Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 124 Entries. Sunday, February 12 View Page Well I decided to tear down the old metal shed and have a new shed/pump house built. Sunday, February 12 View Page Just about done. Thank goodness I have a friend (Chuck)building it or it may have never got done. Sunday, February 12 View Page We had a bit of a snow storm about mid Jan. It was sooo. cold that these once seprate statuses came together to try and warm up Sunday, February 12 View Page Dang it I hate mis spellings.! Sunday, February 12 View Page Then came the freezing rain. Then................... Sunday, February 12 View Page ... you could walk outside and hear all the branches snaping and we soon lost power and would have to use a generater for 4 days. So my brother in law and family came over as we had a fireplace. My little neice Samantha hung out with her uncle Ron. Sunday, February 12 View Page On Saturday my brother in law made a trek down to Oregon. I had picked up 7 yards of some processed cow poo for Jim Sherwood and went to pick up some more mint straw. Sunday, February 12 View Page This stuff is really good stuff as it heavy with potash and mixed in with some straw . I got 7+ yards of it Sunday, February 12 View Page Another pic of the miint straw. Jim S. has been using this stuff for quite some time now. So I figured it about time I get myself some to add to the 5 yards I put in early November. Sunday, February 12 View Page Then I also picked up 2 new lifting rings and 3 lifting bars (one I bought for myself) that Stev Handy built for our club. These things are VERY^ cool and will come in rel handy (no pun intended) come weigh off time. THANKS A BUNCH Steve. Sunday, February 12 View Page Oh man This is what I get when I dont wear my glasses when typing. Arrrg!! Sorry for the typos. Monday, March 12 View Page Hey Ice,WiZZy and waterboy BizZy. The QuiZ demanded I post this He looked VERY determined to put down the gauntlet. Monday, March 12 View Page Some peps enjoying the Big Show Saturday, March 17 View Page Rain rain go away come back after a few really warm summer dayZ. Managed to get the holes dug for the smaller green houses yesterday. Saturday, March 31 View Page Well I was asked last night what was I going to do on my B-day on Sat? I can now tell how unadventurance it was .so far. I slept in , and got some post cemented in and now headed to Red Robin for my B-day dinner and maybe a movie. I would also like to wish Nick Harp a happy b day as well. Saturday, March 31 View Page Oh darn it . See how a year older can do? you make up words (unadventurance) I was meaning to say uneventful. Man getting old really sucks. LOL $8 years old I think I had better stay right about here for a few more years. Saturday, March 31 View Page Ok I am stopping while I still have no grammer or typing skillZ. Incase you couldnt figure it out with out looking at the keyboard 48 yrs old Monday, April 16 View Page OK WiZZY I am on to your plan. As I have cought one of your spy moles tunneling around my patch. tisk tisk tisk. you should REALYY try to not put your name and address on your spy moles as it is a little too easy to trace them back to where they came from. Plus this one had a Peyton Manning #18 jersy on it trying to cover up your ID tag. I have more traps set for you and the Biz'z attempt at sneeking intel from me. Monday, April 16 View Page Oh and I might add you are a sick man for where you put the micro chip at. lucky for me when your spy mole was trapped it....... Let just say he didnt exactly cough it up. Ewww! You must have had the biZ install them. Tuesday, April 17 View Page My friend Chuck and I made some significant head way on the 20 x 60 Green house testerday. Just have to put some supports and channels for the wiggle wire in and then do the final till and it will be game on. Test germs under way Monday, April 23 View Page Ok here it goes my seeds that I started are..... 1272 Barker (1485 Stelts x 1468.5 Stevens) 1421 Stelts 1495 Stelts 1401 Yrena 10 (991 Urena x 901 Hunt) 904 Stelts (this one is for the Puyallup fair giant Veg. Garden) Back up for the 904 is my 753 Barker (772 Poirier x1370 Rose) 1504.5 Sherwood (1313 Sherwood x 1161 Rodonis) 1647 Wallace 1725 x Sib) I am only planting 6 so if they all come up I have a pretty tough choice to make Monday, April 23 View Page Ok I hit the 8 instead of the 9 in the 1495 Dammit Monday, April 23 View Page