tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17817524391918649692024-03-13T17:15:07.512-07:00My Treehouse ProjectDr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-57089968845142614232023-05-05T22:32:00.000-07:002023-05-05T22:32:48.303-07:00My Tree House Project<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQx0HvBmyjnluZpVbBBFiOacL38P8hsiHG8YCET_sPjvJoeBeMvtAxovFN4OVRwDgbNH_OQ_Ynjq21hhaYCFeIL9bwSnZJ4YfeoMyvlcdi26ySrByGPCSw2ZfY0cIU2F08JunOcCH3KYAkwUHc0MdbNK1ucyZJbKFPbRpc6s4cs_fk7zoWbrFkc8Z98g=s3264" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQx0HvBmyjnluZpVbBBFiOacL38P8hsiHG8YCET_sPjvJoeBeMvtAxovFN4OVRwDgbNH_OQ_Ynjq21hhaYCFeIL9bwSnZJ4YfeoMyvlcdi26ySrByGPCSw2ZfY0cIU2F08JunOcCH3KYAkwUHc0MdbNK1ucyZJbKFPbRpc6s4cs_fk7zoWbrFkc8Z98g=w486-h339" width="486" /></a></div><br />Thank you for visiting my site. I have chronicled the history of my adventure building my Tree House.<p></p><p>If you want to read about it from inception to completion you may want to start with the oldest post first and work your way forward. This <a href="https://mytreehousewithaview.blogspot.com/2017/12/this-time-i-am-going-to-start.html" target="_blank">link</a> is to the first post.</p><p><br /></p><p>Once you are on that post you may click on the calendar of posts on the right-hand side and continue with the next oldest post, etc.</p><p>I hope you enjoy reading what I have done. If you have any questions or just want to communicate with me you can reach me at highbridgeparkdevelopment@gmail.com</p>Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-21482775474116152112023-05-05T22:31:00.000-07:002024-02-19T15:49:20.014-08:00Re Cabling the Tree House<p> Since I built the Tree House some years ago, it has remained relatively stable. I did adjust the height of one support by about an inch a year or so ago just to make the house level again. I think that one of the branches upon which the Tree House rests has actually lowered by an inch or so. That was a relatively minor adjustment that was accomplished with a jack and a shim under the support pole.</p><p>Now, this last winter we had some pretty severe storms out here and I believe we had one storm where the winds were up to about 82 MPH. That's Level I hurricane winds. Consequently, the cable that I had strung from the large Pine tree to the Tree House, which is suspended from the Oak tree, was pulled out of its mooring in the Pine tree. This resulted in a minor amount of sway in the Tree House. I had put in that cable to eliminate the sway. It wasn't too bad without it. It was more like being on a boat and pitching and yawing in the swell.</p><p>Anyway, I went out to the hardware store and got a much larger anchor for the Pine tree. Originally I had installed an eyebolt. The problem with an eyebolt is that at the base of the eye portion, there is a seam, and, as it so happened with that much force on it, the eye opened and the cable was released. I replaced the eyebolt with a larger bolt with a metal tab with two holes in it. One hole is what I put the new bolt into, and the other hole is where I passed the cable through. It took a few hours to get it reinstalled. The biggest problem was getting the 10" bolt into the tree. I drilled a tap hole. I didn't want to make the tap hole too large, and when I went to screw in the bolt, the force needed to screw it all the way in was tremendous. I had to get out a very large and special-purpose drill to make it go in all the way (30 feet in the air on a ladder).</p><p>Since I have installed the new bolt, there has been no noticeable sway in the Tree House. </p><p>Job done.</p>Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-35275695050822941302022-01-22T20:14:00.006-08:002022-01-22T20:18:46.043-08:00The New Firepole and Stairway<p> I finally got around to putting in the new firepole on the treehouse. I have cut the railing and inserted the top end of the mechanism high up. Unfortunately, the firepole is so high up that the bottom is about six feet from the ground. I have to go buy some additional pipe to add to the firepole so that it reaches the ground. I am going to pour a substantial concrete base so that the pole also serves as yet one more support for the treehouse deck up above. A picture will appear here when I get the additional pipe in place.</p>Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-48683426249560927132021-06-15T21:17:00.002-07:002021-10-06T13:37:19.804-07:00New Ladder and Fire Pole for the Tree House<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBLzNIodEIzNnRcMDUrFCGQ8IcWM0XBgfcTrg4XYa6JDKvOv2wcOkGH-AD0RGrV_QlafJguYWOHbHAhIS6vlzTpAEJ96kSodf17PSBzZxiQAP_qsZseMIRgvupN4t05ETsryesFHfzTJt/s784/Screen+Shot+2021-06-15+at+9.04.29+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="784" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBLzNIodEIzNnRcMDUrFCGQ8IcWM0XBgfcTrg4XYa6JDKvOv2wcOkGH-AD0RGrV_QlafJguYWOHbHAhIS6vlzTpAEJ96kSodf17PSBzZxiQAP_qsZseMIRgvupN4t05ETsryesFHfzTJt/w422-h419/Screen+Shot+2021-06-15+at+9.04.29+PM.png" width="422" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found this combination ladder and firepole that someone was decommissioning from their treehouse in the local free recycling listing. The picture above is at the treehouse that was being decommissioned. My treehouse has developed somewhat of a tilt this year, so I decided to fix the tilt and make sure that it doesn't happen again. The current treehouse has three supports keeping it up in the tree. The first support is the trunk of the tree itself. The other two points of support are two large branches. Each of those branches is further supported by beams going all the way to the ground. I took the opportunity to add the new ladder and firepole to the weakest of the two beams, figuring that the steel ladder was stronger, especially with the concrete pad that I am installing at its base. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I will take a picture of the newly installed ladder and firepole as I complete the job. I have already jacked up the two existing beams about three inches to level off the treehouse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-72687923823401799352019-07-14T21:22:00.000-07:002019-07-14T21:22:26.712-07:00Finally, I added the bucket to haul stuff up to the crow's nestWell, it has been quite some time since the rest of the house has been completed. I finally added a bucket and rope to haul up stuff to the treehouse.<br />
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Real simple. A plastic shopping basket, a nylon rope, a pulley, a carabiner, an eyehook, and a long pole screwed onto the railing of the crow's nest. Then I added a cleat so that I can hold the basket in place and take the contents of the basket out.<br />
