Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 83 Entries. Wednesday, April 28 View Page In order to rid myself of the monkey, I had to turn myself into a monkey. Times are tough Ned, and this is what I have had to resort to in order to keep the monkey on "your" back and get him off mine. Cant beat em, join em.. Wednesday, April 28 View Page Getting time to work in the seed starting has been tough this year. I coach and am trying to squeeze it in, so I think I am going to start my seeds in mid May or so and shoot for later pollenation dates. I may do that, but then again, I may not.. I may take the year off, then again, I may not.. I may quit drinking, but then again, maybe I wont. I dunno Ned.. Where do you think I am? Should I start? Should I wait? What seeds should I start? I was thinking about a 1302 Teeter since I heard you have one roaring out of the seed coat and looking all nice. Friday, April 30 View Page I found this pic of Ned a few years back when he started growing. This monkey has been on his back for some time, and if he cant get it off, maybe it will die of old age. In my incubator, I have 8 seeds, 2 of my sons (1154.5 Hilstolsky squash and 848 MacKenzie), 1207 Young, 808 ROckwell, 1557 Hilstolsky, 753 Pappas, and 2 unannounced seed names. Right now the 1557 and the 1207are my main choices, but one of the backups could sneak into the picture. Gotta do what I gotta do to beat a guy whose name scrambled is END. Thursday, June 3 View Page At the PIAA state track and field championships this past weekend. Ran into this poor sole who lives in a little town called Honesdale. I asked if they knew Ned and I was shocked to hear they did. He is a popular fella with the teenage girls it seems in Honesdale. Seriously, I asked permission to take this pic and the mother knew ya Ned! On the bright side, the team I coach (Athens Wildcats) took 3rd in the state as a team! Gold in the Triple jump (48'11"), 3rd and 4th in the Long Jump (22'4" and 21'10"), 6th in the 100 (11.1) and 8th in the shotput (521'10"). Thursday, June 3 View Page Plants are right on track with the past few years photos. Every year I feel I should be farther along, then I look back at past years photo diaries and see I am just fine. We have had some very hot days and I was only in the cloches this year for about a week. I have already gone to wind breaks. We have 3 plants in, my son has a decision to make on his squash (Hilstolksy 1154 which looks amazing or the 848 MacKenzie that is making a recovery), my 1557 Hilstolsky looks great and is vining around 5 ft right now, and my mystery plant that is stretching out nicely is nearing6 ft. Leaves are not as high on that one, but it is a very manageable plant. No monkeyin around this year Ned, no monkeyin around... Wednesday, June 16 View Page I have found that this savage monkey on my back has gotten viscious this year, digging deep into my back with his claws. I feel I have the cure to beating the monkey, and my buddy Ned this year and I hope it works. My public plant is the 1557 Hilstolsky and is growing like gang busters. Main vine is 13 ft in length and I have already taken 2 females off the main at 8 and 11 ft. I have a nice one coming up at 13, so I may set that one if I get some males by then. Wednesday, June 16 View Page They monkey has been on peoples backs for thousands of years and I am hoping that while this ancient chinese dude never got rid of his, I can find a way to rid myself of this awful curse of not hitting 1000 pounds. My secret weapon is my second plant, which will remain unmentioned as to what it is but is also growing very nice with early vigor. This plant is now over 12 ft in length, but the leaves are not nearly as high as the 1557 Hilstolsky. The canopy seems to be only about a ft off the ground, something I have seen in Len Knauss's patch a few years back but this is my first. Wednesday, June 16 View Page While I didnt take a picture of me bending over to salute the Honesdale/Dyberry crew, I did want to make today "national monkey on your back" day with a pic of Ned not only with a monkey on his back, but a monkey on his monkey's back. This has gotten serious. Sam decided to go wtih the 848 MacKenzie when he went down to his main plant, even after the whipping it took from a torn cloche. We discussed it