Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 307 Entries. Friday, January 1 View Page Happy New Year everyone..May all your mellons be big and Orange....   Saturday, January 2 View Page Cathys daughterinlaw and grandson came over to check out the winter patch prep..............   Saturday, January 2 View Page So I figured I should check it myself..Dont know what I want to be when I grow up.........any ideas.....   Thursday, January 7 View Page Spent a few hours turning the compost pile today..Much to my surprise its still hot in the middle..Weather permitting this stuff may be done for spring..   Monday, January 11 View Page Went skiing for the first time this season today......Bryan I am ready.............   Saturday, January 16 View Page Turned the compost pile again this morning in less than two hours, I must be getting more manly or progressivly doing a shitier job each time, hoping its the first choice but you never know......Still cooking in the middle Mr. Al..   Friday, January 22 View Page Two crazy pumpkin growers at Wildcat Mountain,,,Good thing we aint Cowboys!!!!!!!   Tuesday, January 26 View Page Added some bloodmeal and turned compost pile this morning. Plenty of worms but the temp seemed to be down, still steaming in middle, not like 10 days ago.. Hope the 2 inches of rain yesterday has something to do with this. If this project isnt finished by April it wont be from lack of effort on my part.......Ibuprofen anyone....   Sunday, January 31 View Page Due to renovations the guest room at the Bates Motel is temporarily out of service..Sorry .......   Monday, February 1 View Page She has been seperated for 15 years, living with me for 10....Guess what she got divorced today.......SHE IS MINE...ALL MINE..I am the luckiest boy in the whole world............   Monday, February 1 View Page SCARY FINGER K SCARY FINGER   Friday, February 5 View Page Went to work and found out they are shipping our dept to poland and china..That means possible early retirement for me.I think I will have plenty of time to grow 8 plants this year, do some renovations to get The Bates ready for sale..Down sizing in the near future for sure...   Sunday, February 7 View Page Over the last two days I stuffed about 2500 seeds in 30 bubbles....The seed promo is done..Now its off to bond with those wonderful people of the US Postal Service.. I can feel the love already..   Sunday, February 14 View Page Went out to turn compost pile this morning, after about a couple minutes I knew that I didnt have what it takes today..Al I dont think you were even here in spirit.. Oh well try again in a couple weeks....   Monday, February 22 View Page Spent a couple hours turning compost pile this morning, still warm in the middle but temp is going down for sure..Got plenty of worms..Now for my Ibuprofen fix....   Monday, March 8 View Page The first true sign of spring...unless you live in the Tundra..   Monday, March 8 View Page Let the games begin..   Friday, March 19 View Page Another true sign of spring is an old guy sitting at keyboard ordering chlorine filters..........   Sunday, March 21 View Page Spent the afternoon busting up about 800 sq ft of sod, have about 200 sq ft more to do and I will be ready for 9 plants this season and possibly a watermelon.. Got a super top secret experimental plant cant wait..   Wednesday, March 31 View Page I think its full   Wednesday, March 31 View Page We have some flood issues   Wednesday, March 31 View Page The water is usually about 10 ft below this bridge   Wednesday, March 31 View Page a little out of control   Wednesday, March 31 View Page wild   Wednesday, March 31 View Page This guy dont mind the extra water   Thursday, April 1 View Page surfs up   Thursday, April 1 View Page this is less than a quarter mile from my house   Thursday, April 1 View Page All i did from the last picture is turn around my house is yellow one in back..   Saturday, April 3 View Page Went out to measure garden to see if there was another 300sq ft that could be stole from lawn, when all of a sudden there was this crazed woman yelling out the door at me..She said if I made garden any bigger she was going to leave and never come back. I cant cook so I guess my clone 1385 is going to be a flag pattern..Sorry Matt   Saturday, April 3 View Page On the brighter side, I went to see The Worm Ladies of Charlston and picked up some castings to make tea, also bought 24 five inch peat pots and starter mix, so overall it was a good day.........   Monday, April 12 View Page started 5 doz maters today got you covered mr. pete....   Saturday, April 17 View Page Due to inclemencies in the weather a 16 mile group walk was canceled today, so that leaves the next best thing for me to do is shovel a half load of cow shit on the new area I busted up a couple weeks ago, shoveled the other half in a 160 sq ft area on property line to grow sunflowers hope my neighbor appreciates it..........   