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Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 155 Entries.
Friday, February 17 View Page
Ahhh it’s been a long dreary winter around here. It’s with a heavy heart that I have to announce our family lost our matriarch earlier this month. It’s a sad time to lose a parent and something we all go through. One of life’s sad lessons. Mom will be missed. She loved the garden and loved to help with my gardening activities when she could. Hell she was the reason behind the famous MOMATE tomato. Rest In Peace mom and keep an eye on me while I’m in the garden please,I will be thinking of you.
 
Thursday, March 16 View Page
Come on Spring already !! The sun is getting stronger but we still have the white stuff on the ground. I get great sunrises from my house to overlook my frozen patch.
 
Thursday, March 16 View Page
I keep in touch with my Florida grower friend Tim Canniff and gave him some of my 839 seeds to try this year. It’s been fun to follow along the last couple of months.
 
Thursday, March 16 View Page
He has challenges in Florida, with most dealing with the timing of fruit growth and the heat issues.
 
Thursday, March 16 View Page
The 839 seems to like his patch and it began to stretch out with females showing up to the party.
 
Thursday, March 16 View Page
Tim’s patch isn’t the biggest but he is working hard. To date he lost the second female he pollinated but at day 14 it looks like number one is hanging in there. He only had one male flower to work with but so far so good. Good luck Tim. The 839 should give him an Orange one.
 
Thursday, March 23 View Page
Update on Florida Tim’s 839. Looking good Tim at day 22. I can see the shape changing. Since it’s cold in Pa and I can only watch so many YouTube videos it’s great to follow along to see what your own seed is gonna do.
 
Thursday, March 23 View Page
Todd had good luck with his 839 so maybe you will get the same Orange color. I gave out most of my seeds to requests and the NewYork growers club so there should be a few grown this year. I see there will be one in Poland as well. Thanks Todd for putting it on the map.
 
Thursday, March 23 View Page
Hell maybe I can get the teacher to take on another pupil. Hey that’s me. I chatted up Pork to let me in on some of the feeding schedule last year and Chop being Chop he obliged. So I relayed it to Tim. Let’s do this. Thanks Porkchop.
 
Sunday, March 26 View Page
Florida Tim’s weekly 839 update. So far so good and she is starting to swell at day 26. The plant is looking healthy and filling in. Pedal down now Tim !!
 
Sunday, March 26 View Page
Looking good !!
 
Sunday, March 26 View Page
Oh yeah. She is looking pretty !!!!
 
Wednesday, March 29 View Page
Day 30 approaching on Tim’s 839. Keep up the good work Tim. The golden girl seems to be liking the Tropicana sun of Florida. You can send some of that sunshine Pennsylvania’s way. I have work to do in the patch and another dusting of snow on the way tonight.
 
Wednesday, March 29 View Page
Tim works for a commercial bait company when he isn’t working in the patch. 41 thousand pounds of bait on their last trip.
 
Wednesday, March 29 View Page
Hey maybe he can make some good fertilizer out of that herring.
 
Thursday, March 30 View Page
Day 30 for Tim’s 839 and she looks to be around 300 pounds. So far so good and time to keep it cruising along. It’s funny Tim will be hoping for some cooler temps the next couple of months to not cook his pumpkin where here in Pa we need some warmer weather and need it now.
 
Thursday, March 30 View Page
I had a load of Perlite delivered this morning on my home patch. Cheap help these days and they spread it everywhere.
 
Tuesday, April 4 View Page
I got a crazy idea to extend my patch 20 feet or so and reclaim some of my border that has grown in over the years. Now I really have work to do.
 
Tuesday, April 4 View Page
Maybe one day I will head south for the winter but not anytime soon. At least I have a pumpkin seed there. Tim’s 839 seems to be liking the climate.
 
Sunday, April 9 View Page
Happy Easter everybody ! Finally some warmer weather has found Pennsylvania. Tim reported the 839 is moving at a good pace. Day 40 today.
 
Sunday, April 9 View Page
That’s no Easter Egg under there.
 
