This groundhog is enjoying a past spring. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
“Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.” — Maori Proverb
Travels With Maggie
Two famous groundhogs, Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania and Gen. Beau Lee in Georgia, didn’t see their shadows this morning. This means, according to an old German superstition, that we’ll have an early spring.
Groundhogs are members of the marmot family, and they hibernate in burrows during the winter. I doubt that any wild ones would have even stuck their noses out of the ground this morning, since a killer storm is currently moving across the country.
Phil and Lee are the mascots of two groundhog clubs, whose members actually do the weather prognosticating themselves. But the groundhogs’ supposed predictions of an early spring should still be good news to those buried today beneath snow and ice.
No snow where I’m at, but the weather experts say the 23 degrees the temperature gauge reads would feel more like 9 degrees if I stuck my head out of my RV. For the record, I’m currently parked in a son’s Lake Jackson, Texas, driveway. And 9 degrees, or 24 for that matter, is pretty darn cold for the Texas Gulf Coast.
It’s a mere mosquito bite, however, to what other parts of the country are experiencing.
According to a story in the NY Times, about a third of the country is paralyzed. Nearly 13,000 flights have been canceled and the number is expected to rise to 20,000.
It’s a day for those of us who are holed up snug and warm to send vibes of hope to those who have been caught up in Mother Nature’s frigid tantrum. It’s also a good day for those of who are safely cosseted to count our blessings.
Mine includes family, friends, my dog Maggie, my health, a zest for life, good coffee, comfortable shoes, a decent computer, birds to watch and roads to travel.
That’s just 10, but there are hundreds of others. That’s OK. I have the whole day ahead to contemplate them.
Pat Bean's blog 
No, Spring’s not here yet, Pat, and for the last two days I’ve been blessing the wild beasties and strays who must be suffering so bitterly in this weather. People, even those who are distressed by such weather, usually have resources of one sort or another. Beasties don’t. I pray for them and hope my vibes help them.
As another Texas Gulf Coaster (we live near where 59 S crosses the Brazos) I agree its pretty cold! 17 Here this morning, and snow tomorrow!! My goodness. I also agree when we put it in perspective with what those north of us are experiencing. My niece moved from Texas to Pittsburgh last fall, and is trying hard to keep the snow shoveled from her sidewalk, so I can’t complain about needing to move my pot plants inside.
Cheers,
Mary Ann
Weather is on my mind, too, Pat. We had wind chills of almost minus 40 last night! I posted my accuweather map at News From Nowhere to show how weird the weather is on the eastern plains. -14 tonight and 45 tomorrow? These snaps are getting to be very stressful and worrisome.
Punxsutawney Phil lives about 3 hours drive from me. Poor guy. There is no way he would come out of hibernation to experience a day like today. It’s pretty nasty out there with blustery winds, white-out conditions, and a layer of ice to keep everything nice and slippery.
But I’m safe indoors with heat, water, and electricity, and very thankful for all three. My husband and I have been enjoying a day of being shut in, catching up on little projects that have been put off for a rainy (or in this case, wintry) day. It’s been lovely. 🙂
Three hundred miles north of Pat’s current location is her daughter (me) in Dallas. Haven’t been to work for the last 2 days. Holed up with hubby and 2 dogs and a cat.
When she was little, we stood my daughter out on Feb 2nd to see her shadow. It was her birthday.
Happy Birthday to Pat’s granddaughter Shanna!
I’m grateful the heat, lights, and water are still working. And that I don’t have to work outside like some of the people keeping the heat, lights, and water working.