Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 149 Entries. Friday, January 1 View Page Happy New Year everyone...   Thursday, January 7 View Page Yesterday was a great day in abbynormal's neighborhood..   Wednesday, January 13 View Page Another fine day in Abbynormal's neighborhood..   Tuesday, February 2 View Page Made 3 passes with the tiller today.. 95% of the garden is ice free, so I pulled an early soil sample...   Monday, February 8 View Page Sent out my soil sample today. Earliest I have ever sent one..   Wednesday, February 24 View Page Got my soil test back today and I feel like I am headed in the right direction.........Life is good..   Saturday, March 12 View Page Home of my new garden in my dreams..   Sunday, March 20 View Page Winter storm warnings tonight. Most people are out buying bread and milk. I went out and bought 5" peat pots and seed starting mix.. Let it snow..   Wednesday, March 23 View Page Put out 6 cold frames today.. Still behind Gary Vincent..   Thursday, March 31 View Page So you work hard to get all your huts out early, and one day with 40 mph gusts seems to change the scenery.. 4 out of the 8 pulled the stakes out and moved.. This one can be saved, two others are in garage and one is destroyed...Life goes on..   Tuesday, April 5 View Page I will never ever start early again.. I don't care how big the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is.. This is just too much stress for me..   Sunday, April 10 View Page Picked up a new tiller and operator today...   Wednesday, April 13 View Page Started 8 melons today, two 296.5 Barber, two 192.5 Blair and four 232.5 Barber... I want one 232.5 Barber for myself the rest are for my friend Russ..   Wednesday, April 13 View Page Put out amendments and tilled area for 5 pumpkins and melon today.. Spread 100 lbs of kelp, 100 lbs of 0-0-50, about 40 lbs of feathermeal and about 25 lbs of bloodmeal and 30 lbs of humic acid over 5000 sq ft... Finish the last 2 plants tomorrow along with a spring cover crop..   Wednesday, April 13 View Page New and improved melon hut, direct from the JGR wind tunnel...   Friday, April 15 View Page 3 days and many Ibuprofen later amendments are spread and tilled in, cover crop is spread and raked in.. I can see a couple days of rest from garden is in my future.. This is another up to the minute update live from abbynormalville.   Sunday, April 17 View Page It was sure nice not to play in the garden yesterday...   Wednesday, April 20 View Page I was going to start my seeds today but I got distracted.. There is always tomorrow..   Thursday, April 21 View Page 6:30 pm all seeds are in germ box,, 359 Foss, 777 Young, 811 Gerhardt, 1059 Vincent McGill, and my 900, 975 and 1000.5.. Good luck everyone... Orange rules..   Friday, April 22 View Page The Bates Motel Critter relocation program proudly is serving it's first client of the season...   Monday, April 25 View Page First round of germinations done, went 8 for 10 on melons and 9 for 10 on pumpkins.. Only pumpkin not to germ was 777 Young. Started another 777 and two 1048 Engels ( 777 x self ).. Can you tell i really want that 777 in my line up.. This has been another up to the min update from the land of the not normal one..   Friday, May 6 View Page 777 Young, 811 Gerhardt and 1059 Vincent McGill went in the ground this morning.. The remaining plants should see dirt tomorrow..   Saturday, May 7 View Page I finished putting my plants in the ground this morning.. The almost full line up is 777 Young, 811 Gerhardt, 1059 Vincent McGill, 359 Foss, 900, 975.5 and 1000.5 Gansert.. I have one more to plant which I started as a back up to 777 and is a 777 selfed.. Shannon I wonder what seed that is.. I will plant that in about a week..I also put a 232 Barber melon in the ground.. This has been another up to the minute update from the world of abbynormal..   Tuesday, May 10 View Page Glad I covered my huts last night, if you look hard you can see a little frost on the grass this morning..   