Oh well, Phil says it's shadows all the way down.
Six more weeks of winter.
Showing posts with label Ground Hog's Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ground Hog's Day. Show all posts
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Groundhog Day 2012
The eNature Blog asks the question: How Can A Groundhog Predict The End Of Winter?
Thursday's forecast is for a bit of a shower--although the sky here at the Aerie is perfectly clear at 8 PM Wednesday.
At 7:20 AM EST Thursday, February 2nd at Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club will be broadcasting Phil's Prognostication. Here.
Thursday's forecast is for a bit of a shower--although the sky here at the Aerie is perfectly clear at 8 PM Wednesday.
At 7:20 AM EST Thursday, February 2nd at Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club will be broadcasting Phil's Prognostication. Here.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Groundhog Day 2012
Groundhog Day..............
In the coming year, 2012, both Groundhog Day and The State of the Union Address will occur on the same day.
This is an ironic juxtaposition of events.
One involves a meaningless ritual in which we look to an insignificant creature of little intelligence for prognostication.
The other involves a groundhog.
(Seen at Theo Spark's place.)
In the coming year, 2012, both Groundhog Day and The State of the Union Address will occur on the same day.
This is an ironic juxtaposition of events.
One involves a meaningless ritual in which we look to an insignificant creature of little intelligence for prognostication.
The other involves a groundhog.
(Seen at Theo Spark's place.)
Monday, January 31, 2011
Calm Before the Storm
Our first light temperature was a mere 5.9 F degrees but it warmed to a comfortable 21 under clear still skies. That will change sometime after midnight as another huge storm is barreling our way. There are conflicting forecasts as to how much snow we will get and whether or not there will be ice atop the snow before it all ends sometime on Wednesday. I'm hoping it will remain all snow as that will be much easier to clean up and will mean less chance of losing power.
Something between 6 and 12 inches of snow seems to be the range being reported but the line between 12 and 20--as well as the snow/ice line--is (literally) a stones throw to the north of here at the PA-NY state border.
In anticipation of this storm, Jessica and Jake headed back to New Jersey shortly after our noon meal. They should be getting pretty close to home as I wrote this.
******
The winds have been swirling around all afternoon coming first from the north and then north-northeast, north-northwest, west and now the south-southeast. In short there is definitely something afoot. But the winds have seldom gotten above 5 mph if the spinning of the windmills is any indication. In fact, there have been hours at a time when the windmills--or at least the three that are very visible from the deck--have stood perfectly still even while facing in three different directions. It only takes a breeze of 2 mph to get them spinning.
******
If the groundhog "sees" his shadow out at Punxsutawney on Wednesday morning you will know that the entire pageant is rigged. Legend has it, if he sees his shadow he'll go back to sleep and we'll have 6 more weeks of winter. If he doesn't see it, spring will come early. Well, this year, he should NOT see the bloody shadow because of the snow that will be falling but you can bloody well believe we will STILL have six more weeks of winter. Gaia like to play hardball.
Something between 6 and 12 inches of snow seems to be the range being reported but the line between 12 and 20--as well as the snow/ice line--is (literally) a stones throw to the north of here at the PA-NY state border.
In anticipation of this storm, Jessica and Jake headed back to New Jersey shortly after our noon meal. They should be getting pretty close to home as I wrote this.
******
The winds have been swirling around all afternoon coming first from the north and then north-northeast, north-northwest, west and now the south-southeast. In short there is definitely something afoot. But the winds have seldom gotten above 5 mph if the spinning of the windmills is any indication. In fact, there have been hours at a time when the windmills--or at least the three that are very visible from the deck--have stood perfectly still even while facing in three different directions. It only takes a breeze of 2 mph to get them spinning.
******
If the groundhog "sees" his shadow out at Punxsutawney on Wednesday morning you will know that the entire pageant is rigged. Legend has it, if he sees his shadow he'll go back to sleep and we'll have 6 more weeks of winter. If he doesn't see it, spring will come early. Well, this year, he should NOT see the bloody shadow because of the snow that will be falling but you can bloody well believe we will STILL have six more weeks of winter. Gaia like to play hardball.
