A Shape Groundhog

Somebody asked me today, "Phil, if you could be anywhere in the world, where would you like to be?"  And I said to him, "Prob'ly right here."

-Phil Connors Groundhog Day (1993)

It's Groundhog Day.  The great Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. (Wretched beast.) According to him, six more weeks of winter.  If winter continues as it has been, I can't complain much.  After all, how often can you check for the groundhog's shadow with no shoes on (in New Jersey)?  However, I have a feeling we're gonna be twelve feet under the white stuff around Valentine's Day. Law of averages says we're due for a doozy of a nor'easter.

Meantimes, we'll just keep enjoying the spring-like weather.

To make your groundhog puppet, outline circles of various shapes on either colored construction paper or plain white paper.

You will need:
 two small circles (ears)
one medium sized circle (face)
four small ovals (paws)
one large oval (body)
If you are using white paper, color the body parts.

Jude only colored the face of the groundhog because our marker started to give up, and one of his sibs "borrowed" his brown crayon.  If you're more organized that I was, use brown construction paper.

Add his facial features - we used googly eyes instead of drawing them on, and then glue the shapes to a cardboard roll.  (Note: a toilet paper roll would be the perfect size, but we didn't have an empty one handy due to overzealous recyclers.  We used a paper towel roll cut in half.  I've hidden the extra half for another project next week.)


Head outside and see what you little Prognosticator of Prognosticators tells you.

Looking for a shadow...

Nope, no shadow.

Hopefully, our little dude is right, and spring is just around the corner. At least we know tomorrow will definitely be February 3!