Max

I was attempting to photograph some needlework but someone else decided they wanted the sunlight.  After all, sunlight has been hard to come by this winter.

Just pushing things aside

Hogging the sunlight (after I moved the stitching)

Progress

I'm starting to make some progress on my New Year's start.

As you can  I have gotten most of the words in.  Wisdom seems to be missing it's M.  The basket  still has some open areas and the leaves around the edge are still MIA (missing in action).

Being stitched on linen from stash, threads from stash - didn't have any of the called for threads and a random needle - not sure if it is a 28 or 26 - betting on a 26 (it's what I have the most of).

wordless wednesday

snow

Guess what?  we are expecting more snow tomorrow (on Wednesday).  We haven't gotten as much as last year or the last two storms but really, I'm done with snow for the season.  Too bad it isn't done!

February has several things that it is known for - example, it is Black History Month,  National Heart Month and National Cherry Month - as well as George Washington's birthday, Abe Lincoln's Birthday and of course, the biggie, Valentine's Day.

I also found that February is Women Inventors Month, Library Lovers Month and Spunky Old Broads Month.  There are a few more but these were my top three.  And so obviously the header needs to change.  I think you can figure out which theme I went with (at least for now).

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is celebrated in the U.S. each year on February 2nd. On this day in mid-winter, the groundhog awakens from a long winter's nap, and goes outside of his den to see if he sees his shadow. This tradition is big, on an otherwise cold and dreary mid-winter's day.

According to legend, if the groundhog sees his shadow (a sunny morning), there will be six more weeks of winter. He then returns to his den and goes back to sleep. If however, he does not see his shadow (cloudy days), he plays around outside of his hole for a while. If he does not see his shadow, spring is just around the corner.

The Groundhog's Day tradition travelled long ways. It comes from German roots. German immigrants brought the tradition with them from Germany. As they settled in hills of Pennsylvania, they began the tradition of using the Groundhog to predict the the arrival of Spring. The tradition is based upon Candlemas, the day that is the midpoint between Winter and Spring. A famous Candlemas poems goes:

If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Winter has another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again.

Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania is the site of the annual Ground Hog event. Our little rodent friend (yes, Groundhogs are classified as rodents) is called Punxsutawney Phil. He has been making this annual winter prediction since 1887. There are a few other "predictors" around the country, but they all pale in comparison to Phil's ability to predict the remainder of winter.

For the Record Phil sees his shadow about 9 out of 10 times

More importantly - today is my son's birthday!

Happy Birthday sweetheart!

The last book for January has been added.  The list will stay until I finish reading something in February.
2,854 pages (9 books) read in January.  Slightly less than 2014 and lots more than 2013.  Last year was snowier (more time indoors) and I was a lot less busy with other commitments.  No chunksters read in January.

For those who enjoy football, enjoy the game tonight, otherwise enjoy the party and watch the commercials.