Could the groundhog be right?

Could we really be blessed with an early spring this year? I think it’s possible, and I have seen and heard some signs.

Friday was Groundhog Day — an occasion when humans turn to a rodent for all the answers about our weather. The most famous of these furry forecasters is Punxsutawney Phil of Pennsylvania. When he was pulled from his burrow amid much pomp and circumstance beneath an overcast sky early Friday morning, he did not see his shadow. Tradition holds that, as a result, we can expect winter to loosen its grip and anticipate that spring will arrive early.

I, for one, was delighted to hear what had transpired. Although we have certainly experienced more severe winter weather in the past, I have had enough of short, gray days and long, dark nights. I am tired of feeling chilled and needing to bundle up every time I head out the door.

And I have further reason to believe that spring is on its way.

For one thing, did anyone else notice that big, bright, shiny thing in the sky on Thursday? It was wonderful to look out the window and see a sky that was actually blue. It seemed like the first sunny day we had experience in weeks, and I soaked it up.

To make the most of it, I took a different route to work, leaving the interstate behind in favor of a ride through the country. I headed through Lamira and across Airport Road then turned east on U.S. 40 and made my way through downtown St. Clairsville.

Along the way, I noticed a few new homes and outbuildings that had appeared since I last traveled that way. There were horses grazing in their fields while wearing their own jackets, and there were obvious signs of people improving their homes and properties. I even noticed a few bits of work on infrastructure projects that didn’t come to a complete halt during the winter.

Just a day earlier, I had heard something that prompted me to send my husband a text message announcing that spring had arrived. From outside my window came the cooing sound of mourning doves — birds with which we had quite an interesting relationship last year. I do not know if these were the same doves that nested in a potted plant on our porch, producing pair after pair of chicks, but I would like to think our little gray friends have returned from a long flight to the south. Since there obviously are no potted plants hanging outside my window right now, we will just have to wait and see what happens as the temperatures climb.

What do you most look forward to about the arrival of spring?

For me, it’s many different things. Of course I will start spending more time outdoors. And I have plenty to keep me busy once I have that opportunity. If we are to have a vegetable garden again, there is quite a bit of work to do, starting with fence repairs and soil preparation.

Our enormous porch renovating project is nearly complete, so a bit of scraping and painting and a few minor repairs should give us a lot of satisfaction this year.

But I also look forward to going for walks, sitting in the yard by my pond and feeding my goldfish, chatting with neighbors as they pass by and taking more drives around our beautiful region.

Being able to grill a steak or burger on the back porch will be really nice as well. And just sitting and swinging or rocking on our porches will be a relaxing and renewing experience.

There is one thing I do dread about the return of warmer weather, though. And, believe it or not, it involves a groundhog.

Last year, we experienced something for the first time. A groundhog that we believe had quietly lived around the neighborhood for a few years suddenly became a mother. I knew nothing about how groundhog families evolved, but I soon discovered that they reproduce in large numbers. She had at least eight babies, and they ate everything they could find that was green and growing. We actually gave up on our garden as a result. So, here’s hoping Phil is the only groundhog I see this year.