Tuesday, May 10 View Page Tilled an area 20 x 20 to grow one of my back ups, the 1048 Engel..I will grow this in a flag pattern..   Tuesday, May 10 View Page 1048 Engel   Sunday, May 15 View Page I seen this on my hike yesterday.. I really like these people who ever they are..   Monday, May 16 View Page Couple more and I can have a winter coat...   Wednesday, May 18 View Page Sexting Sue Barber.. Cathy said you can't touch or laugh..   Saturday, May 21 View Page Spent yesterday with my oldest grandson on Block Island.. I am getting a little plump.. Time to make some adjustments..   Saturday, May 21 View Page Time for a few pictures of little plants.... 777 Young...   Saturday, May 21 View Page 811 Gerhardt..   Saturday, May 21 View Page 1059 Vincent McGill.. Everything in my garden is or will be related to this seed at some point...   Saturday, May 21 View Page 359 Foss   Saturday, May 21 View Page 900 Gansert   Saturday, May 21 View Page 975 Gansert   Saturday, May 21 View Page 1000.5 Gansert.. Without kick stand leaf, first plant to lay down. I did a little weeding in the huts, plants are coming along fine in my opinion, other opinions may differ but I am happy.. This has been another up to the minute update form abbynormalville.. Stay tuned for more..   Saturday, May 28 View Page The 232 Barber, better known as The Weenie just loving the heat.. See if with improved weed control I can get closer to the 200 lb mark..   Tuesday, May 31 View Page Spread about 25 lbs of feathermeal ahead of the huts and tilled... Took 6 huts off. 777 Young closest, 811 Gerhardt in middle and 1059 Vincent McGill on the end.. Other plants out of huts today are 1000.5 and 975.5 Gansert and 359 Foss...   Thursday, June 2 View Page I mowed the cover crop on the bottom two plants and tilled about 6 to 8 foot ahead of them. Next year I will not put a cover crop in this area.. Too much work for me.. The rye in between the two plants will be turned by hand.. Removed the cold frame from my 900 which is the closest plant.. This has been another up to the minute update from the land of the abbynormal one..   Friday, June 10 View Page Nothing better than the smell of liquid fish ferts in the morning..   Friday, June 10 View Page My son and grandsons..   Sunday, June 12 View Page Last plant out of hoop is the 1048 Engel..I will grow this in a flag pattern.. All that is left in cold frame is my melon and that should come out Tuesday.. Life is good..   Monday, June 13 View Page The Bates Motel has it's own School.. If your lucky you could be just like me when you are all growed up..   Wednesday, June 15 View Page You could spend 350 on a Dosatron or for under 10.00 you could have an Abbytron.   Wednesday, June 15 View Page Secret sauce which is a mixture of WOW and Hollands products, along with some stuff from Walgreens Pharmacy..   Wednesday, June 15 View Page Sexting Sue Barber   Wednesday, June 15 View Page Sexting Sue Barber   Wednesday, June 15 View Page It's A L I V E   Sunday, June 19 View Page Good morning world..   Monday, June 20 View Page I AM KING..   Tuesday, June 21 View Page For some reason I am having issues posting pictures at the moment. I caught the second woodchuck yesterday and relocated it to the dump. I am rooting for the Coyote's, hope they enjoy the dinner I brought them..Plants are doing well should be able to start polinations by the end of the week...   Wednesday, June 22 View Page First polination of season 1059 Vincent McGill x 811 Gerhardt.   Thursday, June 23 View Page Polinated my 975.5 with 811 Gerhardt..   Friday, June 24 View Page Polinated 811 with my 1000.5.. Polinated 1000.5 with 811..   Sunday, June 26 View Page 900 Gansert x 777 Young   Monday, June 27 View Page Did 4 polinations this morning, 777 Young x 1000.5 Gansert, 359 Foss x 777 Young, 1059 Vincent McGill x 811 Gerhardt ( second on maim ), also 975 Gansert x 811 Gerhardt ( second on main )..   Tuesday, June 28 View Page *11 Gerhardt x 1000.5 Gansert ( second one on main )   Wednesday, June 29 View Page 1000.5 Gansert x 811 Gerhardt ( second on main )   Thursday, June 30 View Page Did 3 polinations this morning, all the second on main ..777 Young x 1000. 