Two weeks ago Jedd got it into his head that he really wanted to build a tree fort. Thom told him to consider a design and then the two of them worked out something that would fit our tree, in our yard. It has been astounding to watch; sometimes from a distance, sometimes right in the tree helping hold down wood while Jedd saws. There have been several nights where it's black outside and the boy has flashlights and lanterns hanging from various branches and angles.There is a swarm of bees in one of the trees that Jedd learned wouldn't bother him, as long as he didn't ever again spray them with yard guard! Now they busily work together in harmony:)
~He has taken to bringing books out there and doing schoolwork or just reading, whenever he's run low on supplies and can't do any "real work". He calls his dad at work
several times a day to see if he's found any usable scraps or if he'll be home early to help. His brain has been working non-stop on new configurations. In the photo you can see a big ramp up the front. While there are wood rungs nailed to one of the trees ladder-style, he built this yesterday in the hopes that his 136 pound dog might be able to ascend the tree with him. (nope). But it works well for kids to scamper up more quickly. And a lovely addition to the yard landscaping don't you think?
several times a day to see if he's found any usable scraps or if he'll be home early to help. His brain has been working non-stop on new configurations. In the photo you can see a big ramp up the front. While there are wood rungs nailed to one of the trees ladder-style, he built this yesterday in the hopes that his 136 pound dog might be able to ascend the tree with him. (nope). But it works well for kids to scamper up more quickly. And a lovely addition to the yard landscaping don't you think?~He has plans for a trap-door, with a tractor seat pulley system, (maybe the dog can get up that way?) windows , and exit onto the shed roof (there was brief talk of a bridge to Thom's shed roof as well, I nixed that)
~ Note the basket pulley system. He's rigged
the clothesline to the shed roof. The green line to the basket is what he uses to pull the basket up to the roof with whatever tools or ipod system he's stuck in it. The red line is what I pull to bring it back down when he needs a snack up there! Clever eh?
the clothesline to the shed roof. The green line to the basket is what he uses to pull the basket up to the roof with whatever tools or ipod system he's stuck in it. The red line is what I pull to bring it back down when he needs a snack up there! Clever eh? The twins are happy visitors in all this, but he lets them know, it is his fort! Just think...2 weeks ago this was in his imagination, now it's his reality...how good is the life of this 11 year old? And isn't this just the way it should be?
3 comments:
That fort is going to be awesome! We made adjustments to a kind of tree fort in our backyard... We couldn't wait to get schoolwork complete to be able to work on it! We also had the plan of digging to China, starting in our sandbox. That went on for a while, until we hit different pipes/lines... Then our whole backyard was dug up! (by the professionals fixing the lines we had managed to hit!) Such fun memories of stress free childhoods.
So very cool. Way to go! I was actually going to comment on our kiddos' backyard, but I see that Jeanne has already done that. Life is good, eh?!
Life is good...today the walls went up and the trap door was put in...gosh I love being a mom and watching my kid do all this!
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