Watching and Waiting...

My Rhode Island Red hens are getting old...I mean really old. I know I am suppose to "get rid" of them when they are no longer productive but no one around here seems to be able to "do it". Imagine that! I mean, after all I have all these hunter/men around me! Even though the chickens stay in a very large pen we have gotten attached to them. I don't really know what we are going to do about that situation. However, we are only getting about 2 or 3 eggs a day from 13 hens. Not good. And certainly not enough eggs to feed my bunch! So, we decided to try to hatch some eggs ourselves with an incubator. We collected the eggs over a period of 3 or 4 days. We have been faithful to turn them over daily and keep water in the bottom. Now we just wait and see! We should be getting our first chicks any day now. Brandon thought for sure he heard a peep-peep coming from an egg this morning but so far nothing has happened.

We have hatched eggs in the past with a very basic method. Monroe did this when he was a kid and it worked so we tried it too. You use a 5-gallon bucket with hay in the bottom. Place the eggs on the hay and hook up a small lamp to rest on top of the bucket. I used the kind with the flexible neck. Place tin foil around the sides and around the lamp. Turn the eggs daily and in 21 days we had chicks! We have never used a real incubator before now so we are curious to see how much better the real incubator works compared to our very primitive set-up. I'll let you know in a few days!

The Dog With the Heavy Head

Our family has a most unusual pet/member of the family. Meet Keiko. She is a Black and Tan coon dog. We "inherited" Keiko from our son-in-law, Ricky. Keiko has always lived with us because she was a gift from Brooke to Ricky before they were married. Ricky wasn't able to have pets where he was living at the time so we kept Keiko here at our house.

Well, after Brooke and Ricky married they moved into a really tiny house so Keiko didn't fit...literally! That was okay with our family so she just stayed on with us. But, back to what makes Keiko unusual. I must say that I have never had a pet that would find such unusual positions to relax! Take a look at the next few shots and see if you don't agree! Here she is daydreaming about being outside. However, when I let her out she is like a child wanting in and out all day long!

Isn't she a hoot?!

We just walked into the kitchen and there she was, all propped up!

She is a wonderful farm dog though. When my chickens get out she loves to catch them but she will not hurt them. She just traps them against the fence and holds them with her mouth or her paw until we can get to her. Other than alot of slobber, the hens are perfectly fine!

My older boys always begged me to let her go hog hunting with them but I never would let her go. She definitely has hunting in her blood but I would never want her to become a hunting dog. So, she is resolved to hunt the family farm hens and when she gets REALLY bored I can find her hunting house flies! Really!!

Camping at the Springs

We took a long weekend and went to the local springs for camping and swimming. This is a favorite camping spot for our family. Isn't the water beautiful? In winter months you can come here and see the manatee. This spring is a refuge for them.


This is what I love about camping. Getting away from the phones, tvs, etc. See what happens? I looked out the camper window and Brandon had made himself a bow and arrow. I am not so sure he could provide the family with dinner from that bow and arrow but it did shoot!

Roasted marshamallows are so delicious when you cook them over an open flame. Personally, I like mine burnt!

Don't they look like they belong on the show, Survivor?

A rare photo moment!

Swimming at the spring. Actually, this swimming area is a little ways down from the spring. We swam up river to the spring and the guys loved diving down to see the open spring below. I watched nervously from the surface (with my trusty raft) as they got braver and deeper with each dive. There was a huge fallen tree covering the spring and they would dive down and swim under the tree!!

We had a visit from Brooke and family on Saturday! Of course, I was so excited to see them.....okay to see my grandbabies! Here is the famous Lukie face. Such a cutie! I love it when he makes this face.

Reese's first outing at a state park. She seems to be taking it all in stride. By the way, she looks EXACTLY like Brooke's baby pictures in this shot!

Parker is enjoying the remaining honeydew from lunch.

Just relaxing and enjoying each other.

Poppa and Parker taking a walk to find wild grapes they saw earlier. They were very TART!

Well, we had a great summer! Now back to the daily routine of school, work and university life.

God is so good!