Sunday, April 18 View Page Spread 50 lbs of kelp and about 75 lbs of 0-0-50 and also a couple yds of compost this afternoon, hope to finish spreading compost tomorrow..Cathy said I stunk like a dirty rotten fish dead on the beach, not sure if thats a good thing....   Monday, April 19 View Page Spread the rest of the compost today, all thats left is about a half yd that I will use for tea when my worm castings run out.......   Wednesday, April 21 View Page Spread 50 lbs of humic acid and sprayed about 1.5 qts of molasses in garden with some luck I can play with tiller tomorrow............   Saturday, April 24 View Page Finished tilling garden and put out all cold frames except one which I still have to make..Fired up the germ box start seeds tomorrow...........   Sunday, April 25 View Page Filed and soaking seeds at 10 am, 973 Rondeau, 1287 and 958 Gansert, 1059 Vincent Mcgill, 772 Poirier, 1046 Bowles,700 Rodonis and a 827 Gansert just in case something doesnt germ...   Sunday, April 25 View Page Its 5 pm and all seeds are in germ box. Went to spring SNGPG meeting at Frerich's Farm today which had a great turnout even in the rain. I happened to come home with a 1385 clone. Thanks Matt. I will give it my best..Never had a plant in the ground in April before..   Thursday, April 29 View Page 84 hours and 1287, 973, 1059, and 700 are up all going out to get some sun today   Thursday, April 29 View Page 5pm and 827 and 958 are up and in cold frame in driveway..Just waiting on them Tundra seeds...   Friday, April 30 View Page At 9:30 this morning I started a 903 Williams as a back up ...   Saturday, May 1 View Page Came home from work at midnight and the 1046 was up just waiting on the 772 at the moment..If it makes it great if it dont I have a back up plant...   Saturday, May 1 View Page Set up my last cold frame today, if everything goes well I should be able to put plants out by mid week...........   Sunday, May 2 View Page My 1385 clone survived the first week in my garden with out any problems, hope this is a sign of things to come....   Tuesday, May 4 View Page 903 Williams is up and in cold frame in driveway..772 Poirier didnt germ after 9 days oh well cant win them all..Started 7 seeds from my 749 yesterday for a few friends.................   Wednesday, May 5 View Page All plants were put in the garden today, I was only going to plant 5 but I just couldnt stop..Had to make a deal with my honey to close the huts for the next three days..Nothing better than when a plan works..............   Sunday, May 9 View Page Went out at 8:30 this morning and found my double cold frame had become a sail and flew about 20 ft. Never liked that thing from day one,just poor design..I guess Jutras aint looking for my talents...On a better note the plants were fine....   Sunday, May 9 View Page At about 4:30 we had this..I borrowed these from my friends now I have to build two more for them....Tomorrows project...   Sunday, May 9 View Page At 6:30 everything was covered up in case of frost tonight..No heating cables or heaters here, this is a low buck opperation......   Monday, May 10 View Page Did a couple gal tea drench per plant this morning..So far everything is going along well........No disasters to report as of yet.....   Tuesday, May 11 View Page Survived a minor frost last night life is good.........   Thursday, May 13 View Page Repotted all my maters today....   Monday, May 17 View Page Nice sunny day today so I went out and bonded with my hoe for a couple hours, got about half the patch done. Made an attempt at making some walking shoes for the patch see how that turns out tomorrow.......   Thursday, May 20 View Page My new patch happy feet..A 4 year old pair of wolvarines,two scrap 12.5 x 32 pieces of 3/8 plywood, a little monkey glue and we have a finished product..   Thursday, May 20 View Page After 4 hours of bonding with my new hoe and happy feet we have this..........   Sunday, May 23 View Page I helped a friend get started this weekend..Yesterday we cut down a tree that was stealing most of their morning sun.. Today we set up the hoops and planted a 903 Williams and a 749 of mine..The 903 was a back up that I really wanted to see planted, have high hopes for this one........   Tuesday, May 25 View Page Went on my first spy tour of the season today and I found this...   Tuesday, May 25 View Page What is this???   Tuesday, May 25 View Page More hoops.......   Tuesday, May 25 View Page We have a plant out in open........   Tuesday, May 25 View Page Second part of spy mission........   Tuesday, May 25 View Page Find the clue here......   Tuesday, May 25 View Page Or is it here?????????   Tuesday, May 25 View Page I must have looked like lunch and figured it was time to go..............   Tuesday, May 25 View Page I had to take my 1385 clone out of hoop today secondary was growing up back wall.....   Tuesday, May 25 View Page This is what it looks like out of cold frame..The side vine looks much happier than main..See how it does without the cold frame............   