Greensboro Daily Photo

Heading South, DOWNTOWN, On Highway 220

Over the couple of decades, North Battleground has gone from seeming like a sleepy little part of Greensboro, far from downtown to a busy access road to the Greensboro Urban Loop. Highway 220 is the north/south road stretching from Rockingham, NC in Richmond County, to its interchange with New York State Route 17. 

The above photo was taken yesterday, at about 6:30 pm, when the bright sun, low to the horizon brought out the color in everything. Earlier in the day, it actually snowed in Greensboro. It isn't very common for us to have an April snow. Fortunately, temperatures didn't drop below freezing and it seems that the blossoms may have been spared. While today's photo has no sign of vegetation, that beautiful sky lets us know that nature is glorious!

Happy Spring!

 

It seems like it took forever for spring to arrive in Greensboro, but spring is finally here! Now,  the season will start flying. With trees budding and flowers blooming, azaleas and dogwoods ready to bloom,  Greensboro will enter one of its most beautiful times of the year. Last night, a full moon coincided with the vernal equinox. The moon was especially beautiful as it was setting yesterday morning in Greensboro. The above photo was taken near Lake Higgins as it was setting between two evergreens. When the moon is full, and it is not overcast, you don't even need a flashlight to walk around the block.

Both Passover and Easter are tied to the lunar calendar. Passover is celebrated on the first full moon after the vernal equinox, and Easter can't be before Passover. Now, the Jewish community waits patiently until April 19th, for the next full moon, and for Passover to start. And then, Sunday, April 21st Christians will celebrate Easter.  Happy Thursday! Happy Spring!

Spring Is On Its Way...

 

Signs of spring are here, in Greensboro. Today is a beautiful Saturday. The sun is shining, the early flowers are pushing their way through mulch, pine straw, and leaves from deciduous trees. The above crocus plants are volunteers, staking their space under a sweet gum tree. At long last, Greensboro has a reprieve from rain, with nice weather predicted for the week. By about mid-July, we'll probably be begging for rain.

In the meantime, today is the 238 Anniversary of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. If you are up for it, head over to see one of the most historic events in Greensboro, the Reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Today and tomorrow, there will be events to bring Revolutionary War history alive.

Baseball Season Is Upon Us

With all of the high schools, AAU teams, institutions of higher education and the Greensboro Grasshoppers, there are so many options to see baseball in Guilford County. The above photo shows the dugout at Guilford College. This past Sunday, the Guilford College Quakers played the Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets. Unfortunately for the Quakers, the Yellow Jackets won. 

If you want to attend their next home game, it will be against William Peace tomorrow at 3:00 p.m., at exactly the same time as the Underground Railroad Tour on campus. You could go on the tour, which will probably be brief, and then stop by the game. At least it stays light longer now to enjoy these options in the afternoon/early evening.

Boho Blu Warehouse Sale

Locally owned, Boho Blu is a vintage inspired clothing boutique with six locations in North Carolina. In Greensboro, they have stores downtown on South Elm Street and at Friendly Center. For their Greensboro shoppers, last weekend, they held a clearance, warehouse sale on Whitehurst Road. The building is located off of Westridge Road,  the road behind Kohl's and leading to Westminster Gardens Cemetery. During the sale, women lined up long before doors opened, in the chilling, chilling rain, to shop the bargains. With beyond-capacity crowds, Boho Blue had to limit the number of people allowed in at a time. Lines like these evoke memories of the Rag Poets Societe clearance sales in the 1990's in Friendly Center. 

Warehouse sales are best enjoyed with friends, especially those who wear a different size. This transition from winter to spring is a great time to find bargains. Boho Blu is a growing company, it will be fun to follow their growth, knowing they owners got their start right here. Happy Thursday!

Another Rainy Night

Last night, the weather was rainy and dreary. Downtown, First Friday was not very well attended, possibly because of the weather. However, even though it is hard to get crisp, clear photos at night, the overall feel of a rainy evening can be quite intriguing. The 300 block of South Elm Street looked quite beautiful last night.

Greensboro has experienced record rainfall this season. However, given the fact that this is the last weekend before Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday, likely, tonight will be a busy night out on the town. May everyone enjoy the weekend, responsibly.

