Andie LaComb's Blog, page 13

Anna

For me, May 24th will always be Anna’s day. It’s both her gotcha day and last day. Those two days were twelve years apart and so much happened between them. Although we had a lifetime together, it was not nearly long enough. So today I am thinking of and missing my sweet Anna Banana.

Unfortunately, Anna missed getting properly socialized when she was a puppy and before we adopted her. She was fearful and reactive to many things so we spent a lot of time trying to help her feel more confident. She overcame quite a bit, but never totally relaxed around strangers. She had a heightened sense of stranger danger so we did not put her in situations where she had to meet people or be in close proximity to people, especially in her home. It wasn’t always easy and prevented us from doing some things, but it was more important for her to feel safe.

Anna when she was a puppy helping wash cars in Texas.

Despite and because of Anna’s fears we did a lot of different things to help her – attending agility classes, socializing at a local doggy day care, walking and running around our neighborhood, kayaking, walking around the lake and beach, playing in the yard, training in the backyard and driveway, traveling across the country, having visits from my parents who were so good about giving Anna the space she needed, swimming in the pool, and lounging in the backyard. It was a good life and one I miss.

Anna and her buddy kayakingAnna at agility classAt Lake Grapevine in TexasEnjoying the snow….in Texas!Silly Anna rolling in the grass in San DiegoBeautiful Anna

Today I am remembering that life and all the things Anna loved. She loved learning tricks and playing games. She loved chasing her little sister and herding her like her own personal sheep. Anna loved kayaking and walking at the beach, lake, or near any body of water. She loved rolling around in the grass. She loved agility classes and learned so quickly. Anna loved laying in the sun even when it made her pant from the heat. She loved to chase me when I swam in the pool. She played with toys when she was younger but grew out of it, letting Karlie have all of them. Anna loved to play defense when Karlie chased tennis balls. She loved to play in the snow. She had the softest ears. Everyone said she was beautiful and she was. She loved to sit on the lawn chairs, put her nose in the air, and sniff. She looked right at the camera when I took pictures of her. Anna learned tricks SO fast. She didn’t pull on walks until we were headed towards home. When we went kayaking she laid down in the back of the boat and rested her head so she could watch everything. And sometimes she was so relaxed she fell asleep. She took all the foot room on the bed at night. She loved her little sister like no other. She gave me my love of running because it was so much less scary than going for a walk. Anna was the sweetest girl and taught me so much about doggy body language and reactive/fearful dogs. I am forever indebted to her for that and for bringing Karlie into our lives. I miss those girls and the life we had together.

Happy Anna day, my sweet girl. I love and miss you.

Andie, Anna, and Karlie on Anna’s last day

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Heinzerling Family Five Points Nature Preserve

We decided to venture to Garrett, Indiana and check out the Heinzerling Family Five Points Nature Preserve, another Acres Land Trust property. Karl Heinzerling purchased the property in the 1920’s and donated it to the Acres Land Trust in 2014. It consists of a .7M loop through the woods and along the Black Creek. There is only one trail with markers at a few sections to ensure you stay on the trail. It is a fairly narrow trail through the woods with a few inclines and two bridges over the creek.

The trail is mostly shaded until you exit the woods and follow the creek. This section is mowed grass with taller grass and wild flowers on the side of the creek. There is no access to the creek as you walk on a bluff above the creek. After a short distance you re-enter the woods and walk a short distance to return to the parking lot.

This is a nice place for a short hike in the woods. It is not recommended for those with mobility issues as the trail is narrow, muddy in places, and has several large inclines.

Our Rating

We rate Heinzerling Family Five Points Nature Preserve 2.5 out of 4 paws up. Although a nice walk in the woods, the path is narrow and allows for less than a mile of hiking. There is no access to the water and there is no restroom. It’s a nice place for a short hike in the woods, but there are other locations we like better. Despite that we will likely return since it’s close to home and family.

How do I get there?

Heinzerling Family Five Points Nature Preserve is on County Road 7A in Garrett, Indiana. From 327 turn onto either 9 or 68, depending on the direction you are traveling. From 9 turn onto 7A, which is a gravel road. Follow it for about a mile. After passing Cedar Lane, look on the right and you will see a gravel parking lot with two vertical wood posts. This is the parking lot. After parking walk straight ahead and you will see an Acres Land Trust sign.

For more information about the nature preserve check out the Acres Land Trust website.

Heinzerling Family Five Points Nature Preserve

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Portage MI

We took a little road-trip to Portage MI since Art had to travel there for business. Sunny and I tagged along and checked out not one, not two, but three parks. We visited West Lake Nature Preserve, Schrier Park, and Eliason Nature Reserve all within a two mile drive in Portage MI. It was a fun adventure and we look forward to returning in the future.

