Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 285 Entries. Tuesday, January 1 View Page grOw'Z em biG in 2008 ! Thursday, January 3 View Page BUCKLE UP and hold on !! Thiz should be a fun ride !! Tuesday, January 8 View Page Show is about to start !! Get your tickets today !! Tuesday, January 8 View Page People from all over the country have started to line up to see... 'The BiZ' Part 2 "Year of Rat ".................... Tuesday, January 8 View Page .....from the West Coast................. Tuesday, January 8 View Page .......to the East Coast..... Tuesday, January 8 View Page ...Some have even come to see "The WiZ"....... Tuesday, January 8 View Page This show haZ not yet been rated............. Saturday, January 12 View Page A few guyz from the RMGVG got a bite to eat before the show starts ! Left to right...Barry Todd, Gary Schenfish, Joe Scherber, The WiZ and Longmont Pete.......... Sunday, January 20 View Page ......Ya see...Joe Scherber(Orange Jacket) iz a very smart guy ........he put a beer in the hand of "The WiZ" before showing him some great seedz......one less hand to keep track of.......smart !! Friday, February 1 View Page "The WiZ" wantz to look hiz best for hiz role in "The Year of the Rat " !! .................... Tuesday, February 5 View Page Diary.......Today I sent a self addressed stamped bubble back to the sender........thiz should be interezting............ Tuesday, February 5 View Page .............they said they would send me updatez on the 757 GRANDE growth throughout the seazon............... Sunday, February 10 View Page Showz about to start........PLEAZE STAND BY.................. Tuesday, February 12 View Page Back when we were just kidz , "The WiZ" had a little problem of telling thingz the way they really happened.....let'z just say he alwayz added on inchez to the fish he caught and now it'z poundz to the pumpkinz he growz.............what little story will he try to tell us next??....... Thursday, February 14 View Page ....................off the air............................... Tuesday, February 19 View Page .......Whew ! ! !........Back on line.................. Wednesday, February 20 View Page ..Enjoy The Show !! Wednesday, February 20 View Page Yes folkz......It'z true that "The WiZ" haz a problem with telling the truth , az you can tell from hiz latest diary entriez, so the memberz of the RMGVG are asking for strength and forgiveness for him during this 2008 growing seazon ..................... Thursday, February 21 View Page Even the youngest of our pumpkin growerz are praying that "The WiZ" can turn it around before it'z too late. The 2008 growing seazon izn't lost...............yet. Wednesday, February 27 View Page ......The snow haz melted here in Colorado, at least for now, and remember how "The WiZ" prep'd hiz patch last fall ?? ......................................thinking your gonna need a bigger tiller "WizZy BoY" ! ! ! Wednesday, February 27 View Page Dear diary......in order to keep "The WiZ" honest thiz year, I had to go behind hiz back and hire a few friendz to keep an eye on our patch !! Sunday, March 2 View Page ......Tell the truth WiZ !....Tell everybody where your pumpkin gardening skillz came from ........Tell them how you were the only one that had to stay after Mass and pull weedz in the church garden for every "lil story" you told !!....................................................... Monday, March 3 View Page .....Just a little reminder "WiZ"......I'm still so thirsty !! Monday, March 3 View Page ......."WiZ" !! I want you to pay attention thiz weekend in Niagara and take good notes on soil techniques , cuz the ones you're currently using.......well let's just say.... you need to take good notes !! Wednesday, March 12 View Page ......Diary........ on the way to Niagara, airport security had quite a few questions for me when this appeared on their X-RAY screen................... Thursday, March 13 View Page This was one of the moments I was really looking forward to in Niagara. Seeing the Orange Jacket prezentation and meeting Joe and Ron. Thursday, March 13 View Page .....Water !! This iz our main focus in our patchez this year. We are going to work smarter....not harder ! Friday, March 14 View Page Thiz yearz starting line-up..."The Year of the Rat (08)"......(1) 1385 Jutras......(2) 845 Bobier......(3) 1226.5 Kline......and in the clean up spot......(4) 651 Grande......Thankz go out to Mr. Joe Jutras, Mr. Todd Kline, Mr. Joe Scherber and to "The WiZ" for all their words of encouragement and generosity . grOw'Z em biG in "The Year of the Rat (08)".................... Monday, March 17 View Page .................Niagara Falls 2008 ! Don't know what waz photographed more thiz day....the Falls or me taking photoz of the "Agro-K Rat" ??................ Monday, March 17 View Page For all the new growerz......first thing you should do iz a soil sample .....Here is "The WiZ" obtaining a good reprezentation from hiz patch......only thing I can suggest iz not uzing metal toolz............. Wednesday, March 19 View Page .....Here'z "The WiZ" adding amendmentz to hiz patch.....Read your soil test resultz carefully ! If you're having trouble understanding the resultz, don't be afraid to ask someone for help....Add only the amendmentz your soil needz.......... Friday, March 21 View Page .....Many growerz warm the soil in different wayz......some use heating cablez, some use plastic, some use small hoop housez......but "The WiZ" alwayz seemz to work harder...not smarter.......................... Sunday, March 23 View Page ...This iz "The WiZ'z" answer to our water problem in our patch this year...........I wonder, does Jason McKie have this much trouble with Dan ??............................. Friday, March 28 View Page ...New growerz, learn from my mistake ! Alwayz send plenty of dirt in with your soil sample for testing. Save yourself precious time by not doing it twice !... Monday, March 31 View Page ...."The WiZ" iz very seriouz thiz year about growing !! He'z got something to prove....but I have a plan!... Thiz iz "Monica" !!........her job iz to 'monkey' around with "WizZy bOy" and take hiz mind off pumpkinz.............. Tuesday, April 1 View Page .......and try to get all the rocks out of your patchez... Don't worry about the small onez....concentrate on the bigger onez ! Saturday, April 5 View Page .......also, try to go to next yearz convention in Niagara. There are so many thingz to learn and so many great growerz.......like EDDY Z !! "The Iceman" !!! When he pulled up in front of the hotel and I saw that smile on hiz face......you could tell .....thiz guy just lovez growing pumpkinz !!!!!!!! Tuesday, April 8 View Page ....Just the thought of loozing and having to get up on stage haz got "Iceman" a little worried........... Friday, April 11 View Page ....Don't let Mother Nature get you down.......it will melt.......someday........... Tuesday, April 15 View Page ....Went out today and hired even more "Patch Support" ! Instructed them to keep their eyes open for the Iceman....... Tuesday, April 15 View Page ....A year ago today I was fishing in Wyoming and didn't even file my seedz until 25 dayz later on May 10......today I sprayed 'wake up jucie' on the patch !......Ohhhhhhhhhhhh Iceman!!!!!!!! Friday, April 18 View Page .....Soaked and filed seedz today........ Friday, April 18 View Page ......Thank you Mr. Jutras ! ....."Iceman" thanks you too !! Friday, April 18 View Page ........potty trained !! Friday, April 18 View Page .........The 2008 season for both "The WiZ" and "The BiZ" iz underway.............................. Wednesday, April 23 View Page ....."Slow and steady winz the race"....... Wednesday, April 23 View Page ......Iceman'z germination chamber ! Sunday, April 27 View Page ....."The WiZ" waz feeling pretty good today ! He won't be tilling the patchez......I'll do it for him so he can save hiz energy until hiz chemo therapy iz done........... Monday, April 28 View Page .....In Niagara, we had a discussion with Dr. Linderman about the making of good compost. Produce scraps !! Mix it in with the manure, keep it moist and monitor the temp.......good stuff !! Monday, April 28 View Page All iz doing good except for the 845 Bobier.....it'z in the intenzive care unit and can't have any visitorz....... Monday, April 28 View Page . . . . . Hi Iceman !! Just wanted you to know I waz thinking about ya !! Tuesday, April 29 View Page .......Lookz like the "Iceman" got to my patch support !! Can't trust anyone theze dayz...!! Thursday, May 1 View Page .....Are you sure ya wanna go through with thiz Iceman ???..... Tuesday, May 6 View Page .....Last year we had crayons........this year we have markerz............... Tuesday, May 6 View Page ...Last Year 2007 Tuesday, May 6 View Page .....This Year 2008 Tuesday, May 6 View Page ...One of Iceman's home boyz waz sneaking around today at the patch.......trying to see if "The BiZ" waz in the ground yet........................................... Wednesday, May 7 View Page "The WiZ" even showed up and took a peak................. Wednesday, May 7 View Page 12 hourz after the plantz were in , the first hail storm hit..........Even Mother Nature'z money i$ on the I$eman !! Wednesday, May 7 View Page 1385 Jutras.....24 hourz after planting...... Wednesday, May 7 View Page ....Thoze who are new to hoop housez, you must open the endz when the sun iz out or you'll cook your plantz. Let the air flow ......... Monday, May 12 View Page This iz an Ice Breaker................ Monday, May 12 View Page This iz an Ice Breaker too !!........... Wednesday, May 14 View Page 1226 Kline went in hourz before the snow hit......... Monday, May 19 View Page .........Iceman iz feeling the heat !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Monday, May 19 View Page ...."The BiZ and The WiZ" are in no way responzible for any emotional damage that may occur from seeing the IceMan on stage in spandex dancing to........to.......to......to.....to anything for 3 minutez !!! Wednesday, May 21 View Page Diary....today was final patch prep...I tilled in 5 yardz of cube ice, 5 yardz of crushed ice, 100 lbz of block ice and about a truck load of snow............. Wednesday, May 21 View Page We mourn the passing of Howard Dill today.....I never got the chance to meet him in person but I owe him a sincere "Thank You" for creating something that has changed my life forever. Due to his success and failures, I am able to stand in my patch in the evening ,when all is still and peaceful, and experience something I can't put into words....something you need to see for yourself to understand I guess.......Now go and enjoy the painted hill sides Howard, the ones GOD created ...and show him what you learned about his pumpkins too ! :) Sunday, May 25 View Page ....It'z been a while since we've heard from the Eddy the "Iceman"..... but by the lookz of thingz it would appear that he'z doin good and hitting the night life........ Monday, June 2 View Page ......It haz been very challenging to keep up with the appetite demandz of the 1385 "IceBreaker", so I had to install a little help.............. Tuesday, June 3 View Page ......Clock iz ticking IceMan.............. Tuesday, June 3 View Page .....tick....tick....tick....tick..... Saturday, June 7 View Page ..Todayz conference call discussing "The IceBreaker" strategy went better than expected......So many great ideas from some of the best....I was very impressed with the sense of urgency from Dave Stelts ! He gave me some great ideas ! The support and encouragement from Mr. Pukos and Mr. Jutras was just overwhelming ! Ron Wallace revealed a couple of hiz secretz that blew my mind and I guess Don Young had to remove Paps from the room because "The IceMan" paid Paps to pull the phone cord out of the wall...Thanks Don !! I owe ya a beer !! And a big thanks goes to Brooks Bosworth for going out and obtaining "The IceMan's" measurements so we can pre order hiz orange spandex suit...Brooks..you The Man!!!! Thanks !! groW'z em biG Sunday, June 8 View Page .....This morning "The WiZ" and I woke to the soundz of warning sirens !!...The 'IceBreaker' broke out of it'z hoop house and waz on the run !!!!! Sunday, June 8 View Page .....Road blockz were set up in all directionz !! Sunday, June 15 View Page WARNING !!! ....He'z out there.....scared....confuzed...in the dark....afraid of the what the future holdz......unable to fully understand the choice he made.......shivering in a corner....can't sleep....no appetite...................... Wednesday, June 18 View Page ....Iceman said he lost hiz plantz to frost.....something I would NEVER wish on any of us..but I wonder....iz he 'IceBaggin' me ??? Thursday, June 19 View Page ....Ahhhhhhhh !! You gotta just love the hail .......so pretty......so white....the smell of all the damaged foliage in the air is moving........this storm missed us to the south...... Thursday, June 19 View Page ....thiz S.O.B didn't !!! Thursday, June 19 View Page ...IceMan...don't give up !! You still have a great chance of kicking my A*@ !! It'z a long seazon and the hail haz juzt begun ........................................... Monday, June 23 View Page .....The IceMan said I should breed ratz instead of growing pumpkinz, so I did !! ....but......how do you put hail netting over baby ratz ?? Wednesday, June 25 View Page .....Baby on the end of the 'IceBraker'...14 ft out ....looking for pollen..... Wednesday, June 25 View Page ....651 GRANDE (500 Wallace X 1502 Wallace) ...keeping up with the 'IceBraker'...... Wednesday, June 25 View Page ......."The BiZ" meanz biznezz !! Friday, June 27 View Page .....thiz even workz on rabbitz..... Friday, June 27 View Page ...Now I know your not 'IceBagging' me Eddy !!... You've had frost and pink elephantz and I've had hail, wind, now rabbitz eating what good leavez I have, coyote chasing thoze rabbitz around my plantz at night, kidz across the street shooting air soft pelletz at our plantz and now this....pigz flying through the patch.........don't throw in the towel ! Monday, June 30 View Page ......keeping an eye on you Iceman...... Monday, June 30 View Page ...WE GOT WATER.....WE GOT WATER.....WE GOT WATER....!!! Yeeeeeeh Haaaaa !!! No more crayonz !!!!!................... Wednesday, July 2 View Page ...The Icebreaker gets pollinated this morning with 651 GRANDE "The WiZ" x "The BiZ" ( 500 Wallace x 1502 Wallace).......stayed tuned !! Wednesday, July 2 View Page ...Looking like the 651 GRANDE "The WiZ" x "The BiZ" will be pollinated on July 4th...looking for pollen..... Sunday, July 6 View Page .......651 GRANDE ( 500 Wallace x 1502 Wallace) ..born on the 4th of July...pollinated it with the 'Icebreaker' 1385 Jutras....thiz plant haz really caught our eye...turning out , so far, to be the stud of the patch. Root system iz that of it'z mother ( my 757 GRANDE(1502 Wallace))..very aggressive and throwing femalez everywhere....both mother and father went 18% heavy..... Monday, July 7 View Page ..* correction...my 757 GRANDE iz the father of the 651 GRANDE....."The WiZ'z" (f)500 Wallace x "The BiZ'z" (m)1502 Wallace....both went 18% over the chartz..........the pressure of beating The Iceman iz getting to me........ Monday, July 7 View Page ..The Icebreaker.... Monday, July 7 View Page .....Many of you have noticed that "The WiZ" haz been absence thiz year.....the dirty word of cancer haz germinated in hiz life and he'z been dealing with that along with hiz work and hiz passion for pumpkinz along with growing the Rocky Mountain Giant Vegetable Growers club (RMGVG)......the boy won't slow down.....hiz situation haz changed and it'z not in the direction for the better...I admire him very much !! A hail cloud haz appeared on hiz horizon and he'z been buzy putting up hail netting ....he will be back soon !!! Tuesday, July 8 View Page ....Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh..!! Tuesday, July 8 View Page ...thiz one pollinated with a 2006 (f) New York sewer rat X 2007 (m) Mississippi swamp rat....both parentz went well over the chartz...................Year of the Rat !!..grOw'Z em biG ! Thursday, July 10 View Page ......Iceman and 'The WiZ'.....juzt a reminder to plan ahead to attend next yearz Niagara convention ...somebody'z gonna dance....who will it be ?? Don't wanna miss thiz one so buy your ticketz today !! Sunday, July 13 View Page ...Thiz one iz for Eddy....."The Icebraker" ! The 1385 crozzed with the 651 Grande(500 Wallace x 1502 Wallace)....No, it'z not a spaghetti squash ! Sunday, July 13 View Page 651 Grande...born on the 4th of July....day 7 . Everything about thiz plant I like !! Massive root system and very aggressive ....... Sunday, July 13 View Page My 1226 Kline...I really regret planting this in the location I did...In the fall, the guy we had breaking up our dirt with the bobcat didn't finish the patch by the first snow, so I decided to put the stump in the area he did break up. It was softer dirt but even after all my amendments and tilling I guess I was wrong. I won't give up on it. I learned that from last year. Sorry Todd.....It has a female about 10 ft out and I'm not quite sure if this