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What does Groundhog Day and Candlemas (a.k.a. Imbolc) have in common? Besides being celebrated on February 2nd, it’s also my birthday! And what better way to kick off the month of February than to have a Goodreads Giveaway for both my books, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, and the prequel to my young adult time travel series, Legend of the Timekeepers. It’s just one way I can thank my readers yearly, as well as give back to the reading community of Goodreads. Thank you, readers, I wouldn’t be doing what I love without you!
So here’s a little information about Candlemas/Imbolc and Groundhog Day, straight from the pages of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft (Second Edition):
“Imbolc (pronounced IM-bolk), which is often called Candlemas, is the time when Wiccans celebrate the renewing fertility of the Earth. The Goddess is seen as recovering from childbirth, and the God is a small child. This is also the time of ‘fire in the belly.’ There is the feeling that spring is coming, but a certain restlessness or cabin fever can set in. This can also be the bleakest time of the year when we start to fear that spring will never arrive. It’s no coincidence that many people celebrate Groundhog Day on this date. What is Groundhog Day but a way to let Nature reassure us that spring really will come? Sometimes, even though it is still cold, you can see early buds on trees on this date. This is another way that Nature reminds us to hang on; life is getting ready to burst forth.
Imbolc, a Greater Sabbat, is a time to celebrate with seeds, or with a newly germinating idea. Some covens like to initiate new members at this time of year. Imbolc is a holiday of purification and of the renewed fertility of the Earth. It’s a great time for some early spring cleaning, too. Get rid of the things you don’t need. Get ready for the spring season to come.”
Whatever day you choose to celebrate, here’s hoping for a short winter and early spring, so this Groundhog gal can shed her winter jacket for some lighter clothes! And if the groundhog energy moves you, please enter my Goodreads Giveaways below for a chance to win one of my autographed time travel tales. Cheers and thank you for reading my blog!
As February 2nd approaches, the focus on the popularity of the groundhog skyrockets and his folkloric history as weather prognosticator extraordinaire comes to the fore. Namely, if he comes out of his burrow and sees his shadow, we’re in for six more weeks of Ole Man Winter and if not, the zephyrs of spring breezes will come early.
But what if the sudden once a year celebrity of the groundhog causes jealousy to rear its petulant head in the animals of the forest? Such is the result of animal competition in “Who Will See Their Shadows This Spring?” “Their” is definitely the operative word with this group of groundhog wanna bees. Hey, they’re in a grumpy mood to begin with as winter drags on…and on. The fed up faces of these denizens of the forest in the midst of the winter doldrums are very funny. They’ve had it and are heavy lidded and harried! Check out the beleaguered buffalo in the initial gathering of this winter weary lot. He’s beat and ready to bellow.
Leave it to the chicken to start the green eye of envy rolling with the quote, “But…why should groundhog get all the attention?” “What about us”? The chicken throws down the gauntlet to groundhogs everywhere with, “Let me try my shadow!” Her attempt is met with a driving rainstorm, followed quickly by a succession of other animals attempting to bring spring. The polar bear’s shadow causes a blizzard with the dog’s outline leading to a sudden influx of dense fog. The shadow of the pig causes a hurricane to ensue and the buffalo fares not much better with sleet pelting the forest folk as his shadow hits the ground!
Frustration is beginning to settle heavily on the shoulders of the animals as they try to cajole and conjure spring into appearing. Maybe if they try a panda shadow, he might be able to wield a little extra clout with Mother Nature. HAIL STONES appear in buckets. A koala, camel, butterfly and even a ring-tailed lemur and peacock’s attempts are variously met with mist, gale-force winds, tornadoes and hot, muggy weather. Not exactly the spring they had in mind.
Are they ready to say “Uncle” and let the groundhog do what he does best and will he awaken in time for February 2nd?
This is a perfect read aloud for the younger set that may identify with the feelings of animals tired of the groundhog getting the American Idol-like spotlight every 2nd of February. For a culture that thrives on celebrity, this book is a humorous take on the light shown, even in the animal world, on the 15 minutes of fame given every February 2nd to a groundhog.
Punxsutawney Phil, get ready for the flash bulbs and your photo op. Smile for the camera, please! And this picture book is apt to put a smile on any young reader’s face.
Can’t resist the oft quoted loud shout from the Bill Murray movie about you know who – “IT’S GROUNDHOG DAY!” Well, almost.
Geoffrey’s not driving ANGRY like Bill Murray’s cute quadruped, but he IS prognosticating. And he does get it right here, unlike some recent snow storm Juno prognosticator’s of historic inches of the fluffy stuff.
Winter storm Linus is about to descend on most of the east coast states and people are casting a cautiously uplifted eyebrow at Punxsutawney Phil and all his iterations come February 2nd. They will either be the heroes or the goats er groundhogs, depending on whether they see their shadows portending an extra 6 weeks of winter. While no shadow cast by Geoffrey and his cohorts, indicates an early spring!
As I said before, the gentle Geoffrey and the equally gentle, yet demanding folk of his environs, are not ones to let him get away with one for one. Nope, he has to prove he’s on his game EACH YEAR or the groundhog fur will fly.
But, what if Geoffrey, just this once, sleeps in on the 2nd, as many animals do when the winter winds blow, and as the song says, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”
Will Geoffrey oversleep? Will the fur folk have his hide or will he use an age-old adage that wisely put, states, “When in doubt, ask Mom.”
Its author, Bruce Koscielniak, even says “…he waits to see what the groundhog has to say before making any spring plans.”
And his art here is so delightful and cartoonishly quirky. From his drawings of animal folk like Merton Moose, news editor of “The Daily Gazette”; circulation 359, to the sampler in Geoffrey’s mom’s burrow, stating “ Home in the ground, sweet home!”, Bruce has the ability to make this a place that you care about. And it is these small, eye-catching details that kids and parents will love picking out.
My money is on Geoffrey, aided by mom, to get it right, once more.
Gentle suggestion to weather forecasters: please give Geoffrey’s mom a jingle BEORE you go on air with your upcoming Linus winter storm snow amounts!
“It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.” Just plucked that bit of trivia out of my head from a 1970’s Chiffon margarine TV ad. Still works. Weather prognosticators: take note please!
February 2nd marks Groundhog Day, an annual tradition in which we rouse a sleepy, burrowing rodent to give us winter-weary humans the forecast for spring. Although Punxsutawney Phil does his best as an ambassador for his species, revelers in Gobbler’s Knob and elsewhere likely know little about the true life of a wild groundhog beyond its penchant for vegetable gardens and large burrow entrances. In celebration of the only mammal to have its own holiday, I share with you eight lesser-known facts about groundhogs.
