Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 510 Entries. Wednesday, February 11 View Page Built a 9x20 mini greenhouse. Bows are 18 feet long and 9 feet apart at the bottom. bows are anchored with 1/2 inch rebar 18-24 inches long driven vertically into the ground. Bows on 3 foot centers. Covered with 6mil contractor clear plastic. Put 4mil black plastic on the snow in bottom of greenhouse to help melt snow. Friday, February 13 View Page Put up 2nd mini greenhouse size 9x20. Bows are 17' 1 inch. This is on east end of patch and will be for the better half's pumpkins. Friday, February 13 View Page My wife Doris decided she need a mini greenhouse for tomatoes.....so put up a 9x40 foot mini greenhouse same pattern as the 2 earlier ones. Two smaller ones will be for pumpkins 2 each starting in the center and main vine growing toward the ends. Sunday, February 15 View Page Wanted to see what temperaures were in the 3 mini greenhouse were. Put a max-min thermoter on the ground on top of black 4 mil plastic in center of greenhouses. At 8:45 am on Feb. 16 recorded the following information for Feb 15 a sunny day: Mine 9x20 running north-south, high 80 low 26 present 46 Big 9x40 running east-west high 102 low 28 present 35 Doris 9x40 running north-south high 70 low 40 present 40. All temperatures are F. Tuesday, February 17 View Page West end of pumpkin patch where 9x20 minigreen house will be erected Tuesday, February 17 View Page To cut the pipe to 18 feet I inserted the tape into the pipe to the proper length and then found the end of metal tape with a metal detector pin pointer. Mark the pipe, withdraw tape and cut pipe with sawsall. Tuesday, February 17 View Page Lay out the 1/2 inch rebar, cut to 2 foot length and drive vertically in ground on 3 foot centers Tuesday, February 17 View Page Put the 18 foot length of black pvc pipe on the rebar in the ground Tuesday, February 17 View Page Put up supporting frame made of 2x4s to hold the pvc bows. Tape bows to 2x4 with electrical tape Tuesday, February 17 View Page Lay 4 mil black plastic on top of snow to help draw in heat form sun Tuesday, February 17 View Page Completed 9x20 minigreen house. Bricks are layed around the edge until frost is gone and soil can be used to hold 6 mil plastic in place Tuesday, February 17 View Page Completed 9x40 foot minigreen house that will hold tomatoes and other veggies. This house is running east to west so will have the benifit of sun for most of the day. Tuesday, February 17 View Page This is Doris's 9x20 mini on east end of patch. She will be planting 2 plants in it. I will have 2 plants in the west end of patch. Tuesday, February 17 View Page This is my better half, Doris with our AG last year. It was an open pollination on a 1007 Holland. It pollinated on August 4, 2008. It was weighted at Rocking R weight off in Bountiful, Utah at 321 lbs Tuesday, February 17 View Page This is a picture of Santa Claus...........no it is me NoSee (Lee) Thursday, February 19 View Page Checked temps in the mini greenhouses which I call huts. Check temps at 11:06 a.m. Dori's hut max 100, min 21, present 90 F. Big mater hut max 110, min 18, present 110, this hut is facing south. Other 2 are running north-south. Big mater hut is running east-west. My hut had a max 95, min 55 and present 75. All huts have black plastic on the floors and thermometers are on the floor in center of hut. Pulled black plastic off the floor in Dori's and mine. Left black plastic in mater hut. Dori has been planting maters and peppers in the house....Want to get plants in mater hut around April 1st. Saturday, February 21 View Page Recorded temps in 3 huts at 3:45 pm. Dori's hut was max 80, min 35, present 70. Big mater hut was max 120, min 36, present 84 F. Moisture is building up on the insides of plastic as ends are closed. Pulled the black plastic off floor of mater hut. There was a little ice remaining in spots. Will put in ground thermometers in three huts and see what ground temps are. Ground in the 2 small pumpkin huts are unfroze so will dig in ground heating cables in the near future. Will start to make furrows in mater hut as it will be irrigated by watering flowing down the rows. Will put black plastic back on the ground to control weeds and moisture. Will also help hold heat in during the night. Pumpkin huts will be sprinkled by overhead sprinklers eventually. Sunday, February 22 View Page Recorded temperatures in huts at 3 pm....Mine Max 90, Min 32, present 73. Dori's Max 82, Min ?, present 57. Mater hut Max 90. Mom 32, present 73. Put 8 inch ground thermometer in each hut. Wednesday, February 25 View Page Checked temperatures in huts..Mater hut Max 72, Min 34, present 36 at 8:02 am. Three 8 inch ground thermometers read 42 degrees F. Decided to shovel irrigation ditch for 3 row of maters in hut. Put ground therm in center row to see what it will read nex time. Recorded temps at 9:02 am in My hut Max 70 , Min 37 present 68. Dori's hut was Max 80, min ? present 42, therm tipped over and laying face down on ground. At 2:05 pm ground them in my hut was 48 F. Dug hole to put in two 40 foot soil heating cables in my hut. Put them approximately 6 inches below surface. Went to my coal vein and mined a wheeler trailer load of coal. Scattered the coal on the surface of ground approximately 1 inch thick. Put ground therm in to see what this would do to raise ground temp. Soil cable are not turned on yet. Wednesday, February 25 View Page Did some work in my mater hut. Dug ditches to make 3 rows, one on each side and the third in the middle. This way will be able to let water run down the rows and out the other end. Wednesday, February 25 View Page Did some work in my mater hut. Dug ditches to make 3 rows, one on each side and the third in the middle. This way will be able to let water run down the rows and out the other end. Thursday, February 26 View Page Have a max-min thermometer and an 8 inch soil thermometer. Soil temp is up to 42 F. Max in air on the ground has been up to 120 F. Ground temp is low but decieded to try planting some Cold Set tomatoe seed right in the ground. Planted about 30 seed down the right side of hut near the wall. Will also plant some in the house and see which does the best. Thursday, February 26 View Page Dug in soil heating cables in my hut. Put them in a ribbon fashion about 3 1/2 feet wide and about 6 feet long. Used 40 foot cables and buried the about 6 inches below the surface. Put a cable for each of the two plants I will have in this hut. Put a max-min thermometer and soil thermometer to check temps. Have not plugged in the cable yet as want to see what the sun will do. Thursday, February 26 View Page Took my wheeler and went up to my coal vein to get a trailer load of coal. This coal is very low grade and has a lot of sulphur, iron and other minerals that plants like. Dug a trailer load and hauled it to my hut. Thursday, February 26 View Page Breakfast of Champions Thursday, February 26 View Page Took the coal and covered the ground inside my hut with about 1 inch of coal. Purpose of this is 2 fold, 1 to increase the temperature of ground under the coal via sun power and 2 to get some extra values such as sulphur, carbon iron, etc. out of the coal when I water the growing plants. Last year in July I found that the coal covered ground would get as high as 145 F on a sunny day. When that happens, I covered the coal with light covered sand to cool the ground. Thursday, February 26 View Page This evening when Dori and I came home found the wind had blown the covers off both of the small huts. They were only temporarly secured . So had to put it back up and secure it better. Have been lazy and had not completed the job. Thursday, February 26 View Page I am sitting back and taking it easy in the big mater hut enjoying the warmth and basking in the sun. Can't afford to go to the Caribean beaches for a winter break. Mater hut will have to do. Temperatures get up to 100 plus and with the high humidity it is pleasent. Sunday, March 8 View Page Had a wind storm and Mater hut blew down. Decieded to do some work while plastic was down Sunday, March 8 View Page Got the tiller out of the garage and till up the ground. Sunday, March 8 View Page Meanwhile Dori had planted maters, several varieties, peppers, several varieties to go into the mater hut. They are up and doing nicely. Had to put up another grow light to cover the 2 tables. Also bought a 3rd to start pumpkins. This will go in computer room soooooooo will have to clean up a mess of paper to make room. Sunday, March 8 View Page Brought in 2- 55 galion drum and put in center of mater hut. Sunday, March 8 View Page Got black spray cans and painted drums so they will pull in the warmth of sun during day and help keep hut above freezing at night. Filled drums with water. Sunday, March 8 View Page Now it is ready to pull plastic back over hoops. Sunday, March 8 View Page I sat back and supervised and Dori ran the shovel to pile dirt up around the edges of the hut. She did one side and I did the other side. Then I played photographer while she worked to finish the job. Sunday, March 8 View Page This is a picture of Dori's Honda Sunday, March 8 View Page This is a picture of my Honda. Don't have a tractor so the wheelers have to work on the place. I have a Honda 500 and Dori has a Yamaha 450. Her's has the snow plow on it and has been pushing snow all winter. We have 2 trailers that we pull with the wheelers to haul things around the place Sunday, March 8 View Page A little something for a change. A nice buck and doe. Sunday, March 8 View Page The end of a perfect day. May the good Lord smile on you and yours today and in all of the days in the future is Dori's and my wish to you. Monday, March 9 View Page If you are wondering why I am sitting back and leaving the shovel work to Dori is on HER ORDERS. Beside some one needs to be the photographer to record progress. On March 4 I spent 7 hours in the operating room while the heart doctor did an autrical ablucation (spelling is wrong). Now that my ticker has been "sorted out" as they say in England, I am supposed to be taking it easy. Dori trys to get me to behave but I have a hard time taking it easy when there is something that I think needs to be done. I am doing nicely and looking for a good summer. Thanks to a good fried who came in and gave me a hand, we were able to put the mater hut back up. Thank you Ford. Monday, March 9 View Page Started to doing some thinking today. I had stood the barrels on end in mater hut.......but am trying to raise the ground temperature. So I tiped the barrels over on their sides. That way they will transfer the heat to the soil easier. Sounds good in theory so will see what happens. It is cloudy and trying to rain so not much will happen till sun comes out again Tuesday, March 10 View Page Yesterday had layed barrels on sides running longwise in center of Mater hut. Two barrels are approximately 12 feet from each end of hut straddling center berm. Placed max/min on top of west barrel. At 6:41 pm checked temperatures. Max temp was 105F, min temp 52F, present temp 52F. Ground temps in center berm at 8 inches below the surface in center of hut in 3 places was 49F, 50F, and 50F. Air temp at 8:15 am was 13F and there was a skip of snow on the ground. Today was a sunny day. Happy to see the ground temps are up 10F from what they have been. If I can maintain adequate ground temperatures and above freezing at night will be able to transplant tomotoes and pepper plants. Dori, my better half has several varieties of tomatoes and pepper growing in the house and getting ready to go into Mater hut. Thursday, March 12 View Page Went shopping today and got kcl and styrofoam coolers. Checked huts this evening..... My hut max 100, min 24, present 72, ground temperature 52F. Plugged in ground heating cables. Placed ground thermometer in center of soil cable on north end placed max/min thermometer next to it, covered both with styrofoam cooler. Want to see what temperature gets under cooler...... Mater hut max 105, min 26, present 72, ground west 50, middle 55, east 55F, humidity 75%. Moved all thermometers to center of hut, 1 ground in north berm, 1 ground in middle and 1 in south berm. Max/min thermometers on north and south sides..... Dori's hut max 95 min ?, present 80F, ground temp52. There is winter rye about 2 inches high all over the hut Thursday, March 12 View Page Went shopping today and got kcl and styrofoam coolers. Checked huts this evening..... My hut max 100, min 24, present 72, ground temperature 52F. Plugged in ground heating cables. Placed ground thermometer in center of soil cable on north end placed max/min thermometer next to it, covered both with styrofoam cooler. Want to see what temperature gets under cooler...... Mater hut max 105, min 26, present 72, ground west 50, middle 55, east 55F, humidity 75%. Moved all thermometers to center of hut, 1 ground in north berm, 1 ground in middle and 1 in south berm. Max/min thermometers on north and south sides..... Dori's hut max 95 min ?, present 80F, ground temp52. There is winter rye about 2 inches high all over the hut Saturday, March 14 View Page Fired up the tiller tlhis morning and started to till garden area. Dori was runningn tiller to start and I finished job Saturday, March 14 View Page Made some clip to go over the bows on hoop huts. Cut the pipe with sawsall. Clips were too stiff to spread easily so had to drie on wooden stake to expand. Saturday, March 14 View Page Put 3 clips per stake. Left in the sun to heat up and make easier to go on pipe in huts. I am of the generation that "fixed up, make do, or do without." So figured out a way to use what I had to do the job. Saturday, March 14 View Page I am not to smart as can only count to ten using fingers,have no toes..........Lost them many years ago to frostbite. Saturday, March 14 View Page This is our 2 trailers that are pulled by ATVs to haul things around the yard. Both are dump beds and have came in very handy. One is much heavier duty than the other. Saturday, March 14 View Page These are our wheelbarrows that we use. One belonged to my dad and I have been pushing it around for most of my life. The other was salvaged from a zinc mine. It still had the label on it when I found it. It was used in the mine in the 1940's during the World War II. They don't look like much but they have no flat tires. People have wanted to buy them several times but they have worked for us too long. They are part of the family. Saturday, March 14 View Page Turned on pump in the well to pump out the rusty water that had built up over the winter. All was well so it is ready to water the place when needed. I will have to put another timer on it so I can water pumpkins separately and at different times of the day. Saturday, March 14 View Page Part of the garden we tilled today where we will plant onions, taters and other veggies. It is ready to go when the weather is right. Saturday, March 14 View Page Checked the ground temperatures in my pumpkin hut. Turned on the soil heating cables 2 days ago to check them out. Ground temp at 8" is 60F, so tempature is coming up fine. Surface ground temp last night was still 26F even though it get very warm in day, (78FG). Will be some time before ready to put on pumpkins. Maters and peppers will be ready to go in mater hut in 7-10 days. Temperatures in mater hut was 26F at surface and 118 for the high. Ground temps at 8" below surface was 50F. Need to be able to keep surface ground temps above freezing at night. Tuesday, March 17 View Page Have been out of town for a couple of days. Checked my pumpkin hut and recorded temperatures. Temperatures are under a strofoam cooler, max 84F, min 42F, present 67F, ground temperature at 8" is 78F. Temperatures