Who knows? If we don't get more snow, mud season might be here for weeks and weeks.
My feeling is that winter is a lot easier in the country and mud season is easier in the city. The reason: we have a lots of room for all the snow. It doesn't pile up on the streets the way it does in the city, making them narrower and obliterating parking spots.
The big meltdown: Toby taking in the scents
But mud season is definitely easier to cope with where there are sidewalks and there's pavement, and you don't need rubber boots. (You should see me in my stylish hunting boots.)I was thinking it might be nice to get out and start some tree and shrub pruning, but it's still too sodden to be walking on the grass. Maybe next week, when it freezes up again.
In the meantime, the dogs and I continue our walks over at our neighbor's golf course, which is on higher ground, and that brings me to the other scourge of mud season: skunk mating time. What could be a more appropriate activity for mud season???
Not a February doesn't go by when Buddy (the neighbor's dog) and Toby don't get skunked. It happened yesterday: Buddy - who's a real dog's "Dawg" - and I saw the critter at the same time. I started yelling, but no luck. Toby came around to see what the commotion was all about, and he got some spray too, but not as bad as Buddy, who wouldn't leave the thing alone. You think they'd learn.
Luckily Toby came when I called, and he was good enough to let back into the house after a dousing with an anti-skunk product I had around. Buddy's owners took him straight to the country kennel that does grooming, but he still smelled quite a bit today. (He's banished to the mud room). Toby had his first professional grooming at PetSmart today. He handled it well, I was told. Now he smells of cheap perfume, but he sure looks good.
Post Script: John to me while we're doing the dishes: "The trouble is when February dissolves like this, there's still a long way to go before things get better."
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Hi Yvonne, I agree with John, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteBUT - I have lots to get done before spring and right now the ground is frozen again down here which I kind of like as the dogs don't get so wet and dirty. They both go in the house!
We never had any incidents with skunks - although we once had one in the back hall! It took about an hour to couch it out the door again.
Ha Ha I SO know where you are coming from in the "mud season" comments! Oh to have a sidewalk!!
ReplyDeletePoor Toby...I don't seem to have that problem with skunks here. One did pop out on the trail one day when I was walking with Ole and Daisy but she came and Ole...well he must be good at dodging...like all Elkhounds are!!! We are back to freezing cold and the snow is flying again. I really was hoping for an early spring!
CG, I just saw your comment on my blog gardenbloggers.com and yes women do outnumber us. ;0)
ReplyDeleteMaybe one day the number will be a lot more even.