Charlie cleans up the evidence after Lexie stormed through the kitchen. It was a tasty job.
Matt brushed at the sand collecting on the couch cushions.
“This is awful!” he exclaimed. “The dogs are tracking in mud every time they go outside. This place is filthy!”
I knew it was time to tell Matt. I sat down next to him, and took a deep breath.
“Since you are a relative newcomer to the house, I think it’s time we had a talk,” I said, gently placing my hand on his leg for emphasis. “In my home, there are only two seasons: dirt and dirt-free. In the fall and spring, the dogs track in all sorts of mud and sand. The trade off is that when the snow falls, and in the summer when the grass grows, we get a reprieve.”
Matt looked at me like I was a crazy woman.
“You want me to get used to this?” he asked, incredulous.
“Winter’s just a couple weeks away,” I said, looking out the front window. “Snow is just around the corner.”
Just then we heard an explosive boom, followed by what seemed like a zillion pieces of hail landing on the kitchen floor. As I ran to the hallway I just about tripped over Lexie, who was uncharacteristically moving fast. Her feet slipped on the wood floor as her momentum pushed her past me.
I glanced into the kitchen, and saw the wreckage of her run. She had cut the corner by the stove a bit too close, and made a direct hit on Charlie’s puppy kibble. That was the boom. When she hit the bowl, it sent pieces of food throughout the kitchen like confetti.
Charlie didn’t miss a beat. He arrived within seconds, and authoritatively surveyed the scene. He gave a couple quick sniffs, and quickly came up with a game plan. He would start from the outside, and work his way back toward the bowl.
Seeing Charlie had a plan of attack, I returned to Matt on the couch.
Where’s the broom?!?
“Do I even want to know what happ…” he started to say. I put up my hand and told him I had the situation under control. If I had any luck, Charlie would have the mess cleaned up by the time I was finished convincing Matt the snow fairy would visit that evening.
Matt grabbed the broom, which has taken a permanent spot in our living room during dirt season, and started sweeping at the tsunami of sand at my feet.
“Look!” he said pointing down at a small pile of sand. “I’ve only taken one swipe, and look at all of that dirt!”
I felt the confession would be enough. That it’s just the way our house operates. Dirt season stinks, but there’s no way around it, aside from wiping the dogs’ paws each time they come in. With a dog door, that’s nearly impossible.
But it was too much for Matt. He was unprepared. It was clear I should have briefed him weeks before. But now we were blinded by a sandstorm in our own home.
I took the broom, and finished sweeping the room. I didn’t mention that it was my third time sweeping that day.
And when Matt wasn’t looking, I said a small prayer for snow.
Our Furever Family 
What about leaf season? Do you have leaf season? Mom and I track in soggy leaves for about 2 months a year. Since we don’t have a doggie door, I DO get my feet wiped every time I come inside. I don’t know why she bothers, since I shed 42 pounds of hair a day on every surface in the house. #swifferduster
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Oh, we love leaf season. Especially Charlie. Every evening he brings in exactly one crispy leaf. He curls up with it, and munches on it like corn on the cob. I don’t understand it, but clearly he thinks it’s a delicacy.
I have the same set up with the dog door in my home.I can relate completely. Funny story.
Thanks! I had completely gotten used to it, so it was an eye-opener to have such strong reactions from a new house member!
Oh dear – it is a messy time, isn’t it!
Gah! I think it’s time to already change the vacuum cleaner bag, too. I can’t keep up!!
So had I don’t have a yard. And after the last incident I’m never putting pots in the balcony again.
When it comes to food they are the greener vacuum cleaners available.
True. Charlie never misses a green bean once it hits the floor.
Currently we have a whole desert too in the house (and the bed-ugh!) But at least you had a kind of “snow” in your kitchen :o)
Oh yes. The bed. How could I forget about the bed? Matt wants to know how I forgot about the bed. That stuff is just awful. No one wants to sleep in a sandhill. Sigh.
I hear ya! The rain and dampness the last two weeks have left a constant stream of little muddy paw prints through our kitchen. We have this tiny mat near the back door which I try to get the dogs to step of (without much success!) as they come in the house. 🙂
A mat sounds like such a good idea. I saw a rug at IKEA that would fit the landing perfectly. Why, oh why, didn’t I buy it???
Dog ownership is not for neat-freaks. Or maybe dogs are there to teach them that they can’t control everything. Good luck balancing canine power with someone who doesn’t feel it the same way. My husband is just resigned to tolerate.
Ha, yes. The angst seems to be subsiding now that the snow has arrived. I’m used to it, and it just doesn’t rattle me the way it once did. Matt will adjust. The stinker has to!!
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