Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 230 Entries. Saturday, January 12 View Page Winter spy tours rule........... Sunday, January 13 View Page Worked on the promo for 5 hours today.. Wonder what the people with a life did ?? Tuesday, January 22 View Page Perfect day for a walk in the woods.. Wednesday, January 23 View Page Another fine day in Abbymormals neighborhood. Friday, January 25 View Page Can't imagine the time it took to build this.. Saturday, January 26 View Page And another fine day in Abbynormal land.. Saturday, February 9 View Page I wear it well. Tuesday, February 12 View Page After a weekend of patch tours I was slightly down and contemplating roundupaside in my patch, then I thought what would the flat man do ? I will regroup, and have as much fun as possible and get ready for next season.. Wednesday, March 6 View Page Turned compost pile for the first time in 3 months. Going to be a major project to get it finished in 6 weeks.. Sunday, March 10 View Page Added one load of cow manure ( don't tell Matt ) and turned compost pile.. Sunday, March 10 View Page Our new patch guard dog.... Wednesday, March 13 View Page Put a cold frame out today with a tray of lettuce in it, I am growing stuff, life is good. My soil test also came back today, sent it out to my dirt dog.. I think he is going to want to dig in it.. Wednesday, March 20 View Page On the first day of spring it is important to have a garden project to do. I chose to shorten my compost pile by about 12 ft. Hottest spot I could find was 124......... Thursday, March 21 View Page Shortened up compost pile about another 8 ft, still cooking. Sunday, March 31 View Page Turned compost pile today was 148 in center at start.. Monday, April 8 View Page What a great day 62 outside. Couldn't resist taking tiller out and busting up about 200 sq ft of sod.. going to make room for 10.5 plants.. All ORANGE.. No Armand , I didn't play in the compost today........ Friday, April 12 View Page Turned the compost pile this morning, beet the rain by about a half hour.. Pile was 138 at start.. Saturday, April 13 View Page The phone rings so as usual I check the caller ID, says it is Frank, so I answer. Well it ain't Frank it's Robert, my faithful stalker. I don't even have a seed filed yet and he has started. Next he will be over counting how many plants I have.. No good deed goes unpunished.. Sunday, April 14 View Page Snowball just before cutting off vine.. Sunday, April 14 View Page There goes the neighborhood.. Sunday, April 14 View Page Flat Norm couldn't resist the photo opp... Sunday, April 14 View Page Team Pumpkin weigh offs pay rather well.. Sunday, April 14 View Page Going deep for seeds.. Monday, April 15 View Page Spread 100 lbs of 0-0-50 and about 1.5 lbs of 20 mule team borax and chased tiller for about 5 hours.. Tilling is 95% done.. Sunday, April 21 View Page First round of seeds are in germ box, second round should go in thursday I hope.. Wednesday, April 24 View Page 6 out of 9 seeds are up in 75 hours, put last six in germ box. I am 12 hours ahead of last year, put out last cold frame, overall a good day here. Thursday, April 25 View Page Nine for nine in the first round............ Monday, April 29 View Page Started two more 723s and a 777 yesterday others didn't germ.. All other seeds are up. Tuesday, April 30 View Page The patch from the attic window.. Look Sam no weeds.. Thursday, May 2 View Page 777 was up at 9 pm last night 723 was up at 5 am this morning.. Life is good at the Bates Motel.. Thursday, May 2 View Page My 1131, 1000.5, 963, 960, and 567 are in the ground.. Monday, May 6 View Page Put 1082 Krueger in ground this morning.. Tuesday, May 7 View Page Got 811 Thursday, May 9 View Page 723, 777, 993 and 1210 are in the ground... Wednesday, May 15 View Page 811 went in the ground this morning.. Thursday, May 16 View Page Did a 10 gal tea drench and bonded with my hoe. The 811 looks better today, I think there may be hope for this one.... Monday, May 20 View Page Turned compost pile today 126 in center at start... Tuesday, May 28 View Page 10 gal tea drench on pumpkins and maters.. Sunday, June 2 View Page T ook 3 cold frames off today and put up 200 ft of silt fence.. Monday, June 3 View Page My 567, 963 and the 1082 Krueger are out of cold frames.... Tuesday, June 4 View Page 777 Young and 993 Vincent McGill are out of cold frames.. Tuesday, June 4 View Page Nice