Greensboro Daily Photo

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.

On Burnt Poplar Road

How well do you know all of Greensboro's nooks and crannies? Near I-40 out by the airport is a service road known as Burnt Poplar. The Antique Marketplace, visible on I-40, is on that road. Also there are are a several clusters of gas tanks and it is not uncommon to see trucks filling with gas to take to service stations. In the above photo, you see the round gas tanks from Marathon Petroleum Company. This is also where Kinder-Morgan is located. In the foreground, you see equipment from United Rentals and Neff Rentals.

These industrial areas are not usually considered attractive, but on a sunny fall day, when the air is crisp and the sky is blue, even rental equipment and gas tanks take on an element of beauty. Happy Tuesday. We hope you are enjoying these fall days as much as we are.

Great Egrets on Lake Brandt

Walking on the nature trails at Bur-Mil Park and on over Lake Brandt will only get more and more breathtaking over the next couple of months. The above photo features a great egret in a tree waiting over the lake, waiting for the perfect moment to swoop down and capture breakfast. Egrets are great fishermen. Like the herons, they like their solitude. On the day we were walking last week, this egret was by himself. However, another egret was in sight on the other side of the lake. Great egrets have held their own, with respect to population because their habitat extends beyond the coastal area, well into the other regions of North Carolina. The snowy egret, on the other hand, resides mostly on the coast of North Carolina and their population has decreased 70% since the 1990s. 

If you like learning about birds of North Carolina, here is a great site. These egrets usually only stick around our area through October. So, if you want to see them, put on your walking shoes. They are fun to watch and photograph.

We hope you are having a great Thursday and remember, they say Thursday is the new Friday!

Got AC?

The heat in Greensboro has been intense over the last few days. Yesterday was especially hot. We can imagine that the air conditioning companies are busier than ever. The above photo features a bright blue van that belongs to Central Carolina Air Conditioning.

Founded in 1967, CCAC has been cooling Greensboro homes for fifty years. Actually, according to their Facebook page, they design, install, maintain, and repair residential heating and air-conditioning systems. They are located south of I-40 near Sedgefield, but they service the whole city. It is forecasted to reach 90 degrees today, so it is likely that most of Greensboro's air conditioners will be running full steam. On the one hand, we hope nobody needs a repair, on the other hand, for some, those repairs amount to a paycheck. Indeed, life is complicated. We hope you have a nice weekend, stay cool, and have some fun before the K-12 schools start back.

Bypass Around Greensboro

The urban loop at 220 North, Battleground Avenue, is in full swing. The traffic pattern has been changed and work is happening as we speak. The above photo shows some of the equipment, the I-beams, the cement pylons, and other makings of the new bypass. The sound of traffic zipping along in the northern end of Greensboro will definitely change the dynamics of the city. However, it will also help with getting around the city. It is really interesting to watch a road getting constructed literally before our eyes. If you have elementary school children, seeing something like this process will be a memorable S.T.E.M. moment. 

Yesterday was cold, but the sun was out and the clouds were dramatic. With the winds were feisty and temperatures hovered in the low 40's, yesterday felt like winter. Today the weather should be better, hopefully people can get out and enjoy all that Greensboro has to offer. Does anybody else remember about 20 years ago when we called this planned road Painter Boulevard? Painter was the first city manger of Greensboro Somewhere along the way, that name got dropped. Wonder if it will get a name? In all, the urban loop will be 39.3 miles long and, in portions, be referred to as I-73; I-85; I-785; I-840; and US-421. Learn more, here.

The Rainbow Stops Here!

Parts of Greensboro experienced strong rains Thursday night and they continued into Friday. Today's photo was taken from Mill Street yesterday afternoon at around 4:00 pm When we entered the Starbucks at that corner, it was raining. Upon leaving a few minutes later, the eastward sky was filled with sun and a rainbow. It was still dark and wet to the west. We were struck by the billboard message about diabetes and the fact that the rainbow seemed to cut through the sign. Should we interpret that image as a sigh that beauty will trump the horrors of diabetes?

Today is April 1st, meaning it is time for Theme Day with the City Daily Photo community. This month's theme is wet. You know where there are rainbows, there is water. Yes, it was very wet to the west. Whether you are in Greensboro or elsewhere, may your weekend be filled with rainbows and joy.

See the CDP "wet" photos around the world, here.

Blossoms

It has been eleven days since we've featured spring blossoms on Greensboro Daily Photo. We'd like to share the above photo today because the rain this weekend, combined with the warm weather, really helped Greensboro start looking like spring. Last year, a late freeze, killed many blooms. This year, even the dogwoods are blossoming. This is the time of year where yards look different almost daily.

