Hi to all you good folks!
My name's Shane Matlock
I am 39, been married for 15 years to a wonderful woman, who loves me "in spight of my many flaws" according to her!
We have 2.5 children, #3 is still in the oven! :wink: Lord willin the little booger will make it here this week, and he did! :shock: April 23rd.
We have one girl 8, an active boy 22 months old, and into everything
To say we were surprised about the latest edition to the family would be a big understatement! :shock:
I told her that maybe, I need to stay outdoors more to cut down on this happening again!
She diddnt fall for it. :?
So, while I am in the house, heres my story.
My past.
I grew up on a little farm in Logansport LA, by my grandmother who was 71 when I got here. She was a simple country woman, but she did right by me. I learned more from her than any outdoors or survival school!
We lived a very good life, even if we had a Amish lifestyle. By that I mean we had to cook on a wood stove, and used an outhouse, just a simple country life. We diddnt even get indoor pluming untill 1972! We were not poor, or in poverty. I had a great childhood, she seen to it that I never went without anything. She was a true woods woman, and a good christian.
It is because of her that I am the man I am today. She taught me to hunt, fish, trap, and what fork to use at a dinner party!
I was born in 1965, too young to be a "baby boomer" and too old for "generation X" as they call it. :lol:
I have been in the woods and river and creek banks all my life. I have been hunting and such since I was a baby. Wasnt no baby sitter, so I went too! Got my first deer at 6years old. :wink: I stayed with her untill she died in 1986, she was 92.
I went out into the world, I worked construction for Zachery, and Brown and Root . I traveled all over the world seen a lot of stuff, met some good folks. At 25, I thought I had seen enough so, I came back home and met my wife. We setteled down and all that goes with it. :wink:
I went to work for Walmart, stayed with them 11 yrs. I ran the Recieveing crew unloading trucks.
I made good money, but I just got burned out with it. There was no chance of advancement, I was stuck, making good money, but wasting time, So one day I just quit, and never looked back.
The best thing I ever did! :grin:
The present;
I work for myself now, and hate that I waited so dang long! :x
I am a jack of all trades and master of a few. I make caines and walking staffs, and rustic furniture. I go to the many fairs and festivles and sell my work.
The wife works for an Insureance Co, now and make's good money.
For me, the freedom of not having to punch a damn clock is worth it.
To any of you who think about doing something like this.... DO IT! But plan it out first, use your head. Everything we have was paid for when I pulled the pin so to speak. All we owe for is the house and thats not much. :grin:
We moved to Marshall about 10 years ago, its a good town. Shreveport is 35 mi east, Longview is 34 mi west on I-20.
I am allways in the woods, or on the Sabine River.Hunting ,fishing or getting materials for my work. sometimes all three at once!
The wife used to go with me, but since the kids she likes it home more. Not many women will endure the wilds more than they have too, without proper accomidations! If you get my meaning :shock:
I have no complaints, our life is good, the kids are healthy, an happy and so are we.
I am into primitave arts, buckskinning, wild crafting, gar fishing, hog hunting, and all things outdoors,
I am glad I found this site, and look forward to learning all I can from you all.
My hope is that I can contribute something worth while to this forum, if nothing else give you all a good laugh or two!