recorded at 7:15 pm. Soil heating cables have heated the ground. It is still early so unplugged soil heating cables. Took about 5 days to bring ground temperature up. Will let sit till plants are ready to go into the ground. Saturday, March 21 View Page Yesterday we took tomatoe plants out into the garage area to start to harden then off. Dori mixed up a kelp solution and sprayed them. This morning they are really looking good. Just over night a big different can be seen. They will go out into garage again today. Yesterday took some 2 liter pop bottles and sprayed black paint on them. Filled them with water and put them in the mater hut. Scattered them along the berms. Am trying to keep night time termperatures above freezing. Day time tempertatures were too high, maxed out at 125 at ground surface. So opened up both end of hut to let breeze cool things off. Ground temperature at 8" are in mid 50s F. Ran an experiment on patio area. Place a max/min temp in sun....got up to 105. Placed cold frame 4'x4'x8" high covered with remay type shade clothes over the thermometer. Temperature was still up to 100 F. Raised up the cold frame on one end and braced it on a bench to let the air circulate. Just went out and read the max/min under cold frame. At 7:48 am max 112, min 45, and present 45F. Wanted to take some pictures but can't lay my hands on my camera, is under some junk somewhere. My covey of up to 35 quail are across the street. Soon them will be in back yard under the bird feeders and into the garden area. They come everyday and will be helping keep the bugs out of garden and patch. They roost in pine trees in my front yard and in neighbor's pines. Went to local garden center to get so mycorr so can get ready to plant maters in hut. Payed through the nose ($20.00) pound to get a little to start. So put in an order thru Tom @ Extreme Pumpkin for $8 bucks a pound. Thanks Tom....Now I need to get a misting unit to go on my Stihl br420 so I can put it to work. Seems like this gardening and AGs are getting pretty pricey. Saturday, March 21 View Page Maters are looking good after a spraying kelp yesteday Saturday, March 21 View Page 4x4x8" cold frame propped up on a bench to allow air circulation under it. Ran test yesterday and found max temp was 112F, min 45F, present at 7:48 am 45F. Will hardened tomatoes and peppers under this. Then will go to mater hut for final planting. Saturday, March 21 View Page Mater hut with 2 liter and gallon bottle along edges and center berm. Am trying to keep night time temps above freezing. This morning at 8:30 temps in mater hut were max 112F, min 38F present 45F. Ground temps starting on north side were 50F, middle 54F, and south 52F. Ground temps are at 8" below the surface. Am opening both ends during day to try to cool max temp as these temperatures are at ground level. Humidity is about 75%. Saturday, March 21 View Page Just got back from a fast trip to Mesa, Arizona. Flowers were very nice but did not have time to take pictures. Will share a couple from last years trip. The California poppies and other flowers are something to behold when the desert blooms. Last winter had an abundance of rain and Rooselt dam northeast of Phoenix filled for 1st time since dam was raised 16 years ago. This picture is of my better half, Dori and flowers. Saturday, March 21 View Page Arizona flowers 2008 Saturday, March 21 View Page Several colors of California poppies and others 2008 Saturday, March 21 View Page This was our Yamaha Rhino 660. We had too many ATVs (4) and had to let some go. So sold rhino and an older polaris. Keep Honda 500 and Yamaho 450. Saturday, March 21 View Page Deadman lake in Uintah primitive area at elevation of 10,500 feet, in northeastern Utah. I went alone on a back packing trip to see some of this country in August 2008. Saturday, March 21 View Page My home for a couple of nights in high Uinta mountains. Saturday, March 21 View Page It rained and hailed everyday I was there. This is hail remaining the next morning after I got there. Stormed for many hours. Camp was in Lightning park. Set up camp in rain at 2pm and rained and hail rest of the day and thru out the night. I now know how it got it name. Had two lightning strikes in next days that were too close for comfort. Saturday, March 21 View Page No See, as I sat out a rain/hail storm around a fire at approximately 11,000 feet elevation. Built small fire under spruce tree and waited it out while lightning had fun all around. Saturday, March 21 View Page High country bare mountains above timberline in background. Clouds are pretty as they build up for rain showers. Saturday, March 21 View Page A Utah sunset taken in November of 2008. A good way to end a perfect day. Sunday, March 22 View Page Tomatoes are doing fine after a feeding of soluble kelp. Started harding them off the other day. 1st day put them in the garage. 2nd day went outside under a cold frame that was propped up to allow breeze to blow under it. One end propped on a bench and other on 5 quart ice cream pails. Temperature was up to 70F yesterday and a strong breeze. Maters showed some wind damage when brought in last night. They have to get tough if going to survive in mater hut. Sunday, March 22 View Page 4'x4'x8" cold frame used to harden tomatoes off. Place tomotoes under frame with one side leaning on bench. Other side is elevated on two 5 quart ice cream buckets to raise other side of frame up off the patio so breeze can pass under and keep temperatures down. Now I know the reason I have had to eat all the buckets of ice cream this past winter. They needed to be emptied so I could use them later. Wind was a little strong today so layed cold frame on the patio and put a gallon jug in middle to hold cloth off the maters. They survived well during the wind. Have a max/min and soil thermometer under frame to monitor thempesratures. If you have any ice cream buckets that need emptied I will volunteer provided the flavors are to my liking....lol Sunday, March 22 View Page Yesterday we planted AG seeds. So my short list become final. Have room for 4 plants so planted 8 seeds. I planted 1521.5 Werner 08 (F 1161 Rodonnis 07x M 1308 McKie 06), 1149.5 Pukos 07 (F 998.6 Pukos x M 998.6 Pukos 05)1483.5 Werner 08 (F 1385 Jutras 07 x M 1207 Young 07)and 1011.5 Pukos 08 (F 1041 McKie 06 x M 965 Pukos 07). Dori planted 1044.5 LaRue(F 1041.5 McKie x M 1112 LaRue),1040 LaRue (F 1112 LaRue x M 1041.5 McKie), 1066 LaRue (F1404 McKie x M 1041.5 McKie)675 LaRue (F 1412 McKie x M 1408 Daletas)and 1066 McKie (F 1404 McKie x 1041.5 McKie. That gives us 8 seeds started on March 21, 2009. Sunday, March 22 View Page We took a fast trip to Arizona. Here is a sequaro cactus to prove it. Sunday, March 22 View Page Winter rye growing in Dori's hut Sunday, March 22 View Page Added some Kcl (0-0-50) to garden and patch, broadcasting using hand and bucket method. Sunday, March 22 View Page Another view of cold frame used to harden tomatoe plants Sunday, March 22 View Page Wrapped seeds in paper towel and placed in styrofoam cup with label on stick. Sunday, March 22 View Page Added diluted soluble kelp solution to soak seeds Sunday, March 22 View Page Placed 8 cups with seed and kelp solution under grow lights to keep warm. Soaked for approximately 6 hours. By the way filed the seeds before soaking. Sunday, March 22 View Page Filled 1 gallon pots with about 3" full of potting soil with soluble kelp solution to dampen soil. Pushed seed down into soil till top of seed approximately 1/2" from surface. Sunday, March 22 View Page Black plastic pots were cut in half lengthwise then taped back to gether to make it easier to remove plant at tranplanting time. A paper towel placed in bottom of pot to keep soil from falling out the bottom and to provide drainage. Stick with label was placed in pot, hopefully seed and stick label match. Pots were placed under growlight on kitchen counter. Sunday, March 22 View Page Aluminum foil placed around sides of pots and up over light to keep as much heat in as possible. Soil thermometer placed in one of the pots. After a few hours temperature was not high enough (72 F)so added a 40 watt incandesent light to go with the two 40 watt growlights. Sunday, March 22 View Page Temperature was still too low so placed towel over the top of lights to help hold heat in. Appears to be working as temp is @82 F. Want to keep heat between 80 and 90 F. Sunday, March 22 View Page Will sign off with flowers from road cut in Arizona, March 2009 Sunday, March 22 View Page Dori did all of the planting of seeds and I supervised. She has the green thumb. Just about anything I plant does not come up. She is much better than I am when it coming to planting and growing. Monday, March 23 View Page A one horned mule deer in snow Monday, March 23 View Page Where was this buck during hunting season? Monday, March 23 View Page My better half,daughter Denise and two grandkids looking at Indian rock writings Monday, March 23 View Page An interesting carving on sandstone cliff in Diamond Fork canyon, Utah Monday, March 23 View Page Snow banks above timberline in August Monday, March 23 View Page Storm building in Uinta Mountains Monday, March 23 View Page Landscape rock with lichen that I collect and sell to make a few bucks. Monday, March 23 View Page One of the canyons that I hiked into looking at the rock formations. Monday, March 23 View Page Poor grade coal that I add to pumpkin patch Monday, March 23 View Page Culled AG pumpkins from 2008 Monday, March 23 View Page One of Candy onions we grew last year. Largest was 23 inches circ. Monday, March 23 View Page Dori, my better half on a late open pollinated (Aug 4th) 1007 Holland. Was weighted at Rocking E weight off at 321 lbs Monday, March 23 View Page My 78 year young uncle Rollo resting up in the Deadman Lake Hilton. Second trip there last summer, this time we rode and pack his mules to get there. We both got thrown off and were sore for a couple of days. Old mule riders don't bounce very high when you get piled up. Monday, March 23 View Page Arizona flowers 2008 Monday, March 23 View Page High grade gold ore in Bull Valley mining district in southern Utah. Retired geologist still keep looking at rocks and hoping for something interesting. At todays gold price ($950 per ounce) this mine could be reopened and would make a good profit. Monday, March 23 View Page Peace and quiet that you will never find in the big city. When I get fed up with the world I leave the paved road and head back into the mountains. During this trip I did not see another person in the 3 days I was gone. Thursday, March 26 View Page Seven of eight of plants have came up. These are 3 of Dori's which were first to come up. As plant grew we have added more potting soil to fill up the gallon containers. These plants have had soil added 3 times. Light has been raised and plants are lengthening out to reach the light. Thursday, March 26 View Page Tomatoe plants are doing nicely and are up to 10 inches high. As soon as storm passes will put them in the mater hut. Thursday, March 26 View Page Woke up this morning to a skif of snow in garden/patch. Wind blew all day but no new snow. Thought it was going to blow huts down but they made it. Thursday, March 26 View Page Some of our quail came to get breakfast of spilled birdseed under bird seed feeders. They usually show up twice a day and then go out into garden area. Some of them roast in pine tree on front lawn. We have had up to 35 at time in the yard. Thursday, March 26 View Page Dori tilled the winter rye in her hut yesterday. Is now ready to dig in soil heating cables. Will do that tomorrow morning. Mine are already in, so dug out the weeds and winter rye and turned the soil cables on to heat up the ground. They have been tested and got the ground up to 78 F ,8 inches below surface under a styrofoam cooler turned upside down. Have been standby mood waiting for plants to be ready. Will be putting pumpkins in huts in the near future. Will wait till temperatures are suitable for them Friday, March 27 View Page Dori and I went out to her pumpkin hutt his morning. Dug in 2-40 foot soil cables, one for each plant to be started in it. Cables were placed about 6-8 inches below surface and was layed in ribbon fashion from side to side over an area of 4x6 feet. Plugged in soil cables to start heating the ground. Placed max/min thermameter and ground thermometer measureing 8 inches below surface under inverted styrofoam cooler over the north set of cables. Checked ground temperature in my hut. It was at 60 F, minimum surface temp was in upper 30s. Last night tempature got to 10F. Today is sunny and should help heat things up. The 2 pumpkin huts run north to south and are 9x20 feet. The last 2 day were stormy and windy. Was worried about blowing huts down but they survived. Friday, March 27 View Page At 6:31 this evening went out to the pkn huts to check temperatures. Results as following: Mine have had soil cables on 3 days max 68, min 46, present 60, ground 64. Dori's hut dug in soil cables this morning and turned them on max 60, min 49, present 60 and ground 58. Temperatures should be up high enough in few days to put pkns out. Thursday, April 2 View Page Had a wind storm on 3/30 that blew the cover off my hut. Next day put it back up and re-dug the ditches to bury the plastic. Made some screw-in brackets to secure the plastic to the bows about 12-18 inches above the ground. Took 1 1/2 ID black plastic pipe and cut it into 4 quarters lenghwise. Cut the strips into about 4 inch pieces. Drilled a 2 screw holes in each end of the pieces. Screwed these pieces with concave side to each bow with 2 self taping 10x5/8 screws. This way the wind will have to blow over the entire hut or rip plastic off as is secured to make hut one piece. Today Dori and I will be transplanting tomatoes into Mater hut. Biggest plants are about 12 inches high. Hope they will do well as weather appears to be moderating. We are between storms right now. Thursday, April 2 View Page Tilled mater hut for final time. Dug in ditches for watering. Dori put the tomatoes in the ground. Planted approximately 50 plants in center and south berms. Some of the varieties are Cold set, 4th of July, Druzba, Big boy, Better boy, Delicious, Early girl, Rueggers, Beefsteak and Beef masters. Dug in mycorr in bottom of holes and poured soluible kelp around the plants. Ran the water down the ditches to soak up ground around plants. Checked Dori's pumpkin hut for temperatures under an inverted styrofoam cooler. Temperatures were as follows: max 76, min 48, present 76, and ground at 8" below surface 78 F. Checked my pumpkin hut under styrofoam cooler. Temperatures were max 56, min 36, present 56, ground 8" below surface 70F. My lower temperatures result from wind blowing cover off hut on 3/29. Put hut back up on 3/30 and turned soil cables on again. Friday, April 3 View Page After wind blew cover of hut for the 3rd time did some additions. Made clips from 1 1/2" pipe cut lenghthwise into 1/4 and then cut to 4 inch pieces. Drilled 2 holes near the ends for screws. Friday, April 3 View Page Screwed clips to bows approximately 18" from the ground. Friday, April 3 View Page Added clamps to end bows. Cut pieces of plastic baseboard to approximately 6 inch lenth, placed under clamp to protect plastic. Put 4 clamps on each end of huts. Thanks Scott Robb (Spudley) for the idea. Friday, April 3 View Page Dori is getting tomatoes from under hardening cover to take to mater hut to transplant. She is much better at transplanting than I so I took pictures and packed plants etc. Friday, April 3 View Page Dori started planting down the center berm of hut. I had tilled the hut earlier in the day and shoveled irrigation ditches. She dug holes and scattered