Uptown Charlotte

Charlotte, NC. 2024

During the holiday season, Truist Field, home for the Charlotte Knights minor league baseball team, is transformed into a winter wonderland.  There's an ice rink, as well as a sledding hill.  It has been pretty cold down here lately, with temperatures at night dipping into the 20's, so I suspect that skating and sledding are best experienced at night. 

Sixth Grade Band Concert

Waxhaw, NC. 2024

My grandson is in 6th grade and is required to take a band class and learn an instrument.  They have about 140 participants in just the 6th Grade Band.  This is just the beginning, since there are bands in both 7th and 8th grades, various honors bands, and the high school bands.  I was impressed with how well the 6th graders after only one semester.  

Water Tower

Waxhaw, NC. 2024

 

Hans and Heidi's Holiday House

Charlotte, NC. 2024

 

Christmas Market Vendors

 

Charlotte, NC. 2024

Beer Wagon

Charlotte, NC. 2024

In case you can't get to the beer/brewery, they'll bring the beer to you! 

Christmas Market

Charlotte, NC. 2024

The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery in Charlotte has a fairly large beer garden which is transformed at this time of the year into a marketplace.  One can shop dozens of vendors for holiday gifts, food, and other goods while enjoying one of the many brews available.

 

Beaded Dragonfly

Waxhaw, NC. 2024

 

Christmas Market

Waxhaw, NC. 2024

 

Train

Waxhaw, NC. 2024

Ever wonder what commodities/goods travel by train?  Perhaps it is better we don't know. 

 

Santas on the Shelf

Waxhaw, NC. 2024

 

CSX 3017

Waxhaw, NC  2024

 

Bike Racks in a Row

Waxhaw, NC. 2024

 

Letters to Santa

Waxhaw, NC. 2024

 

Orchids

Waxhaw, NC. 2024

 

Foot Bridge

Waxhaw, NC. 2024

 

Mary

Charlotte, NC  2024

While waiting for my daughter Mary to finish, I did get some practice photographing the other finishers.  That being said, I still didn't get the best shot of Mary.  She was very focused on finishing, and missed our cheering!

 

Finishing Strong

 

Charlotte, NC  2024

Runners of all ages participated in the marathon.  Most looked surprisingly "fresh" after running over 26 miles. Many actually sprinted towards the finish line.  I'm sure all were encouraged by the cheering crowd.

Final Turn to the Finish

 

Charlotte, NC. 2024

A couple of weeks ago, the Charlotte Marathon was held in the Uptown area of Charlotte.  My youngest daughter participated, so I went with my granddaughter to cheer her on as she approached the finish line.  We found a spot, right near the final turn to the finish line and waited. 

Fountain in Black and White

Charlotte, NC,  2024

 

Fixing It

 

 

Waxhaw, NC  2024

Outdoor Seating

 

Waxhaw, NC  2024

 

Light and Shadow

 

Charlotte, NC  2024

 

Election Day!!

 

 

 

Waxhaw, NC  2024

 

It seems like this has been a particularly long election campaign.  I posted this picture a couple of weeks ago and I'm reposting it today to remind everyone to get out and vote.  We've had early voting here in NC and I was able to vote weeks ago. 

Young Forest

 

Charlotte, NC  2024

 

Giant Skeleton

 

Waxhaw, NC  2024

 

One of the many over-sized skeletons that have appeared lately in he neighborhood.  Pretty scary, eh?

Leaves

 

 Charlotte, NC  2024

It might be a variety of the maple tree, although I can't be sure.

 

Boo!!

 

Waxhaw, NC  2024

 

Old Tree Trunk

 

Charlotte, NC  2024

 

Swamp Boardwalk

 

Charlotte, NC  2024

 

Upland Depression Swamp Forest

 

 

Charlotte, NC  2024

 

This area holds water in the winter and spring, but dries up in the summer.  When I visited in October, the area hadn't had any rain since tropical storm Helene came through.  The short time that there is water here provides for a unique habitat for frogs and salamanders. 

Spooky Crane

 

Waxhaw, NC  2024

 This is for my follower "Taken for Granted" who mentioned in comment to a previous post that he knows someone who collects these cranes.  I bet his cranes are in better shape than this one.

Fallen Tree

 

Charlotte, NC  2024

 

Shagbark Trail

 

Charlotte, NC  2024

 

Nature Preserve

 

Charlotte, NC  2024

 

Southern Shagbark Hickory

 

 Charlotte, NC  2024

 

The southern shagbark hickory tree has a unique "shaggy bark" and is prevalent throughout the nature preserve.

 

 

 

Flat Branch Nature Preserve

 

Charlotte, NC  2024

 

This little nature preserve is tucked away in the middle of a Charlotte neighborhood.  This 0.4 mi trail wanders through 43 acres of  what was once open farmland, now slowly reverting to a forest.  It contains some unique ecosystems and an example of a depression forest swamp. 

 

Grave Diggers

 

Waxhaw, NC  2024

 

These guys seem busy at work.  It is that time of the year. 

 

Highway Signs

 

Waxhaw, NC  2024

 

NC 16 starts (or ends) in Waxhaw and heads north into Charlotte.  NC 75 heads west into South Carolina.  This one of the busiest intersections in Waxhaw. 

 

Signs of the Times

Waxhaw, NC  2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It seems to me there are not as many campaign signs this year as in previous years.  This will be my first time voting in North Carolina for president. As of this moment, North Carolina is too close to call one way or the other, with a little over 2 weeks before election day.