tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287394732024-03-14T01:38:25.141-04:00And Now We're Gonna Grow 'em Big!!john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.comBlogger253125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-23162044940455612662009-10-04T20:06:00.008-04:002009-10-04T20:27:26.465-04:00<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >Moving Day</span><br /><br />Hey, that was a lot of fun... considering we were just weighing a pumpkin and not wind surfing or hanging at Chuck E Cheese or anything.<br /><br />It's a pretty simple process. First you get the fruit onto a tarp...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL51AlkiJ_6PYZQuEuKwAd9twsN-GJnjmTt2jeI9TTRqK4LVuwB7tmV9gwKjRblBELR44jv-N5KEWetGc_5VHilWuzHq6WPqf76OaqBfOXSpqhnHjg3uTcDADwOQiVCNUXEkKSfQ/s1600-h/IMG_1703.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL51AlkiJ_6PYZQuEuKwAd9twsN-GJnjmTt2jeI9TTRqK4LVuwB7tmV9gwKjRblBELR44jv-N5KEWetGc_5VHilWuzHq6WPqf76OaqBfOXSpqhnHjg3uTcDADwOQiVCNUXEkKSfQ/s400/IMG_1703.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388901664889275234" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then you drag the thing to the front yard...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWi2aP3-81yvH9JIyi-lHQ1pVXG4XpurkI2PzPIBvUKc4jBuK7krer7bdmW0i3of5iKW7gW9a5-vfq98lEH2LdPy9-zyP5oRh1DTsQpnVzxFmw1TYXAiKjIdgeURZ2bJh5NXFOA/s1600-h/IMG_1707.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWi2aP3-81yvH9JIyi-lHQ1pVXG4XpurkI2PzPIBvUKc4jBuK7krer7bdmW0i3of5iKW7gW9a5-vfq98lEH2LdPy9-zyP5oRh1DTsQpnVzxFmw1TYXAiKjIdgeURZ2bJh5NXFOA/s400/IMG_1707.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388902103765479170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />You set up the scale...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixC3wqCFsBrVOzCWVR1EFAyXRR0ueyIV5F9pL6rWvkOvRFaPA_8cLFQzSEjnV0W9tubzPbMmpBO74ch6h-Vuv1935O8O_UIqNc8IVDuYDQKDLuz-zlsXOJTQlQD160MKZHg3weeQ/s1600-h/IMG_1706.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixC3wqCFsBrVOzCWVR1EFAyXRR0ueyIV5F9pL6rWvkOvRFaPA_8cLFQzSEjnV0W9tubzPbMmpBO74ch6h-Vuv1935O8O_UIqNc8IVDuYDQKDLuz-zlsXOJTQlQD160MKZHg3weeQ/s400/IMG_1706.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388902666033768322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And hold your breath!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQF40_rUQpKfqI7f31PvGE5f9LO2vh_o707hosQyV8rs240jppaNq1pLXJZ2cz9TYOsNDgQy55_nhBqmwI4YKgy9CZgWo0eWKE1qu_uZgOxzxGNYNqr5HT2RSCV3wIdv8HTG-bg/s1600-h/IMG_1713.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQF40_rUQpKfqI7f31PvGE5f9LO2vh_o707hosQyV8rs240jppaNq1pLXJZ2cz9TYOsNDgQy55_nhBqmwI4YKgy9CZgWo0eWKE1qu_uZgOxzxGNYNqr5HT2RSCV3wIdv8HTG-bg/s400/IMG_1713.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388903777039455170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Not bad! Lulu went a little bit heavy despite her concave top.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEb2_EF5G-8_Muizi0jgDw6on1DMyS500HRE0RCiu5ESD-lmt1QNy8RaQ8fr-VTClQCXX5aV7xhXEC5fN2SQUuMbF7zfP7bw7AAeFZKq0eGvvwjLFmRjpZlU3Xuk3Eh4zDkEC0tw/s1600-h/IMG_1716.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEb2_EF5G-8_Muizi0jgDw6on1DMyS500HRE0RCiu5ESD-lmt1QNy8RaQ8fr-VTClQCXX5aV7xhXEC5fN2SQUuMbF7zfP7bw7AAeFZKq0eGvvwjLFmRjpZlU3Xuk3Eh4zDkEC0tw/s400/IMG_1716.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388904832112967186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And of course the proud father has to pose for pictures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRNeos3A9hPGgpDdfyVF6zTciacpc704EMv1qu1xoTEgDD-Qfpx1990YdAlcLHNk1EOkPIs5mqquL65_KUWgVcyu3e5MyHonr_J6lFe6EEI2nYPwwMSbYxnGVxZcYNKzPlTUQCw/s1600-h/IMG_1789.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRNeos3A9hPGgpDdfyVF6zTciacpc704EMv1qu1xoTEgDD-Qfpx1990YdAlcLHNk1EOkPIs5mqquL65_KUWgVcyu3e5MyHonr_J6lFe6EEI2nYPwwMSbYxnGVxZcYNKzPlTUQCw/s400/IMG_1789.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388904841654424674" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And then after a few pumpkin ales, it's nap time!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPOmmk8luaIKZvV2RQPwqo9nGItQMBgzLfR70k21po_1mhGTSBvWC5QD7ylRqkWT9asUAJOgKLfOmouyDFpt3ZJOjawKrT1_WELCfu-z3sz0XjwVCuQvg-e2lIClGu0stHzoimQ/s1600-h/IMG_1796.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPOmmk8luaIKZvV2RQPwqo9nGItQMBgzLfR70k21po_1mhGTSBvWC5QD7ylRqkWT9asUAJOgKLfOmouyDFpt3ZJOjawKrT1_WELCfu-z3sz0XjwVCuQvg-e2lIClGu0stHzoimQ/s400/IMG_1796.