Chasing Fireflies

Groundhog Day 2012

Phil's official forecast as read February 2nd, 2012, at sunrise at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, PA:

Here Ye, Hear Ye, Hear Ye

On Gobbler's Knob on this magnificent Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2012, Punxsutawney Phil, the Seer of Seers, the Prognosticator of all Prognosticators was summoned from his burrow in the old oak stump by the tap of President Bill Deeley. 
 
He greeted his handlers, John Griffiths and Ron Ploucha.
 
And after casting an appreciative glance to the thousands of faithful followers in attendance, Phil proclaimed, "As I look at the crowd on Gobbler's Knob, many shadows do I see.  Six more weeks of winter it must be."

Despite Phil seeing his shadow today and we even seeing ours, today felt like a spring day to me.  And as in Lee Family Groundhog Day tradition we celebrated by making groundhog puppets, coloring a groundhog page, checked out our shadows, and made groundhog cupcakes. 

Isaac woke up this morning so excited about Groundhog Day.  Right after breakfast he began playing with his Legos (which he has been playing with a lot lately) and asked me to make him a groundhog.  "A groundhog?  What a GREAT idea!"  I said.  So I proceeded to do the best I could with the Legos we had available.

Since today was so warm (reaching 66°) we ate lunch outside and then took our crafting outdoors as well.  The kids loved coloring outside and then placing their groundhogs on a tree stump to check for shadows.  Just like Phil's house.  :)

Finally, before heading inside we decorated our cupcakes and gobbled them up. 

Hope you had a Happy Groundhog Day, too! 

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY

Another Snow

Yesterday morning when I checked the forecast for today it said "clear and cold."  Well, they got half of it right.  This morning the map is looked like this. 

Northern Mississippi is white and pink.  And that means we had another snow. 

Olivia had to be at the theatre bright and early this morning for her performance in "A Christmas Carol."  After all the cast were in their costumes it began to snow.  What a stage they had set for them today!  Snowing for "A Christmas Carol!"

Here are some other views of my morning.

Unfortunately, the snow melted by early afternoon during the second production of the day.  But the audience wasn't disappointed because they had been welcomed with a winter wonderland.

Pajama Snow Day

We spent our day inside (except for me going out to take these pictures) in our pajamas enjoying our November snow day.  Later we wrapped up our pajama snow day with breakfast for dinner - steak and eggs and sweet potato biscuits. 

February Snow

 

 

 

 

3 Snows in 3 Weeks in Mississippi

This snow was only 1/2 inch.  That still counts doesn't it?  Well, in Mississippi it does.  :) 

3 snows in 3 weeks in Mississippi is very rare.  I watched this snow drift downward last evening before going to bed and it was a spectacular show.  HUGE fluffy flakes.  I wish it could have happened in daylight hours for the kids to have been present. 

I didn't get out quite as early this morning before some of the thaw began, but I was still able to capture some of the winter white.

Wonder how long it will be before our next snow?  Maybe it will be next week.  :)  We've gotten quite spoiled with all the "snow fun" around here. 

More Snow in Mississippi

Can you believe it?  What a treat it has been. 

This morning I went out to take some pictures as the sun was rising.  Then I came back inside, got the kids dressed, and took them out to play (making more snow angels and digging roads for trucks).  When we were good and chilled we came back in for a hot breakfast of Irish oatmeal with maple syrup, chopped pecans, and dried cranberries and sat by the window staring at the beautiful glistening snow.

Not a bad way to start a winter morning.  :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still Having "Snow" Much Fun

Can you believe that today is the fifth day that we have had snow on the ground in Mississippi?  Very, very unusual for the deep south to say the least.  The high for today is 35 degrees and is beginning to show some signs of melting, but tomorrow is predicted to reach 45 degrees and will surely melt our "snow" fun away.  Because I don't believe tomorrow afternoon we'll have much snow left, I decided today that the kids needed to play in our snow one more last time before it is gone.  After lunch we bundled up and headed outside to have "snow" much fun!  For remember...it's not everyday that a kid in Mississippi gets to play in snow, and deep snow especially.

 

 

 

 

 

While the boys were busy digging up snow and piling it in the trucks, Olivia was occupying her time doing something I remember with great fondness doing as a child.  She was pulling down icicles and admiring their beauty up-close.  Icicles are so stunning to view and when in one's hand the beauty becomes even more breathtaking:  glistening winter spiked jewels.

