there will be mud Archives - A Cowdogs Advice

So much can change in a week! heavy snow a week ago, raining everyday now, and now we have mud – and plenty of it.

Two years ago, I was new to the north, and believed we’d had 86 seasons in the short few weeks I’d been here!

And I was right – same thing this year.

So today I’ll share again my observations and enjoyment of the current season.

I don’t remember the desert being quite so capricious in it’s weather.

There is an essentially new experience for me, in all its glory – there will be mud.

Now the desert I remember, certainly had its share of moods. The Sonoran desert is cold at night, but blistering hot with the sun-up. I had some pretty hot paws when I was lost!

And there was a lot less water.

So this mud season is something new.

Only a week ago, we had a major winter blizzard, and over 2 feet of snow here at the ranch. Mom got the 4-wheeler stuck, and had to walk to the barn for a couple of days until we got plowed out. Sometimes she didn’t even let me go along.

Now, I totally disagreed with that, since this is part of my job. But I’d get high-centered in the deep snow, just like the ATV!

So I stayed inside, and watched out the window to make sure she made it OK.

I do get vocal, growling and grumbling to let her know my dissatisfaction when human decisions overrule the Heeler in charge!

Now, in just a week, most of the snow melted again and we have serious mud. I find this odd form of dirt intriguing, annoying, inviting and terrifying.

So here is the good, the bad, and the ugly of mud, from a cowdog’s point of view.

The Good

I hear it is good for your skin, and does feel good between my toes. Until it dries there, of course, and I need it cleaned out – I hate that!

It captures the melting snow, slowing the run-off, saving the precious moisture in the ground.

It can be shaped, sculpted, stamped. I think we could make mud-puppies out of it!

It slows down everything, perhaps forcing its victims into taking notice of the burgeoning Spring.

There are rivulets of run-off – cold but good for wading, and lots of new smells!

The Bad

It clogs up boots, tires, hooves and paws.

It slows down everything, and something is going to get stuck.

It swallows up gravel, even from roads that have optimistically poured tons of rock down to keep away mud.

Around here, there are a lot of dirt roads, and this time of year, it is pretty generous to even call them roads.

Thaw the ground, add a little rain or snow, and it is all muck again.

Coats, pants, boots, gloves, fur coats and paws are constantly dirty, no matter what.

The Ugly

Getting stuck. At the very least, someone has to get out and turn in the hubs, or maybe dig or push.

Getting a boot sucked off. I made the mistake of laughing when this happened, but mom did not think it all that humorous.

If every mile is two in the winter, every mile is five in the mud season. It may be worse than that two feet of snow for passage.

We also have gumbo – a particularly slimy kind of earth, slicker than a hound’s tooth. While it is hilarious to watch someone try to walk in this stuff, it is in all ways an infuriating material.

While I’m not crazy about this dirty goo in my new world and avoid it when possible, but I will charge right through when I need to, like when I discovered whistle pigs down by the barn that needed chasing.

But I notice that a week ago we were nearly snowed in, then it was gone. Then we have rain and more snow! I think this mud season won’t last forever either.