Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 102 Entries. Monday, January 2 View Page Happy New Year everyone , may 2017 be a great one..   Monday, January 30 View Page I bet orange would grow good here.   Saturday, February 11 View Page Winter Patch prep coming along just fine...   Thursday, March 9 View Page Great day in Abbynormal's neighborhood...   Wednesday, April 12 View Page Almost finished.. Not sure how much longer I can do the bottom two .. For some reason the tiller keeps putting on weight..   Friday, April 21 View Page As of 8:30 this morning all seeds are filed and soaking.. The list is 359, 377, 777, 811, 975, 1044, 1059, 1146.5, 1223.5, and 1317 .. Best of luck to all this season... Orange rules..   Friday, April 21 View Page All seeds in germ box at 1:30pm.. This is another up to the minute update from the land of abbynormal..   Monday, May 1 View Page I am having some germination issues this season.. Three seeds I really wanted in my line up this season were the 811, 1059 and 777.. Well there will be no 811 or 1059 and I know it's May first but I put my last 2 out of five 777s in germ box this morning..   Tuesday, May 2 View Page Put the 377 Zunino, my 975, 1044 and 1223.5 and 1317 Clementz in the ground today.. Mixed up 4.5 cups of blood meal and 4.5 cups of feathermeal, used 1.5 cups of mix in every hut. I also put a handful of W O W happyroot in every planting hole and it's off to the races.. Best of luck everyone ..   Wednesday, May 3 View Page Was talking to a friend about sharing a genetics garden with 6 plants, so this morning when I woke up at 2am I went rummaging through my seeds to see what I could come up with.. I found a 1059, seeing the previous two didn't germ I figured why not give it a try.. It has no value in a jar, plus it is my favorite orange seed.. Back to the genetics garden, I started a 525 and 931 Kaczenski, 827 and 494 Gansert, 809 Young and 755 Berard.. Going to be a busy summer...   Wednesday, May 3 View Page Put two 823 House's in the germ box at 11:30am.. This is another up to the minute update from the land of abbynormal..   Wednesday, May 10 View Page 359 Foss went in the ground this morning... Thank you Mr. Bill..   Thursday, May 11 View Page All plants are finally in the ground... Due to germination issues ( no 777 or 1059 ) my revised line up is 377 Zunino, 359 Foss, 778 Gansert, 816 Gansert, 975.5 Gansert, 976 Rondeau, 1044 Gansert, 1223.5 Gansert and 1317 Clementz.. I hope they all are orange and HD winners.. Good luck everyone..   Friday, May 12 View Page Pulled a soil sample today.. I am curious to see what the change is from last fall..   Tuesday, May 16 View Page Got a new mower with a fertilizer attachment..   Sunday, May 21 View Page Started a genetics garden with my friend Gene today.. Growing 494 Gansert, 830 Gansert, 809 Young and 823 House.. Each plant will have 2 or 3 pumpkins on it, all pumpkins on a plant will be same cross.. My grandaughter will get a pumpkin this year..   Saturday, May 27 View Page This is my 1223.5.. This and my 1044 are my first two to lay down.. I know that I am a little behind most but no worries all will be fine in the long run.. My soil test came back yesterday and I think all is good in the land of Abbynormal.. Thanks Bry for taking the time to make your soil estimator and thanks Bart for running the numbers for me..   Thursday, June 1 View Page These two young ladies kidnapped me yesterday and took me to my happy place and I loved every minute of it..   Thursday, June 1 View Page Not feeling the love here..   Friday, June 2 View Page First two plants out of cold frames, 377 Zunino on left, 1044 Gansert on right.. This picture was photo shopped so mains look like they are 4 ft instead of 14 ft to protect the already stressed..   Sunday, June 4 View Page My 975, 1223 and the 1317 Clementz went out in the real world today.. The 1223 is closest and 1317 is in back.. Also had to spray a very light mix of warrior for the cuke beetles..   Wednesday, June 14 View Page I acquired a new ez flo injector.. This thing is going to be a great improvement over last years abbytron..   Saturday, June 17 View Page No need to water for a few days I think..   Friday, June 23 View Page Took the day off and went to my happy place today..   Saturday, June 24 View Page Polinated the 1317 Clementz with my 1044 this morning..Life is good..   Sunday, June 25 View Page Polinated 377 Zunino with 1044 Gansert..   Monday, June 26 View Page Polinated 1223.5 Gansert with 816.5 Gansert. Had an open on 377 Zunino, didn't expect that until tomorrow. Another one two ft down main. Life is good..   Tuesday, June 27 View Page Did 5 polinations this morning, 1330 Gansert x 1317 Clementz, 1317 Clementz x 1044 Gansert, 778 Gansert x 377 Zunino, 359 Foss x 778 Gansert, 975.5 Gansert x 816.5 Gansert...   