Thursday, April 17, 2008

Everyone needs room to run.

Last weekend, we discovered a new park. It is over 200 acres of woods, meadows and water, which equals in my mind, room to run.

Everyone needs room to run, whether they realize it or not. We spend so much time cooped up in cars or houses or offices...we need the freedom of no walls and endless skies, the magic of nature and discovery.

First, however, we had to find the park. It was a little drive down a bunch of country roads that looked like this:

Isn't that delightful? I would love to go down roads like this every day! Beautiful country lanes.
And, we passed a lot of these hay bales in fields along the way.
Then we found the park...and set out to explore. First we had to go into the woods, where we followed a trail...
and then we ended up in a field.
And, we let Annie off leash here to run wild...so she was very much feeling like Miss Adventure Doggy.
We kept going and going and going....
Except when I made them stop for pictures.

and, then, oh, boy, we discovered water...
and we discovered Annie could swim! (Thank goodness, because I don't think I could drag 80 lbs of wet labrador out of the deep water!)

She would swim out, then swim back, and then shake off...over and over and over again.

And, she started bringing back sticks the boys threw...and even sticks they didn't throw... you'll see...

The first few sticks were small...
Then she started diving for bigger ones!

and bigger ones...
and bigger ones...

Holy cow.
I'm at a loss for words.
Then we made her run around in a field (with the kids, of course) to dry off some before we headed back.

And, I reckon we only explored a few acres of this place. a few acres out of over 200. Guess where we're going next weekend?




21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, oh, I want to go there~and what a sweet face on your lab! My Tucker LOVES to swim and get sticks...it's so much fun to watch!

KP said...

i love your picture stories.

and i'm kind of in love with annie...

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

What great photos. I love the ones of the boys chasing after Annie! And those stick?! Annie neds to come to my house and get all the branches out of my flower beds!

carrie said...

wow, that's fantastic! What a great looking day and a fabulous looking park. I'd love to visit there.

And you've got one mighty dog!

Utter Basketcase said...

SO GREEEEEN :-O!!!

Annie is gorgeous!! xx

~**Dawn**~ said...

I used to drive down country roads like that every day back when I lived in CT... ::sigh:: So pretty & peaceful.

Rhea said...

April - We are so happy to have discovered this new park. We're still learning new things all the time about this area we've moved to. I KWYM about watching the dogs swim and get sticks, it was SO entertaining. I weeded out about 50 photos of her in the water because I figured y'all wouldn't enjoy such a long post. It was long enough. lol

Irene - Hi! Thanks for coming by. Wow is what we said when we found that park. I had called my vet to find out good places to take dogs and they recommended we go there.

KP - Glad you enjoy my picture stories! I can't help but include lots and lots of pictures. I have the photo bug. And, we're totally in love with Annie. Can't imagine our life without her now.

Kat - Thanks! My boys get a lot of energy out playing with and running after Annie. She's hilarious when she gets playful and rambuncious...and then she'll be wiped out and sleep the rest of the day.

Rhea said...

Carrie - We went to take a picnic lunch with us next time...and talk my mom and her lab into joining us.

VBF - It was super green there. I didn't photoshop my pictures at all. And, I agree, Annie is gorgeous! I take a million pictures of her every day.

Dawn - That must have been nice to drive roads like that every day! Why on earth did you move? I would so much rather see trees and fields than billboards and gas stations.

Trish ~ ♥ ~ said...

Great shots, Annie is having the time of her life! Hope you visit this park often.

the mama bird diaries said...

I need space and room to run. Beautiful.

Jodi said...

Thanks for visiting! I love that dog! I want one and I should have one with all those boys of mine, don't ya think? Hubby is anti pets! Oh well...thanks for sharing yours!!!
It's so nice to find another new blogger! I feel like such a rookie at this....hmmm...guess that's because I AM!

OHmommy said...

wow.... looks like so much fun! I think I am going to find a field to run around in tomorrow! freedom! LOL... looks awesome!

Rhea said...

Me & My Puppies - We sure plan on visiting there a lot! Annie did have the time of her life.

Mama Bird Diaries - I agree, we all need space to run (or lightly jog...or walk real fast). lol

Jodi - Hi! Nice to meet you! Thanks for coming by. You should have a dog with all those boys. My hubby wasn't a pet lover at all, but I put my foot down. I had to have a dog and now he loves her just as much as we do! She has totally won him over.

Oh Mommy - I hope you weren't overwhelmed with all my comments. I had fun reading your archives today. You definitely need to find a field or large nature conservatory to run in!

tearese said...

wow, what a great park! THose pics of the dog with the giant sticks are so funny!

Valarie Lea said...

Stuff we take for granted. :( All that looks like our land we live on, but we are so busy going to ball parks that I don't get to just run around it alot. Plus that snakes are coming out right about now.

Rhea said...

Tearese - We were cracking up laughing so hard...she just kept going underwater and coming up with these gigantic sticks and branches. It was hilarious. I'd never seen her in the water before.

Valarie - Snakes, I hate them! They creep me out. You must have a very pretty home.

Skeller said...

WOW!!!! What a fabulous park - a true treasure. And tho, the boys look as if they're having a blast, it seems clear to me that Annie was the MOST enthralled with the place. That HUGE stick cracked me up!!!
Happy Friday, Rhea :-)

Jules said...

Oh, wait. They grow the STICKS bigger in Texas too?!! Just kidding. The park looks lovely. So how long does it take to get there, and what did your kids say when you kept stopping to take pictures for the blog?

Rhea said...

Susan (skeller) - Annie was definitely the most enthralled, but my boys had a pretty close second. I posted a video today of this same event...Annie swimming around looking for sticks. lol I think we may be returning to the park today...and with my mom and her dog also!

Jules - yep, bigger sticks in Texas too. lol Kids are getting used to my camera craziness and blug nuttiness now. They roll their eyes and complain some though. It only took about 15 minutes to get there...maybe less

Lady in red said...

can I come with you next time it looks like a lovely place.

My uncle lived in Texas for a number of years before he got hit crossing the road (stupid man)he died just a week before he became a grandad for the first time. My cousin who at that time lived in College Station has now moved to Florida so I don't have much chance of visiting any more.

Rhea said...

Lady in Red - Oh, no, we went there again today, and I must have lost your number. :o) It was fun! I'm so sorry about your uncle.