tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79439256864661749042024-03-14T07:06:19.995-07:00The Clubhouse BuilderAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-27820071142795045152015-10-06T10:12:00.000-07:002015-10-06T10:12:19.719-07:00Playhouse in retirement (almost)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8S-Hmr3flejh0jiQJnvUUd_Ly1pqGpqJ920QafEUliNPx8wufPdxwEdhx5E8zXhZ6RYhagZfOwGcHFWFtHOiEohZmW5WVz5MJTHs0fuM6KsDUOLSPqxA2_V_RDYgtjQSSZ7wizdIHt1g/s1600/20150711_playhouse+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8S-Hmr3flejh0jiQJnvUUd_Ly1pqGpqJ920QafEUliNPx8wufPdxwEdhx5E8zXhZ6RYhagZfOwGcHFWFtHOiEohZmW5WVz5MJTHs0fuM6KsDUOLSPqxA2_V_RDYgtjQSSZ7wizdIHt1g/s640/20150711_playhouse+2.jpg" width="484" /></a></div>
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My daughters were minus 2, 2 and 4 years old when I built this playhouse for them, in 1989. Madeleine, my youngest, still used it when she was a teenager. Now some neighbor kids play in it from time to time, and a few weeks ago, they took it upon themselves to repaint the interior, without my permission. </div>
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So now there are rules! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-49101802383613667432014-07-31T07:21:00.002-07:002014-07-31T07:46:54.365-07:00Maureen's Fort<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Four girls got together and built an impressive fort one summer in the woods near their home. </i></div>
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<i>This is Maureen's story. </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02FWiCYXCVUPLl43hyd8rcgad6RhKgR5L0WFagghLP2VqrOC_iRpA-zsvMrNeuWgQxXp_Kvl9qwQ8MjCyCyaj5A1gfmu7tsYaoNN9btXPqDKb_uWpQQb97_fdituqo9NfZEzsml-uI6A/s1600/maureens+fort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02FWiCYXCVUPLl43hyd8rcgad6RhKgR5L0WFagghLP2VqrOC_iRpA-zsvMrNeuWgQxXp_Kvl9qwQ8MjCyCyaj5A1gfmu7tsYaoNN9btXPqDKb_uWpQQb97_fdituqo9NfZEzsml-uI6A/s1600/maureens+fort.jpg" height="489" width="640" /></a></div>
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When I was young, we had the BEST fort! It was a great place that my sister and friends and I built with our own hands.</div>
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We salvaged building materials from the woods, and asked for wood scraps from houses being built in the area. We used four trees in the woods for corner posts, and found 2/3 of an old wooden door with hinges. My dad helped by giving us some paneling boards and lending us his hammer and saw and nails. We covered the outside with plastic to keep out the rain. We even made a brick stove inside with a grill that we used to cook sliced lunch meat for lunch. Yum! The smoke went out the window that had only a metal screen. It was an all-girl fort, with a "No Boys Allowed" sign by the door. We were about nine years old then.</div>
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Then one day, the neighborhood boys launched an attack. While we were all inside, they beat on our fort with sticks, and one boy shot at the fort with a b-b gun. A b-b went through the thin wall and hit me on the foot. Wow, did that sting! Well, my friend Karen ran home to get her older brother, Barry, who came and rescued us. He carried me home on his shoulders because I made such a fuss over my tiny flesh wound. Barry was about fifteen. I think that was the first time I fell in love, he was so big and strong. All the dads then came and disassembled our fort because things got out of hand, and we thought that was really unfair.</div>
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We also used our fort for animal rescue, at least we thought we were doing animal rescue. For a while, we kept some baby birds, snakes, salamanders and a few bull frogs. It was the best summer of my life while it lasted!</div>
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--Maureen Vel </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-58096631412282612422014-07-01T10:15:00.001-07:002014-07-01T10:15:36.952-07:00The Evolution of Leslie's Shed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Leslie in western <st1:place w:st="on">Massachusetts</st1:place> recently shared this story:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jCH5rMIOIEIIJWCKc-w3Rv8P7L0FVsKY7iKowAfJxdolJHPGo67plOOZZkvwFjbCTAFIkFbdZYLbfnZAVyAlDjgzJbChcHgfBHvfcJmCaKCPQTDIl3zfEILq1hKoPgPtCtzKK6iQi3o/s1600/DSCF0486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jCH5rMIOIEIIJWCKc-w3Rv8P7L0FVsKY7iKowAfJxdolJHPGo67plOOZZkvwFjbCTAFIkFbdZYLbfnZAVyAlDjgzJbChcHgfBHvfcJmCaKCPQTDIl3zfEILq1hKoPgPtCtzKK6iQi3o/s1600/DSCF0486.JPG" height="229" width="320" /></a></div>
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My backyard studio started out as a chicken coop. After an
unfortunate incident involving coyotes, we no longer needed the chicken coop, so
it became a storage shed – mostly gardening stuff and my husband’s carpentry
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We built the original coop-shed with new lumber for the
framing, but we used field stones for the foundation, and miscellaneous wood, roofing,
windows and a door we had in our barn!<br />
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My Husband, Juano, a carpenter, helped me make sure the floor and frame were level and square, using the <i>3-4-5 rule*. </i>When he was too busy to work with me, it was great to have my copy of <i>Keep Out! </i>as a reference so I could work on it when I wanted to. While he did a lot of the work, I felt, by using the steps in the book, I could build the frame on my own! I learned a ton from both his kind, patient explanations and from the book.<br />