some RTI mycorr in bottom of holes and then dug it in. Maters were then places into the holes and soil carefully backfilled around the plant. Two continers of 12 ozs each of soluible kelp solution was poured around the plant. Friday, April 3 View Page Mater hut with center and south berms planted with approximately 50 tomatoe plants. Water was ran along the rows to soak the ground and give the new maters a drink. Along the north side peppers of several varieties will be planted. They are growing in the kitchen at this time. With maters in the hut that give peppers more room under the grow lights. Pumpkin plants are growing well and are ready to go into the pkn huts. We are holding off time soil temp is right in both huts. Dori's is up to temp but mine is not as wind blew cover off the other day. We are way too early but are going to try. Maybe will have August pkns that mature too early. There is a lot than can happen between now and then. Friday, April 3 View Page Yesterday was a bueatiful day as we planted the tomatoes. Woke up this morning to 1 inch of snow on the ground. So mater hut will get its first test and see how plants do. Dori said if they froze I would have to plant the next batch. Hope that does not happend as I don't want to redo it. Time will tell as Mother Nature does what she wants. Saturday, April 4 View Page This is what maters looked like when Dori planted them a couple of days ago. Since then have had storms and snow on the ground. Not sure how well temperatures would stay in mater hut took preventive measures by covering plants with white fabric cloth. Brought Coleman stove in and fired it up to raise temps a little in hut. This morning will see how all fared. Growing this year is just a little BIT MORE EXPENSIE than it has been the past............lol Saturday, April 4 View Page Checked mater hut at 2:20pm today. Things were looking pretty good. Temperatures on east end of hut on the ground read max 76, min 40, present 62, middle of hut on ground max 72, min 40, present 72F. On top of 55 gallon barrel read 80 F and humidity was 78%. Went out at 7:45pm and lite the coleman stove again. Ground temperature was 40 F. Weather man says it will hit 22 F tonight. We will see. Tuesday, April 7 View Page Went out to mater hut 2 days ago, Mother Nature brought us 17F and mater hut was not tough enough. Lost about 90% of tomatoes. All the ones along center berm gone. Only a few along the south side where covered with cloth survived. So Dori planted seeds again and we will try again. Big problem is pumpkin plants they are ready to go out. Will wait till next storm goes through and then will put them in pkn huts. Tuesday, April 7 View Page Tomatoes did not survive the cold front that came thru area. Out of app/ 50 plants 2 made it. Tuesday, April 7 View Page These 2 plants were the only survivors of cold front. They are not in good shape. They were under the shade cloth. Most of the plants under cloth froze. New seeds are started and we will try again. Tuesday, April 7 View Page Pumpkins are doing nicely and are ready to go to pkn huts. Will wait till next cold spell is past. Tuesday, April 7 View Page Checked my pkn hut today and found I did not do a good job of weeding as winter rye is growing nicely in places not to mention weeds. Checked temperatures under styrofoam cooler at 9:15 am max 85, min 42, present 66 and ground temp at 8 inches 70 F. Friday, April 10 View Page Pumpkins went into the pumpkin huts today. Dori's hut got an 1066 McKie (1404 McKie x 1041.5 McKie) Thanks your Dan for your seed. Also she put in a 1040 LaRue (1112 LaRue x 1041.5 McKie), Thanks to Sherry and Jack LaRue for this seed. Today was Dori's birthday so we celebrated by puting the plants into the huts. Friday, April 10 View Page In my hut I planted a 1521.5 Werner 08 (1161 Redonis 07 X 1308 McKie 06), thanks go to Quinn Werner for this seed. My other plant is a 1149.5 Pukos 08 (998.6 Pukos 05 X 998.5 Pukos 05 sibbed), Thanks to Dave Pukos for this seed. All our plants were getting too big to keep in the kitchen so they went to the pumpkin huts with a storm due this evening. Maybe I can kill them like I did the maters........Have 3 plants in reserve if we have a problem. Friday, April 10 View Page Dori's Christmas cactus is confused. It it only had a few blossums at Christmas time. It must like spring as it is going gangbusters......... Saturday, April 11 View Page Pumpkins looked fine after 1st night in hut. Decieded to build a hoop in a hoop as pkns are almost too large for styrofoam coolers. Saturday, April 11 View Page I believe in going cheap whenver I can. Had roll of heavy wire so cut 8 foot lengths from roll to use as hoops. Saturday, April 11 View Page Cut wire hoops ready to go into huts. Saturday, April 11 View Page Pushed ends of wire into the ground to form hoops. Tied hoops together with baling twine for extra support. Took styrofoam coolers off plants and left lights on for the day. Temperature was 44 F outdoors with cloudy skies at 8:00 am. Temperature in my hut under the styrofoam were max 80, min 65, present 65 and ground at 8" below surface 70 F. Saturday, April 11 View Page Placed a piece of 6 mil consturction plastic over the hoops. The hoops are covered with the same material as cover the huts. Will put styrofoam cooler over the plants at night. Saturday, April 11 View Page Dori's hut with coolers over the plants. Saturday, April 11 View Page One of the 100 watt bulbs had broken over night. Dori is picking up the pieces with tweezers. I prefer a shovel full of dirt. This is her hut and she is calling all the shots. Temperature in her hut were max 74, min 74, present 74 and ground temperature at 8" 80 F. Her hut is slighty smaller than my hut and temperatures seem to be warmer. Saturday, April 11 View Page Pumpkin growers refer to the spider growing pattern. This must be what they are refering to. This in Dori's hut, mine looks as bad. Saturday, April 11 View Page Dori's hut received the same hoops set-up as mine and this is the finished product. Edges can be pulled back and cooler placed over the plants at night. Sunday, April 12 View Page Took a drive on Easter. This is Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Red Canyon Sunday, April 12 View Page Snbw was pretty on the yellow pines Sunday, April 12 View Page Dori on edge of Red Canyon above Flaming Gorge Reservior. Sunday, April 12 View Page Sheep Creek Bay on Flaming Gorge Reservior. Sunday, April 12 View Page Hungry doe looking for lunch. Sunday, April 12 View Page Flaming Gorge dam Sunday, April 12 View Page Cart Creek bridge over an arm of Flaming Gorge Reservior Sunday, April 12 View Page Spring snow storm in Uinta mountain. Wednesday, April 15 View Page Spring snowfall on pines in Uinta mountain north of Vernal. Wednesday, April 15 View Page Made an addition to the lights in huts. Drops of water was falling off plastic and breaking 100 watt bulbs. Also wanted to be able to darken area at night so plants could rest. Taped a aluminum pie plate over light and punched holes in it with sharp object to let a small amount of light out. Heat will radiate from the bell around light and pie plate. As run 2-100 watt lights at night in each hut to keep pkns warm, plates will cover most of the light to let pkns rest and to heat area under plastic. This picture shows Dori's 1066 McKie and covered light. Temperatures in huts at 8:00am were Dori's hut max 90, min 66, present 66, ground 82F. My hut was max 86, min 66, present 63, ground 78 and 58. Saturday, April 18 View Page Went out to patch this morning and turned off the lights and pulled the inter hoop plastic back and watered plants. In Dori's hut turned off lights and folded plastic back to keep a little cooler in sunshine. A black rabbit hopped out from under plastic. It had came in south end of hut and dug a tunnel underneath soil heating cable. Could see the cable in the top of tunnel.. Caved tunnel in and backfilled. Believe will have rabbit problems as there are 3 tame one running around the neighborhood. Sunday, April 19 View Page Dori's 1044.5 McKie in forground and 1040 LaRue farther away are doing nicely. She cultivated around them and we watered farther from plant and gave them a good soaking. Will apply soluble to them in the next few days. Monday, April 20 View Page My 1149.5 Pukos in farground and 1483.5 Werner behind are coming along. They are not doing as well as Dori's plants. Her hut ground and night temperature is better than mine. I added some 2 liter soda bottles and gallon milk jugs filled with water to help retain heat. Also need to loosen soil and clean out some weeds. Also watered a much larger area around the plants. We mounded up around all our plants today. So far she is showing me just how to get er done. Monday, April 20 View Page OOPS............last picture was another of Dori's plants. I mislabed it. This a picture of our stockpiled gypsum. I mined it aboiut 7 miles from our patch. It outcrops in layers on our uncles property (Uncle Sam). Hauled it in with trailer behind ATV. The rock gypsum were broken up with a sledge hammer in patch and garden area. They have broken down naturally over the winter. As water get on them will decompose further. Monday, April 20 View Page My 1149.5 Pukos Monday, April 20 View Page 1483.5 Werner in the north end of my hut Monday, April 20 View Page Temperature in my hut at 8:30 am were max 106, min 51, present 80 and ground temps 70 and 60 F. Dori's hut were max 106, min 58, present 83 and ground 78 F. Lights were turned off and plastic layed back for the day. This done after watered intensely as described earlier. In evening plants covered with plastic and covered lights turned on to keep temperature up during night. Soil heating cables are going all the time controlled by thermostats. Thursday, April 23 View Page Took a little prospecting trip with a good friend of mine. Took a wrong road and ended on top of a bueatiful canyon. Stopped to enjoy it for a minute. Thursday, April 23 View Page Remains of a cabin that was the home of a placer gold miner. He was beated and killed by thugs who wanted the gold he had worked so hard to get. They were not successuful as he died without telling where his stash was. Thursday, April 23 View Page Water pond behind the miners cabin. He used this water to drink, water his few plants, a tree and wash the gold from the gravel. Thursday, April 23 View Page Dead tree in the miners front yard. Lack of water since miners death has also caused the death of his tree. Tree depended on miner getting water to tree regularly and could not survive even though pond was 150 feet away. Thursday, April 23 View Page Remains of an stamp mill that was used to break up the gold ore. Gold was recovered by using mercury and then retorted to obtain the gold. This mill foundation is near Pigeon Springs in the Palametto mining district. There had been a saloon, roadhouse and other buildings in the late 1890s. Thursday, April 23 View Page Dori and I spent the day in the garden and patch. Planted around 200 onions. Dori's pkns are laying down nicely and running. She buried vines today. Mine are a little slower but doing well. Her hut's warmer temperature is showing. Will be buring mine in a day or two. Can really see a change as I have been gone for 3 days. Started harding off peppers and tomatoes. They will be going out as soon as this next cold spell passes. Started up the well and watered onions, blackberries and potatoes. Put some water into the mater hut for the few maters that made it thru the frost. They will have company soon. Saturday, April 25 View Page Dori's 1066 McKie in forground and 1040 LaRue are doing nicely. She dug ground around and cleared out a few weeds. Dug trench and added mycorr for main vine. Watered plants deeply by sprinkling. Saturday, April 25 View Page Dori buring the main vine on 1040 LaRue...mycorr was added. Planted 200 onions the other day and had made a mistake in mixing up too much root slimulant so poured this around all our pkns. Saturday, April 25 View Page My 1149.5 Pukos is starting to take off. Saturday, April 25 View Page My 1483.5 Werner is starting to come a live. Temperatures recorded this am were, My hut max 102, min 58, present 72, ground 70F. Dori's hut max 105, min 66 present 72, ground 83F. Her plants are doing better than mine for 3 reason, warmer air temp at night, warmer ground temp, and better soil. Not to mention the better care Dori takes of her plants. Saturday, April 25 View Page Dori decieded my hut needed some tender loving care. She is helping me dig up the pesky weeds. I had added some coal to my soil that come up in a black dust that is not nice to breath. Believe this addition to soil was a mistake but too late now. Also did not till the soil this spring as had soil cables dug in. So hand turned soil with shovel. Watered plants by spraying water on the inside of the hoop and allowing it to fall like rain. For now I am keep humidity high and temperatures elevated to help growth. Will have to watch maximum temperatures to make sure plants do not suffer. Saturday, April 25 View Page Dori's 1066 McKie had a leaf damaged by being too close to light at night. It was burned. Leaf is right in front of the 5 gallon bucket. Last night did not turn on lights as temperature was mild. Let heat from ground and soil cables keep the area around the plants warm. Dori's mininum was 66 and my hut was 58. Edge of inter hoop was left partly up during the day and through out the night as we were out of town. Was left that way during the night as was 48 F when we returned early morning. Saturday, April 25 View Page Dori gave me my marching orders today. Said her plants are going to grow out the ends of her 9x20 feet hut before frost time is gone,(May 27 last frost day). I agreed so added another hoop on each end. By sloping the plastic will gain 6 more feet on each end, giving her 32 feet of hoop. Her plants are down and running as only a AG can. Sunday, April 26 View Page Went to local nursery today to check on some supplies. Noticed bags of gypsum at $19 buck for 100 lbs. Makes me glad I mined my own from outcropings on a hill near our place. No wait maybe it wasn't cheaper considering I blew a tire on the wheeler trailer when I hooked the sidewall on a root. Still all things considered enough gypsum to do the patch and to put aside a stockpile for the future, it still was cheaper. Besides I got a good workout loading and unloading trailer several times. Or as Buddy Greene would say any "Any excuse is good enough if it involves a riding a wheeler". He did not say that but I will blame him for it any way. Wednesday, April 29 View Page Dori's plants are growing rapidly. Mains are growing about 1 foot a day and laterals going out nicely. Dori could see that her plant were going to grow out the end of the 9x20 foot hut. So she said we had to do something about it........so added 3 feet to each end and then sloped out giving about 12 additional feet in hut making it a 9x32. Now laterials are the problem as they are quickly getting to the sides of hut. Is still too early for them to go out as we are freezing about every 4 nights. Weather man says last frost day here in Vernal is May 27..............We have seen frost into June. Wednesday, April 29 View Page When we extended the Dori's hut we changed the ends so we could open up the top of ends to vent the hot air. This is what her plants look like looking in thru the top of door. 1040 LaRue in forground and 1066 McKie in back. Wednesday, April 29 View Page My plants are starting to perk up but not doing as well as Dori's. My 1483.5 Werner in forground and 1148.5 Pukos in the back. The Werner plant wants to grow straight up and finally am getting it to lay down. Leaf size is looking nice and sending