Monday, April 20, 2009

Climb Up to My Tree House

Today's Wonder of the World is...the Tree House!

Flickr photo by yuppienomad
When Judy in Kentucky read my post on Comic Strips and heard that I used to hide in my tree house and read Archie comic books, she suggested I do a Wonder post on tree houses.
Thanks Judy! Why hadn't I thought of that?
A tree house really is quite a wonder, especially if you're a kid who needs a no-mom zone!

But after skipping around the internet, getting an eyeful of the most GORGEOUS tree house get-aways, I'm thinking a tree house hotel might be great for moms too!

Photo by Wild Canopy Reserve Hotel
I bet I'd sleep great up there. Doesn't it look inviting?

I loved tree houses even before I watched The Swiss Family Robinson.

Flickr photo by Jimmy-Lin
Besides, who wants a pump organ in a tree house?
All I needed was a bucket on a rope for hoisting up snacks.
Did you ever have a tree house?

I looked and looked, but I couldn't find any photos of my childhood tree house. My dad built it in the woods behind our house, up fairly high between three trees. It had a ceiling and a cool trap door in the floor, and my brother and I would spend hours up there.

I had such such good tree house memories that I wanted the same for my kids. When Ben and Sarah were old enough, Todd built a free standing tree house in our backyard.

They "helped" him build it.

Obviously I wasn't outside at that moment or this picture wouldn't exist.
(Get off that ladder Ben!)

When we came home from France, Todd built a similar one for Sam. There he is with Flat Stanley.

As you can see, my soft hearted hubby didn't want Tanner to feel left out. The man took the trouble to make a ramp for Tanner, since his doggy paws aren't great for climbing ladders.

A couple of years ago, when Sam was crazy for Magic Tree House Books, he'd read them up there.

Would it sound like sour grapes if I told you that when Ben and Sarah were little, I had this crazy idea about writing a book about a magic tree house that would transport children across space and time?
It would?
Okay.
Good idea, Mary Pope Osborne! Sam loved your books!
Moving on...
This tree house hotel looks awfully good to me.

Flickr photo by nomadkel
If I ever end up in Nanshan, China, I'm definitely checking it out!

Have you ever heard about the Steampunk Tree House?

Flickr photo by Miss Devylish
Sean Orlando and a group of artists from San Francisco built it "to explore the relationship between our rapidly changing natural world and the persistent human drive to connect with it." Find out more about it here.

The Steampunk Tree House sort of reminds me of this restaurant in Okinawa, Japan.
I'd be happy to eat dinner there.

Flickr photo by mw
If they don't serve dessert, I know another tree house to stop at...

Flickr photo by The Dawg!

So tell me all your tree house memories!
But before you do, I have some winners to announce!
Thank you so much for making my blog-aversary so fun!
Here are our drawing winners!

Congrats Ellen P and Kelly H-Y! Email me your addresses and the goodies will be on their way!
Thank you all for entering!

Have a wonder-full Monday, y'all!
Love, Becky

27 comments:

Cathy ~ Tadpoles and Teacups said...

Some of my favorite childhood memories are also of the treehouse my dad built. I don't think we have any pics of it either, which is such a shame. The only thing I hated about the treehouse was that giant black ants liked to hang out in it too.
Have a great week!

Creations by Marie Antoinette and Edie Marie said...

Amazing!!! I would live in any of theseLOL...Hey we may be living in tree houses...LOL...
XXOO Marie Antionette

Unknown said...

Those are some very cool tree-houses. I always felt sorry for the trees when they do that, LOL!

Julia said...

My favorite treehouse is part of a group of live oaks on the little farm my grandmother grew up on off the coast of South Carolina. When she was a child, she assigned each of her siblings their own tree (a la Little Women) and her children and grandchildren later adopted the trees too. This particular tree (and tree house) belongs to my great uncle Marvin but he lent it to me for a weekend when I was in graduate school. My husband and I camped up on the platform, which hung right over the marsh and creek. Not all the trees are still standing, but Uncle Mar's is, and my daughter can't wait until she is old enough to camp in it too.

a Tonggu Momma said...

I loved my treehouse growing up! And Swiss Family Robinson is one of my favorite childhood movies.

