Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 242 Entries. Tuesday, January 21 View Page I received the last seed for the patch and the auction today. My line up is set, best of luck to all in 2014.If anyone is curious, things will be coming up ORANGE again this year..   Sunday, January 26 View Page What a great day...........   Monday, January 27 View Page Another great day in the woods..   Wednesday, January 29 View Page Found a new trail today..   Tuesday, February 4 View Page I noticed someone that lives about 40 miles from me is loading up on orange seeds... Bring it on.....   Wednesday, February 5 View Page Winter view from neighbors house of garden and The Bates Motel.   Sunday, February 23 View Page While some went to the big show others went to VT...   Sunday, February 23 View Page Kevin Companion.....   Sunday, February 23 View Page Matt gave a very interesting presentation.......   Thursday, February 27 View Page Mr. Gerhardt this is for you..First time I have gone skiing in 4 years.. Two hours and I was a worn out old guy........   Saturday, March 8 View Page Did a 12 mile hike today...This is where it started.. If you squint really hard you can see Block Island..   Saturday, March 8 View Page Still have some snow ,but it was a beautiful day..   Saturday, March 8 View Page Not feeling the love here..   Sunday, March 9 View Page Could that be winter rye..........   Sunday, March 16 View Page Providence looks pretty good from here..   Sunday, March 16 View Page My city hike..   Friday, March 21 View Page Pulled soil sample today, it will be in mail Monday..   Saturday, March 22 View Page What a great day for a walk in the woods..   Sunday, March 30 View Page To boldly go where no weenie has gone before..   Thursday, April 3 View Page Sue, guess what.. My Weenie is up..   Friday, April 4 View Page My second weenie is up, I must be abbynormal..   Monday, April 7 View Page Re potted both my weenies today...Good boy, woof..   Monday, April 7 View Page Cut rye and tilled areas for 3 cold frames today.. I also put them up,,good boy, woof.   Tuesday, April 8 View Page 4:30 am, filed and soaking two of my 749s est ( 1689 x 1046 Bowles ) from 09. This will be a Woodstock Fair pumpkin if all goes well.. Woody this is all your fault, you said don't be afraid to try something new.. Hope we don't get a late frost..   Wednesday, April 9 View Page In the beginning there were cold frames...   Saturday, April 12 View Page Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages..   Saturday, April 12 View Page All seeds are filed and soaking at this moment. This is the earliest I have ever started.. Good luck everyone, and remember rule #1... Did I mention that I am growing all orange. Who would have ever guessed..   Saturday, April 12 View Page 12:30 pm...All seeds are in germ box.. Two 749 Ganserts, 960 Gansert, 1000 Gansert, 224 Risi est, 1107 Zunino, 521 Toftness... And also Auntie Sue, I soaked my Weenie just like you told me too.. Good Boy, Woff....   Monday, April 14 View Page Amended new section of garden and tilled. It is official I am now a flat lander.. Flat land has its issues, one of my cold frames blew away. After a 50 ft flight it wasn't pretty any more.put two extra anchor stakes in remaining huts, make a new one tomorrow...   Tuesday, April 15 View Page Pumpkins are germing, and look in the big pots, it's my weenie...   Wednesday, April 16 View Page All seeds i plan to grow plus a few extras have germed. One of my 1126s turned to mush so i started 3 more.. Replaced cold frame that got destroyed the other day.. All plants are out in cold frame getting some sun on this cloud free 40 degree day, even my weenie didn't get any shrinkage..   Thursday, April 17 View Page Anyone see the scraper ?   Saturday, April 19 View Page Lucy,I'm home..........   Monday, April 21 View Page Planting day is getting wearly, wearly close.....   Tuesday, April 22 View Page Planting day is here. All plants are in the ground. 749 est, 960 and 1000 Gansert, 224 Risi est, 1107 Zunino and 521 Toftness.. I usually don't germ seeds till the 23rd so I guess I am about 2 weeks early..The band wagon was going slow enough for me to jump on and I did.. Sue,, can you see it ?? It's getting big..   