Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 155 Entries. Sunday, January 5 View Page Happy New Year to all of you.   Sunday, January 5 View Page This is a picture of my 40" ring with 12 straps. It is a little hard to get a real pumpkin in January. The ballon pumpkin has an ott 445 inches and would represent 1745 lbs.   Sunday, January 5 View Page This is a video about the 40" ring.https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=729508657061242&set=vb.280522871959825&type=2&theater   Sunday, January 5 View Page This a video of my 27" pumpkin lifting ring.https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=730102750335166   Sunday, January 5 View Page This is a close up of my 40" lifting ring with 12 straps.   Monday, January 6 View Page Good luck growing in 2014. Hope you need me to help you lift your pumpkin.   Monday, January 6 View Page Don, I know that you have big plans for 2014. I have found the trailer that you need to haul your Monster. It has 10 axles and 8 tires per axle, a total of 80 tires. I believe it will be adequate for anything you might to transport.   Monday, January 13 View Page This is my newest addition to lifting rings. It is a watermelon lifting ring. I am testing it with 500 lbs of drill steel.   Monday, January 13 View Page My melon lifting ring. The ring consists of the same rings I make my pumpkin lifting rings with. There are 3 ring welded and supported with 1/4" cold rolled steel. The ring is 13" x 39" and has 8 straps and a closing straps. All straps are 1" tubular nylon rated for 4,200 lbs. I am rating the ring for 800 lbs. I have 2, 5 gallon buckets taped together to look like a melon. The ring can be adjusted by lengthening or shorting straps where attached to the ring.   Monday, January 13 View Page My melon lifting ring. The ring consists of the same rings I make my pumpkin lifting rings with. There are 3 ring welded and supported with 1/4" cold rolled steel. The ring is 13" x 39" and has 8 straps and a closing straps. All straps are 1" tubular nylon rated for 4,200 lbs. I am rating the ring for 800 lbs. I have 2, 5 gallon buckets taped together to look like a melon. The ring can be adjusted by lengthening or shorting straps where attached to the ring.   Monday, January 13 View Page The melon ring has 6 straps on the side and one on each end totaling 8 traps. This ring was made and donated to Susan Barber for the Watermelon Growers auction on January 18th. A Dori Sling is included with the melon ring. I have these for sale for $150 plus shipping. I will include a Dori Sling a $35 item with each order.   Monday, January 13 View Page This is my little biddy squash I grew this year. It is the only fruit that made it to a weight off at 418 lbs. Dori my better half painted it to go in our front yard.   Monday, January 13 View Page Testing one of my 27" pkn lifting rings with approximately 2,800 lbs. In the background was a little buck watching us.   Monday, January 13 View Page Hanging Dori's 4 wheeler so I could attach the mount for the snow plow. It has done a lot of plowing over the years.   Monday, January 13 View Page My trademark I put on all of my lifting rings and Dori Slings. The other side is engraved with the weight rating of the product.   Monday, January 13 View Page Digging my dino squash out of the 14" of snow to cut it up for seeds and then to feed sheep. It was small at 418 lbs but was the biggest grown in Utah this year.   Monday, January 13 View Page Rest in peace "Dino" squash.   Wednesday, January 15 View Page This is the first pumpkin lifting ring I made. Ring was made out of pipe and welded together. This is my 819.5 pumpkin grown from Julie Young 1354.   Thursday, January 16 View Page This year has been a little mixed up. Sometimes I don't know if I am coming or going.   Tuesday, January 21 View Page Recieved a very nice present today from Cliff White (Quilten Man). Thanks a bunch Cliff   Tuesday, January 21 View Page Tested my 40" Monster Ring today. Pulled it to 4,140 lbs with no problems. It would handle much more.   Tuesday, January 21 View Page This test was done with 6 straps to test the strength of the 40" ring. Assuming a pumpkin weighting 2,400 lbs with 12 straps this would be 200 lbs on each strap. The wider ring puts much less stress on the sides of the pumpkin. This ring with 12 adjustable straps and a bottom closing strap would cost $350 plus shipping.   