Sunday, April 9 View Page
600 pounds today. Hey Tim you should have a PB by the end of the week and then let’s run down that State Record. Keep it rolling.
 
Tuesday, April 11 View Page
Peek a boo from Florida.
 
Tuesday, April 11 View Page
Now there is a rare sight. A beautiful Pumpkin growing with Palm Trees in the background. Hello there Sunshine ! Where is the Corona, Tim?
 
Thursday, April 13 View Page
Day 44. Tim is fighting the challenges of Florida growing. Dodged torrential downpours that hit the state but dealt with gale force winds. These AG’s are tough and the 839 is still chugging along.
 
Monday, April 24 View Page
It’s getting closer to go time so I better get moving. Ordered some good poop compost. It’s amazing how a big pile of poop can make one happy
 
Monday, April 24 View Page
What really can make a man happy is one of these toys. Yes Val was officially named “Wife of the Year” she went above and beyond at Christmas time. Maybe she was worried about my titanium hips giving out with my hand tilling the patch, but wow. This BX is going to be fun to play with.
 
Monday, April 24 View Page
The tilling had never been so easy.
 
Monday, April 24 View Page
Thank you Val !!!! Our best Green Acres pose.
 
Monday, April 24 View Page
Of course I had to expand the edges a bit. Now we have a great patch view from our front porch. Life is Good.
 
Monday, April 24 View Page
With the warmer temps it is easy to want to rush things. My first round germinations are up and doing well. Now I will have to figure out how to hold them a while as cooler temps are in the forecast.
 
Monday, April 24 View Page
I checked in with Florida Tim on our weekly update to see how the 839 is rolling. And rolling she is. Even with lots of battered leaves from some high wind conditions the orange beauty is still putting some pounds on. I love the money picture with palm trees in the background.
 
Monday, April 24 View Page
Day 54 and the Florida State record could be in jeopardy. With a little luck and if the fruit stays sound with some slow steady growth Tim has a legitimate chance to claim the record. Keep her rolling Tim! What a Beauty !
 
Thursday, April 27 View Page
Looking more like the Florida record is in serious trouble.
 
Saturday, April 29 View Page
Tim’s Florida weather is looking pretty good. Mother Nature has not blessed Pennsylvania with this forecast. Uggggh
 
Friday, May 5 View Page
Last pics I have of Florida Tim’s 839 before she gets weighed tomorrow. Tim is chasing a State record and I posted a guess the weight contest today. He has his fingers crossed. The media has heard about the big orange globe and will be there along with a county Agriculture rep to witness the certified scale and events. Hell Donald and Melania were invited. It seems strange to be doing this in May but so it is to be growing in the Sunshine state. Good luck to Sadie the pretty lady, heres hoping that your junk in the trunk goes heavy.
 
Friday, May 5 View Page
I found this picture that my then 8 year old daughter Lauren drew for me. It reminds me of Tim as he has to figure out how the hell he is gonna get that pumpkin out of his backyard garden.
 
Sunday, May 7 View Page
Ahhh weigh day for Tim and his 839. Let’s see how are we gonna lift Pretty Sadie out of the patch. Maybe Tim can rig up a sling. He must have a few things laying around the docks.
 
Sunday, May 7 View Page
Tim’s a good MaGiver. I thought it was a lobster trap !
 
Sunday, May 7 View Page
Now bring over some heavy equipment.
 
Sunday, May 7 View Page
We can do this ! Bottom good, pumpkin solid!
 
Sunday, May 7 View Page
Tim had to be getting some looks in his Florida coast town.
 
Sunday, May 7 View Page
On to the Killer Bait operation and the certified scales. His buddy posed for some pics. Tim kept me in suspense for quiet a while without telling me the number.
 
Sunday, May 7 View Page
Gotta put a kid on a big pumpkin. Sadie looked good !
 
Sunday, May 7 View Page
Come on Tim get in one photo. He has the floppy hat going on.
 