out a bunch of roots. We have started to spray with soulible kelp. Had drenched with root stimulant the other day. Wednesday, April 29 View Page Have been harding off tomatoes and peppers to go in the mater hut. Had been waiting for good weather to transplant them. Today was to be the day for them to go to mater hut. Looked out the window this morning and had to change plans. Had a front come through last night with some good wind. Had 30' rip right down the top of the hut. Decieded to put to put up a low profile hoop to the north of mater hut. Tilled the ground and made furrows for irrigation. Will lay 4 mil black plastic on the ground and water under the plastic. This will slow down evaporation, keep weeds down and retain heat in the soil in the evenings. Have use black plastic in this way for 25 plus years in garden. Wednesday, April 29 View Page The new low profile hoop will go in the area next to mater hut in the area where tiller is. This will be a temporary shelter till we are frost free Wednesday, April 29 View Page Dori is buring the main vine on one of her plants. Will follow with a foliar spray of solubile kelp. Wednesday, April 29 View Page We have decieded to make a compost tea set up. Have not decieded to make it in a 50 gallon barrel or in a bulk container that would hold up to 200 gallons. Will get the tomatoes and peppers into the ground and then make a compost tea stil. Went to the Stihl dealership to pick up Dori's birthday present, a mister kit for 420 blower. Had not arrived yet so they are trying to chase it down. Of course on a special order I had to pay in advance for it. Wednesday, April 29 View Page OOPS entry 169 is not mine it is Dori's plants..........Sorry wrong label wrong picture Thursday, April 30 View Page Busy day today...plan rebuild mater hut. Tore plastic off and patched 30 foot rip, that is after running all over town trying to find wide duct tape. Tilled weeds (green manure) and shoveled furrows. Put plastic back on. Dori planted 48 maters while I helped. We gave out so peppers will have to wait till tomorrow. Dori's pkns are about 6' across the laterals and 8' on the main. Am concerned as laterals are getting close to side of hut. Still have about 3 weeks of possible frost. My pkns are running a very distant 2nd to Dori's..........she is showing me how to do it. Friday, May 1 View Page Put an addition on Dori's pkn hut. Had added 12 feet on the ends but laterals were getting close to sides. So added a bumpout. Friday, May 1 View Page Completed "bump out" on Dori's pkn hut. This gives her about 6 additional feet on side or 9 feet total from centerline of the hut. Will have to add another bump out on the other side of hut tomorrow. Friday, May 1 View Page Dori's plants with lateral piled on plant to turn the soil around the plants. They were then layed out and staked down and buried. Her 1040 LaRue is in front and 1066 McKie in the back. Mains are about 8 long and 6 feet on the laterals. My plants are running a very distant second to her's. Monday, May 4 View Page Have had a couple days of clouds and rain so Dori's 2nd bumpout has been put of until ground is not so wet. Also have to plant peppers in mater hut. Am looking out the window at weeds that need to be tilled where bumpout will go and wondering if it is dry enough to do it. It is 7:30 am will think on it as the sun get up high enough to dry out the ground. Monday, May 4 View Page Dori's "igloo" with 2nd bumpout added. I call it an igloo as reminds me of pictures I saw as a kid of eskimo igloos with low entrance to crawl in. Second bumpout allows approximately 10 feet for lateral to run and not get out into the weather. We can expect frost for the next month so are trying to be prepared. Monday, May 4 View Page Dori's pumpkins spreading out in her hut. Orginal width was 9 feet and laterals are out to that width. Now they can run to their hearts content into the 2 bumpouts. Monday, May 4 View Page Dori is handturning mycorr in to area that will be covered by 2nd bumpout. I had tilled the area before adding the fiberglas hoops. Duct taped boards to hoops to stablize hoops. I picked up some good tips on duct tape from the Red/Green Show. Monday, May 4 View Page After adding bumpout to Dori's hut, we planted peppers on the left side of the mater hut. Hut is now full with 2 rows of maters and 1 row of assorted peppers. Water is runing down the furrows to give plants a drink. Maters are getting over lag from setting them out and are starting to grow. Monday, May 4 View Page Cut our lawn the other day for 1st time. Dori has started to scatter grass clipping between row of onions to discourage weeds from coming up. Rain from the last few days has made the onions smile Thursday, May 7 View Page This morning Dori cultivated her plants. Dug trenchs to bury laterals. Reved up the whole hut in preparation for a spraying of soluible kelp tomorrow. Sprinkled water on top of hut and allowed to drip down on plants. In my hut I took the interhoop out and removed the wire hoops. Leaves were getting too big and were being damaged by wire hoops and plastic. Sprayed heavy with soluible kelp. Scattered worm poop and humic acid on ground around the plants. Dug it in as cultivated aera and got weeds out. Gave plants a real soaking by squirting water on roof of hut and allow it to fall on plants. Thursday, May 7 View Page Got home around 7:30pm and had a surprize. A lot of wind had blown thru the area today with gusts up to 60mph. Dori's hut had a 12 foot rip starting along where plastic had been folded. This happened in mater hut also so am not to happy with this brand of plastic. Sun had bore down on the unprotected plants and many leaves had been burned and dehyrdrated. It might have killed the plants. Patched the old plastic and layed another layer of 4 ml plastic on top. Sprayed the plants throughly to try and get some moisture back in them. Time will tell how badly the plants were damaged. Dori is ready to start new seeds. Have 3 backup plants in kitchen with about 2 foot mains and are root bound in the pots. The huts were temporary shelters and were put up on Feb 16 so have been up for almost 3 months. No wonder the plastic is giving us problems. Next time will get a better quality plastic. Saturday, May 9 View Page Dori's hut was savage by a microburst. A 15 foot rip allowed the wind and sun to due damage to her pumpkins. Most of the mature leaves along the main vine were damaged. Saturday, May 9 View Page A close up of damaged leaves on Dori's 1040 LaRue. Saturday, May 9 View Page Went for a wheeler ride today. Snowbank in roadcut has finally melted enough to allow passage up the north end of Little Mountain. Little Mountain summit is just over 8000 feet. It is near our home and I ride from the house to this area regularly. It is a good place for me to ride and walk thus getting away from people. Flowers are pretty and are starting to bloom. Saturday, May 9 View Page An old juniper stump that was cut by ax many years ago. It is approximately 4 feet in diameter. I wonder what they cut it for? Monday, May 11 View Page Dori cut off the dead leaves on her 2 plants today. Did some burying of main and secondary vines. Watered plants and gave them a lot of tender loving care. Will see how they survive the burning caused by too high temperatures in hut and wind damage. Secondarys are going out into the bumps. Yesterday I had checked my hut and all was well........30 minutes later plastic had ripped along seam for about 12 feet. Taped it up and reskined the hut with 4 mil plastic. Huts have been up since Feb. 16 and plastic is showing wear and tear from sunlight and wind. Next year will not put them up so quick. Tomatoes and peppers in mater hut are doing fine. Tuesday, May 12 View Page Dori's plants after cutting off the burned leaves. They look a little bald in the middle like some of my friend's heads. The laterals are continuing to grow out into the bumpouts. It is a set back but hope all will turn out all right. Tuesday, May 12 View Page Trouble loams it's head on the horizon. Neighbor has 7 rabbits, 3 large and 4 small. Small ones live in our woodpile. So far they like the weeds, dandelions and grass and have been behaving theirselves. Time will tell. Tuesday, May 12 View Page Yesterday I built a compost tea brewer. Have run an air hose out the garage window from my air compressor and put a regulator in the line at brewer. Tuesday, May 12 View Page Today my project was to build a stand near the well. Want to put the compost tea brewer and a tank for mixing fertilizer on the stand. Would like to be able to inject them into my watering system and distribute them through my overhead sprinkling system for patch. Tuesday, May 12 View Page Stand was built of rough cut 6x6s and 2x16 planks. A very good friend gave them to me. He had cut them at his sawmill. I have been helping him put up his 24x48 greenhouse. Rough cut lumber makes a very substancial platform for my set up. Now will have to add the other timer so can run patch independent from the yard and garden. Seems like the is always something that needs to be done. Tuesday, May 12 View Page My plants are coming along. They were burned like Dori's but not so severe. Have not cut out the burned leaves. Will wait and see how they do. Laterials are starting to take off. Tuesday, May 12 View Page I have blossums on pkns just like Don Young. Only problem is blossum are on pkns in the kitchen window. Theses were the backup plants that did not go to the huts. A lady up the street that grows an excellent garden will put 2 of them in as she has plenty of room. She always grows pkns for the grandkids. These should be some really halloween pumpkings. The plants are root bound from being in gallon pots for way too long. Maybe they will take off now with a little tender loving care. Sunday, May 17 View Page Laterals have come out to the side of my hut. Pulled up the sides today and let a little sun in. They will be too large to stay in hut for much longer so will condition them to real world slowly. Sunday, May 17 View Page Am getting some pretty good size on the leaves on my Werner plant. To bad it was damaged by getting too hot in hut. My fault but my plants had to suffer. Sunday, May 17 View Page Dori's plants are recovering nicely. The laterals have came out into both bumpouts on her hut. This give her about 10 feet on the mains and about 18 feet across the laterals. She spent 4 hours at least today tilling up the ground around the hut, spraying kelp and then burying vines. Her plants are loving all the tender loving care she is giving them. Mine had to tough it out as I spent the last 2 days building a new sprinkling system for the patch. Dori will have sprinkler head on 6 foot centers and my plants will be on 5 foot centers. Tom was wondering why I ordered 82 sprinkler heads. I want to be able to provide uniform watering to all of the plant area automatically 3 times a day. Will also set up an fertilizer injector system so can provide a weak but constant feeding thru the irrigation system. Believe that slow and steady is the way to go......just like a turtle. Tuesday, May 19 View Page I officialy declared it Spring/Summer today as I removed the snow blade from Dori's wheeler. The battery was dead so had to charge it, then we took a short ride to look at the wildflowers in the nearby hills. It is ready to work again in the patch. Dori wanted it to haul some bricks to the other side of the yard. She spent some time today burying vines. Here plants are just about ready to come out of the bumpouts into the real world. She is still bummed out as her plants got burned by being too hot in hut. She has decieded she will plant an additional plant in a flower bed at the bottom of the patch. Will use the snake pattern as the area is about 30 inches by 60 feet. She wants to give it a try. As we road by the neighboors up the street we saw where they had planted our 3 backup plants. Dori is sprouting a Dr. Liggett seed 1500 and change..........don't remember exactaly which one it was. Wednesday, May 20 View Page Irrigation project in the works...just waiting for Dan mini from Tom. Looks like they came today so will start tomorrow. Wednesday, May 20 View Page Dori's laterals are coming out the end of the bumpout on her hut. Will have to fend for theirselves when they get there. Laterals are about 18 feeet across and mains are about 9-10 feet. Coming back from the heat scalding that they got. Wednesday, May 20 View Page Dori gave the area around her hut a final tilling. Will lay down a bunch of pipes to provide water over the entire area that the plants will cover. She will have Dan's mini sprinklers on 6 foot centers when we get them in. My plants will have 5 foot center....reason the difference is 10 foot pvc cut in half makes 5 foot and no waste. It took me awhile to wise up...............lol Wednesday, May 20 View Page Have made an addition to our well head. Put in another timer so could run the patch independent to yard and garden. Wanted to be able to water 3 times a day if necessary. Now hope I can make it work like planned. Also want to be able to induct fertilizers and compost tea into the irrigation system. Time will tell when I get the bugs ironed out. Wednesday, May 20 View Page This is Dori's hut with the laterals coming out both sides. She has been working real hard. I would be very happy if she get a much bigger fruit than I do. She has earned it as she spends twice as much time with her plants than I do. Wednesday, May 20 View Page My hut is not showing as much growth as Dori's hut. Laterals are starting to come out the east side. My plants are a little slower but they are coming on strong. I need to build a much bigger plants before I even think about pollinating. Males are starting to come on all our plants and Dori's has seen a female on a lateral. Plan to be ready to set fruit the middle or end of June. Time will tell how things come out. Thursday, May 21 View Page Spent most of the day working on sprinkling system for the patch. Sprinkler heads arrived from Tom this morning. It took 3 trips to Lowes and a bunch of talking to myself to get it put together with Dori's help. Will let the glue set up over night and will test it in the morning. Then will begin to fine tune it. Friday, May 22 View Page Finished laying out sprinkler system for the pumpkin huts last night. Decieded to wait until today to test them out. Checked connection for tightness and added another valve so could isolate the Dori's or my hut. Dori wanted to finish burying her vines and tidying up before we turned on the water. Friday, May 22 View Page Main line was 1" black plastic to the huts. 3/4 pvc schedule 40 ran the length of growing area. 1/2" pvc was ran at right angles 6' apart. Dan's micro sprinkler head were install on 6 ' centers in Dori's hut. In my hut header was the same but 1/2" pvc ran on 5' center as was using 10 foot pipe and there was less waste. Each header was joined with a screw on union in 2 places. Each 1/2 line had a valve and a screw union. This was done so system could be broken down in fall and stored easier. Friday, May 22 View Page Dan's mico sprinkler head purchased from Tom's Extreme Pumpkin store were screwed into the 1/2 threaded Ts. They were tighten finger tight and then screwed a little tigher with channel lock pliers. The 2 pieces of the sprinkler were forced down over base before screwing to the Ts. If a little loose, pressure would blow them off. End of lines were left open and water flowed thru the system and flushed out any debris in lines. The last 1/2" plug was then install in the line. Lines were laid to cover the entire growth area. Where water was not needed 1/2 plugs were screwed in to Ts. Sprinkler heads will be added as needed. Friday, May 22 