yes I know Urena is spelled with a U not Y Thursday, May 3 View Page Well as fate would have it some seeds didnt germ. So the semi new line up consists of my 1272 Barker 1495 stelts x 1468.5 Stevens 1502 Daletas 1725 Harp x 898 Knauss 1495 Stelts 1161 x 904 Stelts 1421 Checkon 1161 R. x 901 Hunt 1421.5 Stelts 1385 J x 904 Stelts 1401 Urena 991 Urena x 901 Hunt Still waiting and hoping for the 904 and 998.6 to pop up but at this time I am not holding much hope So I am starting a 993 v.m. And either a 1393 Pugh or last years winning pumpkin at the fair the 927 Pugh. Thursday, May 3 View Page Oh I forgot to mention my 255 Mitchell is up and going as well Thursday, May 24 View Page Well Today was DEFINATELY not one of my best days and it may be a few more like it for a while as My dad passed away this morning and as quite a few of you know it isnt anything you get over very quickly. So as most things go the season has ben dedicated to my Dad. I was really happy to have had him and my mom there when I grew and weighed my then PB of 1191 LBS. So Dad I hope I do you proud and I will miss it when you would come by and ask me how my squash are doing and I would have to correct you and tell you that they are pumpkins not Squash. Thursday, May 24 View Page I was talking with my friend John Clayton from ESPN and he told me that Peyton only went to the Denver Broncos because he felt soo bad that they had suffered knowing that the WiZ was a big fan and the team mascot last year became the starting QB that he "Oh what the heck I cant make them any crappier so why not" Sorry Wizzy I'm just relaying the message. Tuesday, May 29 View Page Well Been kinda tough to get things done with all the things going on with dads passing. But managed to finish up some of the plant maintance. my 1272 seems to be doing the best of all the plants. I didnt realize this when I had picked out my line up but 4 out of my 6 plants come from 1400+ pounders and 2 of them are with in a half a pound. As if you hadnt already read here they are. 1401 Urena 1495 Stelts 1421 Checkon 1421.5 Stelts 1272 Barker 1502 Daletas and my neighbors daughter is growing the 1274 Stelts as She was always asking to come over and help so her and her dad are growing that one. and I hope to do a duplicate cross of the 1807 Stelts by using pollen from that plant. (fingers crossed) I would also like to send my condolences to my best friend,optometrist(spelling?) and co grower as his aunt passed away Monday morning and as I understand it was the last living connection to his parents. So Stan praying for you as I know you are doing the same for me. Hope it wont cost you too much to fix your irrigation system. Sorry had to throw that in buddy. Friday, June 1 View Page Well I am really happy about the agressiveness of the 1272 Barker. It is followed up nicely by the 1401 Urena All others are pretty much right where they should be. But as we all hope for the plants to grow faster I have to alway tell myself it is not always how you start but how you finish. They all were in the ground on 5/13 prior to that most of them were in 2 gallon pots Thursday, June 14 View Page Dont know if my buddy the WiZ realiZed it or not but in his last post he may have shown his hand . That is if you put the 2 numbers together. 18,18. It could happen! pogpsJnfsuaw]sdWJFVVO D3. SORRY TRYING TO FIGHT OFF AOPSKVAJWFF-EMV THE QUIZ AS I AM TYPING P[ASOAI-UN-CVWF 3 plants over the 8ft mark and 2 real close and the 3 is stating to make head way. Friday, June 22 View Page This roller coaster of wheather has made me Very happy that I have green houses that will contain approximately 80+ % of each plant and pumpkins and not having to worry as much on how the wheather is going to be. Hey Monster Grower I to found your alter ego spy lusrking around my patch. he seemed very surprised that I caught him lol Monday, July 2 View Page Well This will be pollinating week for me. I have only 3 sets but 1 of them I am not over joyed at it position. So starting tuesday I should be setting KinZ on my 1272 and 1401 Urena both will sets no. 2 . Weds or thurs should be sets on the 1421.5 Stelts which is the only female so far and the plant is roughly 19 ft long. the 1421 Checkon will roughly be weds or thurs. at about 18 ft out and another will come due about a day or 2 later. The 1495 probably later in the week same as the 1502 Daletas. the 1421.5 stelts main and secondaries are fairly