1. Groundhogs, whistlepigs, woodchucks, all names for the same animal. Depending on where you live, you might have heard all three of these names; however, woodchuck is the scientifically accepted common name for the species, Marmota monax. As the first word suggests, the woodchuck is a marmot, a genus comprised of 15 species of medium-sized, ground-dwelling squirrels. Although woodchucks are generally solitary and live in lowland areas, most marmot species live in social groups in mountainous parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.
2. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck? As a biologist who studies woodchucks, this is the number one question I am asked about my study species. To set the record straight, woodchucks do not actually chuck wood! In fact, the name “woodchuck” is actually thought to derive from the Native American word for the animal, not because of the species’ association with wood. Although they may chew or scent mark on woody debris near their burrows, they do not cut down trees (unlike their cousin, the American beaver, Castor canadensis).
3. Woodchucks are the widest-ranging marmot, and are able to adjust to a variety of habitats and climates to survive. Woodchucks are found in wooded edges, agricultural fields, residential gardens, and suburban office parks as far north as Alaska, eastward throughout Canada, and as far south as Alabama and Georgia. The weather extremes of these areas range from subzero winters to scorching summers, thus woodchucks must employ unique physiological strategies to survive. Woodchucks are considered urban-adapters because of their ability to live around humans by taking advantage of anthropogenic food sources such as garden landscaping and managed vegetation.
“Groun[d]hog Day from Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.” Photo by Anthony Quintano. CC by 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
4. Woodchucks are considered the largest true-hibernators. As herbivores, woodchucks have very little to eat during the winter months when most vegetation has died. To save energy during the winter, woodchucks hibernate. The timing of this slowdown is thought to depend partly on photoperiod, which varies by latitude. They generally seek hibernacula under structures or in wooded areas protected from wind. Prior to hibernating, a woodchuck will go in and out of the burrow for a few days to a few weeks, foraging to build up fat stores until entering one last time to plug the burrow entrance behind them with leaves and debris. As a true hibernator, the body temperature of a woodchuck can drop to just a few degrees above that of the burrow, their breathing decreases, and their heart rate slows to around 10 beats per minute. Although they rarely exit the burrow, hibernating woodchucks awake every 10 days or so, hang out in their burrows, and then go back sleep after a few days. The length of the hibernation season can range from just 75 days, to over 175 days, depending on their location. They emerge in early spring, and generally breed soon after.
5. Woodchucks dig complex underground burrow systems, in which they rest, rear young, and escape from predators. If you are a homeowner who has had a woodchuck on your property, you are probably familiar with the large and numerous holes that woodchucks dig in the ground. These many entrances are used as “escape hatches” for a woodchuck to quickly go underground at the first sign of a threat. As escape is their best line of defense, rarely will a woodchuck forage more than 20 meters from a burrow entrance. Underground, burrow systems are comprised of multiple tunnels, some up to 13 meters in length and over 2 meters deep, that lead to multiple chambers, including bedroom chambers, and even a latrine burrow (woodchucks rarely defecate above ground to avoid attracting predators). Based on our research, woodchucks can use up to 25 different burrow systems, likely moving around to avoid predators, look for mates, and find new foraging spots.
6. Woodchucks can swim and climb trees. Although their portly body shape does not suggest agility, woodchucks can move quickly when they really need to. To avoid predators, woodchucks are able to swim short distances across creeks and drainage ditches, and are able to climb trees. They have even been spotted on rooftops and on high branches of mulberry trees, foraging on berries.
7. Woodchucks vocalize. The origin of the name “whistle pig” comes from the high-pitched, loud whistle woodchucks emit when threatened, likely to warn offspring or other adults of an approaching predator. In addition to the whistle, woodchucks will chatter their large incisors as a threatening reminder of the strength of their bite.
8. Woodchucks are easy to observe. My favorite characteristic about woodchucks is that their size (about the size of a house cat) and daytime activity patterns make them easy to observe. Unlike most mammals, you can easily spot them foraging in open fields and roadsides and they generally will tolerate the presence of humans at a distance. If you live in the woodchuck’s native range, keep your eyes peeled for these large squirrels, grab your binoculars, and take a minute to watch them forage and vigilantly observe their environment. It’s a fun way for kids and adults alike to test their skills as a wildlife biologist!
Image Credit: “Groundhog.” Photo by Matt MacGillivray. CC by 2.0 via Flickr.
First of all, it means we have an announcement to make!
And that is that Punxsutawney Phyllis, Sage of Sages, Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinaire did set forth from her burrow on Blueberry Hill this Monday February 2, 2015 at 7:25 AM and declare [I'll have to add this in at 7:25 AM on 2/2/15 assuming I have internet... which is questionable due to our forecast... otherwise we'll have to let you know what happened on Tuesday or Wednesday :)]
Second, that means it's my little Phyllis's 10th Anniversary Birthday Bonanza!!!
"We're having a party! We're having a party!" [That's Phyllis. She's a little excited.] "We need CAKE!!!" [She's a girl after my own heart :)]
I said, "How about cupcakes?"
Phyllis said, "Something BIGGER!"
So I said, "How about this?"
Phyllis said, "But there's no ICING!"
So we settled on this:
and in case you are wondering, those little brown things are groundhog graham crackers... which makes this a Groundhog Day Cake :)
"Now we need festive balloons!" said Phyllis.
"Here!" said I.
"You're kidding, of course," said Phyllis.
"What? It's blue! It's pretty!"
"It's only ONE!" said Phyllis. "ONE is not festive!"
"Fine," I said, ever accommodating.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't see that," said Phyllis. "Otherwise I might regurgitate my recently ingested natal day pancakes. What do the words GROUNDHOG and BIRTHDAY mean to you?"
"You're being just a tad demanding, Phyllis," I said patiently. "But I'll humor you. Will these do?"
"At last!" said Phyllis. "And now, for the most important part... my POEM!"
"Uh, yeah, about that... I'm not quite done yet."
"WHAT???!!!"
"I want it to be perfect," I explained. "After all, it's for you. It can't be just any old thrown together thing!"
"That's true," agreed Phyllis.
"But I've got to finish it quick. Everyone's going to be here soon."
"Also true," said Phyllis.
"So it would be helpful," I said pointedly, "if you would be quiet and let me concentrate."