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Jeez! I hope not!
I just had a terrible thought. You don't suppose that the reason it's so cold might be because that stupid groundhog that poked out form under my shed saw his shadow, ducked for cover and proclaimed that there should be another six weeks of winter, do you? I mean, I haven't seen him since. There can't be anything to that old fable. Can there?
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Six more weeks. **Sigh**
Weather.com said it was cloudy and there were snow showers in the area this morning as ceremonies commenced in Punxsutawney, PA this morning, but that didn't stop Phil from seeing his shadow and forecasting another six weeks of winter. Of course, it's something he does around 80% of the time (meaning you've only got a 1-in-5 shot at his saying early spring) but still it would be a nice change.
My guess is that Phil is an AGW denialist and is in league with Jack Frost and Frosty the Snowman.
My guess is that Phil is an AGW denialist and is in league with Jack Frost and Frosty the Snowman.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Aerie Report, January 29, 2010
Just 3.6 degrees this morning when we got out of bed at 7 AM. But it did warm up. All the way to 16 degrees. It's supposed to be colder tonight. it's already down to 7.5 degrees at 8:30 PM.
The wind continues to come out of the NNW but it isn't howling like it was yesterday. Like a long distance runner, it was fast and furious out of the blocks but has now settled in for the long haul at a more moderate pace. (That's from observation only. I have never been and will never be a long distance runner! I mean, seriously. Have you ever looked at the faces of joggers, for crying out loud? Ever see one smiling? They all look like they are about to die.)
We did get some sunshine today. Mixed in with a few, brief snow squalls. I lit a fire in the fireplace this morning and the cats and I have been enjoying the warmth.
Terry did run down to Williamsport to pick up something from the stitchery shop. I had to bribe her to stop at Mr. Stickies on the way home, but she did and got half-a-dozen of the regular stickie buns. (Yo! I'm building up for Fat Tuesday. Only two and a half weeks before Lent.)
******
Speaking of Tuesdays...Next Tuesday is February 2 and you know what that means don't you?
Speaking of Tuesdays...Next Tuesday is February 2 and you know what that means don't you?
Of course! It's Ground Hog Day! No. We won't be going out to Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney to watch Phil make his predictions. I will, however, follow along on the Official Website.
As for Phil... They have a climate controlled habitat attached to the library in Punxsutawney where Phil sleeps away the winter months in comfort. During the summer, he idles away his time while getting regular meals of hay and grasses along with special diet supplements to keep him nice and healthy. He also gets regular checkups from the local veterinary clinic. In short, he living high on the hog.
Is it any wonder that when February 2nd rolls around and a bunch of guys in top hats and long black coats haul his sorry ass out of that heavenly, man made, taxpayer funded Eden he gets a wee bit upset? Is it any wonder that he frequently (about 80% of the time) sees his shadow so he can get back to his warm bed for another six weeks?
Room, board, and health care for free. No need to work or do anything productive. Heck Phil's a Democrat!
The wind continues to come out of the NNW but it isn't howling like it was yesterday. Like a long distance runner, it was fast and furious out of the blocks but has now settled in for the long haul at a more moderate pace. (That's from observation only. I have never been and will never be a long distance runner! I mean, seriously. Have you ever looked at the faces of joggers, for crying out loud? Ever see one smiling? They all look like they are about to die.)
We did get some sunshine today. Mixed in with a few, brief snow squalls. I lit a fire in the fireplace this morning and the cats and I have been enjoying the warmth.
Terry did run down to Williamsport to pick up something from the stitchery shop. I had to bribe her to stop at Mr. Stickies on the way home, but she did and got half-a-dozen of the regular stickie buns. (Yo! I'm building up for Fat Tuesday. Only two and a half weeks before Lent.)
