Tanning-Part 1

This morning I completed the first step of the tanning process....scraping and salting. It took me all morning. By the time I was done my thumb under the nail was so sore that I couldn't go on much more even if I had wanted to. Also the middle finger on that same hand is infected and the constant pressure made it worse. It feels better this evening since the inflamation has gone down a bit.

I started out on my knees, but soon rounded up my black bucket (I carry feed, water, and occasionally chicken carcasses and innards in it) and sat on that. I sang my way through a good portion of my repitore--everything from Salley Gardens to Riding a Raid to Dixie to I'll Be Seeing You...

Early on in the process I had Savannah come out and snap a few pictures. When I was done, I got one of the salted hide. My board wasn't quite big enough. Daddy had told me to tack the thing onto the side of the barn, but I can't get there very well, besides it sure looked and felt like it was going to rain so I scrounged until I found a board that I could use. It took me a while to decide on which nails I was going to use...

Mama-Cat sat and watched me most of the morning. She came over and sniffed the scrapings a couple of times, but apparently decided that coon was not up to snuff and didn't eat any of it.

Trimming busily...

Eventually I moved my 'scrap-bag' to the ground. The ants were having a feast by the time I got done.

Since the Caddy is in the shop, I set up in the garage. I guess I ought to get rid of some of those egg boxes and cartons. (The boxes make outstanding targets, by the way...)

Partially scraped. You can tell in this picture how I kind of tacked the hide on at an angle, stretched oddly.

The salted hide.

Later in the day, I went to our place with the bag of feed you can see in the pictures, and lured the cattle in close to the truck with it. I dumped it out all around the bed and then wormed my cows! They hate that poison lading on their backs, so the only way I can do it without a squeeze chute is feed them while doctoring them. I fed them the entire sack...it won't hurt them. They rather need it.

I forgot to turn on the refridgerator (I knew there was a reason why I really needed to go into the house [other than to wash my hands]!!) so I guess I'll have to go back over tomorrow and take care of that. I need to get the chickens in the freezer sooner than later at this point. I also need to mow the grass...on my list of things to do tomorrow--if it doesn't rain.

Well, I have to go now!

        Racheal