"Okay," whispered Phyllis.
I tapped my pen against the table top.
AN ODE TO PHYLLIS
I wrote across the top of the paper.
"Good start!" said Phyllis.
"Thank you."
I tapped some more.
There once was a groundhog named Phyllis
"Stop," said Phyllis.
"What do you mean, stop?"
"Nothing rhymes with Phyllis. Believe me. I know. That's a nonstarter."
"How about There once was a groundhog named Phyllis/Who made so much noise that her poem will never get written?"
"That doesn't rhyme," sniffed Phyllis. But she stopped talking.
tap tap tap tap tap
In the hollow of old Punxsutawney Lived Phyllis, whose fur was so . . .
"STOP!" said Phyllis.
"What now?"
"What is it with you and these impossible words? NOTHING rhymes with Punxsutawney! You're supposed to be writing me a poem! Poems are supposed to RHYME!"
"For your information, Miss Smarty Pants, I was going to say 'whose fur was so tawny', but forget it."
"Yeah, well, that's pretty much cheating. Punxsutawney and tawny - it's practically rhyming the same word with itself."
"Aren't you supposed to be outside looking for your shadow or something?"
"It's too early," said Phyllis.
I sighed.
tap tap tap tap tap tap tap
Oh, Phyllis, you forecasting marmot
"Er. Ahem. I don't mean to interrupt, but seriously, marmot? Where can you possibly go with that?"
"Harm it?!" I suggested.
"No..." said Phyllis, oblivious. "I don't think so. And I don't think you're quite getting the sense of an ode. You're supposed to be praising me. You have to set the mood."
"I'll set a mood all right."
Phyllis ignored me and gazed out the window. "Maybe something like:
Phyllis, your fur is so fine Your eyes sparkle like finest wine..."
"Hacksputtercough! I'm sorry. I just had to gag a little there."
"It's better than yours!"
"How do you know? You won't let me get past the first line!"
"Here's what we'll do," said Phyllis. "I'LL write a poem and YOU write a poem and then we'll see whose is better."
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
tap tap tap tap tap tap tap
"Stop tapping your pen!"
"Stop talking!"
Hmmpphh!
* * * * * denotes passage of time * * * * *
"I've got one," said Phyllis. She cleared her throat and read,
Roses are red Violets are blue I can write poems Way better than you!
"Well in that case," I shot back,
Two poems diverged in a snowy wood And I, I chose the better one... Which was not yours!
"Hmm..." Phyllis said primly. "I don't think we're there yet. Ready, set, write another one!"
* * * * * denotes passage of time * * * * *
"How about this?" said Phyllis.
So much depends
upon
a brown groundhog
Seeking shadows
Beside a green
pine tree
"Hey, that's not bad!" I said.
"Let's hear yours," said Phyllis.
Phyllis is the thing without feathers (I began)
"What kind of thing is that to say?" demanded Phyllis. "I'm a groundhog! Of COURSE I don't have FEATHERS!"
"You're interrupting!" I grumped. "Are you going to let me read it or not?"
"Fine. Read. But I don't think there's much hope for this one." She snickered.
I glared, and started again:
Phyllis is the thing without feathers
That perches in the burrow
And searches the air with her nose
for signs of spring.
Phyllis patted my hand. "It's okay that you're not very good at this. You're trying. That's what's important." She stuffed a strawberry in my mouth. "Let's keep practicing. Maybe you'll get better."
* * * * * denotes passage of time * * * * *
"Done!" I said.
"I was done first three times in a row," said Phyllis. "That means you have to read first."
Really, it is hard to follow groundhog logic. Actually, groundhog logic is probably an oxymoron.
I sighed. "Okay. But let me read the whole thing. Don't interrupt."
"I would never do that," said Phyllis sweetly. She sat up on her haunches and prepared to listen attentively.
AN ODE TO PHYLLIS by Susanna
Beauty, wit, charm, grace Fuzzy little marmot face Unsurpassed intelligence Never-equaled weather sense Even though you're not a boy You're Punxsutawney's pride and joy My furry friend, you know it's true There's no one else on earth like you!
Phyllis jumped in my lap and gave me a hug. "See? I KNEW you could do it! Now I'll read mine."
ODE TO PHYLLIS by Phyllis
Lavender's blue dilly dilly lavender's green It's really true dilly dilly I should be queen Lavender's green dilly dilly lavender's blue I'm a Punxsutawney dream-come-true.
"Yeah," I said. "You should have quite while you were ahead."
"Yeah, probably," said Phyllis. "But never mind. Happy birthday to me!"
Happy Birthday, dear Phyllis, Happy Birthday to you!!!
And now, Phyllis and I are looking forward with GREAT anticipation to reading YOUR poems for Phyllis, and hopefully seeing some videos too (no pressure, Erik) since we totally failed on that score!
If you wrote a poem for Phyllis, and or have photographs, drawings, videos, or other fun feature accompaniments, please add your post-specific blog link to the list below, or post your poem etc in the comments, or Email it to me and I'll post it for you so that we can all enjoy everyone's creativity!
Maybe Phyllis and I will pick some top finishers, or maybe we'll have a vote later in the week, but either way, some people will win a signed copy of PUNXSUTAWNEY PHYLLIS (if there's anyone left on earth who doesn't already have one or who wants another for someone), a signed copy of Pat Miller's wonderful SUBSTITUTE GROUNDHOG along with audio CD!, and there will be some other non-groundhog-day-related picture books up for grabs too.
Happy Groundhog Day to everyone! May spring come early in your hearts, even if the weather outside fails to comply! :)
Have a marvelous Monday! :)
0 Comments on Punxsutawney Phyllis's 10th Anniversary Birthday Bonanza!!! as of 1/1/1900
OK. Since my wife and daughter couldn't decipher this: Thor (the wolverine) doesn't want winter to end -- so he eats the marmot (pseudo Cascadian groundhog) before he can properly prognosticate. Thusly, the happy ending with a grizzly middle. Six more weeks of winter!
Note to self: I probably should have drawn some flailing limbs, snarling wolverine teeth, or a flying marmot hat to make it more clear that the little guy was eaten alive. Learning something new with every edition...
0 Comments on Harts Pass No. 138 as of 2/8/2013 10:50:00 PM
So it’s Groundhog Day. And though lots of folks will be keeping an eye on Punxsutawney Phil and that whole shadow thing, I’ll be writing—and hoping to keep Groundhog Day time loops far away from my manuscript.
