Cheer Off - Jr PeeWee

Video of Jr Pee Wee competition

Our granddaughter, Taylor, had a Cheer Off Sunday October 29, 2006, and won 1st place! She really knew her routine and her team performed excellent. Taylor we are so proud of you.

The Kick

Bucs VS. Treehouse Building

We have Buccaneer football season tickets. However, Royce & I had decided that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had been playing so bad lately that more could be accomplished working on the treehouse than sitting in the scorching stadium watching the Bucs lose another one. And we did get a lot accomplished on the treehouse.

By now your saying, "So . . ." Well the "SO" is that, Yeah the Bucs had squandered a 17 point lead to the Philadelphia Eagles and it looked like the Bucs were playing what I call "WHIMP Football" again (they do that a lot lately). Even after Buccaneer, Ronde Barber, ran two touchdowns, with 46 seconds left in the game the Eagles, Brian Westbrook, ran 52 yards for a touchdown that left the Bucs losing as only the Bucs can. The Bucs were behind 21 to 20. . . THEN in the last 4 seconds of the game, the unbelievable happened, "The Kick" occurred.

That's Buccaneer kicker, Matt Bryant standing on the midfield Buccaneer logo after his game winning kick . . . a 62 yard field goal! Bucs won 23 - 21. and we got the all fire stops nailed on the wall studs.

Sunday . . . Sunday

We got up bright and early to work on the treehouse . . . well bright and early for me on a weekend, about 9 AM. Royce had to take down the doorway so he could attach the sides of the front wall to it, then put it all back in place. Why? Yeah, I asked that too. Don't ask. Just think of it as he decided it would work better that way.

Our nephew, Todd and his girlfriend Allison came by to see the treehouse. They have been looking at this blog, but that's just not the same as being in it. They liked all the woodburning artwork on the railing and all our hard work.

Since we didn't have anyone to take a picture with all of us in it Royce and I took turns with the camera. Yeah, that's me with the broken bone in my foot. It's another long story so don't ask. Let's see now busted index finger, broken foot, this treehouse is . . . a labor of love. Anyway it doesn't hurt . . . that much.

Todd and Allison left for the Bucs game and we got back to the front of the treehouse. Just a few more measurements and nails should do it.

The doorway is framed in and we have a lot more to do. . .

Working on the Doorway

During the week Royce took the pine 2 X 12 to our store and used one of the saws to cut the arch for the doorway. Then Saturday he nailed everything together and hauled the archway up the three flights of stairs. You would think he was a weight lifter or something. . .

Anyway I think it's going to look awesome once we get it actually in place. First Royce held it in place for me to see what it was going to look like, then I held it.

I know one thing it's very heavy and awkward to move. So what do you think?

Next we have to build the wall on either side of the doorway.

The Walls Go Up

We have the back and the side walls up with 8 foot 2 X 4s bracing them. Now we have to work on the front sides and the doorway.

This part is going pretty fast. We just have to make sure that everything is square and level. After all we wouldn't want a lop-sided treehouse.

More Cool Treehouse Stuff

I bought a brass mailbox with a raised floral design for our treehouse. It has a cute daisy that swivels to reveal a peephole that allows you to see if you got mail. I thought that it would be a nice touch. After all you may want to send us some tree mail.

We were trying to think of something unique to accent the front of the treehouse, so when I saw two brass porthole windows on Ebay I couldn't resist. These would match the brass mailbox. You have to admit it's a unique concept.

All & All We Got Walls

The walls are going up. It's just the framework but none the less . . .

We got walls!

Just two before the day was over but it's a start. Even with a minor setback, the nail gun's trigger fell off! There's a piece missing and we have no clue what it looked like much less where it went.

But Royce got the gun to work without it and tomorrow we'll have to get it fixed.

Our first two walls are in place, this is when it starts getting exciting!

Buc Sunday

Well the football game has started. Sirius is chasing a squirrel up a tree in the front yard.

Katie is just hanging out watching that young foolish dog run all over the yard in the heat of the day. She just knows he's crazy, there's no thinking about it!

Yes we went to the store and got the lumber, BUT we had to listen to the Buc's game on the radio there and back. And yes the Buc's lost AGAIN . . . My thoughts . . . what's the point

Bracing Completed!

Royce worked on the braces during the week after work and Saturday, I helped a little. But he did most of the work.

It's Sunday and there's just one more floorboard to put in place and we can start on the walls.

This part went fast and before we knew it we were done.

We got a copper fire bowl for the treehouse and I put it together. It will be perfect for those cool nights.

We have to go to the store and get lumber for the walls. Royce has to calculate how much we need and what sizes. And the Bucs are playing football today, so that might interfere with our treehouse schedule for the day.

Braces

When I hear the word braces the first thing that comes to my mind is braces for your teeth. Maybe that's because I had to wear braces for 6 years when I was a kid.

However, these braces are for the treehouse, to make it sturdy. If we are going to start the actual house we need to make sure that it's not going anywhere. Especially with me in it!

Royce works on securing the support boards by playing dare devil up on the ladder.

While I'm on the scaffold drilling and bolting the metal brackets from the floor support beams to the foundation beams. Royce had to make these brackets himself because you just can't go into Home Depot and ask for treehouse brackets. They might look at you funny.