View Page This my pile of gold. Here we stockpile things not needed at the moment. There is old pipe, cinder blocks, bricks, wire, extra pvc and the hand cultivator we use to make rows. I pushed this cultivator when I was a young lad. Most of the inplements have disappeard and only the plow remains. I salvaged it from parents place when it was sold. It has served us for approximately 60 years Friday, May 22 View Page In addition to putting patch sprinkling system into use today we planted some old vegatables. In the rows to the left of picture we planted the remaining seed of some very old corn (1400-1800 years old). Carbon dating on charcoal found with this corn gave that date. Some of this corn was planted in 1990s and it germinated very well. I tooked my remaining seed which has been in freezer all winter. Soaked seed in soluible kelp. Dug hole and added a glass of duilited root similuate with some kelp and them planted the seed in the moist hole. Covered the seed beore turning water down the rows to soak the ground well. In the middle of picture are our radish and carrots and rows of onions. In additon Dori planted 2 variety of old beans, one was Anazazhi and the other were beans reported to have been found in an old Indian grainery. Sunday, May 24 View Page Have had a lot of rain the last couple of days. Garden is really loving it. Patch is real soft and muddy. I left my hut open last night to start to toughen up plants as they are growing out of the huts. Dori has 3 males blossum on her plants and she has picked several female from the 1st laterals. Need longer mains and more plant before trying to set any fruit. Season is still very early, could still get frost in this area. By the end of June will be ready to pollinate. Wednesday, May 27 View Page Have had rain for the last 4 days. Dori's plants have grown out to the end of the bumpouts on her hut. Decieded to take plastic off the bumps. This shows her laterals growing out thru the bump on west side. Wednesday, May 27 View Page Dori's laterals under bumpouts on east side of hut. Laterals are approximately 20 feet across. Mains are about 11 feet long. She has a female at about 11 feet on her 1040 LaRue. Wednesday, May 27 View Page My plants have came out from under the edge of hut. Have left the ends and side open for 3 days now. Will pull plastic in near future. Have a female on 1149.5 Pukos on the main at about 9 feet. Will watch it as do not have any males in bloom yet and want to self this plant as it is a 998x998 Pukos sibbed. My 1483.5 Werner is my biggest and strongest plant of my two. Leaf size is something to behold. Saturday, May 30 View Page Installed a windbreak fence around each of the huts. Winds have been very bad this spring and was worried now that plants outgrowing the huts. Have not used anything but kelp and humic acid for sometime so gave my plants a foliar drench of miracle bloom buster. All of our plants have females developing on secondaries and mains. Have been holding off on pollination to get a larger plant and for 1149.5 Pukos to product males. So far all males have been on Dori's 1040 LaRue. Mains are not out as far as I would like them to be. Need a bigger plant to produce what we want. The growing season is still young. Sprinkler system is working well and getting it regulated to where we want it. Have not used compost tea brewer yet....have to change the soaker hose arrangement in the bottom and then put it on the platform. Monday, June 8 View Page Grandkids came to stay for a few days so we rode the wheeler for a day. Kids need to see what the mountains look like especially when they are city kids Monday, June 8 View Page Onions are coming on strong.......have like the rain the last few days Monday, June 8 View Page Pulled the top off the mater hut and tied up maters. Tomatoes and peppers are doing fine except where rabbits like to eat the papers Monday, June 8 View Page Am getting germination of my 1400 year old corn. There are several plants coming up. Time will tell just how well they do. Am not going to weed them for a spell and see what happens. Monday, June 8 View Page My 1483.5 Werner is getting females on the main. Has outgrown the hut. Will probably pollinate as soon as the 1149.5 Pukos has males at the same time. Monday, June 8 View Page Dori's 1040 LaRue has females on the main and many on the secondaries. Will pollinated soon using 1149 Pukos. Monday, June 8 View Page Dori's 1040 McKie has many females on secondaries. Have on the main which will try to pollinate. Broke the tip of the main off so that is a problem if it does not pollinate. Monday, June 8 View Page Took a little walk-about the other day. Climbed up on Diamond Mtn. Picture is looking down toward Browns Park and the Green River. Tuesday, June 9 View Page Things are getting as little out of hand. My plants are too big for huts so decieded to start pulling them down, took off the 1st layer of plastic today. There was a 2nd ripped layer underneath. This way partial shade today and all off tomorrow. Both Dori and I have plenty of females in the right places on the mains but the needed males are not present. Pollinated Dori 1040 LaRue x self today. My 1483 Werner is ready but want the 1149 Pukos for males but it is not cooperating. So we wait. It is frusterating (sp). Wednesday, June 10 View Page Dori has planted a 1534 Liggett in a small narrow area of the garden. She will grow it in the snake pattern. It was not doing well due to cool weather. Today she made a hoop for it to see that will help. Have been having afternoon thundershowers and a lot of wind. We pollinated one on the 1040 LaRue X self. Also has an open pollination on the LaRue. Wednesday, June 10 View Page Oops I lied............Dori planted a 1524.5 Liggett 07 (f664.5 Liggett 01 x m778 Ligget 04). Friday, June 12 View Page Took a little wheeler ride this morning. Load up and went to the high country to check out the flowers. Friday, June 12 View Page Looking down on the Yampa river. Friday, June 12 View Page An interesting rock wall near an old mine prospect. Friday, June 12 View Page Shepherd's cabin Friday, June 12 View Page They used some pretty good sized logs to build cabin. Friday, June 12 View Page Indian paint brushes Friday, June 12 View Page A hermit I found on the mountain Friday, June 12 View Page My pumpkin hut is coming down and plants are out into the cruel cold world. Was 38 F this morning when I left house so many be a little soon. Plants had already grown far beyond the protection of hut. Friday, June 12 View Page Dori built a hoop to go over her recent addition to the patch, 1524.5 Liggett...............it was not doing well with the cool nights. This morning it was 38 F when I left the house. This plant will be grown in the snake pattern. Saturday, June 13 View Page Looking out over the valley below from an old mine dump Saturday, June 13 View Page Yampa river from up on top Tuesday, June 16 View Page Dori's plants have been showing some damage which appears to be from some insect. Mine also but not near as bad as her's. So spayed with small gallon sprayer. Did not like how it worked so deceided to get the big gun out. Have had a Sthil br420 since last fall. Had bought a mister kit to go on it but had never put it all together. This morning tackled the project. After a bunch of cussing and some help from Dori got it together. Put a batch of spray in it and gave it a try. Will take a little learning to use it right but like it. So plants got a double dose of spray...........now will see if it helps. Used cyonara, sevin and malathion with a wetting agent. Wednesday, June 17 View Page Dori culled a open pollination on her 1040 LaRue about the size of a softball. It was at about 10 feet. She has a self pollinated at about 11.5 feet and trying for another at about 13 feet. Have females coming on all our plants at about the right distance so will be interesting in the near future. Wednesday, June 24 View Page I am having problems with leaves on our plants. They have holes in them and are yellowing around the holes. Some of the edges are turning dark and shriveling up. Any help would be most appreciated. Wednesday, June 24 View Page Dori kidnapped me for Father's Day and we went to Antonito, CO to ride the Cumbres & Toltec narrow gauge railroad. This is an interestion house in Antonito, CO. Wednesday, June 24 View Page Dori standing on the back of a train car of narrow gauge railroad. Wednesday, June 24 View Page Too many pictures of pumpkins so will share some pictures of Colorado mountains. Wednesday, June 24 View Page Rio de Los Pinos gorge. Wednesday, June 24 View Page Engine #487 pulling train up to the top of summit near 10,000 feet elevation Wednesday, June 24 View Page Train going into a tunnel Wednesday, June 24 View Page Gentleman who blocked traffic as train arrived at the summit. Brakes were partially set to start descent of 4% grade to Chamas, New Mexico. His dog always comes to meet the train and barkes at passengers. Elevation is just under 10,000 feet, the highest train crossing of the contiental divide in the USA. Wednesday, June 24 View Page Trout Lake near Lizard Head pass between Rico and Telluride, Colorado. Wednesday, June 24 View Page Lizard Head peak at over 13,000 feet elevation. Wednesday, June 24 View Page Welcome sign at the old town of Ophir, Colorado. Wednesday, June 24 View Page One of the coach cars on the Cumbres & Toltec railroad. Wednesday, June 24 View Page A snowplow owned by Ophir city, Colorado Wednesday, June 24 View Page Mountains above Ophir, CO, elevation is over 13,000 feet Wednesday, June 24 View Page Fence near a house in Ophir, CO that is made of skis. Wednesday, June 24 View Page Post Office at Ophir, Colorado. Postmistress and daughter are sitting on the porch waiting for customers. Wednesday, June 24 View Page Mountains above Rico, CO near Lizard Head Pass. Summits are above 13,000 feet elevation. Wednesday, June 24 View Page I broke my camera so I guess there will be not pictures until I can get another one. Was just learning how to use this one. Monday, June 29 View Page Since Don Young does not like to look at a lot of salad, I have decieded to put other pictures in my diary until I have something worth looking at. Pumpkins are golden yellow or orange so decieded on a picture of Dori's California poppys in the front yard for a start. Monday, June 29 View Page I broke my old camera so had to buy a new one. Of course could not get one like the old one that I had just figured out to use. So Dori and I took a drive to see I could figure out to get around all the bells and whistles and make it take plain ordinary pictures. This is Red Mountain near our home. Monday, June 29 View Page I am doing this as I rest from spraying pkns morning. Mixed up a cocktail of 3 insectacides, a fungicide and a calcium additive. Then had to fight my Stihl mister as it needed a carb kit. Finally got it running and as it would only run full throttle and keep running just about blew all the bad buds etc clear into the next county. This picture is looking from Taylor Mountain down on the tailing pond of the potashe mine. Red Fleet Reservoir is probably seen in the back ground. If you are wonder why everything has red in it's name...........most of the rock in this area are red as is the soil in many places. Monday, June 29 View Page Spillway at East Park Reservior. All the lakes are full this year which is a good sign for irrigation water. Monday, June 29 View Page East Park Reservior, elevation approximately 9500 feet. Monday, June 29 View Page If you would like to go camping and stay in a tepee all you have to do is bring your own tepee as poles are ready for your use. I wonder if this would fall in to the new term of high end camping called "Glamping"???????? Poles are of lodgepole pine and I am sure that is how it got it name as the Indians used them to put up tepees where they were available. Monday, June 29 View Page High peaks above timberline still covered with snowdrifts. These peaks are around 13000 feet high. Monday, June 29 View Page High mountain meadows with snow covered peaks in the background. In and around the Uinta Mountains there are about 1,007 lakes occupying the numerous glacial circques. They are generally small but picturesque and have trout in them. Monday, June 29 View Page A area oovered with large boulders that is common in the high country. It not a lot of fun to try to walk over rocks especially when you are as fumblefooted as I am. Monday, June 29 View Page Snowdrifts on Leady peak above timberline near Hacking Lake. Monday, June 29 View Page Snowdrift in trees near Hacking Lake. I asked Dori if she would like a snowball fight but she was not interested. When I was young we would go to the high country for a picnic and would use the snow from drifts instead of ice to curn our ice cream. Would put a bottle of jam in it to give it another flavor than vanilla. Strawberry or raspberry was my favorite flavor. Monday, June 29 View Page Lone Park lake Monday, June 29 View Page In the lower country near our home which is at an elevation 5765 feet, the sandstone cliffs and bluffs are lighter in color. They change to red nearby. We have the same rocks outcropping around the Uinta Mtns that are in the Arches, Canyonlands and Zions National Parks in the southern part of the State. Thursday, July 2 View Page Things have been interesting in the patch. Dori was wading thru her plants cutting off tertaries when she fell into a hole. Looking in the holes saw several baby bunnies with eyes not open. She dug them out and was very unhappy as burrow was right under her plants and soil heating cables. Gave the bunnies to friend so they could bottle feed them as they wanted rabbits. Set live trap to try to catch moma bunny so could re-locate her also. So far our trapping score is cats-2, rabbits-0. We have keepers on all our main plants. Dori has one on her 1040 LaRue that you can see from the house. Have not started measuring any yet. Are getting ready to cull to the final. Had one problem on Dori's 1066 McKie, broke the main and had to grow lateral to replace main......has a female coming on it. Meanwhile have pollinated others on first lateral just in case. Most of our fruits are 12 feet plus on the mains. Saturday, July 4 View Page Saw a mature squash bug this morning as I was installing additional sprinkler heads. Put down 2 pieces of mill fabric under my pkns. This evening got out the Stihl mister and sprayed pkns with Sevin. Tuesday, July 7 View Page It is a little hard to see without clearing off the windshield. Tuesday, July 7 View Page I figure on growing a big pumpkin this year so have rounded up my pumpkin measuring tape. Tuesday, July 7 View Page Weather does not want to cooperate. Tuesday, July 7 View Page Cedar breaks on the edge of Diamond moungtain Tuesday, July 7 View Page A fair 4 point mule deer Tuesday, July 7 View Page Mt Timpanogas with Deer Creek Reservior in the foreground Tuesday, July 7 View Page Cascade mountain from Provo Canyon Tuesday, July 7 View Page Scoccer field that was build on the place I was raised. Squaw Peak and Rock Canyon in the background. Tuesday, July 7 View Page Timpanogas Mountain from the Utah Valley side, elevation about 12,000 feet Tuesday, July 7 View Page Hail on the outside of tents is better than hail inside tents when camping. Friday, July 10 View Page This is what happens when you let patch get too dry then apply too much water........split pkns Friday, July 10 View Page Dori has her pumpkin measuring tape. This is my measuring tape to measure real big pumpkins......... Friday, July 10 View Page Mount Nebo from I-15, central Utah.........elevation near 12000 feet Friday, July 10 View Page Interesting clouds over mountains Friday, July 10 View Page Road