Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 109 Entries. Friday, February 12 View Page Ok I need to get my camera fixed. Just another thank you to ALL the people who helped make the Haiti fundraiser a success $7K plus is very cool. Now I hope good carma comes my way and I reach at least one of my lofty goals. Thursday, February 18 View Page Ok camera not working but my new Blackberry does. So Getting ready for the show to start with my pumpkin cup (Breana made)full of coffee and ready to go. Man I am so exciteded of what is to come this year world wide. I think our weights this comming year are really going to rise closer to the one ton mark. Good luck to all!!! Friday, February 19 View Page I cant believe the luck I am already having. When I came into work the other night I noticed Don Youngs locker was right above mine !! WOW that guy is AMAZING!! Not only does he lives and grows Pumpkins in Iowa and he works in Renton Washington too? DANG!! I am honored to have his locker above mine. Can't wait to ask him some questions. Saturday, February 20 View Page Ok yesterday my buddy Stan Pugh and I went on our Rabbitt poo collecting run and filled up the back of my truck with poo. Will be making a run for Cindy Tobecks place eventually to pick up our TOP secret ammendment. Boowaahahaha!! Saturday, February 20 View Page And it will be WAAY better than some rhino poo someone I know is hording and wont share with me. Won't say any names but SHE lives somewhere northwest of me about roughly 60-70 miles. Right Erin? Oh yea the TOP secret ammendment isn't some exotic poo incase you were wondering Tuesday, March 16 View Page So I got a little motivated on Sunday and............... Tuesday, March 16 View Page Tilled only half of the patch Tuesday, March 16 View Page And the other half and inorder to finish tilling I will have to acquire a bigger tractor to spread my compost piles around and add my ammendments so until then the rest will have to wait. Tuesday, March 16 View Page A pic of our friend and fellow grower/secret ammendment test partener and her horse with Breana at a show in Spanaway Wa. Breana CANT!!! wait to get a chance to ride one of Cindy's horses. Also picked up some horse poo that day too Tuesday, March 16 View Page Our cats get abit tired of me talking Pumpkins ALL the time. Oh well (Tabby -Romeoh / blk & White Oreo) Tuesday, March 16 View Page Jewy!! wake up I not done telling you about............nevermind!! Tuesday, March 16 View Page Sierra and me with the 960 Barker 09 Tuesday, March 16 View Page Breana after her back surgery wasnt to impressed with this clown Tuesday, March 16 View Page My dad is way better at clowning and doesnt need the make up as he looks goofy enough as it is.............. hehe! Wednesday, April 14 View Page My line up 1467 Perham 1528 Starr 901 Hunt 1385 Jutras 1191 Barker 898 Knauss (clone)(pollinator) 1184 Barker (could be substituted for the 1104 Hester) 908 Barker or 768 Barker to be grown at Stan Pugh's patch Breana will be growing the 387.5 S.Savage Wednesday, April 21 View Page A nice sigh of relief for the most part that 1467 Perham,1385 Jutras, 901 Hunt, 1528 Starr, 354.5 S.Savage (Breanas Kin), 1191 Barker (Will be getting one that another grower started) and my 908 are up My back ups are my 768 Barker 07 (1142 VaKooten x 1354 Checkon) Wednesday, April 21 View Page Will be getting some more of the secret ammedment here in the next couple of days. Thanks Cindy T. Sunday, May 2 View Page Well Quite the busy Weekend. Got power out to my Pumpkin shed thanks to my landlord and finishing all but one hoop house and planting all plant except one. UGGG! Met Cindy Tobeck to give her her new 1502 Wallace and 1467 Perham on Saturday and was very pleased to hear that she to will be growing my 1191 also. Thanks Cindy!! Monday, May 10 View Page Went to to pick up some supplies for some car parts I am working on and received a sign. Now only if ........... nah I won't say it! Monday, May 17 View Page Hey MONSTER GROWER!! you might want to watch out for that 1184 Barker plant that Manure man is growing. I have given him some secret info. on the plant that just might surprise you. Boowahahaha!!! Monday, May 17 View Page Well it looks as if the 1528 Starr is going to survive it's wind damage after all Thank Goodness. It is still a bit behind the others but I am sure it will have no problem catching up. Thadd mentioned last year how beastly sized the plant was for him so time will tell. d.v. Friday, May 28 View Page Well. one of these days I will get my camera fixed and post some pics. but I would like to say things are looking alot better the 1467 Perham is out at just a hair under 4ft. 901 hhunt at