The above photo was taken on Jefferson Road near Temple Emanuel. The pink blossoms in the foreground really stand out against the blanket of yellow forsythia. When trees and flowers are blossoming, they bring so much joy to not just the owners, but everyone who drives by. If you are in Greensboro, now is the perfect time to drive through older, established neighborhoods like Old Irving Park, where great effort is put into keeping the landscape beautiful. Also, consider visiting our public areas like the Arboretum, the Bog Garden, and Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden. Happy Spring!

Blossomtime...

With temperatures dipping to the 20s this week, Greensboro will be lucky if tree fruits aren't affected. We wanted to sneak in another photo of blossoms before they are gone. It is not uncommon for Greensboro to see ice storms as late as the ACC Basketball Tournament (currently underway). Old Man Winter was hardly around this year; to see him return in mid-March, with the spring equinox only four days away, seems pretty cruel. Unfortunately, the ACC Tournament is not in Greensboro this year. The tournament, born in Greensboro, is scheduled to return here in 2020. Let's all start planning ahead and show fans and players how wonderful it is to play basketball here. Perhaps we should fill the Coliseum with blossoms!

At any rate, the blossom photo proves the blossoms were beautiful in Greensboro this year. If you like to take this kind of nature photography, The National Park Service is predicting cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. will reach peak between March 19-22. This pesky cold weather is delaying their arrival, which was originally anticipated to be March 14-17.  Perhaps we should count our blessings that we have blossoms and time to enjoy them, regardless of when they come our way. Happy Thursday.

 

Springtime in Greensboro

Spring in Greensboro is heralded by bursts of color sometimes vibrant and sometimes subtle. In the above photo, magenta, tulip-magnolia blossoms were opening in the warmth of dappled sunlight, against a cornflower blue sky. Petals were opening before our eyes. The blossom's fuzzy sepal is a tiny reminder of the delicate textures of spring. This seasonal beauty is fleeting and meant to be enjoyed out of doors and at close range. Changes are observed daily. 

If you live in Greensboro, or anywhere with four distinct seasons, we hope you find time to explore the joys of spring. Document it in a journal; write a poem; snap a few photos. However, know that no photograph can replicate the magical feeling of being enveloped by new life. 

Indeed, spring is a time of rebirth.

Time for a Car Wash

When the weather is nice, you can expect a long line at the car wash. This is especially true in winter when people are anxious to clean the salt off of their vehicles. The above photo was taken at Streetcars Car Wash on Battleground Avenue, near Kirkwood. As with most car washes, they have many different levels of service and all price points available. They are a great place to take children to help them understand the concept of a multistep process, as well as taking a job from concept to completion. The day we sat across the street and watch the crew working at Streetcars, the workers seemed to work hard on those final details. They have to stay on their toes, because they work right there on Battleground, one of the busiest streets in Greensboro.

We hope you have a great Saturday and have a chance to get out a little even if it is just to go do chores. Consider giving your car a little extra TLC.

Snow Man Sighting on Elam Avenue

Yesterday, we drove around Greensboro with the goal of finding a snowman and said we would photograph the first one we found. The first (and only) one we saw was the above life-size snowman, residing on Elam Avenue in the heart of Lindley Park.  Sporting this red scarf and hat and plopped in front of an NC State flag, he is definitely an NC State fan. 

After we finished taking a photo of this Wolfman, also known as Wufman, from NC State, we attempted to head down Camden to watch people sledding at Lindley Park Elementary. Even with a four wheel drive, the road in front of the school seemed too slippery. It became readily apparent why school was cancelled today- side roads are treacherous. If you see any other snow people, let us know and we'll try to get around to photograph them. If they are in Duke, Carolina, or Wake Forest attire, that is OK. Our winter photoshoots are determined by safety of streets, not by what the snow-subject is wearing! 

It is important to realize that some things are out of our control, like the 8-10 inches of snow in Greensboro this weekend! Speaking of not having control over the weather, Frosty better look out; temperatures are on the rise over the next few days!

Sun & Snow

Somehow when the sun is out, a yard full of snow doesn't seem so cold. Yesterday, temperatures in Greensboro were below freezing and the eight inches of snow showed no signs of melting; yet, the glorious sun was shining. Regardless of your age, this is perfect play date weather. Since school is cancelled today, families are able to to head outside and sled to their heart's content. Road travel has been fairly easy on the main roads, but the side roads remain extremely icy and the sidewalks are dangerous, too. Education is important, but safety is even more important. With internet access, students have access to consider learning resources.

Playing in the snow can be so memorable. Given the Natural Learning Initiative* and the documented benefits of connecting children with nature, time spent traipsing around in the snow is time well spent. Another option with these cold temperatures is to make snow cream- a wintry, southern tradition. If you family doesn't already have a snow cream recipe, a great recipe is only a Google search away.

