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Aldie, VA

Well, this morning we took all the pumpkins off the vines. My little baby, Hortense, was the biggest and we weighed her at 71.2 pounds. I had estimated 70 pounds so I was pretty close! I think that's a great pumpkin to come off a vine that was almost completely severed in 4 places by SVB. In fact, all my vines were damaged by SVB, but Hortense's was horrific. The rest of the pumpkins: Boris, Natasha, Moose and Squirrel were pollinated late and all came in around 30 pounds.

My daughter nursed two Luminas, Yugi and Yami, and they look gorgeous. Will start posting pics soon, after Hallowe'en.

I have 15+ pumpkins to carve over the next week so I'll be a little busy. Thank god for Funkins or I'd never get them done :)

I emptied my freezer downstairs and dropped the temperature way down so I should be able to store a couple of carvings for a week. I've found that a DRY carved pumpkin that is kept in the fridge will last 1+ weeks. Make sure the inside of it is DRY! I often place a damp paper towel over the carved areas to keep them from drying out too much.

Next year I have an actual plan for growing and am still debating whether I want to try to grow and AG or not.

Take care and thanks to everyone for all their help this year!
Roan

10/23/2004 11:16:02 AM

Fremont, California

congrats

10/23/2004 11:18:06 AM

Wichita, KS

i love your pumpkin names, and I especially like your carvings! I carved a celtic knot one year and won a prize, but it was nothing compared to your carvings. Congratulations on the beautiful pumpkins, too!

10/23/2004 6:08:04 PM

Hayes, Virginia

Roan please grow a AG next year and bring it the state fair.
I have been growing pumpkins for ten years or so. this year was my first AG growing year and its TONS of fun.i still grow bixmax and luminas as well. nothing touches growing AG seeds you would not believe how fast they grow.had a carving party at me house today carved the 631 & 323.My grandson (aka Mr.D) loves sitting inside the pumpkin having his picture taking he is such a ham at 3 years old.hope to meet you at the state fair weigh-off next year take care and happy growing.
Ed

10/23/2004 8:32:42 PM

Monrovia, CA

Roan, have you ever carved an image of one of your collies in a pumpkin?
Happy Autumn,Michelle

10/24/2004 9:35:10 AM

Aldie, VA

Dashbarr,
Thanks!

Mr. Sprout,
Thanks a bunch! My daughter was looking at the babies and said "that one looks like a Boris!" So Boris it was and all I could think of was Rocky and Bullwinkle :)

I love carving the knots, but this year my hands have been hurting and that's just as well as I've only time to do a couple of zoomorphics :( Hortense is going to be carved with a George Bain design - Two Women.

Ed
I'm thinking about growing an AG, but I'll probably wait another year. The state fair isn't all that close to Herndon -- it's close to a 4+ hour drive. I also have to consider how the hey I would get it out of my back yard. We have a 6 foot privacy fence and you can't just take it down for a pumpkin. That's rather expensive :)

Michelle,
I'm sorry I haven't answered your last email as yet. It's in my inbox still with a flag marking it "to do right after Halloween!" :)

I carved one of our late collies in a Funkin. It didn't come out too well -- probably because 1) it was a horrible sub-standard Funkin 2) it was my first carving and I munged it in several places :)

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I've posted a few of the carvings I've done this far in the Photo Gallery if anyone wants to take a look.

More later!
Roan

10/28/2004 11:47:37 AM