At Least It's Not Mud

We have a couple extra seasons here. We have Mud Season which is the longest season of the year. It comes just after early Autumn and lasts until Scorched Earth Season begins. Last year I spent most of that time washing paws and mopping floors. Then, of course there was lots of extra laundry including but not limited to doggie blankets and paw printed human clothes.
After the snow melted last month we saw the beginning of an early Mud Season. I quickly tired of washing 40 feet every time they came inside, so we discussed putting straw down over the muddiest areas.


Rob contacted a farmer about delivering some bales of straw. The farmer suggested sowing grass seed, then covering it with the straw. Off to the farm store to buy grass seed and Rob has been busy every weekend spreading the straw over the entire yard.


The dogs love to help with this project. They follow Rob around the yard and they graze on the bales as if they were mini cows.


But the best part is rolling and playing in the straw.


I guess it must be a pretty good back scratcher.


Of course, there is one little problem.


The straw sticks to their curly coats.


This doesn't seem to bother them in the least and they continue to help.


Most of the time spent outside now they look like this.


On the way back to the house they usually have a good shake that removes most of the straw.


Rolling works some of the pieces deeper into the coat.


They don't seem to pay much attention to the mess they're making.


When they get near the door, we brush out most of the straw and pull the longer pieces out of their curls. Some straw does make it into the house and onto the carpet, but it's easily picked up and disposed of. It's much easier to handle than mud.


It looks like we got the seed and straw down just in time.


The temperatures have warmed up and the rain clouds are moving in.


Mud Season has arrived.