Sunday, May 7 View Page
Boom a dream of Tim’s became a reality. His first 4 digit fruit. Boom the State record was smashed. 1039 !!!! More pics to follow with Tim ! It’s a very good looking pumpkin and quite an accomplishment for a grow in some extreme conditions. Hey Cindy maybe you can convince Tim to interview for an article. Porkchop said he should load it up and drive all over the state ! I said hey Tim “ are you going to Disney World”. He said I’m having a few beers and “going Fishing”. Well done! Congrats you Ole Sea Dog. Thanks for sharing your journey with me. It’s been fun !
 
Sunday, May 7 View Page
And the pumpkin world has a new Member. Marv Meisner gave this to me many moons ago.
 
Wednesday, May 31 View Page
Oh boy I better get caught up a bit, at least for my records if nothing else. My plants had been in the, “not doing much stage” like a lot of the Northeast growers with all of the record cold nights we had this May. They definitely are turning the corner now with the warmer temps this week. These are my 2 best at the moment. The 1952 Kogut has a 3 foot main now.
 
Wednesday, May 31 View Page
And my 839 is looking good too. You can surely see the benefits of the growers that use the soil heating cables. This year we had exceptionally cold nighttime temps around here and it has been a slow start.
 
Wednesday, May 31 View Page
I have work to do. The tomatoes are in good size containers and will be going in this weekend…. Hopefully. I still have a lot of patch work to do to get things in shape. The plants will be outgrowing their small cloches in a few days so there is no time to waste. My better seeds had some germination issues and I started a bit late so my first stringers are a lot of my own seeds. Team 8 will be ready to roll though !!
 
Wednesday, May 31 View Page
Val and I were away for a few days to Virginia tech. Blacksburg is a great place and we had the honor to witness my son Alex present his defense for his Phd. It was quite an experience and I was one proud father as it was announced he was now officially a Doctor. His dissertation was in the population genetics and study of the American chestnut tree as they work hard for its restoration. It seems like yesterday he made Don Langevins Giant Pumpkin Book III as he helped me measure our 2001 pumpkin. Congrats Alex!! He is now off to Cornell to continue his work.
 
Wednesday, May 31 View Page
I’m doing the straw bale garden again and seeing if I can stretch last years bales for another year. I think it’s gonna work. I put some new bales next to the old ones so it will be easy to compare.
 
Wednesday, May 31 View Page
Ok that’s a good update. Now to get the garden moving. Things need to pick up the pace if I want a June pollination. And the Zeke Tomato challenge is on !! It looks to be stiff competition by the looks of the teams. Team 8 does have an international flair with Spains Westham joining me and Bravo to take on Porkchop and his Team Cheater squad and the other competition in the draft division. We are the MasterMaters and if all goes well the cup should be ours. I even repainted my boat to celebrate the team challenge. Bravo and I can check on Westham if we need to take a ride over there.
 
Wednesday, May 31 View Page
If there are any college softball fans out there be sure to tune in starting tomorrow night. My cousin Kathryn has had a banner senior season and the Florida state Seminole’s made it to the college World Series again this year. They are on tomorrow night against Oklahoma state on ESPN. These girls can play.
 
Thursday, June 1 View Page
I see there are a few of my 839’s seeing some dirt. It will be fun to follow along as there more than a few top shelf growers giving it a run this season. Florida Tim has had some fun with the media attention he got from his 1039 and a new Florida State record. It was a beauty and grown in 67 days. He only has one male flower to pollinate and his other attempts all aborted so it was all or nothing with his golden girl. That one male produced over 700 seeds as well!
 
Tuesday, June 6 View Page
Coooool temps are still in the Northeast. I still have 2 plants in their mini houses. The forecast is calling for highs in the 60’s for Thursday and Friday and low 40’ nighttime temps. It’s good sleeping weather but not great pumpkin growing temps.
 
Tuesday, June 6 View Page
2 of my better plants have stretched out of their cloches. This is the 1952 Kogut.
 
Tuesday, June 6 View Page
I had received a nice gift from Florida Tim Caniff as a thank you for the 839 seed and the season support while he grew his state record. The pumpkin growing community is a wonderful group. Thank you Tim ! I like this new tool.
 
