Accolades for Oscars

The 83rd Academy Awards were a hit. At least the fashion.

The actual show. ::Yawn:: And at times ::Cringe:: Definitely some awkward moments.

My favorite look of the night was Mandy Moore (didn't even remember she was still around). The performer (for a song from the animated film Tangled) sparkled in this nude Monique Lhuillier gown, which she wore with Chopard yellow-gold and pavé diamond button earrings and 13-carat ring and Jimmy Choo sandals. This photo doesn't do the dress justice. I loved everything about this look. This is the way to shimmer on the red carpet without looking like a wanna-be princess.

Best Supporting Actress nominee, Hailee Steinfeld, takes my second place trophy in this custom-made Marchesa tea-length princess gown with crystal embroidery. She finishes the look with an elaborate updo with a headband and Fred Leighton jewelry. The photo is washed out, but she looked so cute! At only 14, she was dressed age-appropriate (and, while this has nothing to do with her fashion, she was so well-spoken on the red carpet).

The Best Supporting Actress nominee, Amy Adams, wears double the sparkles in a glittering navy L'Wren Scott cap-sleeved gown and $1,350,000 of Cartier diamond jewelry, including a bracelet and necklace, each containing more than 30 carats of emeralds. I love the column dress with the sexy back slit. Even though I love a pop of color, the jewelry is too much (although holy cow those emerald make her eyes pop) not because of the contrast of color, but because there is too much sparkle.

Since I'm a sucker for feathers, I'll give some props to Hilary Swank who wore a strapless silver sequined Gucci Première gown with ombré feathered train, metallic Roger Vivier clutch and Anna Hu jewelry – including diamond brooches in her sleek updo. Although, this dress kinda makes it look like Hilary wishes she was cast in Black Swan.

Anne Hathaway did a cute job hosting (oh, excuse me, co-hosting. Apparently there was a stoned counterpart on stage with her part of the time). She had eight wardrobe changes over the coarse of the night. I'm sure everyone had a fave. But I'm a sucker for a cigarette pant and an awesome shoe! Anne rocked the drag in this Lanvin black satin shawl collared tuxedo with jeweled button, custom Swarovski-crystal-studded Brian Atwood pumps and Tiffany & Co. diamond earrings and ring.

Who were your faves? Who were your stand-out uggs?

a bit of self-adulation

On my birthday, I thought I would pretend I was being asked the trademark Inside the Actor's Studio 10 questions.

1.What is your favorite word?
clap trap
2.What is your least favorite word?
poop

3.What turns you on?
sunshine

4.What turns you off?
smoking (and closed-minded republicans)

5.What sound or noise do you love?
acoustic guitar

6.What sound or noise do you hate?
sirens

7.What is your favorite curse word?
fuck hole

8.What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
architect or graphic designer

9.What profession would you not like to do?
butcher or exterminator

10.If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
It looks like you had fun down there!

Now it's your turn! Answer these 10 questions. I kinda cheated and answered twice. But whatever, it's fun.

How To Tofu

Last night I cooked tofu for the first time. As a tofu beginner, I was a bit nervous and did some research online first. I'm not a vegetarian, I just don't eat a lot of meat. And tofu is packed full of protein to help add some to my diet that is lacking.

Most online sites say the type of tofu I bought it not high quality, but I didn't know that before I bought it. It was a plastic container sealed shut. I bought the extra firm kind at Erie County Farms. It was only $1.50, so I figured it was worth the risk of disliking it.

Note: this is my first time eating tofu, but most times I've eaten it (in Thai or Indian cuisine) I've not been impressed.

So what did I learn?

Tofuacts:

• Tofu is to Soy Milk as Cheese is to Milk. It’s made by taking soybeans and soaking them in water and grinding them to make soy milk. It's then treated to encourage the protein to separate (like cheese). The curd is then separated from the watery part (the whey) and pressed into tofu blocks.
• Tofu is a concentrated protein, so the serving size is smaller than a slab of meat we are used to seeing on our plates. The adult serving is only about 4 tablespoons. (I think I had about one-sixth of the tofu in the container and I was stuffed after it.)
• In addition to loads of protein, tofu is also a good source of iron, omega-3, and selenium (an antioxidant), to name a few. And it is very low in calories.
• The two main types of tofu are soft/silken (used in smoothies and sauces - picture a custard consistency) and firm tofu (more solid with a more cheesy texture. This needs to be sliced with a knife.)
• Tofu is basically flavorless, but it is a great sponge to flavors. I think most people's dislike comes from that fact (and, yes, the texture can be strange too), but without taste why would you eat it? Marinating it adds lots of flavor.
• Tofu is stored in water. Any part of the block you are not using should be stored in water in an airtight container (for only a few days).
• Wet tofu won't brown, so you need to blot it dry. And, boy, there was a lot of water to be blotted. I used a lot of paper towels.

