The water on my pond might be smooth, even with the wind blowing, but that is because the water has been frozen stiff for a couple of months now. And it looks cold covered in snow and not at all warm and inviting as during the summertime.
Warmer Time at the Pond
It was bright out today with the sun shining on the snow but it was misleading sunshine as it was a cold day. The winds were a little lighter so my cats did venture outside today were they would not yesterday with the sharp wind chill.
Sunny Chilly Winter Day
No groundhog in its right mind would venture out this morning when the temperature was barely above zero, but several of them were thrust out early in the morning to look for its shadow. Jimmy, the Sun Prairie groundhog in Wisconsin, saw his shadow so winter will be a long one.
The Groundhog Day tradition in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin dates back to 1948, when Wisconsin celebrated its centennial year and an artist sought to bring the state together for the occasion. A commercial artist, Ira Bennett, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin and his young son decided to create a series of commemorative post cards relating various locations in Wisconsin to the holidays throughout the year. Some of the cities chosen were: Port Washington, Wisconsin for Washington’s Birthday, Independence, Wisconsin for July 4th, Loyal, Wisconsin for Boy Scout Sunday (a scout is loyal). Groundhog Day required a stretch of the imagination. The groundhog sees his shadow when the sun comes up on the prairie, thus, Sun Prairie was picked for the honor.
And the Sun Prairie Jimmy the Groundhog made the 2015 winter prediction slightly more exciting when he bit the ear of Mayor Jon Freund during the celebration.
Predicting a Long Winter
The new coating of snow was bright when the sun finally came out today, but then that meant the temperatures dropped. The sun would be shining something different in six months, like these sunflowers.
Sunflowers in August
By the time I finished clearing the snow which fell overnight, the sun peeked out for a few minutes before it turned dark as it started to snow heavily again. It wasn’t what I wanted to see and I would prefer seeing falling water in a different format on a warmer day.
Water Falling
There wasn’t a lot of snow to shovel this morning, but it did add a new coating. I do prefer seeing white wildflower blossoms at the base of this stump in the spring rather than seeing it topped in white snow.
Snow-capped Stump
Sunsets have been lacking with the cloudy week but the chilly sun was out for a while today before it clouded up again. The snowy days coming up probably will hide the sun again so have to enjoy the sun, sunrises and sunsets when they do appear.
Winter Sunset
On my way home from church this evening, I had a deer cross in front of me but since it was after sunset on a cloudy day, the deer did not stand out against the bright snow. Instead the deer blended in with the brush and trees in the area where it crossed the road but it lived to see another day.
Wintertime Deer
The sun managed to peek out this afternoon, lighting up the new snow and brightening the trees including the pine cones still hanging on.
Winter Pine Cones
The cloudy, below freezing winter day has me wishing for a hint of warmer times and adventures like a trip to a waterfall, like to Bond Falls in Upper Michigan.
Waterfall Wishing
