Happy Groundhog Day
The verdict is in: six more weeks of winter. The groundhog closest to me, Wiarton Willie, saw his shadow. And so did his counterparts Shubenacadie Sam and Punxsutawney Phil. So it’s unanimous.
Sigh.
Somehow I’m not surprised. I got stuck in my driveway on Friday for the second time this year. The power went out this morning. And so it goes.
But back to groundhogs.
When I was little I called groundhogs “twitchy.” As in they weren’t groundhogs, they were twitchies. I grew up in the middle of a field, the back section of which was filled with asparagus someone had planted at one time but then grew up “wild” year after year. (Feral asparagus? Now there’s something to ponder.) Needless to say, that field of asparagus was Groundhog Heaven!!!
But anyway, one day a groundhog came right up to the back of the house and looked in the window. I stood there watching its whiskers twitching, and I said “Twitchy!” (According to my parents; my memory’s not that good.) So ever after at our house, all groundhogs were called Twitchy. If I saw one out in the field I’d yell “Twitchy!” and Dad would go get his pellet rifle. He rarely connected (sorry, Dad). Yeah, this was the 70s way out in the boonies. You had to be there.
But while I’m thinking groundhogs, check out The Groundhog Day Book of Facts and Fun by Wendie Old.
May it help me remember we shouldn’t shoot the messenger.
© Lizann Flatt, www.lizannflatt.com
No part of this blog may be used without written permission from the author.
No part of this blog may be used without written permission from the author.
Wow, an Owl!
The sight of an owl outside my window was so rare I just had to make note of it. This isn’t a great shot because I had to take it through the window and my camera doesn’t have a stellar zoom lense. Proof nevertheless…
I think it’s a Great Gray owl. I’m no field expert, but it seemed to fit the description given in my Audubon bird guide.
Who knew these guys actually hunted during the day (a dark, gray, dismal day)? Better go let the cat in.
© Lizann Flatt, www.lizannflatt.com
No part of this blog may be used without written permission from the author.
No part of this blog may be used without written permission from the author.
Peekaboo
I’m feeling rather blah and uninspired lately, so here’s a cute photo I took earlier this fall.
Chipmunks are so cute, but can they ever scare the crap out of you when they scamper over the carpet of dry leaves. They sound much, much bigger!
© Lizann Flatt, www.lizannflatt.com
No part of this blog may be used without written permission from the author.
No part of this blog may be used without written permission from the author.
Foliage at the 45th Finale (Part 6)
So I was going to say that the only deciduous leaves left are the oaks and some stubborn maples. That’s true. But today there was something else on the trees: snow. AAAACCCKKK!!!
Yep, proof. Snow on the brown oak leaves. And since it was a wet dumping it clings to everything. Here it is below attached to the trees.
Say this with me five times with feeling, please: It will melt, it will melt.
Thanks.
I’m so not ready for this.
© Lizann Flatt, www.lizannflatt.com
No part of this blog may be used without written permission from the author.
No part of this blog may be used without written permission from the author.