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Later, I cleared out the shed and made it into a studio with more "shopping trips" from the barn for an old drafting stool, a table and some beautiful barn wood. I get Juano's advice, but I am not afraid to make mistakes, either. So thank you for the "you-can-do-it!" inspiration in <i>Keep Out! </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDW8MUga-MTyaUM2RzLCRrQWxf7WIK0qZmkL0S5FcFwrAOAwPIpySoT_sWxL-gnpoH2M_INwPPMsGHXNcsgA6rx3iglITfyN0e64Ish4wvKoO_wMWHlfUesQbJfYkE0NHFr_3tGPnJ4I/s1600/cLAC_rusted+stool+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDW8MUga-MTyaUM2RzLCRrQWxf7WIK0qZmkL0S5FcFwrAOAwPIpySoT_sWxL-gnpoH2M_INwPPMsGHXNcsgA6rx3iglITfyN0e64Ish4wvKoO_wMWHlfUesQbJfYkE0NHFr_3tGPnJ4I/s1600/cLAC_rusted+stool+before.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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The stool before rehab...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXEssvmQKj5WSWip9srMge-6thSPJ7uWFCBBa6yN2gSbd1ElxscmaXcxGzmQ95JMGmcK6c9b4TUC3jsu6Aj6oXPoIXHk0BTGlZfOJbDq9yWdfXk5GGAmTChM1NlaHqsPERMSaAUrGhyphenhyphenI/s1600/cLAC_table_wallrods+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXEssvmQKj5WSWip9srMge-6thSPJ7uWFCBBa6yN2gSbd1ElxscmaXcxGzmQ95JMGmcK6c9b4TUC3jsu6Aj6oXPoIXHk0BTGlZfOJbDq9yWdfXk5GGAmTChM1NlaHqsPERMSaAUrGhyphenhyphenI/s1600/cLAC_table_wallrods+copy.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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My new crafting bench from a 2" thick piece of hardwood I varnished.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQQGPq60XFNOCmg44wawcGxVwOOmluiSbCZlMrBaGRxuHgrulRhxw2vfDs1jPrxVzRP6PFLKDyU4Rs0Sp_Pf6-7Wfc-FO2GoHPq3Z8JcYXEx_IzuZpJIGKcIr-dciT7wgUPd9bEomqjg/s1600/cLAC_rshed_front+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQQGPq60XFNOCmg44wawcGxVwOOmluiSbCZlMrBaGRxuHgrulRhxw2vfDs1jPrxVzRP6PFLKDyU4Rs0Sp_Pf6-7Wfc-FO2GoHPq3Z8JcYXEx_IzuZpJIGKcIr-dciT7wgUPd9bEomqjg/s1600/cLAC_rshed_front+copy.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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My studio so far...</div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">The Tyvek has been the siding for a couple of years; it adds character! And, as we say in the hilltowns: if you finish your house, then it's time to move.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;">Our next venture: my 11-year-old daughter is making her very own cabin! <i>Keep Out! </i>wasn't far from her side while she drew plans over the winter. She has already consulted her dad about building 6" thick walls, inspired by an adobe home she saw on a trip to New Mexico last fall.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;">*The 3-4-5 rule: On one side of a corner, measure three feet and make a mark. On the opposite side of the corner, measure four feet and make a mark. Next, measure the diagonal between the two marks. If the distance is exactly 5 feet, your corner is square! (This is based on the Pythagorean Theorem.)</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-88154297049750961542014-06-19T08:26:00.000-07:002014-06-19T08:26:21.650-07:00A Clubhouse of One's own<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvpzS7CSZcCex6FgLNFSsD3hzPreF6Vi63vOkHVQOdWU8Q-PU5n2nl5uMlfDgp7iirWWncPafr-ZiFU-ahyphenhyphenPEhY9wu6ffsHtrwi9Ndt3K5CQuo543EuxXzy7h3Jf5_EsvpqK27ull9d8/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvpzS7CSZcCex6FgLNFSsD3hzPreF6Vi63vOkHVQOdWU8Q-PU5n2nl5uMlfDgp7iirWWncPafr-ZiFU-ahyphenhyphenPEhY9wu6ffsHtrwi9Ndt3K5CQuo543EuxXzy7h3Jf5_EsvpqK27ull9d8/s1600/12.jpg" height="217" width="400" /></a></div>
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Kids need a place that they can call their own. It can be a
backyard shelter, no matter how crudely built, where a couple of friends can
sit in and talk, or read comic books, or (nowadays) play games and text on
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If your kids (girls too!) have a desire to build some kind
of fort or hideout, by all means let them. Ideally, the less you help them, the
better…let them discover the process themselves. Your task could be to provide
a few tools, nails, and help transporting lumber, either used or new. Kids are surprisingly resilient; they won’t
kill themselves or each other by building a clubhouse, and they will be doing
something creative that will give them a deep sense of pride. Also, they won’t
be crying that they’re bored, and you’ll know where they are! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-22672094854035823052013-09-11T19:52:00.000-07:002013-09-11T20:05:51.406-07:00Kids Need Their Own Community<span id="goog_1057081862"></span><span id="goog_1057081863"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ET9jYtJ81yRjAPDIWsR_EtwUXD5RgnJZzw9EfBZlO0QVQ3C5kyFocan5xxS5IaeNo89ulmXj-RIhMXcTvym5mpWbAC7ModhjSK9aTgigRbEOeDKJdhprYPgox_BLm9NlpzAsGI-MCU8/s1600/2nd+clubhouse+hanging+out+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ET9jYtJ81yRjAPDIWsR_EtwUXD5RgnJZzw9EfBZlO0QVQ3C5kyFocan5xxS5IaeNo89ulmXj-RIhMXcTvym5mpWbAC7ModhjSK9aTgigRbEOeDKJdhprYPgox_BLm9NlpzAsGI-MCU8/s400/2nd+clubhouse+hanging+out+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Kids need their own community, and a special place to experience it. A clubhouse, especially one they built themselves, gives kids a sense of privacy and independence, a safe place to talk, socialize, or decide whether to paint the place. They learn about consensus, and find that its fun to plan a bike trip or a cookout together. It's much more rewarding than sitting alone in front of the tube, or even sitting alone and texting. Hanging out with a bigger group is a far richer experience.<br />
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This is the kind of community that emerged when our random group of kids decided to build a clubhouse. Somehow the idea of building the thing together cemented us more as a group; we had a common project that everyone could contribute to. One kid provided the backyard (no easy task), another had found some good wood, another could pound nails pretty good, and even the youngest kid with no building skills had a knack for finding the coolest clubhouse-furnishings in the trash. We spent Saturdays and after-school hours at our clubhouse for a couple of years, tearing it apart and fixing it up continuously. It was an adventure! <br />
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I wrote <em>Keep Out! Build Your Own Backyard Clubhouse </em>to inspire kids and supportive grownups to get together and build a place of their own in which to gather, socialize, be a community!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-72692997151013102522013-07-13T19:07:00.002-07:002013-07-30T05:39:30.469-07:00Need Any Help?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4QEuKxvbI342E2p8MsSPAQocvPCX14NJZfCYTdtJWxJufo-q1obQRDILxSRKF6oL6C5lQvAc9pvb_kDG9AZXZwPG87qxj5HpXpdM4zCDCikXoyQfUX7PTimKgjxFZBmciETyZxyx0GU/s1600/build+it+intro+drwg+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4QEuKxvbI342E2p8MsSPAQocvPCX14NJZfCYTdtJWxJufo-q1obQRDILxSRKF6oL6C5lQvAc9pvb_kDG9AZXZwPG87qxj5HpXpdM4zCDCikXoyQfUX7PTimKgjxFZBmciETyZxyx0GU/s400/build+it+intro+drwg+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