Wednesday, July 2 View Page It has been sometime since I added to my diary as we are not growing pumpkins this year. My web page has been down for sometime but is back up again. It is getting time to think about getting a new lifting ring. I may not be able to help you if you wait till the last minute. My web page is www.ubgiants.com. on www.facebook.com/ubgiants page are several videos. My email is lee@ccutah.com and my phone is 435 790 1051. Hope you all grow a monster this year   Wednesday, July 2 View Page On my webpage you just click on the picture and it will give you the info about the different rings. I make 40" Monster rings with 12 straps, 27" rings with 12 straps, 13" rings with 6 straps, melon lifting rings with 8 straps. All the straps on the rings are adjustable. Any questions just give me a call 435-790-1051 email me at lee@ccutah.com   Tuesday, July 8 View Page Still having problems with my website. Hope to get them sorted out soon. In the meanwhile if you need a lifting ring, email me lee@ccutah.com or call me 435 790 1051 and we will work things out. Am working on using lifting rings that can be used to hold potted flowers or plants. Pictures will follow soon.   Tuesday, July 8 View Page Have been experimenting with putting potted flowers in my lifting rings for the yard. This way ring(with straps removed) can be used for flowers in spring and summer. The straps can be put back on ring and lift your pkn to go to the weight off. Thus a dual purpose for your lifting ring. Locally I am selling rings just to be used to hold potted flowers. Can be suspended from a tree or perched on top of a metal pole. Will post some pictures in the near future. Also am experimenting with making belt out of lifting ring straps. Also pictures to follow. Still having problems with my website...www.ubgiants.com. Will get the sorted out in the very near future.   Sunday, July 13 View Page Have been using a 27 inch lifting ring with straps removed as a flower planter. A pot has been set in each of the 6 rings on the outside. This way you can use Lee's Rings to hold your flower during the spring and summer. Then put the straps back on the ring to lift your pumpkin   Sunday, July 13 View Page This is another of my 27 inch rings. The flower are in hanging baskets and hung from the outside of the rings.   Sunday, July 13 View Page This is a 40 inch ring that I used in testing and it bent. Have placed it on top of a pipe and 6, 5 gallon sized flower pots have been placed in the rings. Hanging baskets could be hung from the out side as in the 27 inch rings. I am sure you can come up with other ideas to make a ring useful when it is not lifting pumpkins. Just remember to remove the straps and put them in a cool dry place for storage until lifting time comes.   Sunday, July 13 View Page Both 27 inch rings used as planters can be seen in the picture. I can supply at special straps to hang ring from tree branches as in this picture.   Sunday, July 13 View Page This the Shoe Tree in central Nevada. Hundred of pairs of shoes have been thrown up into the tree branches. The tree in along Highway 6 west of Austin, Nevada.   Sunday, July 13 View Page Part of the Shoe Tree in central Nevada   Sunday, July 13 View Page This the only pumpkin we will lift at our place this year as we are not growing. We are treating the patch to get rid of fungus. Time is getting short to get your order in so you will be ready to lift your Monster. I have 40" with 12 straps, 27" with 12 straps and 13" rings with 6 straps in stock and ready for shipment. Email me at lee@ccutah.com or call me at 435 790 1051. To place your order or talk about which ring would suit your needs. My website www.ubgiants.com is still having problems so bear with me till I get them sorted out. Grow a Monster this year!   Sunday, July 13 View Page This my latest item. It is a belt made out of the same strap material as is used on my 40" Monster Ring. I can make the belt with the grower's name and there largest pumpkin.   Sunday, July 13 View Page This is another shot of the belt.   Sunday, July 13 View Page The name of the grower and weight is embroidered on a separate piece of material then I glue and sew it on the belt. Buckles are solid brass and are made so the belt can be adjusted for length.   