Common Ground Fair does not disappoint

September 28, 2009

Oh... what can I say? I'm filled up with Maine organic goodness. I'm overflowing with contentment, photos and memories from our weekend at the Common Ground Country Fair.

Three nights spent camping with my folks. One very chilly, I might add, but I was toasty as always in my down bag - the same cannot be said for my poor mother and father.

Mornings spent watching the sun rise (and taking hundreds of photos I now need to sort through) over the farmer's field where we pitched our tent.

Three days spent wandering the fair grounds eating Maine grown, whole grain, sugar free (lots of maple syrup and honey though), farm fresh foods. We do not eat vegan at the fair! Too much homemade cheese, ice cream, and sausages to pass up.

Going to workshops, visiting vendors and friends, spending what we've saved to support our local farmers & artisans. Children's parades, face painting, wood carving, fiddle music, contradances, herbs, wool and fleece.

It was one of the best weekends of my whole summer.

Camping with my family and folks, an organic fair with over the top food & live music, and hundreds of gorgeous photos to remember it all with.

I wish I could spend days here at FIMBY sharing photos and words, reliving the excitement and exhaustion (we were all in bed by 9:30 last night) that is the fair. But my parents are visiting - I'm writing this while they are out with the kids to a local farm to pick up bread and cheese - there are more places to go and things to see. So this might be the only post I'm able to write.

But I'm sure the photography will be popping up in future posts because I was so happy (hot damn!) with so many photos it's impossible to limit it to just this post. This kind of photographic opportunity & happiness does not come along often.

If I can carry over just a smidgen of the overall good feeling from the weekend into this new season it will be a good one indeed.

Related Posts: If you liked the content of this post you might enjoy the following Maine related posts.

Filed Under

« Off to Common Ground Fair!
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  • Rodney and Cindy

    Rodney and Cindy on Sept. 28, 2009, 5:40 p.m.

    Envy! I tried to go the fair the last FIVE years that we lived in Maine, but every year something would come up!!!! Someday!!! Glad you had an awesome time!

    reply
  • nicola

    nicola on Sept. 28, 2009, 6:59 p.m.

    i am envious! yours was the first of THREE blogs i visit where i have seen this faire mentioned! we went to a very disappointing kids faire this weekend. blah. sooooo glad you had a great weekend. i LOVE the family photos! the resemblance with your mom is amazing! nicola http://whichname.blogspot.com

    nicola's last blog post... treasures

    reply
  • steadymom

    steadymom on Sept. 28, 2009, 7 p.m.

    Looks so wonderful! I'm jealous, too. Did you see SouleMama there?

    Jamie

    steadymom's last blog post... Why You Should Read Aloud to Older Kids

    reply
    • renee

      renee on Sept. 28, 2009, 9:04 p.m.

      No, I did not see Amanda. Looks like they spent lots of time at the animals. I never once went over that way. I did read her post though this afternoon. I'm not sure what day she went but if it was Saturday it would of been almost impossible. There were upwards of 20,000 people at the fair that day!

      reply
  • Shawna

    Shawna on Sept. 28, 2009, 11:27 p.m.

    sounds delightful i love the dawn shots and the flare in the last shot. there's nothing better than a refreshing photo op!

    oh how i'm longing for a good new england fall. someday again, perhaps.

    ps if i may ask, how do your systems take to suddenly adding meat and dairy back into your diet? i know that's something my sorta-vegan friends always struggle with when they are abroad or just ready for some non-vegan food.

    Shawna's last blog post... Wear Your Baby

    reply
    • renee

      renee on Sept. 29, 2009, 6:27 p.m.

      We have a non-vegan meal approximately once a week. We have a vegan kitchen and save the indulgences for birthdays and out of the home eating. Our systems seem to handle it ok because when we do eat animal products we're still eating a lot of veggies with it.