Do you know what I mean, about the Groundhog Day time loop? It’s from the 1993 movie with Bill Murray. The actor plays a journalist caught in a time loop who’s forced to relive the same day—February 2nd—over and over again. Basically, the poor guy is stuck until he figures out what he’s supposed to figure out.
It’s a very funny movie. But getting stuck in a time loop is not that amusing in real life. And now you’re re-reading that line, because you think time loops don’t happen in real life.
But they do, my writer friends. Only we call them…(dum, dum, dum) rewrites.
Now, sometimes a rewrite or two can make the difference between a so-so story and a scathingly brilliant story. But other times, when a writer gets stuck in the same manuscript, over and over and over again, it can drive one right over the edge and into the abyss of…well, I don’t want to think what might be in the abyss.
I have thought about the problem of endless rewrites, however, and I can tell you why I get stuck in a manuscript: I keep trying to make a story (or an article) work without really figuring out what I want to say. And so in my rewrite loop, I move a paragraph here or a chunk of text there. I revise the opening fifteen times or obsess over a sentence until every individual word shines. But when I read what I've (re)written, it still doesn't work. Because moving words around doesn't help me figure out what I want to say.
It’s awful, getting stuck in that rewrite loop. And it’s even more awful when it’s a 60,000-word novel manuscript rather than a 2,000-word article or a 500-word essay. But the way to get unstuck is the same, no matter how many words are on the page.
Step back from the words and think. Think about the point you want to make, the theme you’re trying to convey. Strip away the pretty phrases, the chunks of subtext, and get down on the page the very basic idea you started with when you began to write.
Then go back to your work and craft the words into sentences, the sentences into paragraphs, the paragraphs into story. Your rewrite might be a completely different manuscript than the twenty that have come before, but at last you will have figured it out. Birds will sing, the sun will shine, and you and Bill Murray and yes, even Punxsutawney Phil, can finally move on.
Cathy--Thanks for this post. It came at the perfect time. I am working on a pesky piece (a NaNo that told me "No no") and perhaps if I figure out the stripped-down version of the story, maybe I can move forward on it.
By the way, I LOVED your post that included the little-known facts about the movie Groundhog Day. Ramis and Murray never talking again...the movie chronicled 38 days...Murray getting bitten by the groundhog three times...a FAMILY of groundhogs were raised for the movie...
Thanks for another great post, Cathy! I think I need to write my theme at the top of every page to make sure I'm not wandering off on a tangent - which is waaaaay too easy to do. I needed this reminder!
This is great advice and I LOVE that movie. I have used the "what am I trying to say here" technique when tackling tough parts of my drafts, and it does help. When a paragraph isn't working yet, sometimes I ask myself how I'd say it to a friend.
dum, dum, dum...the rewrite loop! LOL I despise rewriting. It's probably why I can never finish a novel-length piece. So I've decided novels aren't for me, but I'm going to dig up some old short stories and rework them for a couple of contests and your advice will come in handy. Since so much time has passed, I think that's what I'll do: take the basic ideas of the story, put the story aside without looking at it, and rewrite it from a new perspective. Thanks, Cath!
This post made me laugh because I could really relate. I don't know how many times I've been lost in the fuzzy haze of an undirected article and had to stop and ask myself, oh for the love of humanity, Jule, what's your point here? What is it you'd like people to know or learn by the end of this piece? I need the compass--all the pretty words aren't going to create a destination on their own.
In the United States, a German belief about the badger (applied in Switzerland to the wolf) has been transferred to the woodchuck, better known as the groundhog: on Candlemas he breaks his hibernation in order to observe the weather; if he can see his shadow he returns to his slumbers for six weeks, but if it rains he stays up and about, since winter will soon be over. This has earned Candlemas the name of ‘Groundhog Day’. In Quarryville, Lancaster County, Pa., a Slumbering Groundhog Lodge was formed, whose members, wearing silk hats and carrying canes, went out in search of a groundhog burrow; on finding one they watched its inhabitant’s conduct and reported back. Of twenty observations recorded, eight prognostications proved true, seven false, and five were indeterminate. The ritual is now carried on at Punxsutawney, Pa., where the weather prophet has been named Punxsutawney Phil. (The Oxford Companion to the Year)
By Sydney Beveridge
Every February Second, people across Pennsylvania and the world look to a famous rodent to answer the question—when will spring come?
For over 120 years, Punxsutawney Phil Soweby (Punxsutawney Phil for short) has offered his predictions, based on whether he sees his shadow (more winter) or not (an early spring).
The first official Groundhog Day celebration took place in 1887 and Phil has gone on to star in a blockbuster film, dominate the early February news cycle, and even appear on Oprah. (He also has his own Beanie Baby and his own flower.)
In addition to weather predictions, Phil also loves data, and while people think he is hibernating, he is actually conducting demographic analysis. As a Social Explorer subscriber, he used the site’s mapping and reporting tools to look at the composition of his hometown.
Punxsutawney, PA, located outside of Pittsburgh, is part of Jefferson County. Examining Census data from 1890, Phil learned that the population was 44,405 around the time of his first predictions. While the rest of the nation was becoming more urban, Jefferson County remained more rural with only one eighth of the population living in places with 2,500 people or more (compared to nearly half statewide and more than a third in the US).
Many Jefferson residents worked in the farming industry. Back then, there were 3.2 families for every farm in Jefferson County — higher than the rest of the state with 5.0 families per farm.
Less than three decades after the Civil War, the county (located in a northern state) was 99.9 percent white, which was a little higher than statewide (97.9 percent) and also higher than nationwide 87.8 percent. (The Census also noted that there was one Chinese resident of Jefferson County in 1890.)
Groundhog Day was originally called Candlemas, a day that Germans said the hibernating groundhog took a break from slumbering to check the weather. (According to the Oxford Companion to the Year.) If the creature sees its shadow, and is frightened, winter will hold on and hibernating will continue, but if not, the groundhog will stay awake and spring will come early. Back in 1890, there were 703 Germans living in Jefferson County (representing 1.6 percent of the county population and 11.3 percent of the foreign born), making Germany the fourth most common foreign born place of birth behind England, Scotland, and Austria. Groundhog Day is also said to be Celtic in its roots, so perhaps the 623 Irish residents (representing 1.4 percent of the county population and 10.1 percent of the foreign born) helped to establish the tradition in Pennsylvania.