Monday, July 14 View Page Still fighting my webpage..It is not work. Call me or email me for lifting rings,   Monday, July 21 View Page I am announcing a photo contest of pumpkins being lifted with my lifting rings. I will give prizes for the best photos that is submitted to me, showing the pumpkin being lifted from the patch or at a weighoff using my rings, via my email lee@ccutah.com The winners will be determined by me, my better half, Dori and anyone we pick to help us judge. If a club or weighoff purchases one of my rings to be used at there weighoff, I will donate a ring of equal size to be give as a prize at their weight off.   Monday, July 21 View Page If one of my rings is used to lift a pumpkin or squash that is an official new World Record, I will donate a 40" Monster Ring to the new world record holder. The lifting can be either in the patch or at the weightoff. The pumpkin has be lifted in with one of my rings and a picture taken of it showing the ring.   Monday, July 21 View Page If a club or weight off buys one of my rings for use at their weigh off, I will donate a ring to be given as a prize at their weight off. If you want to purchase a ring to be used at your weight off, please get in contact with me in the near future. Time is getting closer to weigh of time and I need to be sure you get your rings in time for your weight off.   Monday, July 21 View Page My website www.ubgiants.com is still having problems. As soon as I get it working properly I will arrange with Ken D. to advertise on this website. In the meantime email me at lee@ccutah.com or phone 435 790 1051. I hope that I can help you get your prize pumpkin or squash to the scales.   Sunday, July 27 View Page Have been working with pkn lifting rings as a flower planter. At the present I have a 40" Monster ring mounted on a pole with 8 hanging baskets. Have 3-27" rings, 1 has large hanging baskets, 2nd ring has pots in the 6 opening in the lifting ring, 3rd is combination large and small hanging baskets. I will post some pictures soon so you can see how to use your ring spring, summer and fall. Just received some new 27" rings from my welder. Now is a good time to get your order in so you will be ready for weigh off. My website, www.ubgiants.com is working better. The prices include shipping. If you have any questions give me a email or call me by phone.   Sunday, July 27 View Page I am adding a little something to the tags that go on my lifting rings. I am giving them a number and will engrave the name of the buyer. My earlier rings did not have any numbers on them. My rings will always be a limited edition and maybe they will be handed down from Father to Son or be collectors items. I hope they will get a lot of use before then. Using them as flower rings make they very useful for the whole growing season.   Sunday, July 27 View Page In my contest I will give a prize to the largest pumpkin or squash grown by a lady grower and lifted with my rings. Ladies this is your chance to show up the male growers in the pumpkin world. I know my better half, Dori, Worker Bee,is a better grower than I am as she has grown a larger pumpkin than I have. Next summer I will have a photo contest of growers using their rings as flower rings.   Sunday, July 27 View Page Now is the time to get you order in for a melon lifting ring. I have improved the strap system on this ring and it will have 8 adjustable straps of the same material that I use on my pkn lifting rings. These rings will also be numbered and inscribed with the growers name. I will give a melon lifting ring to the grower of a World Record watermelon.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page This a 40" ring that I tested with 2,800 lbs, it bent but did not fail so back to the drawing board and make it stronger. Have mounted it on a 2" pipe and put 6 hanging baskets from the outer rings and a couple smaller baskets higher up.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page Close up of the 40" ring with flower baskets.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page This is another shot of the 40 Monster ring used as a flower planter   Tuesday, July 29 View Page In this picture if you look close there are 4 lifting rings with flowers on them, 40" Monster ring and 3 27" rings.