Hellebores and Daffodils

In spite of spring being over 20 days away, Greensboro is starting to look a little greener. The hellebores and daffodils were out in full force this past weekend. Hellebores are also known as Christmas/winter/Lenten roses. They have a long blooming season and start blooming when most everything else in dormant. They even bloom before daffodils. Both of these flowers grow well in Greensboro, as seen in the above photo. Hellebores are especially happy under deciduous trees as they get plenty of light while blooming, but are somewhat protected after the sun gets more intense. 

Speaking of sun, on Sunday the sun came out after many gray, rainy days. Everything looks so bright and happy when the sun comes out, everything from flowers to people. Greensboro is supposed to have several days in the 60s this week. Head to the farmers market to purchase your hellebores from Janice Nicholson, who was referred to as the "Hellebore Lady"  in a 2002 News and Record article by Maria Johnson (here). Janice runs the family business, Gethsemane Gardens, east of Church Street on Highway 150, where she cultivates hellebores from seeds. The hellebores in the photo are a product of her regionally-famous green thumb!

Smith Street Diner

Smith Street diner opened on Smith Street in 2005. It is hard to believe that it has already been open for 14 years. The restaurant is known for amazing breakfasts, one of the top 10 breakfast places in North Carolina. Not only is breakfast good here, but you can get it all day long here. Many people rave about the GIANT biscuits and the special recipe French toast; however, some are in love with the freshly squeezed orange juice. It takes six whole oranges to get enough juice for one glass.

Fortunately, they are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with great home-cooked meals, locally sourced as feasible. The opening of Joymongers, the adding of apartments across the street, the baseball stadium half a block away, and the greenway have given Smith Street diner plenty of foot traffic. They stay busy! Happy Friday!

The Ice Storm Came

According to Duke Power, in the Greensboro area, about 140,00 households were without power on Sundsy. The roads weren't as bad as anticipated on Sunday, but trees had ice in them, causing some branches to snap off. Most churches were closed and the roads were eerily quiet around town. 

As seen in the above photo taken in the plaza at Battleground and Westridge yesterday, drivers had to navigate around branches in the road. The McDonalds in this plaza had power, but only the drive thru was open. Perhaps it was an issue of staffing. Today, public schools are on a two hour delay. Hopefully, you are safe and sound and your week is off to a great start. In Greensboro, and beyond!

Strolling Along South Elm Street

It is always heartwarming to see families taking advantage of the businesses and resources in downtown Greensboro. In the above photo, a mother and her two daughters are walking along South Elm Street, near the Community Theatre of Greensboro. Each has her raincoat, boots,  and knows the "stick together and hold hands rule." They seemed so happy enjoying their afternoon together. Even if your family is grown, or far away, adventures around town are also meaningful with friends. There is so much to see and explore.

In the front, right corner of the photo, you can see a white Christmas tree that had been sent to the curb. There are still some decorations around the community. However, most of Greensboro has put the holidays behind and is bracing for possible inclement weather this weekend. Not to fear. Just hold hands and go forth with joy and determination.

Treecutting & Snow Storm Preparation

In the above photo, utility workers are trimming back trees near Elam and Spring Garden Street. During the winter, when the leaves are down, it is really easy to see which branches are at risk of pulling down power lines. Greensboro has some really beautiful, mature trees, but, when power lines are involved, the power lines win.

With the threat of snow in Greensboro this weekend, everybody is thinking about what they can do to shore up their houses and to be ready if the power goes out. Those with well water need to plan ahead for supplying their home with water, because wells need electricity to pump water; no electricity, no water. According to the City of Greensboro's website, about 25% of the residents in Guilford County rely on well water. 

Happy Tuesday. You know how challenging snow can be in the South. Are you prepared?

Along South Chapman Street

Yesterday was a glorious, winter day in Greensboro.  Temperatures were in the 60s and the skies were a palate-cleansing blue. This monochromatic look is so appreciated in January after a highly-decorated, colorful December.

The above photo features a bend in the road in the 300 block of South Chapman Street, very near Our Lady of Grace church. The trees are bare and the sky is even more pronounced, looking so crisp between the branches. You can tell the neighborhood is well established by the size of those trees. Nature is pretty glorious, and Greensboro is a pretty city- even in winter!