smile.. Friday, June 7 View Page Turned compost pile in the rain, now that's dedication.... Saturday, June 8 View Page 5 inches of rain in the gauge, only minor erosion on the hill. Plants survived the storm well. and I don't have to water for a week.. Also took cold frames off 723 Kaczenski and 1210 VanHook.. Monday, June 10 View Page The 811 Gerhardt came out of cold frame today. Now all plants are out in the elements.. Wednesday, June 19 View Page Folier sprayed compost tea tonight.. Sunday, June 23 View Page Took Friday off and went to New England Dragway, was a great day.. Sunday, June 23 View Page My new best friend. V Gains.. Sunday, June 23 View Page My other new best friend. Del Worsham.. Sunday, June 23 View Page Another new best friend Bob Tasca.. Sunday, June 23 View Page I think I have a flat tire.. Sunday, June 23 View Page Some of my plants as of today, little behind but healthy.. Matt your up. Monday, June 24 View Page Had an open pol on 993 and 777 this morning.. I better get with the program, missed both of them last night. I should have paid more attention to plants instead of TV.. Plants are still small and it is still early. I will not let this stress me out.. More to come by end of week.. Monday, June 24 View Page This Harley option is High Maintenance for sure.. Tuesday, June 25 View Page Spent all day yesterday setting up my sprinklers, don't ya know it rained half inch last night.. Tuesday, June 25 View Page Pollinated my 1000.5 x my 567 and also pollinated my 1131 x 1000.5 this morning.. 1000.5 is 827 gansert x 1059 vincent mcgill.. 567 is 1210 vanhook x 1059..1131 is 1059 x 827... John, I think your 1059 has found a home in RI.. Wednesday, June 26 View Page Hey Bart.. Think we should moon them ? Wednesday, June 26 View Page They will never find us here.. Wednesday, June 26 View Page Their goes the neighborhood. Flat Norm movin in, gonna bring his next of kin.. Thursday, June 27 View Page Pollinated 777 Young with my 567, also pollinated my 960 with my 1000.5... Sunday, June 30 View Page We had a whole day without rain. Spent the day burying vines and trying to stay ahead of the weeds while I still can. They always win in the end.. Mixed up a gal of warrior and companion and sprayed my plants.. Sorry Matt, no pictures today.. Monday, July 1 View Page Pollinated my 567 with my 1000.5 ( second one on main ).. Again no pictures Matt.. Sorry.. Tuesday, July 2 View Page 4 gal Tea folier, drench type thingie with a touch of fish and seaweed just for flavor. Wednesday, July 3 View Page Pollinated 993 Vincent McGill with 1210 VanHook.. 10 day cc on my 567 is 27". So far I really like this pumpkin it has great potential to be a keeper at 8 ft or a bit less from stump.. I will know more in a couple days..Yes Matt again no pictures .. Thursday, July 4 View Page If you look good you can see my only successful June pollination. Not much plant behind this one. Could be a large amount of third growth supporting this if I decide to keep it.. Friday, July 5 View Page Pollinated six plants today and they all will look like this for the next two days.. 1000.5 x 567, 960 x 1000.5, 963 x 567, 777 Young x 723 Kaczenski, 993 Vincent McGill x 1210 VanHook, 1210 x 993.. The 567, 960, 963 and 1000.5 are my seeds ...Look Matt picture.. Saturday, July 6 View Page Pollinated the 1082 Krueger x 723 Kaczenski and also 811 Gerhardt x 960 Gansert this morning.. Look there are coolers everywhere.. Sunday, July 7 View Page It's that time again.. Pollinated my 1131 with 811 Gerhardt today, also had an open on the 777 Young, but I'm not above growing an open.. 10 day cc on 960 is 24".. Monday, July 8 View Page The chosen one on my 567 just waiting for some mill fabric.. Monday, July 8 View Page Pollinated the 1210 VanHook with 825 Krueger, second one on main. There will be no pictures this week because my picture enterer is on strike till Friday.. Wednesday, July 10 View Page Did some pollinating this morning, 1000.5 x 567 ( second on main ), 1082 Krueger x 723 Kaczenski ( second on main pretty sure first one aborted ), 811 Gerhardt x my 960 ( second one more for insurance purposes ), 1210 VanHook x 993 Vincent McGill ( third on main ).. Thursday, July 11 View Page Committed down to one pumpkin on my 960 pollinated on 6-27. Plant is all set just need to slide mill fabric under pumpkin. Friday, July 12 View Page Pollinated 963 x 567 ( second one on main first one aborted ), also pollinated 993 x 1210 ( 4th on main first two aborted ), I think the third one took.. Saturday, July 13 View Page 20 day cc on my 567 is 64" Sunday, July 14 View Page Committed to one pumpkin on both my 1000.5 and 811 Gerhardt.. Monday, July 15 View Page 10 day cc on my 1000.5 is 23" Monday, July 15 View Page Bart,,,,, for our next spy tour.... Tuesday, July 16 View Page 10 day cc on 811 Gerhardt is 15". pumpkin is still shiny but no growth from yesterday. I will give it a few more days to see what happens.. Wednesday, July 17 View Page 20 day cc on my 960 is 67".. Hey Matt, it's an up to date photo.. Thursday, July 18 View Page 4 gal tea folier...... Friday, July 19 View Page 10 day cc on 993 is 23". In the last two days I have had 11 open pols on my 1131, 723 Kaczenski and 777 Young. Seeing everything I tried to set on them aborted I let the bee's have their way with them.. See if they know any better magic words than I do. Plus we need a drop and a carver for our weigh off.. Any plants without a pumpkin Sunday will go to the compost pile.. Saturday, July 20 View Page 10 day cc on 1210 VanHook is 29". Monday, July 22 View Page 10 day cc on 963 is 38" Tuesday, July 23 View Page 30 day numbers on my 567 are cc 88, ss 63, ee 60, ( 211 ott ) Wednesday, July 24 View Page We have our first trainee ..Welcome 003.. Thursday, July 25 View Page 20 day cc on my 1000.5 is 67" Saturday, July 27 View Page Dear diary I have 30 day numbers on my 960, cc 95, ss 62, ee 63, ( 220 ott ).. Monday, July 29 View Page 20 day cc on 993 Vincent McGill is 54".. Tuesday, July 30 View Page 20 day cc on 1210 VanHook is 66". Tuesday, July 30 View Page I wanted to go to the beach but never made it, so I sprayed 3 gals of fish and seaweed instead.. For some reason it just ain't the same........... Wednesday, July 31 View Page Cut out about 1/4 of my 1082 Krueger. The pumpkin on the first side aborted all that is left is an open in the middle. Not easy getting a drop or a carver this year.. Thursday, August 1 View Page 20 day cc on my 963 is 75", and it's white.. That is just so wrong. Thursday, August 1 View Page Did a 7 gal tea folier.. Friday, August 2 View Page 40 day numbers on my 567 are cc 100, ss 72, ee 69, ( 241 ott ).. Nice looking pumpkin but I was hoping for much more than 100 lbs in 10 days.. I guess it is what it is.. Friday, August 2 View Page This is off my 960 seed. Good color and shape, don't think it will have the size.. Sunday, August 4 View Page 30 day numbers on my 1000.5 are cc 93, ss 68, ee 66, (227 ott ). This is my biggest 30 day number so far, I am guessing 2010 is out of the question this year. Ron you can relax and enjoy your summer off... Tuesday, August 6 View Page 40 day numbers on my 960 are cc 107, ss 72, ee 71, ( 250 ott ). Another one not on WR pace.. Friday, August 9 View Page The melon inspector has arrived. Friday, August 9 View Page What the hell is that ?? Sunday, August 11 View Page Look who they stuck in the back of the bus. Sunday, August 11 View Page Me and the Mayor of Prudence Island.. Sunday, August 11 View Page Whooze your Daddy ?? Sunday, August 11 View Page Great Day......... Sunday, August 11 View Page Woody and his woody.... Sunday, August 11 View Page Joey Chestnut ain't got nothin on Matt.. Sunday, August 11 View Page Biggest Mater I ever did see. Sunday, August 11 View Page It's all about having a good time.. Sunday, August 11 View Page Nice toy Paul.. Sunday, August 11 View Page Never know where you will find the flat man.. Sunday, August 11 View Page A day later and he ain't stopped yet.. Sunday, August 11 View Page Guess where .. Monday, August 12 View Page %0 day numbers on my 567 are cc 110, ss 79, ee 75, ( 364 ott ). Imagine this I just got fair 30 day numbers at day 50..I think I need meds.. Tuesday, August 13 View Page All kinds of typo's and math errors in previous post, now I need more meds..Thanks Paul !!!!! Wednesday, August 14 View Page 40 day numbers on my 1000.5 are cc 108, ss 80, ee 75, ( 263 ott )..Wow... At this rate in another 162 days the WR will be mine........ Thursday, August 15 View Page Due to the fact that my pumpkins are on pace to break the WR in 16o days I figured I could do some work on the Bates Motel. This is definitely more rewarding.... Friday, August 16 View Page 50 day numbers on my 960 are cc 114, ss 76, ee 76, ( 266 ott ).. Good color, pretty good shape and the numbers are out of the ball park. Friday, August 16 View Page Only primer but much more betterer.. Monday, August 19 View Page One quarter done... Monday, August 19 View Page Bates Motel is one quarter finished also.. Tuesday, August 20 View Page I have good,, I no longer have a white pumpkin.. Tuesday, August 20 View Page Should say I have good news.. Can't take old people anywhere.. Thursday, August 22 View Page 60 day numbers on my 567 are cc 116, ss 82, ee 79, ( 277 ott ). Six pounds a day over the last 10 days,,,,,,,OH BOY.... Saturday, August 24 View Page 50 day numbers on my 1000.5 are cc 113, ss 84, ee 79, ( 276 ott ).. End of august and don't have a 500 lbr yet...Oh Boy.. Monday, August 26 View Page 60 day numbers on my 960 are depressing. Monday, August 26 View Page Next year I am becoming a flatlander.Only 3 plants on flat ground.. Yes they will all be orange.. Thursday, August 29 View Page This was going to be my Woodstock Fair Pumpkin ,but it puked when we picked it up,,,,,,oh well.... Thursday, August 29 View Page Anyone seen Mayor Giarrusso ?? Thursday, August 29 View Page My undernourished Woodstock Fair replacement.. Thursday, August 29 View Page We have a winner at the Woodstock Fair. Paul Fulk.. It was a pleasure meeting you sir.. Saturday, August 31 View Page While the lucky ones got to go to the Fair and talk pumpkins, eat greasy food, and enjoy the scenery all day the under privileged had to stay home and work.. Sunday, September 1 View Page My new bestest friend....... Sunday, September 1 View Page OK Gene, I will share with you... Sunday, September 1 View Page The Gang on a well deserved break.. Monday, September 2 View Page Space,,,,,,,,,,,,the final frontier..... Monday, September 2 View Page A new mower,,oh boy.. Tuesday, September 3 View Page I want a new toy !! Tuesday, September 3 View Page My 1000.5 is 60 days today. There will be no more measuring due to the fact that measuring has been a source of depression lately.. Has nice shape and color. See if it lasts till our weigh off. Wednesday, September 4 View Page Things looking up at The Bates Motel ! Tuesday, September 10 View Page Honey,,,,,,, I bought you a present !!!!!!!!! Wednesday, September 11 View Page Bonded with my tiller today.. This is about 1500 sq ft, which will be half of next years garden. Tilled in 4 bags of lime, two truck loads of leaf compost and one truck load of cow manure. Plant some winter rye, and let it sit for the winter.. Sunday, September 15 View Page Bates Motel paint project coming along just fine.. Move staging tomorrow.. It's possible this side may be done by end of month.. Thursday, September 19 View Page Never get tired of this look............. Monday, September 23 View Page Winter rye 9 days after seeding..Grows faster than pumpkins.. Thursday, September 26 View Page Off to the Fair.. You know it's a slow year when you can get three pumpkins in the back of the truck.. Thursday, September 26 View Page Scott's entry Thursday, September 26 View Page Who do we have here ? Thursday, September 26 View Page Evil look.. Thursday, September 26 View Page Going to his happy place. Thursday, September 26 View Page Scott on the scale.. Thursday, September 26 View Page Are you scared yet ? Thursday, September 26 View Page Gene Thursday, September 26 View Page Guess who ? Thursday, September 26 View Page More Thursday, September 26 View Page And more Thursday, September 26 View Page The future is now.. Thursday, September 26 View Page Nice job young man.. Thursday, September 26 View Page I think I know these folks.. Thursday, September 26 View Page Pretty young lady with a pretty pumpkin.. Thursday, September 26 View Page Nice job. Thursday, September 26 View Page Its Uncle John.. Thursday, September 26 View Page Mr. Paul Thursday, September 26 View Page George Thursday, September 26 View Page Nice job Scott. Thursday, September 26 View Page We have a runner up.. Great to grow your own seed,, ain't it Gary ? Thursday, September 26 View Page Go Mark. Thursday, September 26 View Page Some guys got all the luck.. Thursday, September 26 View Page Way to go. Thursday, September 26 View Page Nice job John. Thursday, September 26 View Page Mr Jutras. Thursday, September 26 View Page The future is sooner than you think.. Thursday, September 26 View Page Stone cold Steve Austin was there also.. Thursday, September 26 View Page What the hell is this ? Thursday, September 26 View Page A new Ct record..Good