Wanted: Kitchen Help!

Hunting season will be here before I realize it. That means taking an inventory of the meat freezer. Yikes! Lots of venison still to be eaten. This is a "good" problem to have, however. I just need to get my creative juices flowing for some venison recipes.

We have a stir-fry recipe that the entire family loves (except Brooke) using venison. I thought I would share this dish with anyone interested (Brooke, I know that IS NOT you!) because it is so simple and delicious (that's right Brooke, delicious!).

I called on my two trusty kitchen helpers to pitch in with all the chopping and slicing. Boys love to do that sort of thing. I think it has something to do with using a knife...hee..hee! Hey, it works for me! Bryce was in charge of chopping the veggies. I use peppers, onions, mushrooms, broccoli, cabbage (anykind) carrots, etc. You can really use just about anything you want for the vegetables.
Brandon was the meat slicer. Keep the meat sliced very thin.

Then, I pour soy sauce or tamari sauce in the bottom of my pan. Pour enough to cover the bottom. Next, add about 3 TBS of sugar. Heat the sauce and sugar until sugar melts. Add the meat and cook it on medium heat for a couple of minutes. Then add the vegetables. Cover and cook until the veggies are the desired texture you prefer.

Serve over rice and enjoy! Oh, and a side note for Brooke: Parker and Luke loved this venison! I was watching my little sweeties on this night and they seemed to enjoy it as much as everyone else. Well, for Luke he ate some meat and rice. That is pretty good for him.

By the way, my children really do own shirts. It seems during the summer they never wear one unless we are going somewhere. I just wanted to clarify that incase someone was thinking of starting a clothing fund for them ;-)

A New Favorite Hobby

With summer coming rapidly to an end, I began to reflect on the activities our family didn't get an opportunity to enjoy during our summer vacation. Honestly, I don't know when the long summers days slipped by me! It seems like it was just last week we started summer break! So, the last couple of weeks around our house has been crammed with last minute fun.


This school year Brad will start college which means I will have two of my guys attending college. This is a bittersweet feeling for me. I am excited for them as they take another step into their independence and future. It is certainly keeping this mom on her knees!

With all this in mind it sounded like a good time to have a fun day at the beach. We decided the night before to pack our lunch and head for the coast the next morning. It was a decision we didn't regret.
We had so much fun. The guys rented surf boards and spent the WHOLE day in the water. They came out only to grab a sandwich and headed right back for the waves. In all our years of going to the beach I don't know why we never thought to rent surfboards before this trip.

Here is Bradley "catching a wave".

Then we have surfer dude Brent.

All four of my beach bums enjoying the beautiful day.

The boys really amazed me at how easily it was for them to master the surfboard. They said it was from all the practice they have had at home. At home? Huh? Then they reminded me of the times they had taken the four-wheeler out in the back pasture and pulled each other in the canal on a skimboard!! The four-wheeler ran along the bank of the canal. They are hilarious!

I'll save that material for another post as I recall that I do have some pictures of them skimboarding in the canal! You just gotta love boys!!

Here comes my baby. Can I still call him that?

And here is my baby too. I guess they will always be my baby!

Brandon lending Bryceton a helping hand. I loved watching them. Brandon was very patient with his little brother and let him borrow his surfboard for a very long time considering the surfboard rental was coming out of his own money!

Bryce tried and tried but never quite got up on the board. Maybe next time.

The long ride back home. Can you tell they had an awesome day?

This picture is a rare sight. Brandon goes full speed every day until bedtime. Not this day!!

I am overhearing plans being made for the next break from school. I have a feeling we will be packing our lunch once again and heading for the beach. I love going to the beach too. However, as some of you may already know, I am an umbrella hugger and I still manage to get sunburned :-( Yes, even with sunscreen!

It doesn't stop me. I always have a great time when we go because it is so relaxing and I love watching my kids just being kids!

Happy 50th Dear

We celebrated the big FIVE- ZERO for my dear husband this month!! Where has the time gone? I can hardly believe it!!

