The results are in!!!

I had another post that I wanted to show you, but...

Blogger would not let me log in to my blog. 

I could not comment or post.  

Sorry for the delay.

This is a brief glimpse at "Spider Blimp"

I am making it out of barbed wire and electric fencing wire.  

The humming birds love to sit on it.

Smudge on the way to the concrete shop.

Hey, Smudge!

Something else to add to her chewed up items list...

She shredded a small rug last night.

When I say shredded....I mean shredded. 

One of my dahlias in the back yard.  

Zippy and I took a sunset stroll the other day. 

It was very pretty.

On the way home....Zippy was aglow with enthusiasm.  

Ha ha ha..

The same dahlia pictured above only at night.

Now.....to the BIG news!  

We (Thanks Gary) loaded Sparky up and took her to the Yadkin Valley Pumpkin Festival.

This is a festival held in Elkin, NC and one of the weigh offs that is sanctioned by 

the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, or GPC.

Lots of folks show up for the weigh off. 

Many driving for hours just to have their pumpkin, squash or watermelon weighed.

Here is Sparky on the forklift.  

I knew from looking at the competition, that Sparky may have a chance in the top 5.

But....you just never know if she will go light.....or go heavy.

I was hoping for heavy, because I did not have to cut her from the vine until 

the night before the competition.

This is Sam...He works very hard to make this competition a success.

Thanks Sam!!!

The type of pumpkin on the scale is a "field pumpkin" they have their own division.

This is basically a Connecticut field pumpkin. 

Just like the ones you carve for Halloween. 

Smudge had to go with us.  

I did not know when we would be finished up and she has to have her 

meds. at specific times during the day.

She had a great time!

Another view of the giant melons and more pumpkins.

The time is drawing near.....

Okay!

Here we go!

Sparky's turn!!!!

I had to get up in front of the crowd and talk about Sparky.

She had to be properly introduced...

I am sort of shy and it was interesting.

The tension was mounting.......

You could hear gasps from the crowd.....

Actually I think they gasped when I said Sparky was from Meat Camp, NC. 

or

Maybe it was when I said that I started growing giant pumpkins for the leaves.

or

Maybe it was when I said that I cut the vine yesterday...

Whatever....there were gasps..Ha ha ha.

So......680.4 lb. !!!!!

Her weight earned her a wonderful Third Place win!!!!

I was very surprised!!!

She went heavy!!!

I can only imagine how heavy she would have or could have been if the weather had 

cooperated.  We had about a two week period of cool night time temps that really slowed her down.

So....Next year...watch out.  

Sparky may have some siblings that will make it to the weigh off.

Smudge and my sister enjoying the day.

This is the first place winner!!

Great job guys!!

972.1 lb.

Smudge and my dad at the festival.

Smudge was tired after all of the festivities.

However she did muster up enough energy to chew the rug up...

I think that I just said Smudge, like...50 times...ha ha..

We got Sparky home and set her up for her party.

She will be with us for one more week and then will move on to a local 

Restaurant.  The Best Cellar in Blowing Rock, NC.  

We used a sofa cushion on the front of the tractor to keep Sparky from getting scratched up.

I thought it was funny.  

That's my dad on the tractor.

That is hilarious!!

Well....This is the last photo of Sparky in her natural setting.....

I will miss her...

Smudge had to have a photo too..

One last picture....

Now we have fun.

We have a little neighborhood party to celebrate Sparky.

This was from last year.

My neighbors are a little strange.

They glow in the dark.

More Dahlias

Finally got Chuck the Oak Hill Iron Dog finished.

I think he turned out really nice.

I gave him a smile, because he is such a fun loving guy. 

Praying mantis.  I have seen several of these lately.

Have a great week folks!

Spiders and more spiders.

Three little trouble makers.  

Ha!

I know...you are angels compared to Smudge..

Hi..

I am Zippy and I am a genius. 

Spider web on the way to the shop.

Sparky is continuing to grow.

She has picked back up and is approx. 

560 lb.

Look at that cute little pumpkin model.

I think he is laughing.

Stem end of Sparky.

I have about 59 pictures in this post..

so 

be prepared..