Friday, May 28 View Page My neighbor told me she saw a woodchuck mulling around my biggest plant today..Being a good neighbor she yelled at it, she said it flipped her the paw and walked away..............TIME TO BAIT THE TRAPS ...........   Saturday, May 29 View Page Went on another spy mission the other day and look what I found..Take a peek over the wall and we can see a couple hoops...   Saturday, May 29 View Page Took my life in my hands and snuck up a little closer and there were some healthy looking plants in them there hoops...   Saturday, May 29 View Page My first seedling to out grow cold frame is my 958 from 09..Just got to love growing your own seeds.............   Monday, May 31 View Page Took my second seedling the 1046 Bowles out of cold frame today............More to come in very near future.........   Thursday, June 3 View Page Spent the day taking the last two plants out of cold frames, and hooking up the sprinklers today..The plants were the 1059 Vincent McGill and my 1287..Little weeding tomorrow and I my be able to take weekend off........   Saturday, June 5 View Page Took a break from tearing room up and went out and buried some vines. Saw my buddy the woodchuck a couple times in the last few days, he keeps coming around but he don't know who he is messing with...I will win I promise you...........   Monday, June 7 View Page While doing a 30 gal tea drench this morning I noticed everybody's favorite yellow and black striped buggies have landed in Johnston RI. I guess its time to mix up some anti buggie and bond with them later on today.........   Monday, June 7 View Page My favorite critter is still loose and flipping me off every time he sees me. I changed traps and bait see how this works out.....   Tuesday, June 8 View Page Look what I found this morning..I feel better but I know it has friends......   Wednesday, June 9 View Page Why does a caged raccoon grow at you just like an x wife???   Thursday, June 10 View Page Caught an opossum this morning that growled at me just like yesterdays raccoon, must be a conspiracy..........   Friday, June 11 View Page We have a hungry critter at the Bates Motel..Lost the tip of the main on my 958 and the tip of a side vine on the 1046..Oh well..   Friday, June 11 View Page After spending a couple hours weeding I decided to go on a spy mission..   Friday, June 11 View Page After cruising the neighborhood for a short while I parked down the street and snuck in..Dressed in my best camo I made it to the patch, lifted the wind fence and found this....   Friday, June 11 View Page Crawled around the other side and found this..   Friday, June 11 View Page I stood up and had only two words for what I found .....Holy Shit....Then I ran like hell back to my trusty get away vehicle.............   Sunday, June 13 View Page Still have a critter roaming the neighborhood..Had some minor damage on 1385 clone today, it also ate a couple heads of lettuce that it found among the weeds.......Oh well bait the traps and wait is all i can do now....   Monday, June 14 View Page Predator   Monday, June 14 View Page Super Predator   Monday, June 14 View Page I hope you can see the humor in the last posts, I caught my little pest only after eating the tip off my 958 and my 1385 clone along with sides off the 958 and 1046,,So I guess the woodchuck won..Life wont be so easy at his new home, you just became fox and coyote bait my little friend..On a happy note I feel much better now the little pig is gone.............Hope it didn't have any friends....   Tuesday, June 15 View Page I was caught having a romantic moment....   Tuesday, June 15 View Page You can call me stew.........   Friday, June 18 View Page Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, the Bates Motel, proudly, would like to introduce to you, our Scare Crow of the month of June. Due to high critter activity we had to go with a HH to try and get things back in check. Everyone say hi to my mom...............Yes she does make house calls...........   Sunday, June 20 View Page Mini Predator, caught and placed in trap by hand for transportation purposes............Don't want it growing up here............   Sunday, June 20 View Page Had a first today..I caught two small raccoons in the same trap at the same time...Saved me a trip to the dump.........   Monday, June 21 View Page Went on spy mission today, was the farthest I have traveled so far this season. Tried to sneak a picture from behind the fence but didn't have much luck with it..   Monday, June 21 View Page So I stuck my head around the fence and found this.....Not bad,not bad at all.........   Wednesday, June 23 View Page Pollinated the 1046 Bowles with the 700 Rodonis, Happy Birthday Dan. Pollinated 1385 clone side with my 958 just because I could, what shows up on main in near future will determine this ones fortune......   