Working on The Tree House

My children have wanted a tree house since several years before we moved from our old house...and we moved three years ago. We knew immediately which tree it would have been at our old house, and then again knew exactly which tree here at the new...well, three years ago "new." So, with Job heading off to college soon, and with him loving to design and build, I thought it would be wonderful if he built the treehouse for his siblings before he left...as kind of a daily legacy of love to them. Fortunately, he thought so too. So, after a few delayed starts (life, work, you know), he got off to the building, and just this past weekend secured the supports for the swing beam, which will swing no fewer than 4 children! Which is awesome, as there are usually at least four children outside wanting to swing at the same time, between our two youngest and our neighbor friends, and our current swingset only accommodates two.

When the initial framework was finally secured, Job climbed up and gingerly inched along the brace, wanting to make sure it was as sturdy as he thought it was before he got too comfortable up there.

No worries...its rock solid...even by my over-the-top cautious mother standards. Craig is helping Job as he goes with extra hands and advice, as is our highly talented neighbor Todd, who is a builder by trade but an artist by birth. I think for Job the planning and research has been the most cumbersome, especially because his mother keeps saying to him things like, "I just need to know it's going to be safe" and "If you're going to err, err on the side of caution" and "Be careful with that saw...are you sure its turned the right way?" and "The question to ask yourself is will it hold up ten years from now?" and "Trust me, it can never be too strong; I see what the plans call for, but why don't you use the thicker wood instead." Needless to say, I think Job much prefers Craig and Todd's advice. To his credit, despite my running peanut gallery commentary, he seems more determined than ever to finish, and hasn't walked out on the job yet.

These pictures are from just the successful swing beam support structure attaching. Turns out the swing beam itself is a special order piece of lumber, so that will be several days coming. Today, he added on by affixing the first support for the cantilevered platform, which will be a 4'x5' lookout deck on the south side of the tree, and also the highest point of the whole thing, which hopefully will end up with several levels, an enclosed "house" section and a few other goodies. I was on the front porch and heard a shout from him and looked in the backyard to find him jubilantly swinging from the cantilevered beam (not yet pictured here). He was thrilled to have successfully designed and attached it so quickly.

Not that Job will be able get the whole kit and caboodle built before he ships off to school, but I think he'll have some good, solid, playable railed platforms completed, which will truly delight his youngest siblings throughout the fall.

(By the way, its the camera that was tilted here...not the tree and braces!)

Here's to a project well-begun!

Take Care. Much Love.