Don't Buy a Puppy in a Rainy Season

I have decided that not only should you not buy a new (un-housebroken puppy) when the weather is cold and snowy, you shouldn't get a new puppy in a rainy season. I have gone inside and outside of the house more often since we got Emme than in the 16 years we have lived in this house. We go in and out from the porch to go "hurry up" and I have discovered that with any amount of rain, we have a puddle at the bottom of the stairs. After frequent mopping of the porch floor and carrying Emme over the puddle at the bottom of the steps hundreds of time as we go in and out, I asked Ken if he had a solution. He went to Lowe's and bought some materials to solve the problem. He got coarse rocks for a bottom layer, fine sand for the middle layer and three 12 inch concrete blocks for the top. During this mild weather, we went outside and dug out the compacted and muddy soil at the bottom of the steps. Then we put in the new materials and so far we have a secure landing with no mud. Success. Less mud, cleaner dog, happier owner.