Happy Grounddog Day!

Yes, GroundDOG day, not Groundhog day!  What does some oversized rat know about meteorology anyway?  I know more about weather forecasting than that Staten Island Chuck or that Punxsutawney Phil combined.  I watch the Weather Channel, as well as our local meteorologists on all three stations!  They're a wealth of information.  I can tell you what causes Lake Effect snow; how tornadoes form in super-cell thunderstorms, and how hail forms to name a few.  Groundhogs hibernate, which Aunt Pat thinks is a wonderful way to spend the winter, but I don't.  I'm sampling the atmospheric conditions multiple times a day:  tasting the snow; sticking my snout down into a snow drift to get the essence and moisture content; rolling around in the snow or sniff the air to see what might be coming.  Groundhogs are in their burrow, sleeping.  Granted, I like a good nap as much as the next girl, but there's more to life than sleeping!  Plus, dogs can sense when a storm is coming.  We'll be more active the day before, and spend a lot more time outside than usual.  We have to monitor the changes in the atmosphere, and have as much fun outside as possible.  The day of the storm, we don't want to be outside unless we absolutely have to.    

So, I think I'm more than qualified to prognosticate on how the rest of winter will play out.  Chloe and I went out a bit early this morning.  In fact, it was a little too early.  The sun wasn't quite up yet.  So, we went back inside and had breakfast.  By the time we were done, it was a lot lighter outside.  I started my scientific approach to my prognostication.  I walked around the back yard, sniffing and sampling.

Chloe really didn't care too much.  She was more interested in seeing what was in the neighbor's yard than forecasting the weather.

 I made sure I explored the parts that Daddy had cleared, and those he hadn't.  I had to make a pit stop, too.  When a girl's gotta go, a girl's gotta go.  Only until after I had checked the whole yard, could I make my forecast.  I didn't go prancing around some tabletop, no where near the snow, like Phil.  I saw my shadow.

No, not Chloe, although she does like to follow me around a lot.

I saw my shadow.  Aunt Pat didn't use any flash to take these photos, plus, she wasn't in a position to cast a shadow over me when these photos were taken.  With all the data I've collected, I can state, equivocally, that the Rodent is Wrong!  There will be 6 more weeks of winter.  Don't fret, though.  Pitchers, catchers and injured players voluntarily report on February 13.  Position players report on the 18th.  Baseball's return is the best sign of Spring I know!