It's Groundhog Day! So I decided to do this special post with my friend Harvey the groundhog. I actually saw Harvey last summer while I was out looking for new everyday adventures. I thought it was a good idea to reintroduce him for two reasons.First, as I said before, it's Groundhog Day. And second, I've been out looking for new adventures the last few days again. Back then I found a few good new things that didn't really last. But now I have found some amazing new things!
I thought things were beginning to be too much the same here, but I have lots of new things coming. I'm really excited about things right now! I think Harvey might be my new good luck charm. I haven't seen him in six months, but it's his time of year now.
Anyway, while I was driving around last summer, I found this chubby little guy. Harvey was kind enough to pose for several pictures for me, which I included in a few of my oldest posts. It seems even something unexpected can turn into a good adventure in the end.Groundhogs (Marmota monax), are also known as woodchucks. They are rodents and they're part of the Sciuridae family. They belong to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots.
Most marmots live in rocky and mountainous areas, but the woodchuck is a lowland creature. It lives in many areas of North America and is common in the northeastern and central United States. Groundhogs are found as far north as Alaska, with their habitat extending southeast to Alabama.
I have seen two of these animals in Michigan just this year. First I saw Harvey here, then I saw a groundhog that had been living in my backyard for awhile. I have some blurry photos of my backyard groundhog in an older post. I'll leave a link to it below the post. Does anyone want to name him?
Oh, back to Groundhog Day. It's a holiday that's celebrated in the USA and Canada every February 2nd. We don't get to do much in this holiday except watch news reports about something peculiar that certain groundhogs do.The actual celebration is right out of old folklore. Basically, if the groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. If on the other hand, it is sunny and the groundhog sees its shadow, the groundhog will supposedly retreat into its burrow, and winter will continue for 6 more weeks.
They still have big organized celebrations in several places in this country. Most of the time they're pretty ridiculous, but it's all in fun. They usually have a pet groundhog that they push out of a little shelter that's made up for the celebration. Then they try to understand whichever choice it makes.
Hmm, it seems like I've written about some of the things in this post before, over and over. I have no idea why. I guess it's because of when I took these pictures. It seems like it was just yesterday, but at the same time so long ago.Well, I think I'm done with this Groundhog Day post, and so is Harvey. There he goes walking away. I guess he got bored with me finally. I'm not bored though, because spring is coming and I have some all new everyday adventures coming for you, and for me! I'm really excited about what will be coming!
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That is a fat one that Harvey guy. Can't help thinking of the one in the Bill Murray's movie Groundhog Day the first time I ever heard of this groundhog tradition...
ReplyDeleteOh!! You have missed the main point.
ReplyDeleteDid the Groundhog see its shadow today?
Or winter will last for another 6 more weeks?
Groundhog day is one of my favorite holidays! Punxatawny Phil announced this morning that we will have 6 more weeks of winter. http://www.groundhog.org/prediction/index.php Of course, he's only right 39% of the time according to the National Climatic Data Center. (But who's counting?)
ReplyDeleteHave a happy day, Harvey, wherever you are!
Unfortunately, where we live, Punxatawny Phil is 100% correct, EVERY year. We will be lucky if we ONLY have 6 more weeks of winter.
ReplyDeleteHow about "Ralphy" for the name contest? Hmmmmm....Ratty and Ralphy. Kinda has a ring to it, no????????
hahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahaha
Cute post about Harvey the ground hog and Groundhog day.
ReplyDeleteCute post about Harvey the ground hog and Groundhog day.
Cute post about Harvey the ground hog and Groundhog day.
Kruel - I was thinking about the same movie the whole time I was writing the post. I made a very small reference to it that most people won't recognize.
ReplyDelete-
Rainfield - Actually, I didn't know if any of the groundhogs saw their shadows or not. I wrote the post last night, so I didn't find out yet. But I do see that Sharkbytes has provided the answer for us, in her comment right after yours.:)
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Sharkbytes - Thanks for the info. That will save me from having to go look. I was at that same site yesterday looking for groundhog information. It's a good one.:)
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The Retired One - Six more weeks is almost right every time for us. Ralphy it is! You were the first one to pick a name for him, so your choice is the one. Hopefully I'll see Ralphy again, so that I can get some better pics.
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Plow and Pony -
Thanks.:)
Thanks.:)
Thanks.:)
For us in Michigan from Mother Goose
ReplyDeleteMich. Woodchuck: Spring 6 Weeks Away
POSTED: Monday, February 2, 2009
UPDATED: 3:21 pm EST February 2, 2009
AP
HOWELL, Mich. -- Woody wouldn't come out of her papier-mache stump in Howell, predicting that spring is six weeks away.
The forecast Monday morning from Michigan's prognosticating woodchuck at the Howell Conference and Nature Center matched the forecast from Punxsutawney Phil, the world's most famous groundhog, in Pennsylvania.
Woody indicates there will be an early spring by hanging out for at least 30 seconds. Her handlers said that if she doesn't come out or quickly scurries back inside, that means six more weeks of winter.
Mother Goose - Thanks for the local Groundhog Day report. There are quite a few of us locals on here now.:)
ReplyDeleteRatty, as a Brit and having watched the movie I am pleased to see a real hog.
ReplyDeleteI get the impression that you guys believe this piece of folklore?
Mike - No, we don't really believe it at all. It's just all in fun. I'm sure somebody believed in it some time in the distant past, but nobody really does now. I understand that the way everybody makes such a big deal out of the whole thing, it would make somebody think we believe it. I myself think the whole holiday is a bit strange, but fun.:)
ReplyDeleteWow, I never new groundhogs, woodchucks, and marmots were all the same creature; learn something new every day, what an adventure! In one shot, he looks almost like a Koala bear.
ReplyDeleteAs for the one in the backyard, I think he answers to the name Deuteronomy.