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Antler bonanza!

2011 February 18

lip balm gone awry

Rose keeps saying wistfully, “I can’t wait until spring because then we don’t have to wear jackets ever again. Right Coley? Spring is the warmest season.”

Are your kids totally, adorably inaccurate?

Last night I came home from Girlz Beer Nite (so full of debauchery you have to spell it like you’re in a heavy metal video — or at least all the debauchery you can manage before 10:15 pm) to a quiet house. I immediately wanted a full report on the kids from Dan. (I could kayak the Amazon River, fend off crocodiles, and upon my return, want a full report on the kids before even showering).

The big news was that right at bedtime Col couldn’t find Sealy (bedtime lovey). So, Dan, Col and Rose launched a comprehensive search party for the missing seal. After awhile Col asked Rose if she had taken Sealy. “Yes. I did, Coley,” she admitted grimly. She led Col into her room to retrieve the seal who strangely, never turned up. Dan, getting suspicious, asked Rose if she had really taken Sealy. She clung fiercely to her false confession, even apologizing sadly to Col. Eventually Col found Sealy under his pillow, right where he had left him. Yoiks!

This is just to say that inaccuracy is the air we breathe around here.

** *** ** *** **

Back to Spring, which is not a jacketless season here at 6512 feet. But it is the time when deer and elk drop the antlers right off their heads like so much excess baggage. Dan has been an enthusiastic antler hunter for the last 15 years, and though he’s made beautiful things (go here to see the beautiful things) with the antlers and sold them, you could lose a small child under the mounds of antlers accumulating on our property.

And just as the kids are expected to clear out old toys occasionally, Dan agreed to cull a sizable stack of antlers before any new ones found their way out of the woods to our house this spring.

And you, dear readers, are welcome to come over and grab as many as you desire, if, of course, you live within grabbing distance.

They make great drawer pulls.

And cabinet door openers.

We use them as coat racks.

And biology lessons. Col wants you to see how chipmunks, squirrels and mice have chewed on this antler, seeking calcium and other minerals.

You can hang jewelry on antlers, and make buttons from them. They make great slingshots and are nifty back-scratchers too. We train peas and vining squash up them in the garden.

Col has been fond of antlers for a long, long time. Sometimes he just likes to carry them around, and even sleep with them.

Here’s what’s available, right now:

Come and get it!

Anyone have other ideas on how to recirculate the wealth?

Also, if you have a blog or are on facebook, tell your friends about the bonanza.



40 Responses leave one →
  1. February 18, 2011

    dang I wish I lived closer so we could get some antlers!! we have tons of deer but the antlers are a bit of prize here.

  2. February 18, 2011

    Oy, I’m sure after I’ve had some coffee my repurposing brain could come up with loads of uses for antlers. If I think of something exciting, I’ll come back.

    And the picture of Rose up top–those eyes! You must just want to eat her up.

    Happy Weekend!

  3. February 18, 2011

    they’re beautiful! I wish I lived closer because I surely need another jacket hanger on my wall. seriously!

  4. February 18, 2011

    Ahhh. I knew I’d seen you somewhere before. Somewhere a long, long time ago before I understood who you were. It was the antler post.

    I’m getting ready to put antlers all over my garden. Can I really, truly come and get some?

  5. Ami permalink
    February 18, 2011

    Are they all deer antlers? Do you have any of those big ‘ole elk antlers that are like 2 feet long!? My husband would die for one of those! I’d pay for shipping! :) Seriously.

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      February 18, 2011

      We totally have big ‘ole elk antlers that are over two feet long. Dan even has one that he found on Gold Beach in Cali. They would be pricy to mail – you should just come visit us! (I could get you the number of our local shipping place and you could inquire).

  6. February 18, 2011

    That is amazing, what an impressive collection. We are lucky to find one or two here and there and our collection consistes of just a few little deer antlers. We were actually out wondering around on the sunny side of a mountain the other day looking for antlers just for the fun of it…never did find any. You are so nice to be giving them away…how fun.:)

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      February 18, 2011

      It may look like niceness, giving these antlers away, but it’s more a function of preservation: sanity, space, marriage.

  7. Chi-An permalink
    February 18, 2011

    Wish I lived closer, say somewhere actually in your time zone or even your state, because my kids would love some antlers. Actually, maybe we’re safer over here, because I have no doubt that it would take them approximately 2.7 minutes to discover how they could brandish antlers at each other and another 1.2 minutes to discover how much damage a sharply swung antler can do to a sibling.

    All that notwithstanding, I’d still like some antlers. They’re beautiful and I can see why Dan has been hoarding, er, collecting them.

    Maybe you could offer them to a school or some other group that’s going to put on a play of about deer. They’d make some fabulous costumes.

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      February 18, 2011

      The antlers do have a way of finding their way into the house, and even if they’re not brandished at a sibling, I’ll end up sitting on one, which as you can imagine…ouch.

      Growing children at 6512 feet: http://6512andgrowing.wordpress.com/

  8. February 18, 2011

    I believe marriage actually hinges on clutter and de-clutter negotiations.
    As for re-purposing antlers, they are by FAR the best dog chew any canine has ever come across. They actually sell them in high-end dog stores, an antler cut into a 5 inch piece, packaged, and then sold for like nine dollars. (Additional stream of income for the 6512ers?) I imagine guinnea pigs, hamsters, and other chew-prone pets would like them too. (Just like the squirrels and chipmunks Col!)
    Good luck with the culling!

