If Wilbur, our Champion groundhog, had been up early on Sunday morning he would not have seen his shadow and so farmers could figure it to be safe to begin plowing and planting. Had he slept a little later, he would definitely have seen his shadow and so would return to nap again for six weeks. Our wonderful highspeed internet (Thank you White River Connect!) tells us that the week ending in Valentines’ Day will be cold, wet and snowy, thereafter we may expect mild weather leading up to spring. Last week’s ice is now serious mud with some of the same kind of exciting slipping and sliding on our much-traveled country lanes that the ice gave us. The General reported, “Some fool attempting to bypass the road closure sign got stuck in my front yard. He was caught red-handed and received an immediate firm lecture.” He went on to say that after leaving it there for a couple of days he was able t shovel it out. farmers with big equipment were seen harvesting gravel from the great banks of it deposited during the election day flood. The gravel may go to fill mudholes and ruts, and if so, bravo!
                   February birthdays to celebrate include Skyline seventh grader Addison Carroll on the 1st along with Champion Glen Cooley, Champion grandson Zack Alexander, and Sarah Cloud. Angie Heffern, Connie Grand, Catherine Mallernee and Charlene Dupree all celebrate on the 2nd. The 2nd is also the day we remember our friend Judy Sharon. We miss her. Denlow’s premier cattle farmer has the 3rd for his party. The November flood deposited great sandbanks on some of his fields and took down lots of fences. Farmers are the hardworking people who keep us fed. The Cowboy celebrates on the 7th. He is a fan of ‘The Youn and the Restless’ and has been since before he stopped getting on horses. Skyline’s prekindergartner Ember Leigh Miller has the 8th for her big day and Jonas Makenzie, a fourth grader, has the 9th for his. Happy birthday to all of you.
                     Skyline students are enjoying Super Bowl Send-Off Spirit Week. The Super Bowl will offer some good diversion from current events. Until then Cathie Alsup Reilly might suggest a You Tube episode of “Twin Chefs Milkshakes.” Enjoy watching brotherly love in action along with competitiveness, camaraderie and humor as they make brownies, or meatloaf, or pings in a blanket. It is like turning off the news and visiting with your favorite uncles. Thank you, Cathie.
                    We started this week on Monday with a trip to the Denlow Cemetery to say goodbye to Larry Wrinkles, raised in Champion, son of Clifford and Esther Wrinkles. Family, friends and neighbors gathered on that hillside on an unusually warm and beautiful February day to bid a Champion farewell. On Friday we will go there again to remember Beverly Barnhart, married to Alvin for 63 years. We miss our friends and neighbors who have been with us as Champions–Looking on the Bright Side!

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