Greensboro Daily Photo

House Formerly Known as Zenke

In August, we brought you the Zenke House in its former location across from Blandwood Mansion in downtown Greensboro. Here we see the same house just a bit north on Cedar Street. Although the new owners don't yet have the structure restored to its original splendor, we can see that it has been given a foundation-- a permanent home-- and appears to have been here for a century. We haven't followed the saga of the other displaced Zenke structures but hope they have an equally happy ending. 

We're sharing this for Monochrome Weekly and will return in color when renovations and landscaping are complete!

Get Me to the Church on Time

For this week's Sacred Sunday shot, we feature a little flower girl leading her daddy into Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church for a wedding. Likely, they were running a little bit late and she didn't want to miss a minute. In my mind, she was singing the Lerner/Loewe song, "Get Me to the Church on Time." I can almost hear the lyrics, written for the 1956 musical, My Fair Lady, as I organize this post.

Mostly at Greensboro Daily Photo, we post photos of buildings for Sacred Sunday; however,we are quite aware that a house of worship is nothing but a piece of architecture without people. Hats off to this little girl and her papi.

Double C Farm Equine Facility

This Saturday, if you get out and explore Greensboro and Guilford County, you will be amazed at what you find. Here we see one of the ponies at Double C Farm and Equine Facility at 2111 Pleasant Ridge Road. This tethered pony was saddled up and resting in between rides during their recent fall festival. He seemed very gentle and accommodating as child after child was hoisted on his back for the jolly ride around the ring. 

Let us know what you are up to this weekend in your neck of the woods.

Pokeweed aka Pokeberries

Pokeweed is a native North American perennial. While some people say you can eat the leaves, this is only true for young leaves that have been boiled three times. Even then, toxin's remain. The leaves are used topically as a poultice. Perhaps the most famous pokeweed fact is that the Declaration of Independence of the United States was written with fermented pokeweed berry juice. Also, the ink was popular for letter writing during the American Civil War (1860's). Over time, the ink turns brown. Finally, giant leopard moth larvae devour the leaves. We love their beauty and lore but sure hate pulling them out of our yard!

We share this Sky Watch Friday picture today while winter has not yet kicked fall to the curb!

Ali Vincent-- Biggest Loser

The 2008, fifth-season winner of The Biggest Loser, Ali Vincent, tirelessly greeted fans and signed autographs last night at Barnes and Noble in Friendly Center. Our Barnes and Noble works diligently to bring authors and to host community events. In this case, Ali was selling copies of her book, Believe It, Be It, right and left, and the public had a chance to meet this inspirational person. Ali lost 112 pounds and has managed to keep her weight off. Her book is subtitled, The Biggest Loser Won Me Back My Life.

Our photo doesn't do Alo justice, her dress was really an energetic pink and when she smiled, her beautiful white teeth lit up the room. Still, we were happy to have been part of this event. If we were really journalists (and not just a mom and pop blog), we would ask Ali, a Mormon from Mesa Arizona, if she knows Stephanie Nielson, also a Mormon with ties to Arizona, and if she had the opportunity to meet Greensboro author and fellow Mormon, Orson Scott Card.

Salvation Army Select

On Friday, November 13th, The Salvation Army opened an upscale thrift-shop in the Lake Jeanette neighborhood of Greensboro. Several months in the making, students from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro collaborated with the Salvation Army on the design of the Salvation Army Select Store. One of the students' many artful touches is the trail of red shoes leading shoppers across the length of the strip mall to the entrance. Both man in the background and the one in the reflection on the right are following their wives into the store. The attractive boutique does not have the usual cluttered look of a thrift shop and the goods are name brands, clean, and neatly organized. Weather you are a shopper or looking for a place to donate gently-used clothing (for men, women, and children) do visit this collaborative venture that gives back to the community. To bring more worldwide visibility to this post, we are linking to Ruby Tuesday, in celebration of the "ruby slippers!"

Since 1865, the Salvation Army has been saving souls, one donation at a time.

Our Lady of Grace School

The weekend is over and children head back to school today. Our Lady of Grace School is a private, Catholic School, located on Chapman Street, just behind the church. Founded in 1953, OLG (as it is known locally) serves 370 children in grades K-8. 

We offer this photo for Monochrome Weekly. Emerging from the darkness of the tree trunk, the statue to the trio of people was just glowing in the sunshine this weekend. If you notice our other posts, we're really pretty obsessed with brilliant COLORS; however, sometimes you find something that was just meant for black and white!