big and the leafs are big in dia. but not tall. I like that combo as that is kinda what last years 1495 was and it did pretty well for me. Abit behind as this last week end I had to travel to Oregon then sat had something else to do so this week I should be able to get a lot done I hope. The 1401 Urena is almost at the end of the green house which is 25 long and the plant is set about 2ft in so it is about 22+ ft in length. with one set at about 16ft and 2 more coming on near the end at roughly 21 and 23 ft out. having to snake the main so I can try to set the kinZ in the green house. Monday, July 9 View Page This greenhouse houses my 1272.1495 Stgelts and the 1502 Daletas Monday, July 9 View Page dang it Sorry foor the TypoDave. Monday, July 9 View Page Some one told me I shouldnt do post at night...............and now U all see why. Monday, July 9 View Page .......but yet I continue. forground houses the 1401 Urena 10, middle is the 1421 Checkon. And in the back The first lady or AKA 1421.5 Stelts. Hey WizZy I have this DAMN!! wabbit that wont leave my back yoard. Do you know how it got here? hmmmmmmmmm? The QuiZ swears he knows nuttin. "I think there is something fishy going on around here." Monday, July 9 View Page .......but yet I continue. forground houses the 1401 Urena 10, middle is the 1421 Checkon. And in the back The first lady or AKA 1421.5 Stelts. Hey WizZy I have this DAMN!! wabbit that wont leave my back yoard. Do you know how it got here? hmmmmmmmmm? The QuiZ swears he knows nuttin. "I think there is something fishy going on around here." Monday, July 9 View Page Here is the First lady (1421.5 Stelts plant. Just so peps know the greenhouses on the right are 18' wide by 25' long and I have been growning these using the Thadd Starr vine pattern. if ya dont know it it is on his website. But it really utilizes the space compaired to the traditional tree pattern. The big greenhouse on the left side is 20' wide by 60' long and the kin plants are growing from side to side and still using the same plant pattern. All kinZ set should remaain inside the greenhouses. Monday, July 9 View Page 2 sets on the 1401 Urena Monday, July 9 View Page my only set on the main on the First lady (1421.5 Stelts) and my other Stelts will be known as Mrs. ElPresidente. Wednesday, July 11 View Page Well did my last pollenation yesterday. It is the second set on the 1495 Mrs.El Prezidente. It is a 6 lobe and I crossed it with the 1401 Urena 10 (991 U. X 901 Hunt). we Will be doing the reverse cross of the 1807 Stels this morning at my neighbors place. He and his daughter are growing it. I had hoped to use the male pollen from it on my Mrs. El Presidente but for some reason he thought I told them to take all the flowers off except the ones with pumpkins on them so I wasn't able to use any of his males as he had NONE. (dang it !!) First set on my 1272 (1495 Stelts x 1468.5 Stevens) x 1299 Sc.Pugh (1495 Stelts x 1140 Stevens) Pol. date 6/23 and is slightly bigger than basketball size. I have 3 more sets on this plant but I really like the cross and position of the first set. The other sets I beleive were both from the 1495 Mrs.El Presidente. Tuesday, July 17 View Page Culled all pumpkins down to 1 each except for mrs. El Presidente (1495 Stelts) So as they stand 1502 Daletas x 1272 Barker 1272 Barker (1495 Stelts x 1468.5 Stevens) x 1299.5 Sc. Pugh (1495 Stelts x 1140 Stevens) 1495 Stelts x 1272 Barker 1495 Stelts x 1401 Urena (I think) 1401 Urena x 1421 Checkon 1421 Checkon x 1421.5 Stelts 1421.5 Stelts x 1421 Checkon My 2 field kinZ this year are 162 McKinnon and my 73 Barker (119 Star x 142 McInnis) Wednesday, July 25 View Page The mrs. El Presidente (1495 Stelts) is going to be a pretty Orange one. Wednesday, July 25 View Page The 1502 Daletas. nice shape Wednesday, July 25 View Page my 1272 Barker 31 DAP @ 84 circ. Wednesday, July 25 View Page Back side of the big green house. Wednesday, July 25 View Page Yes Jack L. you were right when you told me that when the greenhouse is full getting around inside is quite difficult. Tuesday, July 31 View Page The kin on tghe 1421.5 Stelts aborted so out with the plant :-( !! Thursday, August 2 View Page Darn darn darn !! first I lose 1421.5 Stelts and now as I expected the 1502 Daletas is done. It had a VERY nodd wrinkley bottom to the kin and wanted to grow blossum end down so I adjusted it to do so and over the last few days looked to be doin