Punxsutawney Phil, the perennial groundhog, declared he saw his shadow at sunrise, Friday February 2nd. Groundhog Day.
No early Spring for us.
How often is he accurate? Less than 50% of the time according to this article by Justin Boggs.
Hope he’s inaccurate this year.
I’ve been to see this event twice which might be in your bucket list. And Last year’s Groundhog Compendium
Through the years on the blog.Happy Groundhog’s Day.
Groundhog’s Day first celebration in Punxsutawney was in 1886.
Snippets from previous Groundhog’s Day Posts. If you want more pics or details, click on underlined links.
Let’s see if there is a clear day with a shadow or an early Spring for 2017.
History of Groundhog’s Day– from Stormfax
Groundhog Day Filmed in Woodstock Illinois
Punxsutawney Phil Declares 6 More Weeks of Winter
Shout out to Kyle Kline on the bass
And yes we were there Me. Laura and my sister Mary
Groundhog Sports Black and Gold Beads
Michael on left and Jack on the right with Baby Groundhog (a family puppet)
Groundhog BrewSkumps Groundhog
Groundhog Day Movie Capture Pittsburgh SkylineThe Pittsburgh Skyline before all the neon signs on the buildings
It was Jack’s idea. Take a picture of him tossing his sock monkey in the air.
This weekend I got to be a useful grandma and help watch the younger 3 grandkids while Anna and her mom went to Cincinnati to a swim meet.
The bonus is I got to practice photography- catch motion, suffed animal mid-air, press the shutter, experiment with the new SONY mirrorless camera. Get a sense of the timing.
The kids were in jammies and ready for bed.
But hey, let’s throw stuffed animals in the air! Maura got the groundhog up and his shadow appeared on the wall!
Below Polish Hill, turning onto Liberty Ave into the Strip District. Here is what I saw.
He got out from under the cars as we were all stopped at the red light.
Instead of crossing the road, he kept walking back under the cars.
Good thing I had my camera on the front seat.
Good thing he didn’t get squished. I felt sorry for the groundhog.
Too much concrete to burrow in.
(And my car windows need a wash)
Just a snippet. I saw movement.
Coming under the cars. Oh no.
Go the other way. He did eventually.
I felt badly for the groundhog but at least he finally made it to the side before the light turned green. But what then?
Spring!
We are eager for it to begin. In earnest.
Monday there was a two hour delay due to ice, snow and sleet. It was unexpected and I heard it on the radio as I was already driving to school.
Can we trust the groundhog? Phil said it would be an early Spring. Well Phil, it’s Spring tomorrow on the clock and calendar but it feels like WINTER today. Chilly and gray. We are ready for blossoms, muddy earth, warm breezes. Saturday I saw my first robin in the back on the porch post.
Now I know, no one reads the blog for the weather report but the change of seasons is significant. We just want to be reassured that a true Spring is coming and will warm us up. SOON. (Florida readers- I saw those photographs of you in short sleeved shirts!!)
Before school I stopped in at the Giant Eagle and bought this bouquet. I took the daffodils to school for the students to photograph. They were buds in the morning and by the afternoon they had opened.
You can see the set up with the background of folded white paper to eliminate clutter. When I was ready to go home and the lights were off, this is what I saw.
Happy Groundhog’s Day. A friend sent an email of a groundhog finding a Lombardi trophy as a shadow.
You can click here for all the serious information from the official website in Punxsutawney PA.
I hear there are some competitors around the country but Phil lives close by …. “If Candlemas be fair and clear, there’ll be two winters in the year.” or this poem from Wikipedia “In Scotland the tradition may also derive from an English poem:
As the light grows longer
The cold grows stronger
If Candlemas be fair and bright
Winter will have another flight
If Candlemas be cloud and rain
Winter will be gone and not come again
A farmer should on Candlemas day
Have half his corn and half his hay
On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop
You can be sure of a good pea crop
