Cheese on cheese on cheese.

If you simply scroll down in our posts from past Groundhog Days, it may have a-curd to you that we truly love cheese. We tend to prefer cheese melted perfectly on top of pasta (thank you, Fazzoli’s, for existing) but truly, we’re whey into  cheese, all the time.

When Wisconsin became the destination, our minds immediately went to…cheese. The goal of experiencing all the cheese Wisconsin had to offer quickly happened. And, you know April and I with goals. We brie-lieve in following through.

Therefore, everyday we have had cheese curds. Of course we have. Where there’s a wheel, there’s a whey.

In addition, trying different cheeses was essential. Known for so many different varieties, we went to Fromagination in downtown Madison. With the help of the saleswoman, we bought a few different recommendations, a local jam of Cranberry relish, secured yummy bread she gave us for free (a grate bonus!) and we had our own perfect cheese tasting picnic in the car. Warm and cozy, April and I enjoyed all the cheese.

Oh, and CELEBRITY ALERT. When extending groundhog day wishes to the saleswoman, she remembered the holiday, looked at us more closely and said, “Were you two on the news this morning?” It was a moment where I promptly confirmed, yes, that was us and we felt like we’ve arrived. Oddly, she didn’t ask for an autograph. Her loss.

Speaking of the cheese options in Wisconsin, I would be remiss to not provide some possibly controversial, yet brie-lliant, perspectives from my dear friend, April. The feedback is as follows: 1. Why aren’t cheese curds used as a topping on Caesar salad?, 2. Why are there no cheese curd tacos?, and 3. Why are cheese curds not an appetizer everywhere? There have been multiple times where she has just said out loud, “I don’t understand this, I would eat this everyday.”

All in all, it doesn’t get any cheddar than this.

Does it Cut the Mustard?

Back in the summer, Ryan and I watched an episode of CBS Sunday Morning that profiled a mustard museum.

Yesterday, while trying to come up with local things to do in a Wisconsin winter, I saw a National Mustard Museum within a 30 minute drive and pitched the idea to Star. Thankfully, she loves the kitsch as much as me so promptly suggested we get our act together so we had ample time to tour the museum.

We walked downstairs to the basement museum and I instantly recognized this place as the one I saw profiled and was thrilled to be visiting this weird and wonderful little museum.

While we wouldn’t say we really learned anything, we were impressed by the sheer number of mustards the museum curator had procured from around the world.

It was a small museum that ended with the opportunity to sample more than 100 different mustards. After about 10 we were sampled out and had tasted some pretty bizarre flavors that we mostly didn’t like (key lime ginger and gingerbread, we are definitely looking at you).

When Star and I drove across the country we stopped at a barbed wire museum in Texas and this was on the same level of strange but worthwhile mini trips.

We really appreciate the attention to detail with the mustard soap dispenser.

Live! With Ellie Pomerleau WMTV15 News

This trip has truly shown us that we are not the only ones who love this holiday. As “the groundhog capitol of the world,” Sun Prairie features the celebration on their local morning news and we had the opportunity to speak with them and share our travels.

Ellie Pomerleau with the morning show on WMTV15 News was so wonderful to work with and the cameraman was also so helpful and cheerful. April and I got the opportunity to answer a few questions on live TV. Please note that we find our titles on the clip of “Groundhog Prognostication Attendee” as something we should add to our resume.

The live news is hosted here but as there isn’t a direct link, the video is below as well.

The Prognostication!

In Sun Prairie, Jimmy is a real live groundhog (kept in his comfy crate after an unfortunate incident a few years ago where Jimmy bit the mayor’s ear) and also a mascot. When we arrived this morning in time for our live interview with WMTV15, we were greeted by Jimmy the mascot arriving via fire truck (just like Santa!)

We love a mascot, but the real star of the show is the live little chunker named Jimmy, on stage and ready to make his prediction. We learned that Jimmy whispers his prediction in groundhogese and the mayor translates that to the masses. Jimmy’s accuracy is 100% but the mayor tries his best but sometimes mistranslates and only has a 60% accuracy on translation. What a great way to make that groundhog right all the time.

We met Jimmy last night at the museum in a meet and greet but he was a little grumpy.

This morning however, Jimmy knew it was his time to shine and he was in a great mood when he predicted an EARLY SPRING! We will take it!

Here is the live prediction from the mayor!

20 Years of Friendship News Feature!

When planning our trip to Sun Prairie, Jade was our point of contact for the festival and to help us as we signed up for activities. Jade also was our connection to the media and we love her for it! She introduced us to local reporters who took an interest in our story and last night we met with Nolan Wick of WKOW to be interviewed for a feature. Thanks for your great work on this Nolan!! Here is a link to the article and video: https://www.wkow.com/news/friends-spend-20th-groundhog-day-together-in-sun-prairie/article_5971e265-83f7-4a22-8e48-dfd770602c94.html

We’ve also embedded the video below!

