The "little woman" sometimes looks over my shoulder while reading and posting on this site. She also comes to some of the shoots, for the campfires, friendship and an occasional run around the 3-D courses. What I didn't realize is that she's been processing all of this bow stuff, listening and learning. So while I was in the barn splitting up a recent osage harvest, Miss Heather (the little woman), came in for a visit. She didn't even bring a beer with her, as you can imagine would have tasted real good. I was on log number 3...splitting, beating and pounding the wedges.
While I sealed and stacked another fresh stave on the pile, I noticed that she was eyeing my seasoned stuff. I walked back to the log and split off another fresh stave, sealed and stacked it on now a growing pile. Again, I turned to find her attention fixed on my seasoned osage pile. "So uh, what are you looking at, my dear?, I said.
"A suitable stave for the bow that I'm going to make," she sneered.
"Well, did you find one?"
"Yes, I think this one will do," as she pulled on the end sliding it in a position that identified it as "reserved for Heather."
She picked a 14 year old, naturally reflexed stave with 1/4-inch growth rings. One of the best of the bunch. Evidently, she's been paying attention....