I just got done skinning and stretching fifteen rats that I caught today, snow rolled. Full dry. Had to chop up the crusty snow!

Stretched on wood

I gotcha... Tanning is going pretty good I added 1 mink, 2 coons to the pickel bath today along with the 2 rats I already had in there. I am trying varying techniques to try and improve the quality and time to the finished product. I am still learning things at almost 80 (2 1/2 weeks to go).

I was a technical writer for 7 years back in the 1960s and it stayed with me. I hate to read how to do something and the writer leaves out half of the details. If I have to guess what to do next, why waste my time reading about it in the first place. So I never try to keep anyone guessing. If somene asks me how to do it... you had better pack a lunch, because I am going to give you all of the details.

I have had to train too many people at various things in my life and I always tell them, write it down... because if you ask one thing about doing what I have already told you...the first time you ask, I think, maybe I wasn't clear... the second time you ask, I think maybe you weren't paying attention... and the third time, I just figure you are stupid and didn't write it down and you need to go elsewhere to find a job.

About tanning... I pulled two coons from the freezer yesterday that I put in there 3 years ago and they were as fresh as if I had put them in last week. I have a couple more in there that I put in there 4 years ago and anxious to see they will turn out.

Take care,

Garry-