West Lake Nature Preserve

Our first stop was West Lake Nature Preserve which was our favorite of the three parks. This park is located at 9001 S. Westnedge Avenue and was created from land purchased from two different families – the Percy Matteson family and Robert and Opal Peck. There is a blue sign on S. Westnedge Avenue that leads to a large parking lot with restrooms and playground equipment. Park near the entrance and walk toward the woods.

There are two paths, one is mowed grass and the other is dirt and wood chips. We took the wood chip path which wound around a bog and through the woods. The trail is mostly flat, although there were some slightly muddy sections. The majority of the path is dirt and wood chips, but near the end we found an asphalt section. There are trails that go out onto the bog, but during this visit only one was open and we did not walk out on it. The trail is shady and the day we visited it was a little chilly since it was overcast. On a sunny day this would be a great place to take a hike due to the shade. We walked just over 2M by walking the path along the bog and then turning around once we encountered the asphalt section. This trail is not appropriate for those with mobility issues.

Sunny and I give this trail 3.5 out of 4 paws up. We enjoyed the views of the bog and being in the woods. There were many interesting things to look at – downed trees, the bog, a teepee made from branches, and birds and squirrels. The only downside for us was there wasn’t a body of water that you could put your feet in. That was always Karlie’s favorite thing to do and Sunny enjoys it too.

Schrier Park

Our next stop was Schrier Park located at 850 W. Osterhout Avenue. Alice Schrier’s estate donated funds to make creation of the park possible. Again the entrance has a blue sign that leads to a parking lot. Park near the picnic pavilion and walk on the asphalt trail. At the start of the trail is a map of the park showing the different trails. There are several different trails with sections that are asphalt and dirt with wood chips making portions of this park handicapped accessible. Again the trails are through the woods making this a shady hike. Sunny enjoyed snooping around the downed trees and watching some deer. We walked several different trails for a total distance of just over 1M.

Sunny and I give this park 3 out of 4 paws up. We enjoyed being in the woods and appreciated that sections of the trail would be appropriate for those with limited mobility. We always prefer longer trails and those with accessibility to water, but this is a nice place for a hike.

Eliason Nature Reserve

Our last stop was Eliason Nature Reserve at 1614 W. Osterhout Avenue. Linda Eliason donated the land for the park in 2011. It consists of 141 acres with a 1.6M asphalt trail. Again look for the blue sign on W. Osterhout Avenue that leads to the parking lot and restroom. The trail starts at the restroom and winds through the woods. There is even a little natural shade garden just off the trail. The trail does not feel quite so much like a walk in the woods as the two other locations, but is still a nice place for a hike. We were only able to hike for about half a mile before it was time for us to head home. We would like to return to further investigate this location and see all it has to offer.

Sunny and I give this park 2.5 out of 4 paws up, but this is only based on a small part of the trail. The main reason for the rating is it’s an asphalt trail. Although that’s fantastic for those who have limited mobility, we prefer dirt trails. It also didn’t feel like we were in the woods as much as we like.

Our Rating

We rate the parks in Portage MI a solid 3 out of 4 paws up with West Lake Nature Preserve as our favorite. All the trails are well maintained and well marked, have signs at the entrance making them easy to find, have nice parking lots with restrooms, and have trail maps at the start of the hike. They are all nice walks in the woods and well worth a visit if you live in or are visiting Portage MI.

How do I get there?

From 131 take Shaver Road to W. Osterhout Avenue. Eliason Nature Reserve is on the left. A little further down the road is Schrier Park, also on the left. Continue down W. Osterhout Avenue and take a left on S. Westnedge Avenue. West Lake Nature Preserve is on the right.

For more information about Portage MI and the parks, check out these websites.

Portage MI

Portage MI Parks & Rec

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Greenhurst Commons

Sometimes our adventures are really close to home as was the case with this adventure. We went to another Acres Land Trust property – Greenhurst Commons. Greenhurst Commons was formerly Greenhurst Golf Course. It opened in the 1920’s and was sold to Bridgewater Golf Course in 2002. Bridgewater operated the course until 2013 when it was closed and sold to Abby and Mark Millet and Vicki and Rick James. Their goal was to “prevent development of what we consider is pristine piece of land and a part of Auburn’s heritage.” “Our intent is to create a park-like setting for future enjoyment of the community.” And that is exactly what they did. In 2022 they donated the land to Acres Land Trust, who continues to protect the land and provide it for community use.

