Sorry to disappoint those of you who were hoping for an early Spring (Harriet, Firefly, Elizabeth, Nikki…the list goes on…) But from our local news here in PA:
Groundhog: Expect 6 More Weeks Of Winter
Punxsutawney Phil Sees Shadow
POSTED: 7:42 am EST February 2, 2009
UPDATED: 7:58 am EST February 2, 2009
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. — The world’s most famous groundhog has seen his shadow which, legend has it, means we can expect six more weeks of winter.Punxsutawney Phil’s forecast was announced in front of thousands of revelers gathered at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.
Considering those that are ‘they’ are ‘calling’ whomever they ‘call’ for the weather are telling us to expect rain-changing-to-snow today, and more snow tomorrow, I kind of thought maybe good old Phil would be scared by his shadow.
BUT the question remains – how does a stuffed groundhog ‘see’ his shadow? And how about all those lights they set up for this huge media event come into play with him seeing or not seeing his shadow? Does it come down to flipping a coin, perhaps, for the powers that be to make their final decision on more winter, or early spring? Does make one wonder…
Sorry for the disappointment for all my cool bloggy friends… You know I’m not that unhappy about it, considering Mother Nature has gypped the Princess Nagger by not giving her the snow she so wants for her snowman making, her snow angel making, and her intent to inundate Dada with multitudes of snowballs. But since Mother Nature keeps pulling a fast one on us and giving us oddball more-warmish-than-cold winter weather instead of ‘normal’ winter weather, y’all are welcome to come hang out here – it’s sunny today, though cold, so that rain-into-snow they’re ‘calling’ for? Probably going to head on over to everyone else that has had enough this winter. 😉 I’m sure I’ll get a lot of ‘Bite Me’ responses today… (evil grin!)
I have to say, I am freezing off my patootie. My husband has threatened to drive down to Punxsutawney to wrong poor Phil’s little neck. Here in the Small Town, we have had enough of winter.
@Anne: Sorry to hear that, Anne…a frozen patootie is no fun! 😉 I suspect there are going to be a lot of people with murderous intent towards good old Phil today… 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
D’OH!
We’ve had a cold front for the past week but its supposed to warm up by this coming weekend- I hope!
I could have guessed that by seeing this white crap falling from the sky at this very moment! We hardly EVER get snow here and this is like the fourth time this winter! Thank goodness it rarely sticks though!
You know what I’m doing now….I am screaming LOL
Considering that it’s 50 degrees outside at the moment, I found the groundhog news slightly ammusing. I agree, though, the weather has been so up and down the past year, that it’s bound to continue to be back and forth the next 6 weeks rather than only cold weather.
I wonder if we held up picket signs and protested loudly enough, if winter would just give up and scram.
A girl can only dream…
I think it’s time someone beheads that groundhog.
Move to Texas my flowers are already blooming.
I hear ya! I miss the snow being a desert dweller and all. We get very excited when we see snow up on the mountains! We pretend it’s a snow day for us!! We are complete goobers!
say it isn’t so!
No winter here, and we havent seen much of anything. Its warm and mild here in Cali…but we are once again in a drought… I would like some rain for a change!
I’m having stuffed groundhog for dinner- with a nice fat martini.
come on over.
Can I buy me a ground hot hunting license here??? DAMN varmint!!!! And in the immortal words of whoever said it first….BITE ME! lol
stuffed groundhog–hee hee
I’d join in the “Bite Me” tune–but I’m headed back to the desert tomorrow–sunshine and 70s 🙂 Yay for me (sorry…)
That’s actually good news for here in Houston. It’s been in the 60s and 70s all winter with a few 30s and 40s. The longer it takes to get spring, the longer it’ll take to get those 100 degree days.