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page This is a 27" ring with both short and long hanging baskets   Tuesday, July 29 View Page There 2 27 rings, the one on the left has pots set in the outer rings. The one on the right has hanging baskets from the edge of the six rings.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page Have a 2 baskets setting on diamond drill cores that are 12" in diameter, that is the drill core. They are setting by my wooden pumpkin in front of our house.   Tuesday, July 29 View Page If you are wondering why all these pictures, there is a reason. You can take the straps off your ring and put them in a safe places and using your ring for flower plants in Spring and Summer. In the fall remove the flowers and re-attach the adjustable straps to lift your pumpkin. This way you get 6 months of use out of your ring not just a weekend. That make a better deal on the pocket book. Maybe your better half will suggest you get a lifting ring so she can show of her flowere. Becky in Hawaii could use orchids, John in Kentucy could use iris. Julie in Iowa has some pretty flowers around the house. Eddy in Canada could grow snow lilies. I think you get the drift. Don't forget my photo contest of pumpkins being lifted with my rings,   Sunday, August 3 View Page This an old Mall chain saw that I have. It has a 4 foot bar with a stinger on the end. The bar is rotated to cut vertical or horizontal.   Sunday, August 3 View Page This is a rear shot of the Mall chain saw. It shows it is a model 7.   Sunday, August 3 View Page Side view of same Mall Chain saw. It shows the carb on the side of the single cylinder engine. Exhaust was on the other side.   Thursday, August 21 View Page Today I deceided to add a few old pictures to my diary. This is my 819 in 2010 grown on Julie's Young 1354. It is being lifted with the 1st lifting ring I built. I was packing a little extra weight myself...you might say "Old, ugly and heavy to chart."   Thursday, August 21 View Page This my better half and the love of my life, Dori with her pb 869 grown on 1704 Urena in 2012. We will celebrate our 50th anniversity this month.   Thursday, August 21 View Page I would like to share some of the things we have seen and enjoy, Bueatiful scenry.   Thursday, August 21 View Page Flowers   Thursday, August 21 View Page A steam engine on the Chamas & Toltec railroad in Colorado   Thursday, August 21 View Page Some of the birds and animals we enjoy seeing, an eagle   Friday, August 22 View Page Ophir,Colorado   Friday, August 22 View Page Lizard Head near Rico, Colorado   Friday, August 22 View Page Behind Engine 485 going from Antonito, Colorado. After crossing the New Mexico/Colorado border 3 or 4 times and a lunch stop then changing of train you arrive in Chamas, Colorado.   Friday, August 22 View Page Trout Lake, Colorado   Friday, August 22 View Page A little buck in Rawlins cemetery   Friday, August 22 View Page Testing a 13" ring for strength.   Friday, August 22 View Page A turkey with cold feet looking for something to eat.   Tuesday, August 26 View Page test   Tuesday, August 26 View Page This is my 40" Monster ring with an air pumpkin with an ott of 445 or 1745 lbs. I believe that there will be several pumpkins lifted this fall that would benefit for a larger lifting ring. see me at www.ubgiants.com   Tuesday, September 2 View Page This is a nice buck   Saturday, September 6 View Page Hi growers, don't wait too long to order your lifting ring. I may not be able to get it to your in time for your weigh off. I have all sizes in stock now.   Friday, September 19 View Page This Dori my better half with her pkn of 2 years ago. Did some testing of my Dori slings today to verify they were up to snuff. Pull tested 2 of them Standard Dori sling I have been making and shipping pulled to 10,420 lbs...no problems New Material Dori sling pulled to 12,480 lbs...no problems Will be making future slings out of the new material. Hope you all can find a 5 ton pkn to try them out.   