Thursday, April 24 View Page Upper 30s tonight, covered each plant with a cooler and covered each hut with covers my mother made from scraps she had before she died.. Not bad for someone almost 100.. If we get frost warnings I will add a candle to each hut..   Sunday, May 4 View Page I gave my weenie some blue liquid ( weenie grow ) and look what happened..   Tuesday, May 6 View Page Only a real man would let his weenie hang out in a place like this..   Tuesday, May 13 View Page 1107 Zunino   Tuesday, May 13 View Page 232.5 Barber ( Weenie )   Tuesday, May 13 View Page 960 Gansert   Tuesday, May 13 View Page 521 Toftness   Tuesday, May 13 View Page 224 Risi   Tuesday, May 13 View Page 1000 Gansert   Tuesday, May 13 View Page 749 Gansert.. You now have seen a complete up to date look at my garden.........Good Boy....Woof..........   Thursday, May 15 View Page Did a little North South Trail maint this morning..   Friday, May 16 View Page Cut kick stand leafs on all plants and placed sticks to point them to the ground...Could possibly have one or two on the ground in a couple days.. This has been another up to the minute report from the garden of Abbynormal... Stay tuned more to come in the near future..   Tuesday, May 20 View Page First time I ever had to tie a plant off and pull it to get it to lay down. I have a bunch of sticks some string and plenty of patience .. The 224 Risi will lay down in few days..   Friday, May 23 View Page Cut rye grass, spread amendments and tilled half of garden today. Hope to till other half tomorrow, weather permitting.   Saturday, May 24 View Page Garden is almost finished.. Still have to till a bit more on the bottom of the hill closest to camera. Have a spare plant I will grow 4 or 5 pumpkins on for carvers and a drop if all goes right.. This has been an up to the minute update, stay tuned for more..   Sunday, May 25 View Page Put up 100 ft of silt fence today, have another 100 to do tomorrow..   Sunday, May 25 View Page For a guy that said he was only going to grow 3 plants this is my 7th.. It is my 483 from last year, I plan on growing 4 or 5 pumpkins on it. Didn't have the heart to throw it in the compost..That green stuff out front of the cold frame is my best cover crop..... ( Weeds ) Stay tuned, more to come..   Monday, May 26 View Page Took cold frames off 4 plants today and worked on another 100 ft of silt fence....   Monday, May 26 View Page 1107 Zunino   Monday, May 26 View Page 749 est Gansert   Monday, May 26 View Page 521 Toftness   Monday, May 26 View Page 224 est Risi   Wednesday, May 28 View Page To all my friends in the northeast.. The plants I took the cold frames off on Monday had yellow and black beetles on them yesterday so pay attention, the critters are back.. I had to spray Yesterday.. This is another up to the minute only 24 hours behind report from the patch of Abbynormal.. Good Boy,, woof..   Thursday, May 29 View Page Coach Sue told me I should go out and play with my weenie, so I did. Looked a lot bigger in the hut.... I still think I have the biggest weenie on the street.......   Friday, May 30 View Page Took cold frames off my 960 and 1000 today, this is the 1000..   Friday, May 30 View Page This is the 960.   Friday, May 30 View Page This is an up to date view of garden as of this afternoon.   Sunday, June 1 View Page While burying vines I noticed some cuke beetles, so out came the stihl and some ortho bug b gone.. More betterer I hope..   Monday, June 2 View Page The 2014 paint project at The Bates Motel has begun...   Tuesday, June 3 View Page Watering system is hooked up..Wish I could say it was new and improved, just a few more patches this year..   Tuesday, June 3 View Page But this years timer is a step up..   Wednesday, June 4 View Page I took the cold frame off my 483 today, it has been flaging real bad the last couple days,a couple days of rain can only do it some good.. I am growing multiple pumpkins on this plant for carvers and a drop for the Woodstock Fair and Frerichs Farm.. See how this turns out..   Wednesday, June 4 View Page Also spread a couple lbs of Urea on this and shortened it up a few feet, let it rain..   