Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 266 Entries. Thursday, January 1 View Page grOw'Z em biG in 2009 !...... Thursday, January 1 View Page .....Be careful in 2009 ! Thursday, January 1 View Page .......May the Bezt team win !!!!!!! Monday, January 5 View Page ......Before we return to the 'Road Trip', I need to make a confezzion..... I want to make a new start in 2009.....I need to be upfront with my fellow GPG'z and get thiz off my chezt............................................I am juzt "The Wateboy"....Yez!...juzt "The Waterboy"!!.....Every night I head to the field with my hoze in one hand and a beer in the other ........don't laugh until you've been in my shoez !!......I don't know a thing about cellular tissue analysis.......microbial reproduction or the difference between anaerobic or aerobic .......but I do know my hoze !!.......... Tuesday, January 6 View Page ....I can't say enough about Brooks Bosworth.....The hospitality he showed uz during the holidayz waz simply amazing !....He personally served uz breakfazt in bed every morning, took all of our laundry to the dry cleanerz every afternoon, took requestz for dinnerz each and every night and even modeled hiz GPC jacket upon requezt !!...Every evening, after the otherz went to bed, Brooks would put on hiz GPC jacket and we'd go through hiz 1068 Wallace seed collection............. Tuesday, January 6 View Page ..... and of all hiz 1068 Wallace seedz, Brooks said thiz waz hiz favorite !! Friday, January 9 View Page ........When Brooks got up from the breakfazt table, put on a pair of yellow latex glovez and told uz to follow him out back, I knew something waz up....... Sunday, January 11 View Page .....Brooks came out of hiz outhouse with an evil little grin and azked me....."C'mon BiZ...do me a favor?".........After traveling over 2000 milez, what could I say???......."Sure Brooks....no problem....I guess."..... Monday, January 12 View Page ......I want to personally thank Brooks for the awesome hospitality he showed all of uz during our stay with him......with hiz houze in our rear view mirror and a new "odor" in the truck, we headed back out on the 'Road Trip 08/09'............."someone pleaze open a window"!!!!....... Sunday, January 18 View Page ....Cojoe waz at the wheel az we headed to see Nana Rea.....then the cold hit....freezing below "Z"ero tempz and ICE acrozz the Midwest....... Sunday, January 18 View Page .....Got Ice? Monday, January 26 View Page ......It will go down az the most brutal snowball fight ever in hiztory......The Wiz, Cojoe, Stelts and myself didn't stand a chance againzt Nana Rea and her grandchildren...Stelts waz our firzt casualty ....going down after being beaned in the back of the head.....I took an ice ball in the ear... but when the paramedicz came to dig out Cojoe and The Wiz from the collapsed roof of our snow fort, we had to call it quitz............ Monday, January 26 View Page ......Nana's grandchildren showed uz how to properly construct a snow man.........They named thiz one 'Eddy'........ Monday, January 26 View Page ....Glenna even had a few pumpkinz left over from lazt year......so over coffee and her award winning pralines, we carved late into the night........ Monday, January 26 View Page ......I expect biG thingz out of Nana thiz year......with a 1385 Jutras and advice from Brooks, Jerry Rose and the other memberz of the OVGPG, she should be getting a coat very soon ! Monday, January 26 View Page .....Ohio Valley......some of the bezt of the bezt !!...... Tuesday, January 27 View Page ..."Nana" Rea took uz to the Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growerz headquarterz today where they were waiting to give uz a special departing gift......now what started out az a joke with Thad Starr and an ice cube for The Iceman haz turned into some serious luggage........but how can I say NO to my special friendz......"give thiz to Eddy ??....sure ! No problem" ! Wednesday, January 28 View Page ...back on the road.......even with all the windowz open, the odor from Brooks' "blue Ice" waz simply overwhelming......so we had to Saturday, January 31 View Page do what waz necezzary .......I think the 4 of uz look pretty good ! I might uze one of theze in the patch when I'm mist blowing......Stelts said it makez hiz butt look big........ Wednesday, February 4 View Page .....A very sad day :( ....The WiZ could no longer stay on the road trip....Brooks' 'BLUE ICE' waz simply too much for him to handle any longer......with the help of Cojoe, back they flew to Colorful Colorado to prepare for the 2009 seazon........so it'z up to Stelts and I to deliver the mail......................... Thursday, February 5 View Page .....even more bad newz.......now Stelts wanted out of the road trip too......asked me if I'd drop him off at hiz favorite hang out......said he needed to get hiz "drink on"........with a fist full of $1 $1 $1 in one hand and a wave of the other, he yelled " See ya in Niagara "...............take care Dave and thankz for the laughz !! Thursday, February 5 View Page .....so it'z up to me....I need to come through.....Eddy iz counting on me.....I muzt head for the border and cut thiz road trip shorter than expected...... Friday, February 6 View Page ......Oh Great !!....Not Again !!....... Friday, February 13 View Page ......I knew I waz in trouble from the start.....driving a vehicle that didn't belong to me......no proof of insurance ....no registration.......nobody with me to explain why I have a truck full of ice...and my drivers license iz somewhere back in South Dakota with Officer Beauchemin ....... Wednesday, February 18 View Page .......I've never been in the back seat of a police car before.....on the way down to the station, they processed all my personal information.........when it came over the radio that I waz also know az AKA "The BiZ", the female officer whipped her head around and asked ..."You're The BiZ ?"....."You are really The BiZ ?".......after answering "Yes" to her question, she went on and on about how her friend Ron Wallace talkz about "The BiZ and The WiZ" all the time.......................so it turned out to be my lucky day after all.....instead of going to jail I received ....... Thursday, February 19 View Page ...a personal police escort all the way across the border into Canada, where the Canadian authoritiez took over from there........now I knew there were other growerz out there watching our road trip but I waz shocked to see them line the streetz in Canada throwing ice cubez and flowerz at the vehicle az I drove by............. Monday, February 23 View Page ....the Canadian police lead me all the way to Eddy'z houze......................... Wednesday, February 25 View Page ...and there waz no doubt when we were getting close to "The Iceman'z" houze.............................. Wednesday, February 25 View Page ..........one thing iz for sure.....the people who live here with Eddy "got ice" !!!............ Thursday, February 26 View Page ....and I see where Eddy get'z hiz name from......thiz iz one rough neighborhood he livez in............ Friday, February 27 View Page ....Thiz road trip started back on October 25, 2008......after thouzandz of milez ........FINALLY !! Eddy "The Iceman'Z" houze !!...and it'z juzt what I imagined it would be....I wish Cojoe and "The WiZ" were here to see thiz......I headed up the stairz to knock on the door......... Saturday, February 28 View Page .....there waz no door bell so I knocked and knocked ........I knocked so hard the door came open.......I yelled for Eddy but there waz no answer......................... Tuesday, March 3 View Page .....I walked around The Iceman'z houze and called out hiz name.....Oh where could Eddy be ???...I checked the bedroom...... Tuesday, March 3 View Page ......the living room ..... Tuesday, March 3 View Page .....the bathroom .... Wednesday, March 4 View Page ....and even the spare bedroom.....I called hiz name over and over......Eddy ??? Wednesday, March 4 View Page .....went back outzide and called .....Yo Eddy !!!???? Wednesday, March 4 View Page .......Eddy !!!!!!!!!!!......come out, come out where ever you are ??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Saturday, March 7 View Page ......I checked hiz greenhouzez....... Saturday, March 7 View Page .....I waz juzt about to give up when I saw....... Monday, March 9 View Page ...thiz.......what the hell iz thiz ?......I walked up to it and looked inside......and it waz Monday, March 9 View Page .....Eddy ? ? ?........you're not Eddy ! Tuesday, March 10 View Page .....poor Bumbles the abominable snowman.....from what I could gather, Eddy haz kept him locked up in that little shack for yearz....turnz out that Bumbles waz hired to help grow pumpkinz for Eddy.....while working on a green houze, Bumbles dropped a tool right on one of The Iceman'z pumpkinz and haz been banished to the shack since that day....I asked where Eddy waz .......Bumbles pointed and told me to Tuesday, March 10 View Page follow the path.......and it lead me right to Wednesday, March 11 View Page ..to Eddy "The Iceman" ! ! ! WHEW !!...somebody light a match !! Friday, March 20 View Page ....Eddy was very happy to see me !....He showed me all around hiz property .....we drank and ate like Kingz ....we talked about anything and everything for hourz.....when the subject of seedz came up, he asked if I wanted to see the sacred vault?..... Friday, March 20 View Page ......I agreed to wear a blind fold until we got to the secret location...... Friday, March 20 View Page ....a seed vault like no other in the GPC........ Sunday, March 22 View Page .......There are many, many growerz and clubz that Eddy haz helped at one time or another.....in my book, he iz a heavy hitter and a class act......how many of uz have asked and received seedz due to Eddy ?........how many beerz have we drank in Niagara due to Eddy......going on the pumpkin cruize due to Eddy ??....that'z what I'm talking about.....the man haz integrity and honor....I may joke about him but the truth iz I look up to him......Thankz Eddy...for being "The Iceman"............. Tuesday, March 24 View Page .....It'z time to go home....back to Colorado....but before leaving, Eddy wanted to show me something.........something special he made with some of the ice we collected along our road trip.......... Thursday, March 26 View Page .....and with the remainder of the ice, Eddy built a fitting tribute !..... one thing iz for certain.....he iz "THE ICEMAN "...... Thursday, March 26 View Page .....before hitting the road, Eddy azked me to do him a favor ....he wanted me to tell everybody "Thankz" for being part of the road trip and for all the giftz that we gathered along the way...( except to Brooks.....he'z keeping the 'Blue Ice' for some kinda pay back ).....take thiz back to Colorado and give it to the memberz of the RMGVG ???.... "sure Eddy !....no problem "!!..... Friday, March 27 View Page .....I hit the road early in the morning.....it'z going to be a long trip back without Cojoe and the Wiz to talk to...... Friday, March 27 View Page .......I'll mizz Eddy....I thought we grew at high altitude and had harsh conditionz......nothing like what "The Iceman" haz.......grOw'Z em biG Edward in 2009 !! Saturday, March 28 View Page ....I tried but couldn't avoid going back threw Idaho.......traffic here iz bad all year round....... Saturday, March 28 View Page .....I need to make good time so I muzt drive into the night........... Monday, March 30 View Page ....it doezn't matter.....day or night....duckz or geeze....the point iz Idaho traffic suckz......now it'z 'Mooselims'...... Tuesday, March 31 View Page ......Home at lazt !......Our 'Pumpkin Road Trip Tour' waz great fun !....made lasting friendshipz with growerz all over thiz great country and Canada.......I need to get home and get packed for the Niagara convention.....We have planz to go East thiz fall and see many other growerz ......I'm heading to the patch......haven't seen it since last fall........ Sunday, April 12 View Page ......pulled into the patch to check thingz out only to find "The WiZ" hard at it already......It'z good to be home ! Tuesday, April 14 View Page .......No time to rezt !!....Juzt back from one trip and off to another.....Niagara 2009 Tuesday, April 14 View Page .....az we were getting ready to board, we were asked to sit 'up front' by 'Special Requezt' !...... Tuesday, April 14 View Page ......and I over heard the co-pilot mumble..."Sir, The Wiz and The Biz are on board and seated"...................now that iz "The Friendly Skiez!"....... Saturday, April 18 View Page .....We spent several hourz with our good friend Paul.....we flew in a day earlier thiz year to get some good sleep before the convention...... Saturday, April 18 View Page .....nothing like a good nightz sleep !....... Saturday, April 18 View Page .....We spent Friday, before the convention, sight seeing with Steve Handy and hiz wife.....and we all noticed that we were being followed by 3 rough looking Saturday, April 18 View Page growerz from the SNGPG.....turnz out all they wanted waz a picture of them with the Rat........ Saturday, April 18 View Page .....Niagara iz all about learning....teaching....thinking.... Saturday, April 18 View Page ....and spending time with some of "The Best of the Best"... Saturday, April 18 View Page .....meeting new friendz..... Saturday, April 18 View Page ...and having a laugh with the guyz......Jim Sherwood and Thad Starr were arguing over the lazt 651 Grande(07)....but after a few beerz, became friendz again..... Sunday, April 19 View Page ....The star of the weekend was Jake Van Kooten....we spent time on hospitality night talking and we were lucky enough to share the same table for most of the convention......Great Guy !..... Sunday, April 19 View Page ......and now !!!!! what we've all been waiting for!!!!!.......get your ticketz and grab some popcorn!!!!!!......... Sunday, April 19 View Page .....cuz.....cuz......cuz......." IT'Z SHOW TIME " !