 

 

Let It Snow

Snow arrived in Greensboro on early last Sunday morning. In some places, it snowed 13". The above photo was taken in northwest Guilford County showing a  snowy field beyond a Moravian star on the morning of the snow.

Moravians first settled in the Winston-Salem area in 1753. The first Moravian church in Greensboro was built on East Lee Street in 1908.* While Moravians are Protestant/Christians, the Moravian star is the iconic symbol associated with the religion. It is very common to see the stars displayed locally this time of year; even by non-Moravian families. They are such a warm and welcoming decoration, easy to display, and look lovely against the backdrop of a new fallen snow.

* reference and more information about Moravians in Greensboro, see, here.

Still Digging Out

If you've ever owned a building with a flat roof, you know that they can be a challenge to maintain. Leaks sprout easily and show and ice weigh quite a lot and can cause damage. This man was busy shoveling snow off of a roof on a building between Branchwood Drive and Battleground Avenue. For some tasks, machines are there to replace people. For shoveling snow off of a roof, it is likely we'll be relying on humans for a very long time. If you are out patronizing businesses today, be sure to thank the employees for all they have been doing behind this scenes to get and stay open. Happy Saturday.

Snow Days

Fifth snow day in a row for Guilford County Schools. As seen in the above photo, taken yesterday afternoon at Grimsley High School, the snow has far from melted. While the main roads are clear, even some of the secondary roads are only cleared for one lane of traffic at a time. The school administrators have the extremely tough job of deciding whether or not to hold school. Since the three districts merged in the early 1990's- Greensboro City, High Point City, and the Guilford County- there is quite a bit of territory that needs to be cleaned up in order for it to be safe for all. While everyone is anxious to get back into a good routine, especially those schools that were set to give final exams this week, safety matters, above all! Happy Friday.

Frosty the Snowperson

Somebody built a snowperson on Olive Street in Fisher Park, at Bessemer Avenue. It is heartwarming to see people out enjoying the snow. In addition to the work that snow brings, by way of shoveling sidewalks and digging out one's vehicle, it is nice to make time for fun; finding that special sled riding hill, making snowmen, or even having a tame snowball "fight."

If you've ever built a snowman, you know that it is not that easy. First, the snow has to be just the right texture to stick together. Second, you have to get the snow while it is fresh and clean. Third, if the snowman is big, you may need someone to help lift the middle section. The stars aligned on Olive Street and this delightful icon of winter even survived the last two days where temperatures rose to nearly 40 degrees in Greensboro. The super creative part is its eyes. They used tootsie pops!  After all, coal isn't that easy to come by any more.

Digging Out

Yesterday, it was hit and miss with respect to businesses being open in Greensboro. There were probably more businesses closed than open. Even within corporations, it was hard to know which stores were open. The Chick-Fil-A on North Battleground was open with the drive-through snaking around the building. The Chick-Fil-A near Guilford College was closed. Some Starbucks were open; some closed. A lot had to do with safety and the ability to get parking lots shoveled and de-iced. In the above photo, the crew at Battleground Tire was busy digging out from the mountains of snow left behind by snowplows on Battleground Avenue.

Main roads are clear, side roads remain messy, and subject to black ice, as temperatures drop in the evening. Everybody is working hard to get the city fully functional again. Listening to the news, it is nice to hear that people have been offering to buy coffee and doughnuts for workers, bellringers, public servants, news crews, etc. Inclement weather is the perfect time for random acts of kindness, especially this near the holidays!

Schools are closed at least through Wednesday. For those who can, it is best to stay put! 

Horse & Fog

This past weekend was extremely foggy in Greensboro. As long as the foreground is visible, fog can really enhance a photo. Such was the case with this horse, spotted at the corner of Pleasant Ridge Road and Stanley Huff Road. Greensboro is entering one of those time periods where just about every possible weather event will be experienced within about a week. From fog, to warm sunny days, to the likelihood of snow and ice. Are you ready? This beautiful horse is. Rolled bales of hay were delivered last night and there is enough to last through the most tenacious  of snowstorms.