Friday, September 19 View Page Will post certificate of testing in the near future   Tuesday, September 23 View Page Not growing pkns this year due to soil fungus, So it is time to show a little of what we have been doing. It is time for some deer pictures   Tuesday, September 23 View Page Three bucks   Tuesday, September 23 View Page Well if 3 bucks is not enough maybe a couple more would be okay   Tuesday, September 23 View Page Some more of the same..bucks that is   Tuesday, September 23 View Page This is a few of the bunch of buck we saw   Tuesday, September 23 View Page All standing tall are ready for the photographer   Tuesday, September 23 View Page Actually I made a lot of noise coming up on them and they were checking me out to see what it was   Tuesday, September 23 View Page A little bunch of bucks on the right paying attention to the grandpa on their left   Tuesday, September 23 View Page In the bunch of 23 bucks there were a couple that we like to save for breeding stock. Just like in pkns you need to have a good seed to get any size and it take a little while to get to maturity. So it is with deer. In about 6 weeks they will be in the rut and make next years crop of fawns.   Tuesday, September 23 View Page Didn't have a wide enough lens to take in the whole bunch so this will have to due.   Monday, September 29 View Page Here a small bunch of bucks. My welder made me to very large lifting rings. The larger is almost 48" diameter and weight 55lbs. The other is almost 43" and weights 75 lbs. There is a lot of steel in these rings. Also picked up some more Monster rings as I was out.   Tuesday, September 30 View Page I have been testing my Dori slings for quality control. Pull tested the old webbing material and the new webbing. Old sling pulled to 10,042 lbs.....no problem New webbing pulled to 12,048 lbs...no problem This testing was done by pulling with both loops   Tuesday, September 30 View Page My welder has made me some new bigger rings. The right ring is my 40" Monster ring. The left is a much heavier ring that is approximately 43" diameter. For comparision the Monster ring weights app 54lbs and Heavier ring weights 75 lbs. With the much larger pumpkins that are being grow larger and strong lifting rings are needed.   Tuesday, September 30 View Page This is another heavy ring that is app/ 47" diameter and weights 54 lbs.   Tuesday, September 30 View Page This is Dori,my better half standing in front of the 47" ring and my 27" on her left for comparison.   Tuesday, September 30 View Page These are the Dori slings that I pull tested. They are designed to be put thru the top of a lifting ring and the loops over the on a forklift or the hook on a chain hoist. They are to eliminate a chain hook up that can come unhooked or break.   Tuesday, September 30 View Page I need to correct what I just submitted for weight of rings 40"Monster ring.....40lbs 41.5" ring..........75 lbs 47" ring............54 lbs This is the weight of the ring alone, not including straps   Friday, October 3 View Page Tomorrow will lift one with a ott of 505. Pictures will follow shortly.   Friday, October 3 View Page Judy,(Pumpkin Carver) has Jingles for her cat. My cat is a little bit mean.   Friday, October 3 View Page Judy,(Pumpkin Carver) has Jingles for her cat. My cat is a little bit mean.   Friday, October 3 View Page But he is sneaky and understands camo   Saturday, October 4 View Page I wish he had the energy or ability to jump over a fence. I can't even get over with out getting hung up..lol   Saturday, October 4 View Page Some morning I am feeling pretty good but not good enough to earn my Wheaties by fighting.   Saturday, October 4 View Page We live in the land of giants and I can buy a dinosaur hunting license. If I bought a dinosaur hunting license and was able to get one I would need to get it into my truck. So I guess I have to make a lifting ring to lift a dinosaur. So that can be my next challenge.   Saturday, October 4 View Page Probably the best way for me to bag a dinosaur would be to drop a pumpkin on it......so I am getting ready for the hunt   Saturday, October 4 View Page I believe that pumpkins and kids go together   Saturday, October 4 View Page Some of the kids that have grown pkns in the Land of the Giants.   Saturday, October 4 View Page Girls and pumpkins always go together   Saturday, October 4 View Page This is how I would feel if I was Matt McConkie and crew when I lifted my pkn to take to Colorado to SkyWizzy's Weigh Off and found the bottom rotten and ended up with a 1412 UOW DAMAGED McConkie.   Saturday, October 4 View Page Wanted to test lifting rings. As I didn't have a pkn to play with got a large round bale of hale to lift.   