Wednesday, June 23 View Page My garden from the bottom of the hill.1046 and 958 to left on hill, 1287 on top center, 1385 clone in center,700 Rodonis and 1059 Vincent McGill on right top, 827 and 973 Rondeau closest to camera..   Wednesday, June 23 View Page 1059 and 700 back to back. 1059 is to left   Wednesday, June 23 View Page 958 with 973 and 827 in back   Wednesday, June 23 View Page 1287 with 700 Rodonis in back   Wednesday, June 23 View Page 1385 clone.This plant does not like the heat, burns easily..   Wednesday, June 23 View Page My 958 with 973 Rondeau and my 827 in rear..You may have noticed weeds in my garden..I try and weed around every plant as I prune and bury vines..I am not a fan of using roundup in my garden so I bond with my hoe daily, this is a never ending project, but I will keep at it for the season.. I have no clue how someone can work a full time job and grow 8 plants. To all these people you are my hero...........   Wednesday, June 23 View Page To add a little to my last entry I try to prune and bury vines on 2 or 3 plants every day, so it takes 3 days to get back to square one............   Thursday, June 24 View Page Pollinated my 1287 with 1059 Vincent McGill, also did a 20 gal tea follier drench   Friday, June 25 View Page Pollinated my 827 with 973 Rondeau   Monday, June 28 View Page Pollinated the 1059 Vincent McGill with my 827 today..   Monday, June 28 View Page Went on Ct spy mission yesterday started at Barts   Monday, June 28 View Page Buddy this one is for you..   Monday, June 28 View Page Healthy plant   Monday, June 28 View Page Bart is that you   Monday, June 28 View Page Next stop Jasons   Monday, June 28 View Page Good turn out to see the Ct champs garden and steal any secrets they can.   Monday, June 28 View Page The last 3 Ct state champs   Monday, June 28 View Page For the next stop we have the home of John Williams   Monday, June 28 View Page Nice   Monday, June 28 View Page Better Homes and Gardens is looking for this place...   Monday, June 28 View Page Check out that TEAM PUMPKIN SIGN..Sue do you see the clue here....   Monday, June 28 View Page Looks like the following has grown a little..You can see John in the middle pointing out one of his many attractions...   Monday, June 28 View Page For our next stop we went to Matts   Monday, June 28 View Page Healthy plants and no weeds how do you accomplish such a thing..   Monday, June 28 View Page Well organized..   Monday, June 28 View Page Nice   Monday, June 28 View Page This poor devil was abandoned and it will not die.   Monday, June 28 View Page The man just don't stop..   Tuesday, June 29 View Page Pollinated my 958 with my 1287 and also pollinated 1287 with 1059 Vincent McGill second one on main..   Wednesday, June 30 View Page Pollinated 3 pumpkins this morning 973 Rondeau x 1194 Northrup, 1046 Bowles x 1194 Northrup, 827 Gansert x 1287 Gansert........Now for the interesting part, on both the 1046 and 827 a BEE got in before I closed so I guess they are both open pollinated.............Oh well, can't win them all..............   Thursday, July 1 View Page For some strange reason I think this ugly thing didn't make it   Friday, July 2 View Page Pollinated 700 Rodonis with 973 Rondeau   Saturday, July 3 View Page Pollinated 1287 third one on main with 1059 Vincent McGill, culled one done on 6-29..   Sunday, July 4 View Page Pollinated 1059 with my 827 second one one main, also pollinated 1385 clone with my 1287....10 day cc on 1287 is 25".   Sunday, July 4 View Page Had a spy tour come through here yesterday afternoon, people checking up on Abbynormal, I think thats cool, hope there are more to come....   Monday, July 5 View Page Pollinated 973 Rondeau with 1194 Northrup second one on main, also pollinated my 958 with my 1287 second one on main also...   Wednesday, July 7 View Page Pollinated my 827 with my 1287 second one on main, pollinated 1046 Bowles with 1287 second one on main also.........   Thursday, July 8 View Page Pollinated 958 with 1287 this morning, third one on main.. I am 99.999999876% sure I don't need this one, I must have been horny....1059 Vincent McGill is 20" on day 10........   Friday, July 9 View Page 958 is 33" on day 10...I think that I have a pumpkin set on all plants..Still going to do one more on 973 and 1385 clone just to be on safe side.....   Saturday, July 10 View Page 10 day number on 827 is 24", 10 day number on 1046 is 29 both of these a bee got in before I closed flower so they are open, but not done by a long shot. 10 day number on 973 is 21"..We are finally getting some rain I am sure the sunflowers are thankful........   Monday, July 12 View Page I committed to one pumpkin on my 1046 Bowles plant, it was an easy choice seeing the one I pollinated a few days ago aborted all that was left is the one the Bee got in before I had time to close,, it is a nice pumpkin too bad it will be called ( open ) ain't going to ruin my day for sure..10 day number on 700 Rodonis is 23"...Please stay tuned for more in the world of Abbynormal......   