Matthew Perkins

Things that go BOO in the night.

2009-10-31T12:15:00.000-07:00

Sorry I couldn't do this in one continouse stream.

I was troubleshooting my trail camera and thought I would just put in in the girls room for a trial run. The camera works by infared light which is why it looks black and white and kinda spooky. In the 2nd clip you will seem be getting some stuffed animals Maddilyn had snuck into her bed that belonged in Janneke's bed. You can see Dayna pointing at the location of the trail camera and Maddilyn also notices it's location. She was asking what was it? I told her "It was something to keep you safe. Just don't stick you tongue out at it because it doesn't like that." and then I left the room.

The rest I'm not proud of but it's classic.

Tubing With the Girls

2009-01-31T18:50:00.000-08:00

Living Life on the Edge

2009-01-27T19:34:00.000-08:00

10 miles from any gas station! Oh Ya!

Last Day with the Cousins

2008-11-28T15:51:00.000-08:00

Lynn drilling holes through the ice for Ike to put his leg through.

Casey in a T-Shirt late November.

1st Time Ice Fishing for the Cousins

2008-11-27T15:59:00.000-08:00

More Fun

2008-11-26T17:01:00.000-08:00

Click on play

Fun on the Ice

2008-11-26T16:07:00.000-08:00

It was pretty warm out. As you can see the mittens came off and t-shirts came out.

Casey Sighting In

2008-11-23T18:43:00.000-08:00

Couldn't resist...considering I have 4 girls I figuire this was a wise investment.

Casey is a pretty good shot with her new new .22 youth rifle.

Also got my muzzle loader sighted in today. I hoping the season will be good considering all the corn was in during regular firearms.

Ginger Bread Houses

2008-11-21T17:58:00.000-08:00

The girls made these during a recent Barnesville home school get together.

In the evening we had a party at my company. Doug smoked a turkey. The whole office smelled like turkey and pheasant popper all day today.

Chicken Plucker Has Gone Mobile

2008-11-02T16:44:00.000-08:00

Will and "Big" Maddie with a chicken.

Neighbors had a few birds to butcher so we loaded up the chicken whizbang chicken plucker and scalder.

It was almost 70 F in Hawley today!

Photo of Coyote

2008-11-01T18:39:00.001-07:00

Can you see him?

Casey and Janneke's Birthday Celebration

2008-10-28T18:47:00.000-07:00

October in Western Minnesota

2008-10-21T19:33:00.000-07:00

Still pickin tomatoes. Chickens haven't laid any eggs yet. Freezer filled with pheasants. Waiting fall waterfowl migration to start.

One Way to Light a Cuban

2008-10-18T18:55:00.000-07:00

Duck Opener

2008-10-06T20:27:00.000-07:00

I set up the decoys on our pond the day before. We snuck down in the catails before sun rise. Casey couldn't figuire out why I wasn't shooting the ducks! She waited a full hour before she asked. I told her they where decoys...we got a good laugh.

We managed to get a blue winged teal. Hopefully the migration startes soon and we can get a few more. Casey

Nacka's Pre-Op

2008-10-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

She is ready to GO!

Vacation in Maine

2008-09-13T21:06:00.000-07:00

Maddie in Oma's garden.

Casey with Oma in the Ocean.

The Green Machine

2008-08-17T21:35:00.000-07:00

Here we are building the chicken plucker in the barn. Maddie got right in there with the socket wrench. Casey was a good painter and Dayna helped with the belt rigging.

We processed 14 of our 30 birds today with this wizbang feather plucker. It was a weekend project and seems to work really well. Can't wait to try it on ducks and geese this fall.

And yes...I know I'm a redneck.

30 New Members to the Perkins Family

2008-08-11T18:06:00.000-07:00

15 Meat Birds and 15 Layers

Visiting Family in Maine

2008-07-26T08:01:00.000-07:00

This is at my parents house. My granfather and Aunt Susan on my dad's side.

Can you say Striper on the fly!