So how was the tofu and the meal? Stayed tuned for my "Meatless Monday" blog entry - on Monday, wink.

Complaint Department

I have some complaints. I'll keep it brief.

• Baby dolphins are dying at inconsistently high rates (and very early in the season). Terrible. But this news was not covered by ABC or CBS (NBC Nightly News had a story on it last night). Has everyone bumped their heads and not remembered the devastating oil spill and the impacts that have yet to be felt? We are not out of the waters yet (pun intended). The oil spill's impact will continue to be an issue for our ocean, our marine life, and the gulf's economy for years. Read my blog post from last night about the dolphins.
• JET 24/FOX 66 all of a sudden are using social media (Facebook and Twitter updates many times a day). Unfortunately, it's leading to irresponsible journalism. They posted last night about a shooting at Rolling Ridge Elementary School and then never reported on it on the evening (or morning) news. Being my former grade school and located only a half mile from my house, I would have liked to have known whether there was a crazed gunman running around in the woods behind my house. I know these stations are just starting with the social media, but creating alarm that isn't necessary is not only bad journalism, but it's also reckless community service. Here's The Erie Times News report about the man's self-inflicted gunshot wound to his shoulder.
• Last night Erie had very cold, single digit temperatures. And while we didn't have snow, all the cars left outside were frosted over. During my two-mile commute, I was behind two cars that didn't have their windows scraped clear. And I don't mean they did a crappy job, I mean, the drivers didn't even bother to get their ice scraper out. The drivers were swerving, braking, and hunched over in all sorts of contorted positions. There are so many adjectives to describe these careless, negligent, foolish, inconsiderate, irresponsible drivers, that I will not list them. I will just say, take the time to be safe, it's worth it.
• I wish I was taller (Seinfeld/Ziggy cartoon reference).

And, scene. Thanks for reading.

Wild Wednesday: Sierra Neveda Red Fox

According to some estimates, a species is lost every 20 minutes. This shocking number considers factors like habitat loss but also includes approximations of the planet's total number of species, known and unknown.


Actually declaring a species extinct, however, is a long and laborious process that requires evidence beyond a reasonable doubt the plant or animal has disappeared from the face of the earth. The difficulty of this process is highlighted by the fact that only 875 extinctions have been officially documented since 1500.

And a few of those 875 have made miraculous reappearances.
One such species was the Sierra Nevada red fox. It was thought extinct since 1920 until U.S. Forest Service biologists captured photos of the fox with a camera trap in 2010. Researchers also took DNA samples of saliva pulled from a bait bag the fox bit into to experts at the University of California, Davis. Lab tests proved that the Sierra Nevada red fox was back.

Read the full story about the discovery made in August.

Spike in Baby Dolphin Deaths in the Gulf of Mexico

Baby dolphins, some barely three feet in length, are washing up along the Mississippi and Alabama coastlines at 10 times the normal rate of stillborn and infant deaths, researchers are finding.

The Biloxi, Miss. Sun Herald reports 17 young dolphins, either naturally aborted before they reached maturity or dead soon after birth, have been collected along the shorelines.

Scientists at the Institute of Marine Mammal Studies performed necropsies on two of the dead dolphins on Monday. The Sun Herald has a video report on the dolphins, but a warning that it’s hard to watch.

This is the first birthing season for dolphins since the BP oil spill.

Dolphins breed in the spring and carry their young for 11 to 12 months. Typically in January and February, there are one or two baby dolphins per month found in dead on the shores of Mississippi and Alabama, then the birthing season goes into full swing in March and April. This year there have already been 17 deaths and February isn’t even over yet.

Since the first days of the Gulf oil disaster, many warned it takes years to assess the full impacts of a catastrophic oil spill. With this terrible news, it is clear this disaster continues to unfold.

Rain, Rain, Come Again

Last week I purchased this Moen® Refresh™ Combination Shower. This photo is deceiving. The showerhead is larger than my face - and I have chubby cheeks.