We had a wonderful evening with Brooke, Ricky and company. When we all get together now it totals 12 people, counting our little Reese! We were treated to steak (a gift from Monroe's very sweet and thoughtful sister) which we grilled here at home along with baked potatoes and green beans. Can you imagine how expensive it would be if we all went out to the steakhouse for dinner? Then we sang "Happy Birthday" and shot popper-confetti at Dad. It looks like Luke is getting hit here but he isn't. I think we just caught him with his eyes closed! See Parker in the background? He is watching from a safe distance!

We gave Dad a skinning knife for his birthday, just in time for hunting season.

It was a great evening spent with family and a great day to be thankful for a wonderful husband and father!

Family Reunion Time

This past Saturday was our 5th annual Mathews family reunion. We celebrate this special day in honor of my mother-in-law who was so suddenly taken from us in July 2004 in a tragic car accident. Losing her has truly left a huge hole in our family! If you were ever blessed to have met this strong, young at heart, little Japanese woman you would understand the emptiness our family still feels.




So, once a year family and friends all gather at our place for a get together. My mother-in-law was the "glue" that held the family together, as my brother-in-law so rightly stated shortly after her death. This annual gathering is the perfect way to keep us all in touch. With our busy lives we seem to lose track of extended family. Left to right we have Uncle Charles, Pop, Aunt Vera Mae and Charlene. Having this generation of our family with us is what makes these reunions an extra ordinary occasion!!

The next generation! You all know I just had to slip a picture of my little "Reesie Cup" in !!

Left to right, Dale, Abner and Monroe.
Old friends make the day memorable as well. Especially being able to actually hug this dear friend, Abner.
We are so glad he is back!!! This retired colonel has been a friend of the family for many, many years.

Uncle Charles asking the Lord's blessings on the food and our family.

The food line. We had so much delicious food, as always. Plenty of ribs, chicken, smoked pork, fried fish and all the fixins to go along with it. It was soooo hot this year. I made 20 gallons of sweet tea, and 4 gallons of lemonade not to mention all the bottled water that was consumed. Making tea sure kept me busy!

My sister-in-law, Darlene, (or Sugar as we all call her and she lives up to her name!) and her hubby, Paul. It is always a treat to see them as they live a few hours away.

Okay, time for the disclaimer....the next few pictures you must view at your own risk...Nurse Rhonda (my niece) you should not look any further ;-) Our family reunion is never complete without the wild and crazy activites in the afternoon. The Lord is faithful to us and sends our guardian angels for protection. I don't know, there is just something in the Mathews' blood about being daring, going fast, pushing the limits. I have a couple of those guys that I am currently raising! Keeps me on my knees!

I am not sure who came up with this idea, but it is an annual sport that the grown-up (adult/kids) love. Crank up the airboats......

Parker ran to Nonna (me) for safety with the noise of the loud engines. He wasn't impressed at all!

Yes, that is a parachute and yes it IS being lifted by the airboats and yes that is MY SON, Brandon. This activity actually started out using a huge tarp. The guys enjoyed it but it was hard to hang on to. Last year a worn out parachute was used and it was better. However, this year my niece found this parachute at a thrift store for only $2.00!! It was in perfect condition and worked great, so I am told.

Little Tony going for a ride.

Little Mike, Jenny and family. Geeeez I feel old watching my nephews and nieces with their growing families.

The next activity of the day was toned down quite a bit for the younger daredevils. A ride behind the four-wheeler on a sled-type board. After this picture was taken someone came up with a creative idea. The plastic feed barrel we use for Missy, our cow, was swiped from the pasture and holes drilled in the front of it so that it could be pulled behind the four-wheeler. Apparently the passengers were rolling off the edge of the sled/board. I missed getting a picture of the new sled.

After a quick afternoon shower the little ones soon discovered a rather large mudpuddle. I thought this was a very cute picture! On such a special day I think the moms and dads just let the kids have their fun too in spite of the dirty clothes and shoes they had to deal with.

Another reunion passed with many, many great memories and stories to tell and re-tell! We love our family and count it a privilege to host this event. Until next year....