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388905467145427842" border="0" /></a>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-3949570070281194692009-09-27T20:14:00.002-04:002009-09-27T20:20:13.056-04:00<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">There Ought to be a Law...</span></span><br /><br />...Banning deer from existing. How can you eat all the leaves, and leave the baby cucumber???<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZGlj0cCVbAbmAXiKKYhVDlGaL5X_yRLs755ySvaJ-tk4KLGXrh68p6WqRfntCAeYCRfGEAjug5_U_ooEaaTABQxEyAicXhNgqowD-rP82BuiOlAxL8iWx7ktSyiSquUeoGwekA/s1600-h/IMG_1697.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZGlj0cCVbAbmAXiKKYhVDlGaL5X_yRLs755ySvaJ-tk4KLGXrh68p6WqRfntCAeYCRfGEAjug5_U_ooEaaTABQxEyAicXhNgqowD-rP82BuiOlAxL8iWx7ktSyiSquUeoGwekA/s400/IMG_1697.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386306378101688370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The good news is they appear to have no interest in eating a full-grown Atlantic Giant pumpkin.john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-16263190989122957242009-09-22T14:29:00.003-04:002009-09-22T14:33:21.050-04:00<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Time for a new Hood Ornament</span><br /><br />Estimated weight - nearly final now - is 375 pounds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXWF2xD4aj5HJhWWP5VcFOlIKyvTB5q-UoqskD0fmon4gD0zyaR6wozWCt9Kfd3C6Z4LuBgAByW584f8Xmhr4hxZFwt_6h3iM6QZMewqPzCS_5qV0WBa6FoyhjlCpx4I37ywELg/s1600-h/IMG_1684.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXWF2xD4aj5HJhWWP5VcFOlIKyvTB5q-UoqskD0fmon4gD0zyaR6wozWCt9Kfd3C6Z4LuBgAByW584f8Xmhr4hxZFwt_6h3iM6QZMewqPzCS_5qV0WBa6FoyhjlCpx4I37ywELg/s400/IMG_1684.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384361275491818626" border="0" /></a>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-17811396113559265232009-09-20T21:19:00.002-04:002009-09-20T21:23:15.230-04:00<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >350 Pounds</span><br /><br />Lulu won't quit, even if she can only pack on a couple of pounds a day. It's a pity I didn't keep the plant in better shape. The kids are already asking when we can start carving!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHm77fUWTQI4oYCxzKi4pnGwm4z6YwpEbLT3_bjka2bcgLSxMX6WDnne0W3Rrcg375uVXvxG0Ec1ulqSiwLAHiTd0IJpP6wxmbOA6AE4ZhoPvU6T-wpfyDoK8WNJ0amykrXRZ1Fg/s1600-h/IMG_1681.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHm77fUWTQI4oYCxzKi4pnGwm4z6YwpEbLT3_bjka2bcgLSxMX6WDnne0W3Rrcg375uVXvxG0Ec1ulqSiwLAHiTd0IJpP6wxmbOA6AE4ZhoPvU6T-wpfyDoK8WNJ0amykrXRZ1Fg/s400/IMG_1681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383724983035293106" border="0" /></a>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-35706765592689795962009-09-14T18:41:00.001-04:002009-09-14T19:23:48.085-04:00<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Are You Smarter than a Deer?</span><br /><br />I didn't think there could be a dumber creature alive, but maybe there is. I spent WAY too much time last winter creating great soil. Dirt the worms would *love*. And they did - I had night crawlers out there the size of small snakes.<br /><br />And then, it rained. So, what were the worms thinking? "Let's snuggle down here in the dirt on a cool rainy night and watch a movie and maybe make some new baby worms!"???<br /><br />No. It was more like, "Let's take a trip to the pavement and dry up and die when the sun comes out!"<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CyR-JP4xj85MGtsCkhmLl7yTF0iW3yzXhk1T19fcDUOqShQHl1oExd8F7VxkVLoh6Q6ERsMmV-rhUshMU2hitziKDXh25sviGcH3owYJmFxvWVecXbQ7FPoFjFQNrga6os7KWg/s1600-h/Copy+of+IMG_1650.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CyR-JP4xj85MGtsCkhmLl7yTF0iW3yzXhk1T19fcDUOqShQHl1oExd8F7VxkVLoh6Q6ERsMmV-rhUshMU2hitziKDXh25sviGcH3owYJmFxvWVecXbQ7FPoFjFQNrga6os7KWg/s400/Copy+of+IMG_1650.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375860743484354722" border="0" /></a>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-36151847730495186902009-09-11T07:44:00.001-04:002009-09-11T10:54:14.629-04:00<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >330 Pounds but Almost Done</span><br /><br />These pictures are a couple of weeks old, seeing as how I'm getting old and lazy besides. Too lazy to aggressively fight the powdery mildew, too lazy to administer a late season near-fatal dose of 0-0-60 fertilizer... what's the matter with me? Am I losing that fanatical edge???<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXwt5BHaZSFeNwVKwwiCihYYa1F5gCNikBmWvhC6zOWTKOQHS77cY5IOz8k8t557LcS5b_ear6FNgFjaw0RVGit-QAQ1GpvGBNOp80oRIkD2mpiztmPUhGtagq9eGERQoLQpkow/s1600-h/IMG_1674.