Then all is silent and the snow,

 Falls settling soft and slow

Winter isn't ready to give up her hold on northern Illinois.  She buried us in one of those heavy, wet snows that come mostly just before spring makes an appearance.  Too heavy to shovel snow; back breaking, heart attack snow.  Perfect snowball packing, snowman rolling snow.  

Snow that disappears in a few short days and leaves puddles and mud in it's wake.

But while it lasts, snow that dogs love.  

Snow that inspires races.

Snow that disappoints daffodils just emerging from a long sleep.  

Snow that looks perfect viewed through  kitchen windows.

Mud Time

Snow melts and mud replaces it.  The ground is frozen a few inches below the surface so there is no place for the water to go.  

Nasty, boot sucking slime.  Just another cycle we have to get through every March. 

 I love my Sloggers.  So easy to clean, just hose the mud off.  They are one bright red spot in an otherwise trying time.  

Wish they made Sloggers for dogs.  

Now I know how Mom felt when three kids and a big dog sloshed into the kitchen without removing our boots or even  wiping them on the mat.  I can still hear her complain, “Out, out, out.  Take off those boots.  I could grow potatoes on this kitchen floor.”  This must be payback, Mom.