ok. Until I checked underneth it and taa da a split. so down to 4 my 1272, 1421 Checkon, 1401 Urena and the 1495 Mrs. El PreZidente. and she has great shape and color. I hope if it doesn't get real big it should hold me the chance at an HDA. Thursday, August 2 View Page Hey WizZy!!! I picked up a Wabbit ttrap to snare your WiZzy-bot rabbits. One of them managed to burrow under a secondary vine on my 1272. So.... once I catch them I will pull the program chips (yet once again you find the most discusting place to put them) you have installed and releaze them on the other side of the river. Tuesday, August 14 View Page Ok I have to say my 1272 has lost weight. What hows that you say? Some damn varmet is eating away on my 1272 and these arent little nibbles here or there I'm talken about 2in wide by 4-6in long and roughly 1/4-5/8 of an in deep in a couple places. I AM PISSED! The WiZ says he has no active drones out at this time. now mind you I cover my kinZ and they grow on a mill fabric. So I have taken some EXTREME measures. I set up a live trap (not saying they'll stay that way after I catch them) in hopes of catching it, Also spread some blood meal around the outside perimeter of the kinZ and I will add that these are the kinZ that are growing in my Big greenhouse. If that don't stop them It will be time to break out the Elmer Fud hunting gear and ....well we will just see what happens. So much for daily gainZ huh!! Wednesday, August 15 View Page Ok here is the start of my rescent delema. This is the first and only attack so far on my 14211 Checkon. Hang on it gets A LOT worse!! Wednesday, August 15 View Page sorry that is my 1272 Wednesday, August 15 View Page The biggest chunk from my 1272. I have as I said in an earlier post pulling no punches. As when I had come home on Tuesday to find yet more but smaller nibbling on the kin. one of my traps I really hope is the most effective and I call it the peanut butter dive to stay alive. (for the rat) simply put run some string through a can suspend it over a large bucket of water and put a S*** load of peanut butter on the can and a way for the pest to get to the top and attempt to balance himself in order to get the peanut butter. It will most likely not maintain balance and fall into the water and we see how long it can swim. Good thing my neighbor has a pet Boa as I wouldn't want to wast it! hehe! if these traps fail to catch it and heaven forbid I see more damage out comes the Elmer Fud hunting gear and night vision goggles and I pray he isnt doing his damage during the day because that greenhouse get REAL HOT and I fear I would become a human raisin. Wednesday, August 15 View Page Ya know this really has been hurting my weight gains lately. I measure and gain some 20-25 lbs and the dang varmet eats 5-10 pounds back off it. Dang how am I going to grow a 1 ton kin if this keeps happening. I think eventually it will be so fat of my kin that when I catch it I may have to put it on the scale just to even thing out!! Wednesday, August 15 View Page Ok I am resorting to the typical rat poison. So I may not get the revenge I wanted but I am SICK of seeing more and more of my 1272 nibbled away. Saturday, August 18 View Page Ok this is the regular garden. but what comes next is not for the pumpkin faint of heart. As these pics are of my battle against a persistant rodent or rodents. Dont hit the arrow key if you are.............. Saturday, August 18 View Page ............To late you hit it anyway didnt you . Oh well I warned you. Saturday, August 18 View Page If there is a cup half full story to this it would be that they at least ate on almost only the thick parts of the kin. I will tell you that the Mrs. El PreZidente (1495) has not been touched. Apparently they no not to mess with her. Good thing as it is still maintaining good orange color and good shape. Tuesday, August 21 View Page I will have to say KC Kevin has given me hope in this battle http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=187876 When I get home today I hope to find a head count. I hope not to get skunked as I am getting real tired of having to put all this effort into catching these rodents and to have them still winning is driving me nuts!!!! Wednesday, August 22 View Page Ok I have been semi sucessful. Here's how. The sheet that I have snugly fit over the Kin has worked ,the areas that have been nibbled on has had fans blowing on them with