Let It Snow or Maybe Not!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Friday we were supposed to get snow.  In Pennsylvania when the weather forecasters call for snow, everyone and their mother runs to the store to buy milk, bread, and toilet paper.  I had an excuse, however, to be up at the store buying the same things and it had nothing to do with the weather.  I really was out of all three.  Trust me when I say if I thought I was going to be snowed in for a long period of time my grocery list would include ingredients for baking cookies, frozen pizzas, and Tylenol, in case I had to beat my head against the wall if the power went out.  When my turn came to be checked out, the check out guy decided I looked like a nice lady who would enjoy hearing his life story.  I learned he was from Puerto Rico and hated snow.  He didn’t like walking in snow, looking at snow, seeing snow fall, and it all stemmed from a time when he happened upon some black snow.  He actually asked the check out girl next to him if she could carry him to his car and her expression said, “how did this guy get a job here?”  I always get sucked into these conversations even though I tell myself not to say a word and just nod once or twice, but somehow I ended up telling him I love everything about snow.  I suggested he should have moved to somewhere other than Pennsylvania if he had such an aversion to snow and just to give him something to keep him up at night, I added, “watch out for yellow snow!”  If my husband were there, he would have mouthed, “keep moving, Chatty Cathy.”

Well, it seems I may have spoken too soon in regards to loving everything about snow.  I guess I realized if I had taken the time to delve into all my feelings about snow since getting Fudge and Vern, I would have probably still been there at closing time and somehow finagled into carrying the guy to his car.   As much as I love snow, my dogs love it even more.  When the snow starts to fall, I want to be inside watching it, baking cookies, with my PJ’s and slippers on.  Nothing makes me happier than snuggling up at night in bed with my warm flannel sheets and a good movie knowing that there is a beautiful blanket of snow outside.  Fudge and Vern have very different ideas about what makes snow wonderful.  They want to be out in it, tearing through it, eating it, rolling in it, and most of all, playing in it together. 

They are like two kids in a candy store not knowing what to get into next.  This is a lot of fun to watch for about an hour and then I want to be back in my house romanticizing about the beautiful snow as I sit bundled up inside.  My visions of my dogs quietly snoozing by my feet as I gaze out the window at the falling snow, while sipping a cup of hot chocolate, has so far not happened.  Instead they watch me and hover over me in the hopes that I will decide to don all my winter attire and head back out again.  If I so much as walk in the foyer for a forgotten anything both of them line up at the door and give me their best pleading look.

Walking them in the snow up at our local park isn’t a walk in the park either. Vern is convinced he can eat all the snow in front of him and alternates between walking upright and bobbing for snow.  He also likes to make Vern angels along the way. 

Fudge tries her best to avoid Vern’s flailing legs and locate a place to go to the bathroom, so she can kick back enough snow to build a snowman over any evidence she leaves behind.  If I could remember to bring a carrot, coal, and a corncob pipe, I could finish her snowman to perfection. 

Mostly, I am trying to remain upright and avoid ice.  To help me in that matter, I went ahead and ordered some new snow boots from a catalog that I received in the mail.  They were waterproof and provided better traction, but unfortunately upon arrival, deemed the ugliest boots on the planet by every member of my family, including me, and promptly returned.  In fact, when John saw the Velcro closure instead of laces, he said I would be the envy of all the women up at the retirement home.   This isn’t the first pair of shoes I have gotten that he has poked fun at and the ones I came home with from the Podiatrist office he took one look at and asked me if I had come over on the Mayflower.  I guess comfort matters to me above all else and if that means I walk around like an aged Pilgrim, so be it. 

Today, we had 57-degree weather and instead of snow we now have mud. I wonder if the check out guy hates mud as much as he does snow.  Even though the snow illuminates our yard like a spotlight at night and the dogs can see every critter passing by in the night, I still miss the snow.  I guess it is true what they say; you don’t know what you’re going to miss, until it is gone.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

There's just something about snow that turns my boys into "wild men" too.  It usually starts out just fine with both of them playing and having a great time...and then Murph gets carried away and body slams little Guinness who goes flying and has no place to hide.  That's when Mom gets involved and all the fun comes to an end...because I'm very, very mean.  We have the mud issue here too but because they're almost always on leash we get to "walk it off" before them come inside.  I for one can't wait for Spring...mud and all.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Adina, I have only been in our new house a month and i've already thrown in the towl.  I am now only cleaning up paw prints from the floor once a week.  I get them right away if I see them, but these just wet spots that leave paw prints after they dry are left.  I was starting to go crazy trying to rid my new floors of prints.

 

[Sheila & Finnley]

Nancy, a nice California gal such as yourself shouldn't miss the mud experience after the snow melts. I'm preparing you a nice box of Northern mud to send out !! Now, you can either let the boys romp through it, and then run through the house, oooor just open it and dump it on the floor yourself. Either way is educating and of course fun !

[Sheila & Finnley]

Dearest Laurie, I am so happy to hear that you pretended to returned the ugly boots ! A gal in her 5's shouldn't even be thinking Velcro yet ! That is more for your late 7's or even your 8's. You know whenever you decide to invest in a three wheeled bike and head to Gods Waiting Room Florida !

I am longing to have our 3 or 4 inches of Mondays snow back. It hit 50 today, and although it was nice to go outside with Finnley not wearing a coat, all the mud just isn't worth it. Even when I think I have it all wiped off, I find a big a$$ paw print on something. UGH !

[Adina P]

Amy, we're not even on the wet side of WA and it's bad.  Our mud room floors is almost constantly covered in dirt. 

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

very true.  When I took my job in WA I was so excited to be rid of the freeze cold temps and snow that come along with Chicago winters.  I hadn't given enough thought to lots of rain = lots of mud = endless paw/floor cleaning.  What I wouldn't give for a nice blanket of snow to cover up all that stupid mud.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Nancy, You are welcome to visit any month...snow or not :) I really do love snow and cold weather!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Because I live where it never snows and I don't have any practical experience with it and dogs, I just love it also.  Sadly, I can visualize the 'after-snow' mud though and it almost makes me not love snow.

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

LOL

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Well, Fudge is smarter than me, so you could be right.  She probably thought I wouldn't understand a subtle hint, so she gave me her mad face :)