If you're trying to build your clubhouse but don't know what to do next, either as you are starting out or at some point in the middle, let me know. You can comment to this post with a question, or e-mail me at <a href="mailto:mothesart@gmail.com">mothesart</a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_520027741"><a href="mailto:mothesart@gmail.com">@gmail.com</a>. I'll help you if I can!</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jIA4-gHcBwHKVQhqYwCkhceKoQjdF3Sl6Qj48dkR7Crup6pfeF5BCD-4oBQo8NSN5zhnPUsn5e7SyqFSTimy8kFlcxflO27wkLaxolSHeJjbhvfk36GJN_MZPGv6JeEYYf4zwm0KFic/s1600/14c+how+to+build+it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jIA4-gHcBwHKVQhqYwCkhceKoQjdF3Sl6Qj48dkR7Crup6pfeF5BCD-4oBQo8NSN5zhnPUsn5e7SyqFSTimy8kFlcxflO27wkLaxolSHeJjbhvfk36GJN_MZPGv6JeEYYf4zwm0KFic/s400/14c+how+to+build+it.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Friends can help you too...</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-58228476096992966912013-07-03T08:34:00.001-07:002013-07-13T19:08:40.302-07:00A Brick Clubhouse in ScotlandWhile on a trip in Scotland two years ago, I spotted this slate-roofed shelter in someone's back yard. It was about 8 feet by 8 feet in size, and looked quite old.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypZO3bx2AbQmtM_0hE-9zykl3RIfoZJxrVx627fxfTc30E51R-fukTsurbCbqLfhjsGCvLnEEQbvMDyovb7qvlpExF7Dusy9gdXsUZRZ87BGKSKA4pN9D5wbpPWQm9z27_alv4ZwhAsA/s742/Scotland+clubhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypZO3bx2AbQmtM_0hE-9zykl3RIfoZJxrVx627fxfTc30E51R-fukTsurbCbqLfhjsGCvLnEEQbvMDyovb7qvlpExF7Dusy9gdXsUZRZ87BGKSKA4pN9D5wbpPWQm9z27_alv4ZwhAsA/s400/Scotland+clubhouse.jpg" width="351" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-71320838224213776022013-05-25T08:52:00.000-07:002013-07-13T19:09:12.275-07:00Using Old Doors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjJpQZs3jKd1mL1-HF5k34NXWoHd-1GROJHg4IzlnWnAtv0LWYv8R6o8m2_0WitDOXDWRIyNDbc7JqI-I7bb6Z5fy1aX8B9coaCqmFcb87cvkbzwdWbhS_qryt1m-vZjaev8VCSipLmA/s1600/01-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjJpQZs3jKd1mL1-HF5k34NXWoHd-1GROJHg4IzlnWnAtv0LWYv8R6o8m2_0WitDOXDWRIyNDbc7JqI-I7bb6Z5fy1aX8B9coaCqmFcb87cvkbzwdWbhS_qryt1m-vZjaev8VCSipLmA/s400/01-8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Here is a way to build your clubhouse (or garden shed, studio, backyard guest room...) with very little cost, at least for the walls - use old doors. <br />
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In many neighborhoods, there are "anything goes" trash days, usually in the summer. (Look at your city's trash pickup schedule). This is when you can sometimes find old doors and windows on the curb. Also, the <a href="http://www.habitat.org/restores?place=us&media=Google&source_code=DHQOQ1107W1GGR&keyword=restore&gclid=CKedkuDNsbcCFcxFMgodSmkAtA">Re-Store</a>, second-hand stores, <a href="http://svdpgb.org/stores">St Vinnie's</a> and architectural salvage yards also sell old doors and windows very cheap. Get doors made of real wood - not the plywood or composition "slab doors", which will disintegrate outside. <br />
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First, collect enough doors to roughly fill up your outside walls. You might need to find some narrow cabinet doors or windows to fill in gaps. Once you think have enough, then plan your floor size to fit the doors plus the studs in between to tie the doors to the floor and the roof.<br />
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To seal the gaps between the doors, use some 1 by 4 trim boards, as shown above. Build a roof in the Classic Clubhouse style and voila! you have a palace of doors!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-78030749803106687272013-05-09T05:52:00.001-07:002013-05-09T06:22:48.735-07:00Getting Permission To Build a Clubhouse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwNeGR6RG4J4RNpLpo3hKLT8SGvkQ3lKa0Yct8pcSbbhwbH4iTGRxXbmXJsYChK8blkQT-R97iXyKlizYjDcujAQPwnreZdaTKTkx6rdk1dAm6m1f2mCx0nZIcN691U8DGMh3SF5pLTQ/s1600/The+Pile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwNeGR6RG4J4RNpLpo3hKLT8SGvkQ3lKa0Yct8pcSbbhwbH4iTGRxXbmXJsYChK8blkQT-R97iXyKlizYjDcujAQPwnreZdaTKTkx6rdk1dAm6m1f2mCx0nZIcN691U8DGMh3SF5pLTQ/s400/The+Pile.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Start with a simple clubhouse idea; this one might scare the grownups!</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">As
soon as you utter the word “clubhouse”, parents and other People in Control
will likely imagine a big mess to clean up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So here is where you’ll need to think like a
diplomat and probably a lawyer to argue your case. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Be careful not to choose a site too
close to your neighbor’s house or on their land. If there is no fence, ask
where the boundary might be. Also don’t use a neighbor’s or your own fence as
one of your walls! Furthermore, don’t build in front of someone’s picture
window or otherwise block their view. You will get complaints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By all means promise to keep the area clean
except where you are actually building your clubhouse, and then keep the
promise! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Invite your parents or other People in Control
to help find a good site for your clubhouse. If possible, have a second
building site in mind so the People in Control have a choice. If that doesn’t
work, impress them with your knowledge of developmental psychology: In recent
years children have been increasingly deprived of the outdoors and nature. Child-development
specialists such as Richard Louv have directly linked the absence of nature to
the recent rise in obesity, attention disorders and depression among children.
Show them Richard Louv’s website, <a href="http://richardlouv.com/last-child-movement">http://richardlouv.com/last-child-movement</a>,
and then tell them, “You don’t want me to get fat, stupid or depressed do you?”
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Another good argument is this: “I’ll be engaged
in something creative, I’ll be learning a lot of practical skills, and you will
know where I am!” Then show them the plans you drew so they will know more
about your project, and that you are serious about doing it “right”. Tell them
you’ll follow the safety tips listed in Chapter 2 and remind them you’ll keep
the place as clean and neat as you can. Until they convince you it is
impossible to build a clubhouse (you live in a high-rise apartment, for
example), then keep trying!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">If you live in a community or
subdivision that is heavily laden with what they call owners agreements, covenants
or deed restrictions, check the rules to see if you can build in your yard. In
recent years, some towns and homeowners’ associations have ordered clubhouses
removed because they are deemed unsafe, a fire hazard, unsightly, or all three.