      If we eat non-vegan for days we feel ill. After experiencing this while visiting family we've had to now give our families boundaries and stick to personal limits, very hard when everyone around you is eating different. Doesn't happen to often though.

      reply
  • pennie

    pennie on Sept. 29, 2009, 2:07 a.m.

    i am glad to have stopped by over here...i am trying to find as many posts about the common ground fair as possible! i love seeing how each family spends their time...because it is all so different:) i heard there were 25 thousand plus on saturday...isn't that crazy. sunday seemed so empty because of that and the rain...we thought it was quite nice though! can't wait to see more of your photos...! by the way ... where do you guys camp?! looks more peaceful than the volunteer camping we we were!

    pennie's last blog post... returning from the common ground country fair...

    reply
    • renee

      renee on Sept. 29, 2009, 11:37 a.m.

      Pennie, I too am having fun reading about the fair. If you feel so inclined please do leave some links here to other blogs, I'd love to read them.

      Saturday was crazy, too crazy. Friday was delightful and Sunday was a nice and calm, lovely really, inspite of the rain.

      We pay to camp at Diversity Farms in nearby Troy, ME. Yes, it is very peaceful and includes a hot shower even! It's about a 10 minute drive to the farm from the fair.

      reply
  • kate

    kate on Sept. 29, 2009, 1:50 p.m.

    So jealous!! That looks like it was anamazing, community-spirited weekend indeed! Wow-- what a perfect way to cap off the summer and welcome the fall:)

    reply
  • Jenn

    Jenn on Sept. 29, 2009, 6:50 p.m.

    looks like fun...too many people for my liking. yikes!! it would've been fun to be there part of the day though...the animals sounds like a fun place to visit. that is probably where i would've been...

    and i know exactly how you feel...the pictures i got at land between the lakes are so beautiful and so many that i keep going back to them again and again, reliving those days...i want to post more and more of them and probably some will crop up over the next few months, especially during the dreary winter months...

    reply
  • Jody

    Jody on Sept. 30, 2009, 12:32 p.m.

    Never disappointed! I was very much looking forward to your post upon your return from the fair.....I just knew the photos would be spectacular ~ and I was not disappointed. We DID get to the fair on Saturday! :>) What a beautiful day it was. Sage & I kept our eyes peeled for you....but, We didn't spot you or the kids (which, knowing how many people would be there on a Sat. I was not surprised). It was David's first time attending the Common Ground Fair. He very much enjoyed it. He really likes to see & learn about energy saving alternatives - the wind mills, the solar tubes, and the wood demos. We watched the Sheepdog demo (of course! This is a favorite for Sage-- and Me! ;>)

    A gentleman at one of the booths there gave Sage a little wooden herb/soap box. It had her name stamped into the wood. He said, (in a beautiful, rolling Irish brogue) "Wheeel then, 'tis meant to be yours!" He filled it with some dried white sage and handed the little box to her. She was all smiles.

    It was good to see the fair again..... It's been a few years since I have been able to go; it was like "coming home" (sigh & smile). I thought of you on that cold night - camping. Brrr! Glad you stayed warm.

    PLEASE post more.....ALL of your Fair photos. Pretty please with a smile & hug! ? Love to All, and YES -- I have to agree with an above comment: the likeness between, your mom, yourself and Celine...Beautiful.

    reply
    • Karen Barton

      Karen Barton on Oct. 1, 2009, 4:26 a.m.

      Hi, We are the owners of Mother Mabel's and the givers of the box of which you spoke. My husband was so taken with Sage he said it was one of his favorite "customer" moments of the fair. I only wish I had been there to meet you also! My guess is I was off on some offical duty. Thank you for the kind words on your blog..come see us next year or at one of our many store (200+) demos and openings. By chance do you have any photos of our booth? I'm always looking. Cheers! Sincerly, Mother Mabel

      Ps. He's Scottish, but without the kilt who can tell. My maiden name was Sweeney so close enough, I'm Irish off the boat enough for us both.

      reply

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