Art of the Pie®

Making the World a Better Place One Pie at a Time

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Welcome
    • About
    • Kate McDermott Press Mentions
  • Books
    • Bibliography
    • Erratum
  • Learn
  • Recipes
  • Videos
  • Contact
    • Media Inquiries
You are here: Home / Friends / My Fair Lady Best Dog in the World

My Fair Lady Best Dog in the World

09/07/2010 By Kate McDermott-Art of the Pie 10 Comments

Lady and Kate Sept 2010 (photo by K Cline)

Best Dog in the World

This is Lady.  When people ask me what kind of dog she is, my standard reply always is “The best dog!” And, she is. I’m sure you might know people who have dogs of this breed…the “best dog in the world” breed. You might have one yourself.

As you know, I usually write about pie, but I thought you might like to know a bit more about my life.

Lady has been with me for nearly 15 years now.

Here’s Our Story

In 1996, I lived in a cabin that hung on the side of a small mountain on the Olympic Peninsula. It was on a wear cycle when I purchased it and over the three long years I was there, I received an education in life on the edge.

I’m not known for having tools and skills but during my tenure there I learned how to manage hillsides that were coming down behind the house, an old logging road (the only way in and out) that needed to be rebuilt, a water system that lost it’s pressure tank when the guys working on the road cut the water line, an above ground temporary phone line that was over a mile long and had been spliced so many times that sounded—when it worked— like I lived on Mars.

I lost skylights in heavy snows, saw windows shatter when the house shifted, and learned that flying squirrels are not nocturnal as the books say…the one that moved in was definitely diurnal.

I had every kind of mountain critter in or around that house from deer and bobcats outside to pack-rats and shrews inside. I learned that this is just daily life in a mountain cabin.

The first winter we had four and a half feet of snow on the mile long road to the house. We snowshoed in and out for two weeks carrying supplies in backpacks. I lost any romanticized view about winter and snow on the steep treks up the hill.

When my son was about 10 years old, he invited his best friend up for the afternoon. His friend’s dad had been helpful over the months helping me with chores and repairs at the house that I couldn’t handle.

That afternoon just before he left he said, “Katie, what you need up here is a dog.”

My reply was a quick and sure, “Yes, I do.”

The boys quickly settled into playing and I heard their happy voices and laughter from the hot tub that perched on the corner of the deck.

About 30 minutes later I walked outside to check on them and much to my surprise, there was a little black dog very slowly walking down the steps onto the deck. She walked up to me, burrowed her head into my knees and then looked up at me. I was a goner.

Lady loves children and had heard the boy’s voices out over the valley below. It must have been what pulled her up the steep road.

They of course said, “Can we keep her, please?”

I didn’t agree right away but within minutes I already knew what an angel she was.

We named her Lady.

Almost Full Grown

“Almost full grown”, the vet said when I took her into him the next week. She was 19 pounds and just skin and bones. I could pick her up and hold her in one arm. Lost or abandoned, Lady was a mess when she arrived. Her normal weight should have been about 34 pounds.

I looked in the paper for a Lost & Found ad. After 5 days, I saw something that looked like it might be her and deparately wanting it not to be, I called. The man on the other end of the phone described her by temperament.

I said, “I’ve got your dog.”

He had found her the previous week wandering out at the local airport, starving and had brought her home. He’d already incurred vet bills of his own for her.

He lived clear across the valley and we would have to arrange for the transfer around two different work schedules.

Lady & Kate on the blueberry farm, 1998 (photo by R Jess)

We made three attempts. The first two times he called and had to cancel. The third time I had to cancel.

This time when we spoke I asked him if there was any way that I could buy her from him. My son and I had grown really attached to her over the week she was with us. She had already become family. We had had a lot of loss in our lives at that point and I’m not sure if either of us could handle more.

There was a long pause and then he said, “Well, let me think about that and get back to you tomorrow.”

It was a long wait and when he did call back he said, “You can’t buy her from me.”

I was heart broken and trying hard to not to let him hear the quiver in my voice.

Then he said quietly, “But, I’ll give her to you.”

Now, I really started to cry. I offered to reimburse him for the vet bills but he said, “Nah, she’s found a good home with you.”

And so she has.

