Alberta, Canada’s Balzac Billy saw his shadow and scurried back into his burrow – sigh, six more weeks of winter for me.
Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam and Ontario’s Wiarton Willie both failed to see their shadows, so Canada’s east coast should see an early spring. My siblings that live to the east of me are probably laughing and dancing around their wood stoves this morning. I don’t know if British Columbia has a special groundhog, but they always seem to have spring earlier than the rest of us, so my family and friends that live there are probably okay too. And to add insult to injury, my siblings on both coasts have either the Atlantic or the Pacific ocean close by … rolling hills and mountains … beautiful forests and lakes … why on earth did I ever move to Alberta, you ask? Long story for another post, but I really, really want to move back to BC – I am so not a prairie girl!
Well, it’s actually a beautiful, sunny day here in Alberta, but really cold again – think I’ll hunker back down in my burrow for awhile – another six weeks maybe!
By the way, Groundhog Day was inspired by an old Scottish couplet: “If Candlemas Day is bright and clear / There’ll be two winters in the year.”
Happy Groundhog Day, everyone! May Spring be sprung soon for you, wherever you have your burrow!
~ Julie
Related articles
- Groundhog Day – Why Do We Love it So Much? (boston.cbslocal.com)
- Groundhog Day: Shubenacadie Sam, Wiarton Willie predict early spring (canada.com)
- Groundhog Day: Wiarton Willie sees early spring ahead (thestar.com)
- Groundhog Day 2012 cheat sheet, from Wiarton Willie to Punxsutawney Phil (news.nationalpost.com)
Very well done my friend.
Thank you, Helen, have a wonderful day!
Happy Groundhog Day to you, too, Julie. May the Snows of Kilimanjaro…stay there! haha
nice article….
tom
LOL! Tom, you made me laugh out loud, love that! Thanks for stopping by to brighten my day.
yesterday in south Texas is was 84 degrees with 80% humidity
that pretty much sums up spring in Texas … I don’t envy your snowy cold, but I wouldn’t mind at least the suggestion of a lingering winter
Oh my goodness, can you say, hot hot hot! I’d like to find someplace where it’s about 70ish – most of the time … low humidity, just nice for slacks and a light sweater … Rain is nice, but I get awfully tired of snow! It’s lovely at Christmas, but come January, I’m looking for it to be gone, lol. Thanks for stopping by to say hi, and have a terrific day.
Sounds like you want to live in Vancouver, Julie! Give Christyb! a ring…!
I think Mr. Groundhog is wiley and loves to mess with us humans. Here on the East Coast, Puxatawaney Phil says 6 more weeks of winter. Of course, in Richmond, VA, we’ve had one of the warmest winters on record. Currently its 68 degrees. sigh
Actually, Leila, except for a couple of major snowfalls and cold snaps, Alberta has gotten off lightly this year – compared to the last few, that is. I hope I’m not jinxing anything by saying that!
Geesh, how slack of this adherent to the liturgical year to have forgotten February 2 is Candelmas day, the day when Jesus was taken to the Temple, (at least in Eastern Orthodoxy). Anyway, you just hunker on down there girl. In the U.S.the Plains States also typically have a longer winter. Nothing to block those Arctic winds, right? Both oceans are moderating forces on the weather, we are told.
You’re absolutely right, Granbee – but I miss those ‘things’ that block the arctic winds – like the mountains …
Here in SoCal, it’s always summer, so Phil and his pals really don’t affect us. Okay, I lied. We do have winters, but nothing like you northerners.
LOL, Tameri! I could do with less winter for sure; but I can’t really complain because it hasn’t been nearly as severe this year as some of them have.
They keep saying it’s an “average winter”, yet it’s only been below -15 maybe 3 or 4 days now, and the coldest part of winter is high upon us! A good harbinger of the weather is the number of days Ottawa’s Rideau Canal skateway is open… Groundhogs see their shadows is they look away from the sun when they come out for a peek… it used to be that they had to actually come out of a real groundhog hole, and cameras would wait, wait, wait… much like waiting for the weather to turn!
Marc, several years ago I actually managed to see the Rideau Canal when there were skaters on it – I went to Winterlude one of the weekends, and it was fabulous!
Well, winter may be continuing for you Julie, here it’s just started. Until the beginning of this week we had hardly had some frost. Now it’s below zero during the day and severe (well severe for us) frost (- 8°C). Spring will not arrive here in the next few weeks. Very nice reading.
Love Steph xxx
Thanks, Steph – wow, those temps are mild for us, lol. I just hope that it stays that way until spring is ready to burst forth!
Happy Groundhog Day, Julie! It was in the upper 50′s here! There hasn’t been a winter yet in DC! I love the seasons!