Many communities don’t want to be “exposed to risk” from lawsuits or insurance
claims. This unfortunate trend is part of the reason kids are no longer allowed
to get outside, get dirty and build clubhouses! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">So go along with this system if you can. Show
them your plan, tell them you are the builder, and see what happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If necessary, argue your case with the points
listed above. If you have to, fight back by getting your parents or sympathetic
neighbors to help you regain your outdoor freedom. The Children and Nature
Network: http://childrenandnature.ning.com is a worldwide support group that
advocates this very thing! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">One idea, though it is a bit risky: get your grownup
supporters to let you build a “protest clubhouse” and when Those in Power
demand its removal, offer to sign a “no fault” letter that promises you won’t
sue them or make a claim against their liability insurance. If <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> doesn’t work call in the local news
media to make your point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
after all! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-19525372418266956592013-04-30T19:29:00.001-07:002013-05-01T20:36:55.345-07:00Once a Root Beer Stand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvsCEkeJxs37k-fpEGGaP03fxJ-g325uZlIKX_azctbj7YS3QQxLHZSHHz7rwRXzl-ouSXjTCyrwigZNaqfQ8B0ZFIc95HoPSl9sOFefpNdPuEm5sgOa2lcBY90HnhElpefg8Ec2O8Wk/s1600/12-10+Mothes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvsCEkeJxs37k-fpEGGaP03fxJ-g325uZlIKX_azctbj7YS3QQxLHZSHHz7rwRXzl-ouSXjTCyrwigZNaqfQ8B0ZFIc95HoPSl9sOFefpNdPuEm5sgOa2lcBY90HnhElpefg8Ec2O8Wk/s640/12-10+Mothes.jpg" width="524" /></a></div>
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In 1990 my daughters and I went on expeditions around our home in Northeast Wisconsin to find clubhouses or playhouses. In Kaukauna, we learned that this playhouse was originally built as a root beer stand and then remodeled. My kids enjoyed posing in front of it to show off the careful attention to scale and detail. </div>
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It's still there today, and it definitely looks 23 years older. My kids have grown a bit since then as well.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-49889048830590541862013-04-08T08:50:00.002-07:002013-04-08T08:50:54.414-07:00Our Second Clubhouse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngpD88NFdFIbbXOX2-rx7FNPkXfeq02I0eu-5F8qyc3bXxwxd6sunEm_gneoFKinH8ES9uTmX_SC-FHkY9C4ANNgrFBCQBJa4mJGyCg4-BSfKeDKU0iBO6kiTZDkmdbkKGLH94s_jcC8/s1600/2nd+clubhouse+hanging+out+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngpD88NFdFIbbXOX2-rx7FNPkXfeq02I0eu-5F8qyc3bXxwxd6sunEm_gneoFKinH8ES9uTmX_SC-FHkY9C4ANNgrFBCQBJa4mJGyCg4-BSfKeDKU0iBO6kiTZDkmdbkKGLH94s_jcC8/s640/2nd+clubhouse+hanging+out+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
After our first clubhouse out on the vacant lot (above on masthead) got wrecked by some kids, four of us formed a club and build this clubhouse. <br />
It turned out that Kathy (seated at right) got us permission to use a fenced-in back yard her parents only used for storing junk and extra lumber; Chris, in the doorway, knew how to find really cool stuff in the trash, Chele, seated at left, was Kathy's friend, and I (who took the picture) was able to build it. The other kids helped by finding some of the wood.<br />
We built this from wood we found or that the neighbors donated. As Christmas approached, we needed paint and more nails to finish the clubhouse. When my mom asked what I wanted Santa to bring me, I quickly replied, "About five pounds of 8-penny nails and a gallon of turquoise paint!" Santa came through, and the clubhouse, in this picture, was bright turquoise!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-70633189087284577682013-03-31T14:05:00.001-07:002013-04-01T18:58:03.420-07:00The One That (Almost) Got Away <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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On large estate-house grounds, elaborate playhouses were often constructed for the kids. This one Is my favorite of any I've seen so far. It was discovered by New Jersey resident John Rickershauser:<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">John lived near an old country estate in
New Jersey, which was eventually razed for a condominium development. Just
before the demolition, he was out walking (fortunately with his camera handy)
when he spotted this wonderful but neglected playhouse on the grounds. These
estate playhouses often had running water, wood- or coal-fired cook stoves and
electric lights, and I suspect this one had it all. The fence alone is an
architectural treasure. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28qUI2MQonrE2oAx7MqQSaShdFBAcSxEwmd8t8lw1qAca8b2YxzBnHzpstrF9Q7hxONlpIeoDmroe_FEsCzv2fPUY0MTDhwqLpJmJzbA5tOSeYp6FhKYAkJ6sBxPgv5l6dW-ssk44_rE/s1600/12-12+Rickershauser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28qUI2MQonrE2oAx7MqQSaShdFBAcSxEwmd8t8lw1qAca8b2YxzBnHzpstrF9Q7hxONlpIeoDmroe_FEsCzv2fPUY0MTDhwqLpJmJzbA5tOSeYp6FhKYAkJ6sBxPgv5l6dW-ssk44_rE/s320/12-12+Rickershauser.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlZPvm-XBIyv6fqbBG4BQBCji-hmIsG1pgWXfT-Ecbsa7-KmY3KlnwWVKtKAgmb6rxsVSFbYmzkKXr-q3MevK7e3ORPuKoz1_kGyZWHLlEBcNIvZpPJ5xn-efh7oU-H1IGysgqsWCZO4/s1600/12-13+Rickershauser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlZPvm-XBIyv6fqbBG4BQBCji-hmIsG1pgWXfT-Ecbsa7-KmY3KlnwWVKtKAgmb6rxsVSFbYmzkKXr-q3MevK7e3ORPuKoz1_kGyZWHLlEBcNIvZpPJ5xn-efh7oU-H1IGysgqsWCZO4/s320/12-13+Rickershauser.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I drew a floor plan of this in case anyone wants to build it!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCMw75cMHbbtBpyTQvs7pCmXUuuJbco0BypO3WEa_IsOcTslWGK_ocovX8oRVbZm3625LpsBMG6zazd63sERw8FSPx653lnmRAgi3bp6lG1tZB4llv2QP_Ov-Ghbi85lH5Y9xNEqjc5m4/s1600/12-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCMw75cMHbbtBpyTQvs7pCmXUuuJbco0BypO3WEa_IsOcTslWGK_ocovX8oRVbZm3625LpsBMG6zazd63sERw8FSPx653lnmRAgi3bp6lG1tZB4llv2QP_Ov-Ghbi85lH5Y9xNEqjc5m4/s320/12-15.