Check It Out!

The polar bear at Emma and William's house on Winnetka Heights is REALLY awesome. But you'd better get there soon. It won't stay around for that long.

Be Sure to Vote

Hey, y'all. If you scroll down the page a bit there is an informal survey regarding themes for next year's weigh-off (#12). You only have a few days left to vote.

So far Six of One/A Half Dozen of the Other and Cheaper by the Dozen are neck and neck. Other is the current front runner, and...well...I don't know...frankly, it just doesn't do much for me. I mean, think of the tee-shirts:

Sunflowers, the
Other
Thing We Grow

The 12th Annual KPDGA Pumpkin Weigh Off
October 11, 2008

or how 'bout

KDPGA
All for one and one for
Other
The 12th Annual KPDGA Pumpkin Weigh Off
October 11, 2008

I could go on like this all day, but I don't see things getting any better. So, anyway, cast your vote.

Golden Valley? Or Sleepy Hollow?

And so begins the Legend of the Headless Fireman...

For the Common Good

An opportunity to make our community a wee bit more beautiful (I know, sounds impossible...but it's true):

http://www.restorelilacway.com/
Designed to introduce the Campaign to Restore Lilac Way, this new site promotes both the public and private efforts to bring the lilacs back to Highway 100. The Campaign is a pro bono civic project created by Laukkonen Design.

Viewers can learn the history of the original and innovative 1930’s landscaping and join the effort to restore this historical area from Robbinsdale to Edina.

You can download a presentation on the home page that shows the proposed Campaign graphics and tells the story of this community project.

Thanks for your support,

Karen Laukkonen, Campaign Director
The Campaign to Restore Lilac Way
Email: karen@restorelilacway.com

Thanks, Anita, for the lead.

Pumpkin Boats

We have to try this sometime.

Happy Slacker Holidays

Okay, Growers, as your newly appointed scribe, I believe it is my duty (right? privilege?) to tell you that once again you people are making me look bad.

My kids already think I'm a total slacker when it comes to decorating anything. And now this:

• Christmas trees decorated on Thanksgiving weekend;
• Sparkly lights all over your homes;
• Wreaths taken out of their bags and hung outside.

I'll stop there. And I shall not name names...you know who you are.

The only thing saving me face is that I bought some jingle bells yesterday in a Target Moment (we just went in for cat litter!). I hung them on the empty hook that always hangs outside our front door. Oh, that and that the Viking has not yet made an appearance across the street (where is he, Kurt? I kinda miss him).

So the next time you think, "Oh, wouldn't this be a neat looking little do-hickey project thingy-majigy," please, think of your poor, beleaguered deco-challenged secretary.

A Sight for Sore Eyes

I try really, really hard to honor my inner Minnesotan and love the cold. But I can't say I have much success. The snow is cool, and it's fun to watch kids and dogs (St. Bernards anyway) having so much fun, but my appreciation for winter doesn't go much beyond that.

So I think about spring and my gardens, and sunnier days, like our 2007 weigh-off. Aren't we fabulous? :-)

jgw

November Wrap-Up Meeting Minutes

Kelly Drive Pumpkin Growers Association
Meeting Minutes November 18th – Wrap Up Meeting

• Thank you to Howard and Jeannie for hosting the November meeting!
• President Callista called the meeting to order. A huge thank you to Callista for all her work as president this year. At this meeting KDPGA members were asked to give positives about this year’s weigh off and/or areas for improvement. I will try and list the different ideas in no particular order.

- KDPGA members liked that the family who grew each pumpkin was announced at the weigh off.
- Everyone liked having “the little judge” at the weigh off
- We should make sure to give all the kids a role at the weigh off so they feel they are an important part of the day
- Organizing the parade a little more this year was great – maybe next year we could expand on that as well with flags that could be made by the kids at earlier pumpkin meetings
- Having the invitations on email was a great idea
- The t-shirts were fabulous this year – we probably could have sold more at the weigh off
- Next year we should make sure to watch the stone pillars to make sure that kids are not climbing on them
- Renae K. will be taking over the book that Lisa started for writing down the different job and committee descriptions. Thank you Renae!
- The web-site will be looked at for possible updating. Jennifer has continued to write on the KDPGA blog.
- Thank you again to Paul for the wonderful job on the DVD this year!!
- Everyone should continue to think about possible themes for the 2008 weigh off
- We need to also look at different ways to monitor the pumpkins that are left out the day before the weigh off so that they are not “taken”
- Karl, Jeannie, and George M. agreed to help form a welcoming committee for new neighbors

• Jon H. reported that at this point we have $1,058.00. Our beginning balance was $979.00. Total expenses for 2007 were $3669.00 and total deposits were $3748.00. Thanks Jon for always doing such a great job. We all appreciate you!
• Our new presidential team will be Lisa and Chris. Thank you to both of them for taking on this important job. Look for more information on a possible “Pub Crawl” in February!
• Jennifer Griffin-Wiesner will be the new secretary. Please be sure to let Jennifer know if your email address changes so we can keep everyone up to date.

Thank you to everyone for helping make this year’s weigh off so successful! Happy holidays to everyone – see you in April! Let it snow!!!

Janet

Rarely Seen Footage

Mrs. GW...the blonde years. (There is a reason these images are kept under wraps.)