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXwt5BHaZSFeNwVKwwiCihYYa1F5gCNikBmWvhC6zOWTKOQHS77cY5IOz8k8t557LcS5b_ear6FNgFjaw0RVGit-QAQ1GpvGBNOp80oRIkD2mpiztmPUhGtagq9eGERQoLQpkow/s400/IMG_1674.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378319680999918578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wPY0fxumHvJEBSSIof20X2YV-jLEalLDd1op6cG-oCGbAAJmm77Ojm-mrmkeCNAbScWLopfGjV_RmVSPvvE-y95P0Gno_gTU6dz4EwC8c5nqdSs-qxAoKZCIp9trQGzcB88k1Q/s1600-h/IMG_1672.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wPY0fxumHvJEBSSIof20X2YV-jLEalLDd1op6cG-oCGbAAJmm77Ojm-mrmkeCNAbScWLopfGjV_RmVSPvvE-y95P0Gno_gTU6dz4EwC8c5nqdSs-qxAoKZCIp9trQGzcB88k1Q/s400/IMG_1672.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378319675526249730" border="0" /></a>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-88922146741249042482009-09-06T07:34:00.003-04:002009-09-06T07:42:24.704-04:00<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >There Isn't a Law</span><br /><br />Hey Lulu, there's no law that says you have to quit the moment you reach a goal! The girl was motoring right along, in a pumpkin sort of way, and then the moment she crossed 300 pounds she nearly stopped growing.<br /><br />It may have been her time anyway. But then again the vines have suffered a lot of damage from deer, bugs, and old age.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwOq33Ln5E332nxdzcWLgAG-n0QwPOdM3DPtpShzPTocyzk5i8qIjIN3Aux2ivJtVsdsBIre-Gv4aTlQdZ57iDTqYBDwP2R8bw_EHHayiv7EJiW4HSmylXDr1vYBGcgUFt7tRCA/s1600-h/IMG_1677.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwOq33Ln5E332nxdzcWLgAG-n0QwPOdM3DPtpShzPTocyzk5i8qIjIN3Aux2ivJtVsdsBIre-Gv4aTlQdZ57iDTqYBDwP2R8bw_EHHayiv7EJiW4HSmylXDr1vYBGcgUFt7tRCA/s400/IMG_1677.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378318058512348930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's a closeup:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVnFPuxOAftpNz-Dt1fjzi9Ftllrg2xQ7AXWC79wfqINsjok6CqxOydqyu_Mx46rMiH9-SxeSorZOcyCC0N2giOFcUFYfk2ScxIqSlnAL5Po8LOiHVBFU-9sfCweFNGWeXpOHeg/s1600-h/IMG_1678.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVnFPuxOAftpNz-Dt1fjzi9Ftllrg2xQ7AXWC79wfqINsjok6CqxOydqyu_Mx46rMiH9-SxeSorZOcyCC0N2giOFcUFYfk2ScxIqSlnAL5Po8LOiHVBFU-9sfCweFNGWeXpOHeg/s400/IMG_1678.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378318068195495666" border="0" /></a>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-5458593072525915672009-08-30T15:31:00.000-04:002009-08-30T16:19:18.972-04:00<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:Arial;" ><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I thought I had a linebacker in my backyard</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:Arial;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:Arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">She’s short – only 22” or so, so she can’t be a middle LB. She'll have to play outside LB I guess.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:Arial;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:Arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">But at 237 pounds, she can certainly plug a gap.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:Arial;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:Arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">Her time in the 40 is a sore spot… it varies depending on how steep the hill is.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:Arial;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:Arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">But then she gained 40 pounds in</span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:Arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> three days, so I’m going to have to move her to the defensive line!</span></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhp8y1CbNZ8trtnC7s5Wx3Wxh5qPuuch8cUnf-csPdM5T2QhLEt142zi6JaQghGl9NufZl1GJJNjmITcq98HixUkHJEsk4D728ICTGAvTS59jyNAjpo_orjo-r4Yf5ZcGd_JMRA/s1600-h/IMG_1659.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhp8y1CbNZ8trtnC7s5Wx3Wxh5qPuuch8cUnf-csPdM5T2QhLEt142zi6JaQghGl9NufZl1GJJNjmITcq98HixUkHJEsk4D728ICTGAvTS59jyNAjpo_orjo-r4Yf5ZcGd_JMRA/s400/IMG_1659.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375851998302004274" border="0" /></a></p>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-3745404576908483192009-08-29T10:25:00.002-04:002009-08-29T10:31:27.698-04:00<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Lulu's a Big Girl Now!