and told him even though the 848 was half the size of the 1154 Hilstolsky, the genetics and color of the 848 will be much better off in the long run. We did try and transplant the 1154 to the other side of the patch, and 2 weeks later is seemed to have worked. Some die back, but alive and kickin.. Friday, June 18 View Page Got a visit from Matt Teeter tonite. Matt is taking the year off to improve his soil for next year. For a fella not growing, he was like a kid in a candy shop here, checking everything out in depth. Here is Matt and my son checking out the 1557 Hilstolsky plant, which is now in the 13 ft range. The "other" plant Matt loved even more, as the leaves were lower and it just looks so much healthier. He was dyin to know the identity of the seed but I told him no one is to know that lives within a 2 hour radius of Ned and Andy. Friday, June 18 View Page Matt wanted a hint as to the identity of my mystery plant, so I let him have a number from the ice cream container I transplanted it from. Somewhere in the name is the number "1". Wait Matt, maybe that is an "L" or an "I". I may have given him a bumsteer. Friday, June 18 View Page Matt told me he wanted to give the Honesdale monkey man a salute, so he faced to the west so his east bound keeeester could give Ned the proper salute he deserves! Friday, June 18 View Page Feeling bad about leaving Andy out of the salutes, Matt and I blew em both a kiss and said best of luck to the Dyberry patch and the big guy from Wayne county. Tuesday, June 22 View Page Had a nice 5 lober on the main today of the 1557 Hilstolsky I pollenated with my mystery plant. It is only 10 ft out, but like to give myself some practice for the next one. Tuesday, June 22 View Page Tied the lady up with a tendril and left her there to have a nice relaxing day. My next one up should be ready in a week, so I am about where I want to be. The mystery plant has one at 11 ft and another around 13 ft. Getting excited about this year. How ya loking Ned? Andy? Thursday, June 24 View Page Pollenated first one on mystery plant, 11 ft out and crossed it with the 1557 Hilstolsky. This female was a beautiful 6 lober and positioned perfectly on the main. I kinda like this one, have another in the 14 ft range, but time will tell. I will obviously get that one when it is time. 2 pollenations so far, the 1557 (5 lober) X mystery plant on June 23rd, and todays 6 lober on the mystery plant crossed with the 1557 Hilstolsky. Thursday, June 24 View Page Here is my sons 848 McKenzie with some very uniue green things off from every male and female in the plant. These "things" are usually quite small, but with this plant, they seem to be nearly 4 to 5 inches long on some of the flowers. What are they? Any other 848 growers see these? Thursday, June 24 View Page Here is a nice pic of the male flower from the 848 and the long geen things pertruding out from the flower. Sam will be out with me at 715 AM tomorrow ready to pollenatehis 848. He should have 2 self flowers and a few from the 1154 Hilstolsky to choose from to make a cross. He is hoping for 2 males from the Hilstolsky plant so he can make his first non selfed plant! Thursday, June 24 View Page Got caught up on the burying today after some high winds forced me to take a look at my patch and do some serious work. Spent nearly 4 hours in the patch and 2 coronas (with lime, of course) and a land shark doing it. Spent from 9:45 to 10:15 in the hot tub soaking it out of my sore muscles! God this monkey is very heavy and I need to rid myself of the shame of it all. Ned, I love you like a brother, but I gotta get over a thousand this year, I just gotta! Frustration is setting in.. Wednesday, June 30 View Page Here is my latest pollenation, off the mystery plant crossed with the 1557 Hilstolsky. It is only a 4 lober, but is 14 ft out and should be the one. The 1557 first fruit is growing like a balloon, bigger and bigger every day. I am nearing shutting down the plants in about a week. Sam still hasnt gotten a set on the 848, but has a nice one coming up in a few days. Wednesday, June 30 View Page Morning shot of the two pumpkin plants, the 1557 in front and the mystery plant on the left. Mains are now nearing 20 ft and most secondaries are already terminated. I have run out of room for wind breaks now that the patch is completely filled. Saturday, July 3 View Page Quick entry before work this morning, first set on the 1557 at 10 days was 28 inches circ. 28/21/21. Other plants sets are doing the same thing as last year, not really growing after a nice polenation. Wondering if it is something in that spot lacking or is it just 2 years in a row of bad luck. Sam is yet to get a female to pollenate yet on the 848. 