First Moravian Church, Greensboro

Finally some sunshine this week and what better way to enjoy it than to get out and photograph our great city? For this week's Sacred Sunday shot, we feature the First Moravian Church of Greensboro at 304 South Elam Avenue. The church is about to enter its busiest season, Advent, and will host it's largest fundraiser, a candle tea, bake sale, and bazaar-- we believe the first weekend in December. At the tea, sip warm beverages, eat Moravian cookies, and learn about Moravian Christmas traditions. 

While the above building only dates to the 1950's, the Moravian Church is one of the earliest Christian denominations in the world, having been organized in 1457 about 100 miles east of Prague. The first effort to establish a Moravian Church in the United States was in Georgia in 1735. North Carolina's most famous Moravian settlement is Old Salem, about 40 miles west of Greensboro. We will visit the First Moravian Church for the tea and Old Salem between now and Christmas.

Whoo Hoo Truck

We like to feature vehicles unique to Greensboro. Well, the Whoo-Hoo mobile is about as unique as it gets. Greensboro artist Leanne Pizio has decorated this truck to resemble her pottery. Likely, if you see the Whoo-hoo-mobile loaded up with boxes, Leanne is en route to a show. Stop Leanne right then and there and buy something. We've featured her before (but not this great vehicle) and here is her website. We love local talent and great vehicles; this post has both. If you are a "vehicle person" click here and take a quick scroll!

Let us know if there is a "must see" vehicle in YOUR neighborhood. We've always got our camera with us. Smile. If you're reading this, you survived another Friday the 13th! Stop by tomorrow for Sacred Sunday. Which house of worship will we feature next?

Autumn Blaze Maple

These relatively young autumn blaze maples are part of the landscape in the new side of Friendly Shopping Center. Autumn blaze maples are known for being fast growing, disease resistant and thriving in zones 3-8. We don't usually find parking lots attractive; however, with the green and rust trees in the background, the mostly gray and red vehicles scattered throughout, and the puffy little green bushes, this cluster of red leaves just caught our eye! For this Skywatch Friday the 13th, we hope the cold, rainy, colorless sky will prove to be LUCKY! 

We can't wait to go back next year and see just how much the maples have grown.

Lucky 32

Lucky 32 Restaurant has been a Greensboro institution for twenty years. Here we see the painting of downtown Greensboro in the entrance hallway. Every time we sit on the bench just below the glass bricks on the left, we notice some new detail in this painting. Featured prominently is the Jefferson Pilot, now Lincoln Financial, Building. Lucky 32, located at 1421 Westover Terrace, always has an interesting menu, centered around Southern foods.

Freedom is...

November 11.. Veterans' Day... was originally designated to honor veterans from WWI. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. The holiday officially became celebrated as Armistice Day in 1938 and in 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the law to make the holiday honor Veterans of all wars. The above photo shows drawings of Greensboro elementary school students. Their collective effort reminds us that patriotism and appreciation for the servicemen who fight to defend our freedom starts young. May we all reflect on this day, regardless national origin and hope that the world may all find a way to live in peace.

Bananas on Spring Garden

With the banana tree in front, this place seems more like a sleepy, Florida bungalow than student housing on Spring Garden Street. Looks like something out of a Marjorie Rawlings novel. Remember The Yearling? The light is on. Gregory Peck (the dad in the movie version) must be waiting for son Jodie to come home.

We're going to watch this tree during the winter. It is unusual to see a banana tree so far north. One of the many delights of Greensboro is the diversity of the houses and plantings in our neighborhoods. Between the dark red trim and the red leaves on the tree to the left, we've joined Work of the Poet's Ruby Tuesday where everything is coming up RED!

North State Milling Co.

Today, we share a photo of the now-abandoned North State Milling Company located at 816 South Elm Street. Likely this is the best Lee Street view we'll have as the lot in front is currently under construction. This brick and wooden building, with metal silos, was built in 1912 and remains an outstanding example of early 20th-century industrial architecture. It is a slice of life in Greensboro as it used to be. If you want to read more, Preservation Greensboro writes about this treasured place. We keep hoping a national advertiser will feature it in an ad or that a movie will use it as a prop.

We are sharing this photo with our Monochrome Weekly friends.