Description: Moen®'s Refresh™ combination rain shower and handheld shower includes seven unique settings to choose from…offering the ultimate showering experience. It's easy to install and fits all standard shower arms. Simply remove your existing showerhead, tighten the 3-way diverter to your shower arm, hand tighten on the rain shower to the front outlet of the diverter and then hand tighten the handheld shower hose to the bottom of the diverter and then the handheld shower. The 3-way diverter allows you to toggle between using just the rain shower, only the handheld or both simultaneously.

Specifications: Spot Resist™ brushed nickel finish resists fingerprints and water spots. Combination rain shower and 7-setting handheld shower. Use just the rain shower, only the handheld or both simultaneously using 3-way diverter. Includes 60" hose. Easy to install and fits all standard shower arms.

My dad hasn't installed it yet. As the description says, it should be easy. The only thing is, my dad won't be able to change the arm of the shower, which happens to be brass. He says I'll need to hire a plumber to replace that (along with the matching brass tub faucet and handle). And I'll need to knock down the "access" wall to the shower/tub's plumbing - as it is plastered shut. Sigh. A homeowner's job is never easy.

Wild Wednesday: Scottish Deerhound

Congratulations, Hickory. She competed against 179 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club and was the first in his breed to ever take the Best in Show award at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show 2011.

Scottish Deerhounds were shown at the first Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 1877. The statuesque, 5-year-old hound planned to retire after this show and will now hunt deer and squirrel on her 50-acre farm in Warrenton, Va.

Name: GCH Foxcliffe Hickory Wind
Breed: Scottish Deerhound
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: December 20, 2005
Breeder: Cecilia L Dove & Dr R Scott Dove
Dad: Thistleglen Newell
Mom: Foxcliffe Summoning Charms
Owner: Sally Sweatt & Cecilia L Dove & Dr R Scott Dove
Handler: Angela Lloyd

More information about Scottish Deerhounds: Characterized as "the most perfect creature" by Sir Walter Scott, where do we find the essence of this graceful and stately sighthound? Great stature with greyhound-like curves and a natural, wiry coat with shaggy beard and brows give him a wise appearance and reinforce her natural dignity. Keenness, great speed, and endurance make her formidable in the field. A Deerhound breeder once said that Deerhounds steadfastly believe the best of their humans. Their quiet dignity, readiness to forgive injury and remember kindness, sudden fits of irresponsible gaiety, wistful expression, and unfaltering friendship are their hallmarks.

Wild Wednesday: Horton Plains Slender Loris

After it had disappeared from 1939 to 2002, conservationists thought this little mammal was extinct.

But the Horton Plains slender loris, photographed for the first time in 2010 by the Zoological Society of London's EDGE project, had indeed survived. There have only been four documented sightings of the small, reclusive primate since 1937.

The loris is native to the rainforests of Sri Lanka and southern India, but its forest habitat has been destroyed by logging, agriculture and development.

The slender loris is one of the rarest and most threatened primates in the world. It has thin arms and legs, huge round eyes and the males only grow to about 8 inches long.

Read the full story about the loris.

Erie Micro Brew Festival

Mark your calendars for the 5th Annual Erie Micro Brew Festival, Saturday April 16, 2011.

Two Sampling Sessions:
Sampling Session 1 - 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Sampling Session 2 - 5:00pm to 8:00pm

Tickets are $30. (Designated Driver tickets $5). Only 600 tickets for each event are available.

25 Micro Brewers will be handing out samples:
Appalachian Brewing Company
Blue Canoe Brewery
Brewerie at Union Station
Brewery Ommegang
Church Brew Works
Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales
Ellicottville Brewing Company
Great Lakes Brewing Company
Horseheads Brewing
Lancaster Brewing Company
Lavery Brewing Company
Main Street Grille & Brewing Company
Magic Hat Brewing
Marzoni's Brick Oven & Brewing Company
Penn Brewing Company
Rivertowne Pour House
Rock Bottom
Southern Tier Brewing Co.
Sprague Farm & Brew Works
Tröegs Brewing Company
Victory Brewing Company
Voodoo Brewing Company, LLC

Beer is not something I order first off a drink menu, as a matter of fact, it might be last on my list. But even I have tried at least one (or more) beers from six of these brewers. I'm feeling quite cool! I'm sure there are some of you out there who could easily top me. How many of the brewers have you sampled from?
 
