Short story: I built an elevated platform in the back yard straddling the garden railroad starting in late September 2008. It's too far to toss water balloons at the car, but I'm sure the kids will find something fun to do in the back yard.
During an early phase of construction in 2008, the kids ate a snack on FORT APPLEGATE while I worked on the decking:
Next, I installed a small rock climbing wall. I told the kids we were going to "build a ladder" but they were really happy when I opened the box with rock climbing parts in it. Aunt Lai (standing) and Mom played on the platform after checking out the climbing wall.
Jason and I cleared some brush, branches and small trees out of the way for a future "zip line" between two trees. So much for 2008. The weather was getting too cold, we (I) called it quits.
2009 was the big year. I finished the walls and added the roof. It's the same sort of material they use for greenhouses. It's light enough to reflect heat so that the tree house is cool enough in the summer, but the roof also lets in light. The trellis on the front is for Mom's honeysuckle garden.
I declared the tree house done, at least for 2009. In 2010 I focused on the garden RR, but for Jason’s 12th birthday I ordered the zip line parts. It took the kids and I a long morning to get it working, then Jason and I worked on a “launch platform” between downpours one August weekend:
I built most of the framework in the garage, then Jason and I hauled it out, pulled it into the tree, and got it bolted into place. I cut the decking, but he did 90% of the hammering. He’s 12 now, is good at watching and learning, so this was a great time for him to see all the work that does into “simple” projects and experience the amount of effort it takes to build something.
This is a view from the platform. The end of the zip line is the tree just to the right of the shed. It’s about 120’ away, and the track is very fast :)
