When does the weather stop?

I find myself asking that question many times a year... when will it cool down, when will it warm up, when will the snow come and most importantly right now, when will the rain stop?!?!

All last night we had serious downpour, it would slow then come down again really hard. Over and over it did this all night long. I figured the dogs would be swimming when I checked on them in the morning. They didn't look too bad but our nice dry yard went back to mud and puddles again.

Its really disappointing to see it like that. Usually after the break up of snow we complain about high temperatures and no rain. Seems like the last few years we've had too much rain in the summer, cooler temps than usual and not enough snow for winter. Global warming is a strange thing, if thats what this is...

I am so grateful to our neighbor who lets us haul off his wood shavings left over from his wood bowl business. I was just stocking up the extras for next years break up right before the rain hit. Im sure he will have more before winter so we can stock pile again but using the back up bags is a bit disappointing.

Each bag helps keep the mud at bay in certain areas but I dont have nearly enough to cover the whole yard. Letting the dogs have extra room to move and exercise on their chains is a drawback when I try to cover their whole area. Im trying to put more in their dog houses so they can get a good nights sleep and dry out if they want to. Most of them would rather sleep outside if its raining lightly but if we get another downpour tonight it will be nice to know they have a choice.

Our new foster Madeline will be having her vet check up in a few days. This poor girl is so emaciated and fearful. She was captured at one of the dump sites in Fairbanks and the shelter thinks she has had no contact with people since she was born. Poor thing... the flash from my camera hid a lot of her protruding ribs. Shes in real bad shape...

Weve taken dogs back from the brink before and I hope Madeline will have a wonderful success story to follow her to her new home.

Follow this link to see pictures of her at the shelter before she came here: www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=11446685