Groundhog Day's Punxsutawney Phil predicts more winter

The Associated Press February 02, 2004 - 10 minutes ago

If you're tired of winter, Punxutawney Phil has a message _ get used to it.

The world's most famous furry forecaster saw his shadow this chilly Groundhog Day morning, which according to tradition means six more weeks of winter.



The prediction drew boos from thousands who gathered in 17-degree weather early Monday to await the 118th annual weather prediction and who hoped for an early end to the winter doldrums.

Earlier, the spirited crowd, some clad in furry groundhog hats or even full-length costumes, chanted "Phil! Phil! Phil!" after fireworks and a long night of rock music drew to an end and the hour of the ceremony neared.

In the past 118 years, the famous groundhog is reported to have seen his shadow 94 times. The tradition is rooted in a German superstition that if a hibernating animal casts a shadow Feb. 2 _ the Christian holiday of Candlemas _ winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says spring will come early.

Hiya Rusty. We both started a thread at the same time. Think I shall move my one into this section. LMHO. Annie B.

Hm! Now we need the previous thread to be removed.

The folklore of the groundhog and his shadow began in the 1500s with German farmers. The legend said if the groundhog saw his shadow and was frightened back into his hole, they should not plant their crops since there would be 6 more weeks of winter. Scientific studies over a 60 year period show the groundhog is right only 28% of the time - about the same as your tv weatherman.


(Message edited by Annette on February 2, 2004)

...or we can jump from thread to thread. I had a message set to go then checked one more time at google to see if that stupid $&*@%^&@%# groundhog was predicting an early Spring. I shoulda stood in bed! LOL

Good Morning you two and everyone out there in Groundhog land.. it is here today!!! our local ground hog wouldn't even comeout of his shelter today..
Today we are also celebrating Susan's Birthday and she requested a pineapple upside down cake and I just happen to find one in the oven.. too pretty to put her name on it though...
image{P}

zigged when I should have zagged!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSAN!!!!! Hope you have a great day - enjoy your cake!!! Freddie it looks delicious!!!!!


BTW - I am doing no Patriots victory dance here!!! Though it was a great game!!! Thought the Panthers were going to pull it off!!!

Mary, I was just sinking into sleep when I heard a bad word from the living room - so when BoxerBob came to bed later on I didn't ask how the game went. I was surprised this morning when the newspaper headline said SUPER SUNDAY!

BB said they came VERY close to blowing it - TWICE! He said it was a very good game.

Happy Birthday Susan!! Hope you are having a great day.

Your cake looks super duper. When we eating it?

Hi Rusty

I'm more like this

After I have been used to
and and

Hi Jenni. Glad to hear that you had a lovely holiday, and you arrived home safe and sound. Did your luggage find it's way home yet? I think my magic wand worked and made the snow disappear for you. It's dull and raining here today. Annie B.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSAN.

Hi Annie

You did a most marvellous job of clearing the snow for us. In fact it was sunshining when we landed at Heathrow. I was very impressed with how good a job you had done. And even in Manchester there is no evidence of snow. No sun mind you. And yes it is dull today here too.

Happy Birthday, Susan!
(just imagine a cool .gif here)
LaDonna

Good morning everyone...at work and GIF free...our local Folsom zoo which is a keeper of injured and adopted, then discarded, wild animals has a hedgehog it uses to predict the coming of spring..they claim that it is the hedgehog that was the original hibernator and that the groundhog was substituted when no hedgehogs could be found in N. America! At any rate our local hedgehog has been pretty accurate as long as I've lived in town...too early for todays results..will post later! Maybe it'll be better news than Phil had to offer!

And a quote from a hedghog owner on the hedgehog hotline

"it's HEDGEHOG DAY! The holiday originally started with the Romans on February 2, and they used hedgehogs, as groundhogs didn't exist in Europe"

Happy Birthday Susan

I'm willing to give the hedgehog the chance to straighten out the groundhog's mess! PS Hedgehogs are much cuter!

