Happy February and Groundhog Day

We began the second month of 2026 yesterday.  Didn't we just celebrate Christmas?  February is my birth month when my biological odometer will roll over another year!

I saw a cute picture on the Internet today where the groundhog was arrested for for predicting six more weeks of winter.

Long ago in history, the groundhog wasn't just the forecaster - he was the dinner!  Eww!  Before there was Groundhog Day there was Candlemas in Britain and Europe.  The medieval belief for this Christian feast day was if the sun shown brightly on Candlemas, more winter was on the way.  If clouds covered the sky, spring would arrive early.  German settlers carried the tradition across the Atlantic swapping the European hedgehog for the American groundhog,  and early 1800's Pennsylvania farmers celebrated "Grundsaudaag" with weather predictions and hearty winter feasts that featured groundhogs roasted, stewed or barbecued.  The chubby rodent supposedly tasted somewhere between pork and chicken after a long soak in brine before cooking.  Another description has it tasting like rabbit but dark and mildly gamey like wild boar.  Either way, I'm thankful the tradition has died away!

That made me wonder if any teas have been blended for Groundhog's Day.  And sure enough, there has!  Adagio Teas has a high caffeine signature tea blended with strawberry black tea, vanilla oolong, and chocolate Chai Pu-Erh tea.

And Full Leaf Tea Company has a Groundhog Day collection featuring winter-to-spring transition teas.  Who knew?!

I smiled when I saw the graphic my friend, Linda, posted on Facebook recently.  So true!

Since we're going to have six more weeks of winter, here's three excellent faith-based movies on Netflix to watch while you're hunkered down inside your comfy home.  If you don't have Netflix, check other streaming platforms.

Overcomer [2019]

The War Room [2015] 

 Facing the Giants [2006]

Kleenex is necessary for all three!  They are marked as leaving Netflix soon, but supposedly will remain thru February.  These days decent movies aren't plentiful, but these are really good.  Thank you, Netflix!  I've got three more on my list to watch soon.