My Tree House(s)

A mother is never late, nor is she early; she blogs precisely when she means to.

Or something like that.  <<insert link here to post I haven't written yet about why I don't blog nearly as much as I want to>>

So I'm a day couple days late joining Dad and Dene' in blogging about my tree house.  No, I don't have a real tree house, although I've always wanted one.  In fact, in elementary school I wanted to build a tree house in our tree in the back yard.  The only problem was the "tree" was actually just a large lilac bush and so I had to just be content with climbing the three feet to where the trunk divided and sitting there--nothing higher would hold me.  But I digress.

Your tree house is somewhere peaceful and relaxing, maybe somewhere with good memories or somewhere you're looking forward to going in the future.  In other words, it's your "happy place" (but "tree house" sounds way more fun).  It makes for a great relaxation exercise, especially if your mind just won't slow down and let you fall asleep (I hate that).

I have a lot of tree houses (not to be confused with alot of tree houses, because if the Alot moved into one of my tree houses it would no longer be a relaxing, peaceful place to be and therefore no longer a tree house!). 

Our new house (which we don't have yet) is sometimes a tree house--depending on my mood it is often stressful (for obvious reasons), but occasionally it's quite relaxing to plan out my dream yard or perfect playroom, etc.

The Black Hills are a favorite tree house, especially when we have a trip coming up (only eight weeks until our next visit!).

hiking Harney Peak in Custer State Park

thunderstorm aftermath at Camp Judson, home to Black Hills CFO

my favorite place in the world for as long as I can remember,
also at Camp Judson

But my most favoritest of all tree houses is good ol' Lincoln, Nebraska.  This is quite the twist of fate, as I was convinced that Nebraska was the worst place in the entire world when I was so rudely uprooted from South Dakota and dropped just outside of Lincoln as a (very heartbroken) 7th grader.  That's a whole other story needing its own lengthy post(s).  But despite the rocky start to our relationship, Lincoln is now one of my favorite places.  Specifically, my parents' house.

As strange as this may sound, when I go to my Lincoln tree house, I'm usually in the kitchen doing dishes (or maybe baking bread, which sounds more relaxing).  And talking to my mom.  I think this is the most relaxing place for me because the boys can be outside so I don't go to my tree house without them, but I'm not necessarily the one looking after/entertaining them in the tree house.  They're out in the yard playing with grandparents, and I have some me-time.  (And this is very convenient, because playing with their grandbabies is one of my parents' tree houses, so we all win!)

I don't have any pictures of my parents' kitchen sink (why ever not?) so here are some pictures of the back yard.

the view from the kitchen window

autumn (obviously)

Michael playing with great-grandpa Chuck in May of 2012

a family stroll around the yard last Easter

not technically the backyard, but the field on the other side of the fence

The pictures can't quite convey the absolute sense of home I feel even just thinking about my parents' house. And it's kind of funny, because I've spent more years as a visitor than a resident of that house--they bought it after I started college, so I only lived there a few summers and then the year before I moved to Colorado.  But it is and always will be home (one of many, but definitely home).  And therefore it is my tree house.  And in only three weeks I get to go back there again for real and not just in my mind :)

I love hearing about other people's favorite places (and seeing pictures, if you have them!).  I'd love to read about your tree house(s) if you'd be willing to share :)