Tree House Update

We didn't get as far as we would have liked on the tree house this weekend. There is something entirely dissatisfying about spending hours pre-drilling and screwing the deck down. There is no big impact when you are done--at least not visually. And despite the fact that this little house on stilts likely wouldn't pass inspection, we are learning a lot from the project.

Oh yeah, I am looking good!

Because she is cute.

Mmmm. . .Dew--I mean, nice deck!Finally taking shape.

Siggy, looking sassy in her mismatched jams.

To Be Continued. . . .

Weekend Progress

I have always been a project-aholic. Not so much because I love the process (sometimes I hate the process) but because I love the result and the right to say, "We did that ourselves." But Saturday was such a beautiful day, and the weather was perfect - in the seventies. The air had a slightly humid softness to it that makes me cheery. I actually enjoyed working on the tree house. The girls kept coming out every half hour or so to see if we had made any discernible progress and Signe passed the time on one of her favorite spots - the swing. Signe has had a love of swings since she was about two. She spent hours on our neighbor's swing, sometimes just sitting there staring at the yard, not swinging. (I find this amusing because as a baby she HATED the baby swing).
This outfit was cuter before the Italian Ice got to it.

Anyway, here are pictures of our progress so far . . .

This last one is a view from the platform toward the house. We would have finished the decking, but we ran out of wood.

We had friends over for a BBQ last night and his first comment was, "I love how you made is out of sight from your house but quite visible to the neighbors!" Honestly, that was not my intent, but the spot was crying out for a playhouse/fort of some kind. Unfortunately, this is how it will sit for the rest of the week. I will post more progress next weekend.

A Room For Quiet . .

There has been a shocking lack of activity in the project department around here of late. But this weekend we plan to change all of that. We have decided to take on a fairly ambitious project that will, hopefully, bring me some quiet this summer. . .A tree house. In theory, the girls will love it so much they will live out there and my house will stay clean and quiet! I will let you know how that pans out.

In the meantime, here is a pic that resembles where we are going with this project. . .(minus the camo paint job).


And here is the spot we intend to work our magic.



It won't actually be built in a tree, just on posts about five feet off the ground, maybe six. But it's surrounded by trees and will give the illusion of being up in the trees once completed. . .we hope. And since we decided to do this instead of the Costco playground we are adding a slide out the side. And if Rob can work it out, a zip line.


Oh, we did do one little thing. We fixed the rope swing so it wouldn't spin. There is something idyllic about a good rope swing, from a tall tree, on a warm summer day.







If you have any suggestions let me know. (Although I have updated this site so infrequently I am not sure anyone is actually reading it anymore so I may just be talking to myself--but that's never stopped me before!)

For the Love of Flowers . . .

When I was first married my husband spoiled me with exotic flower arrangements from a great little flower shop in Salt Lake City. This lasted maybe two years, until the sheen of honeymoon bliss was over and we really got to know each other. Then the flowers ceased, never to return. I know my husband adores me, but he jokingly says, "I already won you, why should I buy you flowers? They just die anyway." Just so you understand, he has many other ways of showing his affection. For example, I have not put gas in a car for eleven years (and I haven't lived in a state that pumps the gas for you!) If you ask how much gas I have, I cannot tell you. Why would I ever look when Rob so valiantly keeps me filled? Not very romantic, I know.

Anyway, I love fresh flowers in the house and often would say to him, someday I am going to have fresh flowers in my house at all times. Fresh at least once a week!

Well, since Easter I have managed to keep fresh flowers in my house continually. I feel so decadent. The sight of them just makes me smile. I love a simple flower arrangement and most of them I have done, either from my yard or I picked up some random flowers at the grocery store and put them together. Here are few of my arrangements. . . . .(I make no claim to being particularly talented) Clearly I am partial to white.

Technically Signe picked the daisies on the side of the road, but they look cute in the little creamer.

I have enough space in my yard that one of my new goals is to have flowers blooming from early spring to late fall and if I can, winter. Enough flowers that I can cut them and bring them inside. My peonies are just starting to pop open and I will definitely be cutting some of those and bringing them in. I LOVE peonies--especially the white ones. Do you have a favorite?