one gets pollinated . Thursday, July 17 View Page .....1385 'Icebreaker' got a really good feeding tonight.....then I watered it in good by hand ...... Sunday, July 20 View Page ....Close up of 'The Icebreaker'.....look close Eddy !! Monday, July 21 View Page remember...................slow and steady winz the race. Monday, July 21 View Page Word on the street iz Eddy the Iceman haz bought himself a special load of fertilizer from a country over seaz......will it help ??? Stay tuned !! Friday, July 25 View Page I was wrong Iceman.....Colorado doez have an ocean and a beach....... Monday, July 28 View Page .....UH OH !!....lookz like Iceman'Z fertilizer shipment may be more than just pumpkin food...... Monday, July 28 View Page what will they find..............stay tuned Monday, July 28 View Page .......They appear very focuzed ....very confident of what they are looking for........... Monday, July 28 View Page .....Iceman'z seazon iz on the line here.......I hope they find fish emulsion or seaweed...or even bagz of mycorrhizal inoculant...... Monday, July 28 View Page No sign of the pumpkin fertilizer crew anywhere........ Tuesday, July 29 View Page ....after hourz of searching the ship, they finally found what they were looking for.....what The Iceman had paid big buckz for in an attempt to beat "The BiZ"...what Iceman had hauled half way around the world...it'z..it'z..it'z...?? Wednesday, July 30 View Page it'z juzt a baby !.......2008 Year of the RaT ...grOw'Z em biG !!!!! Thursday, July 31 View Page 651 GRANDE ( 500 Wallace x 1502 Wallace ) looking just like it'z daddy.....and growing like it too ! Tuesday, August 5 View Page ......Sunset over the 651 GRANDE "The Icecube"......photoz of "The Icebreaker" coming soon.......... Tuesday, August 5 View Page ...."The Icebreaker" 1385 Jutras at day 11.....pollinated with the 651 GRANDE on July 1...... Tuesday, August 5 View Page ..."The Icebreaker" day 17 Thursday, August 7 View Page ...put sand under your pumpkinz......I like sand !! Thursday, August 7 View Page ..every once in a while you need to jerk every onez chain...keepz them on their toez....... Saturday, August 9 View Page ........... :) 888 ! Sunday, August 10 View Page Paps said ....."It's not sandbaggin if you don't tell anyone...It's like LAYING IN THE WEEDS READY TO POUNCE on the competition....".....so I guezz that meanz Iceman iz " LAYING IN THE WEEDZ".......................................HeHeHe.. Monday, August 11 View Page ...We've come a long way !...From spring 2007 to....... Monday, August 11 View Page .....to August 2008 ..Thankz to everybody ! Everybody on Bigpumpkinz haz helped us in some way...Thank you !!!!! Thursday, August 14 View Page ....I got thiz picture today along with a letter from an eye doctor in Iceman's home town .....letter said.." Dear Biz, I am an eye doctor in the home town of Eddy 'The Iceman'. He came to me last week complaining of his eyes playing tricks on him. After I gave him a complete eye exam, I tried to assure him that his eyes were just fine. He insisted that there was something wrong and demanded a more thorough eye exam. After a 2 hour operation ,I once again tried to assure Eddy that there was nothing wrong with his vision. He didn't seem to pleased with me before leaving my office, especially when I told him to go home and put ICE on his eyes. One other thing BiZ, I just read 'The Wiz' diary and The Icebreaker is looking good !! I didn't see a way to break it to Eddy gently. Sincerely Dr. Icelandic "............So there you have it. A letter from a nice doctor I've never even meet. What a great guy ! Thankz Doc !! Tuesday, August 19 View Page .....lowest high temperature ever recorded in Denver for August since the 1800'z and 4+ inches of rain ....snow in the mountainz already and The Icebreaker lovez it !! Thursday, August 21 View Page ...........Mother Nature iz the Boss !! Thursday, August 21 View Page ....The lil Sizzterz have been going over some of the numberz from Iceman'z measurementz and pollination datez....hhmmmmm......??? Friday, August 22 View Page .....IceBreaker broke Wed. August 20, 2008..800+lbs Friday, August 22 View Page IceBreaker 1385 Jutras..no longer legal.. Aug 21 Friday, August 22 View Page Dill ring is hard to see from this angle and the shadowz.... Friday, August 22 View Page Had to drip some candle wax over the crack just to get it through to the morning ..then I added a little latex caulk...keep it sealed and dry... Friday, August 22 View Page "The WiZ" thought I waz joking and couldn't believe hiz eyez......The IceBreaker iz now The IceBroken........ Friday, August 22 View Page Thiz photo showz the dill ring across the equator......... Friday, August 22 View Page .....Joe Scherber(State record holder) even made a houze call........ Friday, August 22 View Page ....all my hope iz now in the 651 GRANDE (500 Wallace x 1502 Wallace)..........my fingerz are crozzed ! Friday, August 22 View Page ..The IceBreaker at day 26 waz smooth ...no dill ring signz...too early.....we kept the soil evenly wet just in case it did rain.....wazn't expecting over 4 inchez...... Friday, August 22 View Page ..."The WiZ" haz a beauty !! One of Eddy'z seedz too !! Friday, August 22 View Page ....A little beat up and in shock but I won't give in !!....I did plan for the later roundz.......... Friday, August 22 View Page ..One more hope !! My back up un-termed side vine.....should pollinate in 2 dayz......"The Icicle" !!....... Saturday, August 23 View Page ...I'm not waving the white flag juzt yet.............! Saturday, August 23 View Page ...The Show muzt go on !.................. Sunday, August 24 View Page .....ticket salez for "The Year of The Rat" have broken box office recordz !!!......I hate that word 'broken'............................ Tuesday, August 26 View Page " Just hold on loosely but don't let go " !................ Tuesday, August 26 View Page ....can't rely on latex caulk only !............... Tuesday, August 26 View Page Pollinated "The Icicle" thiz morning with 1470 Wallace.... Tuesday, August 26 View Page 1385 Jutras plant....4 lobe on side vine...Colorado picked up another GPC weigh off in Northern Colo thiz year....givez me little over a month to grow "The Icicle"....side vine iz before The Icebreaker so thiz will be interesting to see if it doezn't abort........ Tuesday, August 26 View Page ....On August 13, Eddy The Iceman wrote the following in hiz diary....."Now I lay me down to sleep Biz's pumpkin at my feet If it splits before I wake you'll know I stabbed it with a stake.".............Oh Eddy !!... Thursday, August 28 View Page .....Now I lay me down to nap, the pumpkin'z sticky and full of sap.....I want to grow one az big az Pap, to show The Iceman he'z full of crap !... He said he stabbed it with a stake, what violent desire one would take, what on earth could ever make, such bizarre action for goodnezz sake !... Eddy'z not cruel and Eddy'z not mean. He juzt growz the biggezt pumpkinz nobody haz ever seen ! Iz what he sayz so squeaky clean, read ever word and what'z in between... Sleep tight my dear pumpkin, under the moon you're well lit. I pray for a miracle to heal that big split. Just keep on a growin on the sand that you sit, cuz Eddy in orange spandex would be quite the sh#@ !! Saturday, August 30 View Page .....A couple of drinking buddiez of mine, from high school, said they could help me out with the Iceman situation......they now work for NAZA...sorry, NASA !..Give them a couple of hourz and then we will all know what Eddy really haz growing..!!.................. Sunday, August 31 View Page .....The Iceman'z home of Canada.....let'z zoom in and take a clozer peek........... Sunday, August 31 View Page ....Here we can see The IceMan compound.......a few green houzez and patchez ...not good enough so I asked my buddiez to REALLY zoom in.....told them I wanted to see what'z in thoze patchez......and guezz what we saw ????.................................. Tuesday, September 2 View Page ...WHOA !!!!!!!! Lookz like The Iceman haz a blossom end split !!!!!! :) Tuesday, September 2 View Page ......Today we received news that a fellow grower and friend lost his mother......our prayers go out to Brook Bosworth and his family .....nothing we say can help heal the pain...only time and all of our support......Now is not the time to be funny...no jokes...no kidding around.....just prayers and respect ................................... Thursday, September 4 View Page .......for Brooks...... Friday, September 5 View Page ..."The IceCicle"...even longer in length Saturday, September 6 View Page Do you believe ?????........................ Sunday, September 7 View Page ...No, No, No Eddy !!.....No Peeking !!...3 weekz to go !!....... Sunday, September 7 View Page ..Iz the IceBreaker still there ?? Still growing ?? Where could it be ??...Over 1000 lbz ?? Do you Believe ????....No peeking !!...Eddy dancing ??... Tuesday, September 9 View Page ....coming down to the final stretch....can't believe I'm showing The IceMan my secretz but it iz what it iz....in order to squeeze an extra 100lbz out of the The IceBreaker and IceCube, I add 2 cupz of ICEEbits to my compost tea..... Saturday, September 13 View Page IceCicle still sucking up all the Ice I can feed it !!.....A month still to grow Eddy and the plant lookz healthy with very little sign of stopping !! ......I play to win !! Saturday, September 13 View Page ....Do ya ?? Saturday, September 13 View Page 2 weekz to go...... Tuesday, September 16 View Page ...How would you like to see the IceBreaker picked on live TV Eddy ???...I'm working on it !!.......I can promote Paps "Orange Angel Foundation" ............................!! Tuesday, September 16 View Page .......Nice to see Brooks iz back!! ..Here ya go Eddy !!...My pride and joy....read the can !!! Thankz for pushing me thiz year....!!! Wednesday, September 17 View Page U.S.S. IceBreaker............. Wednesday, September 17 View Page 0-0-50.......... Wednesday, September 17 View Page Eddy....you "WILL" be in Niagara in March !! Don't make me send some of my friendz to come carry your a#@ there !! Thursday, September 18 View Page Eddy "The IceMan" iz saying he can't make Niagara thiz March 09.........silly man !! Monday, September 22 View Page .....I'm very proud of my brother.....The RMGVG club meanz a great deal to him !! He haz done a great job promoting and marketing it....Thankz to Paps and Ron Wallace for all the club advice and wishing my brother a very special get well wish in their last newz letter... Monday, September 22 View Page .....Our local newz channel came out to check out the patch and "The WiZ" did a great job in promoting the RMGVG club !! I had to step back for a minute and take thiz in.........the sunrize.....beautiful plantz.....a tv station filming the IceBreker, IceCube and Wiz.......I felt very lucky to be experiencing thiz......many growerz go all their life and never get to experience thiz........I'm very thankful !!!... Tuesday, September 23 View Page ...Why would a camera man want to film a broken pumpkin Eddy ??...hmmmmm?? hehehe..hiccup !...hehehehehe..hiccup ! Thursday, September 25 View Page ..Are you wondering what'z behind it ???.......... Friday, September 26 View Page .....Remember.......slow and steady winz the race !!! Sunday, September 28 View Page ...Today the memberz of the RMGVG put Colorado on the map !! "TEAM EFFORT" ....all the way