Weaving the Web

Keep your eyes on the outer edge of the web.

See my handsome spider, I'm very fond of him.

Spider hurrying.

Spider scurrying.

See his wooden thread.

Spider hurrying.

Spider scurrying.

and scurrying some more . . .

Ah yeah, still scurrying!

(YES Finally!) See his big huge web.

Word Gets Around

We all know how the word gets around. So and so tells so and so, who tells so and so. . . and so on, and so on. I guess the word has spread around the neighborhood that we are building an "adult" treehouse. Fernando mentioned to Steve that we were working on a treehouse, so when they were cruising the neighborhood in Steve's newest toy they stopped by to check it out. Well you know, when guys grow up they don't really grow up, they just get more expensive toys. So one of Steve's toys is this awesome jeep.

Royce showed Steve the master treehouse builder's book and they looked over all the work we had completed so far. There was just a few questions to answer. . .

"So how soon before it's finished and when's the party?"

Third Stairway Tier

The third stairway tier is finished completing the steps leading up to the treehouse platform.

I tried to make the branches seem like they were naturally arranged by nature.

Fearless Sirius enjoys climbing up and down the stairs

I finished the interweaving branch stairway while Royce worked on completing the wooden spider web that would support the treehouse and the walkway that would surround it.

Welcome to My Parlor

Said the Spider to the Fly

Does this look like a spider web or not. Kinda Spooky. . . except is wooden.

This is the beginning of the octagon shaped treehouse. The square part of the platform that you have already seen is actually only the porch that will be in the front of the house.

And who is the master web weaver? Why it's that lil' old web weaver Royce. He has been working on this all day Sunday. There is still a lot more to go before it's complete.

And Royce isn't wasting any daylight. . .

I thought Sunday was the day you were supposed to rest.

For Keeping the Spirit of Fairytales Alive

Sunday, I finished putting the stairway posts in place up to the platform. I thought this fairy on a swing added a mystical touch.

I think Taylor will like her . . .

Grandma & Aunt Sis

Aunt Sis, (Royce's mother's sister), is visiting from San Diego. So Grandma (Royce's Mother) brought her out to our treehouse. Royce and I have been telling them about it and showing them pictures on this blog so they came over to see it for themselves.

They climbed all the way up to the 15' platform, and back down again. I think they liked what they saw.

Our Saturday Family Work Crew

Seems like you just get started and it's time to quit. Stephaney, Nick, Taylor, and Misti had plans for the evening, so they had to leave. We got a lot of work done and had fun doing it.

Hugs to Papa and gotta run!

Second Tier of Railing

The hard workers completed the second level of rails on the stairway and it was time to relax.

Misti and her pillow, Nick, crashed on the deck.

Taylor started a work of art in a new media, no more dirt rock creatures for her, she's into wood block drawings now.

But as you can see our new challenge would be the next stairway tier, just as soon as Papa Royce completes the banister.

Looks like it's almost time to get started on the next set of posts.

Stephaney's Turn

The side railing is falling into place, Stephaney picks out a forked branch and soon finds the perfect spot for it.

Yeah it's going to look great right here

After she gets the forked branch nailed in place, she's not so lucky with the next railing post.

This one is curved just a little off, and this is the second try. Well you know what they say, "Third time's a charm!"

She finally finds one that looks like it was made for the spot and nails it into place.

This is How It's Done

Taylor's Demonstration

After Nick put his branch on the stairway, Taylor picked out the next branch that would be her stairway post. 2:35 PM

Taylor nailed the next branch into place, but it really wasn't as easy as it looked in the last blog post. This posting is all about Taylor demonstrating how many different positions it takes to nail a branch post onto the stairway. You have to start out sitting one step above the side of the step in which you are going to nail your branch. 2:45 PM

Then you stand on the platform below the step and hammer bending over. 2:49 PM

Next you kneel on the platform only using your left knee because your right knee has to be on the edge of the step and hammer sideways. 2:53 PM

Then you have to analyze the hammer for a while if the nail isn't coorperating. 3:00 PM

Then it's back to sitting on the step above the step on which you are nailing the post. It's important to note the hammer's position: Use the top of the hammer because it's bigger. 3:07 PM

Now go back down to the platform, kneel and give the nail a good hard stare. 3:10 PM

Then while kneeling only on your left knee on the platform, hammer the nail again, using the head of the hammer. 3:11 PM

One more stare ought to do it. . . yep that's it. 3:14 PM

Next hold your tongue just right with the tip barely showing on the side of your mouth,then a few more whacks and you're done! 3:17 PM

See that's how it's done! Now if you can get into each one of these positions, it makes it easier!