Matt Hopkins of Hopkins Flowers in Manchester decorates a clock at the Kennebec Savings Bank branch on Main Street in Waterville on Friday. Hopkins and he and several other employees of the flower company have been decorating Kennebec Savings Bank branches throughout central Maine. “Yesterday we were in Augusta and the day before, Gardiner. We usually start decorating around Thanksgiving,” Hopkins said.

Brenda Whitney, of Waterville, carries her 11-year-old dog, Princess, back to her car while finishing a walk along Messalonskee Stream, with her Boxer, named Brady, left, and another dog, named Little Bit (not shown), on Saturday in Waterville. “She (Princess) can walk one way, but walking back is a little tough for her, ” said Whitney.

Bruce Lancaster loads a last-minute order of firewood for a customer near his home in North Vassalboro on Friday. Lancaster, who sells firewood as a second job, said he sold around 70 cords of wood so far this year.

A NEW RIDE: Doug Waltman of Waterville, left, watches as farm hand Boris Jakci of Slovakia rides a mare he just purchased at Hemphills, Inc. in North Vassalboro on Friday.

A NICE CAST: Pat Merrill of Lewiston fishes for smallmouth bass on the Kennebec River in Augusta at the East Side Boat Landing Park on Friday.

Retired Colby College English professor John Sweney tends his tomato plants on Monday at the Colby Garden off Washington Street in Waterville. Sweney said he has three varieties of tomatoes growing in the garden.

Rick Biche of Conway, NH helps his two-year-old son Alex paint a t-shirt at the 3rd annual Aquafest Family Festival in Belgrade Lakes on Saturday. The event was organized by the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance and local lake associations and was held at the Maine Lakes Resource Center. Charlie Baeder, executive director of the BRCA, […]

Jason Madore of Vassalboro jumps off a floating swim dock with three of his kids while cooling off in the middle of Outlet Stream in North Vassalboro on Sunday. From left to right are Jayden Madore, 5, Miah Deckard, 5, and Kendrick Williamson, 4. Hot and humid weather is forecast to persist for the next […]

Carissa Burbank, 14, helps pick up rocks in a field Wednesday at her family’s farm in Vassalboro. Burbank’s dad, Jeremy, lower right, co-owns Oak Grove Farms with his brother-in-law, Dan Wall, and mother-in-law, Susan Blount. The Burbanks were picking up rocks on Wednesday in preparation of planting the field for horse hay.

Asia Wood of Waterville rides her quater horse “Bella” barebacked during an outing at her aunt’s along the North Vassalboro/Winslow town line on Tuesday.