Miss Maddie Mae

The most fun I have on any given day is interacting with my wonderful clients and their pets. Jenny Digon and I were reminiscing about her husband, Larry, and their Maddie this fall, and it would seem that one of my favorite memories is one of hers too.   

Jenny and Larry lived adjacent to Lakeview golf course, so you would think Maddie stealing golf balls shot onto her lawn would be that story. Now, it was fun to watch a golfer hunt for a ball knowing it should be there. But Maddie knew it was there too (and that the golfer was trespassing), so it would be long gone. She had a use for her own supply of balls after all.

You see, the driveway pad leading into the 3-door garage where Larry was always working on a fun project was about 40 feet wide. And it had a slight grade.  

Maddie would move back and forth, eying the slope like Tiger Woods. Measuring wind speed. Gauging the elements. Finding the perfect spot.  

Then she would put the ball down, gracefully push it with her nose, and watch as it rolled this way and that, meandering to exactly where Larry was working. Then Larry, stifling a grin, would grab up the ball, cuss Maddie out, and throw it as far as he could.   

Honestly, I witnessed this countless times, as it was a game for Larry too. Thank you, Jenny, for sharing the memory and allowing me to make this a gift to you.

I hope we can all spend a moment, take a deep breath of brisk mountain air, and think about little Maddie and the joy brought with this story. 

Zoey

Diane and I are partial to Shepherds, so it is no surprise she picked Zoey as our featured four-legged friend this month.

Zoey is very young, growing rapidly, and providing both joy and consternation as she grows up. Thank you and Tom and Karen for the licks.

Magic

(From the November 2021 Benson Letter.)

Diane is doing much better. Hip repaired and therapy continuing. Starting to roam with the walker and doing better than expected. She has a couple of surgeries to go, so it will be spring before she is back to normal. We are enjoying each part of the process, however. Thanks to all of you for your prayers.

The pet of the month I got to pick while Diane’s convalescing, so of course it has to be my dog, Magic. Having two princesses is hard, particularly when they compete for my attention, so no surprise that Magic blew her other knee and had to have her second knee replacement.  

Surgery was in early November, and she is doing fantastic. The hardest part is the Elizabethan collar she has to wear when I’m out working. The best news about that is Diane didn’t have to wear one, and believe me, Magic constantly complains about the unfairness of that.  

Second hardest for Magic is that she is my companion, going wherever I go. Not being able to get in and out of the car is a problem with the knee. Her return to joy riding will also happen in the spring.

Hazel

Now the fun stuff begins. I get to talk about Diane’s pet pick. Unfortunately for her, I get to play with all the puppies. She just gets to pick the photos. But life is seldom fair.

Holly Maroon got a new French Bulldog named Hazel!  She looks big in this photo, but she’s really smaller than a bowling ball and soooo sweet.  Thanks to her for allowing me to get my puppy fix this month.

Thanks so much to you for giving this your time. Keep the questions coming.  See you soon in your lawn!