so Captan applied very lightly. Yesterday I found 2 dead rabbits. I think they are the ones that ate down low and the bigger chuck. So I wont have to be concerned with them anymore. Now the other little vermin havent done anymore damage I belive because of how the kin is covered. I also dont know for sure if any of them ate the poison because they havent been found yet. So my finger are crossed that they have eaten the poison and croked. I will leave the traps and poison out in the event I have some visiting. I also think I may take this one to the fair because I dont know if it will make it longer or not. I Soooo hope so as it is a seed from my 1272 and I want it to get as big as possible. Wednesday, August 22 View Page Well I went to cover up the kinZ and when it came to the 1272 I was checking to see if everything was ok and found a soft spot on the side one of the damaged areas that ended up going all the way thru. Final measurements 293 OTT. I caulked ou the hole mainly because it wont be until Friday before I can haul it out. I have to agree with Jim Sherwood and that would be not to be surprised if the bottom drops out when I lift it up. I REALLY hope it stays in tact but we will see friday afternoon. I will use my certified inline scale. I hope it is no less than right on chart. If it goes fairly heavy I am just going to cry :-( Saturday, August 25 View Page Well I came home from work today and with a bum right shoulder now bugging me I incorporated Breana and her friend to help remove my Pumpkin eating rodent riddled pumpkin out of the green house ( I think that is what would call it) Fair amount of seeds and even a couple that had started growing. So I planted one of them just to see. The pumpkin was VERY thick and I firmly beleiveit would have went heavy. So Uncle Walt (Perham) and Shane Briggs I am rooting for you 1272's to keep growing and to make a good showing. I pollenated 2 kins on the plant third vine and selfed one of them and another open. I plan to take out the plant from the stump up to where the Kin waZ. So I move on ......... Saturday, August 25 View Page ............ To check out the other 3 that I have. Now originally when this thing with the rodents started they had nibbled on the 1421 Checkon. Well they have come back to it . So know I have started the same protective proceedure I ended with on the 1272 but in the snap traps this time I put some lightly cooked bacon chunks on 2 traps and tied them to the trigger so they would have to tug it to get the bait off and hopefully they get snapped. Saturday, August 25 View Page I had to put the traps in front as the kin iZ slightly rolling over the blossum so I couldnt get the blankets to tuck real securely under the blossum. so I thru some poison bait under the area they could and would most likely enter. Then on the outside of that is the 2 bacon and 1 peanutbutter snap traps are set. So once again my fingers are crossed that I can keep this pest away and hopefully KILL KILL KILL them. Ya know it is one thing to come out and see that your pumpkin has split and the emotional drain it put on you. But to fight to keep your kin from getting attacked and all the work I put in to trying to not only kill the buggerZ but keep the kin growing and losing that battle. Just plain SUCKS. 3 down and 3 to GrowZem big. Sunday, August 26 View Page Well I think as far as AG's go this year is quite disappointing. no Kins very close to hitting 1000. I spent most of my time trying to stop what ever was attacking my Kin (now kinZ)and never got got up on other plant maintanace . I think there is more than one varmet that was and is attackin them. So far 2 dead rabbits I am fairly sure I killed a couple mice (poison) but The ;atest one I think is a squirrel. as I saw 2 side by side dirty hop maks on the 1421 Checkons blankets. So All kins are tighly wrapped and fingers crossed to the point of no circulation in the fingers that I have protected my small kinZ. I was just think that I wished I'd kept a chunk of the 1272 and some how used it for bait to kill them. I am also feeling VERY vendictive from some reason. My least favorite saying in this hbby is "Next Year" Sunday, September 2 View Page ok traps failed to get anything so I resorted to moth balls and they seem to be doing the trick. This is something I WISHED I FIGURED OUT SOMETIME AGO!!!!! RIP 1272 Monday, September 3 View Page Ok today I went on a mini south sound patch tour and helped cindy Tobeck make a choice as to what she would take to the Puyallup Fair. I will say that the watermelon looks real good and though it may not be a st. record Melon it is still a VERY good size melon and may very well be the biggest (only one) one weighed in Wa. this year. Monday, September 3 View Page So jack La Rue let us use his tri pod to lift the kinZ up and see which one will go to the Fair next Friday. 