Okay, I admit it.  I didn’t clean the house for Christmas.  I didn’t even give the floors a lick and a promise with a dust mop.  Why?  We had no company coming to visit.  We two, and the pups were all who was to be here.  Why fuss and clean like a maniac when there was no need?  

     Today I noticed a fuzzy bit sticking out from under my desk.  When I reached to pick it up there came a great gnashing of teeth and slashing of claws-I’d grabbed the tail of a killer dust bunny from hell.  It was only one of many.  The dogs retreated to their crates to hide from the vicious creatures. 

     I seized the mighty and magical vacuum, unleashed the awful power, and waged battle upon the creatures of fuzz and dust.  I emerged victorious.  The dirty fiends will grow, multiply, and before too long a new battle will begin. 

     Tomorrow, I shall wage war on the muddy paw print monsters, they are the sneaky invisible creatures that slink into the house and finger-paint on my floors trying to get the pups into trouble.

     When I woke up today, thick clouds covered the sky and it was dark enough to make me take a second look at my alarm clock.  It didn’t get any lighter as the afternoon wore on.  I expected it to storm any minute-it didn’t.  The sky brooded all day.

     There wasn’t much difference in the light when the sun (what sun?) went down.  It’s after two a.m. now and the clouds are still there-thick, heavy clouds.  The forecast says we could get as much as six inches of snow.  That’s okay.  I cleaned all that icy junk off my car and Dear Hubby’s truck today, so I’m ready for the next snow dump.

     The pups would be happier with a snow covering over that icy stuff in the yard.  Both of them could make do with some doggie snow cleats-do they make them?  The next question would be how funny would that look? 

     Patty manages fine but poor Gavin reminds me of Bambi in the ice skating scene with Thumper.  He scrabbles his way out a few feet and back.  The relief of making it to the steps is quite evident on his face.  Yes, we could do with a bit of a snow coating over the ice if only to give the poor dog some traction.

     Is how the song begins.  Tonight the weather is not as frightful as it is icy.  Gavin looked as if he wished for extra toes and claws as we slipped and slid on our trip outside.  Patty, who is a bit lighter footed and coordinated, had less trouble with the yard.

     Right before the sun set a crash of snow landed on the porch roof.  It shook the entire house and sent the two dogs into fits of barking.  It also drove me outside with more salt for the walk.

     Much to our delight early today, we had an elf come by and shovel our walk.  For years, we were the neighborhood elves who cleared the walks for everyone and it does my heart good to see someone returning the favor.  Dear Hubby can no longer do it and having it done before I got out there with a snow shovel pleased me no end.  I don’t mind shoveling snow but my muscles do a lot more complaining these days when I do it.  Thank you dear elf whoever you are.

     Tomorrow I’ll go start my car, crank the heat on high, drag out the ice scraper, and hope I can scrape and melt the icy snow off.  The weather report says there’s more on the way so I’d best get that stuff off before Saturday night when the next wave of storms comes through.