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Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-60842572616100825182018-12-22T09:43:00.002-08:002018-12-26T19:29:33.560-08:00A Model Treehouse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">If building the treehouse in the first place, wasn't enough, I have now completed a replica model of the treehouse. I have also decorated the interior exactly as the real one is decorated, right down to the pictures on the wall, the furniture, etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have concluded that it is much easier to build the model than the real thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I may add the stairway on the model, but, if I do, I will have to add something to hold the whole thing up into the air. Perhaps a little tree!</span>Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-27668019920522627052018-12-09T14:25:00.000-08:002018-12-26T19:30:14.582-08:00Getting the Treehouse Ready for Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">It just didn't seem right to not decorate the treehouse for Christmas, so we have added LED lights around the railing and put up a Santa Banner. This is definitely in keeping with the season. Merry Christmas!</span>Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-22365720766396609722018-08-15T15:46:00.000-07:002018-08-19T07:03:06.887-07:00Dream of a Treehouse<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">One of my earliest recollections from childhood is that I wanted</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to build a treehouse — It was right up there with digging a hole</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to China, driving a car, and, of course, flying an airplane.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I did try to dig that hole. I must have been about seven or eight</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">years old. And I think my brother and I dug for hours over</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">multiple days and must have gone down about four feet in our</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">backyard before we became disillusioned with how much digging</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">was required, how hard that digging had become, and how much</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">dirt we had to remove from the hole to actually get there (that is</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to China, of course). The hole sat abandoned for years and every</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">time I looked at it, especially as I became a teenager, I was</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">reminded of the foolishness of ever thinking that we could ever</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">dig all the way to China.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Driving a car was certainly a more realistic objective and came</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to fruition sometime when I was 15 years old. I remember having</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">had a calendar on the wall in my bedroom right near my bed with</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">each date showing the number of days remaining before I could</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">get my driving permit. I must have started counting six months</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">before the actual day arrived -- sort of like a prisoner waiting for</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">his sentence to be over so that he could walk out of the prison gate</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">a free man. The day for my driving permit finally arrived — at first</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I only drove while accompanied by my mother, but that first day</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">after passing my test and getting my real license was a wondrous</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">day of freedom that I shall never forget.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Now, flying a plane was not something that I really expected to</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">have happen anytime soon. But fortune was with me when as a</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">college sophomore at age 19 participating in mandatory Air Force</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">ROTC my opportunity to actually pilot a plane arrived. One day</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">we were treated to a trip in a vintage WWII era military plane. It </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">was a C-47. This was a twin-engine workhorse for troop and </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">equipment transport. It is the plane that was converted into the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">DC-3 after the war and used for short haul passenger transport </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">on rural airlines. It held about 29 passengers. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The instructors promised that each of us would have an opportunity</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to actually fly the plane that day. When it was my turn I went </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">forward and got strapped into the co-pilot seat. I was shown </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">what the various controls did -- throttles here, stick there, elevators </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">down there, rudder, and the landing gear, etc. Then, real simple,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I was told to take over the controls. As it happens we were right </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">over downtown Chicago and I banked left and right and pulled the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">nose of the plane up and pushed it down like I was doing a bombing </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">run on Sears Tower. It was one of the most exciting moments of my </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">life up to that point.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">My early childhood dreams of building a treehouse had faded more </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and more as I grew older. Oh, yes, when my children were young I </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">built a fort out in the backyard for them. It was four tree trunks with </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">a platform about eight feet in the air. I wouldn’t quite call it a </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">treehouse. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As the kids got older I got involved in grown-up things again. And </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the dreams of a real treehouse faded even more.