How to build a TREE HOUSE and then GET LAZY in it

It is a gorgeous~ gorgeous ~gorgeous day today.

So gorgeous, in fact, I am going to practice the art of getting lazy.

 With a book.

And apple pie.

Ok, I wish I had the apple pie, but I am too lazy today.  For those of you who truly want an apple pie recipe that will knock your socks off…..and dead easy to make…here is a recipe for you: How to be an apple pie goddess.  I live for apple pie. I hope you do too.

Today is TREEHOUSE DAY.

 I wish I could make it a national holiday.

 Until then, I want to be able to help others create the space for themselves too.

There is an art to be able to build something and then throw yourself at it ….or in it…or to take the time to SLIDE DOWN IT ….

Reclaimed slide from old school playground

To create a space that is warm, and fun, and inviting…

To enjoy a space…for the young and old at heart…

Almost every nook and cranny is made from reclaimed, recycled, reused goods…..

Even if some of my neighbours don’t know that I stole some old windows from their yard heap. P.S. Hello Brian. Yes, this is one of your windows.  I thought it would be best to commit the sin first and ask for forgiveness later.  I will repay you with apple pie.

Deal ?

Want to build a treehouse too?

 First, steal old windows from your neighbours.   Second, build on what you have.  We had some old tin roofing.  We used the tin roofing on some of the treehouse walls.  Then, we lined every wall with screening, so we didn’t have any critters flying around and buzzing our ears at night.

We need our sleep around here.

I know it probably sounds easy to just say “build on what you have”, but really it is not THAT huge of a task.  Treehouses are meant to made from old left over things.  That is what makes them….

~AUTHENTIC~

even

~VINTAGE~

  I love that stuff.

Old is cool.

Wrinkles are not.  LOL.

 There are heaps of things out there folks….old windows, doors, decking….things that most people are dying to get rid of.  Take if off their hands and save it from a land fill site.

 Those old ratty things are like…..

TREASURE TROVES OF DELICIOUSNESS TO ME.

Next, we used reclaimed wood for the counter tops, walls and flooring.

The walls and flooring were old barn boards.  The counter top was an old tree sliced down the centre.

When we couldn’t steal a window, we made it.  Every window is installed differently, just for kicks.  The one in the photo above rolls up with a rope and a pulley.  Others slide from side to side.

Some just do a normal hinge.  We had to do something normal.

We then added a swing into the mix.  Just good old rope and a left over piece of wood.

Voila !

Magic.

There are benefits to building a tree fort.  Especially if you have friends.  Good friends.

Friends who just happen to  have funky things hanging around their yard.  Like an old sink.  I wanted to buy a Kohler bathroom sink but my zero budget didn’t allow for it.  So, I stole a sink from my neighbour.   He had it in his yard, ready for planting flowers.

What the what what ?  Who plants flowers in sinks ?

That’s a sin.

I thought it deserved a treehouse life.

 I paid him with apple pie.

It wasn’t always a snap to figure things out.  We are still on our learning curve.  Trying to figure out a tree house washroom has been a challenge.  For now, we have an outhouse aka wooden throne.

We had a few mishaps along the way, and went through a few of these….

It was also messy and crazy to install the electrical.

 Most of the mess was me duking it out with my bro the electrician.  Ok, there was no duking. I just wanted to say something rotten about him, because he is my brother.

It is not all fancy dancy.

 Definitely chose low tech where possible…

In the spirit of true confessions, that is the only low tech install that we truly did.  A nail.

After all, I can’t help myself.  It is not a COMPLETELY  low tech~no tech tree house.  A space, wherever it may be, should feel warm and welcoming to all.

It has become my blogging studio !

The second exception is my flowers… They are sadly neglected.  I need time to get lazy and maybe bake a pie.

Maybe, just maybe some day…..I may be able to enter our treehouse into this category…..See The World’s Top Treehouse Resorts ??!

Food for thought.

Apple pie food for thought.