about 3' 1146 Pugh closing in on 2' 1385 2 1/2 + ft 1528 Starr is making a solid recovery but no measureable length yet but I am not worried just yet on that one. Thursday, June 3 View Page Sorry Ryan (monster grower) no pics yet. But the 901 Hunt and 1467 Perham are at 6+ feet and the 1385 is at 4.5' and my 1191 and 1146 Pugh are neck and neck at about 3.5 to 4 feet. The 1528 Starr as expecteded is starting to launch (yea baby!!) applied some TKO today and friday I may apply my first comp. Tea. that is if I get the rest of the irrigation laid out. By the way a HUGE thanks to Robin Halbert for comming out to help me figure out the irrigation system as he has been VERY busy with his business. To take the time to come out and help me was extremely awesome. Thanks man Friday, June 25 View Page Hey Monster Grower I have mounted cameras on those SVB's that are flying around your place so please dont squash them just lift up there little wings and remove the batteries. Or I can stop by and show you how to reprogram them to a specific address (Manure man) Oh yea they have a distruct mechanism in them that cant be removed that they will self distruct if they get anywhere near my place. SOOOO don't even think about it!!!! Saturday, June 26 View Page Pollinated a Kin on Breanas 354.5 Savage today with the 1467 Perham. 5 lobes. It is approx 9+ ft out with another comming on by next weds. roughly. Saturday, June 26 View Page she loves to do the polinations. now if I could get he abit more consistant with the rest of the stuff. Monday, June 28 View Page Well pollinated the 901 Hunt with 1467 Perham on Monday. 5 lobes. Friday, July 2 View Page 7/1 two pollinations today first I Pollinated the 1528 Starr with the 1385 Jutras 4 Lobes, 1467 Perham X 901 Hunt yes another 4 lobes. I have one on each that should still open up with in the next week so I will X my fingers for them to be 5 lobes. If not then I will most likely use the first pollinations as they both are at a good length out. Saturday, July 3 View Page Word up monster it is time to deploy solar powered stealth drowns. I will send some up and have them uncloak at your address and then you will have to reprogram them for Manure mans addy. This must be done quicky as they will be set to go back to cloaking mode (disappear) in 1 hour after you enter in the secret code. After the code is set just set them out on the back yard. Right before cloaking mode you will hear 5 cherps from each one to let you know they are taking off. Good luck! Monday, July 5 View Page Pollinated the 1191 Barker with 1467 Perham (or first family (cousin) cross)and the second 1467 x 901 Hunt but yet another 4 lobe I should have one more oportunity on the 1467 in hopes for it to be a 5 lobe. This would put it at about 16-18 feet out Monday, July 12 View Page Wahoo!!! All Plants pollinated (FINALLY!!!) 901 HUNT 6/28 5L male 1467 Perham 1later poll. culled and one other still on for insurance. All the same pollinator 1467 PERHAM 7\1 4L 901 Hunt 7\5 4L 901 Hunt 7\10 5L 901 Hunt Quite possibly my keeper 908 BARKER 7\1 871 Pugh 4L Plant looks good but not putting out femail on the main so I will be looking for and open pollination on a secondary as a backup. 1385 JUTRAS 7\4 901 Hunt 4L 7\8 901 Hunt 5L 7\11 901 Hunt 5L all be it 1 to 2 days later pollination than I like I maybe looking at this one as my keeeper 1528 STARR 7\1 1385 Jutras 4L only set on the 1528. Due inpart the plant took a big hit during a wind storm and has been playing catch up. 1191 BARKER 7\5 1467 Perham 5L 7\9 901 Hunt 4L 7\11 1467 Perham 5L hoping to be the keeper 1146.5 PUGH 7\11 1191 Barker 5L Breana has a REALLY Nice looking Kin on her 354.5 Savage Pollinated on 6|26 with the 1467 Perham 5L Monday, July 19 View Page Here is a pic of my 908 Barker plant that I am growing @ Stan Pugh's place. there are 2 sets on it. My 908 is 898 Knauss x 1689 Jutras and what I have x'd into it is the 871 S.Pugh (1467 Perham x 1689 Jutras) both sets are the same 1 on 7/4 and 1 on 7/13 Wednesday, July 21 View Page Finally I bought a new camera So for those of U who care I will be posting some pics soon. But for now just words. Breanas pumpkin on the 354.5 Savage is doing Real well and is showing signs of color and is over beach ball size. (will have her start to get circ measurements soon. 901 hunt is doing well and all others are coming along fine. Thursday, July 29 View Page My tall corn and sunflower plants Thursday, July 29 View Page Ala Don Young. My patch. Far right corner 901 Hunt, Center plant is 1385 Jutras, Far left my 1191 Barker, Center right 1528 Starr, Center left 1467 Perham, Forground right 1146.5 Pugh and last forground left 354.5 Savage. Thursday, July 29 View Page water tanks feeding into my under leaf watering system. I have to give a BIG thanks to PNWGPG club member Robin Halbert for helping me set this thing up. Thursday, July 29 View Page This is the coolest part for me and that is I have a 13 gallon bucket set up to feed into the watering system the fertalizer and to the right you see another hose and that is connected to my 30 Gallon tea brewer. Wednesday, August 11 View Page Its gonna get hot around here. 90's starting by Friday and lasting until mid to late next week. 75 today and 80+ on Thurs. 