1557 Hilstolsky looks great though. Sunday, July 4 View Page Had a great birthday today, caught this nice 17 inch small mouth with my son on the Susquehanna under the Athens bridge. Pollenated a nice 5 lober this morning on the 1557 (my third and probably last on the main). The mystery plant had one pollenated yesterday yet the 848 MCKenzie for Sam is still not even close to a female setting. We have the 1154 Hilstolsky flagging on the hedgerow as an "ohbytheway" plant and may have to go with that. Time will tell. Wednesday, July 7 View Page I was walking indowntown Honesdale and saw this poster that Ned had posted. The picture is of his lost cat, Precious. If any of you have seen this innocent friendly cat, please contact Mr. Sandercock. I thought I saw him on the way home, but it was just a dead possum that was hit by a car. Wednesday, July 7 View Page Sam hopefully got a pollenation on the 848 today, a nice 5 lober with a six inch stem. The set was on a secondary (the first one which is being treated as a back main. Friday, July 9 View Page My son Sam caught his first fish late last night, a beautiful 15 inch small mouth on the Susquehanna River. He is loving fishing now! Friday, July 9 View Page This is the setup we used to protect Sam's first set (on a secondary) off the 848. The heat is killer, but this is setup like this because the stem on the female is 6 inches long and standing straight up in the air. Friday, July 9 View Page Here is the perfect 5 lober from the 848. Matt Teeter stopped by for a tour. I believe it is killing him not growing pumpkins in his main patch! Friday, July 9 View Page Lastly, the 11 ft'r on the 1557 Hilstolsky. Teeter thinks I should cut this for a fruit 6 days younger. I have to make a decision quickly. Saturday, July 10 View Page 1557 Hilstolsky 11 ft out fruit is now 18 days and is 74" in circ. 14 ft out fruit is now 12 days and is 39" in circ. The "no longer a mystery" plant 1302 Teeter has a fruit at 11 ft and is at 54 inches on day 16. Sam's 848 now has one set this morning on the main vine, but the one on the first secondary is looking amazing on day 2. Saturday, July 10 View Page Decision made after chatting via email and chat room tonite. I culled the 14 ft one from the 1557 Hilstolsky, leaving the very round and beautifully shaped 11 fter I refer to now as the Monkeyshedder. Lets hope the Monkeyshedder lives up to it's name. Saturday, July 10 View Page Here is the pic of the 1302 with the very wierd scar on the lower left side. It runs under the fruit, and I am not so sure what made this, but it seems solid. I do have a second one on this plant so I may go to that one. Saturday, July 10 View Page Day 2 of Sam's 848. This one truely amazes me at how far in the air this one is. I think Ned was here a few weeks ago and inadvertently dropped his viagra into the squash side of the patch. If this squash stays in the air for more than 4 hours I am going to seek immediate medical attention for the poor thing. Monday, July 12 View Page Quick entry here, did the 20 day measurement on the 1557 Hilstolsky and a few other fruits. Monkeyshedder (1557 Hilstolsky) - day 20 - 83" 1302 Teeter - day 18 - 62" Sam's 848 Mckenzie - still sticking way up in the air. I have put a cluster of vines and some blankets under it so it can ease to the ground. I will reduce the pile as it grows bigger but it would have surely snapped off if I let it come down on it's own. Going to hit the plants with calcium and eagle 20ew tonite for strength and disease control. Watering like crazy this year. Monday, July 12 View Page One additional note to self, second fruit on the 1302 at 14 ft out was pollenated on 6/30, day 12 number is 29". Waiting 2 more days on first fruit to decide whether to keep that one (with big scar on the bottom, soon to be named scarface) or opt for the 6 days younger one. Wednesday, July 14 View Page Day 22, Monkeyshredder