from the junior division to the New Colorado State Record !!! Sunday, September 28 View Page ....Ron Hoffman of Riverton, Wyoming broke hiz own State record at the RMGVG weigh off....Congratulationz to my friend Ron !!.... Sunday, September 28 View Page The IceCube....1019 Grande 08 ( 651 Grande x 1385 Jutras ) Sunday, September 28 View Page IceCube Sunday, September 28 View Page IceCube Sunday, September 28 View Page The IceCube loaded and heading to the scale......... Monday, September 29 View Page The IceCube having a snack before showtime....... Monday, September 29 View Page IceCube on ice .......... Monday, September 29 View Page The 1019 Grande 08 "The IceCube" (651 Grande 07 x 1385 Jutras 07 ) was a seed I decided to plant on the plane coming home from Niagara in March....The WiZ was happy I decided to give it a try and so am I !! The 651 Grande 07 came from a 500 Wallace and we crossed it with my 1502 Wallace plant last year...... Monday, September 29 View Page Very proud of "The WiZ" !! It'z been a tough year for him but he stuck with it and grew biG and did an awesome job in promoting the RMGVG club !!............ Monday, September 29 View Page "WiZ" put on a good show too !!.......... Monday, September 29 View Page "The WiZ" had a group of kidz around the scale and he waz working hiz magic on them ...........it waz very cool !! He had them guezzing the weight before putting them on the scale..... Monday, September 29 View Page ..."The IceBreaker" Tuesday, September 30 View Page The IceBreaker....ain't she purty ?? Tuesday, September 30 View Page Massive stem.....Official weight..1087 lbz...1385 Jutras x 651 Grande.... Tuesday, September 30 View Page I hope we kept you smiling all year !!..... : ) Tuesday, September 30 View Page I now realize I need a trailer or a bigger truck....... Tuesday, September 30 View Page ....Got Ice ?? Tuesday, September 30 View Page ....Plugged in ! Wednesday, October 1 View Page We were thinking of ya Eddy .....all year !!!!!!!! Wednesday, October 1 View Page Not a day went by that we didn't think of the Iceman........ Wednesday, October 1 View Page I know..I know....there'z something wrong with me...LOL !! RMGVG iz grOwing biG !! Wednesday, October 1 View Page ...Before they put The IceBreaker on the scale "The WiZ" told the story about The BiZ vz. The Iceman bet and everybody now knowz all about the orange spandex dance...... Wednesday, October 1 View Page ...The IceBreaker won 'The Ugly Duckling Award' .....voted on by the crowd....to me she the prettiest potato I've ever grown...... Thursday, October 2 View Page ....After the RMGVG 3rd annual weigh waz done, Joe Scherber and I cut The IceBreaker open in order to fulfill my end of the bet...... Thursday, October 2 View Page .....Joe called "The WiZ" over to confirm .....I even heard Joe mumble................ "Oh SH*@" ! Monday, October 6 View Page .....Ratz !!...... Tuesday, October 7 View Page ....Some thingz are better left alone....Don't know how they got in there Eddy !......2008 Year of the Rat !!! Tuesday, October 7 View Page ..Inside the IceBreaker........ Tuesday, October 7 View Page .......crack Tuesday, October 7 View Page ..two Tuesday, October 7 View Page ...A few more dayz and I would never have made it to the scale......hole in the bottom.. Tuesday, October 7 View Page ....Thiz iz for you Eddy !!!! Got Ice ???? Wednesday, October 8 View Page ..Thiz photo waz sent to me courtesy of Brooks....apparently The Iceman waz seen shopping for crownz in the early stagez of our Biz vs. Iceman bet......tssst, tssst, tssst.......thankz Brooks !!........... now remember....it ain't over yet !! Sunday, October 19 View Page ...Let the fun begin ! I'm lucky enough to be able to display our pumpkinz at my job.....thiz display iz "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown "..... Sunday, October 19 View Page ..I waz able to have our FOX31 newz channel come out at 530a.m. and carve The IceCube live on TV.... Sunday, October 19 View Page ...channel 31 obtained a young and upcoming chef to do the carving........ Sunday, October 19 View Page ...It waz something I'll never forget !....Thought of The IceMan all day becauze once I opened The IceCube, I realized that Eddy will planting thiz seed az part II of The Biz vs. The IceMan 09.......... Sunday, October 19 View Page ....back on display... Sunday, October 19 View Page ..I even brought in The WiZ'z green squash at 622 lbs ( 848 MacKenzie X 1470 Wallace ).....I'll be planting thiz one in 2009....... Sunday, October 19 View Page ........I gotta hand it to the Eddy.....He growz in some harsh conditionz........even hauling in hiz soil amendmentz iz quite a challenge....... Friday, October 24 View Page .......Only milez seperate uz.......We grOw'Z em biG tOgether !! Saturday, October 25 View Page .....The season iz over.....the weigh off'z are done...now iz the time for a road trip to The Iceman'z patch...... Saturday, October 25 View Page .....Are you packed ?? Cmon...let'z go !! Road trip !! Tuesday, October 28 View Page ...The first stop on our road trip, to Eddy'z patch, we go directly North to see the record holder of the State of Wyoming , Ron Hoffman........he growz in a wind tunnel !!!!...... Sunday, November 2 View Page ....Don't forget to vote for "The BiZ" !!......Eddy the "IceMan" approved thiz mezzage. Sunday, November 9 View Page .....On our way out of Wyoming, we decided to stop at Yellowstone National Park..... Sunday, November 9 View Page ....Alwayz read the signz !!........ Thursday, November 13 View Page ....heading North.... Thursday, November 13 View Page ..The traffic in Idaho waz a complete joke ! Stop and go....stop and go.....so our trip to Eddy'z house is taking a detour through California......I alwayz wanted to vizit Half Moon Bay anyway.... Thursday, November 13 View Page .....California !!.....Home of Pete and Cindi Glasier and Gary Miller......and Arnold !!!!...... Friday, November 14 View Page ...Traffic waz so much better here than in Idaho....... Friday, November 14 View Page ...When we pulled into Half Moon Bay we found thiz guy jumping around and screaming..... Friday, November 14 View Page ...Thad iz a great guy ! We met in Niagara last year and talked for a good hour. He even haz Colorado connectionz. Before leaving for Canada, Thad put hiz hand out and asked me to give thiz to Eddy for him............ Friday, November 14 View Page .......Thad said " Got Ice "?...... Monday, November 17 View Page ......Next stop iz Oregon....Home of many great growerz....folkz like Steve Daletas and Jim Sherwood.... Monday, November 17 View Page ...Jim Sherwood....what a great guy !....Welcomed us into hiz houze and we talked for hourz about pumpkinz..... Monday, November 17 View Page ......Steve Daletas meet uz in hiz driveway with beerz in hand......WOW !! Thiz guy really knowz how to grow them orange.....After a tour of hiz patch, he invited uz inside .....He asked me if I'd do him a favor and give thiz to Eddy for him...???... Monday, November 17 View Page ....No problem Steve !.......... Tuesday, November 18 View Page ...Next stop, Washington ! Home of Erin Huff, Steve Handy, Geneva Emmons, Jack and Sherry LaRue.......fine growerz !! Wednesday, November 19 View Page .........Steve Handy..........keep you're eye on him......he'll be getting a coat in Niagara someday !......... Friday, November 21 View Page ....Just after leaving Steve Handy's patch, we blew a tire !..... Our good friend Joe Scherber ( Cojoe ) jumped right out of the back seat of our truck and starting fixing the flat.....Not only can Joe grow Colorado State record pumpkinz, he can change flatz pretty freakin fast !! Tuesday, November 25 View Page ....Our last stop in Washington bringz us to the house of Sherry and Jack LaRue....Great folkz !! Jack likez to kid around....first thing Jack asked me waz "Come here Biz and pull my finger"..........Jack haz a serious side too and haz grown some monster pumpkinz to prove it....... Tuesday, November 25 View Page ...Sherry LaRue keepz Jack in line !....... Tuesday, November 25 View Page ...Sherry invited us into her kitchen....she makez the best pumpkin cookiez you have ever tasted !! We sat and talked for hourz about everything....She said she really enjoyed "The IceMan" vs. "The BiZ" contest thiz summer and iz really looking forward to Part II in 2009...... Tuesday, November 25 View Page ...just before leaving Sherry asked me to do her a favor and give thiz to Eddy for her................sure Sherry !! No problem !!.... Wednesday, November 26 View Page ......We were heading toward the Canada/US border when my cell phone rang ........What a surprize !!! ....it waz Brooks Bosworth from Ohio !!.......He said he saw we were on a road trip to Canada to visit our buddy Eddy "The IceMan" and was hoping we had time to swing by the OVGPG headquarterz cuz hiz boyz had something to give to Eddy.....sure Brooks !! No problem......... Saturday, November 29 View Page ....Since we're so cloze by, we decided to cross over and see Glenn( North Shore Boyz ) and Jake Van Kooten before heading down to the Ohio Valley......... Saturday, November 29 View Page ....Jake Van Kooten waz quite the gentleman....Hiz 1536.5 waz sitting there in hiz yard and waz such a beast !!......... Saturday, November 29 View Page .....with a Molson in one hand and a "BiG" knife in the other, Jake gave me the honor of cutting hiz 1536.5 in half.....and juzt before leaving he also asked uz to do him a favor.... Saturday, November 29 View Page ....sure Jake !!.....no problem.... Saturday, November 29 View Page ....Back in Idaho and heading toward Brooks....... Saturday, November 29 View Page .......What'z up with the traffic in Idaho ???? Not again !!......... Sunday, November 30 View Page ...Cojoe awoke from hiz back seat nap juzt az we pulled in to fill up......he said if we stop in Iowa to see Don Young and then go see Dave Steltz, that he'll pay for "ALL" the gas.....sure Joe ! No problem !................ Monday, December 1 View Page ...Cojoe waz asleep for quite awhile in the back seat.... and thiz iz why......North Shore Boyz knew we were stopping by, the other day, and stocked the fridge......Thankz Glenn !! Monday, December 1 View Page ...next stop.....South Dakota....home of Kevin Marsh, Greg Kurkowski , Ryan Altholf and Nathan Bertsch.......... Wednesday, December 3 View Page ....37 milez inside of South Dakota we were pulled over for speeding ......I had my licence, registration and proof of insurance ready....... Wednesday, December 3 View Page .....turnz out that Officer Beauchemin waz a pretty cool guy.....after congratulating me on breaking the South Dakota speeding record, he asked me where I waz heading in such a hurry.....I told him all about Eddy, Kevin Marsh and the pumpkin road trip.....Officer Beauchemin tore my ticket in half and said he'd make me a deal on one condition....I said "Sure..No problem"....apparently hiz 3rd couzin ,Jim Beauchemin, owez him $50 ....and if we travel to New Hampshire and collect it, then he'd wave the ticket..... Wednesday, December 3 View Page ...Officer Beauchemin kept my license az collateral and asked me to give thiz to Eddy for him......"Sure...No problem"....... Friday, December 5 View Page ...Firzt time I met Kevin Marsh (far left) waz at the convention in March where we sat next to each other at the same table.....Great guy !! After receiving hiz coat on stage, he hung it over hiz chair, where I had the next 6 hourz to admire it and touch it up close.....Nice Coat !!.....Someday I thought...........someday....... Friday, December 5 View Page ...Kevin'z daughter waz sooooooo cute...!!!! Friday, December 5 View Page ....Everywhere hiz daughter went, so did the cat.....She asked me if I waz going to see the 'Big Man' that livez by Santa in the snow ???......She said her kitty wanted to give the 'Big Man' something................. Friday, December 5 View Page ...."Sure cutie!!!"