cut in Indian Canyon Friday, July 10 View Page Indian canyon Friday, July 10 View Page View from near Indian Canyon summit Tuesday, July 14 View Page Onions and carrots are doing well battling the weeds. Rabbit has got under the fence and dug under onions........War has been declared on wabbits... Thursday, July 16 View Page A nice peaceful look at a high mountain lake Friday, July 17 View Page Problems downloading pictures so no more mountains for a spell. Have increased the watering in the pkn patch to 3 times a day. Dori noticed her biggest daily increase to day on her 1040 LaRue. She say she now has her PB. She was claiming a 100 lbs that she grew with Big Mac pkns. I told her she couldn't count it till she got it to the scales. She is way ahead of me so I guess it is time to get after it. I have culled to 1 pkn on each of my plants. Dori still has a set on a lateral on her 1066 McKie. The lateral that she grew to replace broken main has a good set on it so she will probably cull the bigger pkn on the lateral. It is bigger than anything I have on my plants. She is spending much more time tending her 3 plants than I do but believe that I have the plants to give a good run for her money. Have terminated almost all the laterals on my plants and growing space is filled up. It is time to grow pumpkins "not salad". Friday, July 17 View Page LaSal mountains in the background from the southern end of the Bookcliffs. Friday, July 17 View Page Southern end of the Bookcliffs, Utah Friday, July 17 View Page Culled pumpkin from Dori's 1066 McKie Friday, July 17 View Page Narrow canyon on the southen end of the Bookcliffs. There were several chuckars that were resting in the shade of juniper trees and in overhangs in the sandstone ledges. They gathered here as there were water seeping out of the bottom of canyons. Friday, July 17 View Page Fire burning in the top of Bookcliffs, central Utah Friday, July 17 View Page Looking southward from the top of Douglas pass, Colorado, elevation over 9000 feet. Sunday, July 19 View Page Have been traveling this last couple of weeks. Have driven close to 1000 miles to mine rock that I put into my organic rock fertilizer. I mine 2 different types of rocks and then grind and mix them. One rock provides trace elements and necessary growing essential, the other provides necessary minerals that plants need. Powered rock is scattered over growing area by hand broadcasting. I then foliar spray with soluible kelp and a special wetting agents. I then use hose to wash the granular material that is on the leaves on to the ground. In row crops I scatter powered rock along rows or put at top of row in furrow and let water take it down thru the garden. I am using the fertilizer on corn, carrots, onions, cukes, beans, pepper and tomatoes besides my pumpkins Sunday, July 19 View Page Besides developing my own fertilizer, a friend and I have been making hydrogen generators to add to gas and diesel engines to increase fuel mileage. I have been running various protoypes on my 2005 Dodge 3/4 ton truck with a 5.9 liter Cummins diesel and standard 6 speed tranny. Over the last 10,000 miles I have averaged 24-26 mpg using the various prototype hydrogen generators. Interesting thing is I get better mileage running around town than than on the road. The present units work better on gas engines than diesels. Mileage increase is approximately double on the gas engine. Older vehicles seem to really work well with the generators. Newer vehiles do well on them also. For example a 07 VW bug gets better than 70 mpg with the generator. We plan to finalize our latest design change have generators for sale in the near future. Sunday, July 19 View Page Dori culled the pkns on the laterial of her 1066 McKie. It was estimated at 53 lbs by ott method. Weighted it on bathroom scales and it went 65 lbs that makes it 16% heavy. It had a wierd shape and was badly scared. She is going with a pkn that is smaller but has a better shape and is on a lateral that was grown to replace broken main. Three pkns were pollinated as backup while growing lateral and then getting a pollination on it. Time to grown Sunday, July 19 View Page This Dori's best pkn. This morning it measured ott 173 which is 120 lbs. I has been growing slowly and is the biggest pkn in our patch. Dori is showing me how it is done. Sunday, July 19 View Page This our mater hut, Dori is standing between the 2 rows of maters. They have grown above the stakes I had put in keep them from falling down. I spend part of the morning putting up more bailer twine to get the maters to follow the hoop bows. Plan to allow maters to grow as high as they want and will keep securing them to hoop bows. Will drive more stakes along center row and keep maters up so we can walk between rows and pick maters if they every get ripe. Sunday, July 19 View Page Made an addition to my shade hoops. Hung a 2 bulb light fixture over the pkn. Am experimenting if additional light will help the growth curve and hopefully conteract the cool night we have been experiencing. Grow rate to date has not been as good as I would have liked it to be. Monday, July 20 View Page Spent the morning in the mater hut. Mater were growing over the stakes to hold them up. Ran a grid of baling twine to the top of the hut. This will allow maters to grow as high as they want and still will be able to get between the rows and pick them. Ran stakes down along the peppers and added baling twine to hold them up. Have an unlimited supply of baling twine and the price is right. Monday, July 20 View Page Lights hooked up in shades over my pkns. Today is first day I have gained 10 lbs. I had added my home made fertilizer a couple of days ago.....good rain has helped also. Dori is still 60 lbs ahead of me but told her I would catch up. Now she wants me to put lights in her shade covers. She used fish and nuti-cal with our special wetting agent today. Told her to hit the pkns light. She really gave them a heavy dose........hope she does not have problems......wetting agent can really make a difference. Will see maybe she will be up in the 20 lb/day range..........lol Monday, July 20 View Page Noticed my onions looked like they had been stepped on and tops broken over. Went over to sit by my pkn shade in my patch chair and noticed deer tracks right up to my pkn. Now I know what screwed up the onions. Went and closed the gate but can jump over if it wants. Maybe will get some deer repellent or maybe will eat venison stew. Rabbits that survived have went to neighbor's yard. Just cut thru mine on the way........one hopped with in 10 feet of me as I sat and watched. That one has a bum front leg. You would think it would learn......stay out of No See's patch my bum front leg came from his pellet gun....I was a bad shot and it survived. Monday, July 20 View Page Have made a blue and yellow addition to mater hut. Used baling twine to create nets to keep mater and peppers from falling over. Now mater can grow to top of hut if they please. They are up to my sholders now........no ripe maters yet.............bummer.... have to steal from friends greenhouse or trade onions for maters and cukes. Friday, July 24 View Page Dry Fork of Ashley Creek from north end of Little Mountain Friday, July 24 View Page Dori's "Swan" at night taken from back porch. It is plugging along with daily increase in the teens. Friday, July 24 View Page This is my 1483.5 Werner which I call "Tail end Charlie" as is lagging way behind Dori's Swan which is a 1040 LaRue. Taken at night as sprinkling system is watering plants. We are watering 3 times a day now for a shorter time.........changed from 2 times a day with a longer time. Total time is the same whether it is 2 or 3 times. Friday, July 24 View Page Sawtooth ridge in Dry Fork of Ashley Creek from Little mountain. Rode wheeler to other side of Little mountain to looks at some rocks. Sunday, July 26 View Page Dori was out in the mater hut and pruning some of the excess foliage that i have not gotten around to doing. She found some cherry tomatoes that were ripe. Decieded to get after it and prune...found a couple of 4th of July plants that had ripe maters. They were named wrong as they were ripe on 24th of July...........lol. Now can at least walk between the rows to pick soon to be ripe maters. In the nearest row is a black 55 gallon drum that can be used for scale to see how high maters. Sunday, July 26 View Page Sandstone outcrops in Castle Cove in Dry Fork. On several occassions I have watched elk and deer in this area. There is good browse above the sandstone ledges and the rough terraine makes it hard for the road hunters to see them. On my wheeler I can come up on the top and then look over the edge and see the animals feeding below in early mornings and evenings. Sunday, July 26 View Page Dori's l040 LaRue ott 205 192 lbs...13 lbs gain yesterday. Dori 1066 McKie ott 149 80.2 ........12 lbs gain yesterday My 1149.5 ott 116 ...41.8 lbs........6.1 lbs gain yesterday My 1483.5 Werner ott 171 ...1l6 lbs 9 lbs gain yesterday Temperatures have been high 80s-low 90s daytime and 50 in the night. Was cloudy yesterday most of the day. Monday, July 27 View Page Strawberry Reservior in Strawberry valley........approximately elevation 7500 feet Monday, July 27 View Page Jordanelle dam on the Provo River.....this reservoir is between Heber and Park City and just over the hill from Curt Saxon's (Lave) pumpkin patch in Oakley, Utah Monday, July 27 View Page Lake backed up behind Jordanelle dam looking up the submerged Provo River drainage. Monday, July 27 View Page Echo Reservior near Echo, Utah Monday, July 27 View Page Devil's slide and unique rock formation of resistant limestone along I-84 near Croyden, Utah. Monday, July 27 View Page Wasatch mountains from east side near Morgan, Utah......this is near the home of AG pumpkin grower, Matt McKonkie. Monday, July 27 View Page Wasatch mountain as seen from South Odgen, which is on the west side of the mountain. View is looking to the east. Monday, July 27 View Page This is my son, Guy with the family's chickens. He is raising a family by teaching them to care for chickens and other animals. He was explaining how coons had got into the pen the night before and killed 4 of their chickens. One of the lessons in life is all that is fuzzy and furry also has to eat and it might be the kid's chickens if pens are not built tight enough to keep the prediators out. Part of growing up, raising a family and seeing life for what it is. Monday, July 27 View Page Part of lessons in life also will be trapping and elimation coons that threaten chickens. Also how to keep deer out of the garden.....deer love to wait till the tomatoes are nice and ripe before they eat them. Now might be a good time to use the deer and rabbit repellent that was ordered last winter and still sits on the shelf in the garage not opened or used. It does not work that way. Saturday, August 1 View Page Dori checking the maters in the mater hut today. She found these hiding in the leaves. They are Cherochee purple heritage tomatoes. I notice that the first blossums that came out were magablooms. This is some of them. We are not trying to grow giant tomotes just something to eat. The largest one was over ripe and rotten. We made bacon and tomatoe sandwiches out of the medium size one. Was big enough for two sandwiches. They have good flavor if you like reddish-purple color and green seeds. A good eating tomotoe is a gift from the Gods. It does not get any better. Sunday, August 2 View Page Correction to last entry. We made a sandwich for both of us out of the smaller tomatoe. I made another sandwich from the medium sized mater and had a lot left over. My knife used for scale is 4 inches long. Have been making changes to fertilzer program and watering set up. Have started using blankets on pkns at night as still in 50. Have removed tarp shade covers and using sheets over pkns all the time. Our ott numbers are as follows: Dori cc" f-b" s-s" total" tot lbs lbs 24 hrs 1040 LaRue 93 63 63 221 240 +12 10665 McKie 83.5 56.5 56 196 169 +23 Lee 1149 Pukos 62 46 51 159 95 +9 1483 Werner 88 58 59 192 192 +11 Wednesday, August 12 View Page Rainbow park on Green River above Split Mountain Wednesday, August 12 View Page Launching raft to run Split Mountain on Green River Wednesday, August 12 View Page Entrance to Split Mountain from launch ramp at Rainbow park Wednesday, August 12 View Page Rock writing on road to Rainbow park Wednesday, August 12 View Page A baby turnip from our garden.....about 5 lbs an 22 inches cc Wednesday, August 12 View Page Powdery mildew showing up in garden so pulled turnips and beets. Wednesday, August 12 View Page Interesting rock formation near Rainbow park Sunday, August 16 View Page Have been planning ahead just in case we have anything to take to a weight off. Have started a pumpkin lifting ring. Sunday, August 16 View Page Have started to think fall. Have a crazy idea that I have wanted to try. Believe that a pumpkin that is growing over a warm base will grow into the night. Will take a 4'x4' pallet and put 100 feet of garden hose in the pallet. Put a valve on each end of the hose to control flow of water. Sunday, August 16 View Page Cover pallet with 3/8 plywood. Was going to piece it together but plywood was of different thickness. So bagged that idea. Sunday, August 16 View Page Went to Lowes and bought a new sheet of 3/8 exterior plywood. Cut it to size to cover the pallet. Drilled a lot of 1/2" holes to allow heat to rise from water below and heat pumpkin. Holes also allow any water on pallet to drain down thru the pallet. Sunday, August 16 View Page Tools i I used to do the project. Of course the operator had to have a cherry coke to get him thru the project. Screwed plywood with holes in it to top of pallet. I used my jig saw to cut the sheet as the saw i needed was buryed under a lot of pumpkin stuff in the shop. Did not want to take time to dig it out. Also love Mikita cordless tools. Don't know what we did before they were invented. Sunday, August 16 View Page Hauled the completed pallet to the patch and Dori pulled it under the pkn while I held it up. It is hard to spread your legs wide enough to allow a 4 foot pallet to go between them while holding a young pumpkin up and trying not to break the stem. This is how it looks under Dori's Leggett plant. She is growing it in the snake pattern. Now all I have to do it connect pallet to a water hose. Sunday, August 16 View Page Have 150 feet of black garden hose in the backyard. Will connect this to pallet in the patch. During the day the sun will heat the water in the hose. In the evening will go to pallet and turn on the outlet valve. Water will run thru the hose until the heated water in the black hose comes out the outlet. When exiting water is hot will close the outlet valve and the inlet valve on the pallet. Now have 100 feet of heated water to warm the pumpkin as it put it to bed under it's blankets. Hope this will help pumpkins to grow in the cooler weather. We are getting into the 40's at night. Sunday, August 16 View Page This is what greets you as you enter Utah from Colorado Sunday, August 16 View Page Boat launching ramp at the Gates of Ladore on the Green River. This is located at the lower end of Browns hole of Butch Cassidy fame. Sunday, August 16 View Page Green river looking upstream from boat ramp near Gates of Ladore. Sunday, August 16 View Page Sandstone cliffs on the south end of Blue mountain near the Utah/Colorado line. Sunday, August 16 View Page Since this is supposed to be a pumpkin diary here is Dori's 1040 LaRue. ott 247 inches....325 lbs. Sunday, August 16 View Page This is my 1483 Werner ott 249"....333lbs Sunday, August 16 View Page This is my weather station with 3 thermometers