Wednesday, June 28 View Page Polinated 1223.5 x 816.5 ( second one on main ).   Friday, June 30 View Page Polinated 1044 Gansert with 377 Zunino..   Saturday, July 1 View Page 1044 Gansert x 377 Zunino, 377 Zunino x 1044 Gansert, 359 Foss x 778 Gansert, all second on main..   Sunday, July 2 View Page Did three polinations today, 778 Gansert x 377 Zunino, 975.5 Gansert x 816.5 Gansert and 1223.5 Gansert x 816.5 Gansert and a horney Bee ( open ) this will be cut off in a day or two.. Cut off the open on 377, This is another up to the minute update from the world of abbynormal...   Monday, July 3 View Page Polinated 816.5 Gansert x 975.5 Gansert, first one on plant. If it takes it will be only one..Also polinated 1317 Clementz x 1044 Gansert ( third on main and last ), cut pumpkin off 1317 polinated on 6-24.. Would like to do one more on my 1330 and I will be done.   Thursday, July 6 View Page Polinated 359 Foss x 778 Gansert today.. The plant is small and not many side vines, if this takes I will keep it.. This will assure my grandaughters a pumpkin..   Thursday, July 6 View Page So I am out burying vines like any fool with 9 plants would be doing.. I notice a squash vine borer wasp type thingie lands on the plant I am working on, I wait till it lands on the ground and I try and swat it with my shovel, reflexes ain't what they use to be. Can't be you say. This happens a few times and I come up with an idea..Get the hand bottle of warrior in the barn.. So I squirted the my new friend. Not sure if I killed it or just pissed it off enough to lay eggs on all my plants.. The end..   Friday, July 7 View Page Last polination of season today.. 1330 Gansert x 1317 Clementz, way out on the main.. If it takes I will keep it, if not there is one 10 foot back, a little close, but that is life.. This has been another up to the minute update from the land of the not normal..   Sunday, July 9 View Page It was decision day, more to come tomorrow.   Monday, July 10 View Page Decision day two.. Anyone that knows me knows I like to terminate the main at the pumpkin.. This year I will have the main keep growing past the pumpkin on a few of my plants..   Thursday, July 13 View Page Final decision day.. All plants are down to one pumpkin.. A wise man by the name of Steve Sperry once told me the decisions you make now will either haunt or reward you for the rest of the season.. Lets hope there are some rewards in my future..   Saturday, July 15 View Page 20 day cc on 377 Zunino is 78 inches..   Monday, July 17 View Page You can not hide, we will find you..   Monday, July 17 View Page 20 day cc on my 1330 is 64 inches.. With a little luck and help I will get a mat under this tomorrow.   Saturday, July 22 View Page Went to my happy place yesterday. A day of no pumpkins, burying vines or weeding. Life is good..   Saturday, July 22 View Page 21 day cc on 1044 is 76 inches..   Saturday, July 22 View Page 20 day cc on 1223.5 is 71 inches..   Saturday, July 22 View Page My neighbor came over last night and said he spotted a woodchuck in my other neighbors back yard.. Time to bait the traps.. Also time to play catch up for being a bad boy and taking a day off yesterday..   Saturday, July 22 View Page 20 day cc on my 975.5 is 69 inches..   Sunday, July 23 View Page 20 day cc on my 816.5 is 77 inches.   Sunday, July 23 View Page 20 day cc on 1317 Clementz is 72 inches..   Monday, July 24 View Page 20 day cc on my 778 is 76 inches..   Tuesday, July 25 View Page 30 day numbers on 377 Zunino are cc 122, ss 74, ee 72, ( 268 ott ).   Thursday, July 27 View Page 30 day numbers on 359 Foss are cc 100, ss 60, ee 58 ( 218 ott ).   Thursday, July 27 View Page 30 day numbers on my 1330 are cc 101, ss 80, ee 71 ( 252 ott ).   Monday, July 31 View Page 30 day numbers on my 1044 are cc 101, ss 71, ee 69, ( 241 ott ).   Tuesday, August 1 View Page 30 day numbers on my 1223.5 are cc 100, ss 73, ee 68, ( 241 ott ). For some reason this looked bigger from the Rocking Chair on the porch..   Tuesday, August 1 View Page 30 day numbers on my 975.5 are cc 97, ss 72, ee 69, ( 238 ott ).   Wednesday, August 2 View Page 30 day numbers on 1317 Clementz are cc 105, ss 70, ee 68, ( 248 ott ).   Wednesday, August 2 View Page 30 day numbers on my 816.5 are cc 112, ss 75, ee 72, ( 259 ott ).   Thursday, August 3 View Page 30 day numbers on my 778 are cc 109, ss 68, ee 65, ( 242 ott ).   Thursday, August 3 View Page There goes the neighborhood, weeds are moving in, going to bring their next of kin..   Friday, August 4 View Page 40 day numbers on 377 Zunino are cc 139, ss 81, ee 79, ( 299 ott ).   Monday, August 7 View Page 41 day numbers on 359 Foss are cc 128, ss 74, ee 71, ( 273 ott ).   