</span><br /><br />She can't wear her Daddy's shirts anymore. I keep her covered with a couple of old t-shirts to protect her from the sun. Sunlight and the heat make fruit ripen. And I don't want a ripe pumpkin - I want a growing pumpkin. But old t-shirts can't do the trick any longer - I switched to an old sheet today.<br /><br />She really has had a great week, just plugging right along!<br /><br />---<br /><br />Hey Alicia - thanks for the note the other day! Decorator by day, AG grower by night, huh? I have a buddy in Ga. near the Florida line who grew somewhere around 900 pounds last spring. Amazing! Anyway let me know how your patch is doing sometime.john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-78970862434103539252009-08-25T18:53:00.004-04:002009-08-26T09:58:34.506-04:00<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;color:#cc0000;" >Mid-Life Crisis</span><br /><br />Sometimes I toss and turn in the early hours of the morning, unable to sleep.<br /><br />"Eight pounds a day... is that all there is? Isn't there something more out there somewhere?"<br /><br />Then I sigh a big sigh and remind myself, "It'll be ok John. After all, that means Lulu is gaining over 50 pounds a week."<br /><br />My family tries to be supportive. "Honey, it's a very pretty pumpkin!"<br /><br />Well family, this isn't a beauty contest, she isn't an 'it', and you might try calling her by her real name, you know.<br /><br />But I'm just being grumpy because of my mid-life crisis. I think I'll go gulp down my meds and then go spray some fertilizer.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBzk3m-pRscudRMQv73Cmt3fTZmazroiEkqBrzj5KOi4ClDVjJDEd2BzRa84LKf8mATYvnLMixEx3LNZZSChNksXQpCqZrxL51Sjfuij_TncEK_L_SkKa9SMvOCDykz71oVKMEA/s1600-h/IMG_1646b.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374092856853754114" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBzk3m-pRscudRMQv73Cmt3fTZmazroiEkqBrzj5KOi4ClDVjJDEd2BzRa84LKf8mATYvnLMixEx3LNZZSChNksXQpCqZrxL51Sjfuij_TncEK_L_SkKa9SMvOCDykz71oVKMEA/s400/IMG_1646b.JPG" border="0" /></a>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-2436402053326740442009-08-21T10:09:00.003-04:002009-08-21T11:06:30.706-04:00<div> <span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">I Love the Smell of a Growing Pumpkin</span><br /><div></div><br /><div>Come on, you think it's easy coming up with a title every time I post? If you can do better I'm all ears.</div><div></div><br /><div>Anyway, Lulu weighs in at 190 pounds now. However, she's still got that quiet, gentle disposition that attracted me to her in the first place!</div><br /><div></div><div>I better quit trying and just post a picture:</div><div> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFeLfCjW1Zyj-9ZGi_WlCbd73B5Sq7f_h_-6viX1y4y9xgNSOTcsHJzH4gVJocmMKTucAS01K0kHSTyO8mZLlfK_EDWjOhyJmIYzcvZVqteHNF7E1Ivxmk7wcaegwmj40mCZ7Rw/s1600-h/IMG_1622.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372432938779311170" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFeLfCjW1Zyj-9ZGi_WlCbd73B5Sq7f_h_-6viX1y4y9xgNSOTcsHJzH4gVJocmMKTucAS01K0kHSTyO8mZLlfK_EDWjOhyJmIYzcvZVqteHNF7E1Ivxmk7wcaegwmj40mCZ7Rw/s400/IMG_1622.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQM1PaR4AQnz94VEA2OjcUD_8pRMOs9ebtHKMJT06xSTq-N9VNKnfqh5Kj76uJ1_PXOr5g4ZcuOo4A_ShW6SwvOH1cnu59ytlqFEuuUWQJX5iuaZCGweDufBwsJm-vP9bSNjEVcg/s1600-h/IMG_1621.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372432932482603970" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQM1PaR4AQnz94VEA2OjcUD_8pRMOs9ebtHKMJT06xSTq-N9VNKnfqh5Kj76uJ1_PXOr5g4ZcuOo4A_ShW6SwvOH1cnu59ytlqFEuuUWQJX5iuaZCGweDufBwsJm-vP9bSNjEVcg/s400/IMG_1621.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-29359558803775168052009-08-19T18:34:00.002-04:002009-08-19T18:43:07.258-04:00<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Thoughts from the Patch</span><br /><br />So it was 3 days ago that I said the next two weeks would be crucial. Since then, Lulu has packed on 42 pounds! And today was her best day ever. She is only a tiny bit ahead of the bigger Jemimah from last year, but Lulu is going strong and Jemimah was on her last, um, leg. This is looking halfway decent!<br /><br />Tedd, I have no white flies. I had a few earlier in the season. My systemic insecticide may be what killed them. Pick up a bottle of Bayer Tree and Shrub at HD or Lowes, mix a tablespoon in a gallon of water and pour on the roots, and repeat. It's not real cheap, but one bottle will last you forever.