Looking to today’s numbers, Phil was astonished to learn from the 2010 Census that Jefferson County has just 795 more people than it did 120 years ago. While Jefferson grew by 1.8 percent, the state grew by 141.6 percent and the nation grew by 393.0 percent.
Phil dug deeper. The 2008-10 American Community Survey data reveal that the once-prominent farming industry had shrunk considerably. (Because it is a small group, “agriculture” is now grouped with other industries including forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining.) While Jefferson residents are more likely to work in the industry than other Pennsylvanians, that share represents just 4.4 percent of the employed civilian workforce.
According to the Census, Jefferson is still predominately white (98.3 percent), while the rest of the state and nation have become somewhat more diverse (81.9 percent white in Pennsylvania and 72.4 percent nationwide). Today there are 24 Chinese residents (out of a total of 92 Asian residents).
As Phil rises from his burrow this February second, he will survey the shadows with new insight into his community and audience. To learn more about Punxsutawney Phil’s hometown burrow (and your own borough), please visit our mapping and reporting tools.
Sydney Beveridge is the Media and Content Editor for Social Explorer, where she works on the blog, curriculum materials, how-to-videos, social media outreach, presentations and strategic planning. She is a graduate of Swarthmore College and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. A version of this article originally appeared on the Social Explorer blog. You can use Social Explorer’s mapping and reporting tools to investigate dreams, freedoms, and equality further.
Social Explorer is an online research tool designed to provide quick and easy access to current and historical census data and demographic information. The easy-to-use web interface lets users create maps and reports to better illustrate, analyze and understand demography and social change. From research libraries to classrooms to the front page of the New York Times, Social Explorer is helping people engage with society and science.
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What do John Dalton, Al Roker, and Punxsutawney Phil the Groundhog have in common? They’re all famous weathermen! Groundhogs, which also go by the name woodchucks, are ground squirrels related to chipmunks and prairie dogs. They live in the North East of the United States and in Canada, where they feed on wild grasses and insects and live in burrows they dig for themselves. Sometimes the tunnels that make up their homes can interfere with the homes of humans by making the ground under buildings unstable. Some farmers and homeowners get mad at Groundhogs for damaging their property. However, other people believe that Groundhogs provide a useful service for humans: they predict the weather!
In the 1800’s, German immigrants in Pennsylvania started a tradition where, every February 2nd, they watched the behavior of a special Groundhog to tell them how soon Spring would begin. They would gather around the weatherman-Groundhog’s burrow and watch as he emerged. If the day was sunny, the groundhog might see his shadow, become afraid, and retreat into his burrow. According to the tradition, this is his way of telling people that Winter will last for another six weeks. If the Groundhog doesn’t see his shadow and leaves his burrow, then Spring will come early! Instead of using graphs and images for his weather forecast, the Groundhog communicates with his emotions!
This tradition was “Candlemas” to the German immigrants, but now we know it as “Groundhog Day.” Every February 2nd, people still look to famous Weather-Groundhogs such as Punxsutawney Phil, Western Maryland Murray, and Chattanooga Chuck to tell them how soon spring will come. The weathermen-Groundhogs are never completely accurate with their predictions, but then again, neither are human weathermen!
Learn more about groundhogs in Prairie Storms by Darcy Pattison and click on the picture below to print this great coloring page by Kathleen Rietz.
0 Comments on Celebrate Groundhog Day! as of 2/1/2013 12:06:00 PM
Sunny here but chilly....I'm not really sure we HAD winter, but I would like winter, then spring..... You think that cute little guy can manage that for me? ;-D Love the painting Lo.
Winter or spring, we're enjoying NOT constantly digging out this year in Upstate New York. Last year more than made up for the lack of winter this year!
That was Felix who is still happy with his groundhog! It just started to snow here!!!!!! I am home just in time. For this afternoon we have code orange (weather alert) and now there is already over 400 kilometers in queues......Flights are cancelled I came home 2 hours ago without much trouble I guess both out and home bound I have been lucky :) Spring in 6 weeks?? Yeah I love it!
Love the groundhog dear! Felix is proud to see him here again ♥M
It seems every winter is a little bit warmer - global warming people, just sayin' and as always hope the 'experts' are wrong :> Miss hearing from you Laurel and wish you well my friend, xo
For the first time I thought I'd try that random number picker generator thing. I love it! No writing out all the names and cutting up papers. Easy-peasy-breezy!
ooooh, I'm on the edge of my burrow!
Maybe I can live in Felix's room!
Thank you all for entering. I'll have a spring giveaway in April.
Happy Animal Wednesday!
xo♥
19 Comments on Animal Wednesday: Groundhog Flies Home, last added: 2/10/2011
OH! Mr. Groundhog is not coming here....*sniff*!!! Well, he will be loved at his new home, so I supposed I should behave like an adult. For a change! LOL!!!
Ah, that little Groundhog WILL have a great home with Marianne and "Der Wunderkind"! Sjimmie will sniff the wrappings and say - humph!
Congratulations to our Marianne!!!!! (Although I must confess, I am with Anne and feel "Emily-like", rolling on the floor, pounding my feet and saying "waaaaaaaah"!)
Jiehaaaaaaa,got to visit Felixroom to see the real thing ;)) This is just Great,luck is on my favourite Girlfriend's site,that feels good.....
We had another lovely sunny day,Me and my Mr.B worked in the garden(well to be honest ,he made a mess and I cleaned after Him,anything for my B.) So good to see the new life in the garden those green messengers of the Daffodils,wow. The sheeps on the other side with their fat belly....lambs can't wait to see the first. Are You still in the snow? xxxMar
Yeah!!! Lucky me or should I say Felix because he has already confiscated my prize :( You know I would love to have him in our home!!!!!! Felix will take good care of him.
How did I miss this entire event? Oh well, that's me in a nutshell. I'm too busy bumping into walls. :) And Marianne won! I can't be grumpy about that at all. I am happy! YAY! I hope you are having a grand week, Lo! xox Pam
this is so cute i can't stop smiling. felix is so cute and what could be better than to know your art is bringing so many smiles. you know i look at my snowy cabin every day, (many times a day) and sigh. (with a smile of course). xxxx
I just painted this little 4"x4" canvas specifically for this reason.
If you want to open your heart and home to this little "non-destructive" groundhog, leave a comment and I will draw the winner's name and announce it next Animal Wednesday, the 9th.
The canvas is really a soft green, not grey.
Happy Groundhog Day and Animal Wednesday!!
