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Ground Hog Day and 6 More Weeks of Winter!

It’s Ground Hog Day my friends …And as of 8:30 A.M., Punxsutawney Phil confirmed this by seeing his shadow. All I really know is the weather here in SW Florida is COLD! 35 degrees for this area is plenty cold and I know many up North are huddled in blankets and heavy clothing.  Actually my daughter confirmed a regular heat wave as their temps dipped to -6 below zero to a whopping 5 degrees above zero.  Whoopee!

Groundhog

groundhogs

But let’s slow down a minute…Did You Know?

Did you know there are MANY famed groundhog forecasters scattered about?  AND these various ‘critter forecasters’ have cast their predictions today February 2nd.  In Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, …..Phil forecast another six weeks of winter as did a Georgia counterpart, General Beauregard Lee , New York’s Staten Island, the Wood Chuck concurred, as he also predicted six more weeks of winter.  However Chuck in Ohio said ‘Whoa! wait just a minute…you see he thinks there will be an early Spring and I prefer to believe him. 🥰

So Just Where Did GroundHog Day Begin?

Apparently, Groundhog day was know as St. Brigid’s Day and was a centuries old Pagan and Christian tradition or so the Old Farmer’s Almanac tells us and German settlers brought this “Hedgehog Holiday” to our American shores.  Yep! the critter was a Hedgehog which was an entirely different animal.  The only thing they have in common is the name ‘hog’.

Differences of a Groundhog and Hedgehog

hedgehog

Hedgehogs are from Europe and Asia.  They are small with short, sharp spines and like to roll into impenetrable small balls.  They eat insects and grubs and are a solitary animal. The groundhogs or woodchucks are large with brown fur and huge claws, using complex burrows and can whistle or make a whistling sound.  (They are sometimes called a whistle-pig.) They are from North America and eat grasses and plants and live in family groups.
groundhog
 
Since there were no hedgehogs in America, immigrants looked for a hibernating mammal, hence the groundhog became the weather forecaster.   In 1886, Groundhog Day was acknowledged for the first time in Punxsutawney by a local newspaper, Weathers Wags, according to the club. In 1887, the first official pilgrimage to see Phil on Gobbler’s Knob make his prediction began a tradition.  So now you know the rest of the story.
book praying wife
I have a booklet that I have been enjoying and would like you share with you. If you are like me, I believe our husbands need prayer for protection as they go about their lives, whether it be out in the work place or in retirement.  There are so many dangers in this crazy fast paced world.  The title is “The Power of a Praying Wife” and is available on Amazon for about $6.00 and change.  I like to randomly pick a page and say the short printed prayer (inserting my husband’s name where applicable) and then I add the date under the Bible verse that I prayed that particular prayer. If I happen to turn to the same one,  I just pray that prayer again.  I’m sure we pray for our families and this little booklet makes it just a little easier for me.
Finally I have a recipe for my Mother’s Chicken Soup for these cold snowy and wintry days as we wait out the predictions of the various critters on Spring and Winter.  It is so good!
Everyone has their own special recipe but this one is a particular favorite of the Captain…and me too.  It calls for chicken thighs but you can use rotisserie chicken.  As far as the other ingredients, you can add whatever you like…sometimes I add potatoes, carrots, rice, peas, celery, onion, chicken stock/broth, garlic etc but I think the unusual ingredients of ginger…and lemon juice gives the soup that extra snap. Recipe below.
Chicken soup with carrots in bowl.

Mama's Chicken Soup

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Ingredients
  

  • 2-3 bone in/skin on chicken thighs (can use breasts but thighs are more flavorful)
  • 2  tbsp oil
  • 3 chunk sliced carrots
  • 2 stalks celery sliced
  • 1  medium onion diced
  • 3  cloves garlic minced
  • 1  tbsp fresh ginger grated
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • 1  cup rice
  • 2  cups water

Instructions
 

  • Heat a large stock pot or brazier to med high heat. 
  • Add oil and brown the thighs adding a bit of salt and pepper to both sides. Sear until lightly browned about 2 minutes per side.
  • Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside and add the onions, carrots, celery and garlic to the pan and sauté them. Sauté until onions are translucent, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
  • Add the chicken broth, lemon juice, and chicken to the pot, reducing the heat to a simmer and cover the pot with the lid.
  • Simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until chicken is cooked.
  • Remove the chicken from the pot, and debone the chicken and also remove the skin.
  • Add the chopped chicken, rice, and water to the pot, allowing the rice to cook.
  • Stir in the lemon zest and ginger and simmer for about 5-6 more minutes. Taste for flavor adding more salt and pepper if needed.
 One of my favorite Bible verses was said when the Captain and I married many moons ago….and I believe it applies perfectly this Valentine Season and to everyone.
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.”
Blessings and much Love Always
Me And My Captain" text with airplane illustration.
 