5 Gansert plus a horney bee so we have an open here.359 Foss x 777 Young and 900 Gansert x 777 Young.   Friday, July 1 View Page Two more polinations today both third one on main.. 1059 x 811 and 359 x 777.. Decision time very soon..   Monday, July 4 View Page Today is commitment day one.. I went down to one pumpkin on the 359 Foss. I picked the one polinated on 6-27..Tomorrow will be the 1059s turn..   Tuesday, July 5 View Page Polinated the 777 Young this morning with my 1000.5 and I even got it all closed up before any bee's got in it this time.. Hope it takes...   Tuesday, July 5 View Page Committed to pumpkin polinated on 6-22 on 1059 Vincent McGill, I also cut off pumpkin polinated on 6-23 on my 975.5.. More decisions tomorrow..Stay tuned..   Wednesday, July 6 View Page 5:30 am. Polinated 1048 Engel x 811 Gerhardt..Going to be in mid 90s today with high humidity.. I will cover with cooler wrapped in aluminum foil to try and save this, if not I have another chance in a couple days..   Sunday, July 10 View Page Did my last polination of season today, 1048 Engel x 811 Gerhardt.. I probably won't keep this but I did it anyway.. I also committed to pumpkin polinated on 6-27 on my 975 and I also committed to pumpkin polinated on 6-30 on 777 Young..I had a bee fly in this one before I could bag it, so I guess it is an open, with great shape.. 777 Young x 1000.5 Gansert plus bee...   Tuesday, July 12 View Page 20 day cc on 1059 is 65.5".   Thursday, July 14 View Page I have a pumpkin set on all plants.. I made my final commitment today.. I am keeping the pumpkin polinated on 7-6 on the 1048 Engel.. Stay tuned..   Monday, July 18 View Page 20 day cc on 811 is 69". 21 day cc on 975 is 71".   Tuesday, July 19 View Page 20 day cc on my 1000.5 is 72".   Wednesday, July 20 View Page 20 day cc on 777 is 78".   Wednesday, July 20 View Page 20 day cc on 900 Gansert is 78".   Thursday, July 21 View Page I'm back..   Thursday, July 21 View Page 1059 Vincent McGill at one day less than 30 days..   Friday, July 22 View Page 30 day numbers on 1059 Vincent McGill are cc 106, ss 71, ee 70, ( 247 ott ). I was happy with that till I read the LL diary.. I guess we need more donuts for me and the pumpkin..   Saturday, July 23 View Page Went on the Team Pumpkin patch tour today.. I saw some very interesting stuff.. I may not have the biggest stuff out there but I sure feel good where I am at..   Tuesday, July 26 View Page 20 day cc on 1048 Engel is 65".   Wednesday, July 27 View Page 30 day numbers on 359 Foss are cc 119, ss 83, ee 77, ( 279 ott )..   Wednesday, July 27 View Page 30 day numbers on my 975.5 are cc 110, ss 67, ee 72, ( 249 ott )..   Thursday, July 28 View Page 30 day numbers on 811 Gerhardt are cc 107, ss 81, ee 74, ( 262 ott ).   Friday, July 29 View Page 30 day numbers on my 1000.5 are cc 113, ss 74, ee 72, ( 259 ott ). This one is going to grow over on it's blossom, not what I hoped for but what is life without a challenge..   Saturday, July 30 View Page 30 day numbers on 777 Young are cc 114, ss 86, ee 79, ( 279 ott ).   Saturday, July 30 View Page 30 day numbers on 900 Gansert are cc 113, ss 81, ee 75, ( 269 ott ).   Monday, August 1 View Page 40 day numbers on 1059 Vincent McGill are cc 127, ss 83, ee 84, ( 294 0tt ).   Friday, August 5 View Page 30 day numbers on 1048 Engel are cc 94, ss 72, ee 68, ( 234 ott ). I am growing this in a flag pattern so there is only half a plant.. Shannon, I think it will be orange..   Friday, August 5 View Page Got Orange !!   Saturday, August 6 View Page 40 day numbers on 359 Foss are cc 144, ss 97, ee 92, ( 333 ott ). This will be my Woodstock Fair entry if I can coax it through this month.. It has a stem split that I have been playing doctor too for about a week...   Saturday, August 6 View Page 40 day numbers on my 975.5 are cc 128, ss 79, ee 84, ( 291 ott )..   Saturday, August 6 View Page Thank you Mr. Phil.. I think the word limp belongs on the shirt for this year..   