Project Tree House

When we moved here 11 years ago, one thing we liked about the house was the big deck in back with the tree coming up through the middle.  It was a conversation piece, but we soon learned that it wasn't extremely functional.  In fact, we never used our deck other than as something to walk across to get to the garage.  Why?  Target practice.  Seriously.  The birds who made their home in that big tree liked to dot our deck with their droppings making it clear that sitting under the shade of that tree was potentially hazardous.  None of us were ever - in eleven years - willing to risk it.  So, when Jeff decided to cut off the deck, we didn't protest.  Sadly, no one thought to take a picture of the deck before he started his project, but here is a picture of it in progress:

Here is what it looked like once Jeff had it put back together:

Once the tree was freed from it's captivity, it was just screaming for a tree house.  Jeff, not one to shy away from a challenge, was up to the task. 
Here's the base:  

And here is the finished product (though it will be getting a coat of paint this weekend):

 On a nice day with a slight breeze, lying in that hammock with a good book is heaven!