*See this resource from NC State.

Baby It's Cold Outside...

If you are local, you know that it got really cold in Greensboro last night-- dipping into the teens. At our house, the power was out for a good bit of the day yesterday, creating an avalanche of schedule changes, resulting in our having to leave for a Christmas party before the cupcakes were cool enough to add frosting. Undaunted, we headed to the grocery store to pick up some last minute items, fully intending to ice the cupcakes in from the hatchback of the car where we had the supplies. However, we hadn't counted on near freezing temperatures. Since we were near Beansboro coffee, we ducked in to get some coffee and decided to ice the cupcakes while there. We had a place to wash our hands and it was warm and cozy.

The above photo features the results of this effort from our vantage point in one of Greensboro's fabulous, locally-owned coffee shops. While the results may not be Pinterest-worthy, we do believe our little story today captures the spirit of the holidays. Sometimes, we get this notion of how everything needs to be just perfect. At the end of the day, it is the memories we make that stay with us, long after the holiday is over. Baby, it may have been cold last night, but our hearts were warmed and our friends were happy with the cupcakes. You can bet, we will be laughing about our cupcake adventure for a very long time. And, thank goodness the heat is back on at our house.

Sunrise, Sunset

Yesterday morning, the sunrise in Greensboro was a powdery pink and blue, and very noticeable with the leaves now off the trees. The sunset was also a beauty. Instead of sharing a sunset photo, we moved the camera over a bit to feature this pink contrail and the sunset reflecting off the airplane heading into Piedmont Triad International Airport. We bet the view was especially beautiful for the passengers in the plane.

Contrails are actually condensation trails that form from the water in jet exhaust mixing with wet cold air in the atmosphere. The water freezes and condenses into ice crystals. At just the right time, when the sun is low to the horizon, the contrails can take on a beautiful pink glow; cloud-stripes of sorts. Yesterday was a great evening for contrails in the northwestern part of town, near the airport. It is not uncommon to see cars pulled off the road near the airport watching planes take off and land; a beautiful sunset is always a bonus.

Weekend Weather

It has been an exceptionally dry fall with leaves have lingered on the trees. However, North Carolina is suffering from grave forest fires. Over 50,000 acres have been impacted. The fires are raging in the mountains where the air is on Code Red. Yesterday, in Greensboro, the air was filled with the smell of smoke and we were on Code Orange. It was as if your neighbors were burning leaves in the backyard. Currently, an open burning ban is currently in effect. The low relative humidity and the dry conditions are making matters worse. Hopefully fires can be contained soon. In the meantime, enjoy the visual beauty of the out of doors and take extra caution with older friends and relatives, especially those with asthma. 

Heavenly Skies

Recently, while urban exploring on Mill Street, we went into the Red Collection. Heading back to our car, we could not get over the intensity of the chiaroscuro scene. It reminded us of a quote from Galileo, "The Bible shows the way to go to heaven, not the way the heavens go." Galileo believed that religion and science were compatible ways to understand the universe. 

Today at sunset is the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, the first of the High Holy Days. If you are near a temple or synagogue and hear extra noise, you may be hearing the sound of a shofar. A sweet Rosh Hashanah quote that we found was: May the sound of the shofar herald a New Year filled with joy, peace, laughter, and love.

That sounds like a way to understand the universe that is compatible with just about everyone's beliefs. Happy Sunday and Happy Rosh Hashanah. Whether in Greensboro, or elsewhere, believer in God and/or science, may we nurture similarities and respect differences. That sounds like heaven on earth.

It's the Weekend!

Nothing beats a summer weekend. The above photo shows people leaving town on North Battleground, at the location of the soon-to-be bypass. To the left, you see the green grass, growing on the clump of displaced dirt at the edge of the bypass.

Have you noticed how low to the horizon the clouds have been lately? It looks as if we will be running into them. If you are staying in town this weekend, there is rowing on Lake Brandt this morning. If you are downtown, Crawford's Creations in the 600 block of South Elm Street is featuring "Back to School" cupcakes. Taste Carolina is having a taste tour at 2pm today.* The O. Henry plays are being featured at the Greensboro Historical Museum. Also, today, near Gibbs Hundred on Lewis Street,  is the 5K Retro Run where the hippy look reigns supreme. We wish there were one consolidated place to find out about events, because there is so much to do in our city. How can a weekend only last 48 hours? Honk, if you love weekends!

*get tickets, here.