Faithway Baptist Church

Faithway Baptist Church, 610 E. Lake Drive, sits at the edge of a city park/walking trail overlooking the area where Bryan Blvd. curves on into downtown. This church is within walking distance to the Lake Daniel and Westerwood neighborhoods. They've had the same pastor, James Bledsoe, for nearly 20 years.

Unfortunately the website for the church does not tell the history of the building and when we were on this night photo shoot, we didn't find a cornerstone with a date. The sign in front reads, "The truth shall make you free.. thy word is truth."  Actually, it reads,  "thywor  dis   truth" but we think they suffered a case of the shifting letters! Happy Sacred Sunday, Faithway! The light on the door looks like a cross!

On a sad note, this week, in Greensboro, a 14 year old boy took his own life. As you look at friends, relatives, strangers, young and old alike, please keep your words kind and inviting. Often it is not apparent who is troubled, self-loathing, and in pain. In closing, please pause to reflect on the week-- regardless of your belief system.

So Glad We're Here

This is a photo of the Anthropologie clothing store at Friendly center. In case you didn't notice, behind the word "glad," is a map of North Carolina. How nice to have a retailer express something so positive. We're happy to be here too. Let us know what you're up to this weekend. 

We just linked to the Weekend Reflections meme! 

High Point Furniture

If you have ever shopped for furniture in High Point, likely, you have seen this giant chest of drawers at Furnitureland South. It is at least four stories high. As you walk under it, you realize you are in the furniture capital of the world. This 40-year-old company, one of many industry-related venues in the area, represents over 500 companies in over a million square feet of space.

There is another great giant piece of furniture on Hamilton Street. If you ever make it to Greensboro, head a few miles Southwest and and visit this furniture mecca. People who sell and buy furniture here realize the value on the local commitment to the industry. Especially during furniture market weeks, we all put our hearts and energy into this important industry. Even though the sky is a little bleak in this photo, we are posting this on Sky Watch Friday because the blog gets so many visitors from around the world on skywatch days. Thanks for looking!

Tate Street in the Fall

After yesterday's gloomy photo, we just had to let the sun shine! This view of Tate Street shows fall's brilliant palette in a bustling area between two college campuses: The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Greensboro College.  Here we see, every parking space is full. People arre out enjoying this glorious day. Tate Street is a great place to get a quick bite to eat between classes, grab a cup of coffee, listen to music, and study into the wee hours. 

Imagine how lovely this view would be without that ugly pole chopping the photo in half! Real life is like that, though; poles and wires obstruct our view all the time. We gotta focus on the beauty and not the obstructions. After all, it is as if those poles frame the leaves and punctuate their transition from red to orange to yellow to green.

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!

Zinnias in November

These zinnias, nearing the end of their growing cycle,  are still delighting people on Pleasant Ridge Road in Northwest Greensboro. We noticed them while taking photos at the fall festival at the Double C Farm this past weekend. We're taking note of flowering vegetation that is hardy in the late fall so that we can include them in our landscape. When these zinnias are in their full glory, the pink and orange combination must be simply stunning! As Greensboro succumbs to the browns and gray of winter, we're going to bring this photo to desktop! This photo is dedicated to our dear friend iJune who is under the weather!

Finally, if you haven't voted yet, please head to the polls and vote YES to support the expansion and renovation of the Natural Science Center. Even MORE beautiful flora and fauna can be part of your life at this Greensboro treasure.

Natural Science Center... YES!

We at GDP usually avoid being political. However, today, we're out encouraging people to vote YES! on the Bond Referendum for the Natural Science Center. Our family has used this community resource at every step of the way. We have visited and volunteered, participated in school field trips,  held birthday parties, shot photos, and gone there to get critters (found in our yard) identified. 

If the bond passes, the museum will be renovated and expanded, making an already great facility OUTSTANDING. We are all for these projects that benefit the whole community. If you are still unsure or considering voting no, please stop by the center this weekend and talk to someone about the bond. If you can't get there in person, at lease check out their website! Please get out and vote YES! tomorrow!

Church of the Covenant

The cornerstone on the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant reads 1914; however, the need for a Presbyterian church to meet the needs of the neighborhood between State Normal and Industrial College and Greensboro Female College (now UNCG and Greensboro College respectively) was established in 1894. The original wooden structure, completed in 1906, was replaced by this brick one in 1914. Greensboro architect Harry Barton designed this building with two equally grand façades with Ionic porticos to take advantage of the corner lot. The façade on the left faces Greensboro College and the one on the right faces the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. 