2008-07-25T20:34:00.000-07:00

Although the fishing was slow and the off shore huricanes surf knocked me over a couple times I was able to tie into a few.

Girls at Work

2008-06-30T18:23:00.000-07:00

The girls woke up at 5:30am today to experience a day at work with dad. Here they are in the conference room showing the team the technical aspects of horses.

Cheryl took Janneke to her doctor appointment in Minneapolis and I got to take the girls to swimming lessons at Concordia.

In the afternoon Maddie took a nap in the plan room while Casey and Dayna colored and conversed with other people in the office.

Maddie Chilling Out At Sunset

2008-06-25T21:40:00.000-07:00

She was tired after reeling in fish longer than her!

Here's our buddy Jack.

Fishing Has Been Good

2008-06-21T17:46:00.000-07:00

My Little Sunshine Camping in Osage

2008-06-17T19:36:00.000-07:00

Not a bad nte cranking

2008-06-17T19:33:00.000-07:00

Casey, Dayna, Joel, and I went out last nite cranking till about 11:30pm. We caugth three species of fish. Bass, Northern, and Walleye mmmm...tasted good today on the grill with a cedar plank. Going to try hickory tomorrow.

2008-06-15T18:15:00.000-07:00

Steamer's Hill

2008-05-31T21:08:00.000-07:00

Girls enjoyed a farmers breakfast at noon in Rollag. Here they are on the steam powered merry go round. We also took a ride on an old school bus drawn by horses.

Fish Fry at the Perkins

2008-05-31T21:00:00.000-07:00

Maddie reeled in the biggest fish of the day!

Girls On Brew Day

2008-05-26T19:49:00.000-07:00

We brewed up an Imperial IPA today. We also got snap peas, bush beans, corn, and hops transplanted. Hope to get the tomatoes in tomorrow.

Cheryl made a great rhubarb pie today.

Visited the neighbors new horse today.

Maddie

2008-05-25T11:57:00.000-07:00

Spring Crappie Fishing

2008-05-25T06:34:00.000-07:00

We are going to try an grill these on cedar and hickory planks.

Was able to brew a batch of Bock beer today.

Casey's 1st Recital

2008-05-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

Although she was very nervous she

did a great job!

Boating on Marshall Lake

2008-05-16T19:04:00.000-07:00

The 3 girls and I spent a good 7 hours on the lake fishing and speeding around. I was so glad they enjoyed just being out there...so was mom. It was a good time. We are going to Leek lake this Sunday to catch some waves and fish.

Casey spotted a duck decoy that must have been left from last falls hunt. We picked up a pintail decoy!

Sunday Walk In the Prairies

2008-04-13T20:08:00.000-07:00

Enjoying a nice snack next to the Buffalo River. We had a mink run right next to us down the river bed. Saw several different types of ducks, geese, deer, heard pheasants, and prairie chickens. A few song birds are back from their winter vacation.

Girls Helping Dad Organize Ice Fishing Box

2008-04-11T13:38:00.000-07:00

Notice on Maddilyn's shirt, she has found new jewlery wear.

This Saturday maybe the last time out. The ice is just starting to get rotten. It is still a good 2' think but is pulling away from the shore on the smaller lakes. We may have to get some planks to get out on the ice tomorrow.

Late Ice with Dad

2008-04-04T19:29:00.000-07:00

Dayna proud of her catch in more than 20ft of water out on Lake Lizzie.

Can you say sunburn in Minnesota in

early April? It was a beatiful sunny 50 degs on the ice and the fish were biting. Unfortunately I forgot the sunscreen so we are dealing with some sunburn, but it was a lot of fun on the ice. Casey is becoming a good fisherwoman.

Later that night we went to the neighbors and grilled up over 80 fish and hamburger from one of their cows. The geese and duck are flying all around.

I was able to get up one stake for a duck house in our pond. More to come.

Sunday Afternoon Nap with Dad

2008-04-04T19:26:00.000-07:00

1st Tulibee through the Ice

2008-03-29T21:59:00.001-07:00

The girls are up in Winnipeg visiting their sister and cousins from BC. Dad gets to do some ice fishing. Only a couple more weeks left before the ice is off the lakes. Catching lots of Crappie and Bluegill. Learning how to bake fish just right. Come on over for a fish fry.

