Category: pumpkins

The Harvest is forming.

First light this morning.

From 2010 Buildup

As you can tell I had already been at it for some time…

A pumpkin creeper body, waiting for a head.

From 2010 Buildup
From 2010 Buildup

Couple more hanging off the fence.

From 2010 Buildup
From 2010 Buildup

So, day’s end.

Front back together, and torches posted.

From 2010 Buildup

I got this panicked moment when I realized that, with the gazebo broken this year, I had no way to get the chords across the path. Raven grass is my answer. I planted this stuff specifically for use on Halloweens, but hadn’t planed on using it this year. I’ll tie the tops of it I have posted to either side of the fence there to make an arch, and presto, chord up and over. (In about 2-3 years, I’ll have LOTS of this grass)

From 2010 Buildup

I’m not a HUGE fan of the scarecrows, but it’s the clothes I could find in short order. (mostly cast aways from my son)

From 2010 Buildup
From 2010 Buildup

‘The orchard’ area. I’ve decided we’ll hang some lanterns and spray some webs in these trees.

From 2010 Buildup

Fred on his spit.

From 2010 Buildup

Fred seems to get better with age…(now 3 years old)

From 2010 Buildup

The fence creepers. I was out fiddling, trying to get them on after dark. Torches lit to see what I was doing, and get a feel for things. A car was stopped in the street watching as I plugged these in and I just hear a “holy crap that’s cool” waft out from the window.

From 2010 Buildup
From 2010 Buildup
From 2010 Buildup

The pumpkinhead scarecrow to honor the picture that started all this.

From 2010 Buildup

Sorry it’s blurry, but I’m using the point and shoot sans tripod. Testing the battery tea lights I bought. Should work great.

From 2010 Buildup

Even the crappy ‘crows look half decent in the dim torchlight.

From 2010 Buildup

Country Gardens to the rescue.

The great pumpkin search has finally concluded.

After many phone calls, drives, and asking around, Country Gardens once again comes in as by far simply the best.

Yes, there are pumpkin patches elsewhere that may offer a wider variety. But, all you need to do is ASK if you don’t see what you like at Country Gardens. They’ll find it.

As with last year, their service is simply impeccable. We’ll be heading there for flowers next spring.

I stopped in originally about a week ago, explained what I was looking for, and asking if he could acquire it. Not only did he come in with the best quote, he offered multiple ways of completing the order. When I called back, they called in a very specific order in with his growers, specifying the size we had discussed in quantity.

At the end of the day, I got the 50 ‘basketball’ sized I was shooting for and had enough left to buy a couple of the large ones at the same time.

Of course, that brings the “what was I thinking” moment…

From 2010 Buildup

Well. What I’m thinking? I’m hoping I’ll get some help.

From 2010 Buildup

(sorry, no phone numbers on the website. 😉 )

Plenty of child safe carving knives, and lots of hope to get some folks over for a good time and a little help. Figure I’ll have them all cleaned and ready, the kids just have to carve Friday and find theirs when they come trick or treat.

From 2010 Buildup
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Categorized as pumpkins

The Pumpkin Search continues, and other news.

Kyle’s mask is coming along. Got most of it sewn up and cut to fit. Just a few more modifications and some touchup painting left to do.

From 2010 Buildup

Talia has taken a disliking to the thing.

Debating whether to have him wear an “invisible” mask underneath or just rely on facepaint. I’m liking it, but thinking I could do a second much better. Might modify my methods and make a mask for me instead of the appliances I was planning on. I get claustrophobic in masks…badly. We’ll see…

The Pumpkin search made several strides today.

Our current price listing is as follows:

Day Farms: $.16/lb (best price on med-large sizes)
Maceys: $.19/lb
Home Depot: $4 ea
Walmart: *Varies by store. Seen them priced both by lb and by each. Averaging around $2.50 for a ‘normal’ size pumpkin
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Farm in Harrisville: $.50 1-5lb, $1 5-10lb, $2 10-15lb, $3 15-20lb, etc *will not discount for my purposes as he serves a couple schools and wont have enough.
Country Gardens Nursery: $.20/lb *Likes The Harvest idea, will discount to $.12/lb for my bulk order
Welch’s Produce, Nursery, and Handmade Gifts: $.20/lb *offered 25% discount ($.15/lb) for bulk order, but willing to haggle on that.

—I need to check with Day Farms about a bulk purchase.

But, the question now is, since I’m already doing a bulk purchase at a discount…any of you locally want to jump in on it? What’s a couple more pumpkins when I’m already ordering a ton? (possibly literally)

Preparing for exile…

Yes.

First of October.

Time to start REALLY preparing for the season, setting out decor, building this and that….

I’m being sent on a business trip, however. As such, I’ll be losing that first week of prep…another in the long list of problems this year.

So, how does one cope with such a downer?

For the drive:

From October Exile

And, to keep the spirit through the trip:

From October Exile

We’ll be on the lookout for more suitable diversions as well.

Meanwhile the great pumpkin search stands as follows:

Farm in Harrisville: $.50 1-5lb, $1 5-10lb, $2 10-15lb, $3 15-20lb, etc (best price yet on ‘normal’ size)
Day Farms: $.16/lb (best price on med-large sizes)
Maceys: $.19/lb
Home Depot: $4 ea
Walmart: $.49/lb (though I expect it will/has gone down since last time I was there)

Update:
Perry fruit stands: $2-$6 (VERY large $6 pumpkins, ‘normal’ size $3)
Produce stand in South Ogden: $1-$30 (‘normal’ size $2.50-$5 very little logic to pricing)

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Categorized as pumpkins

Corn, corn, and more corn…

Importing of corn stalks is in full swing.

And, we needed some means of storing all this corn I’m bringing in before I go about setting up how I want.

First in line to be filled as storage was our whiskey barrel. In a little bit of a coming out ceremony, we moved it out behind the countdown to help drive home our new theme.

From 2010 Buildup

The rest…is in one heck of a bundle right now. 2ft deep, 6 ft wide, I figured to strap it to the fence to keep it all up and sturdy, and provide me a little means of decoration/advertisement.

From 2010 Buildup

And, I have about half that left to go pick up.

I may just make it through the whole corn setup without having to fall back on plan B. But, there IS a plan B just in cast this proves not quite enough. It sure is looking like a lot, can’t wait to start setting it up for real…

With corn in hand, it’s time to start thinking on the Pumpkins.

So far, leading candidate is a farmer in Harrisville, pay by weight. Average price for the size I want is $2.

Wal-Mart would be slightly cheaper for bigger pumpkins. Sacco’s is out of the question.

Have to check Day Farms still…

The stand we found last year does not have pumpkins yet, however, and if they are anywhere close to the 18 pumpkins for under $12 we got last year, I’m sure it’s gonna be the winner.