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Photos contributed by John P. Rickershauser<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-42719913242651723022013-03-14T06:33:00.001-07:002013-03-14T17:18:08.775-07:00Two-story Playhouse in Tucson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3Vb82tZ6nmxLdPjcuzjWbx9bsLfzAfmWydE95wM0wJ3OqaYlNkmp-T0IG8xDCqdJ-gu3fEYejWcKSwXV3t5ynZAv9_XO_b64xj_sILCwYOSEToGi8hFwrddAKGfxMIKPi9gGDjenTjY/s1600/Arizona+playhouse+and+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="441" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3Vb82tZ6nmxLdPjcuzjWbx9bsLfzAfmWydE95wM0wJ3OqaYlNkmp-T0IG8xDCqdJ-gu3fEYejWcKSwXV3t5ynZAv9_XO_b64xj_sILCwYOSEToGi8hFwrddAKGfxMIKPi9gGDjenTjY/s640/Arizona+playhouse+and+car.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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In Tucson, Arizona, having a lot of opening windows is a good idea to let cooling breezes flow through. This playhouse was built of 2" by 2" framing and 1/2" thick OSB panels, all brightly painted. Another bonus is the high ceiling at one end, tall enough for a cozy loft.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-84866861080505483822013-02-23T19:27:00.000-08:002013-02-23T19:27:16.219-08:00How to Pound (and unbend) a Nail<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's how to pound a nail, and what usually happens when you are just starting out. </div>
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Don't worry about bent nails, keep trying!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VSHgZbnyr2RjYyVzavUpKvz_MGDhKzXZcVQd-mf4HSZkLeraMt3vVAcvete_TQFzHO4hLMQNjHIBXInolSGnjXR9x0s1uL19JFBb9gt1AiMbAMxlr4vEzFAqaoHuIdZjilZMZquBI7A/s1600/02-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VSHgZbnyr2RjYyVzavUpKvz_MGDhKzXZcVQd-mf4HSZkLeraMt3vVAcvete_TQFzHO4hLMQNjHIBXInolSGnjXR9x0s1uL19JFBb9gt1AiMbAMxlr4vEzFAqaoHuIdZjilZMZquBI7A/s320/02-12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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To unbend bent nails, try these techniques:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xGo7MXWdSzNZrmroByz_tzNxKcm5I-kjtn86JFpJPVTEpfEogbZCaOEuynBPWuMrJ66roJvbHJ-Ivh949IN_dfnlXwd2Lt-SVWOqgAvxttPJ_kiopetGLpi17m9EkbfI3Cu49_awP1s/s1600/02-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xGo7MXWdSzNZrmroByz_tzNxKcm5I-kjtn86JFpJPVTEpfEogbZCaOEuynBPWuMrJ66roJvbHJ-Ivh949IN_dfnlXwd2Lt-SVWOqgAvxttPJ_kiopetGLpi17m9EkbfI3Cu49_awP1s/s400/02-13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYiiisiEv6ONYlvpMdb-eQr4fyVvXa2OfaHakwR0txgkt5TG7HRrkBVhuWeRJl5hGp3Nd4AbixONl_FpQ4hIOS4dRHFlSLL3mZtgzKJf6lQ1-18gM2mEvYA7zSecUzVd7or2OdM3fp6Y/s1600/02-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYiiisiEv6ONYlvpMdb-eQr4fyVvXa2OfaHakwR0txgkt5TG7HRrkBVhuWeRJl5hGp3Nd4AbixONl_FpQ4hIOS4dRHFlSLL3mZtgzKJf6lQ1-18gM2mEvYA7zSecUzVd7or2OdM3fp6Y/s400/02-14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-2539460341108765962013-02-15T19:44:00.001-08:002013-02-15T19:45:20.947-08:00Clubouse Book Arriving Soon!My newly minted book about building clubhouses, titled <strong><em><span style="color: #741b47;">Keep Out! Build Your Own Backyard Clubhouse</span></em></strong> will be coming out on march 27. It will contain a lot of the stuff seen on this blog, and is already available for pre-order on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Out-Clubhouse-Step-Step/dp/1612120296">Amazon</a>. Here's a picture of the cover:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3NrshG77U3LGgMVr-nfhX-pObGqxe1UDj8Arp019tG49FnQsys6f3X4HV1dUwt3BVyLDO92N9P1xYVu-cckTnzAsW7K8VeTyPViTdHTlYYDCP7wsOOJBw51jjWa1tL_q-y8AdDnrlGg/s1600/Keep+Out+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3NrshG77U3LGgMVr-nfhX-pObGqxe1UDj8Arp019tG49FnQsys6f3X4HV1dUwt3BVyLDO92N9P1xYVu-cckTnzAsW7K8VeTyPViTdHTlYYDCP7wsOOJBw51jjWa1tL_q-y8AdDnrlGg/s1600/Keep+Out+cover.jpg" /></a></div>
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Beginning this coming April, I will be going on the road to talk about the book, and just for fun, I built this model clubhouse, 9 inches tall, complete with the sawhorses (One of the nine tools!) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3MelFV9TCYIpTVAhLnFR1sZynTwJTqdBaYqZKTRMYRZjz3DH3CAZgDsCfDfo8UrbeOrQ2MjBK7MvgTkqVeX5QhdzrE_7kv6hANgAczq9Nizpj4wnlguJFLw-AkZuGlcG00MwI-aJaEA/s1600/Roofing+shingling+sawhorses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3MelFV9TCYIpTVAhLnFR1sZynTwJTqdBaYqZKTRMYRZjz3DH3CAZgDsCfDfo8UrbeOrQ2MjBK7MvgTkqVeX5QhdzrE_7kv6hANgAczq9Nizpj4wnlguJFLw-AkZuGlcG00MwI-aJaEA/s400/Roofing+shingling+sawhorses.jpg" width="355" /></a></div>
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I even finished the inside, but left one side open to show how the walls are framed.</div>
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The quarter by the chair shows the scale!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-23570396209613104382013-02-12T07:57:00.000-08:002013-02-15T05:46:31.276-08:009 Essential ToolsYou'll only need nine essential hand tools to build your clubhouse. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUvOVQGJVKtffGexYyGVX533ft6XGSkSd5KGaCQ93thGsoDV60LG0xMrXwuv_CovvKe2t3w15xyJ7G5Zh9mTmJUr9oKZ5zkbVDs5ptsKW9hTqPIVVJEa79B52vN0JOr-l3lSHD6oej_0/s1600/02-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUvOVQGJVKtffGexYyGVX533ft6XGSkSd5KGaCQ93thGsoDV60LG0xMrXwuv_CovvKe2t3w15xyJ7G5Zh9mTmJUr9oKZ5zkbVDs5ptsKW9hTqPIVVJEa79B52vN0JOr-l3lSHD6oej_0/s400/02-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">1. A hammer</span> that you can easily swing to pound in nails. For kids, a 12-ounce to 16-ounce "finish hammer", as shown above, is about right. If you are buying one, pick them up, and swing the different sizes for the right weight.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. A tape measure.</span> A 10-foot or 12-foot tape is long enough for a clubhouse. These are also small enough to easily fit in your hand or your pocket.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0Cpbm2_AJ7CRQid1QYZoL5Uzq98NeiGK0pmi_c41SpcodJzmYnYBt3A_6d-gjXx2-kQ5vVZKtKcZ81c9a-dDo96vZ28hh6J8sRx8Np8WivzYFIBZ9TjZSEOYmW_EezIJQRf4xmV-IRE/s1600/02-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0Cpbm2_AJ7CRQid1QYZoL5Uzq98NeiGK0pmi_c41SpcodJzmYnYBt3A_6d-gjXx2-kQ5vVZKtKcZ81c9a-dDo96vZ28hh6J8sRx8Np8WivzYFIBZ9TjZSEOYmW_EezIJQRf4xmV-IRE/s320/02-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">3. A handsaw.</span> Get one of these short "Sharktooth" saws made by Stanley. They are very sharp, sized right for kids, will fit in a toolbox, and not too expensive.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBI0RlcWZlDNLeLqQko_sOxX9bNzKdNEnyQcc1oFCEWzdB_tF-NZPobnWzxAqpKztNAfuckg18aGOTgKGviqxk0bGyC5uyme4d7GIjKY1Ql89FH-2OlAwTeNo_pNKz6C0j3-ujLnuDIxo/s1600/02-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBI0RlcWZlDNLeLqQko_sOxX9bNzKdNEnyQcc1oFCEWzdB_tF-NZPobnWzxAqpKztNAfuckg18aGOTgKGviqxk0bGyC5uyme4d7GIjKY1Ql89FH-2OlAwTeNo_pNKz6C0j3-ujLnuDIxo/s320/02-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">4. A pencil.</span> Any pencil will work.<br />