Fun with the Cousins

2008-03-26T19:41:00.000-07:00

Dayna's 5th Birthday

2008-03-18T19:54:00.000-07:00

One Proud Sister

2008-03-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

Laughing Janneke

2008-03-10T18:59:00.000-07:00

Janneke Is a Thumb Sucker

2008-03-10T18:55:00.000-07:00

Valentine Day Airplanes

2008-02-14T19:03:00.000-08:00

The girls went to a local homeschool Valentine's Day Party where they were able to give away their homemade Valentine airplanes.

The banner read "Happy Valentine's Day - The Perkins"

Bionica Janneke

2008-01-11T15:41:00.000-08:00

We are doing great! Thanks for all your prayers.

Ice Fishing

2008-01-05T18:12:00.000-08:00

Casey caught a trophy 10 +" bluegill! Dad is so proud he is going to have this one mounted.

We had great fish fry tonight. Mom made an excellent beer batter with homebrew and we just chowed down.

We are blessed enough to have a nice pond close to our home that some great northern and bluegill fishing.

This girls know it as lake "George".

Perkins Upgrade

2008-01-05T09:07:00.000-08:00

Well Cheryl and I finally broke down and upgraded our dial out internet connection to high speed....we still have farmer TV. You should start seeing a lot more post now that it doesn't take 30min just to down load a picture! I think Cheryl will also coorispond more now because we have wireless which makes it more convient for her during the day to email.

Also should be able to view other blogs more frequently.

And the phone line won't be busy every time you guys call.

Maddie moves in with Casey and Dayna

2008-01-05T08:55:00.000-08:00

Janneka gets Maddie'

s room and Maddie moves into the "girls" room...with occasional visit from Henry.

Ice Scooping

2008-01-01T09:02:00.000-08:00

Girls doing a good job scooping ice chuncks out of the holes and checking lines. Dad in ice shack staying warm.

Miracle during Christmas

2007-12-27T18:21:00.000-08:00

Yes! This is a nice 23" Green Back (walleye). They are very different from a Minnesota Walleye. Their backs almost glow green from the conditions only Lake Winnipeg/Red River can produce through the ice. I caught a nice limit of these and Mooneye last Saturday around the Selkirk, MB area.

We all got our omega 3's that nite.

Hockey Night in Canada!

2007-12-27T17:42:00.000-08:00

Casey and Dayna both made big strides this Christmas holiday learning to ice skate. Grandma, Grandpa, and Dad have some sore backs to prove it!

The perfect pour!

2007-12-13T20:40:00.000-08:00

Oatmeal Stout on Nitro Tap! This is a 25% CO2 and 75% Nitrogen gas pour. All are welcome to tap a glass.

Pool Time

2007-12-09T18:50:00.000-08:00

We stayed at the Ramkota in SF the weekend of Dec. 8th. While Cheryl, Janneke, and I attended my company Christmas party Trevor and Margriet hung out with Casey, Dayna, and Maddilyn. We had a wonderful time together spending Saturday morning in the pool and then had a great brunch at the Crackle Barrell.

Here's Maddilyn giving Mom a two thumbs up!

Cutting Down the Tree

2007-12-08T20:19:00.000-08:00

Brewery Goes Nitro!

2007-12-08T19:44:00.000-08:00

Pictures of my new Nitro tap. 25% CO2 75% Nitrogen. Currently I have my Oatmeal Stout on tap that I brewed with my Dad.

Dad, this beer is worth a plan ticket out here to try!

My plan is to get the Oatmeal Ale on Nitro for something completely different!

Double Buck Shot

2007-11-06T17:12:00.000-08:00

Hopefully one of these will be on the dinner table this weekend.

In case you can't tell that is a 10pointer in the background!

Casey Birthday!