Has anyone been to this event before? I've heard it's fun, but not much else about the details.

Puppy Love

(picture taken by Stace)

Green Your Valentine's Day

This Valentine’s Day, don’t forget about Mother Earth. Here Sierra Club tells you how to make your loved one feel cared for even while you’re tending to the other loves of your life.

Tip #1: Make a commitment.
Thinking of proposing a lifelong commitment this Valentine’s Day? Do it. For as little as $20, you can sponsor a wild place in honor of your loved one’s favorite outdoor space, whether that be Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, or the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Your investment will go directly toward preserving those majestic places so they can last for eternity, and you’ll nab a certificate of sponsorship, plus a few other goodies. If you chip in a bit more, you can get your sweetheart a Muir-style rucksack or a stuffed animal representing the species that’ll be more secure thanks to your gift.

Tip #2: Let love blossom.

It’s little-known, but the flower industry is pretty environmentally destructive. To minimize your impact, consider ordering an organic bouquet. Better yet, pluck some peonies from your own garden or bike over to your neighborhood’s farmers’ market to buy a locally grown burst of color (make sure to ask the farmer whether what you're buying is free of pesticides). Remember, too, that a potted plant always lasts longer.

Tip #3: Choose chocolate consciously.

Valentine’s Day is a veritable boon for chocolate companies. Ensure that you’re supporting the most responsible confectioners by buying organic, local, or shade-grown. And if you can, resist the convenience of that frilly heart-shaped box with all those individual paper wrappings tucked into a plastic mold. Instead, go for a less packaged (but just as romantic) option.

Tip: #4: Wrap it up.

Monogamy seems greener than the alternative — think of all that rubber saved from the landfill. But if you’re not there yet, and are trying to do your part to prevent overpopulation, consider contraceptives from a company that offsets its carbon footprint. Always choose latex (biodegradable) over polyurethane (not biodegradable), and, to keep the seas clean, never flush either down the toilet.

Happy Valentine's Day!

What's White and Red All Over

Pennsylania's wine industry is growing in both production and reputation. These family-owned agricultural operations create not only a unique offering of wines, but also have developed a special brand of hospitality which is offered to the thousands who visit their wineries each year.

 

Pennsylvania's moderate climate and rolling terrain provides some of the best growing conditions on the East Coast. More than 100 wineries produce a delightful array of wine varieties - perhaps more kinds than any other wine region.

 

PA WINE FACTS

• With approximately 14,000 acres of grapes, Pennsylvania ranks 4th nationally in the amount of grapes grown (including juice grapes). The state ranks 7th in the production of wine.
• Pennsylvania is home to the two highest elevation vineyards east of the Rockies.
• The nation's first commercial grapevine nursery was in Montgomery County in southeastern Pennsylvania.
• In addition to selling from the winery, Pennsylvania wineries may have up to five retail outlets; they may sell at festivals and make direct sales to restaurants. All other wine sales in PA are transacted in state-owned shops.
• In less than thirty years, Pennsylvania wineries have increased from 27 to 123. In that same time period, gallons of wine produced has increased from 254,724 to 971,191.

 Learn more about Pennsylvania wines.

Three Thursday Activities

Wow. So many events. So little time. Today, Thursday, February 10, there are many events to take part in.

What to choose?

• "A Snake Named Marge" presentation by Jeff Hanky at the Asbury Woods Nature Center at 7 p.m. Sponsored by the Sierra Club's Lake Erie Group. The program will showcase the unique and misunderstood world of reptiles and close-up meetings with a 13-foot Burmese python, Peruvian boa constrictor, Brazilian rainbow boa, green tree python, and corn snake.
• Penn State Behrend Night at the Erie Bayhawks Game at 7 p.m.
  Behrend's Dance and Cheer team to perform both before the game (6:40) and at half-time (7:40).
  Pep Band to entertain the crowd pre-game (6:15 - 6:35) and during some time-outs.
  Plus it's buck night! ($1 Pop, $1 Beer, $1 Hot Dogs, $1 Popcorn)
• yep! February Social Hour starting at 5:30 p.m. at the new Senor Coyotes Cantina and Grille located in at 319 State Street (old Marketplace Grill). Senor Coyotes is a New Cantina & Grille serving a fusion of fresh southwest and american cuisine!
  Complimentary appetizers, $2.00 Margaritas and $2.00 Captain Morgan drinks just for the yep! Attendees.