 
 

 

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14 Comments

  1. Kari, your soup sounds wonderful. Lemon has a way.of brightening the flavor of most everything. WV has its own weather prognosticator – French Creek Freddie – and he also saw his shadow. The cold wouldnt be so bad, but this snow and ice has got to go! We’re heading for another round today/tonight. 🙄 I hope it’s warmer for you now.

    Reply

    1. I hear ya Rita…I am so ready for warmer weather here …and I know there are people who are still without electricity and I feel for them. Going to hunker down and watch Olympics with popcorn and a blanket and hot cocoa and sandwich in a couple college basketball games. 🥰

      Reply

  2. Thank you for all the info on Groundhogs Day, Kari. The booklet on praying for husbands, sounds like a beautiful one. I would surely have bought it if my beloved were alive. Your mom’s chicken soup sounds perfect for our wintry weather.

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  3. Kari, fun facts about the groundhog. Unfortunately our local groundhog, Poor Richard, predicted six more weeks of winter. I will be trying your soup recipe with the ginger. The soup will certainly help keep us warm.

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    1. how about those Jayhawks? Finally DP came up with a couple 3’s to save the day! Rock Chalk Jayhawk!!!
      I watched the weatherman a while ago and we are still going to have colder weather for a few days. UGH. I might have to move even further south…maybe South America! LOL 😱

      Reply

  4. Dear Kari, thanks for the soup recipe. It sounds delicious. I’ve seen snow on the ground all the way up into May when in Kansas. It’s been a cold winter this year. Stay warm my friend. I know those breezes off the Gulf can be chilly.

    I don’t believe the Groundhogs. We’ll see if any are correct. I vote for an early spring. lol

    Sandy

    Reply

    1. Sandy I agree with you… I am going to hold out for early Spring! I am tired of wearing fuzzy leggings and sweatshirts for the last few days. LOL. In fact I made a big pot of that chicken soup and I am going to have another bowl and pretend it is Spring. Might even have some hot chocolate with marshmallows, curl up by the fire, and convince myself that tomorrow is just a day away from warmer temps. Take care my dear friend and lets look for the yellow daffodils! hugs.

      Reply

  5. That hedgehog is the cutest thing ever. I’ve never seen one in person. Yes, we’re in for six more weeks of winter — and if that is all (our winters usually go till the end of March and sometimes into April) I’ll be glad. This one is a bear!

    Reply

    1. Jeanie I don’t think I could go through those cold winters anymore. Being from Kansas, we had some doozies! And you are right, the weather stayed cold well into April. When my kiddies were little, we could not let them play in the little rubber pool til June! (boy that dates me doesn’t it?). Oh, and that little hedgehog would curl up into a tiny tight ball for protection, making it even cuter. Have a great and wonderful day my friend!

      Reply

  6. Everyone here in NW Pennsylvania is distraught with the oversized rodent!
    (Yes, I am here in Freezing Cold Pennsylvania!)
    In Punxatwney, the morning of Groundhog Day is supposed to be a great time. We have yet to go!
    In AZ, it’s all about whether the saguaro sees its shadow. Lol!
    Happy Tuesday! Stay warm!

    Reply

    1. Oh Nancy….how funny! Down here, Instead of seeing shadows, iguanas fall out of trees! LOL And I have to admit I am surprised you are back in PA….although I don’t know if the SW is any warmer these days. Here in “Sunny” Florida, it is still sunny but it is deceiving, as it is cold, even today. It was down to 40 this morning but going to a high of 67 which sounds warm to Northerners but to us Floridians WE ARE COLD…especially when our tropical breezes carry wind chills in them. Thanks for stopping by my friend. STAY WARM! 🥶🥶🥶

      Reply

  7. Hi Kari! Thank you for the rest of the story of Groundhog Day. That is quite interesting. We occasionally will see one around here and yes, they are fat. Also thank you for the soup recipe, sounds delicious! We reached 50 today, it felt like a heat wave! Enjoy your week my friend!

    Reply

    1. Thanks Pam…I used to watch a groundhog when we lived on the ranch and he was one ugly little animal. LOL oh well, he is still one of God’s creatures. Soup is good all the time for me…warmer or colder weather. Enjoy your warmer weather my dear friend. hugs

      Reply

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