So Yesterday I Decided To Tackle Those Log Stakes
Kept seeing those cute log stakes everywhere in Animal Crossing screenshots, right? Figured, hey, maybe I can actually make some real ones for the garden. Looked simple enough online. Grabbed my notebook and just jumped in.
First step was gathering stuff. Headed out to the shed and found:
- Some decent-sized branch offcuts – not too thick, not too thin.
- My trusty hand saw. The small one.
- Measuring tape because eyeballing it usually bites me later.
- Sandpaper – medium grit and fine grit.
- Outdoor wood stain stuff I had leftover from the fence last year.
- A small paintbrush for the stain.
- Couple of rusty old stakes I pulled out of the ground ages ago.
Chopping them up was next. Measured out roughly equal lengths – aiming for maybe a foot and a half each? Didn’t need them perfect. Sawing was kinda therapeutic, honestly, chunk chunk chunk. Ended up with six pieces. One had a weird knot, almost tossed it, but decided to roll with it.
Then came the sanding. Oh boy. Thought it wouldn’t take long. Wrong. Spent forever running that sandpaper up and down each piece, trying to get all the splinters off and smooth out the edges where I sawed. My hands were numb halfway through. Started with the rougher paper to knock off the big bits, then switched to the fine stuff to make it touchable. This part? Hated it. Coulda thrown the whole lot in the fire pit.
Time to make ’em look less “raw branch”. Opened that can of wood stain. Chose the medium brown one. Slapped on some old gloves, laid down some cardboard on the patio, and started brushing it on. Tried to get an even coat, but you know how it is – some spots soaked it up like crazy, others barely took any. Ended up doing two coats after the first one dried patchy. Let them bake in the sun for a good few hours.
While they were drying, I prepped the old stakes. Yanked off any old bits of wire, scrubbed off most of the rust and dirt. Figured they just needed to hold the log pieces up, right? Didn’t need to be pretty.
Putting ’em together: Got my hammer. Carefully tapped each log piece onto the pointy end of an old stake. Had to do it slow so I didn’t split the wood. Nearly split that one with the knot, held my breath. But they all held! Stood back and… okay, yeah, they looked like the game ones. Little wonky, very rustic.
Decorating the garden spot: Found a bare patch near where the tomatoes are trying to grow. Hammered the stakes into the ground in a little row. The ground was way harder than expected, felt like hitting concrete. After much grunting and sweating, they were in. Took a quick pic for the ‘gram, felt accomplished.
Key lessons learned the hard way:
- SAND MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU NEED. Seriously. Splinters suck.
- Cheap garden stakes are fine, but hammering into hard earth is a workout.
- Stain coverage is never perfect, embrace the rustic.
- Knots in wood? Handle like explosive ordinance.
- It’s surprisingly satisfying seeing them lined up afterward.
Done. Looks good. Probably won’t do another six for a while. My hands are still sore. Just decorate yours!
