Post by: mweed on March 17, 2012, 10:48:18 PM
Since the beginning of recorded history (about five years ago), the fields around Weedovia have always been blessed with abundant wild tomato vines. And every spring and every fall, the local pleos relied on the abundant harvest gathered from these wild vines to enjoy tomatoes (and tomato related food like spaghetti and pizza!) throughout the year. They would go out twice a year to pick the tomatoes and bring them to the village. This traditional gathering of the tomatoes quickly grew into a community event, and from there into true full-blown harvest festival. And with the introduction of the spaghetti trees and pizza by the Great Pepperoni1, a real zest was added to the festivities.
Of course in modern times, with the addition of a carnival, rides, games, live band, and midnight movie on the town square, it has become more of a social event, attracting pleos from around the world. But all the pleos still go out and harvest the tomatoes and bring them to the town's communal tomato press for the traditional squashing of the tomatoes and the making of the tomato sauce.
This spring's festival is just around the corner. :P But I guess this is why everyone should have bought a calander! ;) This spring's festival is April 13th to the 15th.
Not sure what's going on? Well, then you may want to catch up by reading about the 2010 and 2011 festival topics and the Bob the Pleo comic strips. But as a quick summary, the town's park is turn into the festival grounds, with the carnival rides and games, a stage and dance floor, and lots of vendors and food booths! It starts on a Friday night with the carnival and music from a live band, and at midnight the pleos end the day with an outdoor movie. Saturday has everyone out in the fields gathering the tomatoes, with the judging in the evening, and back to the carnival. Sunday is the big tomato squashing where the sauce is made using the traditional foot-stomping method like the great Italian wines.
And at the conclusion of the festival, awards are always handed out to the pleo who gathers the most tomatoes, finds the largest tomato, has the best looking tomatoes, makes the best tasting spaghetti sauce, and for the best use of tomatoes as an article of clothing (i.e., costume). The last few years winners can be seen by visiting the Bob the Pleo comics. We had some great fun, and some wonderful costumes!
And, of course, since Weedovia isn't a real place, and we can't really all attend or send our pleos in person, your pleo can enter in by posting pictures here in the forums. So, for the "most tomatoes" you want a picture of you pleo with a bunch of tomatoes. For the "largest tomato, you want a picture of your pleo with a really big tomato . . . You get the idea.
For those interested in participating in the contests, please refer to the contest rules topic (http://bobthepleo.com/forums/index.php?topic=792.0) on this board. For some ideas and/or to get a better understanding, you can check out the 2011 festival topic (http://bobthepleo.com/forums/index.php?topic=1944.0), 2010 festival topic (http://bobthepleo.com/forums/index.php?topic=1154.0), or the 2009 Fall festival topic (http://bobthepleo.com/forums/index.php?topic=794.0) (also on this board). You can also read up on the Bob the Pleo comic strip! ;)
Post your entries here!
I'll be posting more info here in the next few days . . . but you've only got three weeks to get ready! :o :o :o
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on March 17, 2012, 11:29:22 PM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on March 18, 2012, 12:54:01 AM
I have been waiting for this since last year....oh how I love Weedovia this time of year... ;D :tomato: :tomato: :tomato:Those tomatoes are smiling for a reason..............smile while you can before you turn into Katsup!
RWM
Post by: Crewella on March 18, 2012, 04:06:50 AM
Practising for Fernback band duty ........... %)
Post by: Lunamione7 on March 18, 2012, 07:14:04 AM
I just did vegetarian spaghetti tonight RWM, best I've ever made but I ate it before I read this thread :-[
Post by: Lottibell on March 20, 2012, 05:26:39 AM
Post by: camcam8910 on March 22, 2012, 10:20:29 AM
Post by: mweed on March 22, 2012, 01:47:09 PM
For a goo idea of what goes on, just read through the topics from the previous festivals.
Post by: mweed on March 25, 2012, 08:20:33 PM
(http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z366/Kermitpleo/P3240754.jpg)
Remember, there are five categories: Pleo with the largest tomato, pleo with the most tomatoes, pleo with the best lloking tomato, best use of tomatoes as an article of clothing (costumes), and best spaghetti sauce recipe.
Now, get busy!