The park consists of a wide paved trail that traverses the former golf course and winds along Cedar Creek. The greens and sand traps have been removed making a wooded and natural environment for birds and squirrels to thrive. There is one structure that has a beautiful mural on the side, making a great photo opportunity. The trails loop around about 1.5M and there are several wood bridges over the creek. The park is handicapped accessible and other than one hill is relatively flat.

Our Rating

This is a nice park with well maintained trails. Despite being well-used, it’s great for a peaceful and scenic walk. It’s perfect for those with mobility issues, but also good for runners, cyclists, and walking your dog. We give this trail 3 out of 4 paws up with the only downfalls being no restroom and a personal preference for dirt trails in the woods.

How do I get there?

Greenhurst Commons is in Auburn, Indiana. From downtown Auburn continue on Main Street. At the intersection with North Street, turn right and then veer left to continue on Main Street. Pass North Main Street Diner and Auburn Dairy Freeze on the right. Next you will see the former club house and the entrance to the parking lot with an Acres Land Trust sign on the right. Park on the left side, away from the former club house, and the trail will be straight ahead near the stone entrance.

For more information check out the Acres Land Trust website.

Greenhurst Commons

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Blue Cast Springs

This adventure nearly didn’t happen. My GPS told me the entrance was farther down Blue Cast Springs Road so I drove right past the parking lot on my first pass. All I could see around me was a big field with woods at the back, but no apparent path, trail, or parking area. What to do? I drove back the way we came and finally saw the gravel parking lot and the Acres Land Trust sign. I really shouldn’t have missed it the first time. Regardless, I’m glad we found it because Blue Cast Spring was well worth the visit.

Blue Cast Springs is part of the Acres Land Trust which protects land in northeast Indiana, southern Michigan, and northwest Ohio. In the early 1900’s water from a natural spring on the land was bottled and sold for its health benefits. Eventually a sanitarium opened on the property, but by the 1920’s it experienced financial troubles. In 2012 the Acres Land Trust acquired the land and preserved it. Today the location offers several trails in the woods with some along the Maumee River.

You access the trail at the right side of the gravel parking lot. Upon entering you have the choice of two mowed grass paths. First we explored the one to the right which is about a quarter mile loop and offers views of fallen trees and vegetation. Since a quarter mile hike was not nearly enough for the two of us, we proceeded back to the start and took the path to the left. This one takes you into the woods and along the Maumee River for about a mile.

There are a few trails off the original trail that wind around in the woods. Although not marked, we found it easy to find our way back to the original trail. For much of the hike you are on bluffs above the river, but near the end you can walk down to the river bed. That’s where we saw some geese enjoying the beautiful day and river.

The majority of the hike is flat with little elevation change and plenty of shade. The trail has some roots, which is typical for a hike in the woods. In spots it was a little muddy despite no rain for the last week. Although not wheelchair friendly, this hike would be possible for dogs using wheels or for people and dogs with some mobility issues.

Our Rating

This is a nice trail in the woods with views and access to the river. Although the trail isn’t long, it does allow for about 2M of hiking if you follow all the trails. We observed many squirrels and birds, but other than that had the place to ourselves. It is a peaceful place to take a hike. We give this trail 3 paws up. The main disadvantages are no restrooms and only being able to hike for 2M. Despite that we recommend this spot for a nice hike in the woods.

How do I get there?

Blue Cast Springs is in Woodburn, Indiana. It is on Blue Cast Road just past the intersection with Old US 24. Once you turn off US 24, start looking for the Acres Land Trust sign at the entrance to gravel parking lot on the right. Turn into the parking lot and the start of the trail is at the furthermost right hand side.

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Reike Trail

Spring weather has finally arrived in Northern Indiana so we decided to get out and explore. This time we investigated Reike Trail located behind Reike Park in Auburn, Indiana. The trail is similar to the rail trails in Bloomington – an asphalt wooded trail winding behind homes. The day we visited was a little cool and overcast, but that didn’t stop us or others from getting out for a walk.

Reike Trail is nearly 1.2M and stretches from North Street to Betz Road. The easiest place to access the trail is from Reike Park which is a large community park with baseball and soccer fields, basketball courts, picnic areas, restrooms, and ample parking. The park is at about the midpoint of the trail. Because of the trees the trail is mostly shaded.

Our Rating

This is a nice community trail. It’s not one I would drive a long distance to visit, but if you are in the area, it’s a nice place to take a walk or ride your bike. Despite overcast and cool weather we encountered quite a few other people on the trail. It’s a nice wide trail so there was plenty of room for passing people. We give this trail 2.5 paws up and likely will return since it’s so close to home.

How do I get there?