Wednesday, July 14 View Page 20 day number on 1287 is 87"..This is my third most favorite melon in the whole world............... Guess who owns the others.....   Wednesday, July 14 View Page 20 day number on my 1287 is 87". Right now it is my 3rd favorite melon guess who has other two...............   Thursday, July 15 View Page Sprayed warrior and quintec tonight.. First time I ever used a Stihl mister..........I WANT ONE...and I want it now...   Sunday, July 18 View Page 20 day number on 1059 Vincent McGill is 67"...............   Monday, July 19 View Page 20 day number on my 958 is 81"   Tuesday, July 20 View Page 20 day number on my 827 is 65"   Tuesday, July 20 View Page 20 day number on 1046 Bowles is 78"   Thursday, July 22 View Page 20 day number on 700 Rodonis is 77"   Saturday, July 24 View Page 30 day numbers on my 1287 are cc126, ss 81, ee 79, ( 286 ott ).. Hope this stays together, if it slows down oh well just hope it hangs in there..........   Sunday, July 25 View Page Went on another CT spy tour yesterday, things sure change in a month..   Sunday, July 25 View Page The neglected clone.......   Sunday, July 25 View Page Imagine finding this group in your back yard, someone call the cops................   Sunday, July 25 View Page Next stop we find this   Sunday, July 25 View Page And this.   Sunday, July 25 View Page After another short ride we find this, didn't I see these people earlier...   Sunday, July 25 View Page And there were more......   Sunday, July 25 View Page What is this?? anyone..   Sunday, July 25 View Page Its an Squash   Sunday, July 25 View Page More than one........   Sunday, July 25 View Page Some people can't grow a clone, others can't kill one..............   Sunday, July 25 View Page There was even a pumpkin hiding in the last patch,,,,very top secret...Didn't want to be seen hanging out with some squash.......Bart, John, Jason, Matt, thanks for letting me tag along with my top secret coke can cam..Jason tell you honey thanks for lunch......She is Great.........   Sunday, July 25 View Page I started to take out my 1385 clone today..Plant is taking up a large area with minimal returns..Many aborts and much burn have led me to this..Sorry Matt, I know how hard you worked on this project over the winter...............   Wednesday, July 28 View Page 30 day numbers on 1059 Vincent McGill are cc 108, ss72, ee 67, ( 247 ott )   Thursday, July 29 View Page 30 day numbers on my 958 are cc 113, ss 71, ee 75, ( ott 259 ).. Bry this one looks nothing like yours..........   Thursday, July 29 View Page Have my first foaming stump of the season on 973 Rondeau plant.. Seeing the plant has no sets on main and totally deadheaded it will make a great test plant....   Friday, July 30 View Page And then there was 5, my 958 made 30 but not 31 days,,split blossom............   Friday, July 30 View Page 30 day numbers on my 827 are cc 99, ss 75, ee 68, ( 242 ott )   Friday, July 30 View Page 30 day numbers on 1046 Bowles are cc 111, ss 76, ee 71, ( 258 ott )   Sunday, August 1 View Page 30 day numbers on 700 Rodonis are cc 115, ss 83, ee 78, ( 276 ott )   Monday, August 2 View Page 700 Rodonis split blossom end   Monday, August 2 View Page Day 31 seems to be evil around here this is two in one week.........   Tuesday, August 3 View Page 40 day numbers on 1287 are cc 147, ss 93, ee 90, ( 330 ott )   Friday, August 6 View Page Pollinated the 700 Rodonis on a side vine with my 749 est this morning. The original pumpkin split blossom on day 31, plant looks great, 60 days left in season so why not..Going to do the other side tomorrow..This is for the grandkids but you never know I may need it for me........   Saturday, August 7 View Page Pollinated the other side on 700 Rodonis with 749 Gansert est this morning, last ones of season..Really want a pumpkin off this plant.........   Saturday, August 7 View Page 40 day numbers on 1059 Vincent McGill are cc 126, ss 88, ee 81, (295 ott )   Monday, August 9 View Page 40 day numbers on my 827 are cc 114, ss 90, ee 80, ( 284 ott )   Monday, August 9 View Page 40 day numbers on 1046 Bowles are cc 120, ss 83, ee 76, ( 279 ott ) not bad for a pumpkin growing off one side vine due to a ft section of main rotted away about a ft from pumpkin..See if it grows any at 50 days......My grandkids will love this one..   Monday, August 9 View Page My buddy Gibbs at NCIC called me to say he had an ultra new top secret cap cam that needed testing so of on a spy tour I go..Where should I go? Who's privacy should I invade? I know...........   Monday, August 9 View Page After an hour ride I arrived at my first victim, Don't look like no pumpkin to me........   Monday, August 9 View Page I found it, gotta run I have been spotted......   Monday, August 9 View Page Just got out with my life. Another hour drive and we find this rather large and narley looking beast..Impressive to say the least........   Monday, August 9 View Page Went through a tank of gas but worth it, look what we have here..........   