is 91 inches. Day 20 on 1302 fruit # 1 is 71 inches, up 9 inches in 2 days. The second fruit is now 14 days and 35 inches but looks much better. It only gained 6 inches in 2 days but percentage wise it is about the same as fruit # 1. Gonna give it till Saturday night or Sunday morning before I cut one. I am off to boyscout camp Sunday at noon for 5 days and am going to rely on my wife to water and Teeter to stop by and check on their health atleast once. Tonite I added 25 gallons of nutrical over 3 plants and added some peters tomoato food (17-17-22) for some additional K. I used half strength because I do not want to jack em up too much, just making sure the store has plenty available when it is needed. Thursday, July 15 View Page Here is the monkeyshedder, prepared to hit 100 " circ tomorrow. Currently at 97 inches. Nice looking ghost white fruit. Thursday, July 15 View Page The much smaller 1302 fruit, bright yellow and big scar on its butt. Put the mill fabric underneath this lady, thinking she will be the one to go the distance. I like the early starts and as always am scared of the early onset of PM. Take what I can early. I sprayed eagle 20ew on tonite and have a batch of warrior T on tap for the AM> . Friday, July 16 View Page Went fishing tonite, didnt catch big ones, but we hit a bunch of them for a change. Sam hit 3 and I hit 2 small mouths in about 45 minutes. It was fun to spend quality time with Sam outside of the patch. Saturday, July 17 View Page I tried to hide my secret weapon behind a shirt like Ned's son did, but for some reason I couldnt quite fit it behind my shirt like he could. Here is the 1557 fruit that after crunching some numbers tonite makes me wonder. Tonite's OTT (the first OTT of the year) is 105-71-73=249"OTT or 333 pounds. Going by just circumference, the fruit has gained 95 pounds in 3 days by going fron 91" to 105" circ. Scary territory. My best fruit to date was 919 pounds, and on day 24 it was 199" OTT. Today is day 25 for the monkeyshedder (1557) and I am 50 inches ahead of that pace. Gives me a stomach ache knowing I am going away for 5 days this week and 4 days next week! UUGGH.. Saturday, July 17 View Page A quick overview of the 2 biggies in the patch. The 1302 Teeter (scarface) is pulling in some respectable numbers at 84-57-65=206"OTT or 194 pounds. Sam is still having a rough time with the 848, which has had the latest main fruit abort and the one on the first secondary that looked amazing is coming out nasty looking and probably wont make it. He does have a few on other secondaries but it is a hard pill to swallow. Saturday, July 17 View Page The sky over the horizon tonite was amazing. Storms brewed 5 miles north of me in New York but down here in PA it was beautiful. The weather has been perfect with 90 plus days and very calm on the storm front this year. I had one wind storm last week with roll overs but I quickly got a fix on those. Sunday, July 25 View Page True definition of a lunker. This 4.5 pound, 22 inch large mouth bass made my week at boy scout camp. Was never nervous about the pumpkins growth because my wife was in charge and she is the greatest wife in the whole world! Sunday, July 25 View Page Setting myself up with this pic. Ned needed some new material so I thought I would let him come up with his own caption to this one. Sunday, July 25 View Page This is why they call them large mouth bass. On the pumpkin front, I had an awesome week growing while away, now over the 500 pound mark according to the charts. We should head into August nearing the 700 pound mark. I was here 2 years ago with the 1402.5 Bobier and lost her in the middle of AUgust. I am going slow and steady to try to get that friggin monkey off my back. Numbers as of today is 126-86-80=292"OTT or 528 pounds. 