The entrance to the park is off Indiana Avenue in Auburn, Indiana. Once you enter the parking lot, park near the fields on the left side of the park. Walk past the fields and restroom to find the trail. You can either turn right or left and walk just over half a mile in either direction.

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Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve

After several days of rainy, cold weather we finally had a sunny, warmer day so we headed on an adventure. Like last week when we ventured to Bicentennial Woods, this one was close to home and also in Huntertown, Indiana. In fact, it is just down the road from Bicentennial Woods, but is a completely different experience. This time we explored the Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve.

The Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve is part of the Acres Land Trust which is dedicated to protecting land in northeast Indiana, southern Michigan, and northwest Ohio. It is similar to the Sycamore Land Trust in southern Indiana.

There are two gravel parking areas for the preserve – one at 1802 Chapman Rd. and one at 1992 Chapman Rd. We originally drove down the gravel road at 1802 Chapman Rd., but did not see the parking area behind the large metal building. So we drove back to Chapman Rd. and traveled a little further to the parking area at 1992 Chapman Rd.

The parking area at 1992 Chapman Rd. has a large red barn and the trail can be accessed on either side of the barn. We entered to the left. The trail starts with a grass path through a meadow with some trees. It winds around and eventually connects with a gravel trail that leads to the Acres office, the former home of Tom and Jane Dustin. The gravel path is a 1/3M handicapped accessible loop. Both trails are easy, flat trails. There is little shade so bringing water is a must. This hike is better for spring and fall, or early morning when it’s not too hot. Although the website indicates the preserve has a 1.5M trail, my watch indicated we only walked a little over 1M.

The preserve is open daily from dawn to dusk and the only restroom is located in the Acres office. It is open to the public, but only when the office is open.

Our Rating

Although the trail is just down the road from Bicentennial Woods, it is nothing like that trail. Instead of a narrow trail winding through the woods and overlooking a creek, it is a grass trail through a meadow with some trees. It is a well-maintained trail, but is not nearly as scenic as others we’ve visited. Because of this the preserve rates only 2.5 paws up. Despite that, Sunny thoroughly enjoyed herself, but then again, like Karlie, she’s always happy when she’s out exploring.

How do I get there?

Getting there is fairly straight forward. From Coldwater Rd. turn onto Chapman Rd. About a mile down the road, there is a sign on the right for Acres Land Trust. This leads to the Acres office and parking area. Or travel a little further down Chapman Rd. to another Acres Land Trust sign on the right and park near the barn. No matter which area you park, the trail is just off the parking lot.

For more information check out the Acres Land Trust website.

Tom and Jane Dustin Nature Preserve

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Bicentennial Woods

After living in Northern Indiana for a couple months we finally took Sunny on her first adventure. It was a fairly close to home excursion, Bicentennial Woods in Huntertown, and one we’ll do again. Bicentennial Woods is part of the Acres Land Trust which is dedicated to protecting land in northeast Indiana, southern Michigan, and northwest Ohio. It is similar to the Sycamore Land Trust in southern Indiana.

Bicentennial Woods is part of the Cedar Creek Corridor which is the largest forested area in the region. It is open daily until sunset, has a gravel parking lot that accommodates several cars, and no restroom. There was only one other person there they day we visited, but I imagine it is a popular location on a warm, sunny weekend.

The trail reminded me of many of the ones we visited in the Bloomington area – a narrow trail winding through a forest of towering trees. It also had a creek with access to it in several areas and two bridges over it. The views of the creek from the trail and bridges was quite scenic. The trail is packed dirt with mostly gentle inclines and descents. Some of the trails to the creek are quite steep, but there are other ones that are easier to descend. There are many downed trees on the trail making for interesting photo and sniffing opportunities. It had recently rained so sections of the trail were a little muddy. We completed a 1.5M loop through the woods, however the website indicates its a 2M trail.

Our Rating

This trail reminded us so much of the many trails we love in Bloomington. On this day it rated 4 paws up since we had not been on a hike in quite some time, but under normal circumstances it would be 3.5 paws up. It’s scenic, a fun trail through the woods, has access to the water, and great parking. Karlie would have loved this trail as it was so similar to some of our favorite Bloomington hikes.

How do I get there?

Getting there is fairly straight forward. From Coldwater Rd. turn onto Schoaff Rd. About half a mile down the road, there is a sign on the left for Bicentennial Woods. It’s a little hidden behind some vegetation, but leads to the gravel parking lot. The trail is just off the parking lot.

For more information check out the Acres Land Trust website.