Monday, August 9 View Page More I must say..........   Monday, August 9 View Page Way cool   Monday, August 9 View Page After a hard day spying I think I deserve dinner, so me and my honey went out for some............   Monday, August 9 View Page Then we went and sat by the water for a while,,,,,,How romantic.....   Monday, August 9 View Page Ever feel like you were about to get shit on.........The end.....   Tuesday, August 10 View Page Open pol on 973, on a side seeing critter ate tip off main. I am guessing about 20 days maybe a little more, cc 82, ss 58, ee 56, ( 196 ott ).   Friday, August 13 View Page 50 day numbers on 1287 are cc 159, ss 101, ee 97, ( 357 ott )   Sunday, August 15 View Page First stop was Woody's ..............   Sunday, August 15 View Page He had 3 nice melons   Sunday, August 15 View Page As I said 3   Sunday, August 15 View Page Spys hiding in the bushes   Sunday, August 15 View Page Woody your neighborhood will never be the same   Sunday, August 15 View Page Cant forget these things......   Sunday, August 15 View Page Someone has a secret pumpkin patch, but we found it..   Sunday, August 15 View Page No secrets on this tour.....   Sunday, August 15 View Page Kim , George and Kevin   Sunday, August 15 View Page Future scarecrows of the month maybe.................   Sunday, August 15 View Page More cookies Nana Rae...............   Sunday, August 15 View Page Then we moved on to the Hoomis residence..   Sunday, August 15 View Page Some nice fruit here also......   Sunday, August 15 View Page As I said nice   Sunday, August 15 View Page And some real cool pets...........   Sunday, August 15 View Page After a short ride we arrived at Armands which was the final stop of the tour........   Sunday, August 15 View Page Trust me, the best was saved for last............   Sunday, August 15 View Page This is the biggest, and prettiest pumpkin I have seen this season........ Good luck sir its a beauty.......   Sunday, August 15 View Page This is what you get when kids play with the camera.   Sunday, August 15 View Page On the way home we did a real spy tour and were very impressed to find some very big fruit..   Sunday, August 15 View Page You cant hide, we will find you...............   Sunday, August 15 View Page I must apologize I missed a very important part of the tour. Some where in the middle we stopped by the Doucet residence to see this fine specimen, which i am told was grown from John's own seed. Nice job John, sorry I forgot you, its an age thing and I am sticking with that..   Sunday, August 15 View Page Al was trying to tell us something about his 1385 here, I think he said he had a big one on it but that could be just a rumor......   Monday, August 16 View Page Pulled out my 973 Rondeau today..Like the grower the pumpkin had a soft blossom end..........   Tuesday, August 17 View Page 50 day numbers on 1059 Vincent McGill are cc 140, ss 86.5, ee 87.5, ( 314 ott )   Wednesday, August 18 View Page I pollinated 3 pumpkins on my 700 Rodonis plant this month..One on the 6th, 7th, and 8th..Today I culled the ones from the 6th and 7th. I had to cut up less plant to keep the remaining one ( location )..See if this one can finish out season original one split on day 31...Time will tell all...   Thursday, August 19 View Page 50 day numbers on 1046 are cc 122, ss 88, ee 77, ( 287 ott )   Thursday, August 19 View Page 50 day numbers on 627 are cc 127, ss 97, ee 86, ( 300 ott )   Thursday, August 19 View Page Due to early morning fog, mainly between my ears, my math skills were tested and failed..127 plus 97 plus 86 is 310 not 300..That means my 827 is 310", 12 years of private school money wasted..........   Monday, August 23 View Page 60 day numbers on 1287 are cc 168, ss 103, ee 100, ( 371 ott )   Thursday, August 26 View Page I havn't been in garden for 4 days due to rain, look what I found today.........Never know I live quarter mile out of the city......   Friday, August 27 View Page 60 day numbers on 1059 Vincent McGill are cc 148, ss 92, ee 92, ( 332 ott )   Sunday, August 29 View Page 60 day numbers on my 1046 stayed the same, I guess that one side vine supporting it is just running out of juice. 60 day numbers on my 827 are cc131, ss 101, ee 89, ( 321 ott )....Come on Durham Fair............   Monday, August 30 View Page After hours of hard work this young lady asked if she could have a break, I told her to be back in 15 mins, she still had a day and a half left in her shift...Ladies and gentlemen meet our scarecrow for the months of July and August........Thanks Sue you did a great job.......   Thursday, September 2 View Page 70 day numbers on 1287 are cc 172, ss 104, ee 101, ( 377 ott ). We have a possible hurricane coming tomorrow so I guess today was a great day to take picture..........   