Saturday, June 7 View Page 1107 Zunino   Saturday, June 7 View Page 749 est Gansert   Saturday, June 7 View Page 960 Gansert   Saturday, June 7 View Page 1000.5 Gansert   Saturday, June 7 View Page 521 Toftness   Saturday, June 7 View Page 224 est Risi   Saturday, June 7 View Page My semi limp weenie, there you have an up to the min garden report from the land where things are not normal..   Monday, June 9 View Page 25 gal tea drench   Thursday, June 12 View Page Caught up on vine burying today.. I had a bunch of sides and a couple mains held up with sticks.. Seems a bird made a perch out of the 521 main, training a secondary to take it's place.. Oh well, life goes on..   Friday, June 13 View Page I missed two polinations this morning, one on my 960 and one on 1107 Zunino, maybe I am getting old. Good news is there are more in a few days......... Life goes on..   Saturday, June 14 View Page Went to my Grandson's graduation last night, with my daughter Lisa, my grandson Jacob and his girl friend Caity..   Saturday, June 14 View Page Sprayed a mixture of Triazicide, whole milk and fish and seaweed..   Sunday, June 15 View Page Pollinated my 749 with 1107 Zunino   Tuesday, June 17 View Page Pollinated my 960 with 1107 Zunino   Wednesday, June 18 View Page Sue, Sue, Sue, I played with my weenie today and I didn't go blind.. I bet that make you real proud...   Wednesday, June 18 View Page I forgot the picture..   Thursday, June 19 View Page Did two pollinations this morning, 1107 Zunino x 960 Gansert, 224 Risi est x 1000.5 Gansert..   Friday, June 20 View Page It's 4:45 am trusty mini mag lite in my mouth, skeeters singing their favorite song in my ear pollinating pumpkins. Pollinated my 960 with 1107 Zunino, also pollinated my 1000.5 and 749 with my 960.. Off to New England Dragway..   Friday, June 20 View Page Got to hang out with my old buddy V Gains for a bit today.. See there is hope for us old guys..   Saturday, June 21 View Page Forgot the picture again,,old people..   Sunday, June 22 View Page Sprayed a mixture of whole milk, Ortho Bug B Gone, Companion and Fish and Seaweed..   Monday, June 23 View Page Did three pollinations this morning, 1107 Zunino x 960 Gansert, 960 Gansert x 1107 Zunino, 224 Risi est x 1000.5 Gansert..   Tuesday, June 24 View Page Did a 20 gal tea folier , drench......   Wednesday, June 25 View Page An up to the min look at the plants from roof level..   Wednesday, June 25 View Page This was part of the patch for the last few years.. Now it is a community garden for me and the neighbors..   Thursday, June 26 View Page Pollinated 1000.5 Gansert with 960 Gansert,, also pollinated 1107 Zunino with 960 Gansert ( this will be the last on the Zunino, I think .)   Friday, June 27 View Page Pollinated my 960 with 1107 Zunino (4th one on main, and will be last . )   Friday, June 27 View Page 10 day number on pumpkin on 960 is 26". This has good shape but a few marks from the birds. I haven't ruled this one out yet. Want to see what this mornings pollination looks like in a few days..   Saturday, June 28 View Page Pollinated 224 Risi x 1000.5 Gansert.   Saturday, June 28 View Page I cut these off the 960 and 1107 today, feeling a bit optimistic........... I think.   Sunday, June 29 View Page I know I said I wasn't going to pollinate any more on the 1107 but seeing it's still June I just had to..1107 x 960 this morning.. That should be it..   Sunday, June 29 View Page I seen this on someones diary and thought I would give it a try. I have used a cooler before but never wrapped it with Reynolds Wrap.. Long as Cathy don't find out about the foil life will be good...   Sunday, June 29 View Page Sprayed a 3 gal mix of Malathion, fish and seaweed, whole milk and one Tbs of Infuse..   Tuesday, July 1 View Page I am King..............again.   Thursday, July 3 View Page Pollinated both the 1000.5 Gansert and 224 Risi with the 960 Gansert..   Friday, July 4 View Page Pollinated 483 Gansert x 1107 Zunino   Saturday, July 5 View Page Pollinated 521 Toftness x 1107 Zunino. Main on this plant which was a trained secondary because of a previous snap, snapped about a foot after pumpkin. I guess there just wasn't enough sticks to hold it up. Only storm damage I got as far as I can see..   