It's Ground Hog Day!
Are you guys waiting to see what happens with baited breath!?!
Out here in the middle of nowhere in the Great White North, we have had a REALLY, REALLY, REALLY MILD winter!
This is a good thing.
Our poor Mom took a fall on the ice last month and has had to "Crutch" it. Alex was in the Arctic (well, Edmonton which is very much like the arctic in winter) until this last week. Mom was lucky. It did not snow, even if it was chilly, the roads (and sidewalk) were dry. Our Mom did everything she always does (except the grocery stores - too much walking).
Enough about Mom. She says she is grateful that she is mobile and can get from A to B (even if it takes longer and requires rest stops).
Some ground Hog Day History!
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Some things you might not know about Punxsutawney Phil (the FAMOUS Groundhog)
- The original groundhog was named Punxsutawney Phil, and according to legend, every summer his life is extended by seven years.
- If you think Punxsutawney Phil’s name is confusing, try saying his full name, which is "Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary."
- After comparing temperatures in the US from 1988 to 2012, the National Climatic Data Centre determined that Phil’s accuracy is only 39%, which is worse than chance.
- Groundhogs can tell when winter is ending but their shadows have nothing to do with it. Because they hibernate, they can tell when winter is over and it is time to come out of their burrows.
- Punxsutawney Phil tells the Inner Circle president his prediction in “groundhogese.” It is then told to the vice president, who chooses the correct scroll – the one indicating six weeks of winter or the one saying spring will come early.
- Punxsutawney Phil lives with his wife Phyllis and 2 other groundhogs in the children’s section of the Punxsutawney Memorial Library.
- In 2004, 32 six-foot “Phantastic Phils” were installed on sidewalks in Punxsutawney.
Happy Groundhog Day!
Oh Yeah!
Here's Kozmo talking to our local prognostigator (Miles the Marmot) getting his autograph for his lady Love Katie!
we hope for good news.. we want spring now..
ReplyDeleteWe have had the coldest winter in years and as much as we would like the weather to warm up a bit - we really do like winter!
ReplyDeleteWe've had the worst winter ever. Well in the last five or six years anyway, lol. Our Buckeye Chuck will not be able to find his way out of his hole through the snow this year. We do have clear blue sky and a bright moon this morning so he would have a shadow if he gets up.
ReplyDeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteA charming ritual to brighten the winter days! Sorry to hear that mum had another tumble, but glad she was still able to get around... ish. Another month and we can properly start thinking about spring. Hugs and whiskeries YAM-aunty xxx
That's not a good percentage.
ReplyDeleteWow on all those statues, I did follow the link, had no idea of any of this Phil Info.. now I do or, ha ha on that with my new memory problems. Both Miles and Phil are adorable and I have never seen a marmot or a groundhog . Maybe Florida has a Flamingo?
ReplyDeleteWe don't have groundhogs here which is probably just as well with all the rain and flooding we have been getting.
ReplyDeleteI am glad your mom has been able to keep mobile, but it will also be a big help for her having Alex home.
Charlee: "Hmm, I wonder if that 39% is just because Phil is being a contrarian about being held up in the air like that all the time ..."
ReplyDelete