Monday, September 6 View Page 70 day numbers on 1059 Vincent McGill are cc 155, ss 94, ee 93, ( 342 ott )   Wednesday, September 8 View Page 70 day numbers on my 827 are cc 135, ss 102, ee 90, ( 327 ott ) still growing but not very much.............   Wednesday, September 8 View Page 70 day numbers on 1046 are cc 126, ss 85, ee 77, ( 288 ott )..Its a pretty pumpkin too bad the main rotted away.....   Sunday, September 12 View Page 80 day numbers on 1287 are cc 174, ss 106, ee 102, ( 382 ott )   Monday, September 13 View Page Went for a ride with Steve and Ron to Bethelem Fair last night to pick up their pumpkins, way better than laying on couch and having TV watch me.......   Monday, September 13 View Page Bumped into Mark Lombardi..........   Monday, September 13 View Page Also bumped into John Ciesielski........   Monday, September 13 View Page Ron's pumpkin all loaded for ride home..........   Monday, September 13 View Page Ron and Steve finishing up with Steve's pumpkin.......   Monday, September 13 View Page Mark's pumpkin.........   Monday, September 13 View Page John and his Family with their entry...I only wish this one came out clearer.........Sorry folks............   Tuesday, September 14 View Page I think instead of looking for a part time job I may open a petting zoo..Who wants to be first in line ??   Thursday, September 16 View Page 80 day numbers on 1059 are cc 158, ss 98, ee 94, ( 350 ott)..OH YEAH..   Saturday, September 18 View Page 12:25 am and I just got home from the Sanford Maine weigh off, which was really cool may I add. Along with the pumpkins they had a cruise night and and a few antique tractors,a couple bands, food and bunch of great people..Best part was my pumpkin of my 1046 plant won the Dill Award,pretty cool..Always wanted one and I hope there are more in the future..Pumpkin weighed 580lbs.I had a good day..............   Saturday, September 18 View Page 580 Gansert, Sanford Maine Dill Award winner, 1046 Bowles x 1194 Northrup plus a pesky Bee snuck in before I got it closed.. So its an open,,too bad it sure is nice...........   Sunday, September 19 View Page Measured my 827 yesterday and everything is pretty much the same a s 10 days ago......Come on Durham..........   Sunday, September 19 View Page Off to Maine we go...   Sunday, September 19 View Page Following my buddy Pete through Town....   Sunday, September 19 View Page We landed   Sunday, September 19 View Page I bet Armand and Pete are saying how nice the first pumpkin in line looks......   Sunday, September 19 View Page Some nice looking fruit........   Sunday, September 19 View Page There is more   Sunday, September 19 View Page They are everywhere   Sunday, September 19 View Page You find some of the best people in the world at a weigh off..   Sunday, September 19 View Page Cool cars too..I asked this guy how long it took him to restore this Mustang, he told me he bought it 3 months ago.Thats cheating, I been fooling with one for 23 years and it aint done yet............   Sunday, September 19 View Page Nice 51   Sunday, September 19 View Page This would make a cool pumpkin hauler........   Sunday, September 19 View Page My favorite....!!!!!   Tuesday, September 21 View Page Durham Fair here I come..............   Wednesday, September 22 View Page 90 day numbers on 1287 are cc 175, ss 107, ee 103, ( 385 ott )   Thursday, September 23 View Page Went to Durham Fair last night and watched everyone's friend Steve Sperry put a 1325lb pumpkin on scale way to go Steve..Great job as always by the great people in CT ( TEAM PUMPKIN ROCKS )..It was a pleasant surprise to see to see Bill and Dawn there..........JOANNE YOU ARE GOD.....the pies were great.By the way I got 6th place with a 820 lb pumpkin off my own seed,,,,,was a great day.....   Thursday, September 23 View Page This is not a good sign, a man tying a rope to a branch near end of season...........   Thursday, September 23 View Page Ok ,,put it in drive...................   Thursday, September 23 View Page Some go old yankee ingenuity..........   Friday, September 24 View Page 10:30 am Steve Sperry loaded for fair........   Friday, September 24 View Page This is what a pumpkin hauler should look like.......   Friday, September 24 View Page Mommy this old guy said you should teach me how to make apple pie.........   Friday, September 24 View Page The King and Queen of Orange. Bill and Dawn it was really good to see you............   Friday, September 24 View Page Joanne and her baby........Joanne you are the God of Apple Pie..   Friday, September 24 View Page Dan and his baby...........   Friday, September 24 View Page Good job Lloyd......   Friday, September 24 View Page Its that Abbynormal guy..............   Friday, September 24 View Page Hail to the King..........   Friday, September 24 View Page I would like to apologize to Matt, Bart, Joanne, Brian and all others whose pictures are not here, for some reason about half the pictures I took were very blurry, sorry I will try and do better job next time..   Friday, September 24 View Page First time out of the garage in about 10 years, maybe I will drive it in the spring..   