TREE TOP TRIPPIN'

Mystic Canyon has been an inspirational setting for me to sit and write as I lookout from my studio window down into the raging untamed Tularosa River. The trees the wildlife; I really soak it up each morning as the sun rises. A mighty cottonwood grows just beyond where I work. Its massive trunk splits into five strong boughs like a giant's hand.

Now that we have grand children and great grand children dropping in for visits the notion of a tree house has been simmering on the back burner for sometime.

Other bigger projects have kept the tree house way at the back of the line but recently we decided to kick it up to the front. At first it was just going to be a deck with a safety fence but that soon gave way to a floor with a shade. I started working on it by gathering up a lot of leftover construction materials. I had some lumber and roof sheeting from an old structure we'd torn down. I calculated that we could keep it a green project by using at least 80% culled and reclaimed wood and re-purpused materials.

“This shouldn't take more than a week to build. Then I'll get back to work writing Crossbreeds 4: Pharaoh's Fountain,” foolishly said I.

That one week turned into two then three and so on. Then we took the RV to Vegas and picked up Joe Eagle Eyes and Benny the Badger clearly I needed help finishing this project and their expertize on what rowdy little boys liked was needed.

Once the fever took hold we decided this tree house should be accessible to all from toddlers to the elderly. Even Kayla the dog can climb in with the handicap accessible bridge.

Then as projects often do it began to grow. The wife wanted walls to keep the elements at bay so we added huge view windows made from re-purposed display glass.

“I want three stories,” said she. Bigger it grew with a basement in the bough and a sun-deck on the roof.

An emergency trap door into the basement should zombies storm the fort, an absolute must.

All the kiddies must have swings. What tree house would be complete without a tire swing?

After two more weeks of intensive building and testing the tree house meets their tough standards.

 

 

With the carpet laid and the handmade mesquit furniture moved in the little tree-top log cabin is finished. Nestled comfortably in the mighty cottonwood’s knurly hand. What a view of the river, what a wonderful place to party.

“And what about Macayo the Macaw? Should he be left out?” Nay say I.

Well the boys are back home and off to school and tranquility has returned to Mystic Canyon. It seems a shame that all that labor went to building such a fine little cottage just for the occasional kid traffic. I could have my steaming pot of Jasmine tea in the mornings right here in the canyon. Maybe hang a few decorations around and plug in the lap top.

Now where did I leave off? Oh yes chapter sixteen; Lazarus Zurga's reptilian blood is warmed by thoughts of vengeance as he hatches a fiendish scheme to rid himself of Griffin Trueblade and his stalwart crew...