Saturday, July 5 View Page Sprayed a mixture of whole milk, Triazicide, Serenade and fish and seaweed..   Sunday, July 6 View Page Pollinated 521 Toftness x 1107 Zunino ( on a side vine )..   Monday, July 7 View Page Made the commitment to one pumpkin per plant on 4 plants this morning.. These became victims of the knife.. I am trying something different for me on one plant, I did not terminate the main at the pumpkin on my 749.. See how this works out..   Tuesday, July 8 View Page Here is the first victim of the critter relocation program for this season..   Tuesday, July 8 View Page 749 Gansert. This is the only plant that I did not terminate the main at the pumpkin..   Tuesday, July 8 View Page 1000.5 Gansert.   Tuesday, July 8 View Page 1107 Zunino.   Tuesday, July 8 View Page 960 Gansert.   Thursday, July 10 View Page 20 day cc on my 749 is 70 "   Thursday, July 10 View Page I heard rumor there are people that wanted to see a picture of my weenie..Well here you go............   Saturday, July 12 View Page Caught second woodchuck of season, this one was camera shy so no pictures..   Saturday, July 12 View Page Second one today in the same trap...   Saturday, July 12 View Page Sprayed a mixture of whole milk, bug b gone,t storm and fish and seaweed....   Sunday, July 13 View Page 20 day cc on my 960 is 72"..   Wednesday, July 16 View Page 20 day cc on 1107 is 75"   Wednesday, July 16 View Page 20 day cc on 1000.5 is 76"   Thursday, July 17 View Page Yesterday I pulled the 521 Toftness plant because it had issues. This morning I noticed a few leafs flagging on my 960, by noon it looked like this. Now it no longer exists.. This flat land shit ain't all it's cut up to be...   Thursday, July 17 View Page sprayed a mixture of whole milk, malathion, quintec and fish and seaweed   Friday, July 18 View Page Seeing that I have never measured my weenie before I measured the same as a pumpkin, cc 44.5, ss 24.5, ee 32, ( 101 ott ). I feel so much better now..   Sunday, July 20 View Page 30 day numbers on my 749 est are cc 111, ss 69, ee 69, ( 249 0tt )..   Sunday, July 20 View Page Sprayed surround and infuse..   Thursday, July 24 View Page 20 day cc on my 483 is 67". My camera is down for the count so no pictures for a while. I also set up one pumpkin on the 224 Risi to grow on blossom, will set up one more on this plant very soon. Stay tuned for more up to the minute updates from the land where things aren't normal..   Friday, July 25 View Page Put this in garage today, with a little luck it will be a carver at the fair...   Saturday, July 26 View Page 30 day numbers on 1107 Zunino are cc 95, ss 67, ee 62 ( 224 ott ). Not too bad considering there is only about 1/3 of a plant feeding this. Only 5 weeks till Woodstock Fair..   Saturday, July 26 View Page 30 day numbers on my 1000.5 are cc 103, ss 73, ee 71 ( ott 247 ).   Saturday, July 26 View Page My limp weenie at day ? cc 51, ss 28, ee 35 ( 114 ott )   Wednesday, July 30 View Page 40 day numbers on my 749 est are cc 134, ss 83, ee 81, ( 298 ott ).. I know this is not up to some peoples standards but this old guy is happy. There you have another up to the min report for the land where things are not normal..Stay tuned for more updates in the very near future..   Sunday, August 3 View Page 30 day numbers on my 483 are cc 98, ss 73, ee 69, ( 240 ott ). Due to camera issues there are no pictures again..   Sunday, August 3 View Page After a call to my electronics expert and my honey playing with it the camera works. For how long no one knows. This is my 483 at 30 days..   Sunday, August 3 View Page Almost pulled my weenie today, plant looks older than I do. cc 55, ss 30, ee 38, ( 123 ott ). It is still growing but very slowly, won't be long now..   Tuesday, August 5 View Page 40 day numbers on 1107 are cc 104, ss 73, ee 68, ( 245 ott ). I am happy with this seeing there is only about 1/3 of a plant..My goal was 400 lbs by Woodstock Fair, I may pass this. Another carver Gene..   Tuesday, August 5 View Page 40 day numbers on 1000.5 are cc 119, ss 83, ee 81, ( 283 ott ).   Thursday, August 7 View Page On one of my plants I decided to grow 4 pumpkins, a drop and a carver and possibly two to sell..........So this morning I go out and lift the sheets, and what do I find ?   