Who needs a groundhog?

This morning I learned an interesting phrase which suggests the weather on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, otherwise known as Candlemas Day, which we observe today, indicats the length of winter yet to be had:

Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas bring clouds and rain,
Go winter, and come not again.

PETA does not like the use of a groundhog because they say it is inhumane and suggests instead we use a robot, a silly argument to be sure.

I don't mind the use of a groundhog, but I'd rather see us use our Catholic culture. Besides, Puxatony Phil isn't always right. Maybe Candlemas' weather will be.

On a related note, the forecasters called for flurries here in Virden this morning; we have nothing. Last night I called for nothing this morning, and more than flurries late tonight or early tomorrow morning. We'll see who called it.