Bellemeade Street, between North Elm & Greene

A sunny day can make just about anything more beautiful. And this space, downtown, between office buildings looks especially lovely, punctuated by the puffy clouds in the blue sky. The hard lines and geometric shapes of the buildings frame the clouds. If you live in Greensboro, you may recognize the building to the right. It faces North Elm Street.  The building to the left, Wells Fargo Tower, faces Greene Street. The little courtyard in between, on Bellemeade, has a sandwich shop and a place to sit; perfect for a summer rest. It is a quiet and peaceful space. The pink crepe myrtle shrub and turquoise awning add a punch of color. Nearby, great progress is being made on the downtown art center and the water park.

Have a great week. We hope you, and your family & friends,  have a chance to get out and find beautiful places in your city-- even if the motivation is a virtual game of Pokemon!

Sunset along Battleground

Greensboro has had some beautiful sunsets this summer. The above photo was taken along Battleground Avenue last week. The street lights remind us of fireflies on those relaxed summer evenings. When the sunset is beautiful and the fireflies are flashing, time stands still in the south. Here's to many more beautiful evenings this summer, and to our finding the time to appreciate them.

If you like beautiful nature shots, this weekend is the last one for the Ansel Adams photography exhibit at Reynolda House in Winston-Salem. Here is the link, in case you are looking for something to do today or tomorrow. Adams was masterful at contrast, capturing the range of black and white and the gray tones in between. Many events we share are free; the Adams exhibit at Reynolda House costs $14.

We are fortunate in Greensboro to have so many opportunities to see great art in our city as well as with in a 40 mile radius. We are lucky to have a lot of natural beauty, which we can enjoy for free. Happy Saturday!

In Search of Rainbows

This has been a challenging week in the United States. Flags are at half staff until Tuesday, in honor of the victims in Dallas, Texas. There have been too many killings this week. As we were reflecting on very grim news, the above rainbow appeared over the railroad tracks in downtown Greensboro this past Thursday night. The sun was setting in the west and this circle of color appeared to the southeast of downtown. 

We usually try to post something spiritual on Sundays: A church, synagogue, temple, or a peaceful photo from nature. However, today, we thought the rainbow would be appropriate. It takes rain and sun working together to make a rainbow. This week's news has been full of rain. Perhaps Americans will find a way to work together, sun will radiate from our souls, and we will all bathe in rainbows- regardless of our vantage point.

Peony Time in Greensboro

After a hard work week, and a week of gloomy weather, a good dose of nature can be as uplifting as just about anything. The above photo shows the translucency of a peony at sunset. Peonies are in full bloom this week in Greensboro, and, the ones that survived the torrential downpour last night, opened their petals, full-throttle. In the middle of the photo, you can see the yellow tint of the setting sun, seemingly just behind the peony-- only really 93 million miles away. 

Did you know Greensboro has a peony farm? For almost 20 years, the Wrenn family, through their business The Peony Patch,  has been growing and shipping peonies around the world. According to their website, this area has a fantastic climate and soil for peonies. We're betting the Fresh Market, sells the Wrenn's freshly-cut peonies as The Fresh Market has lovely bouquets. Thanks to the cooler weather, peonies have bloomed a little later this year. See the Wrenn's website (here) and also an article about them in garden and gun magazine (here).

If you have a chance, get out and enjoy nature this weekend. It is such a great way to recharge and you may be able to track down peony blooms. Magnolias are also blooming. Happy Saturday!

Snow In Black and White

Last night, at about 6:30, school was cancelled and then, shortly thereafter, snow arrived in Greensboro. The ground has been so cold that the snow stuck without hesitation. The above photo shows a car, creeping along a Greensboro side road, trying to get home. The flakes were glittering and looking like they would be perfect for sled riding.

The night snow reminded us of a poem by Robert Watson--  who arrived to teach English at UNCG in 1953. Dr. Watson said he was attracted to Greensboro because he liked the "heartening balance between the scholarly and the creative in English studies" (p. 112).*  We think his poem, below, captures the scholarly and the creative--  as well as the spirit of the above photo (or vice versa).

 

                                    Winter Lovers by Robert Watson

                Hesitant we stand by a sled at the top of the hill

                Our eyes measuring down white lamp and star lit road,

                Down beyond the road's end to the back of black woods,

                Then up to an equally black sky, yet interspersed with stars.

                Here the white is gathered and up there dispersed.

                Stopped measuring, our eyes swerve to each other,

                And we each see circular black with white around.

 

                I pull our sled some steps more up, then running throw

                It on the ice, myself on top, and she in its sliding past

                Flings herself on my back, arms around my neck.

                And so on runners over ice and snow we lovers

                Of simple black and white hurtle through our nights,

                Avoiding black, holding on to white; we never look to left or 

                           right.

 

May your weathering of the present storm be equally poetic.

 

*poets of North Carolina by Richard Walser. Poem, p. 114.