8 days ago we were at 333 lbs, so we are averaging 24 lbs a day. I added some calcium and tomato miracle gro (17-17-24) for some added K. So far has been the perfect pumpkin year. Sunday, July 25 View Page Here is a shot of todays 1557 Hilstolsky, a.k.a. Monkeyshedder. She is having a little bit of stem stress issue which I am currently giving a big amount of thought into how I can work it to have less stress. I am thinking about trying to give an inch turn to it to lighten the stress on the left side vine of this pic. Sunday, July 25 View Page Here is the 1302 Teeter pic. She is showing some signs of color already. The fruit measured today at 103-76-69=248"OTT or 329 lbs. She is averaging 17 lbs a day over the past 8 days so "Scarface" is right on track. Sunday, July 25 View Page Sam finally has a nice one growing on a secondary from the 848 MacKenzie. Very tough plant to set a fruit on, but it finally happend and he is off to the races with 2010 fruits. He has 2 nice ones at basketball size as of today. Sunday, July 25 View Page The wise old owl in the patch thinks Sandercock/Box have something up their sleeve this year and will not be fooled in thinking he has the lead. This owl has seen it all in the patch over the past 14 years, having been there since the beginning back in 1997. Sunday, July 25 View Page The final cull from the 1302 Teeter was made yesterday, this baby weighing in around 100 pounds. Down to the "ones" on each plant now. Trying to keep the PM down and the nutrient bank loaded. Heading to Ocean City Maryland next week for 3 days. Always nerve wrecking to leave but coming home to a fruit you havent seen in a few days always makes you say wow.. Friday, July 30 View Page Back from OCMD, had a great time. My father in law was in charge of the patch and did a fantastic job watering. Tonite after I got home I sprayed 2 gallons over 3 plants of talstar, eagle, and calcium. I sprayed at 5:30, now I have to wait until 7:30 or 8:00 to do my nightly watering until the spray can stick and soak in to the leaves. Numbers today are as follows, 134-91-85=310OTT or 628 pounds. I have seen a slow down, but hoping it is because of a few slow nights. This is the fruit's day 38 numbers. The 1302 Teeter is slowing down also, hitting these numbers tonite. 111-81-73=265"OTT or 400 pounds. This is day 30 numbers for the 1302. These still are not too bad considering we are still in July. Leaves look good and there is plenty of space for air to flow through keeping the PM to a minimum. How goes it with the Honesdale AG growers? Seems to be the same story every year, quick lead and then you come raoring back.. You got me sprinting at the beginning of this race. Hope I am not winded when it comes to the end of the day.. Saturday, July 31 View Page Sams 848 is starting to look real nice! Look out Alex Sandercock! Saturday, July 31 View Page Just got back from golfing tonite and my father was touring the patch with my sister from Maryland. They snapped a few pics... Caught me wearing my pumpkin orange shirt! TYpical round of golf for me too, 43 on front and 51 on back.. uugh.. Saturday, July 31 View Page Last pic was me and the Monkeyshredder on day 39. Here is the 1302 Teeter on day 31. Much smaller but kinda blocky and solid. Saturday, July 31 View Page Pic from outside the patch looking in. Two of them are over a thousand pounds.... IF you add them together! Saturday, August 7 View Page Some numbers.. Things have slowed down here, not sure why. Everything looks great, watering has been steady, trying to figure it out without over reacting. Daily gains are down to 15 pounds per day and she is only 46 days old. 1557 Hilstolsky - 145-95-90=330"OTT or 756 pounds est. 1302 Teeter - 121-88-79=288"OTT or 507 pounds. Sams squash SQ1 - 91-62-60=213"OTT or 213 pounds SQ2 - 91-64-61=216"OTT or 222 pounds. Sunday, August 8 View Page Pic today in the middle of another 90 plus degree day. The pumpkins look bigger when the leaves are all drooped down! The Monkeyshedder on the right is nearing 800 pounds est, and the scarface puympkin from the 1302 Teeter has nice color and high wheel shape is over 500 pounds. Sunday, August 8 View Page I probably wont get to go this year and camp with my nemesis Ned Sandercock and his friend Andy and family so I decided to take a pic of me and my best friend who promised to kick Neds arse.. Sunday, August 8 View Page Did enjoy some awesome sausage and pepper sandwiches today, thought it was too colorful to pass up a photo op! Sunday, August 8 View Page This pic shows the blockiness/tall wheel like shape of the 1302 Teeter. Sunday, August 8 View Page Last pic of the day, the 155y has a dill ring that scares me but the nose on this fella smells good things for it's future! The monkey still doesnt believe me that I have a decent one in the patch, so it stayed in the house today. Thursday, August 12 View Page Finally got some long needed rain today, not enough, but an hour of steady drizzle was nice to see. Yesterday was day 50 for the 1557 Hilstolsky. 