Tuesday, June 6 View Page
While most growers are taking down their hoop houses I was putting some up to hopefully generate some heat in these cold temps. The star of my patch so far is my 839. It has a lot of room to roam so I have big hopes if all goes well. Thanks for sharing your baby pic John but no babies here yet.
 
Tuesday, June 6 View Page
My straw bale project is liking these temps !
 
Tuesday, June 6 View Page
Last years bales may be doing better than the new bales.
 
Tuesday, June 6 View Page
Cousin Kathryn and the Florida State NOLES are rolling. On to the Championship to see if they can put an end to Oklahomas 51 game winning streak. Tomorrow night at 8 on ESPN is game 1. It should be a good one.
 
Tuesday, June 6 View Page
It’s been tough to find the time to get some maters in the ground. I guess the soil is warming up enough now. Hey a lightbulb went off. Instead of leaving my mini cold frames just lay around I think I will put them to work. Let’s see if they do ok in their happy homes.
 
Tuesday, June 6 View Page
I am gonna put a couple at each corner as well. Amended with some treats.
 
Tuesday, June 6 View Page
And I officially have something in the ground. Let’s grow, MasterMaters !!
 
Tuesday, June 13 View Page
Finally a change in the weather. We have some warmer temps in PA and a nice rain shower last night. I had time last weekend to do some patch work to at least get some fence around for protection. I decided to pick out a few rocks as well. The new tilling was nice but it sure found some more rocks along the way.
 
Tuesday, June 13 View Page
Maggie was a good helper.
 
Tuesday, June 13 View Page
The plants are small but should be just fine if the warm weather is here to stay.
 
Tuesday, June 13 View Page
My 839 is probably my best. Vine out about 7 feet I would say. Last year I had all June pollinations. I’m not so sure that is in the cards this year. Time will tell.
 
Tuesday, June 13 View Page
I put a few more tomatoes in. I’m liking using the cold frames. A couple I put only one in to assure they had enough space and one I gave a roommate. Then I put a couple plants on the outside next to them. I have a mixture of my own seeds with some Domingo’s, Megadom and my personal favorites this year, some MOMATES. I had some top notch seeds given to me by several generous growers but my late germination woes put we way behind. Some did sprout so I may have a few late ones to squeeze in.
 
Tuesday, June 13 View Page
The straw bale project really is taking off this year. The colder temps we had didn’t bother it at all. I am assuming the heat generated by the decomposing straw kept the plants warm and happy.
 
Monday, June 26 View Page
It’s been a busy time for our family. Alex and Averi tied the knot at a beautiful setting in the gardens at Virginia tech. They both completed their doctorates and have a lot to look forward to. Congrats you two !!
 
Monday, June 26 View Page
We finally had some warmer temps in Northeast PA and the plants are responding.
 
Monday, June 26 View Page
I have the overall patch looking pretty good.
 
Monday, June 26 View Page
I even had a surprise with females opened on the 1952 yesterday and my 839 today. They both are around 10 feet and in a perfect world I should wait for the next one. But you never know. I pollinated them and we shall see. I always shoot for a June pollination.
 
Monday, June 26 View Page
I spent a lot of time working on the tomatoes yesterday. The first round plants are looking great. The ones in the pumpkin cloches have enjoyed the extra heat.
 
Monday, June 26 View Page
I’m trying a few different things with some of the plants. These two I put up some fencing and will let them spread out a little more. A La Jack LaRue. These two are a MegaDom and a MOMATE.
 
Monday, June 26 View Page
Val thought Maggie needed a companion to keep her company. Our house just got a little smaller. Meet Curly Fry. He does have a nice look about him.
 
Monday, June 26 View Page
Straw bale project is doing great and the strawberry’s are ripening. I discovered something was nibbling on them. Oh so sorry Mr Mouse
 
Monday, June 26 View Page
The maters are fattening up and will be putting out some blossoms soon. Patience is what Porkchop says. I will let the plants get a little bigger this year. So far so good.
 
Sunday, July 16 View Page
It’s been a while since I posted something so I best get caught up. This crappy summer weather pattern isn’t much good for anything. My plants had been looking pretty good.
 
