I’m in the process of planning a series of weekend getaways for the beginning of 2019 and I’ve been fortunate to be able to squeeze a few trips into the remainder of this year, too! One of these trips happened last week at Tops’l Farm in Waldoboro, Maine. My friend Linda Campos invited me for a weekend of glamping on the 80+ acre property owned by Sarah Pike, who happened to move to Maine from my hometown in Massachusetts!
The property boasts 5 A-frame cabins, 5 luxury glamping tents, a bathhouse, communal kitchenette, an event barn, camp store and a yurt, all of which cater to upscale camping and events. The entire weekend I couldn't stop dreaming about how perfect this location would be for a workshop, a wedding, or a college reunion. Maybe I should plan all the things or maybe I should just move into one of the cabins - do you think I could swing it?
I first heard about the property about two years ago, close to its opening, from my friend Kim who hosted my last workshop on her property just down the road in Friendship, Maine. I’d been dying to visit, so when Linda approached me, I literally cancelled my weekend plans and headed North!
We spent the weekend cooking, eating, and creating beautiful imagery - just a few of my favorite things! It was the last weekend of the season to stay on site and I have to say the weather was much better than I expected. The evenings were borderline too cold, but the cabins are stocked with plenty of blankets, and I brought extras, including some wool blankets recently gifted from my Irish grandmother.
I arrived in the dark the previous night so it was a treat to wake up and properly see the camp for the first time!
That first morning was brisk yet pleasant. We enjoyed homemade doughnuts from Sarah, and Linda made some killer camp coffee to serve along with her Persian fritatta. Slow mornings like these are rare for me, so I relished in the quiet of the woods in preparation for our busy day of styling and photography.
We were lucky enough to have a 60 degree day on Saturday which only lasted for a few short hours but the warmth of the sun was very welcomed!
It’s been on my bucket list for awhile to try my hand at cooking over an open fire. I thought this weekend would be a perfect opportunity to try, and a great way to produce some captivating imagery. My main concern was whether or not I’d be able to get a fire blazing enough to heat up a skillet and cook eggs; I was planning to make a veggie and black bean skillet hash topped with eggs.
Thankfully Linda owns a cast iron skillet, and I had prepped all of the veggies at home, including cooking the sweet potatoes. It was really just a matter of getting the pan hot enough , pouring the veggie mixture and adding the black beans - of course I forgot a can opener, so I sawed the can open with my wine key. I was pleased to hear the sizzle of the veggies and knew we’d be all set for topping the dish with eggs. Lunch was served and enjoyed fireside!
Linda and I enjoyed collaborating on styled shoots for a mutual client, as well as creating content for the Farm and our own uses. Our days were busy and full of planning, prepping, shooting and break down, but it is always rejuvenating to work in a new environment, especially one as picturesque as Tops'l Farm! I hope you'll consider visiting Sarah at Tops'l and if you need a travel buddy, you know who to call!
Cheers!
Questions? Send me a note. I'd love to hear from you!
Photo by Sarah Pike