......"No problem !!" Saturday, December 6 View Page ......We juzt left Kevin'z patch when I received a text mezzage from Brooks wondering where the HE#* we were at????.......... Sunday, December 7 View Page ......Iowa !! So many great growerz here...including "THE KING" Don Young.....thiz should be good........ Tuesday, December 9 View Page .....Don Young waz waiting for uz in hiz driveway wearing hiz GPC coat ( NICE COAT ! ) and a grin from ear to ear...... Tuesday, December 9 View Page ..........Now I think I understand what 1600 meanz on hiz patch.......... Tuesday, December 9 View Page ......it'z the number of beer canz in hiz living room !! Wednesday, December 10 View Page Don'z 1662 iz still the 2nd largezt ever grown.......we hung out for hourz, adding to hiz living room collection....Don shared with uz some of hiz growing techniques and even let uz look through hiz massive seed collection....... Thursday, December 11 View Page ......Don took me out to hiz garage where he put hiz seedz back in the freezer and said..."Got Ice?"......"Give thiz to Eddy for me"........."Sure Don....No problem".................. Sunday, December 14 View Page ......Crozzing over the 'Upper Mizzizzippi River' putz uz into Wisconsin........and Dan Bowles iz waiting....... Monday, December 15 View Page ...thiz State iz full of great growerz !!...so many folkz I'd love to stop and see.... Monday, December 15 View Page ....Alwayz wanted to vizit Green Bay... Monday, December 15 View Page ....Theze folkz know pumpkinz, cheeze and football ! Monday, December 15 View Page .....Why can't they build a roof ????... Tuesday, December 16 View Page .....it wazn't hard to find Dan's house......we juzt followed the signz......... Tuesday, December 16 View Page ....Dan's farm waz juzt a few milez off the main highway..... Wednesday, December 17 View Page ......Dan Bowles waz "Rookie of The Year" in 2006....I can see why....he haz quite the set up in hiz patch.....he gave uz a complete tour of hiz farm ....... Wednesday, December 17 View Page .....he even let me try on hiz patch walking shoez........ Wednesday, December 17 View Page .....while walking around hiz farm, Dan gave each of uz a handful of pumpkin seedz.....Cojoe popped every single one in hiz mouth....they were from the 1313 Bowles......Dan's PB from thiz year...... Wednesday, December 17 View Page ......Cojoe felt terrible about what he did...the look on hiz face said it all........ Thursday, December 18 View Page ....Seeing that Cojoe waz hungry, we all loaded into Dan's truck and headed, juzt over the Eagle River, to a fine family restaurant.......but it waz closed..... Thursday, December 18 View Page .....Dan cooked uz dinner instead.....fresh Eagle River Muskie ...and before leaving he azked me to do him a favor and give Eddy thiz .......................................a "Bowles of Ice"......."Sure Dan...No Problem !"...... Friday, December 19 View Page ......Brooks emailed me while we were viziting Dan Bowles...... he sent me thiz photo of the OVGPG boyz preparing for our arrival...........we're gonna need a bigger truck !! Sunday, December 21 View Page ...Signz like theze are never good when your on a road trip..........................................unlezz Sunday, December 21 View Page ....unlezz you're on the receiving end.............Helping people in a time of need iz what pumpkin growerz do........we extend a helping hand .......we answer the call and we want nothing in return...................................when "The Wiz" pulled over, the look on Dave Stelts' face waz complete relief! ..........and when we told Dave he'd be spending Christmas with uz and Brooks , it waz pricelezz....!!......simply pricelezz.......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wednesday, December 24 View Page ......coming up on the Ohio State line .......a little snow... Wednesday, December 24 View Page .......the roadz got worse the clozer we got to Ohio.......I had to turn around and tell Stelts and Cojoe to keep their handz to themselvez or I waz going to pull over........ Wednesday, December 24 View Page ......Ohio "OVGPG" iz loaded with many, many great growerz !!! I wish we had the time to vizit them all.....Tim Parks, Alan Gibson, Jim Ford, the Lanterman family, Steve Razo, some dude named Jerry Rose, Joe Piazzzzzzzzza, "Brooks" and my special friend Glenna "Nana" Rea...............I'm looking forward to Ohio! Thursday, December 25 View Page ....We pulled into Brooks late Christmas Eve....Cojoe and Stelts were fast asleep in the back seat so we carried them inside, tucked them into bed like two small children.....Brooks' houze waz all decked out in lightz ! Thiz guy really knowz exterior illumination !!.......Before bed, we had some egg nog and bourbon, talked for a short time then left Santa a plate of cookiez and a beer.........goodnight..... Monday, December 29 View Page ........Thiz will be one Christmas I'll never forget.....we woke in the morning to find that Santa ate the plate of cookiez and drank the beer we left him.....under Brooks tree we found 3 sockz....one for Cojoe, Wiz and myself along with an I.O.U note to Stelts.......... Wednesday, December 31 View Page ........The BiZ