If you love horses, there are plenty of stables around Greensboro. If you own horses and want a horse farm, horseproperties.net often has property listed in the area. Around Greensboro, conditions are good for riding, most of the year.

Corner of Oakland Avenue and Holden Road

 

Yesterday in Greensboro, with the temperature in the mid-20s and the sun shining, the air was crisp and invigorating. The above photo was taken at the corner of Oakland Avenue and Holden Road. Oakland Avenue runs the along the railroad tracks from South Mendenhall all the way to Holden. Since there are a couple of spots that no longer make it possible to drive the entire length, the road is more or less forgotten. However, if the old Rolane Sock Factory gets developed into something like a brewery, the street is likely to gain prominence. 

With the Carolina blue sky, and the yellow and burnt orange leaves,  the off-white house with the tattoo parlor on the side, looks absolutely striking. Enjoy these last weeks of fall, as old man winter is patiently waiting to pay Greensboro a visit.

Woolly Worm Sighting in Greensboro

This woolly worm, or woolly bear was spotted in Greensboro last week. It is the caterpillar stage of what will grow into an Isabella tiger moth. First described in 1797, this creature is said to predict winter. If the brownish-red band is wide, winter will be mild.  Greensboro doesn't have any formal woolly worm predicting; however, Banner Elk, NC is a different story. There, an annual festival is held in late October with crafts and food and races. The winning woolly worm  predicts the upcoming winter weather. This year's winner of the race was a woolly worm from Montgomery County. He had a lot of brown, an indication that winter will be mild. 17,000 people attend the festival in Banner Elk.

If you spot one in the winter, they have a means of coating their bodies to protect themselves from the cold. Do not bother them. They know what they are doing. They actually need the cold to turn into a moth.  Today, Greensboro will hold a meeting to get ideas about how Greensboro could grow over the next 20 years. From 4-7 pm at Smith Senior Center on Fairview Street, the open meeting will be in session.* Please attend if you have ideas for our community. (Too bad the woolly worm festival idea is taken).

*more details, here.

Lotus Center on Lawndale Drive

Lotus Center is a facility with healthcare professionals who practice holistic medicine on Lawndale Drive near Target. According to their website,* the center houses a pharmacy of over 500 herbs and 200 prepared pills and tinctures. In the front yard, you will notice a tree that was likely uprooted during Hurricane Michael. 

If you notice, these professionals, who are grounded in natural, earth-friendly practices, have taken the tree and are sawing the wood in three inch planks that are about 2 1/2 feet by 7 feet. The wood looks like oak. It is solid, beautiful, with a nice grain. It will be interesting to try to find out what they are going to do with the wood. Whoever is cutting it is doing a fabulous job. The cuts look perfectly level.

*reference, here.

Pho Hien Vuong

Pho Hien Vuong, the fabulous Vietnamese Restaurant located at 4109 Spring Garden Street was packed, several times over, last night. With so much of Guilford County out of power, people got very creative about finding ways to get a hot meal and out of the dark. This family-owned restaurant has been a Greensboro institution since 1996. The Hien Vuong family cooks are known for recreating the flavors of southeastern Vietnam, using lots of spices, fresh vegetables, and meats, while using very little oil. The kitchen and waitstaff seemed very undaunted by the large parties of guests on a Thursday night. 

Hopefully, everyone is safe today with the power back on. With so many neighborhoods with downed power lines, flooding, and trees blocking roads, there is much work to be done. With the current situation throughout the county, it is best that children are staying put at home- or out eating warm noodles and broth with loved ones.

As ready as Greensboro was for Hurricane Florence, it seems as if Hurricane Michael took the community a little by surprise!

Still on Battleground Avenue

Greensboro is a city with a total area of 131.8 square miles. One of the main north/south arteries through many of these these Greensboro miles is Battleground Avenue. It starts downtown and winds its way north all the way to Horse Pen Creek Road and Old Battleground Avenue. At that point, Battleground is referred to as Highway 220. It is a busy retail shopping area. It would be curious to know how many cities in the United States actually have a street named Battleground; ours is named for the Revolutionary War battleground along this very road.