28 Comments on Animal Wednesday: Groundhog Day Giveaway, last added: 2/4/2011
A groundhog again I have to look up what this day is about but I do like this cute fellow I just saw on Robin's blog and now your gorgeous painting of him!!!!!! Too cute . I would love to give him a home. You did a wonderful job on him! What a cute and beautiful give away!
Its ADORABLE. You know I have have none of your Art. Not even an ATC.. I'd love to win this. I need to check out your cards. oh today is also my Aunt and Uncles 66th wedding anniversary. I can remember it because of Ground hogs day.
What a beautiful gift...your talent for painting...GH is adorable and I wouldn't mind him hanging around my house at all! In fact,he and Henry could be best buds.
ME! ME-ME-ME!!! Pick ME! :-D That groundhog looks like the one I had to discourage from making a home under our shed a few years back. Don't worry, it was fine, but I got gassed with the gopher bombs and decided that rodents are smarter than humans and probably sit and laugh at our antics..... I'm sure they do!
Aw, he is so darn cute and you are so sweet to find a new home. Tell him it is so nice in AZ that he may want to live here and Sunshine needs a playmate. lol
The same green as my Magpie? Auntie Lo have to tell you I'm so proud of my Beautje. Today in the woods we met Maxime(B'S lover)she run to the farm and killed a chicken(Ooh my god) mr. B was so good stayed with Me ,even unleashed(good boy). Proud Mom, xxxMar
Gosh Lolo, this is a pretty good rendition of a groundhog, although I loathe the little buggers! I'll bet we still get six more weeks of bad weather no matter what he saw!
Groundhog Weather School by Joan Holub (Illustrated by: Kristin Sorra)
Reviewed by: Renny Fong
About the author:
Joan Holubillustrated her first published children’s book in 1992 and soon began illustrating full time. She began completing manuscripts and mailing them out to publishers in the early 1990s. In 1996, she sold her first two manuscripts — Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book (Scholastic) and Pen Pals (Grosset & Dunlap).
Today, she writes full time and has written and/or illustrated over 130 children’s books. Creating books that entertain, inform, and interest children (and herself) is a fabulous job she truly loves.
About the illustrator:
Kristin Sorra and her husband started Atomic Paintbrush, a business designed to cater to the niche market of comic books, where they were one of the first studios to provide digital coloring to all the major comic publishers.
While running Atomic, Kristin focused heavily on children’s book illustration and creating characters and stories for animation. Soon enough, her work was published by companies like Simon & Schuster, Harcourt, Highlights, Houghton Mifflin, McGraw-Hill, Penguin Putnam and Scholastic (see more comprehensive, rather impressive list under ‘clients’ link). She has presented her animation ideas to production companies like Dreamworks, Film Roman and Nickelodeon and was a finalist for Fox Studios’ Pitch-O-Rama, a one-time event in search of the next Simpson’s.
Beyond books and animation, her work has also appeared in magazines, stationery and paper products, off-Broadway shows, websites, clothing hang tags and her mom’s birthday cards.
About the book:
The must-have book for Groundhog Day—and the rest of the year!
With pop-art illustrations, a tongue-in-cheek tone, and a riot of detail, kids learn all the important aspects of Groundhog Day. And where better to learn it than Groundhog Weather School!
Professor Groundhog opens a school so groundhogs can learn to accurately forecast the weather each February. Following along with the amusing cast of students, kids are drawn in by the thoroughly engaging tale while they learn fun facts about different animals (groundhogs in particular), seasons, weather, and predicting the weather. With funny asides and a comic-style approach to the illustrations, this informational story presents a fresh look at Groundhog Day through the eyes of the animals who live it each year.
My take on the book:
Last year, it was Groundhog’s Day, every night, for a couple of weeks, as my 3-year-old son requested Groundhog Weather School for his bedtime story of choice again and again and again. Luckily, I loved it, too! After returning the book to the library, I had to get our very own copy.
The story begins with Rabbit in bed, watching a TV weather fo
0 Comments on Book Review: Groundhog Weather School as of 1/1/1900
Hits on the blog post featuring this groundhog go through the roof this time each year. It has me thinking I should rename my last book TWO DUMB EASTER BUNNIES before spring comes.
0 Comments on Groundhog Day as of 2/1/2011 9:41:00 AM
The story is told of a new priest who is assigned to a parish that has a history of bickering and discord. His first homily is on the topic “Love one another”(John 13:34).It sounds good to them. As they get his blessing on the way out ofchurch they say, “Lovely homily, Father.”But next Tuesday the same people are at each other’s throats at the parish council meeting. Father says nothing.
The following Sunday, he gives the same sermon, word for word. Some of the people were asleep last week, so they don’t really notice. A few of them blink and wonder if this new priest is quite all right in the head. But they get his blessing and thank him for the homily anyway as before. During the week, Father is invited to the Sisterhood meeting. They conduct their business, ask Father to pronounce the blessing, and break up for tea. Father is such a quiet sort that some of them forget he’s there and start gossiping about their neighbours. Father says nothing but, you guessed it, he trots out that same sermon at Sunday liturgy, “Love one another.”
This goes on for several more weeks until at last the parish council calls an emergency meeting, with just one item on the agenda. They confront their pastor: “When are we going to get a new sermon, Father?”
Father smiles. “Just as soon as you’ve learned to put this one into practice!”
This same lesson seems to be echoed in the cycle of the Church year. We come to the Church’s New Year every September, and I for one have sometimes wondered—how can anything be “new” when we do it over and over again?
Blackaby, Susan. Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox. Illus. by Carmen Segovia. Sterling, 2011. Ages 4-7.
If you’re seeking a whimsical read-aloud for Groundhog’s Day, you’ve found it. Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox sparkles with wit and sly charm. Brownie is a clever groundhog that meets a hungry would-be predator on a cloudy February 2nd. The fox tells her, “Hold still…. I’m trying to eat you for breakfast.” Brownie’s flip response is that it’ s simply too late for breakfast. The two find they both hate to wait. Brownie suggests the fox work up an appetite by clearing the snow off the pond. Segovia’s humorous image shows the fox putting his fluffy tail to good use. Alas, after all that effort, it’s too late for lunch, says Brownie. Then the tricky groundhog leads the fox to a tree and winds her scarf around and around the fox, binding him to the trunk.
Brownie’s little heart is touched, though, as she hears the fox’s plaintive cries. She decides it’s time to share what’s in her basket: cocoa and cinnamon toast. The crumbs attract a robin — the first sign of spring! The two new friends leave for home, pondering their next adventure. The illustrator’s note describes how Segovia first conceived of this engaging character one winter as she sketched a groundhog. Her wintry palette, splashed with the fox’s red, is as refreshing as that impromptu picnic.