Ask for What You Need

Lady has been with me through ups and downs, happy times and sad times. She’s moved from the mountain house to the blueberry farm, into town, to the big city and now back to town. She’s been my best friend for 15 years and I love her dearly.

When she came I got a glimpse into the words, “Ask for what you need and it will come to you.”

When I said, “Yes, I do” to that “You need a dog up here”, I like to think that she had asked for us, too.

Lady

Lady

UPDATE: At the age of 16 and a half, Lady passed away on October 7, 2011. She truly was the best dog.

Lady-and-Kate

Last photo taken of Lady and me, the day before she passed away. (Photo: S. Gross)

Filed Under: Friends Tagged With: best dog in the world, blueberry farm, Catherine Gewertz, Kelly Cline, Port Angeles, rural life, Stephen Gross

10 Thoughts on My Fair Lady Best Dog in the World
    Saltyseattle
    9 Sep 2010
     12:50am

    Wow- you just drove a steam-engine into my heart. Moving! They stay with us through the good & the bad too. And we love them unconditionally for it. I’d love to meet this steadfast companion of yours- she sounds soulful.

    Reply
    eM
    9 Sep 2010
     11:59pm

    I adore Lady! Oh, how I wish you had known my collie dog, Ferghal. He came to me in a similar way at the age of 2 and I got to care for him for 11 years. He was regal and unflappable – he loved children and veterinarians. He had a fierce sense of humour. Definitely a Best Dog!

    Reply
    Nurit - 1 family. friendly. food.
    10 Sep 2010
     8:29am

    What a beautiful story. I’ve got tears in my eyes.
    Soul mates are hard to find…

    Reply
    Kitchen Report
    16 Sep 2010
     8:58am

    Aw, best friends are the best. This is such a lovely story. I’ve had my feline pal for 15 years, too. I can’t believe it’s been that long! Looking forward to learning a thing or two about pies from your site. I have yet to make my own pie crust…. maybe now I will!

    ~Kendra

    Reply
    Kelly
    18 Sep 2010
     10:42am

    Kate, this story is so beautiful 🙂 Lady is an amazing dog, such a happy girl, but then again look at her Mamma 🙂
    So happy that you enjoy the photo, when I got those images home and saw that one my heart skipped a beat. The happiness in a perfect companionship on the faces of both precious ladies in the photo made my heart sing 🙂
    Wonderful memory to share Kate, just wonderful.

    Reply
    omma
    24 Sep 2010
     11:31pm

    Lady is indeed a Best Dog – just like her two Big Dog buddies Uta and Chip. We are so fortunate to have her (and her mom) in our extended family – aahROOOO!

    Reply
    Sue
    11 Oct 2010
     5:16pm

    I just took your pie class this week and had the honor of meeting lovely Lady. She is indeed a “best dog” and I was instantly smitten with her. Your pet name for her love of lard warmed my heart and made me chuckle. I think you are both quite blessed to have found each other, and I’m so happy to have met you both!

    Reply
    For the new year… | Art of the Pie
    2 Jan 2013
     3:47pm

    […] there was a heck of lot more going on here than just pie. I shared with them the story of my dog Lady who I still miss dearly. And, at the end of the class, they promised to find me my dog and train […]

    Reply
    Greta | Art of the Pie
    16 Jan 2013
     12:20pm

    […] many of you know, I lost my beloved Lady in 2011, just before I left for France. It was hard to say goodbye to her. We had been together as […]

    Reply
    Mary
    7 Oct 2015
     2:51pm

    OMG, what a story! XO

    Reply

Leave A Comment Cancel Reply

Recipe Rating




  • Sign up to receive my weekly newsletter!

Yes that’s me at three! Everyone needs a clown suit.

Bake with Kate

Virtual Pie Workshops Broadcast Live from Pie Cottage
Peach Berry Pie on September 11

In Person Art of the Pie Day Camps
One Spot Just Opened for September 17 Class.
New Fall and Winter Dates Will Be Announced Soon.

New Dates for 3-Day Virtual Pie Camps are Coming Soon!

Click on the Cover

Art of the Pie (the Book)
Pie Camp Book Cover

Pie Camp: The Skills You Need to Make Any Pie You Want

Home Cooking with Kate McDermott

 

© 2022 · Art of the Pie® · All Rights Reserved