The above photo features a section of Battleground Avenue at the corner of Cone Boulevard and Benjamin Parkway, specifically, the 2,600 block. It provides evidence of sunny skies this week and that Hurricane Florence has subsided in our 131 square miles of community. The abundance of yellow in the photo is a nod to today's being the last official day of summer; starting tomorrow, the community will be on high pumpkin and pumpkin spice alert. Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

Hurricane Florence

Greensboro has been relatively spared damage from Hurricane Florence. The weather was pretty mild until last night when the rains rolled in. Those not living in the south simply can't fathom the build up and panic that comes with weather events. Most of Greensboro has been anticipating the wrath of Flo for a week now. School children persistently asked their teachers what was going to happen, especially as they saw their families dashing to the store to purchase storm supplies. 

The above photo of the Starbucks on Battleground (in the Earth Fare plaza) was taken this weekend. Starbucks was open, but not very busy. Since it was remodeled, there is a drive through, a very popular option on stormy days. Since Thursday, many retail stores had shorter hours as fewer people were out on the roads, schools were closed, and many employees didn't have child care. Local universities continue to be closed today to give students an opportunity to return to campus. Before you know it, life will be back to normal in Greensboro and we'll be anticipating snow days. It is hard to believe school children already have days to make up and, technically, it is still summer. Happy Monday!

Double Rainbow over Greensboro

On Sundays, we usually post something spiritual, often a photo of a church. Every religion and mythology attributes something spiritual to the rainbow. In Greco-Roman mythology is was a path made by the messenger Iris between heaven and earth. In Judaism, the rainbow symbolizes divine anger and patience. In the Bible, God's promise not to flood the world again was shown in the form of a rainbow.*

As much as it has been raining in Greensboro this past week, it is hard to believe that the earth will not flood and that an ark will not be necessary. The rains kept many people from venturing downtown on First Friday. However, the above view of Spring Garden Street, on the southwest side of downtown, shows a double rainbow, reminding all of us that, often, we have to venture through trying situations to see great beauty. May you have a glorious Sunday, with or without a visible rainbow.

The Wikipedia entry rainbows in culture has many interesting cultural facts, here.

Skinks of Greensboro

With summer approaching, for many, there is more opportunity to spend time out of doors exploring the flora and fauna of Greensboro. One creature you are likely to see is the little critter photographed above, a skink. Skinks are readily available in Greensboro. These reptiles are lizards and, while they resemble newts, newts are actually amphibians and are a type of salamander. Skinks live in a variety of habitats. They like to hide under things like logs where their predators cannot reach them. They like to be under leaves and in gardens where there are plenty of insects to eat. 

The skink above, spotted near the golf range at Bur-Mil Park, is one whose tail has been sacrificed to a predator, but whose life was spared. You can see the tail starting to regenerate and the skink, himself, looks well fed. The beauty of the extended hours of light of the warm summer days make nature watching in Greensboro's parks so much fun. 

Peeler Elementary School: After the Storm

Yesterday was a very difficult day in Greensboro. The tornado/storm damage from April 15th was severe in east Greensboro; so much so that three elementary schools, Hampton, Peeler, and Erwin Montessori will have to be relocated to other schools for the remainder of the school year. Fortunately, schools won’t have to be split up, each will be absorbed into one of three other schools.

If you drive by the three heavily-damaged elementary schools, you will see facilities in need of a lot of work. As an example, Peeler Elementary (photographed above), off of Willow Road near Barber Park had several trees down, damage to the building, especially at the entrance, and the lot was filled with extensive debris.  Almost every home near the school suffered damage, from roofs being blown off, to trees falling on homes, to seemingly anything that wasn’t tied down being relocated. The power was still out in the neighborhood after 24 hours Yet, the voices of people helping each other clean up debris, the sound of chain saws cutting limbs and branches, and people comforting each other could heard throughout the neighborhood. 

At Peeler Open School for the Performing Arts, families were helping each other, too. People came to the school’s parking lot in need of water, blankets, tarps, and food. Others came to the parking lot with exactly these items to donate.  Peeler’s PTSA will continue to process donations out of the school’s parking lot. If you want to help, contact the PTSA or seek out one of the other organizations that has been called to mobilize. They will match your talents and resources with the place they are most needed. A speedy cleanup and rebuilding of East Greensboro hinges on people helping, and as efficiently as possible. As you hear of ways to help, or you want to share your story, please post them in the comments below. 