Enhance a snowy story with the cold facts, perfectly described and displayed in
Cassino, Mark and Jon Nelson. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder.. Chronicle, 2009. Ages 4-9. You’ll be singing songs of snow, glorious snow after reading this snappy little informative book. Cassino and Nelson reveal the scientific nature of snow by using an accessible format featuring a brief fact in a large type size, then giving details in smaller text. Readers will learn of the three major types of crystals (star-shaped, plate and columnar), as well as other interesting facts. (It’s the molecular structure of water that creates the six-sided crystals, for instance.) The superb illustrations include both spectacular photographs that beg to be shared and Aoyagi’s ink and watercolor diagrams that show how a crystal develops from a speck of soil, pollen, or other substance, and then develops into an intricate six-sided beauty. Also noteworthy are the clear instructions on catching and examining snow crystals — just the trick for getting readers to venture outside to explore wintry wonders.
More and More Snow …
Alarcon, Francisco X. Iguanas in the Snow and Other Winter Poems. illus. by Maya Christina Gonzalez. Children’s Book Press, 2001. Fresh poems, often written with an unusual perspective, grace bright and beautiful pages showcasing poems in both Spanish and in English.
Andersen, Hans Christian. The Snow Queen. Trans. and retold by Naomi Lewis. Illus. by Christian Birmingham. Candlewick, 2008. Ages 8-10. Don’t miss Andersen’s most beautiful fairy tale, a source of inspiration for C.S. Lewis and other fantasy writers. Of the many versions available, Lewis’s is the one you want. This memorable wintry tale begs to be read aloud: “The cloak and cap were made of snow, and the driver ah, she was a lad
2 Comments on One Snowy Day a Groundhog Met a Fox, last added: 1/24/2011
As a teacher, I loved reading your reccommendations! I can’t wait to find the Groundhog’s day book you suggested at the top. It’s always a fun holiday to celebrate because, frankly, we’re all just looking for something fun to celebrate between Christmas and Easter! Thanks!
Janice Floyd Durante said, on 1/24/2011 8:13:00 AM
You’re very welcome! It does seem as if spring is far away, doesn’t it? I’d love to hear how this goes over with your students.
The latest season of Lost premiered on February 2nd, aka Groundhog Day. It was a joke, a cheeky clue for the audience. Because they introduced a major plot device in the premiere. It’s come to be known as the “flash-sideways” narrative and it’s essentially a big “what-if.” What if the characters had a chance to do it all over again? What if the circumstances were different – no island, no smoke monster, no Geronimo Jackson spinning on the turntable? What would have happened to these poorly reared, trigger-happy pawns of science and faith? The answer seems to be that their pesky destinies would have eventually tracked them down anyway. In a week, the series will come to a close, and hopefully we’ll have a better idea about what exactly is at play. But if Lost peddles anything, it peddles ambiguity. And the faithful aren’t shy about hitting the bulletin boards to shout their opinions and theories. The internet might bust a spring or two in the hours after the finale.
I can say with a certain amount of confidence that most people will not be discussing Groundhog Day. The wink-wink-nudge-nudge premier date will be just another piece of Lost trivia, no more significant than the Hurley Bird. The date was a reference to the movie, of course, and on the surface it doesn’t seem to be much more than that. We’ve all seen the movie. A cynical weatherman played by Bill Murray lives the same day over again and again, until he finally gets it right and becomes a man who can love and play the piano.
I remember when Groundhog Day came out. It was a hit, though it barely beat forgettable fare like Dave and Cool Runningsat the box office. Critics thought it was enjoyable and clever, though they hardly thought it was earth-shattering. A better than average comedy – not much more. Over 15 years later, Groundhog Day has become not just a favorite of the revisionist cineast, but a genuine classic. The Writer’s Guild considers it the 27th greatest screenplay ever written. The New York Times even put it in a list of the Ten Best American Movies. Of the 1990s? No. Of all time! Say what you will about the existential implications of the film, about searching for meaning in our post-9/11 world. It makes for a good term paper, but I don’t think that’s the reason the film has gained such a following of late. The reason is TBS.
If you turned to the cable station TBS in the late 90’s and early 00’s, it’s likely you would have seen Groundhog Day on more than a few occasions. TBS syndicated it and played the grooves off the thing. Over time, the film worked its way into the DNA of many a channel surfer. The more familiar you became with it, the more you enjoyed it, because it was offering you the experience of its main character. You were living the film over again and again. You began to anticipate plot points (Ned Ryerson punch in 3, 2…), and the exact words and inflections of the dialogue (“Too early for flapjacks?” ”
3 Comments on Lost and the Last of the Groundhog Days, last added: 5/18/2010
I’m curious how you rate the series finales of The Sopranos and The Wire. Was the final scene of The Sopranos a cop out, the creators ending it without choosing a fate for Tony, or was it brilliant and original? And did the end of The Wire live up to and do service to what came before, or was it a little too soft or sentimental? What degree of ambiguity do we want in endings? And what are some of your favorite TV swan songs? For me, the final episode of the British Office is the epitome of an ending “natual, honest, and earned.”
Aaron said, on 5/17/2010 1:25:00 PM
Sopranos cut to black wasn’t a total cop-out, but I would have preferred a fade to black. The “did he or didn’t he get shot” debate never interested me. I was fine with life goes on. The Wire felt a bit too soft and a bit rushed, but I’m not sure what should have been done differently. I guess I was expecting a bit more tragedy. British Office was definitely as close to perfection as I’ve seen. I’m heartbroken that Deadwood never got its chance to have a genuine finale. As bad as Season 2 of Twin Peaks got, I have to give Lynch credit for the finale, which was the strangest, ballsiest thing ever on network television. One of my faves is Strangers With Candy, where they tear down the school to build a Strip Mall (or “something better”). Comedy Central replaced the show with something called Strip Mall, which may have lasted 3-4 episodes?
Tweets that mention Lost and the Last of the Groun said, on 5/18/2010 10:14:00 AM
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Again, an interesting week for me. I'm in contract negotiations for a nonfiction project; I'm up to my eyeballs in freelance deadlines (four within the next two weeks); I'm leaving for Houston Sunday night (waving to all my Houston SCBWI friends!); I spent several days cleaning my mother's condo; today is a RARE snow day, so the kids are out of school; and I've been tagged!
