Happy Candlemas! "Badweather BB" sees his shadow....
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 11:09 am
Happy Candlemas, Lakewoodites!
At this traditionally recognized point of mid-winter, and as well, the traditionally Christian recognized celebration of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, this date on the American calendar also, of course, marks the time when our nation's groundhogs make their annual winter weather predictions.
Here in Lakewood, those annual observations were made, up to a couple years ago, by our very own Groundparrot Gilligan, who unfortunately and sadly, flew away to Parrot Heaven.
Last year, the torch of climatic observational tradition here in Lakewood passed to a certain highly opinionated Conure named "BB", who became further known as "Badweather BB", due to the (Shall we say charitably?) multitude of snowflakes that flew past our Lakewood windowpanes last year.
Anyway, BB looked out his window this morning and... sure as our cloudy lake-effect day dawned...
It was NOT so cloudy that BB could not see his shadow, with the clarity of a laser.
So it looks as if we need not put away our mittens...
Nor need we pull out the lawn chairs... just yet...
Apparently, it may be wintertime around here for a good while yet...
Now for those who look upon these sorts of things with skepticism or even doubt, there is, of course, a qualification.... (as there always seems to be, with such matters as these)
According to the ancient traditions, only a HIBERNATING animal can predict these things, but....
BB only scoffs, chirping softly... "Remember last year? Remember last year?"
Back to the banjo... and the ice scraper.
At this traditionally recognized point of mid-winter, and as well, the traditionally Christian recognized celebration of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, this date on the American calendar also, of course, marks the time when our nation's groundhogs make their annual winter weather predictions.
Here in Lakewood, those annual observations were made, up to a couple years ago, by our very own Groundparrot Gilligan, who unfortunately and sadly, flew away to Parrot Heaven.
Last year, the torch of climatic observational tradition here in Lakewood passed to a certain highly opinionated Conure named "BB", who became further known as "Badweather BB", due to the (Shall we say charitably?) multitude of snowflakes that flew past our Lakewood windowpanes last year.
Anyway, BB looked out his window this morning and... sure as our cloudy lake-effect day dawned...
It was NOT so cloudy that BB could not see his shadow, with the clarity of a laser.
So it looks as if we need not put away our mittens...
Nor need we pull out the lawn chairs... just yet...
Apparently, it may be wintertime around here for a good while yet...
Now for those who look upon these sorts of things with skepticism or even doubt, there is, of course, a qualification.... (as there always seems to be, with such matters as these)
According to the ancient traditions, only a HIBERNATING animal can predict these things, but....
BB only scoffs, chirping softly... "Remember last year? Remember last year?"
Back to the banjo... and the ice scraper.