Davida
@I am Harriet: LOL! Sorry to be the bearer of bad news for you, Harriet! 😉
@Melissa: It’s been freaky this year – we’ve had a warm front, then a cold front, then another warm front…and back to cold…it’s no wonder people keep getting sick! Hope you get your warm front! 😉
@*Just Jen*: LOL Jen! We were told to expect that ‘white crap’ today…never happened. Of course it decided to start raining as the sun set, so we’ll see if there will be a dusting of snow in the morning, or a sheet of ice. I’d prefer snow. 😉 Thanks for stopping by! 😉
@Firefly: OH, whew! It was just your screams I heard, not the voices in my head…(snicker!) Thanks for stopping by! 😉
@Morgan: I think the groundhog and Mother Nature are in cahoots… 😉 And I think you’re right – it’s going to be up and down until Spring has officially sprung – or Summer hits… 😉 Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
@Lana: Since Murphy’s Law likes to stalk me, that’s probably when I’d end up with a blizzard. Just because. (grin!!) Thanks for stopping by! 😉
@Cant Hardly Wait: He’s already stuffed – at least it wouldn’t be painful for him if someone should do that…are you volunteering? 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
@vsm/whirling dirvish photography: I almost did…LOL!! 🙂 I’ll expect to see some pretty flowers on your blog soon…please! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
@Bee and Rose: I’m not even in the desert and I’m missing the snow this year, you know, ‘cuz Mother Nature has been stingy with our area and too generous in others… 😉 Snow on the mountains is very pretty! I miss seeing the mountain range I took for granted when living in Seattle…they only have mole hills here…and groundhogs live in ’em! (snicker!) Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
@Kristen Andrews: So sorry to burst your bubble, Kristen…(grin!!) Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
@Minxy Mimi: Oh yeah, I did read you Californians are having a drought – sorry that Mother Nature’s being stingy with the basics for you…she really needs to be replaced! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
@Vodka Mom: HAHAHAHAHAHA! OK, I’ll be right over…you don’t mind if I bring Swedish Vodka for the martinis, do you? 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
@nikkicrumpet: LOL Nikki! You know, there has to be one floating around somewhere – if they have Zombie Permits, you would think they would also have Groundhog ones… 😉 Thanks for stopping by…where do you want your bite? (snicker!!)
@Nicole: LOL! Be careful, though, Mother Nature can be quite fickle…she might send me the 70 degree weather and send you a freakish snow storm just because! (evil grin!!) Thanks so much for stopping by – have a safe trip home! 🙂
@attygnorris: That’s the way I look at it, even for here – we haven’t had a ‘good’ winter this year… Right before Christmas it was 64, then dipped to freezing a few days later… it’s been a bazaar one that’s for sure. I’d really like all the bugs’n’critters to die off (the ones that do so during the winter) so they’re not running rampant when the warm weather shows up. And I really don’t want to jump from winter into hot humid 90-100 degree weather with no ‘in between’ time… 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Davida! 😉
Nnnnnnnoooooooooo I can’t make 6 more weeks– my poor trembling limbs will fall off from the cold.
I’m taking a trip with Small Town Mommy. How far is Punxsutawney and would anyone really miss the groundhog?
@Frogs in my formula: LOL! Oh, we can’t have your limbs falling off from the cold! That would be way too freaky…a missing groundhog would be much less freaky… I think Small Town Mommy is closer than I am – at least I’m making a wild guess (and could be wrong…it’s been known to happen…*snicker!*) Depends on which small town Small Town Mommy is in. Punxsutawney is only about 4 hours from me… 🙂 Let me know if you plan ‘Operation Groundhog’ I’ll come along and take pictures…oh, we probably wouldn’t want incriminating photos though, would we? But we could always PhotoShop other people into the pictures… (snicker!) Thanks so much for stopping by! 😉
Blah
At this point, I guess I’m glad it’s “only” six more weeks…we’ve had plenty of snow, but nothing good for making a snowman, which is a big bummer! This past big snow/ice storm from last week left us with lots to make snow angels and sled in, though, which was fun. And now we’re in the at dirty melty snow stage – ick! 😉
Damn! I am so through with heavy sweaters and jackets. I need to break out my capris soon! (and get rid of these ashy, pasty white legs of mine!)
The groundhog would have to be pretty stupid to predict an early spring around here. If it hasn’t already moved to the coast, that is.