 

And so we say farewell to our long lasting snow of early January 2011.  And now we wait with great excitement for our next  "snow" fun. 

Glistening Jewels of Winter

 

January 10, 2011 continued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out yesterdays post again for several additions.  :)

January 10, 2011

7:34 A.M.

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9:55 A.M.

 

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9:57 A.M.

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10:00 A.M.

 

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10:10 A.M.

 

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10:47 A.M.

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1:50 P.M.

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4:35

 

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4:56 P.M.

 

 

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7:38 P.M.

 

White Christmas

Christmas 2010 has been a blessing in so many ways!  One blessing I received is my very first white Christmas.  I was elated to have Michael awaken me Christmas morning with the blinds pulled up high showing off the snow covered tree branches right outside our windows.  I sprung up, rushed outside (after getting dressed and a coat on), and began playing and snapping pictures.  I felt like a kid - making a miniature snowman, writing in the snow, and then coming inside to warm up while drinking hot chocolate.

 

 

 

 

What a special Christmas gift the Lord sent us Christmas morning 2010.  Thank you, God, for sending us the beautiful snow!  Isaiah 1:18 says, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow...." 

Did you have a white Christmas?

Snow Ice Cream

We have a custom in our family beginning with the first moment we see snow start to fall.  We run to the kitchen to find our "special snow bowls" and set them out on our patio table for collection.  This collected snow becomes our key ingredient for our snow ice cream. 

Here's the way we prepare our special treat.  It's the same recipe my mom made rare and special Mississippi snow with while I was growing up.

 

SNOW ICE CREAM

A Southern Recipe ~ Snow is such a rarity in the south that we incorporate it even into our food.  J

1 (5.33 oz) can evaporated milk

1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

SNOW

Mix milks and vanilla together.  Gradually stir in snow until ice cream is of desired consistency.  Serves 6.

Another Snowy Surprise

We awoke to snow on the ground this morning and continued to have HUGE snowflakes falling without ceasing until 3 this afternoon.  Olivia, Isaac, and I (Joshua was napping.) enjoyed playing in it before lunch.  Then we came in for some snowy day lunchtime treats.

 

 

 

Tomato Soup with a sprinkle of fresh ground pepper and a Grilled Cheese Snowflake Sandwich 
   

and Snow Ice Cream ~ Two times in one winter is quite a treat for us Southerners.  J 

Spring is right around the corner.  Until then, we'll continue to enjoy the snow ice cream that we have left from this winter.

SNOW

One week ago today we were blessed with a beautiful SNOW!  Because we are in the south, snow is a treat as it normally only comes once a year and only lasts for one day. 

This snow was an extra special treat since it came on Isaac's birthday.  I feel it was God's birthday gift Isaac.  J  It was also very special to share the experience with my mom and dad, who were in town to celebrate Isaac's birthday.

Here's what we did with our snow:

Made snowballs and chased each other around the yard.  

Made snow angels.

Introduced Joshua to snow for the first time.      

Built a snowman.
 

Took advantage of many photo opportunities.   

Drank white hot chocolate when we came inside to warm up.   

And best of all, made Snow Ice Cream to go along with Isaac's birthday cake.     

January Weekends

Doctoring a sick family of five 

Trying to stay warm when it's so cold outside  

 

Playing with toys   

Building with Legos    

and Playing Games

 

Weekend Highlights

FRIDAY:

Michael returned home from a five day business trip in Mexico.  The kids have not wanted to let him out of their sight.  They have wanted to be with Daddy no matter what he has been doing.

SATURDAY:

My cousin, Nick, moved in with us.  He has been living in Georgia for two years now, but his contract ran up on his house and he hasn't found the new perfect house for he and his sweet dogs yet.  We love Nick and are glad that we will get to spend extra time with him.  Hopefully, Nick won't be too tired of us before he moves out.  J

SUNDAY:

We played in the SNOW!  We got out and enjoyed the only snow that has made it's way to our parts of Georgia this year.  We made snowballs, looked at our footprints we made in the snow, tried to catch snowflakes on our tongues, and enjoyed hot cocoa to warm up when we came inside.

 

 

Hope you enjoyed your weekend, too.