<br /><br />Is it unusual for an Atlantic Giant to grow upside down, with the stem end down and the blossom end up? Guess I'll mosey on over to bigpumpkins.com and try to find out.john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-51184993472738529822009-08-16T16:03:00.001-04:002009-08-18T15:39:53.060-04:00<span style="color:#cc0000;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">Nothing new to Report, So...</span></span><br /><br />I'd like to introduce <span style="color:#3366ff;">Indigo, the Unloved Polly Pocket</span>. The kids didn't want Indigo any longer, so they spray painted her blue. She doesn't have anything to do with growing pumpkins, but some days can be sort of slow around the pumpkin patch. (I bet you didn't know that!)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjxpUxXlyqRyNj5XX6Ie13WYsmoxobIwuqfc7P3poctJy9-9YOWMIpQ1i1uEUwNN82te1lHPDwgAnLSrJJ9z91N5j7XGxd1JIWgxyTZmLePsMAE_bPVddxycYgMrcMzv58rY_1w/s1600-h/IMG_1619.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370655043142647778" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjxpUxXlyqRyNj5XX6Ie13WYsmoxobIwuqfc7P3poctJy9-9YOWMIpQ1i1uEUwNN82te1lHPDwgAnLSrJJ9z91N5j7XGxd1JIWgxyTZmLePsMAE_bPVddxycYgMrcMzv58rY_1w/s400/IMG_1619.JPG" border="0" /></a>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-40004499427228791272009-08-16T15:32:00.004-04:002009-08-16T16:02:43.416-04:00<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Slow and Steady</span></span><br /><br />Well sorry, but I don't *like* slow and steady. It's better than being eaten by killer deer, but slow and steady doesn't win the race. That saying is nonsense, "slow and steady wins the race". It really ticks me off now that I think about it. Slow and steady growth gives you a small pumpkin. Why can't we try Explosive and Dynamic instead?<br /><br />Lulu's estimated weight is now 138 pounds. The next two weeks will be crucial. If the vine will hold together 300 pounds is still possible.<br /><br />It's sort of hard to get a good picture of her at the moment, but here she is:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOF8m6UcUuzp40BMldrMV-o524goEn2mR6WSVX8tvvnyUI8kG3nRO371ueagfcyh5yGUN-stEH4WuEogHwrmWZ1J7AYZBs7i6fAhCXEn-sW1PUr5kn8LUVOuLJHWeacxxP9PAimQ/s1600-h/IMG_1618.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOF8m6UcUuzp40BMldrMV-o524goEn2mR6WSVX8tvvnyUI8kG3nRO371ueagfcyh5yGUN-stEH4WuEogHwrmWZ1J7AYZBs7i6fAhCXEn-sW1PUr5kn8LUVOuLJHWeacxxP9PAimQ/s400/IMG_1618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370654077130241394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRxrXRUr8JpdOFaprYbx2gBP7grviqFmoXYSV3_tuOO257SbrSpkq6vxxwMa1BhXk2Nrnp5rJN0IXjNC5BoGcOefmvVw8Ty1E_ow-oPiblyY3N_TPMl3O2C6pEf_vc9vM-AObJA/s1600-h/IMG_1617.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRxrXRUr8JpdOFaprYbx2gBP7grviqFmoXYSV3_tuOO257SbrSpkq6vxxwMa1BhXk2Nrnp5rJN0IXjNC5BoGcOefmvVw8Ty1E_ow-oPiblyY3N_TPMl3O2C6pEf_vc9vM-AObJA/s400/IMG_1617.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370654069444775938" border="0" /></a>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-83509705024262537962009-08-13T13:39:00.003-04:002009-08-13T13:45:53.141-04:00<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">While You Were Sleeping</span>...</span><br /><br /><div></div><div>LuLu was growing. She is sort of a night owl and does most of her growing at night. Or so the experts say.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_1Hme3nV7q7dF-7FVJGEdgSfSVseBcY0R8Vn6kerbyBvf4GTdS9a9DAmOXtExJYOGK__1M-F55ET-IQggOqhkQas9iuaA2GW4Ljtg8a0CJ7zMsVeEvbazBNjruVsH2wkvqNBRw/s1600-h/IMG_1608.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369505232956106706" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_1Hme3nV7q7dF-7FVJGEdgSfSVseBcY0R8Vn6kerbyBvf4GTdS9a9DAmOXtExJYOGK__1M-F55ET-IQggOqhkQas9iuaA2GW4Ljtg8a0CJ7zMsVeEvbazBNjruVsH2wkvqNBRw/s400/IMG_1608.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /> </div><div>Actually, it is unclear whether Lulu really has the hang of this growing thing. Maybe a good night's sleep will do her good.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsu8irlN5jx6OnnEyzz467ifTBK0DXFa8GfwAr6RLJ1COeWLo1fqKl2jrKppP74SZ-7P9rgdt-ehAv7aLq_5a48dzGdyU1mhjcFLsMWndw7APhKXRFEoJ_GZtg0Zy9B0ENnyuOWQ/s1600-h/IMG_1613.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369505248145627394" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsu8irlN5jx6OnnEyzz467ifTBK0DXFa8GfwAr6RLJ1COeWLo1fqKl2jrKppP74SZ-7P9rgdt-ehAv7aLq_5a48dzGdyU1mhjcFLsMWndw7APhKXRFEoJ_GZtg0Zy9B0ENnyuOWQ/s400/IMG_1613.