PROJECT: "Tree" House 05

Ok, got a lot more done on the project. Here it is in all its "Oops! Paint from the hardware store, ran out in the middle some sections only got one coat, plus the kids did the painitng" glory!

We have to fix a couple of small pieces, then put on the roof, install the windows, and do the floor.

Then we'll put some trim on all the corners/edges (so you won't see those ungainly corners! ;) ) and maybe get a door on there.

Still, it was a lot of effort to get this far.

Too bad we won't have time to work on it again until August!

PROJECT: "Tree" House 04

Ok, we've come a long way over the last few days, working into the twilight after coming home from work.

The kids get back from camp today, so while it isn't finished yet (that was never the plan) when they left it didn't really even have a floor, and now...

Wow, that was a lot of work. Adding that bump out on the left side (we call it the front though) added quite a bit of time.

Next up is finishing the framing (we're 95% done) and then adding the siding and floor. Then the roof, windows, railing, ladder, and a few other fun touches.

PROJECT: "Tree" House 03

Here's where we are as of Sunday, July 7th

Of course, I already knew this, but this project really reminds me that making changes in the middle can really lead to distraction and long delays. Sure, it may be necessary, but it wreaks havoc with the schedule we had set

Anyway, we added a small "bump out" to the front and that really set us back. Since I took these pictures, we put in another day of work. More pictures next time. I don't think we'll finish the walls/roof/siding before the kids get home on Friday.

PROJECT: "Tree" House 02

Picked this wonderful thing up for just $9 at the Habitat for Humanity store!

You can't see this part yet, but we had a sloped roof in mind from the beginning. And so today we lifted the window up to the wall and it fit the angle of the roof perfectly! Couldn't have planned it better.

On the minus side, we were woefully short on 2x4s so we went and bought about $40 worth.

Should have all of the walls and the roof framed by the weekend! Fingers crossed...

While we were out in the yard working on the house, a few black phoebes came around and amused is with their sharp chirping and tail flapping. Hadn't ever noticed those kinds of birds in the yard before...

Corn Again

We're trying to grow "indian" corn in pots again this year. As always, it's off to a great start.

Let's hope it turns out better than previous years. A couple years ago we lost a lot of corn to pests (mice/squirrels/insects) and last year we just didn't get much in the way yield at all (3 or 4 very small cobs).

I'm fertilizing with that smelly "kelp juice" occasionally.