After a somewhat inauspicious start, during which I wrote down the basics of a story I had slap me upside the head this morning while reading Proverbs 20:21 and conquoring the remaining laundry, I dashed across the creek to pick up a box and a few other little things for Savannah, and turn on the fridge (which if you recall, I was supposed to have done yesterday!)
After lunch (around 2-ish), I started on my afternoon errands:
1. Put the chickens in the freezer across the creek. I got over there to find that the freezer was not cold because somebody had not only unplugged the thing but turned it off inside. I turned the cool on and called Savannah. She told me to go ahead and put the chickens in the freezer, after making sure that it really was starting to cool off. I checked and it was, so I plopped the still cold chickens in a pile in the freezer. I'm sure once I quit opening and closing the door that it cooled down fairly quickly since I could already feel the cool coming on.
2. I went to Wal-Mart and picked up two more boxes of salt (to be explained momentarily). I walked clear across the store carrying those two boxes of salt in order to check the ammo case. Of course, there was no .22 ammo left--again. I'll wipe them out if I'm ever in there and they have some! I got a couple of funny looks as I strode through Wally-world in my new hat, knee-length plaid skirt, and spurred boots. I didn't feel like wearing anything else on my feet. I wasn't feeling too grand (probably has something to do with the small amount of bug poison I got on myself yesterday--it seems to be inevitable when worming cattle to not get a little on yourself!), so I could care less if people thought I looked odd. Personally, I rather like the look. ;)
3. I stopped by the produce place for some cherry tomatoes and some more bananas.
4. I went to the Post Office and mailed Savannah's box. I sure hope Miss M. likes the dress Savannah made her...I think it's very pretty! More importantly, I hope it fits perfectly!
It was about 4 o'clock before I got started on the next step of the tanning process. I looked up a straight-salt tanning method since I don't have any alum and I don't know where to get it. Thus the need for extra salt.
The order of business went as follows: 1. Scrape the hide; 2. soak it for five minutes (I fed the cats and horse during this juncture since it was about 5:00); 3. wash the hide; 4. scrape it again; and 5. put the pelt in a salt brine to soak for 24 hours.
After lunch (around 2-ish), I started on my afternoon errands:
1. Put the chickens in the freezer across the creek. I got over there to find that the freezer was not cold because somebody had not only unplugged the thing but turned it off inside. I turned the cool on and called Savannah. She told me to go ahead and put the chickens in the freezer, after making sure that it really was starting to cool off. I checked and it was, so I plopped the still cold chickens in a pile in the freezer. I'm sure once I quit opening and closing the door that it cooled down fairly quickly since I could already feel the cool coming on.
2. I went to Wal-Mart and picked up two more boxes of salt (to be explained momentarily). I walked clear across the store carrying those two boxes of salt in order to check the ammo case. Of course, there was no .22 ammo left--again. I'll wipe them out if I'm ever in there and they have some! I got a couple of funny looks as I strode through Wally-world in my new hat, knee-length plaid skirt, and spurred boots. I didn't feel like wearing anything else on my feet. I wasn't feeling too grand (probably has something to do with the small amount of bug poison I got on myself yesterday--it seems to be inevitable when worming cattle to not get a little on yourself!), so I could care less if people thought I looked odd. Personally, I rather like the look. ;)
3. I stopped by the produce place for some cherry tomatoes and some more bananas.
4. I went to the Post Office and mailed Savannah's box. I sure hope Miss M. likes the dress Savannah made her...I think it's very pretty! More importantly, I hope it fits perfectly!
It was about 4 o'clock before I got started on the next step of the tanning process. I looked up a straight-salt tanning method since I don't have any alum and I don't know where to get it. Thus the need for extra salt.
The order of business went as follows: 1. Scrape the hide; 2. soak it for five minutes (I fed the cats and horse during this juncture since it was about 5:00); 3. wash the hide; 4. scrape it again; and 5. put the pelt in a salt brine to soak for 24 hours.
Scraping the salted hide.
Close up. Here you can see where I've already scraped the salt off part of it.
I spent a good hour scraping the pelt...and I still didn't get it perfect. (Look at that, Savannah took this shot at such an angle that you can see through my eyebrow!)
Up and down adgitation. It smelled better when I was done--even though it still smells of coon.
Looks cleaner, eh?
Rinsing...
What? Still rinsing?? (I really think my hair has gotten redder over the past year. At least, it looks that way in the pictures!)
"Hmm...I know I can fit this on here...I did it before!"
Tacking it back to the board to be scraped again. Washing it stretched it out some so it was even harder to get it on than initially. (Need a bigger board if I ever do this again!) Next came the third scraping. It isn't perfect, but I was hungry and supper was ready and our Friday company was here.
Mixing the salt brine. (I really do get those clips in crooked, don't I?)
The pelt soaking in the brine...it needs to come out at 6:00 tomorrow evening.
Hopefully, all the pictures don't bore you. :)
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