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And then, one day, I was already a retired old man and my grand-</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">son came to visit. He was about five years old. We played around </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">in the backyard and talked about kid things. And he, like me as a </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">young boy, started talking about a treehouse. We looked around </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the yard and carefully sized up each tree as the potential site for a </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">treehouse. But talking about building a treehouse and really building </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">a treehouse are two entirely different things. And every time he </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">would come over he would bring up the subject again, and I would </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">hem and haw about the fact that it wasn’t a good time to start </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">building it.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Each time he would leave with hopes that someday he would </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">get his treehouse. Finally, my wife had to tell me very sternly </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">that I had made my grandson a promise and that I must keep </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">my word to him or I might just earn the reputation in his mind </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">that his grandfather just doesn’t keep his word.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Well, that was that. I couldn’t let him see me that way. So, on </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">one cool morning in early December I started making my plans </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to build the treehouse. I figured it would take a few weeks and </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">that it would be a surprise Christmas present for him. I had </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">previously decided which tree was going to support the structure. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I climbed the tree on a ladder and meticulously figured out where </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">all the beams were going to be placed. I had a very ambitious </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">treehouse plan indeed. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">After reading all I could find about actually building a treehouse, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the first part of the project was to construct a deck. My deck </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">was going to be 30 feet above the ground. Sure, why not? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">After completing the deck I constructed an elaborate series of </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">staircases and passageways that allowed me to get from the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">ground up to the deck. Then the railings for the deck, the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">framing for the house, the roof and windows, the siding and </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">door, and interior walls, ceiling and floor. I even put in electric, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">telephone, wi-fi, and a chimney. It was eight months from the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">first trip up the ladder until it was completed. My grandson was </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">now nine years old.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The treehouse has two rooms - the main room and a sleeping </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">alcove. In addition to the deck, there is a crow’s nest up and </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">behind the house, level with the roof for observing the world </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">way down below. On one side we have a view of the mountains,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">on the other the Bay. It is far enough away from any other </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">structures that it leaves me breathless to be up there. This is in </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">every sense a treehouse worthy of that name. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">My “Flying Cloud”.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">My grandson and I have just spent the weekend in the treehouse.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; white-space: pre;">Two nights sleeping in the trees. It has been a wonderful bonding </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">moment for us and we will never forget it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">In a way, building that treehouse has brought a certain awe back </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; white-space: pre;">into my life — what it is to dream of something and then to see </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; white-space: pre;">that dream become a reality -- and what it is to see the sparkle </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; white-space: pre;">in a young boy’s eyes of a fantasy come to life right before him.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b> <span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have been transplanted from the East Coast to the West Coast, from Technology Builder to Dream Builder, and from childhood to second childhood.</span></span><br />
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Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-51217339438050547912018-08-05T17:12:00.000-07:002018-08-05T17:12:02.462-07:00Our First Sleep-in<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjds1b1jaZepnuNMeeROUEwq5QvuOgf25X0Il91aYpZ3q-F6oCYy8nbYYFYfOmHKLn2iB2asQ6XBZLsNq2HofKc7JgraNkgDzcr6biVN5E1-AQBsJjTLc8-a1WWjy9Qx_XnpaVLX4zY3iPC/s1600/IMG_0341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="1280" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjds1b1jaZepnuNMeeROUEwq5QvuOgf25X0Il91aYpZ3q-F6oCYy8nbYYFYfOmHKLn2iB2asQ6XBZLsNq2HofKc7JgraNkgDzcr6biVN5E1-AQBsJjTLc8-a1WWjy9Qx_XnpaVLX4zY3iPC/s640/IMG_0341.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The night of our inaugural sleep-in has arrived. Everything is ready for the night. My grandson and I went up to the tree house and prepared the bed for the night. We had a great time except we had to open a window to let the inside cool down a little and we let in some mosquitoes, so sleeping became difficult the first night. On the second day we built some screens so that we could open the windows and not let in the mosquitoes. Much better. From the bed we could look out the various windows. When the moon rose we could clearly see it without getting out of bed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the morning the sun came beaming in the window on my side. Below are the two campers when we were ready to get up.