This liberal-minded church community bills itself as an inclusive, open-minded, home for your soul. In additional to more traditional services, they have extensive, inspirational music events. Over the years, with expansions, the building encompasses the major portion of the city block and has helped keep the Mendenhall/Walker Avenue area of College Avenue a spiritual haven for many. 

This is our contribution to what we have dubbed Sacred Sunday. Also, every first of the month, the 1,000+ City Daily Photo sites are invited to participate in theme day. This month's theme is: Doorways. Here we offer TWO!   Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Happy Halloween Greensboro!

Meet Trick and Treat! They're staying inside this Halloween and waiting patiently by the window to see who will stop by. Time to stir some witches brew and get the candy ready for the little ones.

Halloween on a Saturday is good for teachers as students don't come to school the next day with excessive sugar in their bloodstream. Unfortunately, weekend Halloweens allow more time for tricking. Keep your house well lit. Drive safely and watch for pedestrians!  What was your favorite costume this year? What is your favorite Halloween candy? Which neighborhoods have the most festive houses?

Our favorite Halloween memory is the scene in To Kill a Mockingbird where Scout is traipsing through the woods in her Halloween costume. Another is visiting the NC Zoo's "Boo at the Zoo." Another is the Ghost Train at Tweetsie Railroad; finally, there is the "Zoo Boo Bash" at Greensboro's Natural Science Center!

Today, we are participating in Camera Critters-- the home of adorable animal photos!

Sunset on I-40

This past weekend, we drove from New Bern westward to Greensboro. As the sun set, it created breathtaking views through the windshield glass. Mostly the sunset was spectacular on the south side of the interstate, making it hard to photograph. However, on this stretch, the view was also spectacular in front of us. Since Mr. GDP was driving, I was able to cheat a little bit and use the tint of the windshield glass to add the blue filter at the top. To us, the sunset was a real gift and on this Sky Watch Friday, we have decided to share it with you. 

Mangum Sculpture at Chavis Library

This sculpture, "Lamp of Learning," is mounted in front of the Vance Chavis Branch of the Greensboro Public Library. William Goodson Mangum is the sculptor. The work was commissioned in 1968 by Dunning Industries and the Centennial Decade Advisory Committee of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. It is a tribute to the five institutions of higher education in Greensboro (University of North Carolina at Greensboro; North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; Bennett College; Greensboro College; and Guilford College). 

There are (at least) two artists in this part of North Carolina named William Mangum. One is primarily a watercolorist with a studio in Irving Park. The second William Mangum, William Goodson Mangum, painter, sculptor, and former Chairman/Professor of Art at Salem College, sculpted the piece in today's photo.  William Goodson Mangum, born in North Carolina in 1924, studied at the Corcoran School of Art as well as the Chicago Academy of Fine arts, and the Arts Students League (reference here).

The above Mangum sculpture looks spectacularly strong and powerful from the east/west view on Lee Street (at the corner of S. Benbow). From the front, it looks entirely different, almost like three separate and unfurled banners. The yellow fall leaves frame the artwork and make it look especially beautiful. Treat yourself to an afternoon at the Chavis Lifelong Learning Branch Library and enjoy an up close view of this work of art!

Corrections to this post were made on September 30, 2011 after receiving a message from Grace Elizabeth Mangum, daughter of Professor Mangum. 

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!

Cycling Around Greensboro

Cycling is a growing sport in Greensboro. We are expanding our greenways and are starting to see bicycle lanes around town, especially around UNC Greensboro. Here is a group of cyclists just after advocating for their space on the highways at a meeting regarding widening Horse Pen Creek Road. The cyclists as well as Fox 8 News have been following this process. 

We decided to feature this photo today because, this past weekend, cyclist David Sherman was killed in a hit and run accident. A silver Dodge Durango hit David while he was cycling on North Church Street. The sport is growing so quickly, motorists have got to get used to sharing the road. Cyclists and motorists need to work together to keep the roads safe for all! 

This photo is our contribution to Ruby Tuesday, a meme that celebrates the color red. 