149-97-91=337"OTT app 800lbs. 1302 Teeter 125.5-89-87=301.5"OTT app 580lbs SQ 1 100-67-63=230"OTT app 265lbs Sq2 97-68-64=229"OTT app 262lbs. Doing okay here.. Trying to not push anything and have them break, yet I do not want another 8 or 9 hundred pounder, I want to get rid of the friggin monkey.. Your fruits look great Ned! Gonna be a nail biter this year.. THat is why I sent a colony of woodchucks east to you. They should arrive anytime soon.. Friday, August 20 View Page Celebrating the monkeyshedder's 60th day by bringing out the monkey for a tour. I took him off my back for a photo op on the 1557 Hilstolsky fruit. Measurements today are 156-98-95=349"OTT or 892lbs by the 2008 chart. You can see the deep rib on the left that worries me some as well as the dill ring that meets it. I always look there first when uncovering the beast. The monkey wanted to ride on the stem too so you can get a view from the other side. Friday, August 20 View Page Look ma, no hands! I was going to put my son on the pumpkin and put a flower on his back to have some fun like the Harps and Biz/whiz photos, but he said he had better plans for a pic coming up. I dont think this fruit will make 1000 pounds, but I do think it will be my PB. We have a long way to go to get to the ELmira weigh off(51 days to be exact), so anything can happen. Not sure how solid a 111 day old fruit will be. Friday, August 20 View Page Continuing our tour, the 51st day of scarface (1302 teeter) checks in with the monkey riding sidecar. This wheel/blocky pumpkin has some muscles but just doesnt have the giddy up and go to get er done. Numbers are 132-91-85=308"OTT or 617 lbs. This is a much "oranger" pumpkin that the monkeyshredder. She should be a pretty carver for the front yard as it will sit up nicely. Next pic will show you the bottom and how wide it will look. Friday, August 20 View Page The monkey was liking this pumpkin as he was 100 % sure it would never reach 1000 pounds. He then smiled and said. "But she sure is perty". Friday, August 20 View Page The monkey wanted to see the lightly talked about greenies from the 848 Mackenzie. Sam has left 2 fruits since they are on side vines and said he would like to have 2 500 pounders rather than a 6 or 700 pounder. He had a rough go of it pollenating this plant, none on the main took so side vines it was.. Sam wanted to say best of luck to Ned's son Alex, so he went to the patch to give him a good ol Sayre hello.. Friday, August 20 View Page Sam knew there was only one appropriate way to keep the tradition alive and follow in my and Neds and Andy's footsteps and that was a good ol Northeastern PA wave! "Good luck with the RGB in HOnesdale Alex!" Friday, August 20 View Page The monkey decided to send a hex message to Ned and wish him rotten pumpkins and ribsplit nightmares. I took the pic and told the monkey I do not like him talking like that. After putting him back up on my back I told him he has to write it on a piece of paper 500 times "I will not be mean to Ned, I will not be mean to Ned, I will not be mean to Ned". Friggin monkey.. sorry Ned.. I'll try to keep him in line next time. Thursday, August 26 View Page numbers tonite.. Taking my daughter to college tomorrow at York. 1557 - 353"OTT =923 lbs app. 1302 - 315"OTT =659 lbs app. 848#1 -266"OTT =403 lbs app. 848#2 -262"OTT =386 lbs app. Put some captan on a few spots with both pumpkins, just precautionary. Slowing the watering down a bit after a few days of rain. PM is really starting to rear its ugly head and not sure if I have but a week or two left of leaves if it sets in the way it is coming on. Thursday, August 26 View Page The humane society sent this photo of Ned after the monkey hair phenomenon spread to my family in Ocean City. Within a week, Ned went from clean shaven politician for the county to this poor mix of monkey/man. It wil only be a matter of time until the conversion goes to full fledged silverback or baboon. Tuesday, August 31 View Page Thought I would hang out with Jared this past weekend.. Friday, September 3 View Page Numbers.. 