Nailing down the details

As we prefabricate the last of the pieces in the shop it is mostly small things left. It is lots of fun to concentrate on the small details instead of the massive pieces. Today we mudded one of the boxes that will be placed by the wagon. Jenessa and I carved in the lines to define the boards and then carved in the gnarly woodgrain. The last step was to create the nails to 'fasten' the boards together in a believable fashion. The easiest way to do this is to use a suitable sized socket and a small hammer to create an impression and then twist the socket to take away the six sided shape. It looks remarkably like a nail - especially when we paint the nail heads with our iron paint that will actually rust. 

This is visual story telling - down to the teniest detail.

-grampa dan

More giant pieces in place

Today was a very big day on the work site for it was the day the big crane would lift the treehouse and bridge center support into place. Once again slow and easy was the game plan. Each feature involved two large and very high pieces. The treehouse was first and it went smoothly.

Now we can finish off the roots and upper branches. 

The center support for the swinging bridges was next. The bottom was easy and quick. The top section required a little more precise manouvering but it all went smoothly. It sure changed the look of the whole area in an instant!

We have a few more small pieces to paint and install before we can measure up all of the swinging bridge ropes and netting. With four long swinging bridges this is going to be a very popular and spectacular centerpiece for the Wilderness Adventure Play Park! Stay tuned as it comes together...

-grampa dan

Taking our sign for a coffee

Today was delivery day for five large pieces. The crane truck arrived bright and early. The first and biggest piece was loaded onto my client's trailer and he headed up to the work site up at the lake. Then we loaded the second piece onto my truck and I headed up to the lake to drop it off. We ran back and forth twice with the treehouse roof loaded onto the crane truck for delivery.

As we loaded the last piece onto Chris' truck he smiled and said he was so proud of the work we were doing he was going to take the sign into town for a coffee. That would translate into he wanted to show it off to all who would look. I thought he was joking but when I arrived up at the lake with my last piece Chris was no where to be seen. He actually did take a detour to get a coffee in town. He said he had to take up six parking spaces (right in front of the coffee shop of course) while he ran in to get a coffee. He thoroughly enjoyed the instant crowd that gathered around his truck to get a closer look. 

It sure is nice to have a client appreciate each and every piece we are doing for him!

-grampa dan