Tag Archives: pumpkins

Pumpkin Weigh‑Offs: Weight Watchers Need Not Apply

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A black cat with bright yellow eyes sits among dozens of small orange pumpkins. The pumpkins fill the entire frame, creating a vivid contrast with the cat’s dark fur.

🍂  Fall in New England Means Pumpkins

A huge carved pumpkin sits outdoors on a stack of wooden pallets. It has triangular eyes and a wide smiling jack‑o’-lantern mouth, with autumn foliage in the background.Fall in New England means pumpkins — everywhere. Big ones, little ones, carved ones, decorative ones. If Linus were around, he’d probably swear the Great Pumpkin was hiding somewhere between Route 1 and the cider stand.

Every year, growers try to outdo themselves, and every fair seems to have a pumpkin weigh‑off. But this year? We had some true giants.

🎃 Topsfield Fair: The Local Heavyweight

Last week at the Topsfield Fair, a true behemoth walked away with first place. The winning pumpkin weighed in at 2,598 pounds, breaking the all‑time Topsfield Fair record. That’s a lot of pies.

A massive pumpkin sits on a wooden pallet, secured with black straps, while a forklift lifts it inside an indoor event space. Several people stand around watching, indicating it’s part of a pumpkin weigh‑off at the Topsfield Fair.

🎃 Warren, RI: A New World Record

A man stands behind an enormous pumpkin weighing 3,156 pounds at an outdoor weigh‑off event. The pumpkin sits on a platform with a digital display showing its weight, and an orange event board with flags is visible in the background.And just when you thought pumpkins couldn’t get any bigger, Saturday’s New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh‑Off in Warren, RI delivered a monster.

The winning pumpkin tipped the scale at 3,156 pounds, setting not just a regional record — but a new world record.

The grower, Ron Wallace of Coventry, RI, is no stranger to pumpkin fame. In 2012, he became the first person ever to grow a pumpkin over a ton (that’s 2,000 pounds if you didn’t know). He’s now waiting for Guinness World Records to certify his newest accomplishment.

🎃 Up‑and‑Coming Growers

There are rising stars too. Take 13‑year‑old Harold Harris from Martha’s Vineyard. He raised two massive pumpkins — not 2,000‑pound giants, but impressive for any grower, let alone a teenager. His pumpkins weighed 340 pounds and 535 pounds. Not bad for someone who probably still has homework.

And in case you were wondering, that 2,598‑pound Topsfield pumpkin? It was grown by an 80‑year‑old man. Age clearly has nothing to do with pumpkin power.

🎃 What Happens to the Giants?

I don’t know what happens to these behemoths once their spotlight fades, but their smaller cousins will soon shine. The Roger Williams Zoo is preparing its annual Jack‑O‑Lantern Spectacular, with over 5,000 carved pumpkins lighting up the Wetlands Trail.

These aren’t your childhood triangle‑eyes and one‑tooth grins. These are true works of art carved by professional pumpkin artists. I went a few years ago — the skill and creativity are incredible. A far cry from my crooked little childhood jack‑o‑lanterns. A large group of carved pumpkins glows in the dark, each with a unique face ranging from cheerful to spooky. The pumpkins are arranged at different heights, creating a bright, warm display against the black background.

🎃 Enjoy the Pumpkin Season

So enjoy the New England pumpkin excitement while it lasts. It will be gone soon enough for another year. And if you see Linus, tell him the Great Pumpkin is alive and well — and currently residing in Warren, RI.

Two cats sit among a large group of pumpkins in an outdoor pumpkin patch. One cat is long‑haired and orange, the other short‑haired and black. Both rest on top of big pumpkins, with trees, people, and an American flag visible in the background.

 

 

WMEO Special report- Punkin Chuckin Edition

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Two cats sit behind a WMEO news desk as anchors for a segment titled “Punkin Chuckin – A WMEO Special Report.” The orange tabby cat named Banner wears a black bow tie and sits beside a small pumpkin on the desk. The black cat, Balboa, sits to the right near a teddy bear and a gray mouse prop. Behind them, a large screen shows a pumpkin chucking event with wooden catapults and a crowd in a grassy field under a blue sky.