The Burn Barrel

If you are from the rural south, you know about burning a barrel. Here we see the quintessential 55-gallon drum used for burning trash around the farm. Often, on the weekends, menfolk stand around, leaning on the bed of a truck and rehashing events of the week-- as the barrel burns. Lots of people have funny "burn barrel" stories. Here's one. This story centers around the adventures of trying to find a burn barrel to purchase. As for us, we never could find a barrel to purchase and finally ended up with a round, suburban fire pit!

In New York State, there is actually a Tour de Burn Barrel, NOT to celebrate the burning of a barrel but to warn of the potential environmental hazards of this first-generation  chiminea. Have you ever burned a barrel? Was there one on your property? This photo is printed in sepia tones in order to participate in Monochrome Weekly.

Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses

Today's Sacred Sunday post is The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses on Pisgah Church Road. In line with their avoidance of religious symbols or iconography of any kind, The Kingdom Hall, featured in this photo has only a sign at the road announcing the gathering place for Witnesses. While on site, we had the good fortunate to speak with one of the elders who answered our questions about his religion.

The religion is relatively new, getting its start in the 1870's with Charles Taze Russell and the Bible Students. They actively evengelize, discussing their beliefs and sharing their publications with all who are interested. The religion is Bible-based with Jehovah, the English translation of God's Biblical name as the focus towards which all worship should be directed. Jehovah Witnesses believe that the last days of the present world order are near. If you want to read more about the religion, much is available on the internet, especially at their Watchtower site and on Wikipedia. The denomination has no paid employees and operates exclusively on volunteerism.

Pumpkin Patches for Charities

Greensboro has a great tradition of churches, especially youth groups, selling pumpkins as a fall fundraiser. Here we see a man and his daughter purchasing pumpkins at the Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church at the corner of Battleground and Pisgah Church Road. The daughter carried a small pumpkin and daddy carried the large one. "Just one," he reminded her and kudos to her dad, he stuck to it! Even we couldn't leave with just one apiece. The gourds were so fabulous and unique that we left with a bag full-- enough for a centerpiece for only $7.50. 

According to the members of the youth group, they anticipate selling almost 70,000 pounds of pumpkins and gourds. The supply looked fresh and abundant when we were there a couple of days ago. So, happy Saturday, why not head out and support a local youth group?  Make your house look like FALL and, if you celebrate Halloween, carve away! 

Thinking Pink in NC

Today, we post a Breast Cancer Awareness photo, lest the month get away without our contributing to the effort. Here we see the vanity license tag, THNKPINK, hailing from North Carolina. Mr. GDP says if you can't figure out the message within 20 seconds, you've wasted your money. Well, there is not doubt about the message on the back of this Mercedes-Benz! 

If we read the data from the North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics correctly, in 2006 alone, there were 7,679 cases of female breast cancer in North Carolina. It is projected that this will also be the count for 2009 in North Carolina and that 387 of our breast cancer cases will be in Guilford County. Early detection increases the survival rate so get your mammogram today! 

We're hoping that the sun flare reflecting the sky into the camera lens will qualify us to participate in Sky Watch Friday! The sun's rays lead the eye right to THNKPINK!

Spartan Volleyball at UNCG

We, in Greensboro, are so lucky to have an NCAA division 1 volleyball team to watch-- FOR FREE! The photo was taken this past weekend during the Dig Pink event. The UNCG Spartans, featured in white, beat both Davidson and Georgia Southern. Saturday's match against Davidson was a relatively easy win for the Spartans, whereas, on Sunday, the GS Tigers won a game, making the teams play a fourth game (for the best of five). Out of 12 players at UNCG, only 3 are seniors so the Spartans should be playing good volleyball for years! Several of the players come from Virginia and North Carolina; one player hails from Pittsburgh, PA; two are from the midwest; and three are from the volleyball powerhouse state, CALIFORNIA!  For a little history, 1971 was the first year for volleyball at UNCG with Pat Hielscher coaching.

If you want to see a game schedule the remaining season, visit here.

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. 

International Civil Rights Museum

In Greensboro, the Civil Rights Movement is an important part of our history. In this very Woolworth Building, at 301 N. Elm St., the sit-in movement was launched. On February 1, 1960, four North Carolina A&T University freshmen refused to leave the lunch counter where they were refused service. The International Civil Rights Museum and Center has struggled with funding and for years was only a dream. It seems that the museum is closer to becoming a reality as can be seen with the construction in this photo. The sit in movement has a website. To enter the website, you have to decide if you want to enter through the "white" or "colored" entrance. If you want to learn more, we suggest you visit the museum's site.