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunoyZRj6zFHg3Sr5NIyyNJCN8qDpaaIQ8tn0CAs-2cOJCDUDUxc6ZyspC0wAzYBU6jmPHYNWYy9kpRDMJnKmTY6S5Hh42ej4-yVyp0QlRl9tTALmUWGMfRBtQdon7maPtKIl__E-IwqyA/s1600/IMG_0334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1251" data-original-width="1280" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunoyZRj6zFHg3Sr5NIyyNJCN8qDpaaIQ8tn0CAs-2cOJCDUDUxc6ZyspC0wAzYBU6jmPHYNWYy9kpRDMJnKmTY6S5Hh42ej4-yVyp0QlRl9tTALmUWGMfRBtQdon7maPtKIl__E-IwqyA/s640/IMG_0334.jpg" width="640" /></a>Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-28599165796833709402018-07-20T19:44:00.002-07:002018-07-20T19:44:54.006-07:00Post Treehouse Completion Work<span style="font-size: large;">There have been a few loose ends that have been now tended to:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I buried the electric cable from the junction box over to the base of the tree.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have installed a weather strip under the door.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have tightened up the rungs of the stairway ladders.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I still have to stain the door and mount a few more lights outside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am now giving more thought to the suspension bridge that I want to build from a nearby tree. The bridge would be about 30 feet in length. I would have to string cables from the pine tree and the other tree and also build a stairway to a platform in the other tree.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I also have to install a basket and pulley arrangement to get supplies up to the treehouse from the ground.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">No pictures this week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have been enjoying the late afternoons up on the observation deck. Our grandson will be visiting in about a week, so I anticipate the first sleep over with him while he is here. Maybe he will have some ideas on improvements to make on the treehouse.</span>Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-30062524515826451062018-06-30T21:43:00.002-07:002018-07-03T10:30:23.983-07:00That Curious Thing in my Post of Dec. 23, 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTfCwuBp21SmXph_pudx3qXsn_ZUdpmQX6cqWxsjYUON6xh4wWX9rU0Cy3v6U-5JEt-TLv1pyoPmXq8acLKUzpJ8ICf-3A7Je8vRVDTuWGvjm_Y0CCjmnjyqHFQyTB9JfLe_1fJubzMQP/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-06-30+at+9.15.38+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="858" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTfCwuBp21SmXph_pudx3qXsn_ZUdpmQX6cqWxsjYUON6xh4wWX9rU0Cy3v6U-5JEt-TLv1pyoPmXq8acLKUzpJ8ICf-3A7Je8vRVDTuWGvjm_Y0CCjmnjyqHFQyTB9JfLe_1fJubzMQP/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-06-30+at+9.15.38+PM.png" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have received a number of inquiries as to what that gadget is in the lower left hand corner of an image I posted on this blog on December 23, 2017. The image above is taken from that post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Below I have a better image of the contraption I build over the last few decades.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgNyct21II0Nw0gKAfUkjPt-ORs8ZWw3O9HYk_0N7YubW4mWmtxfOpBcwWAMIuk4lyeXk9F2hckHesoP0MihZzkMvq0jZYNvYEzeeR-JwFMDScLJeCKZC5oUdKn-ZnkSKNydEBtmSHD4B/s1600/Cupola1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgNyct21II0Nw0gKAfUkjPt-ORs8ZWw3O9HYk_0N7YubW4mWmtxfOpBcwWAMIuk4lyeXk9F2hckHesoP0MihZzkMvq0jZYNvYEzeeR-JwFMDScLJeCKZC5oUdKn-ZnkSKNydEBtmSHD4B/s640/Cupola1.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In this image you can clearly see the pine tree that the treehouse sits under. The treehouse is about where the bell is located. This is a cupola that I built. It has a very interesting history. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Many years ago I saw a weather vane on top of an old New England church in Wilton. CT. I went back to the church and sketched the weather vane in great detail. That winter I made a much larger template and copied it onto a sheet of copper. I very carefully cut out the intricate pattern using a combination of drill bits, a coping saw, and files. When that part was completed I soldered on a vertical copper pipe so that I could mount the weather vane on a shaft so that it could rotate in the wind. Finally, I learned how to put a verdigris patina on the metal and that part was finished. I then located a base with the four wind directions already crafted and mounted the weathervane on the shaft. I had built an octagonal roof over a well at our home in CT and mounted the weathervane above that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Years later I acquired the cupola that was from an 1850s CT barn. There was no copper visible on the cupola, but I knew it was beneath the tar that had been painted onto it for some unknown reason. I carefully removed the tar and repatinaed the cupola with the same verdigris technique I used on the weathervane. The cupola sat for many years, since I did not have a good place to put it. I did buy some small recycled double hung 6 over 6 windows that I was going to use for the walls of the cupola below the copper part. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We acquired the bell from my wife's father who had the bell in his yard for many years when they moved and didn't want it anymore.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then, about five years ago I had built a pergola on top of a deck on my house and then came to the realization that I could install the whole thing up there. The image shows the completed project. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My wife convinced me not to use the windows since she said they would be impossible to clean and would detract from the beauty of the cupola after a while.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Interestingly, it is those very windows, 20 years after I bought them, that are the windows I used in the treehouse. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Talk about recycling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope this answers the question.</span></div>
