Chigger Face

via Leigh Machin

This is how I feel like I look..and those razor sharp nails actually look like they could relieve some of this itching.

Somehow, someway while working in the yard on the treehouse…I was attacked.  Silent and stealthy, the chigger (Trombiculidae if you’re fancy) is the source of seemingly interminable and agonizing itching.  I really hate those bastards.

My face and neck are covered, and I’m still trying to solve the mystery.  For the past two weeks, I’ve been putting granules down on all of our paths and work areas to prevent THIS EXACT THING!  I wore my high boots, sprayed with repellent…I was careful!

I got them really bad last year on my legs, but legs full of swollen bites don’t repel people in quite the same fashion as a half chewed off face does…imagine that.

Feelin’ pretty…and smelling like a giant Tea Tree.

Treehouse Mini-Update

The weather here has not been exactly conducive to treehouse progress.  You might have heard our neighbors had a very rough week?!  There’s a really good round-up of venues for donating to tornado victim relief here.

The camo cloak held on through all the storms and winds..yeah, we were surprised too!

The sun did appear briefly Saturday giving us just enough time to put the front siding and window on.

First the flashing had to be installed between the house and the porch flooring.

Then, the polycarbonate window needed to be attached before the wood panels could go on.

First a bead of silicone caulk.

Then, once pilot holes are drilled so as not to split the polycarbonate, the wood panel is attached to secure the window into place.

We also got some plywood up on the roof, but did not have time to finish before the rain came again.  BTW, that plywood on the roof bit?  Biggest pain so far.  Climbing up and balancing yourself on the slant while trying to hammer?  Just plain annoying.  Almost done though.

Next steps?  After the plywood is in, there will be a layer of tar paper, then the corrugated metal roof with a polycarbonate skylight.  We are still deciding on screened window placement.  They will be installed differently, so can be done later.

I created a treehouse category, so if you’re new, you can catch up on the previous steps to this project here.

Treehouse Update

For a full overview of the treehouse build, go here (under the TOUR header.)

 

It was an epic weekend of hard-assed work.  The CC had a game plan that I thought was a bit ambitious – we do have kids after all, but we managed it...just.

We started the weekend with our platform.  Now we needed walls…and a roof because there is more rain forecast, of COURSE.

Long way up..and down…

The walls were built on top of the platform, then tilted up and fastened/braced into place…barn-raising style.  Kinda made me feel like I should wear a funny hat and go churn some butter.

The Things stained the panels in the driveway, then we hauled them up to the platform to be nailed into the frame.  Twas a family affair.

and then there were two…..

..then three!!!  We got the third wall up Saturday afternoon late, and after the Things were asleep, we decided to have a little party for two out there, knowing we probably won’t be invited in much once it’s finished DESERVE it.

After egg hunting and other such activities, it was back to work…we needed a nice meal that wouldn’t require anyone to be in the kitchen all day, so we brought the kitchen out to us for dinner….

Now it’s time for the fourth wall, rafters, and a roof.  At least the fourth wall can have its panels nailed up vertically since we can stand on the porch section.  The frame for this last wall was assembled on the ground and hauled up.

Sorry, I can’t get good shots from a distance.  Everyday, the trees are leafing out more and more….

Then we ran out of time, so we secured a gigantic camo tarp over the whole structure to protect from the rain….it’s a classy touch that I know will be the envy of millions.  The rafters are slotted in, but not secured yet, so they are still a bit wonky.  Behold the camo cloak…….

This tarp says “Modernist, shmodernist.  This is Tennessee, dammit, and I’m here to keep it real y’all!”

We are tired and sore, but very pleased.  Weather permitting, we should be in good shape to make a lot of headway next weekend.

Easter Tanager

Don’t worry, I have some exciting treehouse updates coming…but it must wait, for today, Easter Sunday, the Tanager returned.  Remember our old friend, who mercilessly wakes us at dawn and continues attacking the glass ALL DAY LONG?  The good looking one?

He’s back, and either he has brought home a new bride, or she decided to hear me out last year and this is her way of giving me the bird.  Pun totally intended.

The male and female are hanging out more closely this year, and have decided to take this terrorizing project on as a team.  That’s what happy loving couples do, right?  They sit together on a nearby branch and plan their strategy….

Then they swoop down….she seems to prefer the living room door handle….

..while he likes his usual spot…the back of the sofa.

….and it’s go time!

Young Love.  Happy Easter/Passover/Spring Season!

 

 

Joe Jackson – Happy Loving Couples by Pius35

Treehouse Update

We have been super busy, so progress has been slooow, but things are happening!

In between scary storms and wind events, I’ve been shoveling topsoil.  I mean, it wouldn’t be Spring at the Regal Beagle if I wasn’t shoveling something from a large pile that seems to have no bottom, now would it?  I’m leveling out some areas, and creating a few new beds for planting.

In between shoveling sessions, I help the CC with the treehouse. I’m on carry and assemble large pieces of wood duty, while he does everything else.  At one point, I felt like Thing Two, all excited that I got to finally NAIL something.

Today was all about the floor of the platform.

 

We were so excited about getting this bit done that we dragged a couple of chairs onto what will be the “porch” to get an idea what hanging out here will be like….we approve.

If you’re a G & T enthusiast, you might like to know that if you run out of cucumber for your beverage, parsley is a surprisingly tasty substitute…

SPRING!

Fiesta FAIL

Well, I didn’t get many photos from the Fiesta, there was too much going on…as usual, I was so busy setting up, there just wasn’t time to leisurely snap away. Besides…not my best work.

The round tables were so hard to make look decent.  I hated them, but everyone was very nice and seemed to like the pale blue overlays with the kraft. The clean up committee really, truly loved me though.  It was a snap for us to uncover the tables at the end.

I had really wanted to cover the ugly legs with paper to the floor, but we couldn’t do it…not enough money in the $100 budget for the extra paper it would take, and not enough volunteers to help wrap the tables.  Sigh.  That’s life.  It’s not the costume gala at the Met, so just have a margarita and get OVER IT.

Did I mention I HATED how this ended up looking?  Let’s not even discuss the chairs.

I hung the tissue pom poms from the ceiling and they seemed dwarfed by the massiveness of the room and tent, but again…just not enough manpower or budget, so I broke down and resorted to the flags for impact.  Have another margarita.

This is where all the auction items were…it’s Nashville, so we had lots of signed gee-tars from your favorite country stars.  What I wanna know is where our school’s goddamn Jack White connection is?!  I don’t listen to country music, so it’s kinda wasted on me.  Jack could change my interest in the music prizes, fo sho.

Packed house..haven’t heard the grand total yet, but hopefully that margarita machine lubed up folks enough to make some nice sized donations to the school.

There was a wheel, kinda like on the Price is Right….I gave it a few spins, got a few small prizes.

I decided to make a few woodland scenarios for those not digging the Southwest vibe of the evening…..Everyone loved the terrariums, but didn’t/couldn’t read the tags, so we didn’t sell them all.

You knew there would be fawns, right?

I must have made the flags too tall since many people didn’t know they were for sale…boo.  It’s funny, of the ones that did sell, some swapped their figurines with other arrangements, so I ended up with a “desert fawn” since someone obviously wanted a “woodland coyote.”  I don’t know why that cracked me up so much…possibly exhaustion.

A really fun, yet super tiring weekend….

I’ll update you on the treehouse later this week.  Adios amigos….