Another great Zippy shot.

Sparky has developed a couple of small cracks, but I am working hard on keeping it all

under control.  

She has until Sept. 21 to plump up. 

Zippy and I took a nice walk the other day.

He looked for something to chase and came up empty pawed.

Ha ha ha...

This little lady is in my kale.

I hope that she eats all of the cabbage moths.

I really dislike cabbage moths..

Another Salpiglosses.

I was in the yard the other day and I noticed that we had one more horse in the pasture.

A round white horse...or a pig...or a Smudge.

Who me?

A pig???

I was in my office working the other day and I kept hearing something...

walked into the next room and Smudge was stuck under the table.

I had to put books under the table legs to get her out. 

We are already seeing some color on the trees here.

I really think it is way to early for that.

Where did the summer go???

Sigh..

It looks as if Smudge and May want to make friends...hahaha..

Smudge might, but not so much for May. 

Zippy on the deck.

I had a dream the other night that Smudge was on the dining table.

Oh.....Wait!

That was NOT a dream.

We went to a neighbor's house for dinner and came home to this.

Smudge was quietly sleeping on the table.  

Great modeling, Smudge!

The snap peas in my garden. 

They are really doing well this year.

My tomatoes and potatoes....not so much.

I have had blight problems this year and it is very very sad.

Lost all of my tomatoes.  

What a pain.

Just look at the wonderful job my models are doing....

A little biscuit goes a long way.

Eco.

Perfect.

Took Smudge for a nice walk through the woods.

Trying to keep up with her training sessions.

She is doing really well.

(Most of the time)

This is our neighbor's new pup.

She is absolutely adorable.

Smudge loves her. 

This is the latest tragedy....My Ugg boot. 

I need a support group......

I love this picture of Zippy the wonder model.

It really makes Sparky look big.  

A wonderful late summer surprise.

A beautiful Dahlia that I got from the local farmer's market.

We added this antique gate to our deck.  We can open it to sweep/shovel snow off.

I have been very impressed with how long the garden has been in bloom this year.

I also had a gourd and pumpkin plant self seed.  

You can see the gourd in the foreground.  The big leaves next to the evergreens.

Can't get enough of this flower.

This shows you how large the giant pumpkin leaves and plants are.  

I love growing these things.  The plant is incredible, then you get this fabulous 

bonus of a giant pumpkin.  I am already going into pumpkin withdrawals.

Sad that I will soon have to cut the vine.....

Did I mention that I need a support group?

Oh wait....that was a Smudge destruct o support group..

I may need several support groups.

Just feel free to take the word "may" out of that last sentence.

On the way to the shop the other day.

It was warm.

The pond was there...

and 

Well...you just do what you have to do..

Get in and roll in the mud...

Bath time once again!

Smudge helping at the shop.

We have been working on a very important project. 

Chuck the Oak Hill Iron Dog!

Chuck with his new background.

Give Oak Hill Iron a shout if you need decorative metal work. 

Railings

Fireplace accessories

Sculpture

Spider web with pollen.

Another shot.

Dahlia with spider.

What is up with this spider obsession? 

Not sure....

Just wait until you see my new creation...(saved for next time)

It is a spider blimp.  Made of barbed wire.

Stay tuned for that.

The blue moon.

Alternate blue moon.

It was so beautiful. 

Even though it was cloudy.  I actually think that the clouds added great color and texture. 

This is a spider making a web.

One spider....one web. 

long exposure.

The new dining room table that my dad made.

I bet Smudge would love to sleep on this one!  Ha ha ha ha..

The barn quilt.....I love the color.

Still looking good after two years.  There are a couple of places that may need 

touching up.

Smudge in the flower bed! 

Some very cute visitors..

They came to see Sparky and the animals.  

Ragweed.....achoo o..

And yet another heart shaped mushroom.

Not sure what is going on in the mushroom world, but it looks like mushroom love. 

My parent's deck.

Hey!!

Sleeping on the job!!!

I call this "Cat on a hot angular roof"

Well.......this brings us to the end of this long, long post.

I hope that everyone is having a fabulous summer and that they also had a great Labor Day weekend.

Fall is here...