Thursday, August 7 View Page I find this.   Thursday, August 7 View Page And this.   Thursday, August 7 View Page What are the odds that this one   Thursday, August 7 View Page And this one are going to make it ? I would bet they are not good at all.. Oh well....   Saturday, August 9 View Page 50 day numbers on 749 est are cc 151, ss 88, ee 87, ( 326 ott ).   Tuesday, August 12 View Page 39.5 day numbers on my 483 are cc 111, ss85, ee 79, ( 275 ott ). Weather is suppose to be lousy tomorrow so I measured tonight.   Friday, August 15 View Page 50 day numbers on 1107 are cc 107, ss 76, ee 69, ( 252 ott )   Friday, August 15 View Page 50 day numbers on 1000.5 are cc 123, ss 87, ee 85, ( 295 ott )   Tuesday, August 19 View Page 60 day numbers on 749 are cc 151, ss 91, ee 90 ( 332 ott )This will be my Woodstock Fair pumpkin..   Thursday, August 21 View Page Just got to love renovations..............   Sunday, August 24 View Page 51 day numbers on my 483 are cc 123, ss 94, ee 87, ( 304 ott )   Monday, August 25 View Page 60 day numbers on 1107 are cc 114, ss 78, ee 72, ( 264 ott ). Still growing, not bad at all.   Monday, August 25 View Page 60 day numbers on my 1000.5 are cc 127, ss 90, ee 87, ( 304 ott ). This will be my woodstock pumpkin, not the 749..   Wednesday, August 27 View Page My neighbors rule......   Wednesday, August 27 View Page All loaded for Woodstock Fair ....   Friday, August 29 View Page This is how you pick a pumpkin   Friday, August 29 View Page And the winner is Paul Faulk   Friday, August 29 View Page You should always polish your weenie before showing it off at the fair..   Friday, August 29 View Page Me and my limp Weenie..   Friday, August 29 View Page This picture is Flat Norm approved..   Saturday, August 30 View Page My new calling..   Saturday, August 30 View Page Happy Birthday Elisha   Saturday, August 30 View Page I don't think Joe had this in mind when he started this seed..   Saturday, August 30 View Page One lucky man..   Sunday, August 31 View Page I didn't listen..   Sunday, August 31 View Page What a good sport Randy is..   Sunday, August 31 View Page It started like this.   Sunday, August 31 View Page Then there was this.   Sunday, August 31 View Page And then there was this   Sunday, August 31 View Page Finished   Sunday, August 31 View Page Someone did a real nice job here.   Monday, September 1 View Page The last carving..   Monday, September 1 View Page The end..   Tuesday, September 2 View Page 74 day numbers on my 749 are cc159, ss 91, ee 91 ( 341 ott ).. Plant has been taken over by weeds like usually happens here this time of year. Only if I had the same enthusiasm now as I did in May, maybe I could grow a pumpkin.   Tuesday, September 2 View Page 60 day numbers on my 482 are cc 132, ss 97, ee 89, ( 318 ott )   Wednesday, September 3 View Page Things are starting to look abbynormal at the Bates Motel...This has been another up to the minute brought to you by Flat Norm. Stay tuned for more.   Thursday, September 4 View Page 70 day numbers on 1107 are cc 113, ss 80, ee 72, ( 265 ott ). By these measurements it only gained one inch over the last 10 days. The cc was bigger last time so I am not putting much faith in these, but the color ain't all that bad.. Wilbur this one is going to VT.   Thursday, September 4 View Page Did I forget to mention the three culls like this on the 1107, they probably weigh as much as the keeper. I know a couple little kids that will appreciate them so all is not lost. This has been another up to the minute report for the land where things are not normal.   Monday, September 8 View Page 80 day numbers on my 749 are exactly the same as day 74, the only thing growing here are the weeds. I swore I would never use roundup in the garden but that is coming to an abrupt change.............   Friday, September 12 View Page 70 day numbers on my 482 are cc 132, ss 99, ee 91, ( 322 ott ). Things have not changed much in the last 10 days except the weeds are getting healthier by the minute. Have to work harder on that next year. This has been another up to the minute report from the land where things are not normal.   Friday, September 19 View Page Went to Block Island today   Friday, September 19 View Page Didn't see one pumpkin.   