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<img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxlSLNJioP0puzshHGexI1XR17oudgmhAc5s_0DpLaocKjFEpXlDh3aKqgnlraPxuUwuHn1KlF2gjj8g1YxHDlksGb-MGqVwQK10ImkdVZLhATsgDZaAlAKY_pu5abT1F0WMKTy-V1nc/s320/02-4.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">5. A framing square.</span> This is the perfect tool to mark boards for cutting with your saw. Get the smaller (7 inches on a side) metal or plastic one. The marks on it will be helpful for cutting angles later!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Tje7PT-nlyWah7u8ECVLWBMsglqLuarkYFKel3ociEkSGgS5OYgSae9FMSSvsxjs4Vtgug_N3B1DKl6XhxjN7FzZfQzdVuBk3rxu_8Lx3k2vCN-BXB9Fur79NbYj9IBF7pVPq4hC7cI/s1600/02-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="54" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Tje7PT-nlyWah7u8ECVLWBMsglqLuarkYFKel3ociEkSGgS5OYgSae9FMSSvsxjs4Vtgug_N3B1DKl6XhxjN7FzZfQzdVuBk3rxu_8Lx3k2vCN-BXB9Fur79NbYj9IBF7pVPq4hC7cI/s320/02-6.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">6. A screwdriver. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Get a standard and a phillips-style screwdriver, or a combination screwdriver that includes both.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">7. A level.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> A nine-inch long "Torpedo" type plastic level will work fine. Also, this small level will fit in any tool box.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS415RgVWEI2lVaJ4nZwtV5Zyo6et0kR6tlNdFBfnWV7X3s8hDY7t2pLqsWl1zYcAL8JfU_1hJ6nWZXhp-WNz01URZbqvdd86-2y8qHDdaGldppAKiwOvIiQ5GKa_2e4_fxC8gC_Cmnnc/s1600/02-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS415RgVWEI2lVaJ4nZwtV5Zyo6et0kR6tlNdFBfnWV7X3s8hDY7t2pLqsWl1zYcAL8JfU_1hJ6nWZXhp-WNz01URZbqvdd86-2y8qHDdaGldppAKiwOvIiQ5GKa_2e4_fxC8gC_Cmnnc/s320/02-8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">8. A pry bar.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> This is your tool for fixing goofs, or for helping with alterations and room additions later on. Sometimes called a "Wonder Bar"; Stanley Tools makes the best one.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0eGChOG_gQRA6YelQbqKGh3QE9jcNGWxQmmtORziAZkPJJUtblpmg5LMeGFA_xwkLfiI8_vckDpsm9jxw305-ToNmYImAlSOIU3OMzMonEVZzuQVsW-Up49Olqxmq4yt0hgidBYeoVk/s1600/02-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0eGChOG_gQRA6YelQbqKGh3QE9jcNGWxQmmtORziAZkPJJUtblpmg5LMeGFA_xwkLfiI8_vckDpsm9jxw305-ToNmYImAlSOIU3OMzMonEVZzuQVsW-Up49Olqxmq4yt0hgidBYeoVk/s320/02-9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">9. Sawhorses.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> These are necessary for sawing boards safely. You can buy a set or build the ones shown above. The lower height ( 24 inches) of these hand-built ones is better for young builders.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Extra:</span> A Nail pouch or tool belt. Lumber yards sell these canvas ones for very little.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-44138821514982953212013-01-30T16:53:00.000-08:002013-01-30T16:53:10.763-08:00How to find wood and other stuff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrR0xDkyHXAGa0cmw1Y8KRFPppM_5DSIevksgK1FkIrG7DMN72doJafDmLU5tDiBhyphenhyphenEcJO8MfhGpn0R3Hqd6A4EAEpfFywet8ITtcXqxTCYmGh2DUi9zsCf2TwnmnxiXy3e2kihFnvfw/s1600/04-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrR0xDkyHXAGa0cmw1Y8KRFPppM_5DSIevksgK1FkIrG7DMN72doJafDmLU5tDiBhyphenhyphenEcJO8MfhGpn0R3Hqd6A4EAEpfFywet8ITtcXqxTCYmGh2DUi9zsCf2TwnmnxiXy3e2kihFnvfw/s640/04-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">You can either buy new materials or find them around your neighborhood.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">If you don’t have any money, finding the wood for your clubhouse can be a challenge, but it can be done. Keep an eye out as you walk or bike-ride around your neighborhood. Ask around! Is there an old shed nearby that you can tear down in exchange for the wood? How about that fence that fell down a month ago? Does so-and-so want that window sitting in his garage? With patience and persistence, you’ll likely get the lumber, windows, paint, and whatever else you’ll need for your clubhouse with the help of your friends and neighbors. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Getting materials is also where co-operation comes into play. If your friends (and their friends) can help donate the stuff you need to build the clubhouse, then everyone will benefit! This is the point where you might want to write up some sort of club agreement where everyone who contributes wood or other materials can be part of the club on some level. Trust will play a big part here. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">It is also likely that you will have to buy some of the lumber and the nails from a lumberyard, so you will need money and a car. If you still need the Basic Tools listed in Chapter 2, you’ll need to shop for them as well. This, along with the permission thing, brings up co-operation with grownups. If you offer to give them something they need, beyond what they already expect of you, there is a good chance you will get the materials and tools you will need. In the process you’ll become very good at real-world negotiating, a great lifetime skill!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You can find cheap
recycled stuff at salvage yards, resale shops, St Vincint de Paul’s or other
thrift shops. Hardware store paint departments often have returned custom-color
paints for sale at $2. to $5. a can, and it’s good paint if you like the color!