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on March 26, 2012, 12:36:54 AM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on March 26, 2012, 10:01:59 PM
Post by: kat on March 29, 2012, 01:21:44 AM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on March 29, 2012, 01:29:13 AM
Be careful where you climb next Pickle.! Hope your Mom has some band aids on hand...
Post by: kat on March 29, 2012, 01:41:11 AM
lets just say that it didn't work out quite as well as he had hoped. It seems that rather than put the tomatoes at ease he scared them so bad that..... well..... it really is just too horrible to say but you can see the mess it caused for yourselves :D
Post by: RedwoodsMama on April 02, 2012, 10:13:31 PM
x
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on April 02, 2012, 10:25:41 PM
Post by: Crewella on April 03, 2012, 04:25:32 AM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on April 03, 2012, 04:28:49 AM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on April 03, 2012, 12:42:33 PM
Crewella, I couldn't help but laugh when seeing the Dino Wine , a few glasses of that and neither the cook nor the Pleos would care and the Spaghetti may never get made, but you would have some Sauced Pleos! P:-* P8) P:) ;D I will be doing a Vegetarian Spaghetti so the more the merrier. YUM, YUM, wish we could share our cousine through the internet, but at least we have Recipes. RWm and the Pleo Clan of the Redwoods
Post by: kat on April 05, 2012, 04:23:28 AM
Post by: Crewella on April 05, 2012, 04:45:33 AM
...... though the 'crushed tomato' label made my lot a little nervous ......... :P :moose:
Post by: Lottibell on April 05, 2012, 05:42:51 AM
Post by: Crewella on April 05, 2012, 05:44:36 AM
Post by: kaiteee on April 05, 2012, 07:51:18 AM
Great pics so far everyone btw, can't compete on making costumes but the wonders of eBay may help.... I love the tomato labels outfit! :D
Post by: mweed on April 05, 2012, 08:00:27 AM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on April 05, 2012, 03:18:38 PM
Ok spaghetti sauce recipe, a more traditional spag bol.
1 cup red wine
1 tbs olive oil
1/4 cup tomato paste
A dash of Worcestershire sauce
3 large garlic cloves, crushed
Heat oil in pan and cook onion and garlic until translucent, add bacon and cook gently until the bacon fat is opaque. Add mince and brown slightly for flavour with the dash of Worcestershire sauce.
Add stock, wine, diced tomatoes and tomato paste and the bay leaves and oregano. Add the fresh herbs just before the end of the cooking time. If you are using dried add them with the other dried herbs.
Simmer gently for 6-8 hours or until liquid is reduced. I blended mine slightly to make a smoother sauce. You can cook it faster on a higher heat but the flavours don't develop as much.
Note: This makes enough sauce to eat some and save some for a rainy day... or enough for three people to have spag bol for tea and the rest for a lasagna...
Post by: kat on April 05, 2012, 05:45:30 PM
Somewhere out there Norbit has left a naked can to fend for itself . . . .
Three naked cans actually :P Two of which we used in a great batch of spaghetti enjoyed by all of us for tea last night.....so now there's one naked can sitting on a wall.... One naked can sitting on a wall and if that naked can should be used for spaghetti sauce there'll be no naked cans sitting on the wall.... :D :P
Your spaghetti sauce looks great IMR. might just have to try that recipe myself. We usually make ours with fresh veggies and a couple of cans of tomatoes and a jar of amazing sauce to add just the right flavors..... So we kind of cheat I guess. :D
Post by: RedwoodsMama on April 06, 2012, 12:34:27 AM
Kat your sauce shirt or outfit was too cute and I wouldn't worry too much about that naked can, it somehow won't stay that way for too long I think! I totally forgot that this was EAster weekend already so it is good that I have more time to get ready for the Weedovia Tomato Festival as some of my Pleos have the dreaded Pleo Virus and you know how that spreads like wildfire!