Felicity said...

I love Swiss Family Robinson! My Uncle made a tree house - more of a tree platform really - and my sister and I would play up there for hours. It was right next to the pasture which contained a small creek. We were Little House on the Prairie (in a tree house, of course) for hours!

Suzie said...

What fun now I want a tree house too. I guess I missed out on that begin a city kid and I guess my kids will too. Sniff sniff

ForCryingOutLoud said...

Oooh! I love tree houses!

lotusgirl said...

One of my earliest memories is climbing through the Swiss Family Robinson tree house at Disney. I had loved the movie and couldn't get over the house. I wanted to play in it, but they wouldn't let me. Ugh!

Adrienne said...

I always wanted a treehouse!

I've seen some amazing pictures of houses in trees. Interesting way to live. I'm not sure I'd want to be the one to get up early to walk the dog, though. Or lug the groceries up.

Southern Living: Preppy Style said...

I LOVE treehouses, I used to stay in a treehouse at Camp Ondessonk (I think I spelled that right) when I was a kid. It was a camp in Southern Illinois and some of my most cherished childhood memories. There were several treehouses in each tribe (named after American explorers) and the treehouses were strung together with lots of steps and decks, it was so much fun! We decorated them, hung our towels over the railings after swimming in the lake. Ah, you brought back some memories for me!!

Southern Living: Preppy Style said...

Oh and by the way, Todd building a ramp for Tannr...that is so something Stuart would do for our golden, U.K., when our daughter gets older...great idea Todd!

Attic Rat said...

Thank you, Becky for entering my blog giveaway and for your lovely comments regarding my shop's anniversary. I drew the winner this morning and she is Couture de Papier. It was lots of fun. Stop back by anytime!

Teresa

Kat said...

I LOVED Swiss Family Robinson simply for the tree house. That just seemed divine to me. Loved it!

judy in ky said...

Cool pictures! I love it that your husband made a ramp for Tanner.

I was one of four girls, with a bookish dad, so we didn't have a treehouse. I always loved the idea though.

Donna said...

Never had a treehouse... :(
But I Loved Swiss Family Robinson's t/house!hughugs

Rosemary said...

Hi Rebecca,
I always wanted a treehouse, just like the Swiss Family Robinson.
Never got one though. I guess I could still get one someday.
Great post.
Rosemary

Linda Summerfield said...

Wonderful pics. I'm not sure I would ever come back down.

David Ebright said...

I built one for my kids - even had a fire pole made of PVC - which is how youngest son Chris, then 3 or 4now 28, discovered how friction creates heat, resulting in bright red painful rub burns on arms, legs & hands. So the boys had to jump a few feet out to reach the pole.... to a 10 foot drop. Ya gotta make things challenging.

Cheri' said...

Treehouses bring back a really special memory for me.

One summer my parents wanted to keep my brother and me busy and out of trouble, so they told us we could build a treehouse together using the old boards from the barn that had fallen down. My dad built the platform between 4 huge cottonwood trees, and my brother and I spent several weeks cutting every board with a hand saw, and nailing the walls and roof into place. In the end it was a very special place for all my siblings and me! Many memories made in that old haunt!

Rebecca Ramsey said...

I'm LOVING all these treehouse memories!

Anonymous said...

Love those treehouses! And I remember that I loved Swiss Family Robinson - both the book and movie.

LW said...

Tree houses are wonderful, but I am so afraid of heights.
I didn’t have a tree house but a club house and all the neighborhood kids and I had a
club called “I Spy“.

Louise

Renee said...

Damn how did I miss not winning.

I love the tree houses and I am booking the second one from the top.

Beckie like I tell you on a contant basis. This blog rocks.

Love Renee xoxo

Anonymous said...

Oh a treehouse is the most lovely invention ever, isn't it?

Kelly H-Y said...

Those are some AMAZING tree houses! I think it's so cute that your hubby built a ramp for Tanner! Love it!
Thank you so much for my lovely teacup and saucer ... I'm SO excited!!!

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Oh yes. Swiss Family Robinson! To live in a treehouse would be the best thing ever! I love their house at Disney world....although I think it's gone now. Drat.