putting the mast on a diet

I spent a good portion of yesterday with a spokeshave and the mast.  It is a slow process to shape, or in this case, reduce the shape of the mast with just a spokeshave and my eye, turning the mast constantly to check to see it stays round, but not at all unpleasant work.  I have to be aware of what music is playing on the shop radio as my strokes of the tool tend to sync up to the tempo of the music.  This can be a real advantage at times, but risky at others.  A pile of shavings on the shop floor tell me I did skinny up the stick a bit.  Those shavings will make good bedding for the chicken coop and I won't have so much weight aloft.