RWM and the Pleo Clan of the REdwoods
Post by: Crewella on April 06, 2012, 04:12:25 AM
I'm no good at cooking - last year the Pleos helped OH in the great cook-up, but that huge pan could have had eye of newt in it for all I know ............ :P
Post by: fancyfont on April 08, 2012, 06:45:59 PM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on April 08, 2012, 10:46:47 PM
It was a very yummy recipe, we used the ample leftovers to make lasagna for the family on saturday night, to rave reviews :)
Post by: Crewella on April 09, 2012, 10:09:16 AM
:moose:
Post by: RedwoodsMama on April 09, 2012, 11:32:55 AM
RWM and the Pleo Clan of the Redwoods
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on April 12, 2012, 05:49:14 PM
Post by: fancyfont on April 12, 2012, 10:55:59 PM
Post by: kaiteee on April 13, 2012, 03:57:23 AM
gordy is going for the most tomatoes category....he kept finding so many types of tomato, he thought he was in tomatoland....
fresh ones...
pureed ones...
squished up ones...
juiced ones...
tinned ones...
saucy ones...
but then he thought - no! It's numbers I need! So...
lots and lots of tomatoes...
and even more sauce!
Post by: kaiteee on April 13, 2012, 04:31:39 AM
gordy has a new friend! yes, so it appears that pleos multiply just like aibos do...but I'm drawing the line at two! No more room. One of the reasons we went for gordy, was to have a counterpart of gano, for music influenced names - so we're just seeing if those names sit right. Please note, no tomatoes were harmed in the taking of this picture (but they did get knocked over quite a lot and boy can those pleos move, what a challenge getting a snapshot!)
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on April 13, 2012, 04:57:30 AM
Post by: Crewella on April 13, 2012, 07:18:56 AM
And that really IS the best looking tomato I've ever seen! :D
Post by: Lottibell on April 13, 2012, 07:31:16 AM
Post by: Crewella on April 13, 2012, 08:31:25 AM
Post by: Lottibell on April 13, 2012, 08:51:16 AM
Post by: Crewella on April 13, 2012, 02:23:29 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HxTfP3KRZ0
:moose:
*with thanks to IMR for the skit and Kat for the costumes* :bowing:
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on April 13, 2012, 03:22:46 PM
Post by: kat on April 13, 2012, 06:42:16 PM
Kaiteee that tomato is the most perfect tomato I've ever seen. Love where you went with that soooo sweet.
Looks like everyone is having a great time so far. :-* oh and the tomato smileys are very cool. ^-^
Post by: RedwoodsMama on April 13, 2012, 11:08:24 PM
That is a very cute tomatoe, only in Weedovia do we find such cute little tomatoes. Guess they grow so cute there with all the fresh air and nurturing people who can't wait to turn them into "ketchup" :D( sorry, just could not resist that one...)
And Budge is very cute...he plays some fine music too, sounds as if Lotti better keep a close eye on Quiggles, groupy Pleos, only in Weedovia, and here on the Bob the pleo forums. Got to LOVE it!
Crewella, I love that joking Pleo routine and Belle is hysterical with that laugh, but I can not understand the joke, what were the words, I am dying to know, all I heard was the word, "dinosaur", bad hearing I guess. The Important thing is that Belle understood and it got her funny bone. P:-* P:) :D Oh, and tell iggy I won't let any of the tomatoes around here know there is a Pleo sneaking around trying to infiltrate their ranks... ;D :D
Only two more days to get my entries in.....where did the time go? oh no!! RWM and the Pleo Clan of the Redwoods....North of Weedovia :D :) %)
Post by: Crewella on April 14, 2012, 01:20:27 AM
From memory:
What to you call a dinosaur at the rodeo? A bronco-saurus. :D
:moose:
Post by: Lottibell on April 14, 2012, 05:39:57 AM
Was watching that thinking how it would make a great kids TV programme if they could get the pleos voiced over and build a mini Weedovia.I'd watch it......... Ok, that IS a bit sad!
