Wow, what a day!  I don’t know how many hundreds of people showed up at Stones Edge Farm in Newcastle, Maine for their annual Open Farm Day, but I would venture to guess 1,500.  There seemed to be a constant sea of people enjoying the festivities of the day.  There were horses, goats, Bernese Mountain dogs with 6 puppies, alpacas, vendors, wood fired pizza, horse carriage rides and a play area for the children.  Definitely the place to be for families with children and the weather Sunday was perfect!

I’m going to just let the photos tell the story of the day; I think you’ll get a much better idea.  Enjoy!

There was so much puppy love, I believe it is safe to say that the Bernese pups stole the show!

Of course, 8 week-old puppies do need their sleep, and what a perfect cool place to do so on the stone foundation.

Sleeping pups or not, the ever curious hands persisted.

For me, my favorite part of the day were the children, and there were lots and lots of them.  Yes, I was in photographer heaven!

What’s a summer festival without a lemon-aide stand!!

Since we’re on the topic of food, Harvest Moon wood fired pizza was amazing!!  The best pizza ever!

Horse carriage rides by Margaret Sproul and her Halflingers.

This is Trixie, a miniature horse who looks like a mini Fjord!

Some of the vendors.

Beautiful products made with alpaca fiber – a must see, and what fabulous gifts they would make!

Here’s Ricki Waltz with 3 of her alpacas of Two Sons Alpacas.

And we cannot forget little 17-day-old Madox here with his grand mother.  Yes, Derilyn just had a baby, her Bernese had pups 8 weeks ago, and she and her husband (2 other children as well) hosted a mini woodstock event on their farm!!  What will they do next year??!!

Can you tell Dakota simply adores her baby brother!  And grandma, too!

Here’s big brother, Chase, towards the end of the day, and you can tell it’s been quite a day!  Behind him is a blur of several hundred bales of hay to be put away, which he helps with.

Speaking of blur, I adore these two photos, taken at the end of the day when I’m sure many who were here all day will attest that after several hours in the July warmth, life is but a dream . . .

Stay tuned for next year’s event.  If you are interested in joining the ever growing family of Maine people who make a living creating Maine Made Products, etc. come join us next year, which I’m sure will be even bigger.

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits

She loves the camera.  I do nothing but watch and click the shutter button.  That’s it.  Period!  And there is nothing more to say about that, because words are useless right now, as you will see . . .

Gotta love the Bernese Mountain Dogs.

So there’s your daily dose of cuteness!

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits

Can there be anything more precious than new life?  I love going to Stones Edge Farm, especially in the spring time when baby goats are arriving.  And when three new miniature horses have been added to the herd.  One who is going to foal in May.  One who is the most adorable yearling, who looks like a little Fjord.  And one who has the coloring of a Rocky Mountain horse – she is absolutely gorgeous!  But I’m a sucker for long, flowing manes, especially flaxen manes against dark brown.  She has one blue eye, too.

I love where I live.  I am so lucky to have the ocean near by, farm animals on my little plot of earth, and beautiful farms to visit.  Here are some of the beauties at Stones Edge Farm.  If you live near Newcastle, Maine you should make sure you come for Open Farm Day – Sunday July 25th.  It’s a lot of fun and you get to see what I’m talking about first hand.  Lots of horses and goats and Bernese Mountain Dogs, all on a 30 acre spread of rolling pastures.

Are these babies not irresistible or what!!

Meet the new ladies

Yep, a mini Fjord!

Isn’t she just stunning!

I’m in love with this horse.  Okay, I’m in love with all horses!

Here’s the pregnant mare.

And here’s the lucky one who gets to play with them everyday!

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits

For those of us who live in Maine, it’s a known fact that somewhere in the midst of all the winter months, we do nothing but dream about the return of summer. However, when you are blessed with a January thaw and the temperatures soar above 32 degrees, there is a special magic that soothes us. Over the years I have developed a true love for the peace and quiet that winter gives. The extreme temperatures, in both summer and winter, are the most difficult for me to tolerate.

About a week and a half ago I was at a friends house. When I arrived it was still pretty cold, but it slowly warmed. She has two beautiful children, a huge herd of goats, horses and three Bernese Mountain dogs. Speaking of dogs, if you should ever want the most gentlest of giants, the Bernese Mountain dogs are amazing. Below you will see some images of their interactions with the kids.

I’ve been trying a new approach with my photo editing. I’m learning the art of combining textures with vintage actions. I’m loving how the pictures take on a completely different meaning. Or maybe what’s really happening is the true meaning is shining through. What do you think?

Have you ever seen so much joy!!

Kea in “the zone.”

Soldier is such a flashy boy.  Year-and-a-half old, sweet as can be.  His mother is Kea (Halflinger) and his father is a Gypsy Vanner.

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits

The whole week the weather forecast kept saying that Sunday would be the better of the two days for the weekend.  The reality is that the sun only vaguely appeared for maybe 5 minutes, which meant the rest of the day was overcast, foggy and showery with some occasional down pours.  Open Farm Day still happened and although the turnout wasn’t as numerous as years past, we still had fun.  My favorite part was watching all the children interact with the animals.  There were LOTS of goats meandering around, three Bernese Mountain Dogs, a couple of baby turkeys, a small flock of baby chicks, a few larger hens, Gumdrop – a sweet miniature horse, and 5 other horses.

The pictures below should give you a little taste of the day.  Hopefully next year many more of you will find yourselves there to experience it first hand.

This little girl, who came properly dressed for the warm rain, was such a joy to watch as she ran with the goats!

Those eyes and angelic smile is enough to melt any heart. . .

Sweet bunny from Archway Rabbitry.  The next two images of rabbits are also from Archway Rabbitry.

Lots of love & kisses at the farm!

A very content little baby goat, who was carried around most of the day.

One of the baby chicks.

Such delight!  Look at the ears on that chick!!

Sharing the love . . .

Gumdrop is shopping!

Sweet Bella

Although Bear is a big boy, I have learned that Bernese Mountain Dogs are extremely gentle and calm.

Sorry, I just can’t resist – she’s too cute!!

“It’s raining, it’s pouring . . . !!”

A baby turkey.

Two very sleepy and worn out young’uns!

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits

This upcoming Sunday, July 26, 2009 from 9-5, will be the annual Open Farm Day event at Stones Edge Farm in Newcastle, Maine.  There will be carriage rides, baby goats – Miniature Silky Fainting Goats, Nigerian Dwarf and Tennessee Fainting Goats – miniature horses, baby chicks & turkeys, Bernese Mountain Dogs, demonstrations, and many local farm and craft vendors.

I will be there with a number of photographs.  I will have greeting cards, matted pictures, framed and matted pictures, mini posters PLUS one 24×36 inch poster that I will be raffling off to benefit the Lincoln County Animal Shelter.   The following image is of “Muffin” – the poster to be raffled.

Poster to be raffled!

These next images have been made into smaller posters, and they will be for sale at Open Farm Day:

These next three images I made into Christmas Cards.  It’s never too early to start thinking about the upcoming Holidays!  I have other greeting cards as well, but I’ll just show you these three . . .

Hope to see a lot of you there!  It’s going to be lots of fun and I do believe it’s going to be a clear, sunny day!  Yay!!

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits