2013 Pumpkins - Good bye hot house

This past weekend after being away for two weeks for work it was time to open up the hot house for good and tear it down. Thanks to Papi Evans for care for my plant s while I was way, so far no signs of sabotage! I also was able to pick up " the clay maker" this week. It is the trophy I made up for our inner circle of competitors, myself, Brent Evans, Rich Leavitt, and our newest member Jordan Rogers. It is a traveling trophy that will go to he who has the largest pumpkin in the group for the year. Our 2009-2012 winners can be seen below with their winning weights! Good growing fellow growers... May the Clay be with you!

New Garage - Vacation construction - days 5-8

On Monday I finished tilling and leveling the area for the new patio. On Wednesday Richard Woods and I started the demo of the concrete slab and would continued thru Friday. I rented a concrete saw and it was much help. Friday evening was by far the most successful concrete breaking performance. Kenzie and Kira would make the first trip to the dump with me on Thursday. Kira snuck a few pictures in of me unloading the truck. Kenzie and I made the second trip on Friday. She wanted to get out and help unload. It was cute watching her through the little chunks into the pit. As I mention Friday night we got another truck load ready for the dump and broke up a good portion of the remaining pad. We also removed the stairs to the covered deck. Masen Chinn, our nephew, was a big help on Friday night as well. Thanks to those who've help thus far... Looking forward to the "Sledge Hammer Party" tomorrow afternoon to finish this stage of the demolition.

New Garage - Carport Demo Day 4

It's gone, I no longer have a carport. The next step is to start breaking up concrete. As my dad tells me, "you won't need to go to the gym". I already feel the toll on my body from tearing down just wood, shingles, and rocks. Then needing to heave it over my head. Lets factor in concrete and many repetitions of swinging a slug hammer and I for see many more long night and good sleep! I'll keep you posted! Again thanks to my brother in-law Eric Andrews for helping me with the latest progress.

New Garage - Carport Demo Day 3

A special thanks goes out to Mike Lowder for helping me today. We got the carport almost down. Three more trusses and two beams and I'll be done. Them its off to the concrete demolition days! Can wait to have a real garage and a shop to work in. The first tool ill be buying is a Lincoln mug welder. Then I'll be saving up for my miller tig welder. Soooo... Excited!

New Garage - Carport Demo Day 2

I finished the west side today. Kenzie doesn't understand why she can't be on the roof with me when I'm taking it apart. She does how ever understand that I'm taking it down to build a garage. She asked what I was doing and I told her tearing the roof down. She replied so you can build a garage. I told her last night that was what we were doing. She can be very cute at times!

Garage Plans

Today I took the plans to city hall for a second time to apply for a permit. I had to print some additional views after talking with the files there. They gave me some additional requirement in regards to the footing that will add a little more to the price and labor for the concrete. All in all it was a successful day. Now just waiting for the permit...

New Garage - Carport Demo Day 1

I started the demolition of the carport today. I had a little helper for the first part. That was when I was taking the sheet rock off of the underneath side. Then she came on the roof with me but she was moving around too much so I had her go inside. I got a nice surprise when I found out that they just shingled over the remains of the pea gravel roof. That added a little twist but I fought through it. So after day one I have half of one side of the plywood removed and all the underneath Sheetrock.

My Little builder

Today we went to Home Depot. By we I mean Kenzie and I. It was their kids zone day. We built a little planter box. Kenzie did a really good job painting it. She left very little bear wood spots.

2013 Pumpkins - Roid mixing & Trophy

I've been trying a few new thing this year. Yesterday I applied some actinovate and today I mixed up some liquid seaweed. I'm trying only a few new things to see what it does. Plus I moved the patch so this year is really a wash as to having anything to compare too but I'll at least have a reference from years past. I also am ordering a trophy for the neighborhood inter-circle competition between Rich Leavitt, Brent Evans (my dad), myself, and new Grower Jordan Rogers. Here is a glimpse at what it will look like. Still trying to come up with a name for it but I'm leaning towards "The Bug"! Kind of Ironic but I'm open to questions but nothing will compare to "the Shiva"...