Sunday, October 10, 2010


Uncle Raking Hay with the Team

Today's Joy: Living The Dream.
After more than a year of thwarted planning, I finally got the chance, on this beautiful Sunday morning in October, to photograph Uncle fulfilling one of his lifelong dreams: raking the hayfield with his Belgian Draft Team.


A Good Day's Work

I've photographed Uncle & Aunt Chef doing many things with their drafts this year: trail driving, showing in reinsmanship and cross-country classes at local driving shows, even getting dolled up and pulling a circus wagon in the costume class. But I think Uncle's favorite thing to do with the team is work around the farm.


Having a Great Time

Raised and trained on a working Amish farm, Fred & Ginger have adapted beautifully to our much more play-oriented lifestyle. Still, they don't seem to mind putting in the occasional hard day's work. While they plugged along, pulling a non-motorized rake that gathers hay into orderly rows for baling, Uncle spent the whole morning grinning from ear to ear. I couldn't help grinning, myself! It was a thoroughly delightful fall day on the farm!


Straight Rows Only!


Uncle Has Been Looking Forward to this All Summer


Making The Turn


Side View


Workin' Horses


Uncle & Aunt Chef Making Sure Everything's in Working Order


Hay on the Nose


Farm Dogs Wrestling


Old Technology Meets New


Tessa, Portrait


Hooligans


An Idyllic Life


Backsides