Maybe I'll see you at one of these events. Or maybe I'll stay home with the pup and watch Grey's Anatomy.

Wild Wednesday: Giant Palouse Earthworm

The elusive Palouse earthworm was legendary across the Great Plains of the United States. Since the first reports in 1800s rumors about the worm proliferated, even as the population made a dramatic decline.

People said that it spit in self defense. They said it smelled like lilies when handled. They said it grew to be over three feet long. They said it was extinct. But a discovery of the Giant Palouse Earthworm dispelled all of these myths—and has helped researchers and conservationists gain basic knowledge about the species that may be essential for its survival.

It is believed that the agricultural development destroyed the worm's native habitat and is responsible for the worm's decline.In fact, until a dead specimen was found in 2005, the Palouse earthworm was widely believed to be extinct. Though only five specimens were discovered in more than 30 years

Read more about the earthworm.



National Fettuccine Alfredo Day

Yesterday was National Fettuccine Alfredo Day. And I celebrated!

I wanted to jazz up my normal white sauce that I make.

So I found this popular recipe online:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
8 ounces cream cheese (Room Temperature Best)
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups Whole milk/Cream/Half and Half
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

But altered it a bit for a lower-fat version:

Lower Fat Recipe (and altered for some flava!):
1 Stick butter (I don't believe margarine is a healthy alternative)
8 ounces Neufchatel Cheese
2 cups skim milk
1/2 cup of half and half
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup low-fat mozzarella
salt and pepper to taste
garlic to taste
red pepper flakes to taste
top with Parmesan cheese

Melt butter over a low heat. With a whisk, mix in the cream cheese and whisk until completely combined. (At first it will seem like it won't combine, but keep stirring). Once you have the butter and cream cheese mixed, pour in the milk and the flour and continue to whisk. Once the mixture heats up and the cream cheese mixture and milk have combined into a smooth cream, add salt, pepper and mozzarella cheese and stir until combined. Let sit for a few minutes to thicken.

This recipe made enough to cover an entire box of fettuccine (or linguini in my case). I also added spinach and sauted mushrooms (to add a least a hint of healthy to the dish).

All in all, it was delish! The sauce was a bit thick. When I eat the leftovers (which I will prob be eating for a week and a half!) I am definitely going to need to add more milk to loosen it.

Super Bowl Commercials 2011

At $3 million for a 30 second spot, Super Bowl commercials need to make splash. And some are using social media (and regular media) to create a buzz even before the big game on Sunday.

For example, Volkswagon's "The Force" produced by Deustch (Los Angelas) previewed its ad on mainstream news Friday. So while cute, the "LOL" moment was lost on me Sunday, since I already saw it. Is previewing effective? I'm not sure.



My favorite commercial was Bridgestone's "Carma" created by Richards Group (Dallas). This year the cute and fuzzy animals were very scarce. So I had to settle for a rodent with an overbite to get my cute and cuddlies.



As a sucker for word puns, I also enjoyed Carmax's "Kid in a Candy Store"
by Amalgamated (New York). However, CarMax posted this ad to YouTube, two days before the game.



And I have to say, Chrysler's "Born of Fire" by Wieden & Kennedy/Universal McCann really helped show pride in American-made cars and highlighted a comeback story for Detroit (even though I'm not a fan of Eminem). This 2-minute ad set the company back some Benjamins. Was it worth it?



Doritos again invited "amateur" submissions for its ads. My LOL-moment happened from Doritos's "House Sitting" by Goodby Silverstein & Partners. Who doesn't like it when people are brought back from the dead?



The NFL always does a nice job promoting the league. It didn't disappoint with "American Family" by Grey Group (plus it gave some love to my fav - Seinfeld).



My second favorite ad was Fox's commercial for its hit television show (and a personal fav show of mine) House M.D.



So for me, it was between Dr. Gregory House and a beaver.

What about you? What was your favorite?

How do you think the commercials were this year? Can you believe no beer commercials stood out to me? Where were the Clydesdales and dalmatians?

Skating and Cider

Fuhrman's Cider Mill, Bakery and General Store is now equipped with an outdoor ice rink.

Skaters or hockey players need to bring their own skates along with $2 for unlimited skating on the new 100-by-175-foot rink that was built by flooding a plastic-lined frame with water and then waiting for it to freeze.

