When we were in Capel we had a big chunk of wood out the front of our place. It was one of the things I insisted had to come to Cue with us which it did and then lay on a pallet for over a year. It became one of those obstacles always in the way but I was determined to do something with it. After all, it does resemble a cow and I wanted it to be on guard in the front yard. Just because I like it.
Eventually I got Phil to move it to the verandah where I cleaned off the webs, dust, dirt and generally tidied it up before a coat or two of varnish. It took ages but so far so good.
When it was in Capel it always had a real moo-cow skull on it but it always got stolen. Believe it or not. We even confronted a truckie cutting a skull off once in the middle of the day. His response was I want it so Im taking it and you cant stop me. OK. The truck had a business name on it. We wanted to tell him off so we did, lol. His boss wasnt impressed with him at all, hehehe. Hopefully idiot truckie had some angry words bouncing around in his own skull. we never saw him again. Then another idiot backed a truck into it and knocked it out of the ground - so it was put away for future use.
Anyway, I have digressed. The point it there are no skulls up around this way so I decided to make my own. a much more permanent one as well.
I drew a picture on some plastic sheet, banged holes with a compass at intervals along the lines onto a chosen piece of wood. Next I joined the dots and my trusty woodworker guy cut out the cows head. Thank you Phil.
Next came painting and decorating which I always enjoy.
Meanwhile back at the ranch (oh dear, couldnt resist) the cow had dried up (desiccated cow?) and we were ready to place it on a large solid base but the green grass had to be glued down first. It almost looked like a dinosaur without the head but I was determined to mooove ahead (hmmmm) so it would be ready for Christmas.
We even added an old cowbell that wed dug up in an old tip somewhere in Queensland a few years earlier. Nice to see it being used as it should be, lol. A few little touches and our friendly moo-cow was ready to be lit up.
I know you wont believe this. we couldnt either but the next night we heard mooing. Yes, mooing, right out the front. Magic?! There along our road were three real-life cows wandering probably looking for water. Not our pond I hope but it was ridiculously funny all the same. Life imitating art as they say.
It took almost a week from start to finish and I love the Christmas cow (and everyday cow at other times) and am really happy with the way it turned out. Cant steal that head, matey and the whole project weighs a tonne so its really hard to mooove, lol. Maybe therell be more moooving lights next year, though.