Sunday, July 16 View Page
The maters have been liking the balmy conditions !
 
Sunday, July 16 View Page
And I am getting a few decent blooms and a few sets. No real crazy megas but a couple I may ride out. This is my megadom.
 
Sunday, July 16 View Page
And a Domingo. These two are roommates in the pumpkin cloche and will be a bit crowded but after pruning they should be ok. I think.
 
Sunday, July 16 View Page
I like that the Young’s are going with the music theme with their pumpkins this year. I call this one after CCR’s, “Who’ll Stop the Rain”!
 
Sunday, July 16 View Page
It doesn’t look like this pattern is changing anytime soon. Today is another beautiful forecast.
 
Sunday, July 16 View Page
I have new worries to deal with in the patch.
 
Sunday, July 16 View Page
There is some good news in the patch. Yesterday Val and I were able to get some protection under the chosen fruit and managed to step thru the mud to position them. The pics are deceiving but they are looking pretty good. Although the plants are quite small and need to dry out and get moving. I had a decision on the 1952 Kogut and opted for the earlier 3 lobed set. After hearing some of the success stories with 3 lobed pumpkins I decided to go with it. It has a long shape and is going to be an Orange one.
 
Sunday, July 16 View Page
I have 2 of my 839’s growing. One is in the Rocky part of the patch that I extended up this year. It will be a good spot to view from our porch and May let a few pumpkins grow on it. This is an early set on a secondary. It looks to have a nice shape and color that the 839 has been throwing.
 
Sunday, July 16 View Page
My other 839 is in my best spot and looked pretty good yesterday. The plant again is quite small and seems to be locked up with all of the saturation. My patch is not draining very well in that section.
 
Sunday, July 16 View Page
That too is on the early set as the others aborted in the heat and rain. This 839 looks to also have a nice shape and deep yellow color. She is gonna be Orange !! It is only out about 10 feet but I’m going with it.
 
Sunday, July 16 View Page
My Honesdale growing partner Dyberry patch Andy was on vacation and asked me to check on his patch and see if any pollinating could be done. He has had bad luck the past few seasons with critters ending his season but he seems to have it under control this year and should be getting some nice orange pumpkins. He has a 839 and a 1952 in there and a couple of my other orange crosses.
 
Sunday, July 16 View Page
Looking good Drew!
 
Sunday, July 16 View Page
Andy’s Red neck long gourd trellis is ready.
 
Sunday, July 16 View Page
My straw bale garden is thriving in this tropical climate.
 
Sunday, July 16 View Page
Our first Coneflower
 
Sunday, July 16 View Page
Curly Fry found a way to cool down during yesterday’s heat.
 
Sunday, July 16 View Page
Val and I took a break and saw Chris Stapleton at Bethel Woods. The original Woodstock site. He was great and we about cried like babies when he played Maggie’s Song. I must be getting older though as it was not much fun dealing with big crowds and dealing with a slow moving parking lot. Good luck growing everyone. Hoping this summer weather starts to look more like summer weather.
 
Tuesday, August 1 View Page
I haven’t posted in a while so I better put something in. The tropical weather seems to have broken so maybe things will get moving. I think the saturated soil locked things up and the vine growth shut down for me. The good news is the 839 is growing well albeit a smaller plant than I hoped for. It’s around 500 pounds so for July that is ok for me. She seems to be a round lady and not much I can do about the blossom end going down. I wonder if I had the stem to high in positioning it.
 
Tuesday, August 1 View Page
This is another 839 growing with 2 others on it as well. I better upgrade my temporary shade structure soon.
 
Tuesday, August 1 View Page
Having fun watching the tomatoes but way to much of this going on with all of the wet weather.
 
Tuesday, August 1 View Page
This one is looking better on one of my megadoms. Not crazy mega but it has a solid shape and is putting on some inches.
 
Tuesday, August 1 View Page
The maters are looking healthy and there is still lots of time to grow out some megas. My late plants are looking good and will be getting some blooms soon.
 