901 Hunt,1385 Jutras and 1467 Perham are leading the pack Friday, August 13 View Page Ahhh Finally gettin back to some normal temps. and it looks as id it will be around for a couple weeks. At least thats what the forcast says. I think I will keep it in a shorter window for now but will hope the heat continues. Sunday, August 22 View Page Came back from a mini vacation and all inst well. But not devastating. Breanas 354.5 Savage has a stem split but not to deep. 1191 Barker seems to be picking up some serious stem 901 Hunt doing well 1146.5 Pugh coming along and the others well not sure what to say. Still growing thow. Sunday, August 22 View Page A family break from growing the kins. Cousin Brad Perham Myself and Uncle Walt Perham representing the PNWGPG Sunday, August 22 View Page A real popular place to go camping. Known as the sand bar on the columbia river and just on the otherside of the river is the out door amphtheater in George Washington. Sunday, August 22 View Page Me going down this man made water slide that went from the top of the sand bar down into the water. Man that was some fun except for having to walk back to the top of the sand bar. Sunday, September 5 View Page About mid August Breana and her friend Jaydee posing with the 1385 Jutras kin. Sunday, September 5 View Page Been planning all week to go see Cindy and the 1191 Barker she is growing and thought I would surprise with some batteries for her camera. She hasnt posted in awhile because she said she keeps forgetting to pick some up. Sunday, September 5 View Page Cindy's daughter Roslynn Wanted to get a pic of her pet turtle (Turd is its name)on the pumpkin so we set her on top of one of Cindy's kin. I think a new item for perspective is in order here Sunday, September 5 View Page So The 1191 Barker that Cindy WAS growing is now called the 508 Tobeck DMG. It went roughly 10% heavy which was a nice litlle surprise. I got to use my new certified inline scale that I bought from our sister club the PGVG. Thanks guys looks like it works fine. Sunday, September 5 View Page had to sneak in one more pic before I left. Sunday, September 5 View Page So I drove up a few miles to see Jeff Uhlmeyer and the 1191 Barker he is growing. Wow this one looks way different and pretty big too. Hey Jeff thanks man for growing it and for the kind comments in doing so for my mom as the 1191 Kin was the only kin my mom got to see weighed at a weigh off. It was the sole reason I am growing it this year in honor of her. She would be proud of yours Jeff. Way to go and Thanks again Jeff an any others who are growing it. Sunday, September 5 View Page Another pic of the 1191 Barker Sunday, September 5 View Page So I saw this car today that I thought was really cool. The front was in the form of a 55 -57 Chevy Belair and the rest of it an even older Chevy impala. I had seen this car in a hot Rod mag. before and I beleive it sets on a corvette frame. Non the less it was REALLY! cool to see. Just wish I could of got the whole car in the pic. Monday, September 13 View Page My 1385 Jutras Kin (1385 Jutras x 901 Hunt) now is the 801.5 Barker dmg Monday, September 13 View Page Russ Leno carved up the 801.5 Barker at the Puyallup Fair on Sunday and my Seahawks beat up on the S.F. 49 ers Monday, September 13 View Page Cindy Tobeck and Shane Briggs Helping out with seed sales at the Fair Monday, September 13 View Page Breanas winning Kin off of the 354.5 S.Savage. It went 105 #'s over to weigh in at 607#'s. Monday, September 13 View Page The other side. we crossed the 1467 Perham into it Monday, September 13 View Page I asked Russ if he would carve my moms intials into the Kin for me and he did. For those who don't know my mom Passed away last Dec 13th. Also when I weigh my 1191 Barker kin at the Orting weigh off (where she saw the 1191 weighed last year) I hope to show well at that weigh off for her. Thanks for doing that Russ. Monday, September 13 View Page So much for good grammer when you are trying to finish the post before the boss comes by. Wednesday, September 22 View Page came home the other day and went through my usual checks and found I had a B.S on my 1191 Barker. Caulked it and then the next day I decided to try something........................................ Wednesday, September 22 View Page So I went and got a kin from another plant that I wasn't planning on doing anything more than porch pumpkins and found me a donor. So I cut a piece from it then matched the general shape on the split kin and.................... Wednesday, September 22 View Page ........... placed it in in the new spot. Made sure it was a tight fit and even scored the inside of the new piece in hopes it would open up and touch the insides of the 1191. Then I took .................... Wednesday, September 22 View Page and made me some sulpher paste and pasted the outside part of the graft. Now trust me this is still an exhibition pumpkin and I am only doing this to see if it works better than caulking and if I or someone can get seeds to maturity by doing this. So after appling sulpher to the area I then did a foliar application with some sulpher and calcium and a little B-1. Wednesday, September 22 View Page Put a fan in place and crossed my fingers. I have been doing some light applications of the sulpher,calcium mix on the leaves closest to the pumpkin. Also checking daily to see if I need to do some quick seed removing. Also making sure it is dry and adding more paste if need be. 3 days and it still appears ok. Tuesday, September 28 View Page So far I dont think my experiment has worked. I for the most part knew it wouldn't but figured it would be fun to experiment. I will be checking 2 C if I need to extract seeds at first scent of stinky but no sign of it yet and hopefully It will make it for our weigh off in Orting this coming Sunday. Even though it wont count I want to have it weighed there in memory of my mom. Tuesday, October 5 View Page Well lets see since I hadnt posted in awhile alot of things have went on. Tuesday, October 5 View Page I hadnt intended on taking the 1467 Perham to last weekends weigh at the Farm but when I had my homer Simpson moment and broke the stem will trying to see what it weighed the descission was made. I cant complain about the results. 1st place and 16% heavy. Estimated to weigh 845# and weighing 975.5 SAWEET!!. Thank goodness they took the pic of the pumpkins good side. Tuesday, October 5 View Page Well as I expected my little 1191 Barker experiment failed and I had to do some seed extracting. So it is now known as the 859 Barker EST 1191 Barker crossed with the 1467 Perham. When I cut it open she was real thick all the way around. Tuesday, October 5 View Page The weigh off at Scholz farm was fun except I was not feeling well and as I am posting this I have been home from work the last 2 dayz. A good turn out and a big surprise from Stan Pugh who finished second but had a kin go 27% heavy off of his 1136.5 pupmpkin. That thing has been throwing Bricks. I think it will make its way into my line up for 2011. May I really have using the term "Next Year"!! Just so you peps know 1136.5 is 1053 Pugh x 898 Knauss Tuesday, October 5 View Page Now that I have seen a few of the 901 Hunts go heavy. I.E. Wiz's 27%, Phil and Janes @ a nice 16% and a few others I have my fingers crossed that mine will do something compareable to those this weekend at the PNWGPG Schoreline Centarl Market weigh off. Cindy Tobeck has me a bit nervous with her kin off the 1502 Wallace and with Jake VanKooten coming down and who knows what else. I am hoping to maybe finish in the top 5. Tuesday, October 5 View Page If I am LUCKY!! Saturday, October 9 View Page Wow! what a GREAT time at central Market weigh off I got to man the scale and to see Cindy Tobecks weight come up with her new PB of 951 pounds Reminded me of why we grow these things. I was soooo happy to see here excitement when the numbers came up. My 901 Hunt went roughly the same percent over as my 1467 Perham did (16%) but weighed a whole pound more at 976.5 (901 Hunt x 1467 Perham)and I finished in 7th. Pics to come soon. Cograts alsop to Brett Hester for a first place finish at 1291 pounds. Sunday, October 10 View Page error on Bretts Kin 1286 not 1291 Thursday, October 14 View Page Pumpkins at Central market Thursday, October 14 View Page Hey Cindy would you like to see what your pumpking weighs?......................... say Please!! Thursday, October 14 View Page Wait for it Thursday, October 14 View Page ..........wait for it....... Thursday, October 14 View Page Ok here it is. Thursday, October 14 View Page Whoa!! I think she likes what it weighs. Thursday, October 14 View Page Whoa!! I think she likes what it weighs. Thursday, October 14 View Page Cindy put her bid in for our pumpkin growers calender. Thursday, October 14 