Tree House tour

Our electric co-op is running a photo contest called "Tree houses, Playhouses & Forts."  This morning I submitted our entry.  With tree houses on my mind,  I decided to give you all a tree house tour.  So come along if you're not afraid of heights ...


Last summer, Frank decided to build a tree house for our children.  (Big benefit - it was a rather therapeutic project for him.)  He watched a how-to DVD and consulted a tree house idea book.  That is he used the book until the puppies got a hold of it and chewed it up!  Then he just started building, figuring things out as he went.   Tabby, Hunter, and Solomon helped some too. 

It's a rather historical tree house as Frank used old cedar planks that he got from his late father.  He also used wood from his late Uncle Henry.  The roof is covered in old split cedar roofing shingles.  Frank even installed a mail box, that used to belong to his late Uncle Davey.  The tree house has ladders and a slide, a swing, a basket on a pulley, skylights, numerous windows and a door, and an "escape hatch."  A rock climbing wall and fireman's pole are forthcoming.

Here is the photo I entered in the contest:

Guarding the tree house - Solomon with his bow & arrow, and Hunter with his rifle

 

Now here are some other photos:

Oh no! Junk mail again?!

entering the split front door

actual skylights! (real windows on ceiling)

windows raise up and down by the ropes

Quick!  Out the escape hatch!

preparing to use the basket - it operates on a pulley system

Awww ... sweet profile pic of Solomon (this one added for ME!)

View from the back - escape hatch window is open

under the tree house - swing and trampoline (someone was throwing the trampoline out but Frank got it)

Want to make a reservation?  ;)