job Sue. Thursday, September 26 View Page Old record didn't last long.. Great job Lloyd..... Thursday, September 26 View Page Another new Ct Record.. Congrats Matt. Thursday, September 26 View Page Special presentation time.. Thursday, September 26 View Page Another special presentation..A bag of sand and instructions on how to be the worlds biggest sandbagger.. Thursday, September 26 View Page Matt also received a special shirt.. This was given to you for your Bp Diary. You know the one that is a month behind, on a good month..Matt you are our hero and the KING of the sandbaggers .. Good thing this isn't a fishing shirt.. Monday, September 30 View Page My pumpkin project didn't come out how I hoped.but this one did.. Room rates going up at The Bates Motel.. Tuesday, October 1 View Page Amazing what pops up in the weeds.... Got Orange.. Tuesday, October 1 View Page ORANGE RULES Wednesday, October 2 View Page No wonder I will not get to a ton.. Had 4 leaches, should have weeded more I guess. Thursday, October 3 View Page Who has better neighbors than I do ?? Thursday, October 3 View Page Woody,,,,,,,, I'm back...... Saturday, October 5 View Page So I go to Topsfield and this is how I am greeted at the entrance of the Arena...I thought Halloween was still a few weeks off. Saturday, October 5 View Page Woody talking to the riggers.. Saturday, October 5 View Page Cam and his critter damaged squash,,need a bigger trap buddy.. Saturday, October 5 View Page Joe and his squash,, I heard it was light to the chart.. Saturday, October 5 View Page Always a crowd favorite,, Joe Post.. Saturday, October 5 View Page I broke the 500 lb mark, I didn't think I would do it this year. Saturday, October 5 View Page Another crowd fave ,, Kevin Krarns.. Saturday, October 5 View Page Mr. Glen.. Saturday, October 5 View Page Big John and his little girl.. Saturday, October 5 View Page Mr. Keenan. Saturday, October 5 View Page The Mayor of Prudence Island himself, Eddy G. Saturday, October 5 View Page Uncle Al.. Saturday, October 5 View Page The Whittier's Saturday, October 5 View Page Bob Duffy.. Saturday, October 5 View Page Dan Kruszyna Saturday, October 5 View Page Armand Saturday, October 5 View Page Jim Ford and a very pretty young lady Kim Butler.. Saturday, October 5 View Page George and Maryanne Saturday, October 5 View Page Steve Geddes Saturday, October 5 View Page The Breznick's with their HD winner.. Saturday, October 5 View Page Peter,, you can sure grow some big pumpkins.. Saturday, October 5 View Page And the winner is,,,,,,,,WOODY...... Saturday, October 5 View Page Wilbur,, I just want to say sorry for not getting a picture of you, I must have been rigging a pumpkin at that time.. Sunday, October 6 View Page I gust love this time of year.. Sunday, October 6 View Page Lucy,,,,,,I'm home.. Thursday, October 10 View Page Got more orange.. Thank you John Vincent , your 993 rocks just like the 1059... Wednesday, October 16 View Page Tilled garden and spread winter rye.. Friday, October 18 View Page Next year I am going overhead water......... Tuesday, October 22 View Page My best friend with her best friend... Saturday, October 26 View Page And they will call him Abbynormal.. Saturday, October 26 View Page BOO Monday, October 28 View Page Went north for two days.. Thank you John and Kerry for your help........ Monday, October 28 View Page This is how it started. Monday, October 28 View Page About two hours later it looked like this.... Monday, October 28 View Page No room service here.. Monday, October 28 View Page Nothing better than a room with a view.. Monday, October 28 View Page Like another world.. Monday, October 28 View Page The difference two miles can make.. Tuesday, October 29 View Page Bring me the children Wednesday, October 30 View Page Then there were three....... Thursday, October 31 View Page Pimpin ain't easy ! Wednesday, November 27 View Page Twas the day before Thanksgiving and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even my Spouse.. Oops wrong nursery rhyme.. Monday, December 2 View Page Winter mater project is underway. Started two 4.48 Marley's and also two 5.80 Osmala's....... Wednesday, December 11 View Page My maters are up. Experimental greenhouse winter mater project to begin soon.. Wednesday, December 18 View Page Maters were repotted and put in greenhouse today.......... Thursday, December 19 View Page My favorite............