View Page Now my 901 Hunt (901 Hunt x 1467 Perham) was est. to weigh 834 # Thursday, October 14 View Page Ok I was hoping to continue my 1K streak to 4 years in a row but it was not to be. I have one kin left to hope to get 1000+ pounds but it will have to go pretty heavy to do so. Not out of the possibilty, but I just don't want to get my hopes up. Thursday, October 14 View Page Some how I think my attempt to make the calender will fall REALLY short. Thursday, October 14 View Page Ryan hanging with his 1084 Ewing Kin. Thursday, October 14 View Page Kake VanKooten with his HD award winning kin Thursday, October 14 View Page !st year grower Bret Brown was wowing pretty much everyone with his moster Kin comming in at 1100.5 and taking the Idaho st record by .5 lbs. All Rick Maggi(the former record holder) could do was shake his head. Thursday, October 14 View Page Hey Brett your pumpkin is next!!! Thursday, October 14 View Page EASY ...EASY.... Thursday, October 14 View Page WOW!! Nice job Brett and that was close as J. Hollands kin came in at 1277 Thursday, October 14 View Page Russ Leno carving up a kin at Central Market Thursday, October 14 View Page That's right Ryan!! Be affraid be very affraid. Sunday, October 24 View Page Shane Briggs brought his 1467 Perham to the Terminator and he took 7th at 784.5 Sunday, October 24 View Page I took my 1146.5 Pugh down and was pleasantly surprised as it measured to weigh 723 and went 247 pounds heavy (34%) heavy. It was good enough to finish in 3rd place. Sunday, October 24 View Page Ok show me the seeds............no really show me THE SEEDS!!! Sunday, October 24 View Page Hey Brent Savage Do you see any seeds? Sunday, October 24 View Page Oh! is there anny seeds there Brent? Sunday, October 24 View Page Ohhhh! This just SUCKS!!!!! 34% heavy and NO VIABLE SEEDS!! Well just as a side note all 3 of the kins that Stan Pugh and I put the 898 Knauss into last season went 200+ pounds heavy 1029 Pugh 10 (1136.5 Pugh x 898 Knauss) 211# Heavy 729 Pugh 10 (971 Pugh x 898 Knauss) 218#'s heavy 970 Barker 10 (1146.5 Pugh x 898 Knauss) 247#'s heavy So in my humble opinion the knauss I grew has worked out well. Thanks again for the person who made that seed available last year. For those of you who grew out the clones from that Knauss plant I really hope that your offspring do as well as ours did. Sunday, October 24 View Page Well while Brent Savage and I were hunting for seeds Seringetti (sorry if I spelled it wrong)went over to snap some shots of Breana competing a pumpkin pie eating contest. She said she thought Breana should have won the contest but it was awarded to someone else. Thanks again for taking all the pics Seringetti i really appreciate you taking them for me. Sunday, October 24 View Page Breana just noticed that she was being photographed. Sunday, October 24 View Page Jim Sherwood attempting to coach everyone on the seed retrival process Sunday, October 24 View Page The top ten Terminator finishers. once again I had a BLAST!! coming down here for this event. Even though I yet again had a DNF (did not finish) I had a fun time talking to other growers and taking everything in. Did I mention I had NO SEEDS!! :-( Tuesday, November 2 View Page A pic of my 970 Barker (1146.5 Pugh x 898 Knauss) went 247 pounds heavy. (247 pounds) Like I said in a previous post NO SEEDS!! Crap! Tuesday, November 2 View Page nothing like saying it twice. what I meant to say the second time was 34% heavy Tuesday, November 2 View Page Ok I geuss I posted that pic already. last week I went and got some poo................. Tuesday, November 2 View Page Alpaca poo that is roughly 3-4 yards of it. our dump trailer is 7 x 14 and it was FILLED up with Hot stinky poop. Tuesday, November 2 View Page On the way home on Friday I saw the yard maintanace people for the housing development and they had a truck Full of leaves and grass clippings. I asked if they wouldn't mind dumping all that in my back yard. "NoProblem". So I got about 5 yards of leaves and grass clipping and I also hit up the apartment complex guy that same day as he was cutting the grass and yep he dropped that off too. I think my OM is going to be just fine. Tuesday, November 2 View Page So now you all get to see why I called my 975.5 Barker the "Butt Pumpkin". Drove up on Monday to get the seeds and thankully I didn't get skunked again as I had a fair amount of seeds. 1467 Perham x 901 Hunt both kins went 17% over. I did the cross both ways. Tuesday, November 2 View Page Pretty uniform all the way around except for the bad spot on top. Sunday, November 28 View Page Dang I forgot to mention the 1191 Barker is at about 3' out. whew!! can't forget about that one!