• Groundhog Day-WhatsUP July 6 - 06:52 pm

Joyce Tormala never fails to find something of interest every time she ventures out into the snowy U.P. woods. Seems like she may have a good eye for spotting unusual snow sculptures formed naturally by the collection of snowflakes on branches and twigs exposed to the elements of winter. Just when you think the trees are bare with the loss of fall foliage, Mother Nature comes along and adorns them with her handiwork. Nice to see a friendly face when you explore the forest trails and equally as pleasing to find another smile-like formation, hanging precipitously over the edge. Of course who or what wouldn't be smiling on such a sunny day, with the beautiful shade of blue in that UP North sky!

Hopefully when the groundhog pokes his head out of his burrow today, there won't be as much sun, because I'm hoping he won't see his shadow... I could use an early spring!

Neat pics! An early spring sounds great to me, too!

Waaaay Cool!

Good Morning Everybody!
Have a wonderful day!

I'm with you on your spring thoughts Mary!

Great Picture. I just love the natural nature art scenes.
Sorry to say, I heard on the radio on my way into work that the Ground Hog saw his shadow... 6 more weeks of winter. Has he ever not seen his shadow?

Good Morning and Great Day to all of You!!! I love the shawdows and light on the snow!!! Have a fabulous day and week!... May Peace Prevail!

Oh, I don't believe he saw his shadow in West Mi cuz there's no sun here, only clouds... I'm up for visualizing and creating an early spring!!!

Help me out folks, is not the expression "if the ground hog sees his shadow, there is six more weeks of winter; if the ground hog does not see his shadow it is six more weeks to spring."?

Sort of like a glass half full, glass half empty scenario?

Thanks :o)

Cool pictures. I'm hoping mister groundhog does see his shadow, sorry Mary! Later, Skylar.

I don't believe for a second, that you're really sorry, Skylar! ;-)

I just love today's pictures. Sure put a smile on my face! Thanks!

The bit about six more weeks of winter if he sees his shadow was very confusing to me growing up in Marquette. The rule seemed to be that you didn't want the groundhog to see his shadow, but when I did the math, that meant spring would begin in the middle of March and that sounded mighty good to me, seeing as how otherwise we'd be lucky to see it by the middle of April

The snow sculptures are great - made me smile.

A groundhog would have to own a yoop-scoop to be able to see his shadow up here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY KAYLA BAYLA!!

The groundhog did see his shadow. Six more weeks of winter.Keep the yooper scooper handy

So foggy here this morning, I don't think the groundhog would see himself. However the daffodils, paper whites and other spring flowers are up.

Anne Fisher is certainly right!

Six more weeks of winter does make an early
spring up here and no mistake!

Looks like Mr. Potatoehead has some competition from this Mr. Snowhead.

My father-in-law used to say that if the groundhog saw his shadow you would have 6 more weeks of winter - and - in the UP - if he didn't, then you would have a month and a half! Still - it's nice to dream of an early spring...!

The little Pennsylvania critter saw his shadow, so it looks like 6 more weeks of winter there. But Jimmy, the Wisconsin groundhog, didn't, so maybe the Yoop is in for an early spring...

When I was little my dog grabbed one of them and gave it a good shake. Shadow and all.

Roudy, years ago our Alaskan Malemute was also able to catch a groundhog in spring; I think it was a bit slow-witted, just waking up from hibernation.

Stuck down here in SE Michigan, I don't feel like I've had enough winter. We've had intervals of snow on the ground but often its the dead-grass-and-mud scenerio. I've been out skiing on powder snow--like the lovely stuff in the photo--only 3 times.

What do you we Yoopers get when a groundhog sees his shadow? Six more weeks of swampers, choppers, chooks or Stormy Kromers.

He is seeing his shadow right now.

GREAT!!!!! Pictures. Hey Joyce I told Stephanee that I would love to go with you and learn some tips this summer after I get a digital.

When you write Jay tell him Helen says Hi and I am going to write him soon....I have been soooo busy!!

Thanks for sharing all your wonderful pictures...

With all this talk about spring and gardening and getting back outside more, here is a super idea for a Valentine's gift for your honey. We just received our new Lake Superior Stone Bird Houses at Pasty Softwear. Take a look.

What happens if the ground hog decides not to come out of his place of hibernation? :) This is all blarney and you should check the Farmer's Almanac for more accurate information.

Joyce, I just viewed your album in the photo gallery. Fantastic! You have an artist's eye.

Six weeks from today is March 16th - spring officially starts March 21st . It doesn't matter if he sees his shadow or not.

Even though we've had several large snowfalls (for this area), they were all basically one day problems. All cleaned up by the next day and life went on (except for those a little farther south who got the ice). The temps have gone up and down - a few days of teens then back to the 40's. As far as I'm concerned winter is getting over too soon.

For those of you looking for spring, the pitchers and catchers report for spring training in two weeks!

Is that Sedar Bay in the picture with the bird houses?

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY EVERYONE!!! HOW MANY DAYS (OR WEEKS) TILL SPRING NOW?? I CANT WAIT FOR THE TREES AND GRASS TO START BUDDING AND ALL THE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS!!!

Looks a lot like Calumet Township Park, aka Bucky's!

Great formations of the snow...and good looking
birdhouses too. Are they for grabs????

cool snow pictures

I love the bird houses.

Come on Black Flies...........a prelude to that which is warmer...........

The second picture is a snow snake. Saw one hiking in the Porkies one winter day. Neat! Big heat wave coming to the UP, Eh?

Oh,I love the birdhouses.They are beautiful.I'll have to remember to suggest one at gift times!!

The face looks like Jay Leno!!

If that's Jay Leno, I think he better clip his nose hairs. :)

Thanks,Mary,for posting the pics and thanks,fine folks in Pasty Land,for the comments. The trees seem to come to life in winter with attitudes we don't see when we are admiring the leaves. Now we see costumes and masks. They bombard us with snowballs when we least expect it. They snap,crackle and pop-then snicker and whisper when we are startled by their actions. That's entertainment!

That is Old Man winter laughing at us!

First thing I thought of!

Snowsnakes, I haven't thought about those for years! I remember my dad telling us as kids that some truck drivers from down South didn't like driving up here cause they had heard of the legendary snow snakes and didn't want to run into one!