Monday, August 8 View Page 40 day numbers on my 1000.5 are cc 134, ss 84, ee 82, ( 302 ott ).   Monday, August 8 View Page 41 day numbers on 811 Gerhardt are cc 128, ss 95, ee 86, ( 309 ott ).   Monday, August 8 View Page I was afraid this was going to happen..The 359 Foss went down to stem split today.. I really liked everything about this pumpkin, shape and color were good.. Loved the cross.. I guess shit happens..   Tuesday, August 9 View Page 40 day numbers on my 900 are cc 136, ss 98, ee 88, ( 322 ott ).   Tuesday, August 9 View Page 40 day numbers on 777 Young are cc 135, ss 99, ee 90, ( 324 ott ).   Wednesday, August 10 View Page Welcome to the silly season...   Thursday, August 11 View Page 50 day numbers on 1059 Vincent McGill are cc 140, ss 90, ee 90, ( 330 ott ).   Friday, August 12 View Page Last post should be ( 320 ott ).. Old people..   Saturday, August 13 View Page Spent the day cleaning out around the stumps, with the heat and humidity I took many breaks and drank plenty of soda.. All stumps look good, will spend more time out there tomorrow..   Monday, August 15 View Page 40 day numbers on 1048 Engel are cc 111, ss 85, ee 78, ( 274 ott ).. This is right in the middle of the 993s I grew in flag pattern last season, so life is good..   Tuesday, August 16 View Page 50 day numbers on my 975 are cc 139, ss 86, ee 90, ( 315 ott )..So far it is either this or my 900 that will go to Woodstock fair..   Wednesday, August 17 View Page 50 day numbers on 811 Gerhardt are cc 140, ss 102, ee 102, ( 334 ott )..   Thursday, August 18 View Page 50 day numbers on my 1000.5 are cc 146, ss 94, ee 90, ( 330 ) ott..   Friday, August 19 View Page 50 day numbers on my 900 are cc 150, ss 106, ee 94, ( 350 ott ).   Friday, August 19 View Page 50 day numbers on 777 Young are cc 144, ss 105, ee 96, ( 345 ott ).   Sunday, August 21 View Page 60 day numbers on 1059 Vincent McGill are cc 148, ss 93, ee 95, ( 336 ott ).These numbers don't sound like much, but they are ahead of my 1131 from 2010.. So life is good..This has been another up to the minute update from the land of the abbynormal one.. Stay tuned..   Thursday, August 25 View Page 50 day numbers on 1048 Engel are cc 120, ss 92, ee 77, ( 289 ott ).Not to shabby of a half plant.. I had company today, found a few bite marks in my 900.. Time to bait the traps again. I have been a little lazy lately..   Friday, August 26 View Page 60 day numbers on my 975 are cc 143, ss 88, ee 92, ( 323 ott ). This will be my Woodstock Fair pumpkin.. If it goes 50% heavy I have a winner..   Saturday, August 27 View Page 60 day numbers on 811 Gerhardt are cc 144, ss 102, ee 94, ( 340 ott ). Nice looking pumpkin with fugly, grumpy old guy.. Growth has slowed to a crawl but I am still happy with it.. Life is good..   Sunday, August 28 View Page 60 day numbers on my 1000.5 are cc157, ss 101, ee 94, ( 342 ott ).   Sunday, August 28 View Page 59 day numbers on 777 Young are cc 148, ss 108, ee 99, ( 355 ott ).   Sunday, August 28 View Page 59 day numbers on my 900 are cc 159, ss 111, ee 98, ( 368 ott ).. This is the first pumpkin I have tape over 1000 in a few years.. Life is good.   Wednesday, August 31 View Page 70 day numbers on 1059 Vincent McGill are cc 154, ss 96, ee 96, ( 346 ott ). This is still ahead of my 1131.. What are the odds this one goes heavy also ? Jim, I think I got the math right this time..   Wednesday, August 31 View Page Ready for the Woodstock Fair..   Friday, September 2 View Page Some days it's better to be lucky, because I sure got lucky with this one... This is the 830 Gansert, my first HD award of the season.. I hope it isn't the last..   Sunday, September 4 View Page 60 day numbers on 1048 Engel are cc 126, ss 96, ee 80, ( 302 ott ).   Monday, September 5 View Page Lloyd,, I like your pumpkin..   Tuesday, September 6 View Page 70 day numbers on 811 Gerhardt are cc 145, ss 103, ee 83, ( 341 ott ). This is basically the same as 10 days ago, maybe I took the wrong pumpkin to the Woodstock Fair..   