The groundhog was definitely in some hot water this week. Or heavy snow, I should say. Granted, Punxsutawney Phil did give everyone fair warning at the beginning the month when he announced we were in for six more weeks of winter this year, but I don’t think some people appreciated that when they woke up on Monday.

Always with camera in hand, Louise Zierzow was able to photograph some happy bits of white in her yard before Sunday’s storm. Louise shared a pretty photo this week showing cheerful, dainty — and very appropriately named — Snow Drops that had forced their way through the ground.

Meanwhile, The Garden Club of Newtown is also looking forward to spring. The local gardeners this week announced “May In Bloom,” a National Garden Clubs Standard Flower Show they plan to present at Newtown Municipal Center May 13-15. I love Standard Flower Shows. They’re not only lovely to look at, they’re also very educational thanks to all the information shared about each entry. I didn’t make it to Hartford last weekend for the big Connecticut Flower & Garden Show, which always has a terrific Standard Flower Show. I look forward to seeing what the Newtown club will present in a few months.

Jimmy Shpunt also had his camera at the ready on Tuesday, when he ventured out to check for the mail. The morning after the Sunday-Monday snow storm, Jim headed toward the end of his driveway in Sandy Hook and did a double take when he looked for his mailbox. He shared this photo with me a little while later, calling it “Oh Mailbox, Where Art Thou?”

When Sandra Rasmussen and her family decided to spend a week skiing in Canada, it seemed simple. They were going to take their whole menagerie (Turtle and Yuki), of course. And then they adopted Marzipan, a 3-month-old cream retriever. She could get into Canada alright, but since she was under six months, Marzipan would not have been able to get back into the United States. So, Sunday River, Maine, here they come.

Speaking of local canines, it seems at least two received special blessings last week. Reverend Stephen Volpe was not incorrect when he told us that he had administered ashes to 45 people during his third annual Ash Wednesday Drive-Thru ministry on February 18. He sent a quick note a few days later, however, with an update: the pastor of Newtown United Methodist Church also bestowed ashes upon a pair of dogs last Wednesday. I have to wonder how they’re observing Lent this season.

Canned Goods Month is approaching its conclusion. Bruce the Canned Goods Spruce has been collecting donations around his base for a few weeks, and I hope he has a strong ending. I’ll share a photo next week, and a few reminders now: donations collected this month will all be delivered to FAITH Food Pantry; we are among those who host a FFP collection box year-round; and the food pantry was closed this past Tuesday, which left a few people without their planned visit to 46 Church Hill Road.

If you would like to join us for Canned Goods Month, please feel free to drop an item or two at 5 Church Hill Road when we’re open (weekdays, generally 8 am-5 pm; earlier and later and weekends by chance). If you earmark them for Bruce the Spruce, we will add them to that collection and our planned photo for next week’s paper.

I plan to continue my fast track toward another nap, although I promise to begin hunting for and gathering more news to share when I wake up. I hope you have a good week, including your own nap or two, and remember to come back seven days from now, when you can … read me again.