WMEO SPECIAL REPORT — Pumpkin Chuckin’ Edition

Banner (Anchor Desk):

“Ah, fall in New England. Crisp air, bright leaves, cranberries floating on the bogs… and pumpkin chuckin’. Yes, that’s a thing — and WMEO was on the scene at the Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival in Stowe, VT on September 27.”

Balboa (Chaos Desk):

“Held at Mayo Farm Events Field, the festival is the ultimate game of fall one‑upmanship. Kids and adults compete to build the best trebuchet — a modern twist on the medieval catapult — and launch pumpkins across the field in a battle of engineering, accuracy, and pure autumn chaos… Tell me, do they have pies?”

Banner:

“That’s right, Balboa. It’s a high‑stakes, high‑energy game out there. Let’s see what Pumpkin Spice has for us from the field. Over to you, Pumpkin.”

Pumpkin Spice (Field Reporter):

“The energy is vicious out here. There are smashed pumpkins everywhere. They’re being catapulted… and even shot from guns! One family even has a child‑sized catapult.A small homemade catapult built from white PVC pipes sits on a concrete surface outdoors. The angled launching arm holds an orange ball in a plastic cup, with two more orange balls resting nearby. Fallen leaves scatter across the grassy background, showing a simple DIY setup for launching small objects.

Oh—wait. Not me. No. No.

Pumpkin Spice, an orange tabby cat wearing a black PRESS hat with a red band, is flying through the air after being launched from a large wooden trebuchet at a fall pumpkin chucking event. He’s stretched out mid‑jump, holding a small WMEO microphone in one paw. Behind him, spectators watch from a grassy field surrounded by autumn trees.

This job is hazardous.”

Two cats sit behind a WMEO news desk for a segment titled “Punkin Chuckin – A WMEO Special Report.” Banner, an orange tabby in a bow tie, sits beside a small pumpkin, while Balboa, a black cat, sits beside a teddy bear and toy mouse. Behind them, the studio screen displays a smaller framed image of the “Young Glory” Punkin Chunkin cannon mounted on a trailer. The headline remains visible above the screen.

Banner (Back at the News Desk):

“We hope Pumpkin Spice is okay after his first‑hand experience with pumpkin chuckin’.

And Balboa… I’m sorry to report we didn’t see any pies.”

Banner (Merch Desk):

“And in lighter news, Pumpkin Spice has authorized the release of the Boogie in the Bog T‑shirt. It’s available now for anyone who enjoys seasonal chaos as much as he suffers from it. Dustyroads Mercantile

A white T‑shirt featuring a playful design of three red cartoon bog creatures dancing beneath musical notes and a treble clef. The text below them reads “Boogie in the Bog.”

Balboa:

“Wait—Pumpkin Spice has merch now? Does it come in my size?”

Banner:

“Yes, Balboa. And no, it doesn’t come with pies.”

Banner (Closing):

“This has been a WMEO Special Fall Report.”

Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk as if hosting a broadcast. The orange cat on the left wears a dark blue bow tie, while the black cat on the right sits beside a small gray mouse toy and a brown teddy bear. A sheet of paper with red markings lies on the desk. The front of the desk displays the text “WMEO 9” in large yellow letters and “Thank you for watching” in white. The blurred newsroom background features blue and red tones.

 

 

It’s Officially Fall

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NE Fall

New England Fall photo credit Deb Neumann

🍂 Fall in New England

It’s been building to this moment all month. The mornings have grown cooler, the air carries a crisp bite, and—what’s that I see? Alongside cheerful pumpkin displays, the leaves are beginning to change color. Today is September 22, and with the flip of a calendar page, we’re officially in fall. It’s the Fall Equinox.

Pumpkin Patch- photo credit Deb Neumann

🌞 Fall Equinox

The Fall Equinox marks the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator heading south. We’ll experience roughly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness—a perfect balance. Since the time of the Druids, this day has signaled the end of the harvest and the beginning of preparations for winter. This year, winter officially begins on December 21, the Winter Solstice—also known as the shortest day (or perhaps the longest night) of the year.