Saturday, October 4 View Page Unloading the bale with Dori's wheeler.   Saturday, October 4 View Page Wanted to test if the diameter of a lifting ring increased or decreased the side pressure on a pkn. Rigged up my 13" lifting ring with 6 straps. Put a piece of plywood on each side and a bathroom scale under the 2 opposite straps.   Saturday, October 4 View Page Put 2 large spikes in the hay to hold the scales in the same place when lifting. The idea was to use at least 3 different diameter of rings with the same straps in the same place. This was our low tech method to try and determine side pressure when lifting. The same straps, scales and buckles in the same place on bale. The only thing that changed was the ring on top. This is the 13" ring   Saturday, October 4 View Page Ralph Laub helped with the testing. Placed a level on top of the ring to try and get it level and all straps pulling equal. This is my 27" diameter ring.   Saturday, October 4 View Page We would lift the bale off the ground and then look at the scales and record the data. The bale was facing south, so we recorded the scales ready on the west side and east side.   Saturday, October 4 View Page We found when hooking up the straps on this tall bale we had to go to longer straps like I put on my 40"Monster ring. They are 7.5' long where the 13"and 27" are 6.5' long. The closing straps was 28' long and is teal in color. This picture is of 40" ring with Ralph stand on in front for scale. The ott of 505 makes a tall package. I did not have a ott chart for hay so I do not know whether it is light or heavy. We estimated the bale to weigh 1,200 lbs.   Saturday, October 4 View Page We tested 3 large ring..40" Monster ring which weighted 40lbs, 42.5" ring made of very heavy rings which weighted 75lbs, and the largest ring 47.5" which weighted 54 lbs. The weight is of the ring alone, not including straps. The last 2 rings I had made up to consider for very large pkns, ie over 2,000lbs.   Saturday, October 4 View Page This the 47.5"diameter ring   Saturday, October 4 View Page This is looking down from the forks on the 47.5" ring. Results of the test follows: diameter of ring Eastlbs West Average Difference 13" ring 220 195 207.5 27" ring 173 172 172.5 35.0 lbs 40" Monster ring 147 141 144.0 28.5 lbs 42.5" ring 147 135 141.0 12.0 lbs 47.5" ring 136 131 128.5 12.5 lbs   Saturday, October 4 View Page Oops try again Ring Diameter East lbs West lbs Average Difference 13" 220 195 207.5 27" 173 172 172.5 35 lbs 40"Monster 147 141 144.0 28.5 lbs 42.5" 147 135 141.0 3.0 47.5" 126 131 128.5 15.5   Saturday, October 4 View Page Same results...can't get it to go into columns. Conclusion is that the bigger the ring the less side pressure on the pkn. The biggest difference was between the 13" and 27". It helps prove what I had thought. With a small ring you can lift smaller pkns, but with a big one you need a larger ring or risk damage and possible collapse of pkn. My recommendation is 13" ring....up to 1,000 lbs, 27" ring up to 1,500 lbs, anything over 1,500 lbs you need a large diameter ring. These test were done using 6 straps, on the larger rings ie 27" and 40"Monster I put 12 straps. Twice the straps equal 1/2 the side pressure as with 6 straps. Best of the Best to You and Yours   Saturday, October 4 View Page Noticed when checking back on hay bale lift post I have not identified the ring sizes in the picture. I guess I need a magnifying glass so I see what is what when I post it. I can make a very limited number of rings larger that the 40" Monster ring. I would have to buy new ring gaskets as I can not get them from my usual scrap source. Best of the luck at the weight offs.   Sunday, October 5 View Page I want to try and explain the data from lifting ring experiment. BIGGER is Better. All numbers are in lbs...13" ring east 220 west 195 average 207.5...a big difference between the sides. I believe we did not have the hay bale properly rigged up for balance. 27" ring east 173 west 172 average 172.5..The 2 sides had balanced out and 27" ring had a decrease of 35 lbs side pressure over the 13". 40" Monster ring east 147 west 141 average 144...A decrease of 28.5 lbs from 27 ring and 63.5 less than 13" ring. 42.5" ring east 147 west 135 average 141 a decrease of 66.5 on 13" ring, decrease of 31.5 from 27" ring.47.5" Big Daddy ring east 126 west 131 average 128.5. Comparing this to 13" ring 79 lbs less pressure on the sides. Conclusion. Which ring do you want to trust your big pumpkin to. Results again....BIGGER is BETTER in diameter of a strong lifting ring.   