Sunday afternoon at Pineland Farms

June 30, 2008

Yesterday was family day. We were supposed to go hiking but a check on the weather forecast the night before kiboshed those plans.

Instead we all slept in and after a 10:30 breakfast (preceded by a fantastic thunderstorm), we all sat around and asked the "so what are we going to do today?" question. We hemmed, hawed, made no decisions and each went our own ways for a bit.

Celine started machine sewing a quilt for her doll, Brienne played farm with her playmobiles and Laurent chiseled sketches into wood. I... can't remember what I did (no surprise) but at some point I left the house with the younger 2 to visit a local nursery and to look for Japanese anemone for the shady perennial bed next to the driveway.

While there kids enjoyed the landscaped pond and I had a brain wave - Pineland Farms in New Gloucester has a pond, woodland trails and even lots of pavement for longboarding. The day was drying out and it was still early enough to "get out of town" and enjoy nature.

As the weather got nicer we kicked ourselves a bit for not heading to the mountains but what can you do? Regardless, Pineland was great way to spend the afternoon.

The big surprise for me was the the garden which the girls and I explored a long time while the boys boarded on all the smooth, car free pavement.

Other than the garden and longboarding we explored the pond for most of the time. Laurent was in his element and the girls got right into the fun of catching frogs only to have them immediately hop away. There were literally hundreds, most likely thousands if you included the pollywogs, of those critters.

Rana catesbeiana (American Bullfrog)</span>

Pineland itself is hard to describe. From what I understand its an educational farm complete with equestrian center, cows and creamery. And new this year, a Maine-foods market in the visitor's center.

But it is also a campus with office buildings, conference center and athletic center. Not to mention the outdoor center and woodland trails for hiking that are groomed in winter for cross-country skiing. Who knows what else. Interesting place.

Not quite what I would call a farm though. I guess farming is done there but the whole scene is a bit too neat, tidy and touristy. Kind of like farming for show - maybe I'm wrong.

Anyway, it was a great afternoon and I recommend it as a Maine destination.