<br />Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-84780215159645782682018-06-10T14:33:00.003-07:002018-06-10T14:33:48.977-07:00Getting the Interior Decorated<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahhELD2qB3Akg9fWtBlsHJT8QrUPj8sJ8h0l-joqOAtdBWEPQI-N2B6JjWyMAUMJmMqpo5-xAQDpimBzmmihoOb2spKx6WcIJ-u9Hu0hTYL_KhJYWs5HDDlRyE6zPV_zDpgpG8sJlrd6p/s1600/IMG_0318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahhELD2qB3Akg9fWtBlsHJT8QrUPj8sJ8h0l-joqOAtdBWEPQI-N2B6JjWyMAUMJmMqpo5-xAQDpimBzmmihoOb2spKx6WcIJ-u9Hu0hTYL_KhJYWs5HDDlRyE6zPV_zDpgpG8sJlrd6p/s640/IMG_0318.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFRmwVPd5Zw4bEbBPdBLnj7ePm9mN1FXimyYgG0XjeuqMh-Xt-mDOmU2hDOkrKgpVukULIFPZ41FM_jYhed5rvhn3YiYPDxMmJ-BdT84luEBFU3b8e0gTKU0V4TgKeDyqrPaelQqg8OBC/s1600/IMG_0319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFRmwVPd5Zw4bEbBPdBLnj7ePm9mN1FXimyYgG0XjeuqMh-Xt-mDOmU2hDOkrKgpVukULIFPZ41FM_jYhed5rvhn3YiYPDxMmJ-BdT84luEBFU3b8e0gTKU0V4TgKeDyqrPaelQqg8OBC/s640/IMG_0319.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With the carpentry done, our attention has shifted to decorating the interior space. The foam and upholstery material arrived and we have turned them into a pair of cushions. During normal use, with one on top of the other, they will serve as a couch, then they can then be put side by side to made into a bed that is almost queen size. I still need to find some small stools, chairs, or benches to go inside.</span><br />
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Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-65476977474974754762018-05-30T12:21:00.004-07:002018-05-30T12:22:17.415-07:00For all Intents, The Tree House is now Complete<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbPQl5o3E6lbB7WlVo4md78lejOAmmxAF9jxSEsMVVVTXP4tm1BeE0_X4JP4pyJA9tC3-kMBqR_iiv7VOaF8-ARiDySLsReEEtXexHeqQMWv2SQZ2a6NEOWCsOy2k_zBA-1V0uVKYnZx6/s1600/IMG_0305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1280" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbPQl5o3E6lbB7WlVo4md78lejOAmmxAF9jxSEsMVVVTXP4tm1BeE0_X4JP4pyJA9tC3-kMBqR_iiv7VOaF8-ARiDySLsReEEtXexHeqQMWv2SQZ2a6NEOWCsOy2k_zBA-1V0uVKYnZx6/s640/IMG_0305.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfqh0jGdTdxN7Lx1DBd_PEQVkQManAQsWr0ssGzNB5tT86aBVs33-M1LDNAihl0tUTU0pNcMY9DfUiN6NIu1wQ7DdGEfRdfekhqNGauZxvpnYAVs_rtNKzwnH9ndW6LIXFjVtkxa-of93/s1600/IMG_0309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfqh0jGdTdxN7Lx1DBd_PEQVkQManAQsWr0ssGzNB5tT86aBVs33-M1LDNAihl0tUTU0pNcMY9DfUiN6NIu1wQ7DdGEfRdfekhqNGauZxvpnYAVs_rtNKzwnH9ndW6LIXFjVtkxa-of93/s640/IMG_0309.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsUyKDT4VjxsX34H4_QphjDGEzNkxmZARv9r2mQfEryvFZC4ZyWZsJ5r4R_l-Xdm8zmZzYBQgCf1VmusqsOMnjlbBjVWN9yH6Mxm90xBZHjC__d52Tvy4JNdiFJVirwCV17q93MVHlOci/s1600/IMG_0310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsUyKDT4VjxsX34H4_QphjDGEzNkxmZARv9r2mQfEryvFZC4ZyWZsJ5r4R_l-Xdm8zmZzYBQgCf1VmusqsOMnjlbBjVWN9yH6Mxm90xBZHjC__d52Tvy4JNdiFJVirwCV17q93MVHlOci/s640/IMG_0310.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnszk1hJKc7uJnVwrSps1lLoHwP_kFYM2smq2dDpqxKQV-GPRY63VIPs-dpUEwVUc_P0VcudmrDS2YWOISMnJ2QyoV_OGRihxnLUSjPXGT1eQbRWR8G6ed_FLc5fiY43s3ox_3qtjux9I/s1600/IMG_0311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnszk1hJKc7uJnVwrSps1lLoHwP_kFYM2smq2dDpqxKQV-GPRY63VIPs-dpUEwVUc_P0VcudmrDS2YWOISMnJ2QyoV_OGRihxnLUSjPXGT1eQbRWR8G6ed_FLc5fiY43s3ox_3qtjux9I/s640/IMG_0311.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, the day has finally come. The final touches on the Treehouse have been completed. The door has been fitted, the saddle has been placed in the frame, the weatherstripping and stops have been installed, the latch and door handle have been fashioned and installed. We have tightened the cables and made final adjustments to stabilize the deck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have also cleaned the glass windows and frames and vacuumed the interior and exterior of the building.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We tried to install the rope bed, but it was a fraction too large to fit in the alcove and fit behind the tree stump coming through the floor. As an alternative we have ordered foam that can be slid in there. We have put pictures on the walls, brought in chairs and a table, and installed a rug.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last night was a full moon, so we decided to go up to the crow's nest with two of the chairs with our coffees and enjoy the beautiful evening. The temperature was delightful, the sky was quite clear. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A job well done!</span></div>
<br />Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-89826231295348132792018-05-22T16:21:00.001-07:002018-05-22T16:25:44.111-07:00Finishing up the Finishing Touches<span style="font-size: large;">I have just completed the following items:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. Finished installing the plywood sub flooring inside the tree house.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2. Installed the plank hardwood flooring.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3. Installed the trim baseboards around the perimeter of the flooring.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">4. Installed the stop molding and weatherstripping for the door.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">5. Installed a few more pieces of trim molding on the walls where the tree limbs protrude through the walls. Ditto on a few of the corners.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have built the saddle for the door, but I have not installed it. I must first cut off the bottom of the door to make enough room for it. I have also not completed the latch mechanism for the door or stained the door either.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I brought the rope trundle bed up to the tree house to see how it would fit. Unfortunately, it is about 2" too long for it to fit in the alcove between the main tree and the end wall. I will construct a smaller platform and put in a piece of foam for a mattress. That is areal shame. I have been looking for years to find a place for this bed from the early 1800s.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have to clean up all the dust throughout the tree house and in the deck area and complete the touch up painting. Also, I have to tighten up the rungs on the various ladders.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pictures to follow. It is difficult to take pictures inside the tree house.</span>Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-53438001467473565442018-05-19T21:47:00.002-07:002018-05-21T02:32:25.368-07:00Finishing Touches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72Bl7qJGlH61Du5XEkiIvloP1HGq47JVV0k6OzfzWr4KKrzjnOX_WrTFq8Mh68MHUrnO0plXp3KP-njkY4xJpW-svKOlszftm451cLWMqlh6Y16g0tp6k_5m0Sxl4tvPbWfBsck9LFMBq/s1600/IMG_0214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72Bl7qJGlH61Du5XEkiIvloP1HGq47JVV0k6OzfzWr4KKrzjnOX_WrTFq8Mh68MHUrnO0plXp3KP-njkY4xJpW-svKOlszftm451cLWMqlh6Y16g0tp6k_5m0Sxl4tvPbWfBsck9LFMBq/s640/IMG_0214.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, we had to take a break for about a week. It turns out that wood of the type that I have been using carries a lot of pathogens and can be somewhat dangerous if you don't handle it properly. In particular, if you are not careful with the sawdust you can ingest those pathogens by breathing them in and create a lot of problems for yourself. I was cutting some fairly wet wood and inhaled a lot of the pathogen infested dust and I came down with a fairly nasty cold. My wife got some sawdust in her eye and came down with conjunctivitis at about the same time. We are both back on our feet and progress on finishing the treehouse now continues.