Tuesday, September 6 View Page In the last entry the ee should be 93,, old people, just can't take them anywhere..   Thursday, September 8 View Page 70 day numbers on 777 Young are cc 155, ss 110, ee 102, ( 367 ott ). I now have two taping over 1000.. It has been a while.   Thursday, September 8 View Page 70 day numbers on my 900 are cc 164, ss 113, ee 101, ( 376 ott ).   Thursday, September 8 View Page 70 day numbers on my 1000.5 are cc 159, ss105, ee 95, ( 359 ott ). 12 days to Durham, hang in there.. The other two I measured today are on day 69 not 70.. Who ever said you get better with age couldn't have been over 30..   Saturday, September 10 View Page 80 day numbers on 1059 Vincent McGill are cc 157, ss 97, ee 98, ( 352 ott )..   Tuesday, September 13 View Page Got Orange..   Thursday, September 15 View Page 811 Gerhardt heading to Rochester Fair..   Friday, September 16 View Page To the Fair..   Sunday, September 18 View Page I came in 11th with my stemless pumpkin that had been off the vine for a week.. I got it weighed so I guess I have nothing to complain about..   Sunday, September 18 View Page Russ came in 4th and got the HD award..   Sunday, September 18 View Page Russ and his HD..   Sunday, September 18 View Page We Have a winner.. I hear rumor he has two bigger, bet that will make people rethink where they will be weighing this year..   Sunday, September 18 View Page 1000.5 loaded for Durham a couple days early...   Wednesday, September 21 View Page I would like to say nice job to all that set up the Durham Fair weighoff last night... I think it went very well, great job guys.. I came in either 6th or 7th with an 1146 lb pumpkin off my own seed.. First one over 1000 in a few years.. Wish I brought my camera,, just can't take old people anywhere..   Wednesday, September 21 View Page Welcome to Durham Fair..   Thursday, September 22 View Page 1048 Engel all loaded for VT.   Sunday, September 25 View Page Came in 11th in VT was a great day.. Shannon can you see a little green in my pumpkin..   Sunday, September 25 View Page Top 3 pumpkins and a group shot in VT.. Some grumpy old guy by the name of Bart won and there was a tie between Wilbur Horton and John and Kerry Young for second.. Had a great day more to come..   Monday, September 26 View Page This pumpkin was grown in a flag pattern, somewhere between 350 and 400 sq ft. The area was not amended, I just pulled a few weeds and tilled, Not bad in my opinion..   Tuesday, September 27 View Page Welcome to The Bates Motel..   Friday, September 30 View Page 777 Young ready to lift.. If anyone has a spare 777 or two they received directly from John and don't plan to grow please let me know..   Friday, September 30 View Page Loaded for Topsfield..   Saturday, October 1 View Page Went to Topsfield last night and had a great time..I came in 10th overall, won another HD and was the largest pumpkin entered from RI.. I was the only one entered from RI but I will take it   Saturday, October 1 View Page Group shot with Steve and his site record...   Sunday, October 2 View Page Went to Sanford Maine and forgot my camera again, so the only picture is in the truck.. The 1059 Vincent McGill turned into the 1044 Gansert.. ( 1059 Vincent McGill x 811 Gerhardt )   Sunday, October 2 View Page I have told Joe Jutras my goal was to grow a pumpkin as nice as his 1225, well I think I may have done it....   Thursday, October 6 View Page Loaded for Frerich's Farm....   Sunday, October 9 View Page A fitting end to my best overall season ever.   Tuesday, October 25 View Page 787 made a good jack.. ( 811 Gerhardt x 1000.5 Gansert )   Sunday, October 30 View Page Welcome to The Ocean House..   Wednesday, November 2 View Page Tilled the top six spots this morning finish the rest another day...   Friday, November 25 View Page Went to the Ocean House with my buddy Gene and opened my 1223.5.. To my surprise it was in great shape inside and had a good seed count... To the 12 people out there looking for a seed, life is good...