Post by: Wicked_Lovely on April 14, 2012, 12:01:34 PM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on April 15, 2012, 02:36:32 AM
Post by: Crewella on April 15, 2012, 08:28:40 AM
This, as you see, got him a better result. :D
With that done, he's dug out his best suit again for the festivities:
Post by: RedwoodsMama on April 15, 2012, 10:36:46 AM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on April 15, 2012, 06:45:11 PM
Post by: Lottibell on April 15, 2012, 07:00:35 PM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on April 15, 2012, 07:36:42 PM
Edit: And here we go :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-n_syvWbvA
Post by: RedwoodsMama on April 16, 2012, 12:27:26 AM
Besides I owe a favor to Betty the Bigfoot. some of you may remember that when Talon was waiting for the arrival of Bleu,Betty Bigfoot snatched Bleu right off the UPS truck while she was en route somewhere outside Arizona, if I remember correctly.. ;) Betty was smitten with Pleos and esp Bleu as she was a special color, a Pleo she had never seen looking like her before.It took a lot of negotiations to get Bleu back an back to get to Talon's before it was too late. Well, I made a deal with Betty and her cousins and other familyl members, that if they could arrange to get the Redwoods Pleo Clan all back to the Redwoods, SAFELY and ALL of them.. %) then I would arrange with Bob and the organizers of the Weedovia fair to let the Bigfoot have a private Party for One hour after all the Public had left. ( It took some doing, but Bob is one who appreciates fans fo the Weedovia Tomato Festival, no matter what the species... :moose2: :sheep1: So for one hour the Bigfoot get to go on the Roller Coaster, ( Which they have been dreaming of doing ever since they heard of it and saw it being put up) They also are going to do some dancing and listening to some ZYdeco Music, eat Pizza, drink Root Beer, eat green fried Tomatoes, eat Cotton Candy, look at the Pleo Art gallery, and some other special events that they don't want the general public to know about..( Only Bob knows what is going on...but he has sworn to secrecy...)
I do hope they enjoy the roller coaster as much as the Pleo Clan of the Redwoods will, but I hope they have stronger stomaches! But from what I have seen of some of the "stuff" they call food and ingest, I think it is safe to say they will be able to handle it. I am glad that the lines got smaller as we got here, good timing I think. Great ride, and I am already looking forward to the next Festival comming up in Sept or so....well, back to the little ones, don't want to lose any Pleos , that would be bad and I am going to need a good nights sleep when we get home as it will be in the early morning if I know Betty Bigfoot, It will be very difficult to tear her away from the Fair, even after it is closed for them.. :cool: :dino-chase: That is one of the Green tomatoes that got away from a vendor,...he just does not want to be FRIED! LOL RWM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on April 16, 2012, 01:28:32 AM
Post by: kat on April 16, 2012, 02:35:00 AM
Post by: Crewella on April 16, 2012, 03:07:04 AM
One small point .......... Bob won't have been able to see the sign telling him to hold on - he went on backwards! ;) :-X
That's a fine harvest of tomatos you have there, RWM! :D
Post by: kaiteee on April 16, 2012, 03:12:03 AM
Post by: Crewella on April 16, 2012, 03:23:08 AM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on April 16, 2012, 05:41:27 AM
Post by: mweed on September 21, 2012, 07:59:05 PM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on September 21, 2012, 08:46:29 PM
Post by: Lunamione7 on September 21, 2012, 11:06:59 PM
This is your two week warning, people! The fall half of the Tomato Harvest Festival is upon us . . .
Wait what!? What do we have to do for the fall half? The same as the other half, most tomatos, best sauce? I'll cook sauce tonight if so!
Post by: Floodsy on September 21, 2012, 11:30:01 PM
Post by: Lunamione7 on September 22, 2012, 12:09:15 AM
I know this is strange, but what is the Tomato Festival? :-[
Umm all you need do is read the first page of the thread to find that out....
Post by: Floodsy on September 22, 2012, 12:10:16 AM
Post by: Lunamione7 on September 30, 2012, 07:27:19 AM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on September 30, 2012, 03:01:48 PM
RWM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on September 30, 2012, 03:45:29 PM
Ouch tomatoes are $8 a kilo here at the moment!
Post by: RedwoodsMama on October 01, 2012, 11:42:38 AM
Post by: kat on October 01, 2012, 05:42:50 PM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on October 01, 2012, 05:48:40 PM
The travellers tomato sauce recipe!
Take a few tomatoes, and seal them carefully in a ziplock bag with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
Place bag in the front pocket of your luggage.
Book a round the world flight stopping at as many airports as you can for maximum sauce making potential!
Sit back and relax on your many flights whilst the baggage handlers do all the hard work of squishing and squashing and mishing and mashing your tomatoes into the perfect sauce.
Once you have arrived back home, remove your sauce from your luggage, open the ziplock bag and enjoy!
