A couple of years ago Henry & I were hiking on the property of the Prairie Garden Trust & were marveling at the Great Blue Heron Rookery in the Buttonwood Bottom. South for the winter, the herons had left their giant midwestern nests empty, the leaves were off the trees and we counted over 60 of these amazing nests made of scavenged sticks and branches. It occurred to us that if we built a tree house on the bluff above the heron rookery, we could watch them as they nested and raised their young and potentially get great photographs as well. We decided to build a tree house that day.
We later realized that we did not need a tree house to watch the herons in their rookery; we could see them perfectly well just standing on the bluff above, even though most of the nests appeared to be 50 to 60 feet above the ground. There went our rationale for our tree house! Undeterred, we came up with another compelling reason: We needed a tree house to watch birds in the Swamp Area from ABOVE, a critical perspective. AND, we could look out on the Dog Leg Prairie and watch the sunset.
Not convinced?
OK, it also gave Bernard another excuse to hang out at Barnes & Nobles and Borders thumbing through books on tree house design and construction. And, it gave him an excuse to leave Chicago and spend a couple of weeks with Henry and Lorna at the Prairie Garden Trust in order to plan and build the tree house.
We also used the building of the tree house to get our dear friend Nick Kelsh to come from Philadelphia to help out.
Of course, the real reason is that we just want to have a tree house. Doesn’t everyone want their own tree house? There’s something romantic, boyish, nostalgic and liberating about tree houses. So, that’s why two grown men are building a tree house.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Step Up
The steps from the first to the second floor of the tree house were built and installed yesterday. These are solid cedar stairs where each step has been fitted into a notch (see photo above).
Jamie Coe and Steve Schnarr did the work since the rest of the crew has scattered.
However Bernard
Friday, June 23, 2006
God Had Longer Days
Ok, so it took us 11 days....and, we didn't finish creating our little universe in the tree. But, we had to rest anyway and, besides, we had to get back to our day jobs, the ones that pay us money.
I hope you realize that some biblical scholars think that the seven days of Genesis did not
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Birds and the Bees
Wednesday Nick and Chaz Departed early to head home to Philadelphia. Jamie Coe and Steve Schnarr cut red cedar lumber for the steps; the sawdust smells great.
In late afternoon Bernard and Henry started to add the uprights on the railing. Since the floor is 26-feet above the ground we want it to
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Why? Why? Why? screams Nate
Shock and disbelief reigned as Bernard announced that his so called safety harness had been attached to nothing but outer space for several hours (see photo showing unattached chain hook hanging uselessly over a tree branch) sending safety coordinator Chaz into yet another tizzy. He immediately
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Really, its thrilling. Trust me.
I know some of you faithful readers saw "floor joists" and thought to yourself; this blog entry is going to be boring guy stuff. Wrong! You were expecting more on lag bolts, framing squares and other male-like building terms (not that females can't build...but since they get to make babies maybe
