Inception of The Beech Treehouse
I began planning to build a treehouse in 0ctober 2017. The first phase was selecting the location. It took months even though I knew the general location needed to be on the bluff above Miller’s Falls. I wanted it to feature all things creative and natural.
Treehouses do a couple of things really well. Most important, they remind us of the carefree, creative days of our childhood. I dreamed up a story based on my childhood adventures and friends who grew old and successful, but longed to get back to the simplicity and innocence of childhood, playing in nature.
Originally, I thought the treehouse should be built around two giant hemlock trees, one of which had been struck by lightning. The whole side was blown out of it. The story of that tree would be wrapped up in Hamlin, my mythical childhood friend, who had returned to the woods to rediscover his childhood and the good life. In the story, Hamlin found the good life, then disappeared the night a terrible storm struck his favorite tree and destroyed his tiny house. But his legend and spirit remained in these enchanted woods and living waters where he leaves clues for the clueless how to find the good life.
Here is a shot of the lightning-struck Hemlock tree where I thought I would build the treehouse.
The story unfolded a little differently.