Bicentennial Woods

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Do What Makes Your Dog Happy

This past weekend Sunny and I took a road trip to visit her best friend, Ruby, who lived next door to us in Bloomington. These two girls saw each other nearly every day when we lived there. After nearly two months apart, it was time for them to get back together. Some people may say it’s crazy to spend three hours driving to visit a dog, but that’s what you do for the one you love. Just look at the pictures and you can see it was worth it. I encourage everyone, and that is the purpose of this website, to do what makes your dog happy and give him/her the best life.

Sunny and Ruby wrestling

Although Ruby is five months older and about ten pounds lighter than Sunny, they are a perfect match. They are both rambunctious, full of energy young girls who love to run, chase each other, play with sticks, and snoop in the yard. When we lived in Bloomington they played with each other nearly every day. They wrestled, chased, teased each other with things they found in the yard, but neither one ever got snarky, possessive, or reactive. In fact, often they would each grab the end of a stick and run around together. Whenever either one of them went outside they would look for the other one and insist on visiting.

The last thing we did before moving was to have one last visit with Ruby, which brought tears to my eyes since I was the only one who knew this was our last visit. Both Sunny and Ruby just thought it was another play session and that they would do it again later.

So after nearly two months apart I decided it was time for a road trip back to Bloomington. Sunny was used to road trips since we made so many from Bloomington to norther Indiana while our home was being built. I loaded her into the car and we hit the road bright and early Saturday morning. As usual she stayed awake the whole trip supervising my driving.

When I got close to our old house she started to get a little antsy. She seemed to recognize we were headed to our former home based on the turns the car made. Once we arrived I sent a text to Ruby’s mom letting her know we were outside. Soon afterwards they came out and the girls had quite a reunion. I don’t think either one of them could believe their eyes. They were so excited to see each other. At one point Ruby literally gave Sunny a hug. It brought such a big smile to all our faces.

We spent several hours visiting and playing in the backyard. We had picture perfect weather and the girls had the best time racing around, resting in the shade, chasing each other, drinking water out of the same bowl, and giving kisses to us and each other. It was truly the best day EVER.

Sharing a drink

So, yes, it was more than worth it for me to spend nearly seven hours driving to bring some joy to Sunny and Ruby. When you love someone you do things that bring them joy. I encourage you to find out what makes your dog happy and find a way to do those things. I can’t take Sunny to visit Ruby every week, but it is a trip we will make again. And next time we may re-visit one of our favorite places to hike in Bloomington. Stay tuned for that next adventure!

All smiles

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Find Out What Makes Your Dog Happy

The other day I was speaking to a journalist about Adventures with Karlie and she asked what was the message of the book. What takeaway did I want people to have? I told her it was two-fold – to spend time doing what makes your dog happy, regardless of his/her health, and to spend time engaging with your dog. So often people take their dog for a short walk while checking their cell phone and toss a ball for 5 minutes and think this is enough. Your dog wants to spend quality time with you, just like your kids do. Find out what makes your dog happy and do that as often as you can. This is what we did with Anna and Karlie and then Karlie and now Sunny. Not every dog will want to go on hiking adventures like Karlie and Sunny do, but there is something that brings your dog joy. Your job is to find out what it is and find ways to do it.

Tennis Balls Made Karlie Happy

In addition to hiking, Karlie LOVED tennis balls. In fact she was a little obsessed with them. She wanted to chase them ALWAYS. Even when she started to lose mobility in her back end, we still found a way for her to chase a ball. We switched to a soft orange Chuck-It ball because it was bigger and easier for her to grasp. We also tossed the ball much more gently and at shorter distances. Eventually we only played inside because it was easier for her to “run” across the carpet than the uneven grass. Regardless she smiled and chased the ball with such joy. We played like this until her last few days.

Karlie’s last game of fetchChasing Leaves Makes Sunny Happy

Sunny LOVES and is obsessed with chasing leaves. She is not as smiley of a dog as Karlie, but she smiles from ear to ear when she is watching and chasing leaves. I take her outside to chase leaves every afternoon because she loves it. It brings me joy to watch how happy something so simple makes her. I wonder if this will be a lifelong love as chasing a ball was for Karlie.

Sunny watching the leaves to make sure they don’t move

The other day I was watching a training video and the trainer said “our dogs just want to have fun”. She’s right and they will find a way to have fun with or without you. You may not like what they think is fun – pulling on the leash, chewing shoes, stealing things, or digging holes. If you find out what your dog likes to do and regularly engage in it, you’ll be amazed how their behavior improves. When your dog is engaged, happy, and gets regular interaction they don’t need to find their own fun. You are their fun.

What makes your dog happy? What do you do with your dog that brings out her joy?

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