Tuesday, August 1 View Page
Got to love the giant elephant ear plants.
 
Tuesday, August 1 View Page
Maggie and Curly do. Now just chew any more Curly.
 
Tuesday, August 1 View Page
A promising bloom on one of my MOMATES is what I am watching. Let’s go Mastermaters !!
 
Monday, August 21 View Page
We had some tomatoes flashing just in time to take an entry for the contest at the Pittston tomato festival. 100,000 people over 4 days. They love to celebrate the tomato with lots of events, music and vendors.
 
Monday, August 21 View Page
So to the patch I go. Ok two were ready and although not monsters they may be good enough for a prize and I might as well put a couple on the board for the MasterMaters.
 
Monday, August 21 View Page
Bottom was good
 
Monday, August 21 View Page
It was good to see my home scale matches for future reference.
 
Monday, August 21 View Page
On to the next one. The Deli girls were impressed but was hoping for bigger with her 22 inch circ. Oh well on the challenge board it goes.
 
Monday, August 21 View Page
Bottom was good.
 
Monday, August 21 View Page
Hell, bottom was fantastic. Pucker up Pork the MasterMaters mean business.
 
Monday, August 21 View Page
Well will we come home with some hardware. The maters were lined up in 4 category’s. Smallest , biggest, ugliest and most perfect.
 
Monday, August 21 View Page
Boom another major win!!
 
Monday, August 21 View Page
Biggest hell yeah !
 
Monday, August 21 View Page
Bravo is kicking Butt for our team. I’m hoping some of the younger pollinations will get me to the 4 and 5 pound mark. We shall see. At last report Westham is working on the Spanish record but he has been radio silent as of late. He may be concentrating on the grow but hoping he doesn’t have rat issues like last year. This could get interesting.
 
Monday, August 21 View Page
I saw Dan’s thread on slicing up the monster maters. OMG how is he that far of everybody else. I’m on it. I think there may be clues in this book and the secrecy that is surrounding the phenomenon.
 
Monday, August 21 View Page
I have one pumpkin still putting on some pounds and honestly letting the weeds get the best of me on the other plants. The 839 is getting pretty much all of my attention. Chugging along at 800 pounds now.
 
Sunday, September 17 View Page
The season is in full swing. Growing is in the final stretch as we are entering the third stage . The Mastermaters are all jacked up on Mountain Dew and in striking distance. Bravo has us in striking distance to win this thing.
 
Sunday, September 17 View Page
Bravo is lined up for Rookie of the Year but the Mastermaters want to win this thing.
 
Sunday, September 17 View Page
Let’s roll…. How about a little Shake and Bake, here we come. My little home scale is amazingly accurate.
 
Sunday, September 17 View Page
One on the 5.3 MOMATE gives us a boost in the right direction.
 
Sunday, September 17 View Page
I’m good at 3 pound tomatoes but need to push the pedal down NOW. Had a talk with the maters and told them they had to be at least 3.5 pounds to think about saving seeds or they would soon be SAUCE. This guy took offense.
 
Sunday, September 17 View Page
The plan is for us to hang with the phenomenal start from Bravo as we are settled into second place and a little shake and bake sets up the slingshot move from Westham to steal the cup. Westham is in !! He told Bravo to not worry, he has got this !!
 
Sunday, September 17 View Page
Uhhh ohhhh I see one hanging on the 3.26 Pittston, Megadom.
 
Sunday, September 17 View Page
She is flashing. It is picking time and she looks good.
 
Sunday, September 17 View Page
A nice bottom.
 
Sunday, September 17 View Page
Off we go to the Market little piggy. Boom ! A good one for me off of the 3.26 Pittston Megadom. Let’s go Mastermaters. Another bump at 4.2.
 
Sunday, September 17 View Page
Bravo was pumped at the news !!
 
Sunday, September 17 View Page
Westham reporting from Spain that he is dealing with rat issues again but working hard on it. He does have some candidates if he can get them weighed before they make lunch out of them !
 
