You can have the snow. We had enough this winter to last me for a long time. Our yard is soggy but since the dogs haven't done any serious running, their feet haven't picked up much mud. Once we get out there and start ripping and running and chasing the kong, it is a real ordeal with the feet and legs (mud splatters) when they come back in. I take a plastic dish pan and fill it with a couple inches of warm water with just a touch of soap in it. Then each of the eight feet are dunked in one at a time, swished around, and toweled off. We call it a foot bath. Of course Hannah and Tucker are less than cooperative. First there is containing them before they figure out what is about to happen and dart off in all directions tracking mud everywhere. Then the foot bath process itself slops water on the kitchen floor. Water has to be changed after the first dog and then start on dog two. After the foot baths are done, it is necessary to clean up the floor. I admit there are days I don't have them do the running, just to avoid the hassle of the Foot Bath.

I've had the flu for about 4 days, so I didn't get out in the sunshine yesterday (but I did drag myself to the computer). Now today looks dreary and cold again. Drat the luck!