Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 80
SINGING IN THE GARDEN
Last Laugh
If you find something dead, roll in it so you can share the sweet
smell with someone you love. -Luke
Text and art by GINNY NEIL
I
think I will always feel the absence of my dog Luke
most at this time of year. He was always a great
companion, eager to go on walks or just sit in the
sunny spot behind the house with me. But what he
loved best was decorating.
Our sense of what made for a great aesthetic was
wildly different. I dug in the dirt to plant flowers.
But, Luke believed soft soil was designed to hide his latest
finds until he decided exactly where to place them
on the lawn.
Mostly he decorated with bones. He approached the
expanse of fields and forest around our farm like an antiques
dealer at a flea market. His thorough approach
yielded an impressive array of deer carcasses, assorted
bovine and ovine bones and even whole forelegs of vari80
BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
ous dead animals with hair and hooves still attached.
Whenever I relocated one of his lawn ornaments,
Luke sulked for a day or two, and then went in search
of something he could roll in. He and I argued about his
decorating style. Luke insisted that his focus on natural
materials leaned towards Zen, or perhaps Modern
Country because of how well he repurposed old objects.
I called it Maximal Canine Hoarding.
If a hunter dispatched a groundhog within a mile
or two of our house, Luke let it age for several days and
then dragged it into the yard. I usually discovered these
offerings before they became overwhelmingly offensive,
but if I was preoccupied as I mowed, I might be awakened
from my daydreams by a grinding noise and a fan
of ripe guts and flesh spewing out from under my feet.
http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 3
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 4
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 5
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 6
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 7
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 8
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 9
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 10
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 11
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 12
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 13
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 14
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 15
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 16
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 17
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 18
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 19
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 20
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 21
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 22
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 23
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 24
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 25
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 26
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 27
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 28
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 29
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 30
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 31
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 32
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 33
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 34
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 35
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 36
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 37
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 38
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 39
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 40
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 41
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 42
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 43
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 44
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 45
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 46
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 47
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 48
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 49
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 50
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 51
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 52
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 53
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 54
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 55
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 56
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 57
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 58
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 59
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 60
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 61
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 62
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 63
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 64
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 65
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 66
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 67
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 68
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 69
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 70
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 71
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 72
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 73
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 74
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 75
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 76
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 77
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 78
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 79
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 80
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 81
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 82
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - Cover4
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG1
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG2
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG3
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG4
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG5
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG6
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG7
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG8
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG9
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG10
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG11
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG12
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG13
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG14
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG15
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG16
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG17
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG18
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG19
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG20
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG21
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG22
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG23
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG24
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG25
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG26
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG27
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG28
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG29
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG30
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG31
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG32
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG33
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG34
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG35
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG36
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG37
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG38
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG39
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG40
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG41
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG42
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG43
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG44
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG45
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG46
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG47
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG48
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