” … when the world is mud-luscious … when the world is puddle-wonderful…” E.E. Cummings, American poet
There are still patches of dirt-speckled snow on the ground here and there. There will probably be a fresh layer or two to come. But, winter’s grip is broken in this part of Appalachia.
It’s true. Birds are whoop-de-doing outside the bedroom windows every morning. Alarm clocks with no snooze button. Squirrels are chasing each other round and round the maple tree across the street, the skritch skritch of their speedy feet just audible from the deck.
And, the garden. Oh, my. The climbing roses have sprouted leaves smaller than green peas but perfectly formed. Crocus leaves are obvious given their relative greenness to the zoysia grass that has taken over what little lawn we have kept.
The mud won’t be far behind. It’s mostly the dog’s fault. He goes out. He comes in. And, bits of this and that gather on his feet. In the spring, it’s always mud. Always,
We keep a towel at the back door so people — by which I mean myself and only myself — can wipe his feet. But, sometimes he’s too fast for me, shooting across the kitchen and down a hall to the living room, footprints marking his every step on all that wood that old houses have.
I also have a husband and children, all of whom are old enough to know to wipe their feet, but often forget.
So, it is nearly spring and there will be a film of mud punctuated by discernable footprints. I will mop. With Murphy’s Oil. The house will smell like an old country church. Clean enough to almost be righteous.
At least for a moment.
Nora Edinger -- JOY Journal 
At least there will always be old houses and Murphy’s oil.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I surely hope so. Beeswax candles, too!! Blessings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am quite familiar with the paw wiping routine. We have carpet so I HAVE to be ready with a towel as the dogs come in. Despite the extra work that mud creates I’m looking forward to spring.
LikeLiked by 3 people
🙂 Me, too! Spring is worth the mud.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have been hearing those birds chirping also. Sounds good to the ears. Summer will be here before you know it, and you won’t have to wipe paws! lol.
LikeLiked by 3 people
That’s true. Then it will be grass clippings… 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nora,
You have written very beautifully.
I used to clean Banny’s feet with towel paper before he used to come back inside the house after playing outside. He knew it well. No, I couldn’t teach the children. I hope that they will learn one day.
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂 Thanks, Munna Sara! I’m also hoping my children will learn to pick up their clothes more than once a week. We’re still working on that. They consider a tidy pile next to their closet doors acceptable. So it goes.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very familiar story. Well, children are children.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 True!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is nothing quite like the beams of light from a long hidden sun to warm your very soul. Spring is calling us. Thank God!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 I love the change of seasons. Each one seems like the first one we’ve ever seen, doesn’t it?!
LikeLike
Sounds like our house. Oh the muddy feet. It’s a constant 😂
That Murphy’s oil soap sounds nice tho.
Paula
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s one of my favorite scents oddly enough. It’s kind of like lavender — the smell of clean. 🙂
LikeLike
I am desperate for spring.😂❤️❤️❤️
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂 Here, it is raining and in the 50s. Not exactly outside weather, but springlike. It will get there!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Honestly we had a mild winter here, the worst was in 2013.💝💐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your Appalachian spring sounds similar to our New England mud season, just a bit earlier. I, too, love the smell of Murphy’s Oil Soap. And old churches, of course.
LikeLiked by 3 people
🙂 And old libraries. Have a blessed start to the week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, yes, old libraries, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a really sweet and heartwarming post…almost reminds me of poetry!
Thankful for the description of spring on its way, I’m ready!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you! I’m ready, too. Very rainy and warm here today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes ofcourse, it is familiar like our house and happy to hear the birds 🐦 chirp in the morning and hear the sound of squirrels running over the roof. 😀
Have a great weekend !! 💙
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂 Better over the roof than through the attic. We’ve had squirrels there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh that’s awesome. Have a blessed week friend !! 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 You, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Nora for heralding spring with your post. It’s fun to see how each group of living things makes the announcement- the birds their song, the squirrels their antics, the trees their buds, the flowers their newfound leaves peeking out from the soil, and the dogs their muddy paws.
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂 It is a joyful, if muddy, time of year. I thought it was funny that we both wrote about dirt recently. Similar minds!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Blessings!!
LikeLike