Wednesday, October 8 View Page Photo contest is up and running on my website. Anyone that has a phot of a pkn or squash that was lifted with one of my rings is eligible. The purpose of this contest is to get some neat photos that I can use to show off my rings. Also to have a lot of fun. Will have a contest latter that is eligible to everyone. Winners will be determined by people going to the site and voting on the photos. Check it out ...wwwubgiants.com   Wednesday, October 8 View Page Still having problems with photos on my website. Kaarina thanks for posting your pictures. They are there up I have not been able to see them. Back to my computer gal to sort it out.   Friday, October 10 View Page Things never cease to amaze me. Pictures are coming up on my website. So all of you growers that have my lifting ring please submit your pictures. I will be having another contest soon that every grower can enter. Please be patient as it has been slow getting the pictures to appear. Check out my website....www.ubgiants.com   Friday, October 10 View Page Another picture of my 47.5" ring. I just got back from my welder's place and brought a pickup load of 27" and 40" lifting rings. One of these rings could be yours. Order now and get ahead of the rush for next fall. They would make an excellent Christmas gift. This way you can use it as a flower ring all summer and then lift you prize and joy for the weigh off.   Saturday, October 11 View Page Congratulation to Pete and Cindi Glaser with their 2038 Win at Uesugi Farms. They had called me a couple of weeks ago and bought a 40"Monster ring. They said they had a big one and needed a big ring. They did not lie. Out of the 13 top places at Uesugi all over 1,000 lbs, 5 were lifted with my 40" Monster ring. Congrats to all of the growers that went to the weight.   Saturday, October 11 View Page Congrats to Matt McConkie for his 4th place at Uesugi Farms WO and set a new Utah State record 1817. Matt lifted his pumpkin with his 40" Monster ring which he won by setting the Utah State record a couple of weeks ago at 1731.   Monday, October 13 View Page Good Luck to all the growers that have brought their biggest pkn to Half Moon Bay. Now is the time to celebrate and enjoy the results of a long difficult growing season. May one or more of these pkns be large enough to bring the WR back across the water. Congratulation to all of you.   Monday, October 20 View Page Help me create a chart similar to the OTT chart that would show the perfect lifting set up. I need your numbers pkns past and present. I want pkn circumference, Final weight of sound and damaged pkns. Please post info to my comment on premium or other message board. Or email me the info at lee@ccutah.com Thanks for helping me make a better lifting ring to serve you.   Thursday, October 30 View Page New items to be sold on my website...www.ubgiant.com Handmade knives by my friend Jeff. Pictures will be posted soon.   Thursday, October 30 View Page Dori and I have taken thousands of pictures over the years. We will be offering some of these as a limited edition soon. They will be printed on artists canvas. They can be bought unframed or with a barn wood frame. Each picture will be numbered to show the pictures # and how many are in the series for example 1/100, meaning it is the first picture in a series of 100. Prints of pictures will be available shortly. They would make good Christmas gifts. Also am offering a 10% discount on rings. Contact me for details lee@ccutah.coom   Sunday, November 2 View Page Dori is helping me test a melon lifting ring on our dindy melons   Sunday, November 2 View Page Looking down on the melon lifting ring   Sunday, November 2 View Page Sorry can't seem to get a picture download tonight....will try later   Sunday, November 9 View Page A new contest on my website that is open to anyone growing most anything. Old contest of Lee's rings still going on so submit your pictures. Check it out...www.ubgiants.com   Friday, November 28 View Page Testing is ongoing with lifting rings. Interesting things are coming up concerning side pressure when lifting a pumpkin. More details later as testing continues. Short version, BIGGER is BETTER and LONG Straps are better than SHORT straps.   