1st up Cindy's kin off the 1723 Marshall. Monday, September 3 View Page As you can see Cindy climbed up on the kin and she juuuust barely got the come a long hook on the tri pod. Then we lifted it and she was Really happy with the weight as it will be a personel best. Monday, September 3 View Page So up it went I watched for the kin to clear the ground just enough to get a good weight. Monday, September 3 View Page Now don't try this at home or on just any kin. The 1053 Pugh just happen to be a little lower and Cindy showed off her amazing veritcal leap to attach the hook to the tri pod. Notice the amount of air between her feet and the kin. Monday, September 3 View Page So now the 1052 Pugh gets lifted again no disappointment here. Now just which one will she take this weekend? I think she may very well reach her goal for the Puyallup Fair weigh off. Good luck Cindy Monday, September 3 View Page Off to see Shane (harbor Grower) and his dads patch. I wanted to see the 1272 Barker he is growing at his dads. Monday, September 3 View Page It may not be symetrical kin but none the less it looks like it is doing real well. Thanks for growing guys. Monday, September 3 View Page Then Off to another good friends place in Olympia Jeff Uhlmeyers place. He has a REALLY Nice looking 1495 Stelts growing. As you can see great shape, size, and color. Cant wait to see how much it weighs as I too have an orange 1495 (Mrs.ElpreZidente) going but not as big as his. Nice job Jeff and thanks for letting me see it. Monday, September 3 View Page So knowing I may not get even a 1K pounder this year I learned A LOT for growing in greenhouses. So Like I said before I HATE hearing the words "next year" during the season . Mainly because it seems so far away and it usually means my growing season sucked. Espeacially when I have to say it to myself. Wednesday, September 12 View Page Well it was really nice to get a break from the club seed sales at the Fair. Been going to work then straight to the fair until 7pm. So I went out to check on my last two KinZ. The "Mrs. El PreZidente" Has Really packed on the pounds and the 1401 Urena have both given me some hope in having a couple 1000#ers. I havent measured them mainly because I still have the fear of the rodent muncherZ reappering. So when I had checked on them the sheets and blankets that I had sinched around them were VERY tight and when I untied them I couldnt stretch them back down enough to secure the bottoms. I hope to measure them soon. I am thinking of taking the 1401 Urena to HMB mainly because I have yet to see the weighoff and I would love to go down with something. Mrs. El PreZidente will either go to the Orting weigh off or Terminator in Oregon. ok now back to getting the Fairs weighoff stats into the mighty BP database. Sunday, September 16 View Page Well the Fair Pumpkin now measures just a little shy of 1000 pounds. Here is my delema. can I count it as a 1K for me or forthe few who helped me as well as myself. I have little doubt it will go light. With roughly 3 weeks to go my hopes of at least hitting a 1K in my patch may be dwinddling away. I am Sooooooo stoked to be going to HMB this year (finally) Gonna see some bigginZ Sunday, October 14 View Page Well Will say that as far as AG's go I didnt get the weights I had been hoping for But I think I created a few encouraging crosses. Something I hadnt even thought would happen this year for did and it really made up for not acheiving the AG weights and that was getting the Washington State record field pumpkin at 119 pounds off of my own seed (the 79 Barker 142 McInnis x 119 Starr) it went 8% heavey. All my AG's grown at my place was no less than 19% heavey. 