Star answering the tough questions

Community and Cold

Today Madison and Sun Prairie have been nothing but wonderful. The people have been so warm, the food delicious and the sights fulfilling.

At the pancake breakfast, which April quickly corrected me was actually a pancake toss, people were kind and welcoming. Set up in a cozy space, the pancakes were being flipped by local residents on a gigantic cooktop. Instead of just getting them from the buffet we were promptly asked to get them tossed to us. Not fully understanding, both April and I were told to stand by the cooktop while the friendly gentlemen tossed us the pancakes and we had to catch them on our plates. April was told later, “You made the catch of the day.” The service was amazing and friendly as kids and adults from a great local organization, the Exchange Club of Sun Prairie, asked us regularly if we were good or needed any additional food or coffee.

While there we got to meet the costumed Jimmy the Groundhog and the mayor, Steve Stocker. The mayor and others in the crowd (as news spread quickly of how far we traveled) chatted with us about our adventures and all the great things happening with the Frozen Fest. It felt good to be surrounded by people so excited for the holiday and proud of their town.

Then the cold set in. In all the things. We went to the fest’s ice carving in the square, went out and played on a frozen lake, went to the zoo and had local custard. Upon finding out that the Henry Vilas Zoo had polar bears, I had to see them, adding that to our agenda and dragging April there in the cold. The custard at Micheal’s Frozen Custard was a perfect lunch.

After being sufficiently full of sugar for breakfast and lunch, we are ready for the rest of the festivities this town has to offer.

The Best Christmas Gift Ever?

April here just popping in with a quick post about a gift from my brother this year. One day in December while driving together and seeing all the silly holiday inflatables, I joked that you really don’t see any inflatables for Groundhog Day. My brother laughed and said it’s a pretty niche market and probably not something they sell. However he immediately went to work finding and special ordering one he found at the gift shop in Punxsy. On Christmas morning he was delighted for me to open this surprise and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Unfortunately this year we got the crazy snow and ice storm and I didn’t want to damage this beauty so I set it up inside, which I think made it even more hilarious!

20 Years Later

Bananas but true. April and I have been celebrating Groundhog Day together in different places for 20 years. Twenty amazing and hilarious years.

Looking back, we both knew this is what would happen. Because we made a goal and if you know April or I, we always achieve our goals. Through major life changes, COVID, or anything else that happens over 20 years, nothing holds us back. We are committed to this holiday that we still find so endearing and a yearly opportunity to spend time together.

And, also, can anyone else in the world say that they’ve done this? I’m about 99.9% sure that we are the only ones.

How are we celebrating? In Madison, WI where for 78 years Sun Prairie County has been honoring and celebrating Groundhog Day in various ways. This year is a six day Frozen Fest dedicated to Jimmy the Groundhog. We are focusing our time not only on the festivities like the day of prognostication, pancake breakfast and craft festival, to name a few, but also on what Madison has to offer. We, of course, are determined to eat as much cheese as possible.

Also, we are determined to not freeze to death which will be hard as the average temperature is 15 degrees and when we arrived it was -2. April is blaming me as I was the one that said, “This year we do a cold trip as last year was warm” and I’m trying to keep us focused on the fact this means we get to see frozen lakes and eat fresh cheese curds.

Today we woke up, went to the Madison farmers market where we walked around with local coffee in hand trying all the cheeses. Then, we went to the Frozen Fest craft fair where there was more cheese and had a lovely brunch in downtown Madison with shopping after. Now, we are sitting in our cozy lakeside AirBnB watching some University of Wisconsin kids icefish. This will be yet another great trip.

And one more post about Savannah!

After our trolley tour on Thursday, we reserved Friday, our warmest day, for a diner-style breakfast at Clary’s Cafe, a dolphin eco-tour boat ride in the river and through the low country, and a walking ghost tour. Savannah, we came, we learned a lot, and we got our steps in!

We started the day with crab benedicts, coffees, and sides of grits and potatoes.

The warm weather (75!) meant a boat ride was in order and we saw wildlife, including dolphins and various birds. Your groundhog girls love birds!

Our walking ghost tour was time well-spent learning more about the very haunted history of Savannah and additional details about the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil book and true-crime story. We enjoyed our time here and think we really got a lot in in our three days!

Before the accident, we saw the ocean!

Obviously the accident, figuring out how to get to the airport, and finally getting home consumed our time and energy, but with a few days between that now, we’d be remiss to not acknowledge some of the good from our last day.

Star and I were excited to have a car so we could explore a bit more of the area, which included a trip to Bonaventure Cemetery and the coast. The cemetery was gorgeous with historic areas, creepy statues, and more of that Spanish moss drooping from the trees. After spending some time there we hopped into the car to hit the coast in search of pretty views and seafood.

It was the perfect temperature for walking around with a light layer and seeing the ocean. There were a few brave children playing in the water and sunbathing, but we were content to snap a few pictures and enjoy the vitamin D.