February 2nd

 While we didn't have a groundhog in our yard Friday morning, we did have a mama opossum looking for a place to settle to give birth. It seems like a very spring-like activity for her to be doing, but then Punxsutawney Phil did say that spring is coming earlier this year. Though given that Phil is only correct 40% of the time, we could be slammed with a huge snowstorm in late March or early April which would make this nice weather we've been having this week and are supposed to have next week a horrible trick. I'd rather have winter conditions now when we're supposed to, and finish up another month of snow, ice, and extra cold temps. Plus, I still owe Austin another snowboarding trip or two. I don't think it's a good idea to go when the snow melts. Our ski resorts are not high enough to get good, natural snow. 

She snuffled along our fence lines for a while. The cats kept good track of her from the windows, but I had to go to work, so I don't know where she ended up going. 

Per tradition, the Plymouth Ice Festival is going on this weekend. We went on Friday evening for the youth activity. I had wanted to go anyhow, so I just tagged along, since Jason is an advisor with the Deacons and both Austin and Erik were going. We went after the sun had just set and so even though we actually had sun that afternoon and we had warmer-than-normal temps, it was cold enough to be walking along amongst ice sculptures. Jason and I got to witness a local meteorologist filming live from the ice fest, as one of the sculptors was carving his ice block. I didn't get a picture of him due to the crowd, but it was fun to see the local news cameras there and all the people behind her trying to get on camera. 

Here are a few pics of my favorite sculptures. 

These penguins were to cutest!

Pizza guy outside the restaurant.

Cupcake

Swans are in the middle and a chameleon on the right, which is the one that was being worked on with all the crowds around. We circled back around and were able to see what it was later.