers in NC

This weekend, we found ourselves at Out-of-Doors Mart photographing AIRSTREAM Campers. Here you see a few of the brushed aluminum beauties against a rainy North Carolina sky and brilliant orange maple leaves. According to their website, Out-of-Doors Mart has been selling and servicing Airstreams for 40 years-- longer than any other dealer in the world! 

Many people who own Airstreams become members of the Wally Bynum Caravan Club. Wally Bynum is the man who developed the prototype for today's Airstream. These campers hold their value well and attract a lot of attention whenever they pull in somewhere. On the road travel with a camper becomes quite an addiction for some. Groups like the Airstream clubs and caravans provide an instant, mobile, social network! For a little history on the Airstream, go here or here.

You can see by the wet ground that we were dodging rainstorms and are sharing this photo with our Watery Wednesday friends! If anyone has a great Airstream story, please share!

Fall Roses in North Carolina

Given that Greensboro is in hardy zone 7, we usually have our first frost between September 30 and October 30th. (Monday, October 19th felt pretty close to a first frost in Greensboro).

With or without our help, roses are getting ready for winter. Rose hips tell the plant that the season is coming to an end.  The roots search for water to hydrate for the winter. Hopefully, you have long put your plant food away and made that trip to the garden store for mulch to insulate your roses, tucking them in for their long winter's nap. As is the case with the freshly-picked roses above, roses seem to get one last burst of energy in the misty, crisp fall air when the bug population has died down and the red clay has cooled. You're really not supposed to dead head or trim this late in the season, but we couldn't resist bringing these flowers inside. Since the vase is filled with WATER (front row and center), we're going to link up with Watery Wednesday. 

Foggy Morning in Guilford County

Guilford County still has some rural scenes. Here we see the sun trying to rise during a foggy morning out in the county. Fortunately, by the time we took this picture, the fog had started to lift and, as we hit rush hour traffic, we could see the bumpers of the cars in front of us. 

The color was pretty dull in the colorized version of this photo, so we didn't hesitate to turn it into a black and white for Monochrome Weekly. 

Skywatch Friday: By Rusty For Sue

Today's beautiful Skywatch Friday picture is the sky seen through the metal dragonfly sculpture at Greensboro's Center City Park. This is our first post by a guest photographer. Faithful GDP reader Sue sent this picture taken by her husband, Rusty. When we e-mailed Sue to get permission to use his name, she said she would be honored because he died a few months ago of Lou Gehrig's Disease. Sue, today is your day with a photo by Rusty for you. GDP readers, as we skywatch today, let us keep Sue, Rusty, and our own loved ones in our thoughts.

Rain Brings Us Together

This photograph was taken at the Greensboro Arboretum during the Summer Solstice Festival of 2008. It came across our desk as we going through the archives. We love the way people made the most of the summer downpour by sharing umbrellas and huddling together. All the giggling made us feel as if we were five-years-old again!  Next time you are down in the dumps, remember, rain can, indeed, bring us together. Everyone, but the vendors, was happy that day. The Greensboro Arboretum hosts many events and always has interesting flora; truly, a photographer's delight.

We think it is perfect for to share for the Watery Wednesday and the Monochrome Weekly groups.