Jenni - it's good to see you. It was great that you got a chance to pop in while you were away. Got any pictures to share?

yes, I will have pics real soon. I need time to download them. Will probably be Wed morning, or Thursday morning.

I am catching up with threads and trying to work out how to add my name and 'blob' to a UK map.

Jenni. I couldn't write my name on the map, so I just put a pink blob there using PSP. Are you going to watch I'm A Celebrity Get Me Outta here tonight. I hope Johnny Rotten wins. Annie B.

I'm off to cook dinner now, and then I shall put my feet up for a while and watch some tv. See ya'll later buddies. Annie B.

If I can stay awake that long, yes, Annie, I am going to watch it. My son, Lee, says it is good

(Message edited by Jenni on February 2, 2004)

Bob on the other thread posted this link
ice palace
and I just had to laugh....my sister is in the middle of moving to MN....right now! According to the local weather they are getting approx 1" per hour right now!!!
LaDonna

Hi gang, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSAN (insert gif here)

LaDonna, my brother lives in Minneapolis. He flew out last Friday to see my mom for the weekend and set up her new computer, and it was -20F, they de-iced the plane 3 times and it still kept collecting so they had to drive the plane to a hanger and warm it up (with passengers still on the plane). I guess the inside of the plane was freezing as well and everyone was huddled under blankets...they finally took off about 2 hours late!

My mom now has a scanner and can download pics from her new digital camera we got her for christmas and she sent this one to me...I'm the dark haired one...the funy thing is if you read the information below the picture...cracked me up!

Here's a blow up of the text. I need to have my mom email me the whole thing...I like the "ultra modern new 'Cozy Nook." LOL!

OMG, Cynde. I love the "cozy nook"!

I knew my sis was getting in over her head! She hates winter....so whe moves to MN!!!
LaDonna

LaDonna, I just realized, my brother is flying BACK to Minneapolis today! At 1 inch an hour, he may not make it! He may have to re-route somewhere else first! Yikes!

Cynde....I wish him the best of luck! The article said the schools were closed this am in anticipation of a whopper.....YUCK!

LaDonna, just pulled up the Minneapolis weather report...COLD! I don't dare tell my mom about the weather, she will worry herself to death! Your sister doesn't like snow?

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
Last Update on Feb 2, 1:53 pm CST


Light Snow Fog/Mist

22°F
(-6°C) Humidity: 85 %
Wind Speed: N 10 G 24 MPH
Barometer: 30.03" (1018.2 mb)
Dewpoint: 18°F (-8°C)
Wind Chill: 11°F (-12°C)
Visibility: 1.25 mi.
More Local Wx: 2 Day History:

Minneapolis Forecast

Cynde...."doesn't like" is a very mild term for it. She just barely put up with the weather in Colorado, and actually lived in TX for a while! Now she's in MN.....I am LMAO! She gave me heck for moving to Maine! Nothing like where she is going!!!

LaDonna

Cynde - love the article - just when we were talking about Freddie's new cozy nook!!!LOL!!!
I am curious as to what was on the wallpaper!!!

LaDonna - boy is your sister in for a surprise!!! Minneapolis is winter is always icy cold and snowy!!! Unfortunately I have only traveled to there in the winter - so do not have a clue if they have mild summers!!! Best of luck to her - she is going to need it!!!

Annie B - hope you are enjoying the Telly!!! I just sent you an email!!!

Mary....from what little research I have done...the summers are hot, muggy and buggy
LaDonna

Happy Birthday Susan!

Mary. Received your email and I have replied. Thank you so much for your help. It is greatly appreciated here. The docs just hate it when they think you know what you are talking about. He won't pull the wool over my eyes any more I am sure. The tv programme I wanted to watch was brilliant. I hope Jenni was able to stay awake to see it too.

Jeeze I am tired now, so it's off to bed for me. Guess who will be up late tomorrow. LMHO. Annie B.

Susan!
Better late than never

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. The cake is making me drool!! Now I've got to change my profile age, this is gonna hurt....ffffffforty!!