Do you remember Erma Bombeck? You probably won't if you were born after 1960.  She could spin a side splitting domestic tale about mundane household occurrences, something that never failed to surprise me because my mother had no sense of humor when it came to household cleanliness. I, on the other hand, have always owned my chaos, preferring a messy life...albeit a happy one. My mess may be well disguised, but don't expect much when you open a drawer or a closet!  My husband calls me "the stuffer". 

Recently a line has been crossed with the addition of our new family member, Hobbes. He is wonderful addition mind you, a springer spaniel with lots of heart. But I had forgotten what  a  dog going in and out of a yard muddied with April showers could produce. My husband says we could plant grass seed inside and it would grow because of all the mud. Yuck!  Spring is lots of wet weather. Actually, let me say that a different way; Spring is lots of mud. I have mud everywhere. Our dust is brown. Dusting just makes more dust and when I wet wipe, well...it's back to mud again. 

I briefly considered  giving up and paving the back yard but my gardening husband  is determined to "re landscape" for a dog friendly yard. Still, I think that means less grass and, shall we say, more terraced areas? Even our lariapes, pachysandra & hostas are smooched and dying. I guess the important thing to remember here is that there is joy...