Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 11

MILL CREEK STORIES
a behavioral assessment on a cranky dog. She overheard
someone on the phone asking to rehome their French
bulldog. She said, " I know just the person. " Within minutes
she was ringing my phone with a photo of a dog and
the message, " Want her? "
Do you have to ask? Of course, I want her! Now, I
have owned and loved dogs in every shape and size,
from a 224-pound English mastiff from my mom to a
10-pound poodle with 20 pounds of attitude. My favorite
breed ever is the French bulldog. Why? Not because
they have outstripped the ever-faithful Labrador
retriever as America's most popular dog breed. Nope, it's
because they are total clowns, and with a Frenchie in the
house you laugh every single day. The way the world is
tumbling along right now, laughter is more important
to our wellbeing than ever.
I came home from work that day, a Sunday, and announced
to my stoic, loving husband that the next day I
was going to pick up our sixth dog. This man truly understands
me because his response was, " Of course you are. "
I simply do not deserve this man's patience and kindness
but am so grateful for it.
That's how I came to pick up an adorable, clever,
comedic girl in a café parking lot in Sperryville. She's
23 pounds of enthusiasm and life-loving jauntiness
wrapped in chocolate fur. Her new name is Tonks, after
a character in Harry Potter, and she is amazing. Every
day, I hear my husband Patrick laughing in his office
because of something silly she's done. She's a joy. She's
our sixth dog. She's clinical proof that I am insane. She's
our tiniest angel.
We are so outnumbered but I would still take six
more. Help. Please send me common sense. I obviously
need it.
They are total clowns
and with a Frenchie
in the house you laugh
every single day.
LEXINGTON | BUENA VISTA | ROCKBRIDGE
GO WITH THE FLOW
EXPLORE LEXINGTON, BUENA VISTA, ROCKBRIDGE
Enjoy paddling, tubing, and swimming along the Upper James River Water Trail and the
Maury River-over 60 miles with Virginia Scenic River designation. Fish in a serene lake
and sleep under the stars at a waterside campsite. Visit a waterfall at Natural Bridge
State Park and along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hike and cycle along our greenways and
make a splash in our blueways.
RockbridgeOutdoors.com
JULY/AUGUST 2023 11

http://www.RockbridgeOutdoors.com

Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023

Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 3
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 4
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 5
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 6
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 7
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 8
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 9
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 10
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 11
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 12
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 13
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 14
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 15
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 16
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 17
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 18
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 19
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 20
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 21
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 22
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 23
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 24
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 25
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 26
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 27
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 28
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 29
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 30
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 31
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 32
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 33
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 34
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 35
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 36
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 37
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 38
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 39
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 40
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 41
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 42
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 43
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 44
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 45
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 46
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 47
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 48
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 49
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 50
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 51
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 52
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 53
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 54
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 55
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 56
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 57
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 58
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 59
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 60
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 61
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 62
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 63
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 64
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 65
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 66
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 67
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 68
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 69
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 70
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 71
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 72
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 73
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 74
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 75
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 76
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 77
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 78
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 79
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 80
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 81
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 82
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-nov-dec-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-sept-oct-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-sept-oct-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-september-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/BlueRidgeCountryMarchApril2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCND21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCSO21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brcja21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_11_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130708
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com