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tuesday, April 21 View Page .........?..........?..............?.. Tuesday, April 21 View Page .......Now remember.........what happenz in Niagara ................................................ Wednesday, April 22 View Page .....stayz in Niagara......... Monday, April 27 View Page ......juzt a reminder before thingz get seriouz here.....I'm juzt ' the water boy '............ Friday, May 1 View Page ....Time to get seriouz !... Saturday, May 9 View Page .....Ever since the Niagara Growerz Convention 2009, I've been having problemz with my vision being blurred........ Saturday, May 9 View Page ....hard to see anything clear......... Saturday, May 9 View Page ......even "The WiZ" tilling hiz patch iz hard for me to see........ Sunday, May 10 View Page .....I'm sure it started here !! ....The Awardz Banquet on Saturday night in Niagara......'The WiZ' and I were sitting closet to the big screen......watching.....................watching...........watching.............watching........it ! Sunday, May 10 View Page ....................WATCH IT !! Sunday, May 10 View Page .......or maybe thiz one.......It'z "The Iceman" and Dave Stelts playing with our mindz............... Friday, May 22 View Page ...I tried filing my seedz and couldn't focuz on them....couldn't do it......couldn't see them......couldn't wait any longer......time to see the eye doctor ....... Tuesday, June 9 View Page ......Something juzt doezn't feel right thiz year........ Thursday, June 11 View Page ....Thiz year "The WiZ" iz motivated and focuzed more than ever before....hiz plantz look great due to some secret magic potion he'z feeding them......but Friday, June 12 View Page ....I need to hand it to The WiZ. He'z done hiz home work and he'z off to a great start !.......and once again...the look on Cojoe's face when he saw the plants waz....... Friday, June 12 View Page ...pricelezz !!!!! Tuesday, June 16 View Page ......but remember WiZ !.....I'm juzt az hungry az you and I have my eye on the prize too........right Iceman ?? Saturday, June 20 View Page .....Thiz could very well be "The WiZ'z" year.......he'z feeling good and haz worked very , very hard......... Saturday, June 20 View Page ......something lit a flame under "The Wiz'z" azz.......maybe it waz Saturday, June 20 View Page .......my earlier start than lazt year ??..... Saturday, June 20 View Page ...The 1019 "Hypothermia" Grande, the 1209 "Tazmainian" Kuhn, the 266 "Pirate Orange" Grande and the 1087 "Iceberg" Grande all came up great.........the 651 Grande (lazt yearz Icecube) had problemz....... Monday, June 22 View Page ..."The Wiz" haz got off to a great start !!....Plantz look great....!!.................HOW ??..............Did he learn from watching me ?????...............When I waz play calling lazt year, I think he waz stealing signz..........but.. I figured out how???............. Thursday, June 25 View Page .....cuz WiZ waz laying in the weedz..... and watching me............ Friday, June 26 View Page ........Roll the cameraz........"ACTION "! Friday, June 26 View Page ....I waz very satizfied with the germination. Temp waz upper 80'z and everything came up great except the 651 Grande....it struggled......1087 "IceBreaker" Grande waz a back up seed and waz mozt aggrezzive at the start so it earned a spot in the patch....planted 3 of the 1019 Grande and 266 Grande and chose the best seedling of each to plant..... Friday, June 26 View Page ....uzed bigger potz thiz year......while watering the seedlingz, I heard a noize outzide the bazement window...... Friday, June 26 View Page .......again......it waz "The Wiz"......worried.......sneaking a peak.......stealing secretz........ Saturday, June 27 View Page ........like I said before......something juzt doezn't feel right........................... Sunday, June 28 View Page 1209 Kuhn.....1019 Grande......1087 Grande .....and 266 Grande were hardened off fazter than last year......seem to work very well....... Tuesday, June 30 View Page .......ACTION !! Saturday, July 4 View Page .......I think I finally figured out what 'The WiZ' iz dumping on hiz plantz thiz year....................................... Sunday, July 5 View Page .......and he thought I wouldn't figure it out........... Monday, July 6 View Page .....1209 Kuhn...nice thick stem....agrezzive seedling.... Tuesday, July 7 View Page ....1087 Grande.......growing juzt like the IceBreaker did........laid down firzt........ Tuesday, July 7 View Page ....1019 Grande....turning out to be my bezt looking plant.......it knowz... "slow and steady winz the race"....... Wednesday, July 8 View Page ........266 Grande ( 1226.5 Kline X 1016 Daletas )...should be very pretty orange.......plant slow and steady but has a very stocky stump......Going for Howard Dill Award on this one........will cross Wiz"z 670 Diagle back into it...... Friday, July 10 View Page ........."The WiZ" and I grow together....WINK WINK.......az a team.....WINK WINK.......alwayz telling each other what we do....WINK WINK......together!!.....WINK WINK........don't you believe me ???.....WINK WINK... !! Sunday, July 12 View Page ....1209 "TAZMAINIAN" Kuhn.....went double vine.....I got it back on line but now is a little behind..... Sunday, July 12 View Page .......A heavy hitter told me that a plant that goez double vine is a sign of vigor....so I have a plan to crozz thiz dragster with another double vine dragster....The Wiz'Z 991 Urena........ Sunday, July 12 View Page .....1019 "Hypothermia" Grande ( 651 Grande X 1385 Jutras )( IceCube x IceBreaker ) iz going to play.. Sunday, July 12 View Page ...Hardball with "The WiZ" !! Sunday, July 12 View Page ....but remember now......we are growing as a team...WINK WINK......remember.....WINK WINK..?? Monday, July 13 View Page ......I caught "The WiZ" spraying hiz 'SECRET AZ' lazt night...........I tried to remind him that slow and steady winz the race.....but...... Monday, July 13 View Page .....he juzt kept spraying...... and gave me a 'WINK'.......... Tuesday, July 14 View Page .....but what do I know.......I'm juzt The WaterBoy........ Friday, July 17 View Page .....1019 Grande " Hypothermia "....... Saturday, July 18 View Page .....1087 Grande "The IceBerg" Sunday, July 19 View Page .....still feeling zomething.........can't explain it....... Sunday, July 19 View Page .....zo I went to zee the doctor..........paid my co-payment and he told me ....."Focuz ! Alwayz look eye ! Look eye !....Focuz BizzyZon !!"......................... Tuesday, July 21 View Page .......The following material iz intended for a mature audience.............. Tuesday, July 21 View Page .......and ACTION ! Wednesday, July 22 View Page .....1019 Grande (IceCube x IceBreaker....651 Grande x 1385 Jutras)........Crozzed with 1209 Kuhn........ Wednesday, July 22 View Page .....She wanted me !!!!.... Saturday, July 25 View Page ........"Hypothermia"......1019 Grande 5 lobe.... Monday, July 27 View Page ....I alwayz uze protection............ Monday, July 27 View Page ........pollinated July 4th, 2009....16 ft out..... Monday, July 27 View Page .......and what a party it waz !!......... Monday, July 27 View Page .......1087 Grande "The IceBerg"......5 lobe...pollinated July 7....16 ft out....crozzed with 981 Urena..... Monday, July 27 View Page ....My little girl...266 Grande...."Orange Ice".....(F1226 Kline x M1016 Daletas)....... Monday, July 27 View Page ........The 266 Grande waz the firzt 6 lobe I've ever seen........ Monday, July 27 View Page .........Like I said before.......... Monday, July 27 View Page ......something juzt doezn't feel right... Monday, July 27 View Page .....I think The WiZ iz putting something in my coffee.......but why??...... Tuesday, July 28 View Page .....1019 Grande "Hypothermia" on July 10......so far the bezt plant I've ever grown........ Tuesday, July 28 View Page ....My little 266 Grande came off high in the air.....Cojoe gave me some advICE, so I made a 'pumpkin sling' to let it down slow and steady........ Tuesday, July 28 View Page ....very happy with 'the sling'....... Tuesday, July 28 View Page ....... I put sand under the 266 so when.... Tuesday, July 28 View Page ....it fell, no stem strezz and it waz ready to go....... Thursday, July 30 View Page ....very zimple dezign...... Thursday, July 30 View Page ....1209 Kuhn will alzo need the 'pumpkin sling'..... Thursday, July 30 View Page .....and ACTION !! Thursday, July 30 View Page .....the lazt two yearz, we've had very little rain.....thiz year iz a different ztory........and Thursday, July 30 View Page .....it really showz..... Thursday, July 30 View Page ....if Mother Nature Thursday, July 30 View Page .....cooperatez ... Friday, July 31 View Page ....we might juzt make it to the end....... Wednesday, August 5 View Page ......will the pot of gold be found in The WiZ'z patch or The BiZ'z patch thiz year??.......... Friday, August 7 View Page ........it'z all up to HER....she'z in control........ Friday, August 7 View Page .....make sure to keep an eye on her beauty...............she can change at any time................. Friday, August 7 View Page ....HYPOTHERMIA ALERT !!!!!.... Saturday, August 8 View Page ....1019 "Hypothermia" Grande ....July 15 Saturday, August 8 View Page ......1019 Grande ( 651 Grande X 1385 Jutras )..... Saturday, August 8 View Page ....1019 "Hypothermia" Grande...( IceCube X IceBreaker )...... Sunday, August 9 View Page ....July 19....."Hypothermia" Sunday, August 9 View Page .....July 19.......1019 "Hypothermia" Grande Sunday, August 9 View Page ..1209 "Tazmainian" Kuhn Aug 1.....we fixed the double vine main....sit back and watch !! Monday, August 10 View Page ....1209 Kuhn....Aug 9.....another white one !! :) Monday, August 10 View Page ......There'z something about thiz plant that talkz to me everyday.......I hear it ............thiz plant haz the power !... Tuesday, August 11 View Page 266 Grande ( 1226 Kline X 1016 Daletas ) on Aug 1 Tuesday, August 11 View Page 266 Grande...Aug 9 Tuesday, August 11 View Page 266 really turned color in the lazt week...... Wednesday, August 12 View Page ........Temperature iz falling in the patch........... Friday, August 14 View Page ..."Hypothermia".....July 24 Friday, August 14 View Page ....."Hypothermia"....July 24 Tuesday, August 18 View Page ........July 27, 2009...........very cold... Tuesday, August 18 View Page ......1087 Grande"The IceBerg" ( 1385 Jutras x 651 Grande )son of The IceBreaker haz a birth mark......very ironic ! Tuesday, August 18 View Page "The IceBerg" birth mark......... Tuesday, August 18 View Page ......The RMGVG had it'z 3rd annual patch tour on AUG 8th...............some of the club memberz came prepared ............ Thursday, August 20 View Page .....tempz in the patch are still falling................. Saturday, August 22 View Page .....thiz year juzt doezn't feel right...................... Monday, August 24 View Page .....Field Treatment..... Tuesday, August 25 View Page .....Aug 9th...."HYPOTHERMIA"........still haz a 'LONGMONT' way to go ........ Thursday, August 27 View Page ...... 266 Grande Aug 26......"Orange Ice"....Hope I can make Todd Kline and Steve Daletas proud !....... Saturday, August 29 View Page ..........Got Ice ?? Monday, August 31 View Page .......September iz already here.....The WiZ'z favorite month..... Thursday, September 3 View Page ......I tried to stop him...........but he wouldn't lizten.......I told him it waz too cold to touch ......too cold to hold........and now Thursday, September 3 View Page 1019 "hypOthermia" Grande.....SS=1CE....EE=1CE....CC=3CE......biGGer than it'z mOm and dad...... Friday, September 4 View Page **CC=1CE..total =3CE.....biG and cOld Friday, September 4 View Page .........I had to call....... Friday, September 4 View Page ......In cold weather, your body may lose heat faster than you can produce it. The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature. It can make you sleepy, confused and clumsy. Because it happens gradually and affects your thinking, you may not realize you need help. That makes it especially dangerous. A body temperature below 95° F is a medical emergency and can lead to death if not treated promptly. Friday, September 4 View Page .....Cover the person'z body with blankets and aluminum-coated foilz, and place the victim in a sleeping bag. Avoid actively heating the victim with outside sources of heat such as radiators or hot water bathz. This may only decrease the amount of shivering and slow the rate of core temperature increase.....after theze precautions have been taken, you can go back to taking care of the pumpkinz until medical personnel arive........ Friday, September 4 View Page ......HYPOTHERMIA haz spread acrozz the State of Colorado......and the cold haz finally hit Longmont Pete's patch....... Sunday, September 6 View Page SS=1CE.....EE=1CE.....C=1CE..... Monday, September 7 View Page ......LOOK !!!....The mountainz have turned BLUE !!.....ICE COLD !!!!!.... Tuesday, September 8 View Page .....I know Longmont Pete iz watching.....he wantz to know......he wantz to see.......he'll juzt have to show up on Sept 26 with hiz big one.......... Thursday, September 10 View Page ......Time for that final push.......time for some of that SUPER TURBO FINISHER FERTILIZER.... Thursday, September 10 View Page .....I like thiz phOtO Of LOngmont Pete !.......... Thursday, September 