910.5 Barker 1421 Checkon x 1421.5 Stelts) *22% 905 Barker 1401 Urena 10 x 1272 Barker) + 19% 922 Barker 1495 Stelts x 1272 Barker) + 19% 100.5 Barker F.P. 162 B MacKinnon x 79 Barker) 7% heavey 119 Barker FP (79 Barker x 162 B MacKinnon Wa. St Record Kin. +8% heavy Got to go to the Half moon Bay weigh off which was VERY exciting. Then a stop by Leonardo Urenas place on our way back. So any way A lot was learned this year and as much as I hate saying "next year" I am really looking forward to it. Dont know that I would get to but to go on one of the pumpkin cruises would be a good start. Pics coming soon Sunday, October 14 View Page Ohh crap forgot to proof read DAAAAAAAMN it! Wednesday, October 17 View Page Ok a little catching up to do. Here are the Uhlmeyer girls with there JR winning pumpkin grown off the 1080 Hunt and crossed with there dads 1495 Stelts. I REALLY like this cross. you will see why later. Wednesday, October 17 View Page me with my 5th place pumpkin grown off the 1421.4 Checkon and crossed with 1421 Stelts. EST weight 745# weighed 910.5 for roughly 22% heavy. Wednesday, October 17 View Page 910.5 Barker Wednesday, October 17 View Page the other side of the 910.5 Barker. If I had only knew that I wasnt going to hit 1K this year I'da left this one on the vine longer as It was the youngest of the 3 kins I had. DAAAAAMN IT!! Wednesday, October 17 View Page .....And yes this kin wasn't spared from the rodent attacks either. All my kins got nibbled on as you will see. Wednesday, October 17 View Page My wife (Connie) and daughter (Breana) selling seeds at the clubs seed sale booth at the Puyallup Fair. Robin Halberts 1248 on the right and the 902 Uhlmeyer Jr. winners Wednesday, October 17 View Page A closer view of the kins Wednesday, October 17 View Page couldn't pass up this opportunity. This is Cindy Tobecks 1135 3rd place Fair finisher with a very adorable center piece. The Baby was only 1 month younger than Cindy's kin. Wednesday, October 17 View Page Off to Oregon for the Bauman Farms weigh off. Here is Steve Daletas 1799.5 DMG off the 1495 Stelts. This pumpkin ended up being dropped from about 150 feet into a pool of rubber duckies for charity. That is the biggest pumpkin ever dropped from a crane. The sound it made when it hit the water/ground was pretty amazing. Wednesday, October 17 View Page Me with my 100.5 Field kin off the 162 B. MacKinnon. I think we should have a top ten avg. for field kins. In part because Baumans had a top 10 avg of 100#'s. Due in part to Janette Daletas's 152 and 2 or 3 kin at just over 120#'s Wednesday, October 17 View Page Jim Sherwood finally didn't finish 2nd but he didn't finish 1st either. None the less that was a very nice weight and it was 9% heavy. It was grown off the 1487 Starr Wednesday, October 17 View Page Steve Daletas 1778.5 was the winner. Hey Steve maybe your kids were right? LOL J.K. Wednesday, October 17 View Page Another shot with th the 100.5 Barker F.kin. Which at that time was my new PB Wednesday, October 17 View Page Off to HMB. Following Steve Daletas coming in to SanFransico. Oh and to those who dont know. It is a good idea to only go 55 mph when driving with a trailer. I unfortunately tested that theroy out . They will pull you over and NO having some big pumpkins out for display on your trailer wont change there mind about giving you a ticket. OUCH!!! Wednesday, October 17 View Page Yet again my pumpkin measured in the mid 700# range. It was grown off the 1401 Urena 10 (991 Urena x 901 Hunt) and it too went heavy. 19% to be exact. weighed in at 905#'s. I crossed my 1272 (1495 Stelts x 1468.5 Stevens)into it. Wednesday, October 17 View Page here it is on the scale Wednesday, October 17 View Page Jack LaRues 1097 off of the 1409 Miller. Jack and I finished 12th and 13th. Bummer part is the only pay 10 places. Wednesday, October 17 View Page Jim with his 1277 off of the 1476 Daletas Wednesday, October 17 View Page Then there is Thad's monster at 1775 and the HMB Winner. It was off the 1725 harp x self. Wednesday, October 17 View Page On our way back we stopped by and visited with Leonardo Urena. He has these cool gourds Wednesday, October 17 View Page pear gourd Wednesday, October 17 View Page He let me have a couple to take home. Very cool Wednesday, October 17 View Page The gang Me,Leonardo, and a friend of Leonardo's from Spain (sorry forgot the name) Jim Sherwood,and Jack La Rue. Wednesday, October 17 View Page Leonardo was pleased to hear how well it did in going heavy. Now all I need to do is growem BIGGER Wednesday, October 17 View Page I think Jim was just a little tired. Wednesday, October 17 View Page "Hey Jim did I ......." Oh never mind Still sleeping Wednesday, October 17 View Page