uh oh... the pumpkin is attracting attention...

Today I was surprised to receive the following email from a complete stranger...
I guess he is pretty serious about his pumpkins:

--- "Lee" wrote:

> Rusty: A neighbor and I were concerned last night
> when we walked past your plot and saw your very
> obvious, gorgeous, huge pumpkin. This is the season
> of theft and pumpkins are favorite targets. I used
> your plot sign and some squash leaves I found in
> your path to try to cover the pumpkin. It needs to
> be hidden very well and my job may not have been
> good enough. I used to cover mine with loose dry
> grass. It also needs to be harvested as soon as it
> is ready. Anyway, it was still there this morning.
> Lee , Plot #415

So, hovering on the line of sarcasm and sincerity, i sent him this reply:

Lee,

Thank you for the kind note. This probably all goes
back to my birth in Circleville, OH - home of the
world's largest pumpkin festival. I'm sure God has
known about this particular pumpkin for a long time.

You're right... The pumpkin needs to be harvested as
soon as it is ready. But if I'm going to grow
Colorado's biggest pumpkin of 2006, then I guess it
won't be harvested for at least another month (maybe
two?!). I'll devise a system to cover it up, thanks
for the warning. I would hate to see it get stolen, so
I'll figure something out... maybe a booby trap?
haha...

But seriously, thanks for the suggestions on how to
cover it up. Loose dry grass sounds like a pretty good
idea. I appreciate your concern and for taking the
time to contact me.

Take care,
-rusty


it's crazy out there in the garden plot. people don't play around when they're talking about their organic veggies...
later.

ps: the pic is of the circleville pumpkin festival