Friday, September 26 View Page All loaded for either Maine or Vermont, I want to go to both but that just ain't going to happen..   Saturday, September 27 View Page He's back.   Saturday, September 27 View Page And he got the Dill Award..   Saturday, September 27 View Page I was told that I could be anybody I wanted to, so guess who I chose ?   Tuesday, September 30 View Page Went back to Block Island, found some waterfront property that looked interesting..   Tuesday, September 30 View Page Come on Powerball..   Tuesday, September 30 View Page Still didn't find any pumpkins.   Thursday, October 2 View Page Someone got orange..   Thursday, October 2 View Page Someone got a greenie..   Thursday, October 2 View Page Someone got a melon..   Friday, October 3 View Page Loaded for Topsfield, don't tell anyone but I used two pallets under this one so it would look manly..   Friday, October 3 View Page This is proper weighoff attire.   Friday, October 3 View Page Went to Topsfield and came in 25th out of 28 with a 451 lb pumpkin. But this was the highlight of my night seeing Russ get his first official weight and the HD off one of my seeds. Way to go Russ.   Sunday, October 5 View Page Nice melon Mr. Gene   Sunday, October 5 View Page Mr. Horton   Sunday, October 5 View Page That abbynormal guy   Sunday, October 5 View Page Bry   Sunday, October 5 View Page Uncle Al   Sunday, October 5 View Page The Mayor of Prudence Island   Sunday, October 5 View Page Green Gene   Sunday, October 5 View Page Way to go Joe   Sunday, October 5 View Page Great job Russ, by the way that was grown on a Gansert seed..   Sunday, October 5 View Page Nice job Mr. Ed   Sunday, October 5 View Page Peter , you always find a way   Sunday, October 5 View Page Nice job Tom   Sunday, October 5 View Page Got Wood   Sunday, October 5 View Page Armand   Sunday, October 5 View Page The only female grower Amanda Kaczenski   Sunday, October 5 View Page George and Maryanne   Sunday, October 5 View Page Joe Goetze   Sunday, October 5 View Page The Breznicks   Sunday, October 5 View Page Top secret   Sunday, October 5 View Page Always a crowd favorite, Joe Post and family   Sunday, October 5 View Page Great job Gary   Sunday, October 5 View Page And the winner is Hiram Watson and family.. Awesome job.   Tuesday, October 7 View Page Bart, Bart, Bart, this is the ultimate spy tour vehicle...   Saturday, October 11 View Page Loaded and on rain delay..   Monday, October 13 View Page Charlie's back and he is not taking prisoners.   Monday, October 13 View Page This is how everyone should feel after weighing their pumpkin..   Monday, October 13 View Page Another happy camper,Norm Buck.   Monday, October 13 View Page I was in the lead, then they ruined it and weighed Pete's pumpkin.   Monday, October 13 View Page Mike Oliver and his little girls.   Monday, October 13 View Page Gene with his bride and personal best..   Monday, October 13 View Page Russ with his personal best.   Monday, October 13 View Page I found out if you kneel on the scale it helps your weight out   Monday, October 13 View Page Show off.   Monday, October 13 View Page Pete hard at work.   Monday, October 13 View Page Nice squash Mr. Horton.   Monday, October 13 View Page Do you know this man ?   Monday, October 13 View Page My adopted son Bry   Monday, October 13 View Page Big squash   Monday, October 13 View Page Nice job Art   Monday, October 13 View Page The Mayor of Prudence Island. Vote for Ed he won't raise your taxes.   Monday, October 13 View Page The Breznicks made the trip..   Monday, October 13 View Page Mark, it was good to see you.   Monday, October 13 View Page This man needs no introduction.   Monday, October 13 View Page The end.   Tuesday, October 28 View Page BOO   Sunday, November 2 View Page It's alive   Saturday, November 15 View Page How I spent my day, thanks Russ.   Sunday, November 16 View Page Oh Yeah   Wednesday, December 10 View Page The plasters are done, while some are going to be stressed all winter trying to get every seed possible, wondering if they planted the right cover crop. I am going to sit back stress free and paint two rooms in The Bates Motel.. New room rates will be a reflection of this..