A Notch on the Cedar Post

I walked past the garden gate and headed out toward the open meadow fence line, bringing the bundled canvas tool wrap with me. A long, thin sliver of bleached cedar was peeling away from the corner post where cattle had rubbed against it. I set the heavy roll upright against the post base, pulled the loose end of my leather strap free, and slipped out an iron nail from inside the wrap. Holding the nail steady with one hand, I used the flat side of an iron clasp to drive it firmly through the cedar splinter. The split wood pulled flush against the post, secure against the wind.