Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

~ John W. Howell

Good to see Friday here. This means we can take a short break from the week and do some fun things.

Today’s Good News story is about Bee Cave Bob  You all have heard of Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog who predicts the arrival of spring . This year he predicted 6 more weeks of winter. I bet not too many of you have heard of Bee Cave Bob.

You see,, Bee Cave Bob was born in Bee Cave,, Texas, which is a short way up the road from our house, and he is an Armadillo. Bob has the  distinction of being the Texas answer to Punxsutawney Phil.  Now you may wonder why Texas feels the need to have its own version of a prognosticator of the duration of winter. The answer is best explained by Bob’s owner Ralph Fisher. “The Armadillo is the Texas state small mammal.”

Athough Bob lives in a farm community named Swiss Alp he travels back to Bee Cave every year to predict the end of winter. In an event, sponsored by the Benevelent Order of the Racoon (Not a typo), Bob is released on Feburary 2nd and watched. If Bob sees his shadow there will be 6 more weeks of winter.

In contradiction to Punxsutawney Phil, Bob is predicting an early spring. As I sit here with below freezing temperatures and a wind chill in the teens I can say Bob’s prediction is good news indeed.

Here is a Video telling the story.

Today’s JohnKu is about the weather. I hope you have a great weekend

Predictions by John W. Howell © 2022

There is Bob and Phil,

Trying to decide how long . . .

I’ll wait for mother.

Unknown's avatar

Published by John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

115 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News”

  1. I always use to listen to the farmers (not the agribusiness executives, the farmers with dirt on their boots and under their fingernails). Those that I knew in what was my part of France replaced forecasting with a gallic shrug when the world’s weather started to go mad.

    Liked by 3 people

  5. We have a deep freeze headed our way by next weekend at the latest. Thanks for sharing your weather! 🤪 Hope you stay safe and warm, John and everyone. I’m thinking hard about Spring, Spring, and more Spring! I love the line about “waiting for mother”. So spot on 💕🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  14. I’ve never heard of this character. I’ve been to Swiss Alp; if I’d known he was in the neighborhood, I would have visited. Next time! (And it seems that ERCOT Earl was right!)

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Now how cool is that? I’d never heard of Bee Cave Bob, but I’ve always loved armadillos, despite never seeing one in real life. For some reason they fascinate me.

    One that can predict the weather AND thinks Puxatawney Phil’s prediction is wrong is A-okay in my book. Bring on the spring and a high five to Bob.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. I’m with you. I’ll trust Mother over some little beasties. Mother and farmers.
    Hope you’re holding up!
    We are blanketed in snow today… which I will take over ice any day!
    Stay warm, John and happy Friday!

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Here I lived in Texas all those years and never heard of Bee Cave Bob! Who knew? I like his prognostication much better than Phil’s anyway. Stay safe and warm, John.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. I’m sooo looking forward to Spring, but with temps in the teens, I doubt it will arrive early. I loved your story and the cute clip. I didn’t know about Texas Bob until your post. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

  25. I say, dear John! Do Armadillos know winter & frost? I suppose that you should invite our bears to predict spring. 🙂 🙂 Anyway, let it begin faster.

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Groundhogs and armadillo two of any gardener’s least favorite pests. And pest is way too mild a word in both cases. One is a plant eating machine and the other is a rototiller looking for snacks. As an added bonus armadillo can carry leprosy. What’s not to love. It would probably be considered inappropriate to invite the coyote and the acme anvil to the prognostication events. So at this point the only graceful choice is to say my what a quaint winter festival. I think I will pour 3 three fingers and preorder a backup pour to celebrate moving past these events. That and surviving the dig out from Landon. And any day one can pour three fingers is a good day. Cheers ! Is it spring yet ?

    Liked by 1 person

  30. One thing is for certain. Nothing is for certain when it comes to weather in these times. PS Armadillos really creep me out. And they make a righteous mess out of your yard if you let them. 😂

    Liked by 1 person

  35. Guess I have to go with Wiarton Willie. He’s from Ontario, where I live.
    He has predicted an early spring.
    I’m a tad suspicious that he and Bob are in cahoots. They might be writing a tell all about spring book!
    Your JohnKu is JohnKute!

    Liked by 1 person

  41. I might be the only one here who would welcome six more weeks of winter. Florida tends to skip spring and head right into summer. Eh, what will be will be. I’ve never known Nature to follow a calendar 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  42. Pingback: Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News – Jackanori, (MPD)

Comments are closed.