Saturday, November 29 View Page A bull we see saw on the way to pumpkin weigh off at Thanksgiving Point. Have spent the last 2 days testing lifting rings and measuring side pressure to a pumpkin.   Sunday, November 30 View Page Here is a half curl Big Horn ram. Putting together the data from testing lifting rings. Have plotted the data in graphs. Interesting, definitely shows that larger rings and longer straps are needed with large pumpkins.   Sunday, November 30 View Page Bull elk in Strawberry Valley. Plan to put lifting ring data in computer to help plot graphs.   Tuesday, December 2 View Page Putting the test results lifting testing into the computer. It can do the math and plot graphs easier than I can. The big pumpkins that will be grown next year need large rings and long straps.   Saturday, December 6 View Page Charting data of lifting ring project. Deceided I need more data for small pumpkins. So back to testing. Ordered a chain hoist tonite. Will use a tripod and chain hoist. I have to return the extend-a-boom hoist I had borrowed from a friend.   Saturday, December 13 View Page Kids came out and helped us paint our house. Grandkids had a good time painting the wood pumpkin in the front of the house.   Saturday, December 13 View Page This is insane. Tilled the patch yesterday. Had a little trouble with frozen ground but it is Dec 12. Usually we had crystalline H20 on the ground this time of year.   Tuesday, December 23 View Page Still testing lifting rings. Very intesting data is coming up. Now I have to put it all together so it can make sense for pumpkin growers. Have been putting together prizes for photo contest on my website....www.ubgiants.com   Wednesday, December 24 View Page A bueatiful sunset. Merry Christmas to You and Yours   Wednesday, December 24 View Page A young bald eagle which is on the cover of our calendar that we will be giving to winners of the photo contest on my website.   Wednesday, December 24 View Page Have finally finished testing on my lifting ring project. Now just have to put together the data, charts and photos and make some sense of it all. Dori is very glad it is done as she spent several days in the cold with me helping with the tests. A special thanks to her for being the great person to put up with me and my crazy project.   Monday, December 29 View Page This a Howard Dill colored pumpkin grown by Tyler Quigley. It had a split but made a bueatiful display. Please go to my website and vote for the pictures on in the photo contest. I will determine the winners Jan 1st 2015. Vote at ...ubgiants.com   Monday, December 29 View Page A small buck. I just looked a bunch of hand made knives Made by Jeff Hofman, local knife maker. There are some very interesting one of a kind knives which I will soon have for sale on my website...www.ubgiant.com   Monday, December 29 View Page Had a bit of aged manure brought into patch   Monday, December 29 View Page My flower tower is a bit bare this time of the year.   Monday, December 29 View Page Testing of lifting rings on my pink sand pumpkin. Put 6 bathroom scales around the side of the pkn and then lifted it and recorded the side pressures. Tested with short straps close to pkn and then farther away from pkn with longer straps. The circumference of the sand pkn was about 148 inches and weighted around 1450 lbs. This pkn would definitely be heavy to chart.   Monday, December 29 View Page This is an earlier test with a round hay bale with the scales on the sides.   Monday, December 29 View Page Circumference was changed by adding planks or building blocks behind the scales. Weight was changed from around 850 lbs to greater than 1600 by stacking building blocks on top of the hay bale. Each of the 6 scales were recorded and then average to get the average side pressure.   Monday, December 29 View Page Elevation reading of GPS on a trip to Rocky Mountain State Park, Colorado   Monday, December 29 View Page Arizona road game...see who can throw a tire over the arm of a Saguaro cactus at 50 mph.   Monday, December 29 View Page Close up of scale with a 3/4" plywood, 2" plank and 6" building block used to increase the circumference of hay pumpkin   Monday, December 29 View Page Oops no 2" plank on previous picture