Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 72 Entries. Wednesday, June 30 View Page My son Mack's band playing at Tommy Doyles in Cambridge. That's him on the black tenor sax. He's 21 and greeted us with a Sam Adams in hand. !st time I'd seen him drink Wednesday, June 30 View Page NHGPGA Seed Swap in April 2010, at Demer's Garden Center in Manchester NH. Those guys know how to throw a party Wednesday, June 30 View Page NHGPGA 2010 Seed Swap at Demer's Garden Center in Manchester NH. They even let the Boys from Billerica MA. in. Glenn "The BORER" Peters, and Joe Post. Wednesday, June 30 View Page NHGPGA 2010 Seed Swap, Demers Garden Center, former World Record holder Bill Rodonis and Doc Robb Stidwell enjoying the Pizza. Wednesday, June 30 View Page NHGPGA 2010 Seed Swap, at Demers Garden Center, Hiram Watson, Geoff Pierce Mike McMurrary, Peter Carter, Jim Kuhn Thursday, July 1 View Page As soon as Nashoba closed I made a seaweed run to Hampton Beach N.H. Just as the tsunami hit!!! Thursday, July 1 View Page I avoided the Tsunami, but the "A"block of Hampton's Main Beach didn't fare so well. You can see the Ashworth Hotel on the right. Thursday, July 1 View Page Hampton Beach N.H. A view from the north of the "A" Street block. There used to be 5 floors of restaurants, candy shops,arcades and the Surf Hotel, where you see all this ruble. I worked as a kid in Hudons Restaurant on this block. Even back then the old buildings we were in were like a pile of drift wood just waiting to flame up. Thursday, July 1 View Page Another view down "A" St. on the Main Beach at Hampton N.H. I had heard about the fire starting in the Surf Hotel during the winter. I climbed and defaced the water tower in the background in my "Mis-spent Youth". Thursday, July 1 View Page My Younger boy Duncan, a sophmore and 2nd year on the highschool swim team. He's clean shaven for the championship meet. He's worried every time he does it that he'll turn out a queball like me. Thursday, July 1 View Page Duncan and one of his coaches, after he won the 100 Breast stroke. He swims for the Highschool in winter, County League in the spring, and Tennis and Swim club league in the summer. This coach is also 1 of his HSchool coaches. She looks like 1 of the students Thursday, July 1 View Page Duke on the starting blocks, he's 3rd from Left, his buddy Matt is far left Thursday, July 1 View Page After the swim meet in Bedford MA, I stopped into near by Billerica, to check out the "BORER"'s patch. Glenn and Cam gave me the tour. Yes that is a basketball I think he said a littli over 10'..."nothing BIG has ever grown inside 10'...RIGHT"?!?!!! I think this is on his 1207 Young. Thursday, July 1 View Page Stopped in on "AHAB" at the end of April. I think George is going with 3 plants this year. I always want to walk away with a few buckets of his soil. Glenn drove George, Cam, and me to Topsfield to Woody Lancaster's to pick-up some Humic acid and Kelp meal. Woody was tending a bunch of seedlings for a few folk. It was a REALLY nice day and Woody took his plants out to harden-off. And here I hadn't even started my seeds yet. Friday, July 2 View Page Having trouble attaching and sending posts Monday, August 16 View Page Attendees of the NEGPGA Patch Tour and Clambake, pose for a group shot at George and MaryAnn Hoomis' in Ipswich MA. Had a GREAT! time!! The Great Food, Drink, Weather, and Company made for a Super time. Tuesday, August 17 View Page NEGPGA Summer patch tour, first stop Woody Lancaster's patch in Topsfield. Didn't write down any of the plants I saw on the tour, so I won't attempt to name them. growers from ME,NH,CT, listening to Woody and Joe Jutras, from behind the net to catch the neighbor's BBAll, Charlie, Hiram Watson, Al Berad Gene Jim Beauchemin Tuesday, August 17 View Page NEGPGA Summer tour 8/14/2010. Jim Kuhn and a pretty blonde at Woody Lancaster's Patch in Topsfield Tuesday, August 17 View Page NEGPGA Patch Tour 8/13/10. Jim Kuhn eyes another pretty blonde at Woody Lancaster's #2 patch. A couple very large fruit growing on a postage stamp of a patch right in the middle of a parking lot. All that hot top and I can't believe they made it thru that HOT spell around the 4th. Tuesday, August 17 View Page NEGPGA Patch Tour 2010. Sorry the pics are coming so slow. I'm having a time of it shrinking and moving them. Woody Lancaster's #2 patch. L-R some names Bill Rodonis,___, Watson's,___, Joe Post, Joe Jutras,Doc Stidwell Woody, ________,_,_,Bruce