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I spent time making the door for the treehouse. I have used cedar. I have installed it into the doorway, but have not stained it yet. I have also put down a layer of tar paper on the floor in the treehouse to prevent moisture from entering from below the floor I am going to install. The floor I have chosen is a vinyl snap together floor plank system which is waterproof. I am a bit concerned about how much the vinyl flooring weighs. Before I actually install the vinyl I have installed a very thin layer of plywood to make sure the subsurface is level. I expect to put down the vinyl tomorrow. After the vinyl the only remaining item will be the baseboards around the flooring. I still have the staining and the latch of the door and the final electrical fixture work to complete. We are very close to completion of phase one of the project.</span></div>
<br />Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-23177343752865892872018-05-07T15:17:00.002-07:002018-05-07T15:17:31.203-07:00Treehouse Interior<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGGdOW30UPKyLqabDERq-HGlOC0LaxvhYPNJS5j4eIFJJ7L-GPIbMlQmFTDDO4dNXPKONgZxARz81eyJ1adsfcf-VyvBouHOwMen-yVu0smTHq4TF-FbjsuTcmtMbDlrydROWOVKBYAYE/s1600/IMG_0190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGGdOW30UPKyLqabDERq-HGlOC0LaxvhYPNJS5j4eIFJJ7L-GPIbMlQmFTDDO4dNXPKONgZxARz81eyJ1adsfcf-VyvBouHOwMen-yVu0smTHq4TF-FbjsuTcmtMbDlrydROWOVKBYAYE/s640/IMG_0190.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Above is the view of the main room of the treehouse taken from the alcove below the crow's nest.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSA7SGAr2q0c7SK0_Xbfi8OcZVBOlRnJgMZvR16gfmW1SdF0bObORpmSyJIFNn4cXnQjI4SiTbBqkffRhJkwOtcjktfi2mhY_Sl024fTo60D6-IfLLRx79MlKSV-lUWsbRnT3zayLmcni/s1600/IMG_0191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSA7SGAr2q0c7SK0_Xbfi8OcZVBOlRnJgMZvR16gfmW1SdF0bObORpmSyJIFNn4cXnQjI4SiTbBqkffRhJkwOtcjktfi2mhY_Sl024fTo60D6-IfLLRx79MlKSV-lUWsbRnT3zayLmcni/s640/IMG_0191.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The above view shows the ceiling construction and the windows and door area.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXrpxDO3VBy0ffaOFA0cYfw8meCQmmjUqTLKh_XzH2sMw3fdO7Da76LBUheiQWOR8Po8JMnS4BtmIBFvPPOkutgv3VdLSGLdtV68rkbVvL_pGS7wH7XdC1AoZnJpE1AtrAPe-g5-zDJw7/s1600/IMG_0192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXrpxDO3VBy0ffaOFA0cYfw8meCQmmjUqTLKh_XzH2sMw3fdO7Da76LBUheiQWOR8Po8JMnS4BtmIBFvPPOkutgv3VdLSGLdtV68rkbVvL_pGS7wH7XdC1AoZnJpE1AtrAPe-g5-zDJw7/s640/IMG_0192.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is the other two windows in the main room. The thing in the middle of the picture is a branch that comes up through the floor and goes out the wall.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknhEvgn9mouA-vrmUiqyOHKKZqzLASE2avWVOvTTk5MNPcqgZLW96LHy7-NHk5CrL56GbgpGSnDkDDRkh752aM1IGPrqMGuztqJ6EruwHr6W6RhGOg3n0N423hefUKuob-ZomzjMaVO-z/s1600/IMG_0193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknhEvgn9mouA-vrmUiqyOHKKZqzLASE2avWVOvTTk5MNPcqgZLW96LHy7-NHk5CrL56GbgpGSnDkDDRkh752aM1IGPrqMGuztqJ6EruwHr6W6RhGOg3n0N423hefUKuob-ZomzjMaVO-z/s640/IMG_0193.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is a picture of the alcove area where the bed will be placed. Branches on both sides.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VTPGDAk9-wwSkteg4ewId9WF9Zo7Y5KS8b5TvsAj9XOiU6K_ow91EqVp2eNzmpEAo0HNjHcLxgIDrffh5sVv8kJa7MKiGn7l6wk0whdw2SUZqY56EbiOJzwHRbji_nJgy3ZVgrBTeSwC/s1600/IMG_0194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VTPGDAk9-wwSkteg4ewId9WF9Zo7Y5KS8b5TvsAj9XOiU6K_ow91EqVp2eNzmpEAo0HNjHcLxgIDrffh5sVv8kJa7MKiGn7l6wk0whdw2SUZqY56EbiOJzwHRbji_nJgy3ZVgrBTeSwC/s640/IMG_0194.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is an image showing the upper portion of the alcove and the window looking onto the crow's nest. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjup2z1i4i253eu-DCFA6ZuhlQzt4lVvnF_WqsozPJSD0oTkoijmVHtQq05o6aXVEGEDzn3MBbWlWOFCT6Yx15PLF41B5wJBuRqMQq_eUeViYsD8PUqmfK4oBW2HkX3uzrXZ57l9e6rcKhY/s1600/IMG_0195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjup2z1i4i253eu-DCFA6ZuhlQzt4lVvnF_WqsozPJSD0oTkoijmVHtQq05o6aXVEGEDzn3MBbWlWOFCT6Yx15PLF41B5wJBuRqMQq_eUeViYsD8PUqmfK4oBW2HkX3uzrXZ57l9e6rcKhY/s640/IMG_0195.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is an image from the crow's nest looking into the main room. There is some glare on the glass.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have now completed the interior of the treehouse with the exception of the door and the flooring. The pictures above tell it all.</span></div>
<br />Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-11426243706765197542018-04-30T17:03:00.000-07:002018-04-30T17:31:56.904-07:00Exterior of Treehouse is Complete<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUp-CM_lSe1aBrLgXUdKZWNGjwcXC3pTFS4_CN8ddEHaxOd8pns8K1Dm2fRcm_VbyqrriysmQYrTzTrkr7ZsTyAJrgzajRfCIG2S46EY-XlB2Orv-F78NRS7QR57Qt7eeiVpq2aRcMic_/s1600/IMG_0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1217" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUp-CM_lSe1aBrLgXUdKZWNGjwcXC3pTFS4_CN8ddEHaxOd8pns8K1Dm2fRcm_VbyqrriysmQYrTzTrkr7ZsTyAJrgzajRfCIG2S46EY-XlB2Orv-F78NRS7QR57Qt7eeiVpq2aRcMic_/s640/IMG_0033.jpg" width="608" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FkPo3yHNZ7Gtnmi1EbOXT0BTr5jvFqPh9RM6ZBivQgp6dy_FeTgmw-bZEojvaY8CjNiMUXZE0S0uCEOgEwids9qRCnvV4BcViPkBN93gjUgVF2iacyFK-erPyB-DDx1ClBxCAAm5xFlh/s1600/IMG_0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="1280" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FkPo3yHNZ7Gtnmi1EbOXT0BTr5jvFqPh9RM6ZBivQgp6dy_FeTgmw-bZEojvaY8CjNiMUXZE0S0uCEOgEwids9qRCnvV4BcViPkBN93gjUgVF2iacyFK-erPyB-DDx1ClBxCAAm5xFlh/s640/IMG_0035.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have finally gotten to the point where the exterior of the treehouse is complete. The remaining portion of the handrail on the crow's nest was added, the scaffolding has been removed, electrical wiring has been put in the walls, and the final window has been installed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have started on the interior. The ceiling has been sheetrocked, spackled, sanded primed and painted. The cedar panelling has been almost completely installed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The only remaining items on the checklist are:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Finish panelling</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Install flooring</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Make and install door</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Install light fixtures.