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-1671608497388569752009-08-11T15:50:00.000-04:002009-08-11T15:52:34.647-04:00<span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0);font-size:130%;" >100 Pounds and Going Strong</span><br /><br />Neither of my human children ever grew like that. But it's ok, I love all my kids the same and I promise to try to never treat Lulu like she's better than the others.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4GTOVR6e8xH3LiL6s4JjjfsQSpcYFtranFtqLy_bxCqclb6nb8G8l3iUCdUCvIz5gEKxhs0thb4kAKe9mFCuAj8jTlCz6EH2QrQzWPxvwvwxn9d5oxQCFbcmCJZtnkyarFjEHg/s1600-h/IMG_1604.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368796206771780930" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4GTOVR6e8xH3LiL6s4JjjfsQSpcYFtranFtqLy_bxCqclb6nb8G8l3iUCdUCvIz5gEKxhs0thb4kAKe9mFCuAj8jTlCz6EH2QrQzWPxvwvwxn9d5oxQCFbcmCJZtnkyarFjEHg/s400/IMG_1604.JPG" border="0" /></a>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-41659156170118643452009-08-10T19:17:00.000-04:002009-08-10T19:56:23.980-04:00<div><div><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Green Shoots?</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:100%;">Even the stump of the vine is trying to leaf back out, a testimony to modern fertilizer and genetics I guess. </span></div><br /><br /><div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfi0dkoAQbyNTdi0BfYMoj_94LXcLu1Ffhxctkr9Rg0_297fFxpgjiKnCigXG0tVcBRhT_dI0JQoaukGDEeEUsCUocjxeL8UnpRlnDnrFUwF-hEB7M3lQgozVRXTtNMZykxTUcw/s1600-h/IMG_1594.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366839795041844866" style="width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfi0dkoAQbyNTdi0BfYMoj_94LXcLu1Ffhxctkr9Rg0_297fFxpgjiKnCigXG0tVcBRhT_dI0JQoaukGDEeEUsCUocjxeL8UnpRlnDnrFUwF-hEB7M3lQgozVRXTtNMZykxTUcw/s400/IMG_1594.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div>And 3 days later, we magically have more leaves to help feed energy into Lulu.<br /><br /><div></div>And speaking of Lulu, she's gaining 10 pounds a day and may be picking up steam. I'll get a picture up tomorrow. Prepare to be impressed... or at least pretend to be so you won't hurt her feelings!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghExNjf0c0IpptbXo7E4Q3c_QE6hYaMhkIhlZgOk453Zg_m1jNr_TjJ2ILh-WUizwS1bXL7opihCeGL7SEOcY3XGk4rsop6mjSx52CfKLUZ4TW9DH1e-AFPPDK7MsEHEUNlbNdlQ/s1600-h/IMG_1598.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368290388923705090" style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghExNjf0c0IpptbXo7E4Q3c_QE6hYaMhkIhlZgOk453Zg_m1jNr_TjJ2ILh-WUizwS1bXL7opihCeGL7SEOcY3XGk4rsop6mjSx52CfKLUZ4TW9DH1e-AFPPDK7MsEHEUNlbNdlQ/s400/IMG_1598.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-78690857318734937862009-08-06T09:01:00.002-04:002009-08-06T21:55:11.341-04:00<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Slow and Steady Doesn't Win the Race</span><br /><br />Lulu's growth is... well, acceptable. Pretty good one day, not so good the next. I must have spent an hour today chasing that darn squash borer moth with a tennis racket and then with insecticide, trying to kill her before she can lay more eggs and kill more leaves.<br /><br />She is a darn cute baby, even if she looks nothing like her father!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIgJd8AZHcNi9wWe89wcE5go6X-kPOHK8Z56mAEsj72cjXGLXcy60mnadZR0y8DOWqWbv99ACM20-ImAuf0LMPcWttR0ukrJDDCAItLhfpcA971WmIgP-RPV-JIZrExiixa9Qng/s1600-h/IMG_1592.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIgJd8AZHcNi9wWe89wcE5go6X-kPOHK8Z56mAEsj72cjXGLXcy60mnadZR0y8DOWqWbv99ACM20-ImAuf0LMPcWttR0ukrJDDCAItLhfpcA971WmIgP-RPV-JIZrExiixa9Qng/s400/IMG_1592.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366839015864229698" border="0" /></a>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-63756750406137714002009-08-03T19:49:00.005-04:002009-08-03T19:58:31.234-04:00<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Those Darn Squash Vine Borers</span><br /><br />They're not as bad as deer, but still the damage they leave behind isn't pretty:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HCRMwuZ9mP3QVjidUu1rNfu0VdtmamcM1g9ACsFjTCaEYEUutdMqRcLg7UnIps1qAvJJ0FFAHokrAmA3hob8wo4HV1M5_enhVn82dMcR0YCdZXGAnDN3dQSwyUJv928n95LDSA/s1600-h/IMG_1587.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HCRMwuZ9mP3QVjidUu1rNfu0VdtmamcM1g9ACsFjTCaEYEUutdMqRcLg7UnIps1qAvJJ0FFAHokrAmA3hob8wo4HV1M5_enhVn82dMcR0YCdZXGAnDN3dQSwyUJv928n95LDSA/s400/IMG_1587.