2/16/19:
Building Summary: Today, I began the process of creating naturally finished wood. This consisted of my gathering together two posts, two 40″ 2x4s, and one full length 8′ 2×8. I brought these to the beefer field and put them together into a hurtle-like structure near a place where all the cows gather before they go into the barn. There, it is my hope that they will scratch and rub themselves upon the hurtle and thus give me some smooth, hide-polished boards (ones that I will end up attaching to the face of my bed).
This was followed by my starting on the frame-extensions for the front of Jacobhouse. I measured out the boards that I needed, fetched the two 16′ 2x6s that were required, and cut the first three primary boards that my plans required.
Commentary: As stated above, I built a herd ‘scratching post’ this morning with the intent of acquiring cattle-smoothened wood. I never doubted that the beefers would eventually polish the hurtle I set up, but what I did not realize was quite how popular it would be.
They began to show interest before I had even gotten out to the field. At hearing the drill, a small group of about three or four of the beasts came over to see what I was doing. I next toted out the 2×8, and it was as I was going back to fetch the posts, I heard some ‘tap-tapping’ behind me. It turned out that one of our Belgian Blue bovines was enjoying the feeling of wood beneath her hooves, for she was walking all over that board I had laid out.
Knowing that no major harm would come of it, I continued with the task at hand, bringing out the posts and digging the first hole. After the initial hole was dug, I inserted and tamped around post #1. This was followed by my digging the hole for post #2*. After I had the second post firmly in place, I went and got the drill and some screws so I could put up the 2×8. I also fetched a helpful Wag so he could hold up the 2×8 as I put in the screws.
When we arrived back to the worksite, there were twocows – one for each post – rubbing their necks up and down in unison against the new ‘scratchers’. That, I believe was the most notable highlight for the morning, for it was at that point I became fairly certain that cow-wood is going to be a success.
End note: I mentioned yesterday that I would start working on extending the frame for the entrance to Jacobhouse. In keeping to that plan, I measured and cut the initial pieces of 2×6 which will provide me with some good starting material for tomorrow. So, all in all, it was both an amusing and productive morning.
*Should be noted that before the hole for the second post had even been dug, a little Angus cow began scratching her neck on the first post. She was kind of in the ‘personal-space’ region but I didn’t want to shoo her off, so I just kept on working.