</span>Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-2933924160403350902018-04-23T19:10:00.003-07:002020-11-14T08:30:50.538-08:00Further Progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSv917CrTxRiBzpWcPo4BMNUYva3i32qRBXkdu-johGfjF40OeMznHCP9YV4MY4uvwgMqsuUCvad5oZJExpmPjSS9hoV3o3F-4O3oskj2Kp8pxkOqnQ2LDVlhu-i_NZEU6Vk82lz-ftQE/s1600/IMG_0025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="1280" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSv917CrTxRiBzpWcPo4BMNUYva3i32qRBXkdu-johGfjF40OeMznHCP9YV4MY4uvwgMqsuUCvad5oZJExpmPjSS9hoV3o3F-4O3oskj2Kp8pxkOqnQ2LDVlhu-i_NZEU6Vk82lz-ftQE/s640/IMG_0025.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is hard to show great changes to the treehouse since the pictures are starting to look like a finished project. We almost finished painting the exterior of the building after building another scaffold so that we can work on the side that has no deck associated with it -- ran out of paint right near the end yesterday. We will probably finish that today. The exterior trim is all cut and painted and ready to install as soon as the painting is done. We installed the final hinged window -- one more fixed window to go. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have installed low voltage wiring inside the walls and sheetrocked the rafters inside the house. I have installed 4" logs as collar ties. They are really good looking in there. We have also trimmed out the interior with some furring strips so that the white cedar wall boards can be installed. We will sand the sheetrock and paint it before we install the cedar boards. There would be no way to remove any paint splatter from the cedar boards should we have any.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The crow's nest roof is totally complete. I have even tarred the cap of the chimney and repositioned the stairway going up there and fully screwed it in place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The to do list now has the following items left to complete:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Finish exterior painting and nail on trim.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Install one fixed window in the sleeping alcove.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Make and install the door (I have finished the design at this point)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Install the cedar walls.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Install the hardwood flooring.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Buy and install window and door latches.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Install lighting fixtures.</span>Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-44443324821637075042018-04-10T16:22:00.001-07:002018-04-14T14:04:51.618-07:00Chimney and Trim<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iSGsogFFOxWdBa5FhMy1ISSAy57pozOJ4erSBDuOrLHF5woK_f2czFbRayrOQfQYXKfpY-iN1ZlDar099MgFmr4BiGk76t_ky0-uc4BXHWqX22LVKRX5UT-Lly3JXm_um6oA_3k4u08T/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1280" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iSGsogFFOxWdBa5FhMy1ISSAy57pozOJ4erSBDuOrLHF5woK_f2czFbRayrOQfQYXKfpY-iN1ZlDar099MgFmr4BiGk76t_ky0-uc4BXHWqX22LVKRX5UT-Lly3JXm_um6oA_3k4u08T/s640/IMG_0002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This week we worked on more of the finishing touches on the outside of the building. We have installed six of the eight windows, the trim on 3 of them, finished the rolled roofing on the crow's nest, and installed the faux chimney.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The chimney proved to be the most difficult of the tasks. I had originally intended to put a pulley on the pine tree immediately above the treehouse and then haul the chimney which I had fabricated in the workshop up to the crow's nest and then gently move it over to the slot in the roof where it was supposed to go. Well, that turned into a bad theory. The chimney weighed over 300 pounds and as much as we pulled on the ropes there was just too much weight to do it that way. We finally cradled the chimney in some ropes and then slid it up each of the stairways with a lot of brute force. It was exhausting. From the crow's nest we built a platform on top of the railing and moved the chimney from the deck of the crow's nest to the platform. It was at that point that we connected the pulley system to the pine tree above and gently nudged it over into its place on the roof. From inside we screwed it to the roof so that it would not budge. It looks great and changes the character of the entire building.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeGeyJUIQCYC5xelfmsv7FooRb8gp4nU8I1A5fZe6vZS1WWxZiJ_Hw9rsUXqr2GgoNprAt5BJITXmjWWcRefhVbjqi-q4AK7-Ne0O3DAhkcXv4c_vikY_xADWfTXH6ZNdgbuEEWGah2Qi/s1600/IMG_0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="1280" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeGeyJUIQCYC5xelfmsv7FooRb8gp4nU8I1A5fZe6vZS1WWxZiJ_Hw9rsUXqr2GgoNprAt5BJITXmjWWcRefhVbjqi-q4AK7-Ne0O3DAhkcXv4c_vikY_xADWfTXH6ZNdgbuEEWGah2Qi/s640/IMG_0017.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have about one more day of work to finish up the outside of the building except for the door. Then, we will start finishing the inside. We have decided to put sheetrock on the rafters, white cedar boards on the walls and a hardwood flooring.</span>Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-77766194704807738212018-04-03T23:03:00.000-07:002018-04-03T23:03:08.466-07:00Further Progress on the Outside of the Treehouse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlEoGmPcLtoN4q5uKN5k_KbrwO17KYoO6ouwbEUmuoIuQAQ5fQSDrvLqGsjGf213kNBAD3rs2ro2INwQsrB54-xpRUbyoIIB9TMf2kGjniNyUwGsWEsecaT4cLqZnQi2yCRHnVTuvNmp_/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="1280" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlEoGmPcLtoN4q5uKN5k_KbrwO17KYoO6ouwbEUmuoIuQAQ5fQSDrvLqGsjGf213kNBAD3rs2ro2INwQsrB54-xpRUbyoIIB9TMf2kGjniNyUwGsWEsecaT4cLqZnQi2yCRHnVTuvNmp_/s640/IMG_0001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We are getting really close to finishing the outside of the treehouse.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The new beige paint color is much better for the siding. I have now installed most of the windows and put the rolled roofing on the crow's nest. The trim around the windows is moving along. A few more days of work and the entire outside will be done with the exception of the door itself.</span>Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-32672572862226507772018-03-28T21:12:00.000-07:002018-03-30T11:55:30.373-07:00Finishing the Siding & Other Details<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Wkeqp8GNZ_ytTdjD-pfY5ZeRDlsCZsv0KdRtfcHoRBPEyBsQ7MaW-d4ogCxHRKXZ9mb5GXUw-p26S6I_FRzcBPOdz5Am84E4rNphDD9LYaw5FJFI8jqW7Rq5fpBhe_4OiJBXruklmSgT/s1600/IMG_2180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="1280" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Wkeqp8GNZ_ytTdjD-pfY5ZeRDlsCZsv0KdRtfcHoRBPEyBsQ7MaW-d4ogCxHRKXZ9mb5GXUw-p26S6I_FRzcBPOdz5Am84E4rNphDD9LYaw5FJFI8jqW7Rq5fpBhe_4OiJBXruklmSgT/s640/IMG_2180.