It’s acting like an early spring (not that we don’t get snow into April plenty of years) which means I get to learn where things get muddy when the ice (blessedly) finally melts. The door yard was a bit of a mess the other day.

Taken the day after it rained. It doesn’t look as bad in the sunshine.

There’s some wicked mookie places out there, hence the boards. The entire road is due for some work, so for now we’ll just make do.

The yard is a bit of a mess, I moved in just days before it started to snow, and I had happily forgotten the yard for the last couple months.

Chico chilled in the sun while I did my outside things.

The garden is becoming exposed again too, and I was pleased to see that at least a little of my transplanted rhubarb survived the winter.

Just one wee bit is starting to grow; that pinkish spot is the start of a stalk.

It was so nice, we went for a walk on Great Hill Road after chores. It’s not hunting season, but Chico is the same color as the road, it seems like wearing the vest will make him stand out a bit. For me and for the drivers who occasionally pass.

This walk has hills with trees and shade, flat open places with a view,

and old stone walls for a dog to climb.

The chipmunks and squirrels are getting active so there was plenty to chase in the woods. Love watching my boy race off after something, jumping logs, dodging branches, barking happily like a pup. And they tell me that is the best conditioning work I can do with him. How handy that walking also makes me strong and fit for agility.

And then I went to the horse barn and used Chico’s Furminator™ on Dakota for 45 minutes, producing a cat-sized pile of winter coat. And I bet I could go back this morning and do it again and get that much again. Ah, Spring … muddy paws and horsehair. Wouldn’t have it any other way.