(Jack enjoys the snow!)
Tagging first! writerross tagged me with the following:
The rules:Each participant shares five little-known facts about themselves. Those tagged are asked to do the same as well as reiterate this guideline. Each select five folks to be tagged and list their names. (Leave a comment letting them know that you've tagged them and that they may see your blog as an example.)
Hmmm. Five little-little known facts about Candie . . .
1. I hate admitting this, but I enjoy airline disaster movies, like the original one, Airport (the book was written by Arthur Hailey), its followups, Airport '75, Airport '77, and Airport '79—The Concord. It's not that I enjoy watching people in distress on airplanes. But if I have to watch a scary movie, to me, watching a disaster movie (especially with airplanes) is my choice every time. I'm not biased either—I like ship disaster movies and skyscraper disaster movies, too. Oh, and by the way, I'm not afraid of flying.
(Airport Terminal Pack available on DVD!)
2. I, like writerross , am deathly afraid of fire. I'm not afraid of lighting fires, though, or matches or candles or the like. I am, however, afraid of death by fire. 'Nuff said.
3. I learned how to operate a motorcycle at age 19. I wore my cowboy boots . . . and that's all I'm saying.
4. I won the "Sombrero Award" in my high school two years running, ha! What does that mean?I have a great facility for languages. I pick them up easily, which may have begun when I was a child, living in Okinawa, and learned to speak a smattering of Ryukan, Chinese and Japanese. In high school, folks predicted I would one day work for the U.N., as a translator, perhaps. I didn't do that, but I still enjoy using my language skills whenever I can. Except for Spanish, though, I'm getting rusty, alas!
(The Sombrero Award!)
5. I'm a proud Army Brat and super-patriotic. Well, that's probably not a secret, but if you don't know me well, you may not know that yet!
[Edited to say: I noticed that my buddy Jo was already tagged, so how about you, robinellen , and you, moniquemadigan , and you, newport2newport ? I'm spreading the love!]
It's Groundhog Day, and Punxatawny Phil did NOT see his shadow this morning, which means Spring is coming soon. Thank goodness for that, as Ever-Supportive works OUTDOORS (need I say more? LOL). Spring may be springing soon, but we had our first blast of really wintry weather this week here in Nashville—our first snowfall, in fact, of the season. Chloe, who wore her pajamas inside-out for two nights running, is convinced that SHE is behind this miracle of Nashville-nature!
(Chloe, Snow-Girl)
(This is our backyard today, as compared to:
. . . Our Autumnal Yard in November . . .)
I'm heading to Houston on Sunday. I think I'll be in the air during the Super Bowl, which kind of bums me because I've been super-excited about this one. I lived in Indianapolis from 1983 through 1990. I was a huge Bears fan, and when the Colts moved from Baltimore to Indy in 1984 (the year Oldest Son was born), I became a Colts fan. (Sidebar: Of course, I'm a Tennessee Titans fan now, but since the Titans aren't in the Super Bowl, I'm free to spread the love!) While I'd be happy to see either the Bears or the Colts win this year, I'm leaning toward the Colts because of Peyton Manning, the Colts quarterback, previously of the University of Tennessee Volunteers football program! Also, this is an historic game—the first Super Bowl match-up in which both head coaches are African American, and how pertinent is that during Black History Month? All-in-all, the makings of a GREAT game. In the words of Bocephus (Hank Williams, Jr.): "Are you ready for some football?"
The Groundhog and Shadow are back. Since I discovered them two years ago, I have found these weird and compelling videos completely addictive.
This year Shadow has decamped to Tijuana, Mexico, having cracked under the pressure of being the harbinger of more winter and the Groundhog has set out to bring him back. Looks like they might be headed to Houston.
“Imbolc (pronounced IM-bolk), which is often called Candlemas, is the time when Wiccans celebrate the renewing fertility of the Earth. The Goddess is seen as recovering from childbirth, and the God is a small child. This is also the time of ‘fire in the belly.’ There is the feeling that spring is coming, but a certain restlessness or cabin fever can set in. This can also be the bleakest time of the year when we start to fear that spring will never arrive. It’s no coincidence that many people celebrate Groundhog Day on this date. What is Groundhog Day but a way to let Nature reassure us that spring really will come? Sometimes, even though it is still cold, you can see early buds on trees on this date. This is another way that Nature reminds us to hang on; life is getting ready to burst forth.
![Groun[d]hog Day from Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania." Photo by Anthony Quintano. CC by 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.](http://blogoup.electricstudiolt.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Groundhog_Day_Punxsutawney_2013-2.jpg)
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0 Comments on Puppicasso Predictions #33 as of 1/1/1900
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Cathy--Thanks for this post. It came at the perfect time. I am working on a pesky piece (a NaNo that told me "No no") and perhaps if I figure out the stripped-down version of the story, maybe I can move forward on it.
By the way, I LOVED your post that included the little-known facts about the movie Groundhog Day. Ramis and Murray never talking again...the movie chronicled 38 days...Murray getting bitten by the groundhog three times...a FAMILY of groundhogs were raised for the movie...
Fascinating.
Thanks for another great post, Cathy! I think I need to write my theme at the top of every page to make sure I'm not wandering off on a tangent - which is waaaaay too easy to do. I needed this reminder!
This is great advice and I LOVE that movie. I have used the "what am I trying to say here" technique when tackling tough parts of my drafts, and it does help. When a paragraph isn't working yet, sometimes I ask myself how I'd say it to a friend.
dum, dum, dum...the rewrite loop! LOL I despise rewriting. It's probably why I can never finish a novel-length piece. So I've decided novels aren't for me, but I'm going to dig up some old short stories and rework them for a couple of contests and your advice will come in handy. Since so much time has passed, I think that's what I'll do: take the basic ideas of the story, put the story aside without looking at it, and rewrite it from a new perspective. Thanks, Cath!
Sioux, I love interesting facts like the Groundhog Day movie trivia--so much more fun than yet another rewrite! ;-)
Wishing all y'all luck on your rewrites (and a happy Groundhog Day!)
Oh the dreaded rewrite, but a necessary evil. Great article and tie in to Groundhog Day.
This post made me laugh because I could really relate. I don't know how many times I've been lost in the fuzzy haze of an undirected article and had to stop and ask myself, oh for the love of humanity, Jule, what's your point here? What is it you'd like people to know or learn by the end of this piece? I need the compass--all the pretty words aren't going to create a destination on their own.