reading 3 different temperatures. So which one do you want to use. I guess it is how you feel ...........do you want it hot or do you want it to be cooler. Tuesday, August 18 View Page Measurement of August 16, 2009 1040 LaRue day 61 ott 247 325 lbs 1066 McKie day 47 ott 250 337 lbs 1149 Pukos day 46 ott 222 240 lbs 1483 Werner day 53 ott 249 333 lb 15?? Liggett day ?? ott 140 56 lbs Thursday, August 20 View Page Dori with my 1483 Werner...ott 258...369 lbs Thursday, August 20 View Page Dori and my 1149 Pukos...ott233...275 lbs Thursday, August 20 View Page Dori with her youngest 15?? Leggett...ott 158...94 lbs Thursday, August 20 View Page Dori with her 1066 McKie, called Sleeping Bueaty,...ott252...345 lbs Thursday, August 20 View Page Dori and her 1040 LaRue, the Swan...ott250...337 lbs Thursday, August 20 View Page The latest invader that is so far behaving and staying out of the patch. Friday, August 21 View Page Was out riding my wheeler today and we jumped these fellows. They have the velvet all slicked off and the bulls are still running together. Friday, August 21 View Page Another shot of this bachelor party Saturday, August 22 View Page Sagebrush alley.....Sagebrush is approximely 10 feet tall Saturday, August 22 View Page Back road/wheeler trail near Paradise Park Sunday, August 23 View Page A bunch of summer beef in Lonesome park. I say summer as some are lying down and some are standing. If they were all lying down I guess you could call them ground beef. At any rate they are doing well and as fat as butterballs. Elevation approximatey 10,000 feet. Sunday, August 23 View Page An old picturesque pine in Lonesome park. Sunday, August 23 View Page An evening view of Sawtooth ridge in Dry Fork canyon Thursday, September 3 View Page Family is getting ready to make salsa on Labor day weekend. Picked onions, peppers and tomatoes. This a candy onion from out patch and is about 18 inches circ. Friday, September 4 View Page This is a 6 pack of Candy onions Friday, September 4 View Page A bunch of Candy onions Friday, September 4 View Page Dori holding a 6 pack of Candy onions Friday, September 4 View Page Six pack of onions on the left and a 12 pack on the right. They are in beer flats Friday, September 4 View Page More onions among the weeds ready to harvest Friday, September 4 View Page Three of the nicer onions Friday, September 4 View Page This is Dori's 1524 Leggett which she calls "Pretty in Pink". It is smallest pkn in the patch as it was planted much latter and is being grown in a snake pattern. It's 35 days old with an ott of 230 so is about 265 lbs. It is gaining at about 15 lbs a day Friday, September 4 View Page This one of the ears on my old corn. It is being grown with a cheese cloth like mesh around it to try to prevent open pollination. Many of the stocks have multiple ears. Friday, September 4 View Page Dori in the mater hut. Some of the vines are taller than she is. Getting ready to pick to make salsa. Friday, September 4 View Page Multiple ears on stock of old corn Friday, September 4 View Page My boy, Guy and his son Janse coming thru a mud hole in the road on wheeler. We are coming out from a 3 day backpacking trip into the high country. Friday, September 4 View Page Son and grandkids around the fire in camp Friday, September 4 View Page Pretty clouds among the pines in high country Friday, September 4 View Page Moon thru the pines at elevation of about 10,600 feet Friday, September 4 View Page Grandson, Janse fishing on Deadman's Lake elevation about 10,900 feet Friday, September 4 View Page Sun thru clouds in the high country Friday, September 4 View Page My Son, Guy supervising the boys fishing at Deadman Lake Friday, September 11 View Page This is my 1149 Pukos....ott267...407 lbs Friday, September 11 View Page This is Dori's 1524 Liggett (Pretty in Pink)...250 ott...337 lbs. Deb you liked this one.....it is starting to roll and is the youngest pkn in the patch. Friday, September 11 View Page This is the laziest pumpkin in the patch. It just has never got with it all summer. It is Dori's 1040 LaRue...250 ott........337 lbs. Friday, September 11 View Page This our largest pkn my 1483 Werner.....290 ott.....518 lbs Friday, September 11 View Page Just got back from the high country were I spent 3 days by myself. Was a 10 mile round trip with a full pack to go in and out. Have been in 4 times this summer. This is a bueatiful cloud formation over the evergreens. Friday, September 11 View Page Walking is a little rough on my stubby feet. Doing repair work after walk in so I can go up higher tomorrow mornning. Had left a cache of food and other supplies tied up in a tree. Good thing I did not need it as a bear had drug it out of the tree and it was gone. Only a chewed up Poweraide bottle remained. I hope bears stomache can digest 40 S&W ammo as it was gone with the tinned food. Friday, September 11 View Page View from the front door of my tent. Friday, September 11 View Page OPPS .....big mistake....the Pretty in Pink is mislabeled....that is Dori with my Werner...............sorry Friday, September 11 View Page The sky never bluer than on a clear day in the high country. Friday, September 11 View Page I will try again. This is Dori with her youngest and the fastest growing pumpkin in the patch(Pretty in Pink)....ott250...337 lbs....it is about 45 days old. Friday, September 11 View Page This is some of the 1400 year old corn I germinated this year. Have grown it under a cheesecloth type mesh to try to prevent cross pollination. Some of the stalks have up to 3 ears per stock. Friday, September 11 View Page This is one of the ears that is maturing on my old corn. Saturday, September 12 View Page This morning put up the framework for a pumpkin tent. I figured if I needed a tent to sleep in while camping, our pumpkins needed a shelter to keep them warmer at night. This is over my 2 plants. The 1483 Werner is in the front and 1149 Pukos in the back. Saturday, September 12 View Page This shot is from the 1149 Pukos end of the pumpkin tent. Frost can be expected any day now. Will cover the pvc frame work with 4ml clear plastic. There is power to patch so will turn soil heating cables back on and put electric heater inside. Sunshine will keep it plenty warm during the daytime. Blankets, afgans and quilts will still be used to cover pumpkiins. Last measurement put my 1483 Werner at about 518 lbs. The ll49 Pukos is at 407 lbs. Another tent will be put over Dori's 1524 Liggett at 353 lbs. The final tent will be over Dori's 1040 LaRue which is at 394 lbs. Monday, September 14 View Page If you are into long range rifle shooting and explosives Gateway, Colorado is the place to be on October 3rd. They put 2 sticks of dynamite in a pop can and it is the target. There is no question when you hit the target. Saturday, September 19 View Page Grandkids with my 1149 Pukos. They drove out from Salt Lake City to get maters, peppers, onions, carrots and see the pumpkins. Saturday, September 19 View Page Ben and Nalene with their kids with my 1483 Werner in its new home. Saturday, September 19 View Page Pumpkin enemy #1.........have been living among pumpkins and eating carrot tops and beans. Saturday, September 19 View Page Mater hut has had top pulled back over it. Ends still open for now. Saturday, September 19 View Page 1149 Pukos in one end of pumpkin hut and 1483 Werner at the other end. Temp on top of Werner got down to 60F so is helping to keep warm. Growth is almost to a stand still. Saturday, September 19 View Page Bueatiful cloud formation against blue sky Sunday, September 20 View Page Have to get in and cut a pathway between the rows of maters. Some have grown clear to the top (7ft), should have pruned them but was trying my new organic fertizer and wanted to see how they would grow. Now have to cut out path just to be able to pick any. Trying to see how long I can bet old man winter and keep home grown maters on the table. Mater huts has furnished a lot of salsa for my kids and their families and many others. Sunday, September 20 View Page Mater hut on the left and Doris 1524 Liggett in next hut which is grown in a snake pattern. It is not covered in picture. It is now, so have only one more pkn to get undercover. Trying to pull a few more lbs out of some old tired plants. Weather is getting pretty cool at night. Tuesday, September 22 View Page Ice on railroad tie by my well head Tuesday, September 22 View Page Hayfield with ice around spriklers across from my patch Tuesday, September 22 View Page Pumpkin and mater huts closed in and roped down so pkns can poke along for a few more days till weight off. They did fine, surviving the freeze this morning. Tuesday, September 22 View Page One of the critters that live in my patch. He is eye balling my old corn and figuring how to get a ear down and chew on it. Tuesday, September 22 View Page First day of fall and maples are coloring up the mountain side, Mt Timpanogas on the skyline. Tuesday, September 22 View Page Quaking aspens are starting to turn. Soldier Creek arm of Strawberry reservior in foreground. Tuesday, September 22 View Page Colored leaves in Provo canyon Tuesday, September 22 View Page Pumpjack on oil well used to be painted a desert tan. Now is the new color, (looks a lot like OD, olive drab)to me. I guess this is to represent that the goverment is nationalizing the oil companies along with the car manufactures.........lol,but not a bit funny. Tuesday, September 22 View Page Track hoe next to pumpjack is cat yellow.... but wait it has Kamatsu on the back......so all that is yellow is not Caterpillar anymore. Saturday, September 26 View Page Spent the day rebuilding pallets and padding them. Need to be ready for next weekend and Rapid City, S D. Pulled back the end of an ear of old corn.........nice big kernals and interesting color. Will leave them on the stalks for a spell longer and let them cure. Have one small stalk that has 6 ears on it. Ears are small and will probably not mature but time will tell. Want to wish everyone good luck at the weight offs and a safe journey going and coming. Best of the best to you and yours. Monday, September 28 View Page Dori's liggett "Pretty in pink" Monday, September 28 View Page Dori's LaRue Monday, September 28 View Page Dori's McKie "Survior" Monday, September 28 View Page My Pukos Monday, September 28 View Page My Werner Sunday, October 4 View Page On the way to Rapid City, South Dakota to support Matt Winey and Lisa Evan's weight off at the Rapid City #1 annual Pumpkinfest. Took the 2 smallest pkns in the patch as they were outside and frost had hit the plants. Rest are in the huts and still growing. Sunday, October 4 View Page Line up at Rapid City....Lisa's pkn in front, Matt's next, Matt's green and the rest of the also rans Sunday, October 4 View Page PumpkinLisa's Evans 723 09........1st place Sunday, October 4 View Page Matt Winey's, Winey 713 09 2nd place.....just 10 lbs smaller than Lisa's Sunday, October 4 View Page Dori's 484 Perry 09 on right her PB...it is a 1040 LaRue x 1149.5 Pukos.....on the left is Dori's 309 Perry which was cut off on Aug. 16th, 09 by mistake...it is a 1066 McKie X 1483 Werner. At the time it was cut it was fastest growing pkn in the patch and had just taken 1st place in ott. Sunday, October 4 View Page Dori's 3rd place 484 Perry 09. Her 309 Perry 09 took 4th place at the weight off. Sunday, October 4 View Page Matt Winey's Little bitty sh***r He grew several small pkns so they could be painted by local artits. Pumpkins after weight off were taken to sponsoring businesses to be painted by local artists. Pkns were then judged for the paintings on them. Sunday, October 4 View Page Dori's 484 Perry 09 being painted by renowned Indian artist Evan Flammon Sr. This pumpkin was taken to Pairie Edge, which specializes in Indian art. Sunday, October 4 View Page Painting by Evan Flammon Sr of an winter Indian camp on Dori's 484 Perry 09. This painting was awarded 2nd place in the painting contest and is displaced at Prairie Edge Trading Co. & Galleries in Rapid City, SD Sunday, October 4 View Page Don, I understand you are looking for another truck to haul your 1622 pumpkin. I have found one......just send me the money and we will work out a deal. Sunday, October 4 View Page Here are the specs on one a clean one owner pumpkin hauling truck for Don & Julie Young Pumpkin Hauling Express. Their motto might be "......If you can grow it we can haul it". Grow 'em big and maybe Don can get a groverment stimulus grant to fund his hauling service..........rofl Monday, October 5 View Page Don found another pumpkin hauler for you in last one was not adequate. Saturday, October 10 View Page Utah Giant Pumpkin Weight off was held at Thanksgiving Point, Lehi, Utah on 0ct 10, 2009. Top eleven were: A. Israelsen..919 lbs Wolfley.......877 lbs K. Fox........742.5 lbs Wolfley.......706.5 exhibition D. Clark......632 lbs Bradley.......583 lbs Bradley.......572.5 exhibition C.Miller......561 lbs C. Fox........542 lbs West..........532 lbs Westwood......529.5 lbs Card..........526.5 lbs Tanner........525 lbs Sunday, October 11 View Page Andrew Israelsen took 1st place at Thanksgiving Point, Lehi, Utah with a 919lb pumpkin Tuesday, October 13 View Page Dori's wheeler at work hauling remains of two of her plants out to the front of house where we can hook on with truck. Don't have a tractor wheelers have to make due. Tuesday, October 13 View Page Rolled my 1149 Pukos over and checked the bottom, twisted it around to lay on sheet of plywood so could pull it out of the patch. Pkn split along a rib that has been worrying me for sometime. Will leave it in the patch and salvage seeds. est. weight 472lbs, ott 281 Tuesday, October 13 View Page My 1483 Werner ready to try out my homemade pkn lifting ring. It will go to Basin Nursery to be used in "Guess the weight" of this pkn. Will also display Dori's 1524 Liggett. Tuesday, October 13 View Page Dori's 1524 Liggett ready to test pkn lifting ring. Tuesday, October 13 View Page Blossum end of Dori's 1524 Liggett Tuesday, October 13 View Page Had to make a dump run to empty trailer containing dori's pkn plants. Now her 1524 Ligget get set in front of our wheeler hauler/pumpkin hauler and whatever else we need to haul trailer. Arn, skidsteer operator from Arn's Wood Shop set the pkn down very gently. Many thanks to Arn and his crew for their help in load our pkns. I really appreciate a friend like Arn. Tuesday, October 13 View Page My 1483 Werner coming out of the patch to join Dori Liggett on trailer. This morning we delievered them to Basin Nursery to the "Guess the weight" Contest. Friday, October 16 View Page ll49 Pukos split when I rolled it over to load it. Cut open and was rotten in the malformed area in upper left of picture. Collected seeds.....3 were already sprouting with 6 inch of growth. ott282 472 estimated weigh. Friday, October 16 View Page Dori and I went to Rapid City to pick up her 484 Perry,D 09 that had been painted. On the way saw a "Real American Oil Well" in north western Wyoming. Friday, October 16 View Page Visited Matt Winey and Lisa Evans. They informed us that Dori other painted pumpkin was still cn display. We visited the art gallery of painter, James Van Nuys to see 309 Perry,D 09 which had won 1st prize in painting contest. One side had a Frankstein picture and other a bueatiful women. Took pictures of grower, Dori and painter, James Van Nuys. Friday, October 16 View Page James Van Nuys and Dori Perry with Dori's 309 Perry,D 09 nicknamed "Survior" as it was cut off by mistake on Aug 16th but survived to be painted and be awarded 1st in Rapid City's Pumpkin Festival, painting contest. Dori won 3rd and 4th in weigh off and 1st and 2nd in painted pumpkin contest with her 2 smaller