10 View Page ...Thiz One iz cOlder.... Friday, September 11 View Page ....266 Grande..... Friday, September 11 View Page ....With the help of Cojoe, Wiz and a bobcat, we lifted the 266 with the lifting ring and moved the fruit back toward the stump about 3 inchez, to releaze the strezz on the main and stem.......wouldn't have made it to the weigh off...... Friday, September 11 View Page ...Thankz Cojoe !! Thankz Wiz !! My lil 266 can make it to the end now..... Saturday, September 12 View Page 266 Grande 08.......F 1226 Kline X 1016 Daletas.......and we crozzed it with the 670 Daigle......"ORANGE ICE" Sunday, September 13 View Page ....I hear that Longmont Pete iz not sleeping well at night.....iz worried about the cold front heading hiz way in a couple weekz.......screaming at the computer......dying to get a true peak.......well Pete? Sunday, September 13 View Page ...here'z your peek...... Monday, September 14 View Page ...Eddy "The IceMan" iz On hiz way tO Our patch !......OH SH#%!!!.....Even the platnz can tell .....!!! ....in 2 dayz! Tuesday, September 15 View Page ........I felt really sorry for Longmont Pete yesterday.....we can tell the pressure is getting to him......so I decided to drive up, check on him and calm him down.... but when I pulled into Longmont, I drove by thiz church juzt a couple blockz from Pete's houze......Not even GOD iz on Pete's side......hhhmmm Thursday, September 17 View Page .....Eddy "The Iceman" came tO Our patch yezterday......We started the morning off at LOngmOnt Pete's patch.....it waz the firzt time Pete ever meet Eddy.....Pete and hiz plantz will never be the same........ Thursday, September 17 View Page .....Oh !!!....Pete haz a NICE 1385 Jutras..... Friday, September 18 View Page ....STOP !!!....lOOk at thiz !!....hOw many square feet dO yOu need tO grOw a State RecOrd competitive pumpkin where yOu live ??...500.....600....700+ sq ft ??......Longmont Pete can dO it in lezz that 250 sq ft.....and on the side of hiz hOuse..........................guezz what ??.......thiz izn't the first time .......he'z dOne it fOr three yearz nOw!!!....dOn't believe me ??...then ask "The Iceman".......gOOd jOb Pete !!!! Monday, September 21 View Page ......Late in the seazon, I don't use row cover, or lampz, or heating cablez, or heaterz, or hot water, or even blanketz.....I juzt rub some lotion on it.......and it'z fine..... Tuesday, September 22 View Page .......in an attempt to try and stop Longmont Pete from dumping an "excess of KDL" on hiz pumpkinz, lazt night I jumped into my truck and sped up to hiz houze....but I didn't make it in time...... Friday, September 25 View Page ....Unfortunately the growing seazon muzt come to an end......are you prepared ?..... Friday, September 25 View Page ......PICKING DAY.......1019 Grande..... Friday, September 25 View Page .....I said at the beginning of the year, that the 1019 Grande (HYPOTHERMIA) waz gonna play "hard ball" with the big boyz.....we'll see tomorrow !! Friday, September 25 View Page ......no holez....clean.....WHEW!!!! Friday, September 25 View Page ......"The Wiz" stood guard over it all the way in........ Friday, September 25 View Page 1019 "Hypothermia" Grande....F 651 Grande07 x M 1385 Jutras07 Friday, September 25 View Page .......Juzt look at the smile on "The WiZ'z" face !!.....He loved seeing the back tirez of the bobcat come off the ground !!... Tuesday, September 29 View Page ....Time to take it to the scalez......... Tuesday, September 29 View Page ....It meant a lot to me that Joe Scherber (Cojoe) came up to haul my 1019 Grande down to the scale......he'z been teaching from the start......Thank You Joe ! Tuesday, September 29 View Page ......beautiful weather that day........ Tuesday, October 6 View Page ......The memberz of the RMGVG are a TEAM !!!! Tuesday, October 6 View Page ......Marc Sawtelle and hiz 1075. I have a tremendouz amount of respect for Marc !!! Tuesday, October 6 View Page ....Cojoe and The Wiz gave "HYPOTHERMIA" one more inspection ........... Tuesday, October 6 View Page ....and Cojoe gave "HYPOTHERMIA" a complete physical ..................he iz 'The Good Doctor'!!! Friday, October 9 View Page .........but right before the pumpkinz hit the scale, something special dropped in......... Saturday, October 10 View Page .......a very special delivery.......with a letter inzide........the letter read Sunday, October 11 View Page ...Wow ! Tuesday, October 13 View Page .........juzt before "HYPOTHERMIA" waz weighed, 'another' package showed up......... Tuesday, October 13 View Page ......LaVondre from UPS had never seen pumpkinz thiz size.......he spent several minutez with uz before leaving the package with one of our weigh-off workerz, Mando............another letter........the letter read Sunday, October 18 View Page ...COOL !!!! Tuesday, October 20 View Page .......FINALLY......Time to weigh "HYPOTHERMIA"......1---2---3----WAIT ! ! !...WAIT ! ! !......another letter.....delivered from a...a....a... Tuesday, October 20 View Page .......balloon ?? Friday, November 6 View Page ....after chasing the balloon for a couple of blockz, I finally grabbed the letter that waz hanging from one of the ropez..........the letter read Friday, December 25 View Page .....AWESOME !!! Saturday, December 26 View Page ....1283 LBS !! New Colorado State Record ???......Look at The WiZ........WWWHHHOOOAAAA!! Monday, December 28 View Page ...1283 Grande on display for a few weekz until Monday, December 28 View Page it waz time for Monday Night Football ! Monday, December 28 View Page .....Wiz and I had a great time....we went on a small tour of the Broncos' print shop, deep inside the stadium, and made new friendz...... Monday, December 28 View Page .....The 1087 Grande DMG 08 ( out of The IceBreaker ) went 766lbz and won 3rd place in Old Colorado City weigh off in Colorado Springs.....no seedz in thiz one.......and Monday, December 28 View Page ...my 1209 Kuhn went 896lbz ...came in 2nd at The Flower Bin in Longmont, Colo........... Monday, December 28 View Page .....My 1209 Kuhn waz without a doubt "The Tazmainian ".......Fun to grow from the start ......thiz fruit waz solid...not much cavity space and crozzed into the 1283 Grande........ Monday, December 28 View Page ....and my little 266 Grande never made it to the end.....went down 2 weekz before the weigh off....... Monday, December 28 View Page ...she taped out over 850 lbz......and waz crozzed with the 670 Diagle...... Tuesday, December 29 View Page .....Now.....Time for some fun with KDVR Channel 31 and a 13 story crane........ Wednesday, December 30 View Page ....Beautiful morning...moon waz out and we dropped three pumpkinz from 130 ft....my 766 Grande went firzt, then my 896 Grande..... then Cojoe's 1048 Scherber for the finale...... Wednesday, December 30 View Page ....not every day do you see a $3000 video camera duct taped to a crane....... Wednesday, December 30 View Page .....thiz waz the small crane....they were suppoze to bring the 300 ft crane.....next year.. Wednesday, December 30 View Page ......gotta see it and hear it in perzon......the sound waz AMAZING !!!! Wednesday, December 30 View Page .....debris everywhere !!!...check out the left and right hand cornerz of the photo.....chunkz flew quite a wayz......the bezt part of the whole morning waz Wednesday, December 30 View Page thiz photo!.... Thursday, December 31 View Page ...The highlight of 2009 waz "The Iceman" coming to our patch..... Thursday, December 31 View Page ....measuring "Hypothermia" with Eddy waz a moment I'll never forget..... Thursday, December 31 View Page .......Growing more than pumpkinz......growing friendshipz too ! Thursday, December 31 View Page ...2009 started off on the right foot.....thiz young girl comez up to me ,at the Niagara convention, just to say hi and introduce herself.....CONGRATZ again Christy !...... Thursday, December 31 View Page ....all my pumpkinz were 5 lobes.... Thursday, December 31 View Page ...my 1019 Grande waz the bezt plant I've ever grown....simply perfect..... Thursday, December 31 View Page ....I hit my pollination window right on target...July 4th Thursday, December 31 View Page ....made it past what some otherz didn't..... Thursday, December 31 View Page ....created a new system of measurement ....... Thursday, December 31 View Page .....had some fun along the way..... Thursday, December 31 View Page ...had some upz..... Thursday, December 31 View Page ...and some downz...... Thursday, December 31 View Page .....some good timez.... Thursday, December 31 View Page ...and some bad.... Thursday, December 31 View Page ...but the mozt important thing to me iz..... Thursday, December 31 View Page ....that my brother "The WiZ" had hiz health thiz year..... Thursday, December 31 View Page ....and achieving thiz Thursday, December 31 View Page ...and thiz.... Thursday, December 31 View Page ...and thiz ...came from Thursday, December 31 View Page !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thursday, December 31 View Page 1283 GRANDE 2009............ Thursday, December 31 View Page ....."CUT".....................................THE END