The sound of drills, saws and hammers stopped at the Bond’s treehouse site mid last week, but the activity is just getting started.

The Bond's pirate ship treehouse has set sail for adventure.

On Sunday I stopped by to get a round of final pictures for the pirate ship treehouse photo gallery (you can see the entire Horseheads treehouse photo gallery by clicking here, or by going through my Web site, www.peacemakertreehouses.com) and the new addition to the backyard maple tree already looks like part of the family fabric. Jack, the 9-year-old force behind the project, has added a few of his own touches – from a hammock in the captain’s cabin to a bucket on a rope tied to the rail to make hauling water balloons up to the deck a little easier. Ed finished the rigging and made some adjustment to the rope ladder, while the whole clan works on getting the mulch ground cover in place.

I hung around for a while, and tried to make myself as inconspicuous as a man on a 24-foot ladder can be. It was great to see the treehouse we all dreamed up now real, and becoming a very real part of a very wonderful family. Good luck to you all, and I’ll see you next spring for our annual inspection.

John

P.S.: Those of you who can’t get enough treehouse building magic, just jump over to the Ithaca treehouse blog. After a few days in the office and some design modifications, work begins there later this week. — jc