******
Speaking of Tuesdays...Next Tuesday is February 2 and you know what that means don't you?
Speaking of Tuesdays...Next Tuesday is February 2 and you know what that means don't you?
Of course! It's Ground Hog Day! No. We won't be going out to Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney to watch Phil make his predictions. I will, however, follow along on the Official Website.
As for Phil... They have a climate controlled habitat attached to the library in Punxsutawney where Phil sleeps away the winter months in comfort. During the summer, he idles away his time while getting regular meals of hay and grasses along with special diet supplements to keep him nice and healthy. He also gets regular checkups from the local veterinary clinic. In short, he living high on the hog.
Is it any wonder that when February 2nd rolls around and a bunch of guys in top hats and long black coats haul his sorry ass out of that heavenly, man made, taxpayer funded Eden he gets a wee bit upset? Is it any wonder that he frequently (about 80% of the time) sees his shadow so he can get back to his warm bed for another six weeks?
Room, board, and health care for free. No need to work or do anything productive. Heck Phil's a Democrat!
Monday, February 02, 2009
Damn! Damn! Damn!
It appears the AccuHunch folks got it wrong when they said we would have sunshine today. While the temperature did hover around the 32 degree mark as a low over night and shows signs of rising slightly today, the sky is a blanket of gray.
That didn't stop that overgrown rat in Punxsutawney, Pa. from spotting his freakin' shadow this morning, however, damn him!
Meanwhile the radio forecast says about 1 inch today, 1 inch tonight and they just say "snow" for tomorrow.
Even the Dark-eyed Juncos (a.k.a. "Snow Birds") have apparently tired of this snow cycle we've been having. Their numbers have thinned as those of the Pine Siskins (down from the aboreal forests for the season) have grown.
That didn't stop that overgrown rat in Punxsutawney, Pa. from spotting his freakin' shadow this morning, however, damn him!
Probably just hungover from last night's celebrations.The world's most famous groundhog saw his shadow Monday morning, predicting this already long winter will last for six more weeks.
Punxsutawney Phil emerged just after dawn in front of an estimated 13,000 witnesses, many dressed in black-and-gold to celebrate the Pittsburgh Steelers' Super Bowl victory the night before.
Meanwhile the radio forecast says about 1 inch today, 1 inch tonight and they just say "snow" for tomorrow.
Even the Dark-eyed Juncos (a.k.a. "Snow Birds") have apparently tired of this snow cycle we've been having. Their numbers have thinned as those of the Pine Siskins (down from the aboreal forests for the season) have grown.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Ground Hog's Day 2008: The Prediction
Well, Phil saw his shadow this morning and forecast six more weeks of winter.
(I wonder how that sits with the global warming crowd? Watch yer back, Phil.)
(I wonder how that sits with the global warming crowd? Watch yer back, Phil.)
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Ground Hog's Day, 2008
Last year around this time I wrote a rather benign piece about Candlemas and Ground Hog’s Day.
I’m not feeling that pleasantly disposed about the whole thing this year. It’s been cold. My truck is still in the shop. And my kids have dispersed to the ends of the continent. (One has gone off to Eugene, Oregon while the other has returned to Grandma’s house in Linden, New Jersey.) I got a look at all the W2 forms and realized how much, even in retirement, we have had deducted from our income by Uncle Sam's hoods at the IRS. Capone would have been proud. Besides, have you looked at our presidential choices?
___________________________________________
Tomorrow is the first of February and we all know what that means. Saturday morning, February 2nd, west of here in the wilds of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania thousands will gather around a faux stump atop the inauspiciously named Gobbler’s Knob to watch a group of elderly gentlemen in top hats and tails perform a mystic rite that has been repeated annually since 1886. It's time to wake up Punxsutawney Phil and ask when winter will end.
One of the Inner Circle will reach into the stump and pull a sleepy little rodent, Punxsutawney Phil (we’ll just call him Phil from now on, ‘kay?) out of his winter’s burrow. They will hold the poor sod up for the admiring throngs and place him on a flat surface as the time the sun break is supposed to rise.