Saturday, September 25 View Page Joanne and her two pumpkins.............   Saturday, September 25 View Page Hey Wiz.............Look familiar.........6 days to Topsfield.   Sunday, September 26 View Page 90 day numbers on 1059 Vincent McGill are cc 160, ss 100, ee 97, ( 357 ott )..Used the real Grumpy Dwarf in this picture...   Sunday, September 26 View Page My favorite Scarecrow and Honey..Are you scared yet ??   Sunday, September 26 View Page Driving around minding my own business today, something caught my eye........Could this be a pumpkin I see??   Sunday, September 26 View Page This one is bigger than my car.....   Tuesday, September 28 View Page The Bates Motel is getting in the mood...............   Thursday, September 30 View Page 1059 Vincent McGill loaded for Topsfield................   Saturday, October 2 View Page Went to Topsfield Fair last night and I return with Great news and some not so great news...First of all I had a great time..Talked and joked with people I only get to see once in a great while,,too bad I wish it was more..Now for the good news, I came in the top 20 with a pumpkin weighing 1131 lbs,,no for the not so good news, my string of Dill Awards has come to an end..Armand Michaud put an end to that for me..Congrats Armand your pumpkin is a beauty..   Saturday, October 2 View Page Armand's 3rd place pumpkin and Dill Award winner...WAY TO GO..   Saturday, October 2 View Page Me at the scale............   Saturday, October 2 View Page I was in the lead for a half hour, mostly because they took a half hour break. Still looks good up there........   Saturday, October 2 View Page Bob was in the lead longer than me, and we were weighing pumpkins all that time......   Saturday, October 2 View Page Steve Sperry having another good day......   Saturday, October 2 View Page Probably the happiest people at the Fair..........Great job George and Mary Ann......   Saturday, October 2 View Page Hail to this years King............   Sunday, October 3 View Page Got Orange   Thursday, October 7 View Page Did my final measurement of 1287 today. The numbers are cc 176, ss 108, ee 104, ( 388 ott )..I can't believe it has grown, the plant is worn out to say the least.........   Saturday, October 9 View Page Went to the SNGPG weigh off today where to my great surprise I came in 4th with a 1441 lb pumpkin off my own seed..Dick Wallace was right even a blind squirrel gets a nut some days...Life is good..........   Sunday, October 10 View Page Great Day   Sunday, October 10 View Page Final standings   Sunday, October 17 View Page Look what I found heading up Rt 495 yesterday, being curious I thought I would follow....   Sunday, October 17 View Page I ended up in this great little town of Goffstown NH..   Sunday, October 17 View Page Jim did a great job working the crowd..   Sunday, October 17 View Page The Godfather of NH pumpkin growers, and probably one of the nicest guys you could ever meet....Jim Kuhn   Sunday, October 17 View Page There goes the neighborhood...   Sunday, October 17 View Page The Goffstown weighoff was a great time..Real neat country setting, plenty of great people, was a great day..Weighoffs are over for me time to get my skis waxed..Have a great winter folks..........   Saturday, October 23 View Page How I spent my Friday   Saturday, October 23 View Page It was worth it   Saturday, October 23 View Page What I did with my Friday...............   Saturday, October 30 View Page To Boldly Go where no man has gone before.........   Wednesday, November 3 View Page Put two loads of cow manure on the compost pile over the last two days..Turn pile in a couple weeks for the first time........   Thursday, November 11 View Page Put two loads of horse manure on compost pile today....Ibuprofen anyone.......   Friday, November 12 View Page Spread about 75 lbs of 0-0-50 and chased the tiller for 4 hours today................finish tilling tomorrow...   Saturday, November 13 View Page Chased tiller for 1.5 hours today, garden is finished till spring   Saturday, November 13 View Page My friends mom made me a new TV couch blanket.....This is great.............Fran your the best...............   Monday, November 15 View Page Went to the New England Giant Pumpkin Growers cook out and patch tour Yesterday..Which was a great time, plenty of great food, I got to hang out with some old friends and meet some new ones. It was a great time put on by some great folks......THANK YOU........   Thursday, November 18 View Page Spent a couple hours turning compost pile today did about half.............   Friday, November 19 View Page Finished turning compost and spread 6 lbs of blood meal on pile......   Sunday, December 5 View Page Turned compost pile and spread 6 lbs of blood meal on it....   Sunday, December 19 View Page Abbynormals favorite patch !!!!!!!!   Sunday, December 19 View Page Turned compost pile and spread 6 lbs of blood meal on it..