[AT] Pumpkins galore

[Gene Dotson]

    Western Ohio has enjoyed very warm weather this past week. 60 degrees at 
5:00 am today and 75 at noon. Still no frost here. Still very dry. Lawns 
hardly growing at all.

    Took a little flying tour yesterday and checked the fall colors. The 
reds from the maples are starting to show pretty well. Some early yellows, 
but still three quarters green. Late planted and replanted soybeand still in 
the field along with late planted corn. Harvest is probably at least 2 weeks 
ahead of normal. Haven't noticed many pumpkins being harvested and not many 
being grown.

    Walnut, hickory and apple trees bearing very heavy, more than normal. 
Squirrels are very busy. I raked the walnuts from the tree bu the driveway 
and hauled them to the woods. Bet the squirrels thought they had discovered 
the mother lode. Hauled a trailer load of apples I cleaned to the woods. 
Thought maybe the deer would enjoy them. The coyotes have been visiting the 
apple trees at night and raising a fuss there. Better to eat the apples than 
bother the neighbors livestock.

                    Gene


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Charlie V" <1cdevill at gmail.com>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 10, 2010 8:26 AM
Subject: [AT] Pumpkins galore


> As of this morning, fall is officially here.  The temperature at dawn
> was 31.1 degrees F. and Jack Frost had a very busy night.  Unlike many
> areas not too far away, there is not more than 10-15 % color change in
> most of the trees.  I suspect the next few days following this freeze
> will be a different picture with full color.  Due to the memorable
> weather for crops, harvests have been two to three weeks earlier than
> normal and very abundant.  The only crops still in the fields are what
> I think are soy beans and the not quite dry corn.  Some fields of corn
> still show faint green in the lower half of the stalks.  My lawn has
> made three to four inches of new growth every week through July,
> August , September and October thus far, and unlike some, I do not
> feed it with any fertilizer. Too bad lawn is not a cash crop rather
> than a debit venture.  With 3 1/2 inches or new rain this last week,
> some of my areas have standing water and will not be mowed for another
> day or two.
>
>
> Speaking of cash crops, this year has pumpkins by the hundreds.  The
> crop was fully ripe by late September (again two to three weeks
> early).  Driving along the roads there are numerous farms and
> vegetable stands that typically may have fifty or so pumpkins out for
> sale to the Halloween trade.  This year, entire front yards are a sea
> of orange, just filled with pumpkins.  It is a sight to see and
> remember.
>
> On another topic, I can not remember adding any water to any of the
> tractors this summer.  However, just in case I have a dose of CRS, it
> is about time to do the walk past 10 or 12 radiators with the
> antifreeze tester and confirm that all is well.  With memory not being
> infallible, I prefer " better safe than sorry".
>
> Charlie V. on the Eastern side of Western New York.