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365890066985029426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />By popular demand, a picture of the plant. The pumpkin is under the blue tarp in the back. The new heavy growth is all on the left; I wish there were more new vines on the right side.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlcXnL9IBUBKNP9g8ZLcfQ0iXItcv_kJ8DcsIory1opscUWHzw7kmiY-ZMXTcER3TzLZKmhaBoyiA6oA9ERg_eRyQRJ_46lQ0o4ehawAzvAhus3FsjGNJUtBkMrjyufQdh0qZqg/s1600-h/IMG_1589.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlcXnL9IBUBKNP9g8ZLcfQ0iXItcv_kJ8DcsIory1opscUWHzw7kmiY-ZMXTcER3TzLZKmhaBoyiA6oA9ERg_eRyQRJ_46lQ0o4ehawAzvAhus3FsjGNJUtBkMrjyufQdh0qZqg/s400/IMG_1589.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365890875730636514" border="0" /></a>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-31491724173220279652009-08-02T14:00:00.004-04:002009-08-02T14:11:14.914-04:00<span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;">Day 11 and All is... <strong>Wet</strong>.</span><br /><br /><div>Darn it, there were some really cool mushrooms out in the patch this morning. So delicate looking, almost translucent. I went to take a picture this afternoon, and they're gone. I can't find them, anyway. Well it should dry out some next week but for now us growers have all the water we need, right Tedd?<br /></div><div>So instead of a picture of pretty shrooms I'll have to entertain you with the latest picture of Lulu, who grew nicely yesterday.</div><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85on8u-0zpL0E9Z2DAqH8DCDu_FT9xLgZdgCvfNuZZMf6ByFsi-sFgEogJ5R4rKYZoy_VI3guXtbeSVHYjLCWZ5quxHp0QeEVEU1noJr3T1AMAJO6fFY57XEEYUpe-JxrY1ffAQ/s1600-h/IMG_1585.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365429138205036978" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85on8u-0zpL0E9Z2DAqH8DCDu_FT9xLgZdgCvfNuZZMf6ByFsi-sFgEogJ5R4rKYZoy_VI3guXtbeSVHYjLCWZ5quxHp0QeEVEU1noJr3T1AMAJO6fFY57XEEYUpe-JxrY1ffAQ/s400/IMG_1585.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p> </p><p>So Tedd wants to know why I've never drunk the bottle of pumpkin ale in the pictures. Dunno. Never thought about it. Maybe I've been too busy drinking all the weaker bottles? In any case, I now officilaly dub this the Lucky Pumpkin Beer Bottle! I plan to either drink it or throw it away unopened on Halloween depending on how the rest of the season goes!<br /></p><p></p>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-12287717444042087542009-08-01T10:29:00.004-04:002009-08-01T13:17:56.220-04:00<div> <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;">We Have a Winner!</span><br /><p>Lulu out-grew her baby sister and is now an only child. (Now don't tell her this, but I'm a little disappointed with her growth. But any pumpkin is better than none I suppose.)</p><p></p><div> </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75aAAbt5KKVMahyyXHGRlHdP6Qttv7nl7ycDti1yGHrUUJT05M55EalJ2R8Ggbb1H30SElnFHK5ameysI33ewfxIbBJRvTUIzdzZ0I-UxBGcknN5fKDGK7sLmHSkNNiYoMhG7Vw/s1600-h/IMG_1580.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365002886957876946" style="width: 400px; height: 300px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75aAAbt5KKVMahyyXHGRlHdP6Qttv7nl7ycDti1yGHrUUJT05M55EalJ2R8Ggbb1H30SElnFHK5ameysI33ewfxIbBJRvTUIzdzZ0I-UxBGcknN5fKDGK7sLmHSkNNiYoMhG7Vw/s400/IMG_1580.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div> </div><br />Meanwhile the new vines have forgotten about the horrors of being eaten and are striking out on a cross country trip at a rapid clip.<br /><div> </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBW-40JQV0Yht9GxWBAYFSIcxmxrd-5u1iOy91z5bznzBB8zRW1gU07dp3L7IuQUg8SRl4i6IDDyVmgBoMNetX8SLcXft_HF0BazG0df_SBmmEuIK84yfSJw0Y41kUZTXlxl-6Q/s1600-h/IMG_1582.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365003497175768306" style="width: 300px; height: 400px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBW-40JQV0Yht9GxWBAYFSIcxmxrd-5u1iOy91z5bznzBB8zRW1gU07dp3L7IuQUg8SRl4i6IDDyVmgBoMNetX8SLcXft_HF0BazG0df_SBmmEuIK84yfSJw0Y41kUZTXlxl-6Q/s400/IMG_1582.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-16626470943723490582009-07-30T19:09:00.003-04:002009-07-31T09:09:29.998-04:00<span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>A Time to Sow, a Time to Reap</strong></span><br /><br />'Cuz I'm tired (y'all probably are too) of my ranting about A Time For War Against The Deer and Squash Borers. But it is time to cut off the losing pumpkin.<br /><br />Anyway, Lulu2 (the big one) added a couple of pounds today. Lulu3, the small one, barely budged. So unless that changes by tomorrow evening, I'm going to eliminate the little one and keep the older sister. Which is the exact opposite of what I expected.