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

There has been a youtube video going around of a cat “playing” with a school of dolphins.  It’s adorable, to say the least.  There is also one of an elephant and a dog, who have become companions for life.  What inspires me most whenever I see animals of different species interacting this way, is it insists that unconditional love and acceptance be present.

My cat, who weighs a mere eleven pounds, could easily be crushed by my miniature horse, Muffin, weighing about 300 pounds.  But instinct is strong in animals and when they have never felt threatened by anything in their life before, they seem to carry no prejudices.  Love and nurturing is a powerful thing.  Animals prove it to me day after day after day.

The picture above is Boo telling Muffin to stop grabbing his tail!  I love the look on Muffin’s face – “who me, I would never grab your tail!”

Quite often Boo will be walking through the pasture with Muffin in tow, and then he’ll just suddenly stop and lay down.  He’ll even roll over onto his back and then Muffin will groom his belly!  At some point I will capture that moment.

“Where you lead

I will follow

anywhere that you tell me to.

If you need

you need me to be with you

I will follow

where you lead.”

~Carol King

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

What do you do when there’s a blizzard raging outside, and has been since last night?  First, you hope and pray the power doesn’t go out!  So far so good.  Thank goodness, because it’s very cold out and is going to become extremely cold overnight with single digit wind chills.

What did I do most of the day?  I’ve been updating my galleries on my website.  Updating information on both my blog and website.  Changing things around.  It’s nice to actually have unlimited time to do these things.  My daughter has accepted the fact that we are not driving anywhere today.  In fact, she cleaned her room and bathroom “from head to toe” she said!!

On a blizzard day, if you are a kitten, this is what you do . . .

If you are a miniature stallion, this is what you do after you have decided you are thoroughly bored . . .

If you are a miniature horse under the age of three, you try to keep up with that black stallion . . .

As we all know, toddlers get distracted easy . . .

I think Muffin is having a Zen moment.  Silence can be found, even for a young thing in a snow storm!

How was your blizzard day?!!

Keep the fires burning.  The wind is loud and fierce tonight.

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

Take a windy, cool day, one stallion in his prime and a gelding who’s just about 2 years old; what do you get?  Some serious rough housing in the name of fun!  It’s nice that they are both miniature horses, otherwise the the magnitude of their thrashing around would have been far more intense.  It’s great for Muffin to be able to play with someone in his own species, rather than always with a dog.  He’s learning horse manners and all about hierarchy.  He may be bigger than Fella, but he’s definitely not the boss!  Which is a good thing.

The light was gorgeous towards the end of the day yesterday and the boys were feisty.

Gotta love those facial expressions!

Time Out!

Cody just couldn’t figure these two out.  He just stood there, quietly, and watched in awe!

“Who’s the Man!  I may be little but I got the moves!” Cody’s like I’m outta here!

Not you again!!

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

Inspired once again by a post from The Shutter Sisters.

If I’m ever in a down mood or when I’m feeling uninspired, all I have to do is usher my two dogs outside to the pasture and hang out with my them and my two horses and 11 hens. It really helps that one of the horses thinks he’s a dog. Well, I suppose he can’t help it, being a pint sized miniature horse! He always initiates play when we are out in the pasture.

He and one of my dogs, Cody, especially love to play together. They chase and play tug-o-war. The images below are from two days ago, plus I included some from last winter that I think really demonstrate lightheartedness. Needless to say, I am very entertained by their antics. In between shots I engage in the play, too!

This one just makes me smile.

Yikes!!

Dressing up for Valentines Day!

Feel the love.  How can I not smile!

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

My miniature horse, Muffin, is so photogenic and he seems to love the camera, too.  Couple that with incredible morning light, and the results are quite pleasing.  I hope all who are in the Northeast are staying as warm as possible.  Minus 6 due to a wind chill factor is on the extreme end of winter.  And it’s NOT even winter yet!

To be able to look back upon ones life in satisfaction, is to live twice. – Kahlil Gibran

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.  – Kahlil Gibran

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

As of today I have images for sale!  You can view them HERE I will continue to add images to the gallery as I see fit. Right now there is a wide selection, all photographed in Midcoast Maine. The subjects range from Pemaquid Light House to Seascapes, Lupines to Animals, which include my miniature horse, Muffin. I also have some of geese, winter scenes, sunrises and sunsets.

Here is a little glimpse of what you’ll find in the gallery.

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