2007-11-04T19:01:00.000-08:00

Casey's Birthday Party

2007-11-04T14:02:00.001-08:00

Casey insisted that we make a big leaf pile. I guess I can't complain...I've never had so many willing helpers.

Youngest Sister Becoming Older Sister

2007-10-28T19:45:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful weekend with Cheryls parent's visiting. Casey will get to have two birthday parties. One of course for today and another next Sunday with all her friends.

We are experiencing beatiful weather enabling us to take daily walks with only light jackets. We have had several duck, pheasants, and 4 Trumpeter Swans visiting our pond daily.

Janneke and mom are doing well. She sleep through most of the nite last nite. Dad and Janneke got to take a 2hr nap today on the futon.

I hope to get some beer brewing done this week!

Buck in our back Yard

2007-10-25T15:37:00.001-07:00

My first shot at a buck!

Janneke Ruth Perkins

2007-10-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

9# 4oz smallest baby yet!

20 inches

Born 1:37pm 10/23/2007

Camping in Alberta

2007-10-22T18:25:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of the cousins sitting on the bench we made. Notice the nice tree fort we made in the background. We had a lot of fun.

When is that baby coming?

2007-10-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

Here is my first shot with my trail cam. You can see a dow feeding on the apples behind our house. This is a great device. I hope to get lots of pictures of deer and the wild life around our place. Makes me feel like a part of me can be out in the woods when I can't actually be there.

My next goal is to try to get a coyote on the screen.

Went Duck Hunting Shot a Pheasant

2007-10-21T19:10:00.000-07:00

Maddie, Dakota, & Some Quackers

2007-10-06T11:55:00.001-07:00

Cheryl was kind enough to let me sneak out again this morning and bag a few more ducks. Dakota had some great retrieves. He's turning out to be a good waterfowl dog. We'll see how he does on pheasants next weekend.

If you have any good duck recipies send them my way.

Weather is warm in the 80 today.

Duck Opener

2007-09-29T13:39:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to get out with a few friends for duck opener this Saturday. We were able to harvested a few mallards, teal, and geese right from the slough in our front yard.

The whitetail has still been able to ellude me, but I hope to get my first one by archery before the baby comes!

Apple Sauce Factory

2007-09-23T13:19:00.000-07:00

This Saturday thanks to a 16.5 gallon brewing keg we were able to harvest 18 gallons of apples sauce from our apple tree.

HOP HEAD

2007-09-16T19:39:00.000-07:00

I've been called a hop head before, but I think Dayna takes the cake.

Perkins Family Sunday

2007-09-16T19:11:00.000-07:00

Stipers on the flats

2007-07-24T12:52:00.000-07:00

Stripers in Casco Bay!

2007-07-24T12:44:00.001-07:00

Budgie got the bug and bought a fly rod from LL Bean last nite so we had to test it out. We Kayaked into Broad Cove north of Falmouth about 4am to fish the incoming tide. We plan to be out there tomorrow morning to do it again!

Grandpa Booy's Island in Lake of the Woods Ontario

2007-07-13T18:08:00.000-07:00

Maddilyn with some nice bass and pike for lunch.

Dayna on the rope ladder in the cabin.
Maddilyn and Grandma in the boat on the way to the island.

Boy or Girl ???

2007-06-24T18:46:00.000-07:00

Casey wants a boy named "Joey". Dayna wants a girl. Maddie doesn't want to be the baby any more. Cheryl & I just want to have a healthy baby.

BIG BROWN

2007-06-24T18:31:00.000-07:00

I was shaking so bad I did not get a very good picture, but here is what I got. This was at least 24"+ in a stream so small you can't even paddle a canoe over some spots without getting out and dragging the canoe.

The fish was caught on an oversized (2 times the natural) HEX pattern with split wings and extended body at about 10:45pm.

HEX Hatch IS On!

