For most (normal) people, pumpkin season is just beginning. Last weekend marked the end of ours.
On Friday, a woman dropped something off at our house. “Wow, that’s a big pumpkin!” she exclaimed, referring to the kids’ 208-pounder at our doorstep.
I looked at her, puzzled. “You must have somehow missed my husband’s pumpkin?”
I walked her out to the driveway where I pointed out James’ beast. “That,” I said pointing to the kids’ pumpkin, “is not a pumpkin. THIS is a pumpkin.”
Crocodile Dundee would have been proud.
On Saturday, my kids entered their orange beast in our city’s giant pumpkin contest. Despite the fact Jamie’s pumpkins are now too large to enter, we continue to be supportive because that is where his obsession began three years ago.
Or maybe they should harbor part of the blame.
Jamie is a bit of a local celebrity. When we pulled up, a throng of local gardeners clamored around to see what their beloved Jamie had brought. Several others pulled me aside, raving how much he has done to help inspire and instruct other growers.
It was like hanging out with Elvis in Vegas.
The festival’s giant pumpkin weigh-off has come a long way. Once upon a time, Jamie’s 141.5-pound pumpkin won. This year the bar was raised. Throngs of people gathered to watch an elated Lori Fontyn win the adult division with a 360-pounder and my kids won the junior division.
The kids’ prize was a $50 gift certificate for a local garden center.
It’s tough to say who was the real winner because Jamie insisted we stop on the way home to buy $50 worth of gypsum and soil sulfur.
Because, rest assured, soil prep for the 2011 season has already begun.
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 