Is anyone else ready for spring?

I’ve always been one that enjoyed winter; the beauty of the snow, and curling up by the fire with a nice cup of hot coca. During the day I enjoyed seeing our neighbors cross country skiing and wave as they went down the road. My daughter liked to come over with her pup and snow shoe along the paths in the woods.  

The dogs and I liked go outside and play in the snow… well, the pups played in the snow, I would make snow balls and throw at Missy May, laughing at her trying to catch them, with her looking around wondering where it went before I’d hurl another one.  Lizzy Bell would come outside and watch us anticipating a visit, sometimes running back and forth along the fence line with Mindy Lou giving chase. After Missy became bored catching snow balls I’d visit Lizzy and climb into her pen and sit with her, brushing and talking to her (no, she has never talked back to me except with a few grunts).   

We would also enjoy making our daily trip to the mail box. The pups like this because it is the only time they are allowed to go that distance from the house.  Mindy is always the obedient little dog walking next to me, ever mindful of how far she is allowed to go. Meanwhile Missy will run ahead, stop, look back at me then proceed to run ahead some more. She reminds me of a little kid that thinks they are getting away with something.  

However, so far I have only enjoyed being outside once this season. It’s been too cold for any outside fun. Even the pups are quickly doing their “business” and then wanting back inside. Yesterday evening, we went out to the furnace and the pups went out with us.  After a few minutes we heard them barking.  I commented to my husband that they are probably at the door wanting in (he didn’t believe they could be that dim witted). As we climbed the stairs onto the porch, there they were, desperate to be let in, barking and pawing at the door like somehow it should obey their commands and open on its own! I started laughing but my husband just shook his head in disbelief!  

It seems as though the only upside to all this cold is the hope that all the frigid cold will kill off a lot of the flea and tick population. The past year was horrible for these little pests! Even with Frontline I had to remove a couple of ticks from our dogs.  I counted myself blessed only be bothered with two or three ticks because I know other pet parents that even with the purchase of good flea & tick protection their poor creatures had a miserable season.  

So here’s to spring. . . where hope abounds. . . it can’t come soon enough!