Happy Easter 2018

Happy Easter! In Greensboro, spring has arrived in all of its glory, just in time to help celebrate the rebirth, renewal, and resurrection that Easter and spring represent. If you celebrate Easter and were in Church, you may have noticed that the liturgical colors have changed from purple to white. On parishioners, you will have seen Easter outfits as colorful as the hyacinth featured above.

While many stores will be closed, a lot of restaurants will be serving Easter brunch.* For some Christians, Easter marks the end of a fasting period, often the end of abstinence from dairy and meat products. Greensboro restaurants have prepared some fine food to help you celebrate. The red velvet waffles at Four Flocks and Larder look especially tasty! Whether you eat at home or in a restaurant, have been fasting or not, Easter is a nice transition from the dark and dreary days of winter to the bright, colorful days of spring. Bulbs, like daffodils and hyacinth are associated with the new season and remind us that, in Greensboro, before we know it, the dogwoods and azalea will bloom in all of their glory. Happy Sunday!

 

* See the extensive list that Carl Wilson assembled for the News & Record, here.

Golden Gate Shopping Plaza

Yesterday's fluffy clouds really accentuated the new facades of the stores at the Golden Gate Plaza near State Street and Irving Park on Golden Gate Drive. The plaza has over 150,000 square feet, space for 26 businesses, and is close to full occupancy. Before the 2015 renovation, the plaza was at 40% occupancy. The new owner, The Bedrin Organization from New Jersey, have been good stewards. The two largest places are Food Lion on one end and the Air Fun Trampoline Park at the other. Each is over 30,000 square feet; Planet Fitness is over 24,000. There are four restaurants and a coffee shop. 

Today is the first day of Passover and also Good Friday. Passover commemorates the Israelites being freed from Egyptian slavery. Good Friday commemorates Christ's Crucifixion. Schools are closed and it is a day for families to spend together. These beautiful clouds remind us to be thankful for the beauty around us and that it can be appreciated, even in a parking lot- especially when there are others around to appreciate the beauty with you. It has been a while since the sky has been this beautiful.

Hopefully, you have a little time for rest and reflection today, even if you are not fasting or doing penance.

United Transmission at Benjamin Parkway and Battleground

Yesterday was another snow day, and public schools closed. We're sharing one final snow photo to  reminds Greensboro that having a snow or ice storm in mid-March is not out of the question. Hopefully, it will be the city's last snow event of the season- with spring a mere six days away. The photo was taken at the corner of Benjamin Parkway and Battleground Avenue in the parking lot of United Transmission. The light dusting of snow accentuates the red, white, and blue color palate of the photo.

United Transmission, just behind Honeybaked Ham, has been serving Greensboro since 1968.  This family run business was started by the Martin family and remained in the family until 1999. It is now under different owners (the Rush and Lewis families); however, John Martin still works with the owners as needed to ensure that high standards are maintained. It is the kind of place you might never notice, until you have transmission issues and need their services. With a light dusting of snow, this little corner of Battleground was sparkling earlier in the week.

Surprise Snow in Greensboro

There was a mention of a possible snow on Monday and, sure enough, before noon yesterday, it started to accumulate. It is not unusual for Greensboro to get one last weather event in March. The Guilford County Schools were closed in anticipation of snow and UNCG closed at noon. Other schools followed suit. Temperatures hovered right around freezing. The above photo shows the snow as it was beginning to fall on Cone Boulevard. The trees look white, because they are in full blossom. Hopefully, the snow won't damage the trees.

The first day of spring is March 20th. Surely, this will be the last snow event of the year. Stay warm; stay safe!

New York Pizza

Happy March 1st. The New York Pizza building is an interesting one. At one point, it was a gas station, and then Buffalo's, and now NY Pizza. As seen in the above photo, the metal facade reflects the setting sun, always managing to look shiny and polished. To the right, an outdoor seating area has been added on. To the side and behind the building are lovely trees already blossoming and in their full glory. They have been like this all week, which seems a little premature since there can still be ice storms in March. The blossoms are there for all to enjoy and are a sure sign of spring.