WOWZERS!! he even smiles when he sleeps. Must be dreaming of that Jack Nicholson movie ................. Wednesday, October 17 View Page ...yeah that's the one!! I had a great time going down to HMB Thanks guys. Sunday, October 21 View Page Ok OKAAAAY!! Jim Sherwood and Jack la Rue had been telling me to get snap traps and place them around the Kin. Did I listen? kinda. But now I have sinched a sheet around the bottom of the kin and along with the few poison blocks still in place. I have set up 10 snap traps dripping with yummy peanut butter. I figue my kin is like McDonals. I appears that there may be more than just one snacking on it so I am hoping I catch 2 or 3 tonight. I know I will fill better about it Monday, November 5 View Page So I go out to finally get some plants cleaned out and of all things I find this. I couldnt beleive it I ran around trying to get my scale get the tractor because I had tried to lift it and I couldnt budge it. I got it out of the patch the whole time just plain mad and excited at the same time. I QUICKLY measured it it measured 189.5 OTT. I held the ring on the scale and zeroed it out then hooked it up and the wife kept me in suspence so she could get the photo. HOLY CRAP!!! 140.5 # (The scale is a certified scale but I would need to get it reset to be 100%. But I have only used it 3 or 4 times so I would hate to think it was off. For those of you who dont know I set the new Wa.St Record at 119# this year. So this happily hurts a little knowing I had one even bigger!!. Monday, November 5 View Page Yet another pic of my 140.5 Barker uow Monday, November 5 View Page Yet another pic of my 140.5 Barker uow Monday, November 5 View Page I still have another off of my 79 Barker 12 plant that I know about. It isnt as big. I will try and weigh it tomarrow. Tuesday, November 6 View Page Ok here is another kick in the backside. Which I will be doing for a VERY VERY VERY long time. I looked back through 2009 when we first started keeping data on them. It would have been the tied for the 12th largest ever grown in this time frame. DAAAAAAAAMN IT!! Thursday, November 8 View Page Well here is a pic of the weight of the 140 "Stelth) Barker Field kin taken on another certified scale at Fed Ex. Thursday, November 8 View Page Cant remember if I posted this already but here is a pic of Eric Hawley carving my 922.5 Barker for our churches Halloween event. Thursday, November 8 View Page This might help if I put the pic in. Going to jinx myself and say I had made it all year without forgetting to post the pic. Thursday, November 8 View Page Also incase I forgot. My 922.5 Barker (1495 Stelts x 1272 Barker) It measured to weigh 770 and went a 152#'s over. Thursday, November 8 View Page Slighly diferent angle. I didnt get alot of seeds and a good portion of the have a solid embryo but a white tip. Some are smaller than others and some seeds are very full. Never had such a variance of seeds from 1 Kin. I hope to grow out several kins that have the 1495 gens. in them. I may also grow my 910.5 out as well. 1421 Checkon x 1421.5 Stelts at 22% heavy. Thursday, November 8 View Page Cindy in her hula girl outfit and Jim Sherwood in the background Monday, November 12 View Page Good news The 140.5 UOW was opened up at the PNWGPG awardss meeting on Sunday. What a pleasant surprise as this thing was very thick as you can see. There are plenty of seeds too. The 140.5 was grown off the 162 B McKinnon. As I said before it is an open pollination but the pollen that was in the area was either my 79 Barker which grew the Wash.State record 119# pumpkin or the 162 B.McKinnon so either way it will have some good gens. We measured the thickness and 5 1/2 inches at it thickest area and just under 5 inches at its thinest area. I was pretty bummed about my AG's this year but if I look at the cup half full I grew 4 field kins all over 100 lbs. The 79 Barker grew the 119 and a 106 and the 140.5 and 100.5 off the 162 B McKinnon. So I geuss this season was too bad over all. The 106 and 140.5 were weighed with my in line certified scale. Tuesday, December 25 View Page 49ers (10-4-1) 13 Final 42 Seahawks (10-5-0) at Sunday, Dec 23, 2012 at 5:20PM PST DirecTV: 717, 717 HDTV: NBCSirius: 86, 92GameCenter Ahh that was an awesome game sunday night. GO HAWKS!! San Francisco 49ers 0 6 0 7 0 13 Seattle Seahawks 14 14 7 7 0 42 Tuesday, December 25 View Page My beloved Hawks are in the playoffs. Wahoooo.