🍎 Fall Traditions

Fall is a favorite season for many. The heat of summer fades, and vibrant colors line the roads and byways. It’s the perfect time for apple picking and leaf peeping. Around the Equinox, fall color begins to burst forth—starting in Maine and New Hampshire, then gradually sweeping south through Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island by mid to late October.

Norton colors

Along the water in Norton-,photo credit Deb Neumann

🚗 Where to View the Fall Foliage

Cycling the Kancamagus photo Deb Neumann

If you time it right, the White Mountains of New Hampshire are breathtaking. Try a drive along the Kancamagus Highway, which connects Lincoln in the south to Conway in the north. My brother and I once took his motorcycle up there—we froze in the mountain air, but those spectacular views without a car roof in the way? Worth every shiver.

Jack o Lanterns Keene NH photo Deb Neumann

🌄 Mohawk Trail

Closer to home in Massachusetts, the Mohawk Trail offers stunning foliage and sweeping vistas. The western stretch, as you approach New York State, is especially vibrant.

🏔️ Mount Greylock

I’ve heard wonderful things about the views from Mount Greylock’s summit. Nestled in the heart of the Berkshires, it’s the highest peak in Massachusetts. I haven’t made the drive yet—traffic’s rumored to be horrendous—but maybe this is the year to bite the bullet and go for it.

 

Swans in Flight Photo Deb Neumann

 

 

It’s a Banner Year for Fall Colors

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Fall Colors Abound

The fall foliage colors are amazing this year. Being in southern New England they just started turning this week but they began peaking last week in the more northern states. My cousin got to head north  to Maine and New Hampshire and shared some beautiful video on Face Book. If you have a minute you can check out her video here.    https://www.facebook.com/kathy.collins.7127/videos/10214903348962786/?t=0        In Southeastern Massachusetts we’ve had a no’reaster sitting off the coast of Nantucket all week. Lots of rain and high winds have made leaf peeping locally a bit of a challenge. Now if you like taking pictures in the rain- go for it. I’ve been a little too busy to mess with rain gear but it hasn’t stopped me from admiring the color changes.

Last Chance for 2019

Just as my cousin headed north for her vacation I’m heading south. I’m heading to the Florida Keys so today is the last chance I’ll have to get any fall foliage photos for this year. It looks like it’s stopped raining so maybe I’ll get lucky.  I think I can spare an hour to go poking around before I finish my packing. What do you think of these?

Leaf Peeping locally

I didn’t plan my vacation very well but it was the only time I could get in at the resort I wanted. Sometimes you just have to take what you can get. The newscasters have been talking about the colors along the Mohawk Trail this year and out toward the Berkshires. I won’t have time to make that drive but these photos from Raynham and Easton aren’t bad if I do say so. This is what I get to see everyday as I commute to work. Not a bad view. Of course I had to swing by the Norton Reservoir. That was always a pretty spot. It used to be on my drive when I worked in Foxboro.  I do miss that. I guess that’s all for now. Catch you all on the weekend.

It was a Cold but Sunny Day

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Last Sunday was cold! Good thing it was sunny because if it had rained it probably would have turned to snow. It was windy too but that didn’t slow down Dawn and Alex, my guests with their mother at my company’s annual Customer Appreciation Event.

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This year it was at Belkin Outlook Farm in Natick. The farm has apple picking, a play area with little animals and a train to get you around the property.

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Each attendee got to pick a pumpkin and there were loads of pumpkins!  The grape arbors are gorgeous even if they were past grape peak.

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The company served a barbecue lunch with ribs, hot dogs and hamburgers. Well maybe we should call them cold dogs because in spite of the chefs best efforts the food chilled as soon as it came off the grill.

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I don’t know if it was special because of the event or if they always feature an animal ride but this time they had a camel ride. Dawn was in line for that in a flash but Alex preferred the warmer inside of the Lego building.

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It was cold enough that the battery for the camera died way too soon. The spare was in the car because I didn’t take the cold into consideration.

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OOPS! But the photos I got seemed to catch the atmosphere and the fun.

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