@Yaya: Sorry to bring you BLAH news, Yaya! 😉 Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
@Steph at Problem Solvin’ Mom: There you go, Steph – thinking on the positive mode…’only’ 6 more weeks. 🙂 For me, I would love just one really good snow…just one…so the Princess Nagger can have her wish to build a snowman. 🙂 It’s great you guys had good snow to make snow angels and sled in…I don’t like the ‘dirty melty snow’ mode, either…too mucky! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
@Petra a.k.a The Wise (*Young*) Mommy: LOL Petra! So do people have to wear sunglasses when you start wearing your capris, you know, because of your ashy, pasty white legs? I know I usually make sure people are duly informed to be sporting sunglasses at the end of winter when I start sporting my capris…(grin!!) Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
@Keely: LOL! Good point, Keely! But which coast? 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
Hey stacey i just stumbled across your blog. I would have to say unlike many people i am not dissapointed, in fact living in canada for most of my life i have come to welcome the frigid arctic climate, its great in the dark winter months to go snow shoeing or snowboarding on the half pipe.
i hope the gopher keeps doing what hes doing!
@Dan – Sell Used Cars: LOL Dan! Glad to know that I’m not completely alone…I’m still holding out for at least ONE ‘good’ snow so the Nagger Princess can do what she’s been hoping to do all winter…actually play in the snow! 🙂 Mother Nature has been unkind this year – inundating people with snow that usually don’t get much, then not sending snow to places that expect it (and in some cases, look forward to it). Hopefully Mother Nature will get her act together and stop sending snow where it’s not wanted…and send it where it is. She has 6 weeks to make good…(grin!) Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
Hi again, Just wanted to let you know I left you an award over on my blog 🙂
Yay! I gotta say, I love winter. Yes, sometimes it can drag a bit. But I like the feel of winter – it just feels like it’s okay to be a little slower and cozier and more mellow. Love it!
I’m so through with winter..I never really believed the groundhogs anyway 😉
Love your blog!
Didn’t we all just know he was going to see his shadow? And why do they have all the camera crews all around? Doesn’t that contribute to the shadow issue?
It’s a scam!
Hugs and Mocha,
Stesha
You know you’d have a whole different take on things if you lived here. I guarantee.
There is hope. Here in GA we have General Beauregard Lee and he went the other way with an early spring. And he delivered his prediction via twitter so I think all bloggers should go with his take on it instead of Phil!
Oh, no. I forgot about that. You make an excellent point about the insects. I don’t like those at all. It’s going to be rough when it warms up even more…
Davida
@Melissa: Awww, thanks, Melissa! I’ll be by to check it out – I’m a bit behind on catching up on recent awards, so I’m going to try to get caught up in the near future… 😉 Thanks so much! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
@tara @ kidz: LOL Tara! I happen to enjoy winter, too – for the same reasons as you. It’s cozier and more mellow! 😉 Thanks for stopping by, Tara! 🙂
@EVILFLU: LOL! I generally don’t take stock in what the groundhog says, ‘cuz he really doesn’t ‘say’ anything! (snicker!) Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
@Lola: That’s always been my beef with the whole thing, Lola – with all the camera crews and lights all blazing away, how can he NOT see his shadow? Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
@Stesha: LOL! I agree! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Stesha! 🙂
@blueviolet: LOL! I don’t doubt you for a minute, Elizabeth! 😉 You’re trying to get me to move there, aren’t you? (grin!!) Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
@Sarah: I find it very interesting that different groundhogs in different areas predict differently each and every year… That’s hilarious that General Beauregard Lee delivered his prediction via Twitter – a groundhog that Twitters…gotta love it! 😉 Another reason why I’m convinced it’s all just a conspiracy! (grin!!) Thanks so much for stopping by, Sarah! 🙂
@attygnorris: It never fails – whenever we have a mild winter, the insects that normally ‘die off’ during the cold months seem to inundate even more when the warmer weather comes…so I’m really hoping the cold lasts long enough to kill off a large portion of insects like mosquitoes and fleas…hate ’em with a passion and don’t want them to flourish as it gets warmer…no thank you very much! Thanks so much for stopping by, Davida! 🙂