a woMAN's best friend...

I've had lots of fun things on my mind to blog about this week, but those will have to come later. Today has been a very sad day today for my family and I. After several great years together, I lost one of my very best friends, my dog, Zeke.

Zeke was the first dog that I could actually call my own. He was the lazy, chubby pup of the litter and it was love at first site! All through college we took naps together, ate together, took road trips together, did homework together, sat on the porch together...you name it, we were inseparable! He was always by my side. After any bad day, he could always put a smile on my face.

Zeke
November 25, 2003 - July 1, 2011

A few months ago Zeke started acting funny. One particularly odd trait he had recently inherited was his ability to snore...and I mean snore louder than any human I've ever heard! I found it odd that he all of the sudden began this, but the vet said unfortunately there was nothing he could do for Zeke's snoring! So I contemplated buying ear plugs. Shortly after, he began showing other signs that were not normal & I found lumps on his throat, so once again we headed to the doc. This time they diagnosed him with Lymphoma. My heart sank as the vet told me that it had already taken over his body & that his time left on earth was coming to an end.

This morning I had to make one of the most difficult decisions of my life. I have been very fortunate that I have not had to deal with many deaths in my family, but to lose Zeke felt like losing one of my family members....who am I kidding? He was a family member. Although it wasn't an easy decision, I knew that Zeke was suffering & I wanted to take his pain away. So today, Zeke went to doggy heaven. I know he is pain free & chasing squirrels right at this very moment...and I know that he has a nice fluffy couch that he can call his own. But my heart aches for him to be here with me & I will miss him every single day.

Please keep my family in your prayers.

Ten things I will miss about Zeke.....

1. His incredibly stinky fish breathe that no doggy mint could ever touch

2. His polar bear butt...Zeke was a little over weight!!

3. His insanely long lizard tongue that could snatch a kiss seemingly from a mile away

4. His uncontrollable barking when someone new entered the room

5. His growl that I always called his "purr"

6. His ability to sleep 20 of the 24 hours a day 

7. His grumpy nature

8. His love for chasing squirrels

9. His warm welcome when I came home

10. His unconditional love for me

Oh how I will miss him....

I'll leave you with a few pictures of my sweet baby Zeke......

May you have an endless supply of beggin' strips....

Love always,

Mom

TO BE A FARMER'S WIFE.....

You must know how to cook. 

I lucked out on this prerequisite & actually do have some experience in cooking. However, you won't find me with my apron on, slaving over my stove three meals a day. I'm not cut out for that!

So instead....sometimes I slave over the stove at my family's restaurant, Cafe Bonin, which is what I have been doing for the past two days. I am no Paula Deen, but here's a few things I threw together.....

Carrot Cake

Lemon Cake

Strawberry Cake

German Chocolate Cake Truffles

Cajun Stuffed Pinwheels

Spinach Artichoke Tartlets

Broccoli Casserole

Pasta Salad

And now you know why I fail miserably at providing meals for the handsome farmer & farm baby. Who wants to come home & cook after all of that??? So instead, I'm thinking McDonald's for dinner tonight. Yummm! When I am feeling particularly unworthy of my title"farmer's wife", I'll throw a little dinner together & fill you in. I may not cook often, but when I do, it's usually pretty darn good.

On another note....

The Mattingly's are headed to the beach next week. I can't WAIT! The only thing I'll be baking is my pasty white skin! Until then, Oaks is going to have to settle for his Redneck Beach Club....brought to you by the Mattingly Farmstead.

Redneck Beach Club
Located in Lebanon, KY
Accommodations provided by Papa Dave
Seen in photo: Oaks Mattingly

I get a good laugh every time I look at this picture. The Redneck Beach Club was created by Papa Dave at the end of a tobacco patch. Oaks can't get enough of it! I have to tell you....I NEVER dreamed that would be MY child!!!!

So fierce!

This time last year....

Notice the John  Deere hat...

Hilton Head Island, SC 2010

I'm off to pack....but first I will leave you with a dirty little secret.....

ROCKAHOLIC
Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo by TiGi

......I don't wash my hair every day!!!!

And this little guy will most def be in my suitcase.

I may or may not have oil hair..like ALL the time...so this is a product, of course recommended to me by my BFF hair stylist, that takes care of that little problem. Like it's title, it ROCKS & if you don't use it, you must. Get yourself on www.amazon.com & order NOW!

'til next time....

Meet the Mattingly's

The farmer and his wife.

....tehehehe...I thought this would be the perfect way to introduce myself, Loren Mattingly, the farmer's wife...and my husband, David Mattingly, the farmer! Howdy Ya'll!

And this here is our little farm baby....Christian Oaks Mattingly. 

Naturally, this is a completely inaccurate description of our family & I would never say things like "howdy ya'll" or "this here", but what better way to kick off my blog? If you know me, this is far from who I am! And if you don't know me, stick around & hopefully you'll get to know the real us! =)

'til next time.....