Yesterday's view of the construction at 2704 Battleground Avenue was taken from this parking lot. The road to the left is Martinsville Road. At one time, it must have lead all the way to Martinsville, Virginia. For now, it is a fast way to get from Battleground Avenue to Pisgah Church Road at Lawndale. Greensboro has many great establishments for pizza and NY Pizza is one of them.

 

Springtime, Almost

It really feels like spring, even though the change of seasons is a month away. Yesterday, at the corner of Lawndale and Pisgah Church Road, an unidentified worker is changing the signage for The Natural Dog pet store. Indeed, spring rain brings muddy paws. 

Natural Dog opened a few years ago in the space formerly occupied by Fresh Market. It is a giant store, dedicated to providing consumers with anything and everything they need related to canines. Natural Dog, with locations in Greensboro and Winston, boasts over 50 kinds of dog food; something for every dog regardless of nutrition needs. They also have products for cats and small animals. Regardless of whether you have pets or children in your life, Natural Dog is right, spring rain brings mud! Enjoy your almost-spring days.

Fog Along Oakland Avenue

Oakland Avenue starts at South Mendenhall Street in College Hill and continues all the way to South Holden Road, just south of where it meets up with Spring Garden Street. Oakland Avenue, approximately five miles long,  parallels the railroad tracks on the opposite side of  Gate City Boulevard. Therefore, Oakland Avenue only has development on one side of the street. Near UNCG, Oakland Avenue is home to much-coveted free parking spaces. Students and staff who arrive early are privy to great parking.

The above photo was taken late Saturday afternoon on the portion of Oakland that is behind Hops Burger Bar, Sherwin-Williams, the Rolane Factory, and closer to Holden Road. The street was deserted, quiet, and eerie. The fog decreased visibility significantly, making the area appear a bit ghostly. From the Moral March to many events for artists and musicians, to sporting events- including a gymnastics competition at the Coliseum- Greensboro was a pretty busy place this weekend. These pockets of quietness leave one with a sense of solitude and calmness- at least until a train comes clanging and honking along.

In a month or so, the trees on Oakland will begin to leaf out and winter will be behind us. Let's put on our fog lights and not look back!

February Weather

Overheard in Greensboro recently, "There is a reason February is the shortest month of the year. It is so dreary." The above photo features a field just north of Greensboro near the Highway 220/Highway68 split. Local temperatures hovered in the low 30's. It was trying ver hard to freeze and the threat was significant enough to cancel many local church services. The scenery is rather beautiful, as long as you don't have to drive or, at the very least, have a reliable four wheel drive. The white of the slush brings the straw gold and pine greet to life on an otherwise dreary day. 

The end of the day, Greensboro was gifted a beautiful sunset. Let's see what today brings.... possibly a lot of people moving slowly and sluggish, post Super Bowl. Greensboro's sports bars had hefty crowds, in spite of the weather. Happy Monday, dear readers, in Greensboro and beyond.

Winter Night Sky

 With the recent blanket of white snow lingering and a couple of sunny days, it is easy to forget that we are still in the time with the longest nights of the year. The above photo is of this week's waxing crescent moon. Today, the sun rises at 7:27 a.m. and sets at 5:35 p.m., giving our lattitude about ten hours of daylight and fourteen hours of night.

There are many references to darkness in the Bible, often referring to evil and taking the wrong path.  An example is Proverbs 4:19: But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over. A more lighthearted reference to darkness can be found in Psalm 104:19-20: He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to set. You bring darkness and it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl.

Even though Greensboro is working its way out of a hard week of true winter and it was as if the whole city was at a standstill, as we consider Psalm 104, we are reminded that the light and dark are purposeful.  The waxing crescent moon is the prelude to 14 hours of darkness, merely a way of marking the seasons. Nothing says winter like single digit temperatures, nine inches of snow, and extra hours of darkness. 

Happy wintertime! Happy Sunday-  where the very word has embedded in it the moon's bright counterpart!