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      February 18, 2011

      Innnnnnnteresting. Will investigate the income potential of providing domestic mammals with chewing opportunities.

  9. February 18, 2011

    This is really cool. I love the antlers in your garden! And yes, there are a lot of inaccuracies in our home too… I think it comes with the territory with little ones!

  10. Naima permalink
    February 18, 2011

    Awesome! Was wondering what the status of that antler pile was… I’ll definitely nab a few when I’m back in town. I may have to quiz you and Dan on antler sawing, refining, installation…

  11. Judy permalink
    February 18, 2011

    I dunno about the antlers, but I do suggest sending the first photo of Rose to the “got milk” advertising people.
    :)

  12. February 18, 2011

    We’re in a state of attempting to de-clutter too, but alas, my husband won’t let me throw away his hockey gear that resides in our living room ALL WEEK LONG after each of his games on Monday nights… At least he sprays it with my home-made tea tree spray so it smells nice. ;-)

    I had a dream about you and Rose. We (my husband and I – not sure where we left our daughters) were visiting you at your house, and I just remember being so peaceful. I tried to hold Rose in my lap and she squirmed out of my grasp. My girls do the same thing – when I want to cuddle, they just want to get away.

    In any case, my daughters exclaim “its summer!” when they see the sun.

  13. February 18, 2011

    Hmmm…if I lived closeby, I’d definitely come by and help myself to one. I’m sure we’ll find a use for one.

    And Girlz Beer Nite rule!!! As do you.

    p.s. love that darling picture of Rose.

  14. February 18, 2011

    love the drawer pulls!

  15. Molly permalink
    February 18, 2011

    Not on the main topic, but I forwarded your false confession anecdote to a friend who works as an attorney with kids, a lot. Perfect story.

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      February 18, 2011

      Interestingly, my mom (who is a lawyer) did a lot of work educating judges in the 80’s on child witnesses. The prevailing wisdom at the time was that children were generally accurate. But I think now it’s understood how swayed children can become by adults or even their own false memories. ie: Rose really believed she had taken Sealy.

  16. February 18, 2011

    Adorably inaccurate — on a walk this afternoon, Mica smelled woodsmoke and said, “It smells like marshmallows!”

    Then he started reminiscing about being at my parents’ house last summer when we had big fires and ate s’mores.

    :)

  17. February 18, 2011

    i am there. so nice of dan to gift the world some antlers!

  18. linda permalink
    February 18, 2011

    When (if) I ever get back, I will be asking you for a visit to San Juan Drive. I will relish seeing your garden now, and Col and Rose, heck and you and Dan!!!

    I confess that I just bought a steel piece (made in china of material from who knows where, and then shipped here) of something that I plan on putting in the garden for tomatoes to grow on.

    yep, I absolutely need to visit.

    p.s. a very old Watts says Hi! that’s right, still kickin’. what a dog.

    Hey–excellent news about your class. I love picturing you and students doing that learning thing. Awesome.

  19. February 18, 2011

    My husband collects hard drives like Dan collects antlers. Our spares don’t make quite as lovely drawer pulls, though. And you can’t use them to grow peas either. They’re just as good for mesmerizing little ones though. =>

  20. February 18, 2011

    I find dreams influence the day to day reality of kidlets too. Glad I know this, or I’d really wonder what they were up to sometimes. I find their confessions of their bowel activities particularly puzzling.

  21. jamie permalink
    February 18, 2011

    You should check into the resale of antlers to dogs, guinea pigs, and the like. My dog is not a big chewer, but she managed to gnaw down a pair of 3 pointers in just one spring. I dont live where I can find antlers (and I wouldnt pay 9 bucks for one) but if I had the chance I would get her some. Also, my sis has guinea pigs and Im sure they would love some antler to chew :)

  22. February 19, 2011

    Wow, that’s pretty amazing that Dan is willing to let go of some of his bounty. Wonder what shipping would be to Washington….

  23. February 19, 2011

    Yeah, we DEFINITELY don’t need any more antlers. (Although I have to say, I don’t think our collection is quite as big as Dan’s….) BUT, thanks for all the wonderful ideas on what to do with ours! I’ll have to bring my husband to this post.

  24. February 20, 2011

    You should make one of those Antler Arcs De Triumph that they have in Jackson Hole (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2001/2142862671_e36519697a.jpg) for the entrance to your yard.

  25. Jan permalink
    February 20, 2011

    Those antler drawer pulls are great, but what I really love are the doorknobs. What great ideas you have. I think an antler arch (as in Jackson Hole) would be a fantastic entrance into your back yard/garden. Maybe just outside the wonderful gate that Dan built? And would sure use up lots and lots of them!

    Jan

  26. February 20, 2011

    how cool! i never realized all the things you can do with antlers! Love the drawer and cabinet door openers!

  27. February 20, 2011

    darnnnnn that we live so far away. i’d be pulling on my boots and dashing over in the dark of night to snaffoo a bundle. thanks for the generous offer and hope lots are able to take you up on it. love the pics of uses for them. we saw a very cool slingshot made out of them once that i’ve been dreaming of crafting for the wild boy who lives under our roof.

  28. February 21, 2011

    am i too late, need three for a project that i haven’t thought of yet.

  29. mike bittle permalink
    December 8, 2012

    I would like as many as i can get i can even fly in to pick them up i use them for my log furniture what state are you in? Thanks mike

    • Rachel Turiel permalink
      December 8, 2012

      Giveaway is over, sir.

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