Visit My World Tuesday to learn about other parts of the world!

O. Henry-- Historic Marker

Downtown Greensboro, On Market Street, is this historic marker for short story writer, O. Henry. On April 20th, we featured the O.Henry monument. His short stories are so contemporary, it is hard to believe that he was born during the Civil War (and died in the year of the Mexican Revolution for that matter). 

Ever since our friend Alice suggested that O.Henry would be a great choice, were Greensboro to get a U-Haul truck designed for us, we have been devouring our collection of O.Henry short stories. What have you been reading lately? 

Stop by Monochrome Weekly if you like black and white photography.

Stations of the Cross

For Sacred Sunday this week, we offer a view of 5 of the 12 panels in the Stations of the Cross artwork at the West Market Street United Methodist Church. Traditionally, the Stations of the Cross features the end of Christ's life in 14 pictures or stations. In the West Market Street UMC collection, the 14 events are presented in 12 panels. The artwork, completed around 1890, was sold by the French church near the Belgian border once the church closed. Eventually, they were acquired and donated by the Fouts family in memory of Dan Fouts. As Father Adam of Monastery Daily Photo has pointed out, it is unusual for a Methodist Church to own this, traditionally Catholic, artwork. Regardless of owner, the paintings are stunning, and, in their balcony location, accessible to worshipers.

Little Log Cabin Near Wendover

If you live in Greensboro, you know that Wendover Avenue is one of the busiest retail corridors in the city. Big box stores and traffic jams abound. Well, about a half a mile off of Wendover, at the corner of Norwalk and Railway Avenues, sits this little log cabin, straight out of a century or two ago. On its small corner lot, the little log cabin looks so tranquil, until you realize that it is surrounded by warehouses, businesses, and traffic jams. We'd love to know the story of this little abode.

We hope you have a chance to get out and explore our town/your town this weekend. If you are local, please let us know where you've been. We're always looking for new places to photograph. Can you believe we're getting close to 300 posts?

Roundabout Twilight

Over half of the world's roundabouts are located in France. They are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. However, according to Wikipedia, the first modern roundabout in the United States wasn't constructed until in 1990 in Nevada. Roundabouts require the entering driver to yield to the driver already in the circle. They are supposed to be safer for drivers and pedestrians than traditional intersections. The roundabout in the photo is located at Lake Jeanette. Greensboro also has another one at the shopping plaza at Pisgah Church and one on Greene Street downtown. If you are interested in building one in your community, follow this link to a site that not only publishes articles about roundabouts but also gives you contacts for feasibility studies for your community.

The play on words "roundabout twilight" were selected because today is FRIDAY and we are participating in Skywatch Friday. We'd hoped for a better photo but roundabouts are hard to photograph! Do you like driving in them? Tell us your roundabout stories. We've heard that people who don't want the advances of a suitor arrange to meet in the middle of the roundabout, or better yet, in the center of a traffic circle in a big city!

Halloween Inflatables

Driving through the neighborhood behind Earthfare Grocery Store tonight, we stumbled upon this yard decked out for Halloween. Here we see only about a fourth of the decorations; this small yard was covered! Plump and wildly entertaining by night, these inflatable decorations transform into unplugged, collapsed  flat clumps by morning. Bats, pumpkins, ghosts, goblins,haunted-houses and skeletons will take over our thoughts until October 31st when the Halloween season comes to an end. By Thanksgiving, those dedicated to inflatables will change over to the Christmas theme. 

If you see wildly decorated yards that deserve some camera time, please let us know. We'll be happy to drive by and share them with all. Tell us your favorite activities for Halloween in Greensboro. Oh, and happy haunting!

Guilford Co. Sheriff's Office

These officers, six of Greensboro's finest, are leaving work at the end of their shift. While home base is Sheriff B.J. Barnes' office, likely, their collective "beat" encompasses a large part of Guilford County. We felt it was important to honor men in uniform today as neighboring Winston-Salem just lost a police officer, 27-year veteran Mickey Hutchens, in the line of fire. Next time you see a deputy, policeman, trooper, fireman, remember that these public sevants risk their lives for us every day.

On a lighter note, when taking this photograph, I wanted to run across the street and tell the deputies "You're going the wrong way on a one way street!" but decided not to joke around. You never know what kind of day they had. Besides, I would have been jay-walking.