Summer memories

When I was little, I lived in a town called Mill Valley in Northern California. Kids in Mill Valley couldn’t get into too much trouble in the summers because a heavy fog from San Francisco Bay would roll in every afternoon, sadly cutting playtime short.

When my family moved to Washington State, my brother and sister and I were amazed to find fog in short supply there. And the sun stayed out until after 9 pm! It was heaven to run barefoot through the lawn AFTER dinner. My brother and I shared a bedroom, and it was still so bright outside when we were sent to bed that my mom put tin foil over the windows on the sunny side of the room. We fell asleep in the golden glow of the setting sun.

Did we miss Mill Valley? Yes. Even with the fog, it had a magic all its own. And the year we moved to Washington State, some Mill Valley school kids recorded a hit song about it. My brother and sister and I listened to it all summer long in the everlasting Washington sun, and we were glad to think we had TWO home towns.

Living out on a limb

As summer approaches, I’ve been thinking about spending time outdoors. I’ve posted about Free Spirit Spheres, the amazing tree homes Canadian carpenter Tom Chudleigh designs and builds, and it’s put me on the hunt for more treehouse ideas.

Twelve feet high and nine feet in diameter, this oval “bird’s nest” treehouse was created by Japanese designer Takashi Kobayashi. It’s reached with a circular staircase.

Nesty! Image found at freshome.com

German design cooperative Baumraum created this treetop dwelling with the help of a sturdy oak tree.

Modern design, traditional oak. Image found at freshome.com

Baumraum doesn’t always need the help of a tree to get its houses off the ground. Here they incorporate the “idea” of one, in a house that soars on stilts.

This might be a mobile home in a strong wind! Image found at imagesme.net

This is the Yellow Treehouse Restaurant in Aukland, New Zealand, designed and constructed by Pacific Environments Architects, Ltd. Pine and poplar beams are attached to a redwood tree to resemble the construction of a moth’s nest. The restaurant seats eighteen diners. I hope they serve bird’s nest soup!

With a view like this, who needs a menu? Image found at mtidry.com

Finally, here is what builder Horace Burgess claims is the biggest treehouse in the world! Located in Tennessee, it’s 97-feet tall and built around an 80-foot white oak tree. It has eleven floors and features a miniature indoor basketball court! But if the ball bounces out the window, you’re out of luck.

This treehouse is colossal! Image found at freshpics.com

You can't really "blend in" to the forest with this baby! Image found at freshpics.com

Bough house

I’m no Ewok, but I would love to live in a treehouse, if only for a day or two.

Canadian carpenter Tom Chudleigh has created amazing treehouses that he calls Free Spirit Spheres.

One of Tom Chudleigh's Free Spirit Spheres. Photo (c) freshome.com

Set among the tall trees of the west coast rainforest of Vancouver Island, each sphere comfortably sleeps four and is fitted with a working kitchen, microwave, refrigerator, and sink. Tom is currently designing one that will hold a washroom, shower, and sauna.

The homey interior of a Free Spirit Sphere. Photo (c) chow.com

You can go on a video tour of the Free Spirit Sphere Tom calls Eryn.

This could be home. Photo (c) ananova.com

The spheres take three people no more than three days to put up, and kits can be ordered online. I’m saving up for one!

Make it snappy

Chiara from Rio Rancho, NM writes:

Dear T,

No matter how many times I tidy it up, I’ve always got a messy bedroom. It isn’t fair that Mary Poppins has only got to snap her fingers in order to get a room to straighten up all by itself. Why can’t any of the rest of us have the benefit of that kind of magic?

T replies:

As someone familiar with Mary Poppins, Chiara, you know that she would never allow anyone else to have the benefit of her magic secrets. For reasons of her own, she refuses to admit that she even has any magic secrets. But don’t give up hope. The magic will come after you’ve cleaned up your room, when you gaze in utter astonishment at how nice it all looks and say to yourself, “How the HECK did THAT ever happen?”

BTW—for those who don’t know this already, there are more Mary Poppins books than just the one. Here are a few of them. Each is as good as the first.

Mary Poppins Comes Back

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Mary Poppins Opens the Door

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and last, but not least, Mary Poppins in the Park. If I were you, I’d read them all!

A house made of straw

This is my friend Joan’s straw-bale and clay house. She built it herself with help from her friends and neighbors. Although it’s made with straw, it’s strong enough that no Big Bad Wolf could ever blow it down.

Here is a photo of the bathroom sink. It’s a cozy place to wash up, don’t you think?