As these things often turn out… This project certainly took a whole lot longer than originally expected, not to mention blowing through our original naive starting budget (it’s sort of amazing how much even recycled lumber and miscellaneous hardware can cost sometimes!) we finally and officially announce the grand opening of Andy’s Treehouse!
There was a bit of follow up work after the main construction, with last remaining pieces needing to be done, which couldn’t be finished before a busted table saw motor was repaired. Sent the boy off to Boy Scouts camp out for a week, allowing needed time to finish up entry hatch, and fold-up table too. Eventually, I produced this little video showing construction highlights, searching through an image archive taken during the construction, combined those with select bits of additional video. Wanted to show the boy along with his fuzzy friend Leo the cat, as they together became more comfortable with this ‘andyrondack shack’ up in the tree.
As it goes, the general essence of our backyard project is more of less contained in the video, from gathering lumber, to Andy using saws, wrenches, drills, pulleys and clamps, all the way through sitting comfortably in the completed treehouse. However, I did selectively edited events to sort of imply Andy essentially built the whole damn thing by himself. Thought myself rather lucky when I caught Leo joining in on the fun, climbing up the ladder and through the hatch with Andy, then jumping back down again. This crazy squirrel/cat seems to have no fear of anything at all! (Young enough I guess to still have all of his nine lives remaining!)
So check out this great video. As for us, looking forward to camping out with Andy in the treehouse some night very soon….
“A tree house, a free house, A secret you and me house, A high up in the leafy branches, Cozy as can be house. A street house, a neat house, Be sure to wipe your feet house, Is not my kind of house at all – Let’s go live in a tree house.”
Shel Silverstein – Where the Sidewalk Ends