1557 - 162/100/96=358"OTT 962est 1302 - 139/94/88=321"OTT 697est sq1(848) - 125/79/76=280"OTT 467est sq2(848) - 117/75/78=270"OTT 421est Hitting the 1557 with some calcium (what I have left) tonite and hoping some good watering (not over doing it) will get me the grand and get rid of the proverbial monkey. Wish I could grow em like the guys in southwestern PA. Wednesday, September 8 View Page Had a possum (a big ol grinner too) visit the patch and I snapped this picture of him. I didnt shoot him, I just let him go... as he drove away in his new big ass green pick up. Nice truck Matt.. Here he is with my monkeyshedder, I let him measure the beast and he came up with 162.5/100.5/97.5=360.5"OTT or 983 lbs est. Hoping for some more but not gonna be greedy. She is greening up on the shoulders some and the canteloping is setting in nicely. Just remember one thing about possums.. They play dead, but are really alive.. If you can read into this, you will know what I mean. Wednesday, September 8 View Page Grinner from the backside of the monkeyshedder. Wednesday, September 8 View Page Matt wanted to get next to his namesake, the Possum 1302 so I snapped this picture. Wheel like, and around 700 pounds. Happy with this nice front lawn fruit. Wednesday, September 8 View Page The possum waived hello to the Honesdale gang.. Sunday, September 12 View Page Monkeyshedder is getting closer.. Inching her way (so to speak) to the magical 363 inch mark. Here are the pumpkins numbers as of today. 1557 - 163/97.5/101=361.5 or 990 est 1302 - 140/94.5/88=322.5 or 707 est 848 sq # 1 - 123.5/80/77=280.5 or 470 est 848 sq # 2 - 118/79/76=273 or 434 est. Might not be as big as the fellas in the southcentral/southwestern part of PA, or as big as that fella, Dingleberry patch, wait.. thats Dyberry patch.. Opps, sorry Andy.. Just have one goal in mind.. GETTIN RID OF THAT BIG OL SILVERBACK GORILLA/MONKEY! Monday, October 4 View Page I was browsing some pictures from Altoona this year and I now see how Ned reached 1000 pounds. Taking notes from his mentor, Joe Yohe - Ned is seen here learning from the Yoda of all great pumpkin growers. No wonder I didnt stand a chance! Tuesday, October 5 View Page The monkeyshedder sits on the ground while the 1302 Teeter is lighter than air. The Teeter fruit was placed on a pallet tonite and I got an official measurement of 140/96/89=325"OTT or 723 lbs. Unless I get it weighed at the local coal scales, it will be known as the 2010 Rockwell723Est. I am thinking of doing the truck scale thing and tare off the empty vehicle weight. This fruit is headed to Ted Clarks Busy market in Waverly NY for their Poduce Bonanza. Tuesday, October 5 View Page Sam's 2 squash sitting waiting for Sunday weigh off in Elmira. Not gonna set the world on fire, but will make some great looking fruits for the front yard! These are from the 848 McKenzie which was nearly impossible to set a main vine female. Tuesday, October 5 View Page Overhead shot of the monkeyshedder, 1557 Hilstolksy. Sitting waiting anticipating.. uugh.. Lets get this show on the road... I just want the scales to say 1085 so bad.. Hoping the influx of rain the past week has added ungodly amounts of water weight to her. Tuesday, October 5 View Page After talking with a pumpkin growing friend tonite on the phone who has given me more hope in my quest of 1000 pounds, he asked me when the last time I measured which I told him it had been a while since there was no growth showing for quite some time. With the rain we have had in the past week, he told me to remeasure. I did, and low and behold I am now sitting at the 370 " mark! I gained 3 inches in the past 6 days. Scary, but hopeful it will guarantee me over that mark. Time will tell. Wednesday, October 6 View Page Amazing how the charts work. My 1302 Teeter fruit got weighed unofficially at a truck scale today. After taring off the weight of the truck and pallet, it ended up weighing 650 pounds. I was depressed. THought oh my lord.. is my big one going to weigh light? Then I got to thinking (which is dangerous with me) that while the OTT of 325 was approx 723 pounds making my fruit 10 percent light, the circumference chart had the fruits 140 inch measurement at only 657 pounds - RIGHT ON CHART! Luckily the monkeyshedder is above 1000 when it comes to circ and OTT charts, so I am hoping.. tick tick tick..