Merry Christmas

Waxhaw, NC  2022

Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate.  Happy Holidays to all those who celebrate the other holidays at this time of the year.  This time last year, my wife and I were in the midst of relocating to North Carolina.  Little did I know it would take the better part of 2022 before we were settled into our new house.  We're so fortunate to now be close to family and we're looking forward to a great 2023.  May all your days be merry and bright, as our first Christmas tree.

Grey Skies Fall Color

Monroe, NC  2022

 

More Hay Bales

Monroe, NC  2022

 Yet another artistic arrangement of hay bales.  I'm not sure what character this hay sculpture represents.

Open

Monroe, NC  2022

 

Lacrosse Team

Charlotte, NC 2022

I was never much of a fan of lacrosse, but lately I've been watching my grandson play on this team.  He's somewhere in the crowd shown.  They remind me of ninja warriors.

 

Santa and Rudolph

Monroe, NC  2022

 

Abstract Sculpture

Waxhaw, NC  2022

 

Dare Steele Garden

Waxhaw, NC  2022

 

Waxhaw Side Street

Waxhaw, NC  2022

 

Military Wall of Honor

Waxhaw, NC  2022

Let's remember our Veterans today.

 

Our Confederate Soldiers

Monroe, NC  2022

Across the South such memorials are being taken down.  I was surprised to find this one.  The inscription on the side reads:

Erected by the Monroe County Chapter of the U.D.C (United Daughters of the Confederacy) Dedicated to the memory of the Boys in Gray, from Union County( who gave their all to the protection of home 1861-1865

 

Union County Courthouse and Civil War Memorial

Monroe, NC  2022M

 

Firefighters Memorial

Monroe, NC  2022

 

Union County Courthouse

Monroe, NC  2022

 

Fall Colors

Monroe, NC  2022

 We are just about at the peak of the color season around the Charlotte area.  It comes a couple of weeks later down here than back in Connecticut.

Snowman

Monroe, NC  2022

 

Turkey

Monroe, CT  2022

 

Christmas Tree

Monroe, NC  2022

It seems like the Christmas season starts earlier and earlier each year.  

 

Autumn Display

Monroe, NC  2022

 

Cat

Monroe, NC  2022

 

Happy Halloween!!

Waxhaw, NC  2022

 

Utility Building

Monroe, NC  21873

 

Carolina Fields

Monroe, NC  2022

 

Monroe Solar Facility

Monroe, NC  2022

 This is the largest array of solar panels I have ever seen.  The panels seem to go on forever.

It's Official Now

Waxhaw, NC  2022

 After over a year of living in rental units and using temporary addresses,  I can now say I'm an official resident/citizen of North Carolina.  It became official this week when I obtained a  NC driver's license along with new NC title, registration and plates for the car. Dealing with North Carolina DMV wasn't too bad.  I only needed to wait 2 hrs to get my driver's license, and that was with a scheduled appointment.

The New Neighborhood II

Waxhaw, NC  2022

The New Neighborhood

Waxhaw, NC  2022

Our new neighborhood is almost complete with about 11 homes at various states of completion.  There is is no shortage of free entertainment watching all the work going on, especially when they're lifting the steel trusses.   This is the view from my patio.  These houses are directly behind my house.

Moving Day

Waxhaw, NC  2022

The movers arrived  two days after the closing.  The timing worked out well

Our New Home

Waxhaw, NC  2022

After approximately 18 months from signing the purchase contract we finally closed on our new home on September 13.  As you can imagine, things have been rather hectic around here taking care of the final details, and coordinating the move from our rental unit, and shipment of our possessions from Connecticut.  We're still in the process of unpacking and organizing things, but we're happy the move is finally over.  It has been a long time coming.  

 

Water Tower

 

Waxhaw, NC  2022

 

Historic House

 

Waxhaw, NC  2022

 This is an historic house in Waxhaw.  I think it's on the Registry of Historic Places.  It's sad to see it in such a state of neglect.

View from the Bridge

 

Waxhaw, NC  2022

 

Foot Bridge

 

Waxhaw, NC  2022

 This is a popular place to view the large freight trains that go through Waxhaw daily.

House Portrait 2

 

Waxhaw, NC  2022

 

House Portrait

 

Waxhaw, NC  2022

Broome and South Main

 

Waxhaw, NC  2022

 It doesn't look like it, but this seems to be the busiest intersection in downtown Waxhaw.  Traffic really gets congested when a train goes through.

House Update

 

Waxhaw, NC  2022

Progress on the house is agonizingly slow.  Material and labor shortages continue to plague the home construction industry.  The good news is that we do have a closing date. 

 

Queen Charlotte

 

Charlotte, NC  2022

The City of Charlotte is named after Queen Charlotte, who was married to King George III,

 

 

Waterfall

 

Charlotte,NC  2022

Doe and Fawn

 

Charlotte, NC  2022

 On a recent walk near our apartment I came across this doe and fawn.  Mom was very wary of me, but didn't immediately run away.  I'm sure she was protecting her fawn and was trying to distract me.  There are a lot of deer in Charlotte.

Caboose

 

Matthews, NC  2022

 

Coming and Going

 

Matthews, NC  2022

 

While visiting the Train Depot a large freight train appeared right on cue

Train Depot

 

Matthews, NC  2022

This restored train depot now houses the Matthews Chamber of Commerce and a small museum documenting the impact the railroad had on this suburb of Charlotte.
 

Bike Sculpture

 

Matthews, NC  2022

 

Another Flower Sculpture

 

Matthews, NC  2022

 

Minimalist Bike Rack

 

 

Matthews, NC  2022