Everyone will hold their breath while this Groundhog, Phil, (also known as a Woodchuck and nothing more than a chubby little rodent) gets its bearings and opens one lazy eye. He’s been asleep since last October, you see, and wants nothing more than to return to the Land of Nod until sometime in late April or early May when the new grasses will have emerged and there's something to eat available. Yet, these hundreds—nay, thousands—of people are waiting for him to make a prediction.
Another of the Inner Circle leans forward quite gingerly (a sleepy groundhog may awaken in a foul mood!) to extract the desired information from Phil (plus one or two pertinent comments).
The major domo who has received the vital information (in the form of a scroll? Who knew Groundhogs could write!) will stand and proclaim the result of Phil’s careful deliberations between himself and his shadow. Will we have six more weeks of winter, or is spring right around the corner? Whatever Phil predicts, he’s going back to sleep when all is over. Yea, to sleep, perchance to dream of sweet, tender grass shoots and female Groundhogs named Phyllis.
The humans in the crowd will go their merry way and wait for the Spring Solstice on March 20, almost exactly six weeks in the future, to mark the true coming of Spring.
If you can’t be in Punxsutawney for the molestation of Phil, you can watch it all by going to The Official Website of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club where the Prediction will be made live. Broadcast festivities start at 7 AM EST. (With any luck Phil might wake up enough to bite his Handler or the reader of the Prognostication.)
I’m not feeling that pleasantly disposed about the whole thing this year. It’s been cold. My truck is still in the shop. And my kids have dispersed to the ends of the continent. (One has gone off to Eugene, Oregon while the other has returned to Grandma’s house in Linden, New Jersey.) I got a look at all the W2 forms and realized how much, even in retirement, we have had deducted from our income by Uncle Sam's hoods at the IRS. Capone would have been proud. Besides, have you looked at our presidential choices?
___________________________________________
Tomorrow is the first of February and we all know what that means. Saturday morning, February 2nd, west of here in the wilds of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania thousands will gather around a faux stump atop the inauspiciously named Gobbler’s Knob to watch a group of elderly gentlemen in top hats and tails perform a mystic rite that has been repeated annually since 1886. It's time to wake up Punxsutawney Phil and ask when winter will end.
One of the Inner Circle will reach into the stump and pull a sleepy little rodent, Punxsutawney Phil (we’ll just call him Phil from now on, ‘kay?) out of his winter’s burrow. They will hold the poor sod up for the admiring throngs and place him on a flat surface as the time the sun break is supposed to rise.
Everyone will hold their breath while this Groundhog, Phil, (also known as a Woodchuck and nothing more than a chubby little rodent) gets its bearings and opens one lazy eye. He’s been asleep since last October, you see, and wants nothing more than to return to the Land of Nod until sometime in late April or early May when the new grasses will have emerged and there's something to eat available. Yet, these hundreds—nay, thousands—of people are waiting for him to make a prediction.
Another of the Inner Circle leans forward quite gingerly (a sleepy groundhog may awaken in a foul mood!) to extract the desired information from Phil (plus one or two pertinent comments).
The major domo who has received the vital information (in the form of a scroll? Who knew Groundhogs could write!) will stand and proclaim the result of Phil’s careful deliberations between himself and his shadow. Will we have six more weeks of winter, or is spring right around the corner? Whatever Phil predicts, he’s going back to sleep when all is over. Yea, to sleep, perchance to dream of sweet, tender grass shoots and female Groundhogs named Phyllis.
The humans in the crowd will go their merry way and wait for the Spring Solstice on March 20, almost exactly six weeks in the future, to mark the true coming of Spring.
If you can’t be in Punxsutawney for the molestation of Phil, you can watch it all by going to The Official Website of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club where the Prediction will be made live. Broadcast festivities start at 7 AM EST. (With any luck Phil might wake up enough to bite his Handler or the reader of the Prognostication.)
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