<br /><br />I'm a little worried that all the new leaf growth is well out the vine, past Lulu2, who is on a side vine no less. But this early stage pumpkin growth isn't very predicatable. As far as I can tell from my records, Lulu is behind the 215 pound Jemimah of last year, but ahead of the 500 pound Bessie at this point. Go figure!john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-8939891924740647062009-07-29T21:14:00.004-04:002009-07-29T21:21:24.111-04:00<span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>One Week Old</strong></span><br /><br />It figures... the deer just decided to take a break so the squash borers could move back in. Oh well it's pumpkin growing season so there's always something for me to complain about.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWcuHMM7h_u2rjosIoLrVOyBPVq-B3Htb2riC4WV8g3VCEAoolMftu6TqG4lwIrwYR5oq28f-IWBcQjbw3mh2SqIcFCVtLHEu1plaFrYzxZ7unFbDKlwZQ6_dYq0NDO4u2MH7iQ/s1600-h/IMG_1579.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364056833350547442" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWcuHMM7h_u2rjosIoLrVOyBPVq-B3Htb2riC4WV8g3VCEAoolMftu6TqG4lwIrwYR5oq28f-IWBcQjbw3mh2SqIcFCVtLHEu1plaFrYzxZ7unFbDKlwZQ6_dYq0NDO4u2MH7iQ/s400/IMG_1579.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Lulu has put on a few inches in the last two days. She's about to take off, with this rain and sort of coolish weather. But her big concern (other than killer grubs and killer deer) should be this weekend. Either her or her little sister aren't going to live to see Monday. I think it's going to be really tough to actually cut a healthy fruit off the vine.john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-24714031828005689962009-07-27T18:20:00.002-04:002009-07-27T18:26:29.077-04:00<span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;">The Plant is Slowly Recovering</span><br /><div></div><br /><div>So before I go to bed each night, I see if the deer have been chomping during the evening. And in the morning, same deal. If you haven't spent part of your life living in fear, trust me you're not missing anything.</div><div></div><br /><div>Meanwhile, Lulu2 is oblivious to the fact she could be digested at any moment and has packed on some weight today:</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbi2deMBOpEGDJkZKnnnsmFql0j46aRxUawp6rsDCTY0GSz9Uy8_kAiKoL_mcF-NKnoURHXgNYJCYmZDPZlMG5EErvKQNqpfjXYbsWlSxToeSmzPvX7U2wwUFseoWvEHbiYj70Wg/s1600-h/IMG_1577.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363269765805094082" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbi2deMBOpEGDJkZKnnnsmFql0j46aRxUawp6rsDCTY0GSz9Uy8_kAiKoL_mcF-NKnoURHXgNYJCYmZDPZlMG5EErvKQNqpfjXYbsWlSxToeSmzPvX7U2wwUFseoWvEHbiYj70Wg/s400/IMG_1577.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28739473.post-52941487752707170662009-07-25T14:22:00.002-04:002009-07-25T14:38:16.998-04:00<span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>Lulu, Day 3</strong></span> <div><br /><div></div><div>The plant is recovering and trying to put out some new vines. Which means I'm about due for another night attack from the neighborhood deer. Anyway, here is Lulu 3 days after blooming:</div><div> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWVCMC1myDZ8zubAiwGZSP_FAqsRrERHdigarWXaIfSObuDUToqLS5pS_S7ZHUltVt1V3krJnKVvHPsGk2dvok9oCPo32Pf360Nn7jFcq14nFahvmbPqKQHVwgElcrUBIGt2UHA/s1600-h/IMG_1567.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362468765881062066" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWVCMC1myDZ8zubAiwGZSP_FAqsRrERHdigarWXaIfSObuDUToqLS5pS_S7ZHUltVt1V3krJnKVvHPsGk2dvok9oCPo32Pf360Nn7jFcq14nFahvmbPqKQHVwgElcrUBIGt2UHA/s400/IMG_1567.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div>I know she looks pretty small - but compare her to her little siter, who is two days younger:</div><div> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcGFkC7u0AzDnwh9FdKqKDO6-FszojdDE-Bzd_EBuNn0r12gi2Fj7qBpBWp1meBIdAFMurfliptFvTgmEZB37EMj1TQT5J5xSZFRUVcsRZH1aXiYTdBqFFMlOfHuzEGeAYrkiTw/s1600-h/IMG_1571.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362468769103071986" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcGFkC7u0AzDnwh9FdKqKDO6-FszojdDE-Bzd_EBuNn0r12gi2Fj7qBpBWp1meBIdAFMurfliptFvTgmEZB37EMj1TQT5J5xSZFRUVcsRZH1aXiYTdBqFFMlOfHuzEGeAYrkiTw/s400/IMG_1571.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>john hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915063407562886561noreply@blogger.com1