The new rink is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

The rink is large enough to accommodate both skaters and a pickup hockey game. Organized groups have the option of renting the facility, which comes with lights, picnic pavilions and outdoor heaters.

The surface cleared by plowing and then snowblowing any new snow from the ice. More advanced ice grooming is handled by a homemade Zamboni made with a Kawasaki Mule, a kind of utility all-terrain vehicle that's been equipped with a water tank. It drags a heavy drape behind it and smooths out the ice.

According to Rick Schaaf, one of Fuhrman's partners, "It's not your perfect rink, but it's excellent for pond hockey."

His main goal is to give people something to do. But of course, Schaaf would like the customers to also drop in for some cider, hot chocolate, or baked goods.

Wine & Chocolate Weekend

Lake Erie Wine Country will hold their annual Wine & Chocolate Weekend on February 4, 5, and 6.
Tickets still on available same day for the very popular Wine & Chocolate Weekend at only $35 per person. Find out more about the event at: http://www.lakeeriewinecountry.org. Same day tickets can only be purchased at Penn Shore Vineyards, Sparkling Ponds Winery, and Liberty Vineyards.

Ticket holders plan their own itinerary, enjoying each winery at their leisure on Friday, February 4 from noon-5 p.m. or Saturday and Sunday, February 5 and 6, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Transportation is not provided.

New this year, Fridays have been added to the event schedule with no increase in cost. Now ticket holders have more time to spend at each of 21 participating wineries where they can enjoy a special wine paired with a delicious chocolate creation. Five “host wineries” will provide a non-chocolate food pairing to provide some savory stops. As in the past, ticket holders will receive a wine glass, recipe booklet, a $5 voucher for wine purchase, and a gift.

Read the gourmet menu.

Sounds like a fun time!

Wild Wednesday: Groundhog

The groundhog, also known as the woodchuck or the mouse bear (because it looks like a miniature bear when sitting upright), first won its reputation as a weather prognosticator in 1886, when the editor of western Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper, Clymer Freas, published a report that local groundhogs had not seen their shadows that day, signaling an early spring.

This story created Punxsutawney Phil's legendary reputation, which begat Ground Hog Day and the familiar idea that Phil can predict the perpetuation of winter.

It is likely that the story of Phil is based on European beliefs that badgers and hedgehogs can provide signals about the future; lacking those species in his area, Clymer substituted the local animal that most resembles a badger or a hedgehog.

Facts about this rodent:

• Groundhogs are among the few animals that are true hibernators, fattening up in the warm seasons and snoozing for most of three months during the chill times. While hibernating, a woodchuck’s body temperature can drop from about 99 degrees to as low as 37. The heart rate of a hibernating woodchuck slows from about 80 beats per minute to 5. Breathing slows from around 16 breaths per minute to as few as 2.
• During hibernation—150 days without eating—a woodchuck will lose no more than a fourth of its body weight thanks to all the energy saved by the lower metabolism.
• During warm seasons, a groundhog may pack in more than a pound of vegetation at one sitting, which is much like a 150-pound man scarfing down a 15-pound steak.
• To accommodate its bodacious appetite, woodchucks grow upper and lower incisors that can withstand wear and tear because they grow about a sixteenth of an inch each week. If properly aligned, woodchuck upper and lower incisors grind away at each other with every bite, keeping suitably short; when not in good order, they may miss one another and just keep growing until they look like the tusks on a wild boar; if too long, a woodchuck’s upper incisors can impale the lower jaw, with fatal results.
• Woodchuck burrows, which the animals dig as much as 6 feet deep, can meander underground for 20 feet or more, usually with two entrances but in some cases with nearly a dozen. Burrows provide groundhogs with their chief means of evading enemies, because the rotund little guys (just before hibernation, a hefty woodchuck may tip the scales at 14 pounds) are too slow to escape most predators in a dead heat: the rodents have a top speed of only 8 mph, while a hungry fox may hit 25 mph.
• Although groundhogs may not be the best weather predictors, they do in fact emerge from dens in early February. This is the practice of males as they rouse themselves to wander around their 2- to 3-acre territories in search of burrows belonging to females, which the males will enter and where they may spend the night. Research suggests that no mating takes place at this time; the visits probably just let the animals get to know one another so that they can get right down to the business of breeding when they emerge for good in March. Outside of the mating season, woodchucks are solitary, except for females with young, which usually are born in early April.

Happy Groundhog's Day! Here's to a short winter!