2007-06-19T17:39:00.000-07:00

This is a fly that hatches on a very small river (more like a stream) in Western MN around mid June, when the roses are just coming out. Once the "hatch is on" it usually starts like clockwork around 10pm at night depending on the year. It brings up some very big brown trout that are usually extremely difficult to catch any other time during the year. It is a very unique experience of walking into a small stream and waiting for this big bug to emerge under the moonlight. It involves fly-casting but with an added twist of fishing at night when you can’t see your fly or where you are casting. I do it mostly by sound.
Here are Casey & Maddie with a Dun fly I captured the night before. They usually emerge from the streambed at night, fly into the bushes or trees then a couple days later come back to the river to fall (die) as spinners. The picture is of a dun fly that has just emerged from the water.

Hop Vines

2007-06-03T05:48:00.000-07:00

For those who maybe in disbelief about having 10' hop vines by June 1st in Minnesota. I hope to get 19' before the cones start to form.

Pictured from left to right, Northern Brewer, Cascade, Dakota, Cascade, Perle, Saaz, and Willimatte.

It's been too wet here to get the garden planted. Hope to get something in by end of next week.

Fly Fishing Montana

2007-06-02T21:26:00.000-07:00

Nice Big Browns &* Rainbows on the Big Horn & Missouri Rivers.

Maddie Partaking of the Herbs a little too soon

2007-06-02T21:10:00.000-07:00

We have some Cilantro, Basil, Thyme, Sage, Oregano, Parsley, and Chive trying to grow after Maddie had her way with them in the beginning stages. They are growing well now once Maddie learned it was something you have to wait to eat.

Brew Day with Maddie

2007-06-02T21:03:00.000-07:00

I was able to get 10 gallons of Prairie Pale Ale, Amber Ale, Oatmeal Stout, London Porter, Oatmeal Ale, and a Hoptastic Ale brewed up this Spring. We have already killed 5 gallons keg of Prairie and Amber Ale this Spring with all the birthday and moving parties.

Dayna's 4th Birthday!

2007-06-02T20:49:00.000-07:00

Trout Fishing in the Black Hills

2007-06-02T19:58:00.000-07:00

I was able to combine a business trip to Rapid City, SD with some trout fishing on the weekend. Here is a nice Brown I was able to capture up in Spearfish Canyon.

On the Rocks in Maine

2006-10-11T13:28:00.000-07:00

Misuderstood Brother

2006-10-11T13:27:00.000-07:00

Budgie got a little too excited with the paints.

Flinstone Family

2006-08-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

These bikes where made in Italy I forget what they call them but a great way so see the sights as a group.

Casey and Dad Catchin a Wave

2006-08-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

We had several 90 deg day and some good surf.

Crazy Tiger People

2006-08-10T12:54:00.000-07:00

Casey really likes tigers and make-up so what better combination for her birthday that tiger paints!

Ice Cream Truck in Maine Delivers

2006-07-28T15:55:00.000-07:00

2006-07-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

My friend Steve with the biggest smallie of his life. We drifted down the Mississippi around the Camp Ripley area.

2006-07-11T18:41:00.000-07:00

I call this "Dragon Fly Love"

2006-07-04T07:03:00.000-07:00

Cardboard Cars & Trains

Casey the Litte Mermaid in Maine

2006-07-03T12:38:00.000-07:00

2006-06-27T19:43:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we went camping north of Osage MN on Straight Lake. Here is our breakfast spread.

2006-05-29T15:47:00.000-07:00

Watermelon anyone?

2006-05-27T19:04:00.001-07:00

Maddie!

2006-05-27T19:04:00.000-07:00

Finally we got the tomatoes in!

2006-05-27T19:03:00.000-07:00

My first smallie of the season caught on opening day was over 20" + ! I was a balmy 87 degs on the Otter Tail.

2006-05-01T20:13:00.000-07:00

Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles, and dogs visited last weekend. This is our neighbors waterfall. We caught several rainbow and stickleback minnows in the stream...even a salamander.

2006-05-01T19:50:00.000-07:00

Maddie taking a dip in the new sink I just installed.

2006-04-15T20:04:00.000-07:00

Casey grinding up some malted barley for the mash tun. Today was the first run at brewing with my new automated system. I still have to paint it. Casey has suggested "Hot Pink"...please are there other suggestions?