Monday, August 7 View Page 41 day numbers on my 1330 are cc 124, ss 96, ee 85, ( 305 ott ).   Thursday, August 10 View Page 40 day numbers on my 1044 are cc 121, ss 83, ee 81 ( 285 ott ).   Friday, August 11 View Page 40 day numbers on my 975 are cc 114, ss 82, ee 77, ( 273 ott ). No mega growth going on here..   Friday, August 11 View Page 40 day numbers on my 1223 are cc 106, ss 78, ee 72, ( 256 ott ). I have found my Woodstock Fair pumpkin.   Saturday, August 12 View Page 40 day numbers on 1317 Clementz are cc131, ss 82, ee 80, ( 293 ott ).   Saturday, August 12 View Page 40 day numbers on my 816.5 are cc 134, ss 87, ee 85, ( 306 ott ). Finally got one over 300 inches, good boy.. Woof..   Sunday, August 13 View Page 40 day numbers on my 778 are cc 126, ss 75, ee 73, ( 274 ott ). No mega growth here either..   Monday, August 14 View Page 50 day numbers on 377 Zunino are exactly the same as 40 day numbers... Two down . Who is next ? Welcome to the silly season..   Wednesday, August 16 View Page 50 day numbers on 359 foss are cc 139, ss 81, ee 79, ( 299 ott ).   Wednesday, August 16 View Page 50 day numbers on my 1330 are cc 131, ss 103, ee 90, ( 324 ott ).   Friday, August 18 View Page Yesterday I took a day off from pumpkins and went to my happy place.. Life is good..   Sunday, August 20 View Page 50 day numbers on my 1044 are cc 132, ss 89, ee 87, ( 308 ott ). Not growing fast but still growing. Life is good..   Monday, August 21 View Page 50 day numbers on my 1223.5 are cc 108, ss 79, ee 72, ( 259 ott )...   Monday, August 21 View Page 50 day numbers on my 975 are cc 124, ss 90, ee 82, ( 296 ott ).   Tuesday, August 22 View Page 50 day numbers on 1317 Clementz are cc 143, ss 90, ee 88, ( 321 ott ). Not the color I was looking for but it is still growing. Life is good..   Tuesday, August 22 View Page 50 day numbers on my 816 are cc 145, ss 96, ee 91, ( 332 ott ).   Wednesday, August 23 View Page 50 day numbers on my 778 are cc 133, ss 80, ee 78, ( 291 ott ),color is not bad wish I could say the same for the size and shape..I know many of you have heard this before, next year I am growing no more than 4 plants.. That way I can give them the attention they deserve..   Monday, August 28 View Page Woodstock Fair pumpkin loaded 3 days early.. My neighbor won't be in town Wednesday so we lifted today..   Friday, September 1 View Page Flat Norm won the Woodstock Fair..   Friday, September 1 View Page 3D Norm came in 7th..   Thursday, September 7 View Page My camera broke so there may be not be any more pictures this year.. I measured all my pumpkins today and they are still growing. I may actually weigh a couple over 1000.. I have the best weed crop ever, nothing to be proud of but it is what it is..   Monday, September 11 View Page 70 day numbers on 1317 Clementz are cc 161, ss 97, ee 94, ( 352 ott ).. I feel good that it is still growing and thumps like a rock..   Monday, September 11 View Page 70 day numbers on my 816 are cc 163, ss 102, ee 98, ( 363 ott ). Finally got one to tape over 1000. Life is good.   Wednesday, September 13 View Page I caught my first woodchuck of the season today.. No pictures , it was a little camera shy..   Sunday, September 17 View Page Went to Block Island to see these people yesterday. They had a summer house up the road from my family.. Havn't seen them in 50 years, and none of us have changed one bit.. It was a great day..   Monday, September 18 View Page Loaded for the Durham Fair.. Rumor has it I could be in the top 30.. Time will tell.   Wednesday, September 20 View Page Went to Durham Fair last night. My 778 became my 621.. I came in 11th overall. Funny thing is they only pay to 10.. No gas money for me again...   Thursday, September 21 View Page 359 Foss loaded for VT.. Thank you Bill..   Sunday, September 24 View Page Always a great day in VT... You always meet the nicest people..   Sunday, September 24 View Page Nice job Mike, a HD for sure..   Sunday, September 24 View Page I seem to have 11th place covered...   Sunday, September 24 View Page Welcome to VT..   Wednesday, September 27 View Page Loaded for Deerfield..   Sunday, October 1 View Page Went to Topsfield Fair Friday and got my first HD of the year.. I forgot to resize the picture and erased it from my camera, so you just have to take my word..   Sunday, October 1 View Page No matter what color they are this view is always a good one..   Sunday, October 1 View Page I tied for 4th in Sanford with my albino pumpkin..   Sunday, October 1 View Page Look who won the HD in Sanford..   Friday, October 6 View Page Loaded for Frerichs Farm....   Monday, October 9 View Page Another season over. I came in 12th at Frerichs Farm and got my second HD of the year.. Life is good..   Thursday, December 21 View Page What a way to end the year..