Hooker,__,__, Armand Michaud,__,Wes & Marcia Dwelly, George Hoomis. Tuesday, August 17 View Page NEGPGA Patch Tour 8/14/10. A pumper in the patch of George & MaryAnn Hoomis in Ipswich MA. Tuesday, August 17 View Page NEGPGA Patch Tour 8/14/10 George Hoomis with a cute blonde in his patch in Ipswich MA Tuesday, August 17 View Page negpga Patch Tour 8/14/10 George Hoomis in the patch in Ipswich MA. Tha electric fence is to keep out the "Hoy Poloy". Rob Stidwell, Jim Beauchemin, on left. Tuesday, August 17 View Page NEGPGA Patch Tour 8/14/10 Long Gourds at Woody Lancaster's patch in Topsfield Tuesday, August 17 View Page NEGPGA Patch Tour 8/14/10 Nice pumper at the patch of John Doucet in Ipswich MA Tuesday, August 17 View Page NEGPGA Patch Tour 8/14/10 In Ipswich MA John Doucet's patch. (l-r)___,__,Bruce Hooker,Steve Connolly,Bill Rodonis, Wes Dwelly (kid) Cam "little BORER" Peters, __, __. Tuesday, August 17 View Page NEGPGA Patch Tour 8/14/10 Tourists at the John Doucet patch. Wednesday, August 18 View Page NEGPGA Patch tour 8/14/10. Final patch on the tour was Armand michaud in Ipswich MA. Wednesday, August 18 View Page NEGPGA patch tour 8/14/10 Armand Michaud's patch Wednesday, August 18 View Page NEGPGA Patch Tour 8/14/10 Armand Michaud's patch in Ipswich MA Wednesday, August 18 View Page NEGPGA Patch Tour 8/14/10. A beautiful orange ashtray in the patch of Armand Michaud, in Ipswich MA. Note the sponge used to dry out the recessed area. Guess you just can't tip it over. Wednesday, August 18 View Page NEGPGA Patch Tour 8/14/10. Long Gourds in the Patch of Armand Michaud in Ipswich MA. Pardon the turned photo Wednesday, August 18 View Page NEGPGA Patch Tour 8/14/10. Another Big one in the patch of Armand Michaud. Wednesday, August 18 View Page NEGPGA PAtch Tour 8/14/10. The big one revealed at Armand Michaud's patch in Ipswich MA. I heard it was estimating over 1200#. nice coloring, pretty. There's a chair in the background, I'm not sure when he gets a chance to use it. Wednesday, August 18 View Page "It was only this big last week." Armand Michaud at the NEGPGA tour 8/14/10 Wednesday, August 18 View Page NEGPGA Patch Tour 8/14/10 Another big 1 in Armand Michaud's patch in Ipswich MA Wednesday, August 18 View Page NEGPGA Patch Tour 8/14/10. Final look at the monster in Armand Michaud's Patch in Ipswich MA. Taping over 1200, pretty and orange. 44 days til Topsfield. GOOD LUCK ARMAND!! Tuesday, September 21 View Page Sanford ME Weigh-off 9/17/10 Al Berard ignites the weight watchers, as he announces Hiram Watson's #1309.5 1st place in the 1st year GPC event. Tuesday, September 21 View Page Sanford Me.GPC weighoff 9/17/10 Joe Post of Billerica MA, opens the event by leading the crowd in the National Anthem. And you thought he only grew Squash. Tuesday, September 21 View Page Sanford ME GPC weigh-off 9/17/10 Jim Kuhn congratulates Joe Post of Billerica MA for his #705.5 Squash, and you thought Joe was just another pretty face with a great singing voice. Tuesday, September 21 View Page Sanford ME GPC weighoff Peter Rondeau and Norm Gansert of RI, coach 1st year grower Mitch Adams of Maine, in the fine art of "Thumping a Pumper". "NO NO! You've got to lift your leg to get the proper revereration." coached Peter. Tuesday, September 21 View Page Peter Rondeau and Norm Gansert of RI coaching Mitch Adams on the fine art of thumping. "Leg's gort to be a bit higher. That's good." "I CAN hear it." Tuesday, September 21 View Page Sanford ME weigh-off 9/17/10 "Hey Guys it works on this one,too." Guys? Guys?" Mitch Adams lifting his leg for thumpers everywhere. A good sport, he was on pins and needles for most of the weigh-off after his fruit took the lead early. The low flat pumper even fooled Jim Kuhn weighing heavy and holding on for 3rd overall, the #1177 Adams. Tuesday, September 21 View Page Sanford ME GPC weigh-off. Armand Michaud of MA walks past the out of State entries. 