pkns. Friday, October 16 View Page Dori with a bronze statue of an Indian woman and her daughter in front of Praire's Edge store, a high end vendor of Indian art. They were a sponsor of Pumpkin Festival and it was at this store, Evan Flammond Sr painted her pkn. Dori wss wonderrd why most of the statues were of men and then we found out that they were Presidents of the United States. Friday, October 16 View Page Custer, SD is where the buffalo still roam the streets with the deer. Friday, October 16 View Page I forget to mention antelope and pigs at the Purple Pig Store in Custer, SD. Friday, October 16 View Page I forget to mention that real cowboys still work and live in Wyoming. This ranch owner was seen leaving the local bar at Rockville, Wy to climb into his Dodge p/u with horse trailer to finish the day's work Friday, October 16 View Page Our pkns displayed at Basin Nursery. Dori's 484 Perry,D 09 "Swan" on the left, my 1483 Werner in middle and Dori's Liggett on right. The 2 pkns weight is to be guess with some awesome prizes being awarded by Nursery management. We are looking forward to the grower seminar in Spring and Weight off in the fall. Also would like to have a exploding pumpkin event where a AG is placed behind a large quanity of explosives and shot at from 1000 yard by local sharpshooters. When a hit is made there would be pumpkin all over the Bucksin hills........lol that would end the season with a bang. Saturday, October 17 View Page Wagon wheel ruts cut into the soft sandstone. Trail is near Guernsey, Wy. Trail cuts up thru the sandsone cliff along the river bank. When reaching the open praire on top, from air, tracks can still be see spreading out over the open country to get out of the dust and seek fresh grazing for the animals. The Oregon/California trail was just about finished in 1869 when the transcontiental railroad was joined at Promotory Point, Utah. Rail travel took over where teams and wagons had transported before. I flew over this area in late 1970s and it was it was a site to see the ancient ruts showing thru the grass. Saturday, October 17 View Page Photo described in text before. Dori examines the deep ruts which were only stopped when the axles drug on the sandstone. I have seen wagon wheel ruts in other places but none as deep near Gurnsey, Wy. Saturday, October 17 View Page Diary doesn't want to download this phots so you will wait in vain to see what I was describing............lol Saturday, October 17 View Page Will try one one more time to get the wagon ruts. Saturday, October 17 View Page Success at last Wednesday, October 21 View Page The local watering hole in Hartsville, Wyoming Wednesday, October 21 View Page I have found a clean one owner home for Dori and I to spend our retirement years.......might need a little fixing up. Maybe Matt Winey (matt-man) might be convinced to do the minor repair work required. Matt, give me a bid....keep it low so it won't cut into next years patch money. Wednesday, October 21 View Page Hartville,is the oldest incorporated town still in existance in Wyoming. This is their claim to fame....not to mention a watering hole and some neat rock houses. Wednesday, October 21 View Page Hartville, Wy is build in the bottom a a gully. One of the old building spans the stream bed and in the rainy season water runs under the building and out the other side. Wednesday, October 21 View Page Another interesting town in Wyoming is Hulett near Devil's Tower which was the first national monument to be created. There is an old bar in Hulett where a stream flows under the building and behind the bar. Bottles of beer are placed in the running water to cool them. A sliding door below the back bar is slide open when you order a "tall cool one". Bartender wipes the excess water off the bottle and sets it on the bar for you. Speaking of streams cooling beer, in Pitkin, Colorado there is a bar when they use the stream water to cool the beverages also. In the days before refrideration many natural methods were used to cool beverages for the thirsty customers. Sunday, October 25 View Page Took 3 pkns to Rowley Farm weigh off in Santiquin, Utah. Not many AGs present as was late in the season. This is Dori's 1524 Liggett x 1483 Werner which was 75 days old and ott 281......weighted 524 lbs 10% heavy. Iis is now know as 524 Perry, D 09. This is her PB . She had weighted in Rapid City a 309 and 484 lber. She is very happy. Thank you Doc Liggett and Quinn Werner for the seeds that made this pkn possible. Sunday, October 25 View Page Kyle Fox and his charming wife, Cari and their kids. Kytle's pkn had been weighted at Thanksgiving point and weighted 742.5 on Oct. 3, 2009. Today it weighted 728 lbs. This is his PB for this 2nd year grower. Cari's pkn which weighted 542 her PB was dropped at the Hew-Haw Farm's Giant Pumpkin Drop. Kyle was the mastermind behind this pkn drop from 175' crane. Several AGs were dropped on target at this show on Oct 24. Kyle is planning a AG pumpkin race at Stavation Reservior near Duchesne,Utah in 2010. Sunday, October 25 View Page My 1483 Werner 08 x 1149.5 Pukos 07 with an ott of 316, 666 lbs(my devil's Pkn), as I called. It hit the scales at 10% heavy for 732 lbs and will be called 732 Perry,L 09. This is my PB in my 2nd year growing. I believe that my beginner mistakes cost me 300-500 lbs this past year. All in all I as happy with the results. Thank you, Quinn Werner and Mr. Pukos for your seeds that made this dream come true. I woulk like to thank Don Young, Matt Winey and Tom of Extreme Pumpkins for their timely advice. Sunday, October 25 View Page Eesults of AG weigh off at The Red Barn on Rowley's Farms, Santiquin, Utah October 24th. Top 3 places were: 732 lbs....................Lee Perry 728 lbs....................Kyle Fox 524 lbs....................Doris Perry 475 lbs....................Doris Perry "Swan" exhibition Sunday, October 25 View Page In case you were wondering Eesults really mean Results in Utah slang..........lol Sunday, October 25 View Page Line up at The Red Barn, Santiquin, Utah Sunday, October 25 View Page Dori's "Swan" exhibition pumpkin really made a hit with the ladies at the weight off. Sunday, October 25 View Page Dori's twin brother, Bob Crowley is getting over removal of skin cancer on his face. I am on the right and my grandson, Perry Williams is in the foreground. Perry took most of the pictures for me at the weigh off. Thank you Utah Giant Pumpkin Growers and The Red Barn for sponsoring this weigh off. Sunday, October 25 View Page My 1483 Werner on left, Kyle Rox's 728 in middle and Dori's 1524 Liggett on the right. Our pkns have been on display at Basin Nursery, Vernal,UT for almost 2 weeks. They were in the "Guess the Weight" Contest. We went to the weight off to determine the contest winners. Guesses on my 732 pkn ranged from 1400 to 155 lbs with the closest of 735 lbs. Dori's 524 pkn had guesses ranging from 1250 to 123, closest guess was 521 lbs. Basin Nursery will sponsor a growing class next spring and an AG weight off and other events in the fall of 2010. We thank them for their support to encourage growing of AGs in the Uintah Basin. Kenny Blair, Utah State AG record holder at 1104 lbs has agreed to help with the growing class. Kenny look out the Uintah Basin growers are after your record! Sunday, October 25 View Page OOPS, big mistake........Dori's 1524 Liggett on the left and my 1483 Werner on the right with Kyles bueatiful orange pkn in the middle. Thursday, October 29 View Page The Riordan family were winners in Guess the weight contest. They guess 521 lbs on Dori 524 pumpkin. Thursday, October 29 View Page The Rust family were the winners on my 732 lb pumpkin. One of the boys guessed the closest weight beating all the men and women. A future AG grower in the making. Thursday, October 29 View Page I am happy to announce that Buddy Greene was able to fly to Utah to be the Engineer of the Perry ATV pumpkin train. We don't know how we will be able to thank him enough for his expertise and knowledge on this subject. Thursday, October 29 View Page Dori is showing off our pumpkins in the Perry atv pumpkin train. She has her artic parka out for the occassion. Thursday, October 29 View Page This is the Perry pumpkin train with Buddy G as engineer. Next year we hope to be able to put on other events. These will need the special service of Don and Julie Young's Pumpkin Hauling Express. Buddy Greene's expertise as Engineer on the Pumpkin ATV train. Matt Winey's expertise to help us denote a giant pumpkin at 1000 yards with a rifle, (maybe he doesn't need a rifle)and Kayle and Carrie "Foxxy Momma" to put on the Giant Pumpkin Drop and Pumpknin Regatta. Will look forward to a good growing season to pull off these events. Thursday, October 29 View Page Perry pumpkin train ready to pull out of the station destination South Finland to visit Kaarina. Hope the fuel prices will moderate as we will need a bunch of fuel to make the trip. Thursday, October 29 View Page Dori geared up for the cold wind as she works on the pumpkin train. Thursday, October 29 View Page In the afternoon it warmed up so Dori put on her "summer parka" to finish lights on Pumpkin Train. Thursday, October 29 View Page .....meanwhile I am "supervised" from a nice warm seat in truck with sun coming thru the window. Dori was slaving away on Pkn Train.......snapped a picture of outside temp......a cool windy 36 F. Thursday, October 29 View Page A bueatiful way to end the growing season....or does it ever end........we are in the middle of patch prep. Dori is almost finished with her's. I am way behind as I still have my summer cover crop (weeds). I gave them a dose of roundup and will till them later. Have to wait till after the heart sawbones does a tune-up on my ticker. Best of the Best to You and Yours. Happy growing in 2010 Wednesday, November 4 View Page Dori and I made the front page of local paper with our small pkns. The atv train has caused a local traffic jam as people stopped to look. Was a interesting write up to say the least. Thursday, November 5 View Page Sorry for the fuzzy pictures.........must be my fuzzy personality Friday, November 6 View Page Spent the day working on a chipper/shredder. Finally got it running and shredded several bags of leaves. Tomorrow will start shredding the hay that we are adding to our patch. Or should I say Dori's patch. Mine is still not tilled. She is way ahead of me in patch preparation. Thursday, November 12 View Page Dori's Swan still reign in the front yard. Many people continue to stop by. Thursday, November 12 View Page This is my patch with work not done. Leaves were sacked and ready to be shredded. Shredding was finished today. Thursday, November 12 View Page Dori's patch has leaves shredded and tilled in. She is way ahead of me. Now waiting for soil sampling to come back to see what else to put in. Thursday, November 12 View Page Don, have a saw that you can use for you tree business. It has a few hours on it but will probably run with a minor tune up. Thursday, November 12 View Page Here is the label on this old Mall saw with 48 inch bar. I used to collect old saws. Thursday, November 12 View Page This is my big working saw. It is an 088 Stihl, 8.75 hp I believe, with 3 bars, ranging from 42 inches, to 60 inches and longer one is 84 inches long. Yellow ruler is 6 feet to use for scale. I used this saw with an Alaskan Saw Mill for cutting slabs when I was in the sign business. It is gathering dust at the present time. Have a few smaller saws to go with it. Not near as many as Don does though. The 5 foot bar was used most of the time to cut my slabs. My biggest sign was 52 inches wide and 23 feet long. It was hand carved with 23 karat gold leafing. Have made a few log archways to go with the signs. Thursday, November 12 View Page End of the day with an Uintah Basin sunset from my front yard. Friday, November 13 View Page This morning I woke up to 2 inches of fresh snow.........Patch is not done but life goes on. Will continue to do what I can to get ready for spring.........Have a good one. Friday, November 13 View Page Probably better get the lead out and pull the seeds from pkns in atv train. Winter is probably here to stay. It is not unusual to get a snowfall around Thanksgiving day and never see the ground again till spring. Hope it is not that way this year. Winter is not as much fun as when I was a kid. That is the old man in me speaking. Wednesday, November 18 View Page Buddy are you getting a little cold??????? Maybe need to bring out a hot toddy. Wednesday, November 18 View Page Frost on the pumpkin Wednesday, November 18 View Page It is turkey time at the Perry residence. Grandkids coming for thanksgiving. Grandpa had to go turkey hunting to get something for the dinner. Thursday, November 26 View Page During this past year I have included many pictures about things other than growing pumpkins. A few people have expressed interest in these pictures. With this in mind I have created a blog....leepics I will be adding pictures and other information on this blog. I would appreciate it if some of you would follow me there to look at other things. Thursday, November 26 View Page An interesting rock carving. Am posting some pictures on my blog. Hope some of you will follow me there. My blog is http://www.leepics.blogspot.com/ Friday, November 27 View Page Ooopppssssssss.......I realyly messed up........lead you a false trail........my blog is http://leep-pics.blogspot.com/ Wednesday, December 2 View Page Buddy are you getting cold??????? maybe I can bring out a tall cool Bud. Wednesday, December 2 View Page It is Thanksgiving so you need turkeys for turkey day....Have a couple in our front yard. Wednesday, December 2 View Page Turkey day gone.........time to take turkeys for a ride. Wednesday, December 2 View Page Andrew Isearlson and Kyle Fox fed their pkns to elephants at Hoogle zoo in Salt Lake City. Us rednecks in Uinta basin do it different.....732 lb pkn + 3bales hay @ 75 lbs = a heavy load for a wheeler....especially when you have a loose nut behind the wheel. Wednesday, December 2 View Page No elephants or grizzly bears for our pkns........just a bunch of lowly range maggots get a good pkn meal. Wednesday, December 16 View Page Winter is here in northeast Utah. One foot of snow on patch...sub zero temps regularly. Birds coming into feeder for a free lunch. Putting a lot of pictures up on my blog. Join me there http://leep-pics.blogspot.com Monday, December 21 View Page Found an new addition to pull behind wheeler to deliver the goods to the patch. Clean one owner, only used in the fields on weekends.......lol Thursday, December 24 View Page Ole Glory waves on top of a cliff in Dry Fork canyon a short distance from my place. Ivan Merrell put the flagpole on the sandstone cliff as his Eagle scout project. The family keeps the flag flying year around. Thursday, December 24 View Page Snow covered Sawtooth mountain reminds me that winter is here. This mountain can be seen for many miles and it was an landmark that early travelers used. Thursday, December 24 View Page A bald eagle sits on top of a snow capped sandstone rock. America's national bird reminds me that we in America are blessed beyond measure. Merry Christmas to one and all. May the New Year bring many happy days to You and Yours. This is Dori's and my wish to each and everyone you. Thursday, December 24 View Page The Green river flows out of Split mountain and by the Chew ranch. Blue sky is breaking thru the clouds into the foggy valley. About 1 mile after leaving Split mountain, the river freezes over. About 500 Canadian geeze were feeding in the fields of the Chew ranch and another 500 were near some open water on the Green river. It was a bueatiful foggy day. Best of the best to You and Yours.