Open for Business.

Phew! What a weekend!

Phase 1 is complete. I knew it would be a lot of work to build this thing, but I did not account for what a pain it is to keep these boys from falling off of it. Safety rails are up, but they sure as hell gravitate to the big gaping holes that they could fall out of. yikes!

I'll try to upload some pictures later, but for now, the safety rails are up. The slide and rock wall are installed. We have foregone binoculars, for a periscope, which was easier to mount.

The climbing blocks/ steps proved a little too rough for little Z, so I installed some mini-steps, out of scraps of 2x6, cut to fit. This was a suggestion of both A, and a neighbor dad, who brought his 3 year old, and his 1 year old over for an early test run yesterday afternoon.

Installing the rock wall was a tremendous pain in the ass. Who knew you needed post hole diggers? I borrowed some, which were purchased by my neighbor in either 1981 or 1985, and was able to dig most of what I needed to dig, before the handle broke - as my neighbor tole me they would.

I think I have the phases sorted out. I'm pretty sure swing set is next, followed by the roof/ awning. The downstairs playhouse, I still think will be Phase 4, but after seeing how small that is, even for my 6 year old nephew, I don't know. N, you may recall, is already 2 1/2. Do I want to get into siding and windows and doors when I know he won't be able to fit inside in 3 years?

Of course, if I don't close up the bottom, that makes the whole decking the downstairs floor look a little silly. Same time, though, that should stabilize the whole structure in the event of a storm or anything.