Sunday, September 17 View Page
We won’t need much !! Pick it Westham, This may get us there! Hurry up that rat looks hungry .
 
Sunday, September 17 View Page
I was sorry to hear Andy Wolf lost his monster pumpkin off of the 839. It was a beauty. Mine is a mini version of Andys but on a small plant with weeds taking over and less than 10 feet from the crown. My 839 is giving me all I can ask for. I’m old school and still thrilled with something measuring 4 digits.
 
Sunday, September 17 View Page
The long gourd is something to talk about. It has 30 leaves and loves the natural trellis.
 
Sunday, September 17 View Page
A little more time and we will see what the 839 weighs. A PB ??? Ehhh she may have to go heavy but you never know. Just hoping like a lot of growers this time of year that she makes it to the finish line. She is looking good. The pumpkins not bad either ! Good luck growers.
 
Friday, October 6 View Page
I’m way behind on my diary. I better get caught up for posterity. I had a request for a pumpkin to be delivered to Bethel woods for their fall festival series. I didn’t have much to offer but my Honesdale growing buddy Andy had an extra so off we went for a delivery. Who could say no to the original Woodstock site. It was a nice orange one off of one of my seeds.
 
Friday, October 6 View Page
They were very happy !
 
Friday, October 6 View Page
 
Friday, October 6 View Page
Now on to our pumpkins. It has a been a tough year with to much rain down the home stretch. I had my only big entry covered up for the monsoons
 
Friday, October 6 View Page
Soon it was time to check on the 839 and get ready for picking day.
 
Friday, October 6 View Page
First some family photos with nephew max
 
Friday, October 6 View Page
Andy and I have not been to a weighoff in years so Ridgefield it is. It is closer than the Pa GPC site for us. Let’s see what Andy has hiding. Oh my. It’s off of what I call the Sandercock 421 est. 1552 young x 1885 werner.
 
Friday, October 6 View Page
Will need to call in friend and neighbor Ron to help get this one on the trailer
 
Friday, October 6 View Page
On she goes !
 
Friday, October 6 View Page
One down. Ok 839 it’s your turn! A call to my neighbor Craig and his tractor for our annual lift.
 
Friday, October 6 View Page
Boom ! She is safe and loaded and our trailer never looked so full.
 
Friday, October 6 View Page
What a day we had, albeit from some self inflicted truck issues on the way there but we made it under the wire to a ruckus crowd of Pumpkin enthusiasts as we pulled to the scale with the band jamming to Black Bettty ! There were some monster pumpkins already in the lineup.
 
Friday, October 6 View Page
Our pumpkins were ready for the challenge.
 
Friday, October 6 View Page
Ok let the drama unfold. Mine was measuring smaller than Andys so I was weighed before him. Hmmm. Measuring in the mid 1100’s. And my pb of 1220 let’s see how close I can come. When the scale lit up we were all surprised. Wow. 1321 and a PB for me. The 839 went Heavy !!
 
Friday, October 6 View Page
Andy up next !! Measuring over 1300. Wowser. To chart and a nice pumpkin!
 
Friday, October 6 View Page
Now for the big boys. It was awesome to catch up and chat with Tony Ciliberto. A true gentleman and legend in the hobby. I made the top 5 with Tony at my very first weigh off in 2001 and here we are back in the top 5 again. You would never meet a nicer guy ! Congrats Tony.
 
Friday, October 6 View Page
One to go and making the New England growers proud Steve Sperry just knows how to get it done. ! He is having another stellar year and I hear has the biggest yet to come. Unbelievable !!! Congrats Steve.
 
Friday, October 6 View Page
It was a great day even with the truck mishap. We were lucky to make it home but ! *. Front differential , seals and other damage $2000 plus. *. Pumpkin going heavy, talking pumpkins all day with fellow growers and topping your buddy at a weighoff with a PB. PRICELESS !
 
Saturday, December 23 View Page
One year winding down and another season ready to begin. I love my 2 favorite ornaments to ring in the New Year. One for the tomato heads.
 
Saturday, December 23 View Page
And of course the Pumpkin Heads. Merry Christmas !
 

 

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