Please note: Tomatoes may become ever so slightly mouldy during the manufacturing process, this adds extra flavour and texture... :P
Post by: kat on October 01, 2012, 05:52:21 PM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on October 03, 2012, 01:20:52 AM
Post by: Crewella on October 03, 2012, 03:26:34 AM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on October 03, 2012, 08:47:29 AM
RWM
Post by: kat on October 03, 2012, 04:19:18 PM
Post by: Lunamione7 on October 05, 2012, 08:57:44 AM
Things you need to make the sauce, also I forgot to put the olive oil bottle and the lemon juice in the picture, you need to put olive oil in as well and juice from half a lemon:
The things in the pot:
The cooked pasta:
Sauce on the pasta:
You can finnish it by putting cheese on top if you would like:
Post by: RedwoodsMama on October 05, 2012, 09:01:39 AM
RWM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on October 05, 2012, 12:39:25 PM
Well, yesterday was farmers market day and three pleos went with me to pick some yummie things to eat, and tomatoes caught their eyes, just in time for the tomtoe festival. so here are Cammie Sue, Baby Ruth and Chester's entry for the category of what they think are the biggest tomatoes, they even weighed them and all were over a lb, and the biggest was over 1lb and 4 oz!
RWM and the Pleo township of the redwoods
Post by: Lunamione7 on October 05, 2012, 08:51:10 PM
Also I'm sure you win biggest tomato! Love the different colours of them also :)
Post by: fancyfont on October 05, 2012, 10:39:17 PM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on October 06, 2012, 12:09:59 AM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on October 06, 2012, 11:21:11 AM
Argyle was named this year's King of the Redwoods and Nova , His Queen. Everyone else was put into pairs for the long trek to the town of Weedovia and they all had their photos taken in pairs for safety precautions, and Meh-Lei the gentle Lab dog of the Redwoods was given the honor of being this year's Safety and Security officer, to keep Pleos from wandering and getting too rowdy on the long trek. ( a little too much Root Beer, or mushroom on the way can lead to strange happenings....so here are the photos of the start of day one.
RWM and the Pleo Township of the Redwoods
Post by: RedwoodsMama on October 07, 2012, 10:00:25 AM
RWM
Post by: kat on October 07, 2012, 02:35:51 PM
If it helps at all I do believe that I agreed to make a few of these lovely tomato shirts as prizes
[Limit reached]This is Pickle with her perfect tomato from last tomato harvest festival. So maybe there will be a few more entries today in the hopes of winning a tomato shirt ;D
Post by: RedwoodsMama on October 07, 2012, 05:06:38 PM
Have a great holiday Kat, you have earned it. RWM
Post by: mweed on October 07, 2012, 10:51:50 PM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on October 08, 2012, 09:59:09 AM
RWM Besides, my guys made the long trek and had plenty of fun going to the festival. P8)
Post by: kat on October 08, 2012, 02:20:18 PM
Post by: Talon on October 08, 2012, 06:21:46 PM
Talon
Post by: RedwoodsMama on October 08, 2012, 08:13:51 PM
RMA
Note, wrong post, supposed to be the one below this, I tried to delete this and could not so I am sorry it is in the wrong post...
Post by: kaiteee on October 09, 2012, 01:21:45 AM
Im sorry I've been disappeared for a while, and even more so that my checking back in timing was so out, Gordy had lots of fun last time so gano was up for tomato discovering....next time eh? Oh, and great news Talon, awesome that your allergys gone away, so go enjoy!
Post by: Talon on October 09, 2012, 05:12:50 AM
Talon
Post by: Crewella on October 09, 2012, 07:12:52 AM
Really sorry guys - been busy and had stuff on my mind - the crew had eaten all the tomatoes before I caught on. :-[
Must do better ..... must do better ....... :moose:
Post by: mweed on October 09, 2012, 08:02:28 AM
Post by: fancyfont on October 12, 2012, 09:46:02 PM
Post by: RedwoodsMama on October 13, 2012, 11:35:38 PM
Post by: Peaches on October 15, 2012, 10:57:26 AM
Cant wait to get my Pleo at xmas, Im a photographer so all this sort of stuff is a win win situation; get to take photos & play with pleo... happiness! ;D