1st one is Norm Gansert's #580, "Prettiest", 2nd is Armand's #935.5. Wednesday, September 22 View Page Sanford ME weigh-off 9/17/10 Hiram Watson(light blue shirt) checking out some Instate Maine entries Wednesday, September 22 View Page Sanford ME GPC weigh-off 9/17/10. Soma entries on the Instate Side of the scale. Wednesday, September 22 View Page Sanford ME GPC Weigh-off 9/17/10. An Exhibit pumper was brought in by Al Berard, you can see the butt crack between the ribs. They weighed it last I think it was to disperse the crowd. After they got it on the scale, you could see liquid seeping out. The lifting crew scrambled to back to it's skid before the bottom let loose. Looked like someone was pouring liquid out the bottom of the fruit, with a hose, when they lifted it from the scale to the skid. And what a stench, you could tell someone used a lot of fish emulsion this season. Wednesday, September 22 View Page Sanford ME 9/17/10. Charlie Lopresti #713.5(r) and Bill (I think) a couple of the Maine growers that worked at putting on a great event. Wednesday, September 22 View Page Sanford ME GPC weigh-off 9/17/10 Wednesday, September 22 View Page Sanford ME GPC weigh-off 9/17/10 (L-R) Norm Gansert RI #580, Armand Michaud MA #935.5, and Jim Kuhn NH #1057.5, out of staters make a good showing. Wednesday, September 22 View Page Sanford ME 9/17/10 (L-R) Peter Carter NH #1099.5 and Hiram Watson NH #1309.5 Wednesday, September 22 View Page Sanford ME GPC Weigh-off 9/17/10 #1012.5 Gaboury Wednesday, September 22 View Page Sanford ME GPC Weigh-off 9/17/10 (L-R)2 of the NH lunkers, Hiram Watson's #1309.5 and Bill Rodonis' #1150 Wednesday, September 22 View Page Sanford ME GPC 1st Annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off. Everyone eye spoke with had a great time. Sorry I didn't get any pics of the antique autos, or the trick water skiier, and my ride a bit too long to take advantage of the Beer Tent, but I'll be back next year. This picture is on my desktop. The angle I took it at almost makes my pumper look bigger with the biggies off in the distance, until you look at how much of their skid each fruit covers. (R-L) #488 Kearns, #518 Sweat, #1150 Rodonis, #1309.5 Watson, and part of the #1099.5 Carter Tuesday, October 5 View Page Big guns at the Topsfield Fair 10/1/2010 (R-L) #1470 (Al Jr.) Boudreau, #1674.5 (Steve)Connolly, and #1445 (Armand)Michaud. Tuesday, October 5 View Page Topsfield 10/1/2010 Long Gourd Rack Tuesday, October 5 View Page Topsfield 10/1/10. Al Berard of Sanford ME, and his #1056. A big thanks again to Al and the Guys from Maine for the Sanford ME weigh-off 2 weeks earlier. Tuesday, October 5 View Page Topsfield 10/1/10 Glenn "The Borer" Peters and his mob, of Billerica MA pose with the #936.5 "Borer". Tuesday, October 5 View Page Topsfield MA 10/1/2010 Morn Gansert of Johnston RI with the ever pretty #1131.5 "Abbynormal". Didn't win the prettiest, but sure got me excited!!!WOAH! Tuesday, October 5 View Page Topsfield Fair 10/1/10 The guys from New Hampshire checking out fellow NH grower's #1470 Boudreau when it arrived. (L-R) Peter Carter, Bruce Hooker, the Boudreaus Rob Stidwell and Jim Beauchemin Wednesday, October 6 View Page Topsfield Fair 10/1/10 Jim Kuhn, Dennis Mounce jr, and Dylan, of Manchester NH, checking out Armand Michaud's #1445 Wednesday, October 6 View Page Topsfield Fair 10/1/10 (L-R) Jim Kuhn's entries, #1014.5 Squash and his #1197.5 pumpkin off the (#1385.5 Jutras x #1273.4 Kuhn) Wednesday, October 6 View Page Topsfield Fair 10/1/10 Wednesday, October 6 View Page Topsfield 10/2/10 John Doucet of Ipswich MA and his #912.5 Wednesday, October 6 View Page Topsfield Fair 10/1/10 Bob Duffy of Topsfield MA with his #1256 (#1120 Duffy x #1566 Rodonis) a lot of PBs this year. Wednesday, October 6 View Page Topsfield 10/1/10 Art Kaczenski of Erving MA, with his #1027 Wednesday, October 6 View Page Topsfield Fair 10/1/10 Bruce Hooker of Belmont NH, with his #1074, from (#1207 Young x #991 Urena). Wednesday, October 6 View Page Topsfield 10/1/10 Rick Skrzypczak, of Barre MA and his #1195.5 (10% heavy) (#1306 Jutras x self) Wednesday, October 6 View Page Topsfield 10/1/10 Dawn and Bill Northrup of Apohaqui New Brunswick, and their #1117.5, off the (#1432 Northrup x #904 Stelts) Wednesday, October 6 View Page Topsfield 10/1/10 Wilbur Horton of Springfield VT missed his exact weight from last year by .2(tenths) of a pound with his #1237, off of the (904 Stelts x 1596 Wallace). Wednesday, October 6 View Page Topsfield 10/1/10 Bruce Whittier of Henniker NH. with his #1200, off of the (901 Hunt x #1258 Dwelly) at 13% heavy I had mentioned my excessive Potash problem to Bruce at the Hillsboro fair a few weeks earlier. When he said "once you put it in, You Can't take it out.", I knew I was in for trouble next year. Wednesday, October 6 View Page Topsfield 10/2/10 Woody Lancaster Not only orchestrated a great weigh-off, he also got a Personal Best with his #1217.5, off of the #1385 Jutras x #1306 Jutras) 13% heavy. Great Job Woody!!