Why share? Why not? Celebrate an important and wonderful part of my life. Today I was my daughter's "special visitor" at playschool. She had me pretty much all to herself -- the teachers told the kids that she was the only one I could hug. (All the parents get a chance to sign up for a day.) Let me tell you, it was great. First we got to play with the toys in the circle area. The tow truck was really neat. Then I learned how to hold hands to make a circle and sit down. We decided it was Tuesday and learned that the numbers were all off the calendar because it was a new month. It was cold and sunny. We learned about the groundhog coming up tomorrow and saw how his shadow would look, and discussed what will happen if he sees his shadow or he doesn't. Then we made snowballs out of tissue paper and learned about wind resistance -- tightly packed ones go farther. We had a snow fort that was as tall as most of us, and we had a great snowball fight. (We also learned that we have to ask people before having a snowball fight with real snow, and only throw at tummies, not heads.) We had a meal in a tent and used skis and poles and played with real hockey sticks and a tiny air hockey table (always turning it off between people to save batteries). I saw a private puppet show. Several times, she noticed my hand had a booboo so she went to the tent for the first aid kit and put a bandaid on it. We also read a book about Bob the Builder on a snowy day. We talked about what to wear on our heads and bodies and legs and feet in the winter, and made groundhog puppets. We cut out pictures of snowflakes and glued them onto matching pictures. We listened to a story about the Old Woman Who Swallowed some Snow (and several other things, then barfed up a snowman). Then we had snack (Ritz Bitz and yogurt tubes and grape juice). D had a birthday, so we sang happy birthday and he got a cupcake and a candle and a special birthday hat with a star. We finished the day by sitting in a circle, this time on mats, and singing about Five Little Snowmen Made of Snow (the sun melts them, one at a time.) The morning ended with R showing me how to put the mats away.

I think I understand most of the technical stuff, but what is a groundhog, and why is his shadow so important?

Groundhogs are about 1-2 feet long, rodents. They hibernate over winter. On Groundhog day, Feb 2nd, he comes out his hole. If he sees his shadow and runs back in, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he stays out, spring will be here in six weeks. The legend is fairly old. More recently, some towns like Wiarton Ontario have built entire festivals around it -- lots of money for tourist towns. (One year, they checked in with Wiarton Willy a week ahead of time, just to make sure he knew his part in the festival. There was a last-minute change to make it his funeral. Many were not impressed.)

Old, as in, I take it New world Order terms...ie late 19th C is prehistory?? On Groundhog day, Feb 2nd, he comes out his hole. If he sees his shadow and runs back in, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he stays out, spring will be here in six weeks. isnt that the same thing?