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Okay. So, now that the siding is all installed, I have caulked all the panels (top, bottom, sides, etc.). The eaves and soffits are all painted. We started painting the siding panels, but decided that the gray color was too cold looking, so we have started repainting it a beige color that looks much better. Windows are all painted and ready to be installed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have tightened the cable to the large pine tree to stabilize the treehouse even further. I am still considering a third cable. I am not sure if it should be to the pine tree or possibly to the oak tree that the treehouse is built upon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have finished building the faux chimney in the workshop. It is made out of wood, and it is covered with facing stones. It looks real. It is real heavy. I have to now figure out how to get it up onto the roof of the treehouse. I am thinking of using a pulley hung from the pine tree immediately above the crow's nest to get it up to the crow's nest from the ground. From the crow's nest I will move the pulley further over on the branch above the treehouse so that lifting the faux chimney from the crow's nest to the roof will be more easily accomplished.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I purchased a new fixed pane window that I want to mount on the side facing the crow's nest about six feet above the floor of the treehouse and at ground level of the crow's nest.</span><br />
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<br />Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-1631271454844006952018-03-18T21:02:00.000-07:002018-03-30T11:56:00.031-07:00Finishing the Cedar Shake Roof<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCPM3pmxts9dns_5r0mofhlqBb15eka_OH7Pp3J7_F6jWVyMfsjDNWrJXsg-AzAu2YyXHvEezL6eOomS2h0moOheYRbh5WW2Juc-e6yhf3b0DyUGTMDg9Oqrnlf21yRVtK29zJAo3tijU/s1600/IMG_2169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1280" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCPM3pmxts9dns_5r0mofhlqBb15eka_OH7Pp3J7_F6jWVyMfsjDNWrJXsg-AzAu2YyXHvEezL6eOomS2h0moOheYRbh5WW2Juc-e6yhf3b0DyUGTMDg9Oqrnlf21yRVtK29zJAo3tijU/s640/IMG_2169.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Installed the cap shakes on the roof. I ended up making them out of the starter shakes that were left over from the first course at the bottom edges.</span>Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-70386134945034183702018-03-06T07:56:00.000-08:002018-03-06T07:56:01.061-08:00Installing the Cedar Shakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicond2CVbs8Hrn2eEnZ55RKQTu3j8g04PYFpKBKlMqtTZmx4t3GDCnwfoI4vDd7qhsj-e9FeIxawyjf00ezFhArJvl3vXABOR9la4mf_46KRNN17RLZs1z_AUbg2m1iUSmU9RxczPxeI-o/s1600/IMG_2148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicond2CVbs8Hrn2eEnZ55RKQTu3j8g04PYFpKBKlMqtTZmx4t3GDCnwfoI4vDd7qhsj-e9FeIxawyjf00ezFhArJvl3vXABOR9la4mf_46KRNN17RLZs1z_AUbg2m1iUSmU9RxczPxeI-o/s640/IMG_2148.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrnCjQ55_K6IbRICb6EEWJFdlK2JuIc0M_oY7eQXNvSQfDrMZxP1HDfsM0lz0T1QckJ3re2XMzaen7esOB6d_xT6Gre2ktLuwcNEFUp5xvBHSaFCrCffWIDfTUIUHvbckjdKmG26Eq2m4/s1600/IMG_2147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1280" height="594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrnCjQ55_K6IbRICb6EEWJFdlK2JuIc0M_oY7eQXNvSQfDrMZxP1HDfsM0lz0T1QckJ3re2XMzaen7esOB6d_xT6Gre2ktLuwcNEFUp5xvBHSaFCrCffWIDfTUIUHvbckjdKmG26Eq2m4/s640/IMG_2147.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another day up in the tree. The cedar shakes are now installed. I still have to put on a final cap row at the peak. I am going to use the left over cedar from the deck boards to fashion those. I had soaked the shakes during the rain of the last few days with the hopes that the shakes would bend to conform to the gentle curve of the roof, but, while they did bend some, they didn't bend enough. Perhaps over the months and years to come they will bend more. Only time will tell.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have picked out the stain for the siding and the trim. Next job is to install the siding. I have to make sure that I caulk the seams between the siding panels and also at the bottom and top so that moisture does not infiltrate into the house. I intend to use indoor flooring inside the house. I will put down a layer of plastic so that there is less chance of water infiltration.</span></div>
<br />Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-14582757588453213452018-03-02T16:28:00.001-08:002018-03-02T16:28:54.796-08:00Further Thoughts on the Treehouse<span style="font-size: large;">It is raining and I won't be up in the tree for a few more days. I have purchased the cedar shakes for the roof. I have been advised to soak the shakes to allow them to bend before I try to install them since the roof has a curve to it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have been working on painting all the windows before installation. I have purchased stainless steel hinges for them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am building a faux chimney for the roof to be installed before I put on the cedar shakes. I am considering facing the chimney with stone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have purchased caulk for sealing the siding so that moisture cannot enter the house. I want to put down another layer on the floor inside the house. I have been considering some nice hickory laminate. It will be easier than plywood and look better. Keeping out the moisture will certainly be better for this kind of flooring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I intend to use the 2" poles as trim for the windows and on the corners of the building. I will rip the poles in half for the windows, and take out 1/4 of the pole for the corners.</span>Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781752439191864969.post-30084539173636870622018-02-26T22:43:00.001-08:002018-02-26T22:43:28.133-08:00The Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IGm6r_-L2lE28nP35PXAvb7fnYMsO2CnBZZUN8538w9nM6v9fQ-AvLElVFzv7wXUIgY6_fEHPCGwJup8kt8_okr45TE3nkIdsd-oZTXsld0O-D6XJvgWlP-MqcO_QmFU69BZMsTe7LMp/s1600/IMG_2143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1280" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IGm6r_-L2lE28nP35PXAvb7fnYMsO2CnBZZUN8538w9nM6v9fQ-AvLElVFzv7wXUIgY6_fEHPCGwJup8kt8_okr45TE3nkIdsd-oZTXsld0O-D6XJvgWlP-MqcO_QmFU69BZMsTe7LMp/s640/IMG_2143.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It rained today, but cleared up for most of the afternoon. Late in the day it was starting to sprinkle. Soon afterward a magnificent rainbow appeared near the treehouse. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I bought more supplies today. I still need to buy the shakes for the roof. Hard to find the really thick ones.</span>Dr.Sliderulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01041263408058380846noreply@blogger.com0