Sled Riding in Greensboro

Greensboro's big snow this week has been pretty fabulous for sled riding. Some parts of town received up to 9 inches of snow, much more than anticipated. It has been enough to shut the town down. You know it is bad when fast food restaurants (national chains) are closed. On Wednesday night, the Harris-Teeter parking lot was so empty, they appeared to be closed. Indeed, they were open. Perhaps customers filled their pantries with the requisite snow-pocalypse items on Tuesday night. Wednesday, Greensboro was a ghost town. Roads were treacherous, school was closed, not even teachers had to report to work. 

By Thursday, temperatures warmed significantly, the sun came out, and people were a little more adventurous. The city's sled riding spots were busy into the early evening. The above photo was taken in British Woods, off Battleground Avenue, a few years ago. However, the park at Downing Street was just as busy yesterday and, with the bright blue skies, sled riders were enjoying a free, low-tech, outdoor form of winter entertainment.

Today, while much of the snow has compacted and melted, and a little more dirt is peeking through on the hills, it is still a great day for sledding. Grab your sled, cafeteria tray from your college years (you know you have one), or some kind of inflatable, and head for the nearest snow covered hill. Whether you have children in your life, or not, we could all use a good dose of bringing out the inner child! Sometimes, it is nice to slow down and enjoy all that a snow day brings: family time, the quietness of nature, then laughter, snowmen, sledding, the crunching of snow, hot chocolate, and frozen toes and fingers warming after a day of playing. Have fun, while it lasts! Where is your favorite place to sled ride in Greensboro?

Unseasonably Cold in Greensboro on Three Kings Day

Even though it is winter, the temperatures have been unseasonably cold for Greensboro. The area has been battling temperatures in the single digits and teens. The 20s, well below freezing, feel like a heatwave. According to US climate data, the average January temperature for Greensboro is 38.9 with an average high temperature of 48.3 and low of 29.5. Last night's low temperature was 9 and tonight's is slated to be 7. Thankfully, tomorrow should start warming up. The icy roads and low temperatures make it hard to be outside, and, car batteries often die, water pipes burst, heat pumps fail.

However, as seen in the above photo, taken at a local golf course in December, winter has its own special, beautiful look. While golf is on hold during inclement weather, Greensboro's golf courses create expansive fields of beauty throughout the city. For some of you, today is a Christian feast day, Three Kings Day, Old Christmas, Epiphany. If you left shoes for the Magi of Bethlehem to fill with gifts, we hope your holiday today is a memorable one. If you are eating a piece of rosca de reyes cake, we hope you get the baby Jesus figurine. Happy Three Kings Day. Enjoy the day with family and friends, you'll be back on the golf course before you know it!

Sundown Drive Near Western High

It is hard to believe that this photo was taken last weekend. The snow has melted and, while it has been crisp outside, the weather has been dry over the past week. This one-story, single-family home is located on Sundown Drive, not too far from Western High School. It resembles a winter wonderland. The charming gazebo is so cozy and inviting, it looks like Rolf and Liesl, from the Sound of Music, should be in there singing to each other. 

The house, sitting on a little over a half and acre, was built in 1956 when this part of Guilford County was still really rural. It still seems like a cozy retreat from the busy, built up world just down the street. The property reminds us of just how green and beautiful Greensboro really is, even on a snow day! Happy Saturday, may you find some adventure and explore a new part of the community around you; no matter where you are. 

Fall Activities

October and November are great months for fall activities. Churches, schools, and other organizations hold fall festivals and bazars, sell Brunswick stew, have homecomings, and other events to bring people together. The above photo, taken last month at the Liberty Antiques Festival, reminds us of fall. The orange and rust colors in the cornucopia of fruit and the woman clutching a sweater evoke thoughts of the autumn season. 

The woman in the background is drinking a large sweet tea from Bojangles, situating this photo in the south. Seeing the beautiful lighting, cast by the sun, makes us want to spend as much time as possible outside. Before you know it, winter will be here and finding these little slices of brightness can be hard to come by. Additionally, daylight saving time will end on November 5th, so, we have less than two weeks until, not only will the days be getting shorter, sunset will come an hour earlier. Let's all get out, sip a little tea, and walk Greensboro's sidewalks and trails.