Punxsutawney Phyllis — Opera Star!
My friend, the clever, creative, and fun-loving author Susanna Leonard Hill, has decided that we need a little fun in the midst of this wicked winter. Not only is Susanna all the adjectives aforementioned, but she is the creative spirit behind PUNXSUTAWNEY PHYLLIS, Girl Weather Prognosticator Extraordinaire.
As you’ve probably noticed, it’s nearly Groundhog Day, the day when Phyllis (and others of her ilk) take a look outside and declare whether there will be an early spring, or six more weeks of winter. As a child, I never quite understood that, because where I live, having ONLY six more weeks of winter would be an early spring!
Anyway, it’s time for Phyllis to prognosticate, and Susanna has dreamed up a fun way to prepare our furry friend for her prognostifying. Prognostificating? Um, predicting the weather. We’re having a Fun Fashion Show for Phyllis! Bloggers here, there, and everywhere, are creating outfits for Phyllis to wear, and scenarios in which she would wear them. To find links to all the entries in the fashion show, click that Fun Fashion Show link above.
Click on the magic words to see how I envision Phyllis for Groundhog Day 2014:
May I present Punxsutawney Phyllis — OPERA STAR!!!
Phyllis wants you to know that her snowshovel, shield and helmet are made of real silver, er, tinfoil, and her dress is made of leftover theatre curtain material. As Great Granny Groundhog always said, “Waste not, want not.” (Great Granny was rather given to cliches.) That’s a music stand in front of her, by the way.
If you’d like a better look at her opera costume, here’s a close-up:
If, by some mischance, you have never read the delightful picture book Punxsutawney Phyllis, I urge you to do so! If you have children, dash to your local bookstore, and share it with them on February 2nd, National Phyllis Day, I mean Groundhog Day. If your local bookstore doesn’t have it, may I suggest ordering it from Merritt Bookstore in New York’s Hudson Valley? It is an independent bookstore that goes out of its way to do wonderful things for people and authors.
Happy Groundhog Day! May Spring come early. Please?
LOVE it! Of course she wants to be on stage! Phyllis has quite a range!
Thanks, Julie! She certainly does!
LOVE this post, Beth, because you are so funny and say such nice things about Phyllis, and LOVE Phyllis the Opera Star! How did you know that she has been LONGING for a Viking helmet??? She will be singing your praises all the way until NEXT Groundhog Day 🙂 Thank you so much for joining in the fun with your Operatic Phyllis! 🙂
Thanks so much for your delightfully enthusiastic response, Susanna! This was such fun to do. As soon as I thought of it, I could hardly wait to put it together. I wish the tinfoil showed up better in the photo — it looks a lot more metallic in person.
Presuming she’ll be singing in the key of G, Beth? What a clever ensemble & setting for Phyllis – I’ll have to listen the next time I pass a groundhog!
LOL! Has to be the key of G! Good one, Patricia. Thanks!
Very Clever Beth! I love that she’s an opera star. Love her necklace.
Thanks, Stacy! She borrowed that necklace from someone… hope she returns it!
Ha! I KNEW the Opera Star Phyllis would be yours, Beth! Nice!
Thanks, Genevieve! You’re very perceptive!
How delightful! Phyllis is such a fantastic opera star 🙂
Thanks, Angela! She’s having a great time up there on stage.
Phyllis is Phabulous as an opera star!!!
Thanks so much, Rhythm!
Brava! She looks regal and splendid!
Thank you, Linda!
Look how adorable you made her! Fun post Beth!
Thanks, Jennifer! It was fun to do!
I love the opera diva! Great idea, props and all.
Thanks, Pat. It was great fun to do.
[NOTE: Read this comment in a high falsetto, emphasizing on the caps]
WHAT a GRAY-ATE EH-en-tur-eeee… I DO-oo LOVE that SAY-ay-ing around tha-at pih-IC-ture… THIS IS A WINNnnner-ER!
Whew! That was hard! 😉
THANK you so MUCH for your MUUUUUU-sical COMment, you CER-tainly ha-AVE a WON-der-FU-ull VOICE! 😀
I’m not a fan of opera.
But I am a HUGE fan of your Phyllis! Fantastic!
Thanks, Mike!
Oh perfect Beth style at the theatre! Bravo!
Thanks, Catherine!
I thought she had to turn up on stage here…. so very appropriate… and cleverly done, Beth!
Thanks, Diane!
brilliant! 🙂
Thanks, Donna!
This is too precious for words! Phyllis looks fantastic. The snowshovel, shield and helmet are adorable!!!
I saw this earlier in the week when I got notification of your post.I am making my way back through the entries today to comment! The entries are so cute!
Thanks, Penny! This is such a fun contest!
Well, being that Phyllis is ready to sing, I hope she sings the snow away, bringing back sunny skies and warm weather. Winter has worn out its welcome. I have never been to an opera, but I am guessing Phyllis sings in loud soprano, a position more coveted than first soprano.
Thanks, Sue! I suspect you’re right. She definitely looks like a LOUD soprano!
She looks lovely. This takes me back to my music major days in college. The music stand detail is great. Adorable.
Thanks, Cool Mom!
I love your opera Phyllis Beth, so cute. And the stage, spectacular! 😀 And the saying is cracking me up, nicely done!
Thanks, Meg! I hoped the saying would have that effect on people! 😉
The stage is left over from a series of teaser posts I did in September 2012 before a series of posts about The Great American Mousical.
Way to go, Phyllis! I love the saying on your picture, too! You’ll have to post this on Facebook for Groundhog’s Day!
Oh, I hope Phyllis goes on tour! I love her opera number!
La-la-la-la!
Stunning, Beth! Phyllis will certainly be the star of the show…a true diva! Great post, by the way…lovely of you to give Merritt Bookstore a shout-out.:)