Is It A Door Yet?

We took the door down off the door jam then took the hinges off the door so we could rough it up a bit. The two by fours Royce used to construct it were rough and the sides on some of the boards were splintered off. We beat it with a hammer and a crowbar, drove nail holes in it, and even put the screws to it to make it look like an old rough-hewn door.

Then we stained it which turned out to be a challenge to get the stain down into the holes and grooves we had beated into it.

It took a little while but persistance paid off. Royce used bolts to hold the two by fours to the plywood when he made the door. This gave it a medieval effect. We stained the bolts to make them look old too.

After the stain was mostly dried we hung the door back up and attached the green man door knocker to it.

Looks pretty awesome if we say so ourselves.

I think I really like the green man on the door. Now all we have to do is the lock and skeleton key hole and figure out if the door bell will fit through this thick door or whether we have to attach it to the wall instead.. That will have to wait because it's getting to late to start on that today.

Hanging The Door

Royce found these really cool hinges at Lowes that are just perfect for our door. I had bought some on Ebay but there was only two of them and the door turned out to be really heavy so we were afraid that only two of them wouldn't support the weight. These hinges really do the job.

We measured everything, then hung the door. But Royce had to cut the bottom of the door to fit the doorway . . . several times.

However, there was one thing we hadn't thought of. The entrance way boards were not entirely even. So everytime we tried to open the door, it would scrape and get stuck on the floor and wouldn't open all the way.

There was only one thing left to do, that was sand the floor boards down just a little so the door wouldn't get stuck on them.

So I sanded and I sanded and sanded a little more. Finally, the door didn't stick. But by that time I thought my arms would fall off.

Next we have to rough the door up a bit. . .

A Good Door Demands Respect

Royce got up bright and early to start on the tree house door. By the time I finished cooking breakfast and we ate, he was back at it and had it over half completed.

He must have carried this door back and forth 10 times making sure it fit just right. Cutting a little off the edges, seeing if it fit better, then cutting just a bit more.

Finally he got it like he wanted it and we had to decide whether or not we wanted the round stained glass window in it or not. The problem was I had bought a the stained glass before I found this really neat green man door knocker. The door knocker was not your average size door knocker, it was huge. We wanted a bold rough looking old castle door and the stained glass would take away from the bold look.

So we asked Nadine & Greg what they thought when they came over this afternoon. We all agreed that the stained glass and the door knocker would be a bit much. So after more debate, looking at the stained glass on the door, then the door knocker. . . .

We decided on the door knocker. We thought the green man gives the door a more bold look.

What do you think?

I'll just have to find another place to put the round stained glass.

We didn't get it entirely finished today. But there is only just a little more to do.

Easter Sunday & the Renaissance Festival

We didn't work on the tree house this Sunday. It was Easter, so instead of our usual hiding Easter eggs we decided to go to the Renaissance Festival. This was the first year I didn't dye Easter eggs in my entire life. It felt kind of weird, but the kids couldn't make it this year. So we made other plans. We still got to spend time with Meme, Papa Manny, Stacey and Mea and we had a great time watching the plays and the jousting.

Billy Turner Visits Our Tree House

We needed to bring home a piece of plywood for our tree house door. But Royce didn't want to drive home our business pickup truck to carry it in. So our employee and friend, Billy Turner came over to see the tree house and he helped us bring home a piece of plywood in his yellow truck.

We greatly appreciated his help. Thanks Billy.

Sanchez and a Western Chair

The last time Royce and I went to California we came across "Sanchez". He was just hanging around outside a bar in Old Town. So we decided to invite him to come home with us and he graciously accepted. His reputation procedes him, he's supposed to be quite the ladies man. Royce's cousin, Cheryl, told us that Sanchez had a reputation for staying in town looking after the women when all the other men went off to do whatever business they needed to do. If that's the case, hanging around the tree house will be quite a change for him.

Take a close look at the rocking chair. It's an antique chair that has been slightly modified. It rocks upon horseshoes, has a horseshoe newspaper holder on one side and a combination horseshoe and cowboy boot spur beverage holder on the other. Quite a unique chair. Royce first saw it at the Florida State Fair, then just happen to find the same guy that made it at the Plant City Strawberry Festival. Not that he was searching for it, naw, don't believe that for one moment. But Royce just had to have it, so here it is. It's really comfortable to sit in.

Here There Be Dragons

The last but not least touch for the top of our tree house. Let me introduce our dragon, Ladon. We named our dragon, Ladon, after the ancient Greek dragon that guarded the golden apple tree of goddess Hera. He was never overcome by sleep or closed his eyes.

We don't have a golden apple tree around but we do have orange, tangerine, and grapefruit trees. And of course the tree house, so our Ladon has his work cut out for him.

Royce bolts him down so he won't take flight during one of our Florida storms.

Ladon looks pretty awesome up there among the treetops.

FLASHBACK

Do you remember our quotes burned into steps leading up to our treehouse?

That was awhile ago. . . almost 2 years . . . gosh it doesn't seem that long.

But actually it was May 28, 2006 when Taylor, Nick and I burned this quote into the tree house steps. . .

Beyond This Place There Be Dragons, however . . . .

Ridge Caps and Tight Squeezes

Now that we are completing the outside. There is just a few things that need finishing. We couldn't put on the ridge caps in this area of the roof because we needed to walk up here to finish the top. If we put the ridge caps on sooner they might have cracked if we accidently stepped on them. So we saved them as one of the last things to do.

This is the last of the ridge caps that have to go into place and as you can see I have a smile on my face. In case you haven't guessed that means I soooo glad this part is finally done. This is a "I'm Done" smile

The second to the last thing we have to do is screw the siding into place between the roof overhang and the dormer. We had to use screws because the space was too tight to use a hammer. The screws won't show and they will really hold the last pieces of siding.

Royce's hands were a little to large to we had to get a long screw driver to reach all the way back in there.

I got to be the one who attempted to screw the siding into place because my hands were smaller.

However, I wasn't that strong so Royce had to help finish up.

Finishing the Door Archway

Our doorway needs some finishing touches. So Royce measures and cuts the boards and siding.

Just two little pieces of wood siding and the archway around the door is complete.

These pieces were so small that a nail would probably split them so I glued them into place.

Now all we have to do is start on the door

I was thinking along the lines of a dungeon castle style of door with a lot of character.

All Around The Tree House

All the siding is completed around the bottom half of the tree house.

These sides turned out really nice looking.

Just a little more siding to go by the front dormer window. I think we saved the hardest part for last. Trying to squeeze the last boards between the roof overhang and the peak of the dormer is going to take some doing.

While Royce works on the hard part I added a few decorating touches like a jeweled frog guarding the south window.

And a roaring dragon perched on the roof top.

He's not bolted down yet. But I think he's going to be a permanent resident.

Fierce looking dude isn't he.

Back Siding