We don’t have groundhogs around here, and the closest thing to them might be our marmots who live up in the hills. So Crispin has to do double duty while scratching out a life. He has to predict whether we’ll have an early spring or six more weeks of winter. I asked him what he thinks.
The winter here has been so long, I don’t know how we stand it,
If I don’t see my shadow now, it’s possible to end it.
A shadow means the sun is out, the day is cold and clear,
A cloudy day, though gray, is warm, and pleasant days are near.
The rainy days go on and on, and everything is wet,
But daffodils are poking out to promise flowers we’ll get,
I’m sure that spring will show up soon and warmer days will come,
And if I’m not yet singing loud, at least I’m going to hum.

February 1, 2024 at 7:58 pm
That’s a terrific picture of Crispin and a great poem, too.
Marmots are actually groundhogs (all of them are classified as ground squirrels) and are also a part of Crispin’s family tree, so he can do some weather predicting duties. 😊
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February 1, 2024 at 8:32 pm
He was quite willing to help, so it must be in his genes.
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February 2, 2024 at 12:09 am
Crispin looks good and fresh enough to do his predicting. I like the poem!
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February 2, 2024 at 8:32 am
He thought about this long and hard, but he has decided it will be spring soon. Thanks, Ursula.
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February 2, 2024 at 12:37 am
I take Crispin‘s advice any day! 😉
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February 2, 2024 at 8:31 am
I’d like to go with it this year too. I’m tired of winter. Thanks for the visit, Kiki. Have a great day.
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February 2, 2024 at 2:42 am
Thanks, Anneli, for another Crispin inspiration!
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February 2, 2024 at 8:30 am
He is definitely a squirrel of many talents. Thanks for the visit, Grant.
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February 2, 2024 at 5:18 am
Good for Crispin to fill in Anneli and the perfect poem to go with the day. My prediction is that we will either get 6 more weeks or 42 more days. Very little snow left here after our January thaw and record temps to +13. Hope there are some April showers this year. Happy Groundhog Day. Allan
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February 2, 2024 at 8:30 am
I could send you plenty of showers that you could save for April. But yes, Crispin is very reliable for a substitute groundhog. Have a great day, Allan.
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February 2, 2024 at 6:03 am
I just realized I don’t remember how the shadow-seeing of Groundhog Day is supposed to work. All I remember is that there was a movie by that title, and looking for the shadow used to be a big deal for us in grade school. I’m off to figure out the day, and see what Crispin’s Texas cousins are up to.
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February 2, 2024 at 8:28 am
Seeing his shadow means a clear day (which usually means sunshine, which, in February means cold weather, so sic more weeks of winter).
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February 2, 2024 at 7:00 am
It looks so much like a squirrel! Such a cutie!
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February 2, 2024 at 8:27 am
You mean Punxatawney looks like my Crispin – yes.
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February 2, 2024 at 8:28 am
🤣 Snort.
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February 2, 2024 at 8:32 am
LOL
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February 2, 2024 at 7:01 am
Hum away, Anneli! My aspen allergies are already acting up. It’s my first sign of spring. ACHOOOOO!
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February 2, 2024 at 8:26 am
That’s a good sign. Hope your allergies pass quickly, but I hope you’re right about spring.
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February 2, 2024 at 8:28 am
Me too!
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February 2, 2024 at 7:10 am
Love the poem and the picture. ❤️
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February 2, 2024 at 8:24 am
Thank you! Have a great weekend.
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February 2, 2024 at 7:55 am
Whether Grounghog Day is a hoax or not, we are all looking forward to Spring.
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February 2, 2024 at 8:23 am
Well, it’s just a fun thing. Nobody really believes it. But often if it’s cloudy, that’s an indication that it isn’t as cold as it would be with a clear sky.
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February 2, 2024 at 8:24 am
That Crispin–you can always count on him!
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February 2, 2024 at 8:26 am
He’s very reliable!
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February 2, 2024 at 10:21 am
Spring come here soon. I think I saw the sun today though . . . that’s a good start!!!
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February 2, 2024 at 10:45 am
That’s about the same here. Fingers crossed.
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February 2, 2024 at 1:17 pm
A very sweet poem and photo! Do you have daffodils poking out already?
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February 2, 2024 at 5:29 pm
Just the green part. Nowhere near the flowering parts yet.
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February 2, 2024 at 4:27 pm
Crispin, you and Punxsutawney Phil are on the same page this year. 😀
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February 2, 2024 at 5:30 pm
I hope so, Jennie. Have a nice weekend.
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February 2, 2024 at 6:17 pm
Me, too! Best to you, Anneli.
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February 3, 2024 at 8:45 pm
Sweet poem. It seems we all had enough of winter. It is really long and dark. We all miss the sun. Hope the marmots and groundhogs will sing soon.
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February 4, 2024 at 9:48 am
I hope so too, Biene. At this time of year we all get so anxious for some warmer, sunnier weather.
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February 4, 2024 at 5:02 pm
I’m all for an early spring!
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February 6, 2024 at 4:42 am
Crispin has a very important role! Here’s to an early spring!
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February 6, 2024 at 10:41 am
Thanks, Mark. I think he did a really good job to make spring come early.
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February 6, 2024 at 6:05 am
Love this!
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February 6, 2024 at 10:50 am
Thank you. Crispin thanks you too.
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February 8, 2024 at 4:43 am
Humming right along with Crispin. Here in the Buckeye state, we aren’t about to be outdone by those annual happenings around Phil’s predictions in Pennsylvania. We’ve dedicated our own traditions around the watchful eye of Buckeye Chuck.
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February 8, 2024 at 10:12 pm
That’s wonderful!
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