She will learn and you just have to get a huge coat and gloves on for the time you may have to stand out in this horrid weather - waiting and waiting but she will cotton on - once she realises that she wont be let in until shes had a tinkle etc.....Good luck
Oh and yes take the towel up and just clean up without saying anything - b'cos lets face it pups are just children with a fur coat so any attention is better than none - so only good attention when shes done what you want her to Maybe a treat too......although this could make a rod for your own back in that she will expect a treat everytime she goes for years and years LOL