(Avoid oil-based paints, though) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another good
source: Habitat for Humanity operates <a href="http://www.habitat.org/restores">The Restore</a>, a chain of used building-material
outlets. They have everything including lumber, odd furniture, nails and hardware. It’s
an adventure!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-10498544929761494862013-01-20T20:32:00.002-08:002013-01-20T20:32:27.687-08:00Wood and Nails<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Once you've drawn a plan and have permission, you can start looking for wood for your clubhouse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">A clubhouse can be built with just a few different kinds of boards, all held together with a few sizes of nails. It's a good idea to learn the carpenter words for the boards as they are used. This is what the frame of a possible clubhouse might look like, and what the pieces are called:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The floor is held up by two 4" by 4" thick beams called foundation sills that are 8 feet long. These support seven 2" by 4" thick floor joists 6 feet long, which then support the floor boards. The floor supports the walls which support the roof. To make them strong, the walls are built with studs, plates and other pieces; all from 2" by 4" thick boards. Thinner boards or plywood then cover up the 2 by 4s. I'll show you how to put all this together in several steps!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most nails come in one-pound or five-pound boxes. For starters, get a couple of 1-pound boxes of 6d, 8d and 16d construction nails called "coated sinkers". Exterior galvanized nails are good for nailing on trim boards or siding that will get rained on. These are the kind used in house building everywhere. There are a few other kinds of nails or screws you might be using as well: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1zFZC8DV7IlzpOAr6ggHHEBrqiCMmy3wXs3ZugeJLcJ5jBdQZtQvAeV3dTeeSZp5nXtEVgenoudZ6wRO3KYNwyi2wmStiSR-YHHEwH8BYbuCXuichyBaV1vC1PRqXNxl99g0B9Caofo/s1600/04-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1zFZC8DV7IlzpOAr6ggHHEBrqiCMmy3wXs3ZugeJLcJ5jBdQZtQvAeV3dTeeSZp5nXtEVgenoudZ6wRO3KYNwyi2wmStiSR-YHHEwH8BYbuCXuichyBaV1vC1PRqXNxl99g0B9Caofo/s400/04-11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Next: How to find wood and other stuff ... </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-29610370213080115892013-01-17T20:12:00.000-08:002013-01-17T20:12:45.423-08:00Find a Building Site<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQB1u4jzqgZJ65zytCGQzp7cNWqJZfsi-14Y96ZipOzH_-AvafOaMqgitHzdjZM9BDG6Z7F81jwJ6VW1cM3vcP-YCd60mYc6ULCRcEKfZdau6kpDG4nASR5oVTsv1M9KVAZQokKrAA8E/s1600/Likely+clubhouse+site.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQB1u4jzqgZJ65zytCGQzp7cNWqJZfsi-14Y96ZipOzH_-AvafOaMqgitHzdjZM9BDG6Z7F81jwJ6VW1cM3vcP-YCd60mYc6ULCRcEKfZdau6kpDG4nASR5oVTsv1M9KVAZQokKrAA8E/s640/Likely+clubhouse+site.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><em> </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take some time to find a good place for your clubhouse. Your own fenced-in back yard is the best, but any space out of the way will work. Front yards are made to look at, so your parents (and complaining neighbors) probably won’t let you build there. A vacant lot or nearby woods might work, but there is a chance that other kids will wreck it while you’re away. A tucked-away corner in a back yard, maybe by the garage, often works the best. If your summers are hot, try to find a shady spot.</span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-90688421221526312142013-01-10T19:24:00.000-08:002013-01-10T19:35:49.351-08:00Getting Permission<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojs9GAynSeqM9E6zOpGihVbGK3-0nbVi_VN6Ln735W1_7tdViIQjblpZzz8kC89tIgD6-Hcu9R-a7MdSka9fY5eA1yGBXMzyK600ENtukzVsMajQmGKmmj2zGE2fPerJsQ8n1N6ppLMw/s1600/01-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojs9GAynSeqM9E6zOpGihVbGK3-0nbVi_VN6Ln735W1_7tdViIQjblpZzz8kC89tIgD6-Hcu9R-a7MdSka9fY5eA1yGBXMzyK600ENtukzVsMajQmGKmmj2zGE2fPerJsQ8n1N6ppLMw/s640/01-10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is there a place here for me?</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Parents and other People in Control will likely imagine a big mess to clean up as soon as you utter the word “clubhouse.” So here is where you’ll need to think like a diplomat and talk like a lawyer to argue your case. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Be careful not to choose a site too close to your neighbor’s house or on their land. If there is no fence, ask where the boundary might be. Also don’t use a neighbor’s or your own fence as one of your walls without permission! Furthermore, don’t build in front of someone’s picture window or otherwise block their view. You will get complaints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By all means PROMISE to keep the area clean except where you are actually building your clubhouse, and then KEEP the promise! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Invite your parents or other People in Control to help find a good site for your clubhouse. Also, have a second-choice building site in mind so the People in Control have a choice. If that doesn’t work, tell them that in recent years children have been increasingly deprived of the outdoors and nature, and child-development specialists such as Richard Louv have directly linked the absence of nature/being outside to the recent rise in obesity, attention disorders and depression among children. Show them Richard Louv’s website, <u><a href="http://richardlouv.com/last-child-movement"><span style="color: black;">http://richardlouv.com/last-child-movement</span></a></u><span style="color: black;">,</span> and then tell them, “You don’t want me to get fat, crazy or depressed, do you?” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Another good argument is this: “I’ll be engaged in something creative, I’ll be learning a lot of practical skills, and you will know where I am!” Then show them your plans (see below) so they’ll know more about your project, and that you are serious about doing it “right”. Tell them you’ll follow the safety tips listed above and remind them you’ll keep the place as clean and neat as you can. If they still resist, keep trying!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If you live in a community or subdivision that is heavily laden with covenants or deed restrictions, check the rules to see if you can build in your yard. In recent years, some towns and homeowners’ associations have ordered clubhouses removed because they are deemed unsafe, a fire hazard, unsightly, or all three. Many communities don’t want to be “exposed to risk” from lawsuits or insurance claims. This unfortunate trend is part of the reason kids are no longer allowed to create things on their own such as clubhouses. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So fight back! Get your parents or sympathetic neighbors to help you regain your outdoor freedom. The Children and Nature Network: <u><a href="http://childrenandnature.ning.com/">http://childrenandnature.ning.com</a></u>, is a worldwide support group that advocates this very thing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One idea: get your supporters to let you build a “protest clubhouse” and when Those in Power demand its removal, offer to sign a “no fault” letter that promises you won’t ever sue them or make a claim against their liability insurance. If <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> doesn’t work call in the local news media to make your point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">America</country-region></place>, after all!<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-4480492230124572502013-01-04T19:06:00.002-08:002013-02-15T05:44:06.370-08:00Plans<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxF0fuH85_5JSEtvlBOnCPmvTPHRjyK-exJa4u3O5efyu29S-usv6cWYXUuzG4KkJkuHIZBg0tUlIAsWxEh1mn87xvnIsV1ASvk-h6xV9L7rdITSc5WRqdtwN49Kc-3bYH3okAwylr59I/s1600/Plan+of+fort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxF0fuH85_5JSEtvlBOnCPmvTPHRjyK-exJa4u3O5efyu29S-usv6cWYXUuzG4KkJkuHIZBg0tUlIAsWxEh1mn87xvnIsV1ASvk-h6xV9L7rdITSc5WRqdtwN49Kc-3bYH3okAwylr59I/s400/Plan+of+fort.jpg" width="352" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Any kind of plan will help!</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Draw a Plan</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">This works a lot better than just starting out nailing boards together. A plan is simply a way to think about what you want, and then how to get there. Plans might also help you get permission and support for your project. Here’s how to plan your clubhouse:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUu8sM_WuZFCQtHuIdktwiInWBDWcBffn-qq87S5XUV0Xsga7DwRel8ciyEkZ7svSDZWT-n2GjPTxQlwloTzypRTXddSdByg86o8pru-CHshu_7YkAy4pl4kU7A1r7GZ5QGVUrGMTgOE/s1600/howto+plans+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUu8sM_WuZFCQtHuIdktwiInWBDWcBffn-qq87S5XUV0Xsga7DwRel8ciyEkZ7svSDZWT-n2GjPTxQlwloTzypRTXddSdByg86o8pru-CHshu_7YkAy4pl4kU7A1r7GZ5QGVUrGMTgOE/s640/howto+plans+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think about a space big enough to hold yourself and your friends. Think about what you might want to do in it, and maybe write a list: will you want a desk or a couch? Will you want chairs or just cushions on the floor? Will you want a place to store or hide stuff, or a secret exit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A 6-foot by 8-foot clubhouse will comfortably hold 4 people, so I am going to use this size for my demonstration:</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfssPXcRyvMgo_G_Z-vgU-rKpNECNBNLpyL2UtNBDHTNSK7T0YCG7HFeiNR9HI9nstJOSH_yKJEQNixU4BZyC55gLiPH9Me1BIi1rEakk6eXN3tEXgO6R4alO5oQni9TjlONu8A0LGgg/s1600/howto+plans+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfssPXcRyvMgo_G_Z-vgU-rKpNECNBNLpyL2UtNBDHTNSK7T0YCG7HFeiNR9HI9nstJOSH_yKJEQNixU4BZyC55gLiPH9Me1BIi1rEakk6eXN3tEXgO6R4alO5oQni9TjlONu8A0LGgg/s640/howto+plans+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Then check the site you’ve chosen to see if your clubhouse will fit. With your tape measure, check the actual size on the ground if you need to. You might have to make it square-shaped or maybe four feet wide and ten feet long to fit a tight space!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Also think about how you’d like to get in and out…what kind of door?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much light and ventilation do you want? What kind of windows? Some kids like their clubhouses dark and den-like, others like a lot of light so they can read or see what’s going on outside. A sliding window or two are great for ventilation on hot days. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">You may want to build a different shape or size, so draw your plan first. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Later you can add more rooms if there is enough space around your clubhouse.</span> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-53496857708652337932012-12-31T06:06:00.000-08:002013-02-15T05:43:48.595-08:00Play with Ideas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's never too early (or too late) to play with ideas for your clubhouse. If you want a clubhouse, draw a picture of it. It doesn't matter how crude or crazy the drawing is, but doing it gets your brain focused - and it's fun!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was about ten or eleven, I drew some fantasy clubhouses...</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7yxETjnDmIJJTEQpIUx1AC-QdpAymbNxhCmfzXgM6J0rC4egoApUpIObqhSLV3mekcXUKxNB7h1Rz1WyUowwFKArpWT0AVdH5gKsSUtLNDAS7R3Iucogzt9QSmuRc-HBwCnxRbLOndY/s1600/Drawing+clubhouse+treehouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7yxETjnDmIJJTEQpIUx1AC-QdpAymbNxhCmfzXgM6J0rC4egoApUpIObqhSLV3mekcXUKxNB7h1Rz1WyUowwFKArpWT0AVdH5gKsSUtLNDAS7R3Iucogzt9QSmuRc-HBwCnxRbLOndY/s320/Drawing+clubhouse+treehouse.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a combination clubhouse-treehouse,</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwjd8nSph5ABq8DXC6CTY4scmIKd5erSfn2Q3b7cGBumlY-IfAniqkJFID4uGb0ynXSYIebw4oZNmg0Nmal8nbkNA-WG2ExSBmggiklojNzKoI8YqVluSIlSTOLRgRSFnFNNzcvnwP0E/s1600/Drawing+fantasy+backyard+clubhouse+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwjd8nSph5ABq8DXC6CTY4scmIKd5erSfn2Q3b7cGBumlY-IfAniqkJFID4uGb0ynXSYIebw4oZNmg0Nmal8nbkNA-WG2ExSBmggiklojNzKoI8YqVluSIlSTOLRgRSFnFNNzcvnwP0E/s320/Drawing+fantasy+backyard+clubhouse+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a backyard clubhouse with garden-hose privileges,</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hTqjgBH4N4eaA8pgqb2FNDLoa_yRXDUupODIUlZn_7z8JhAG3xwLDwEdskvSqlVRPUIcYQFPIvTHP4x_gLpwBhv-S5wQC9-MrcWr9WWaSvAoF_WspqUQg_E8EWx7_zzmSJM4sGM3N8k/s1600/Drawing+fantasy+driftwood+clubhouse+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hTqjgBH4N4eaA8pgqb2FNDLoa_yRXDUupODIUlZn_7z8JhAG3xwLDwEdskvSqlVRPUIcYQFPIvTHP4x_gLpwBhv-S5wQC9-MrcWr9WWaSvAoF_WspqUQg_E8EWx7_zzmSJM4sGM3N8k/s320/Drawing+fantasy+driftwood+clubhouse+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and this beach clubhouse made of driftwood.</span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-73368349487825587272012-12-26T19:20:00.001-08:002013-02-15T05:43:29.008-08:00My Own Clubhouse Obsession<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2luqf1e58U6WWBU76h54ALmfjvd-7G7qdFllRGXzz7nBRsLWvsQjMNOKA3kOX3wjd0sbAvytIxx77bCv_n_Zh8Kq5K5ntcMGc9oekJfLdobceCwjpF1pHJ-1w04ljp32olt9XSz-0ah4/s1600/Clubhouse+for+sale+2%252C600%252C000+dollars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2luqf1e58U6WWBU76h54ALmfjvd-7G7qdFllRGXzz7nBRsLWvsQjMNOKA3kOX3wjd0sbAvytIxx77bCv_n_Zh8Kq5K5ntcMGc9oekJfLdobceCwjpF1pHJ-1w04ljp32olt9XSz-0ah4/s640/Clubhouse+for+sale+2%252C600%252C000+dollars.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arno Pro"; font-size: 12pt;">My favorite clubhouse,
built in 1959, lasted until 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arno Pro"; font-size: 12pt;">I grew up in a small town in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:state>, with my older brother and single
working mom. When I was a kid, I built four clubhouses with my friends. We
constantly remodeled them, planted gardens around them, drew up rules, kept
club journals, and spent endless hours hanging out in these places that were
our own. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arno Pro"; font-size: 12pt;">Our parents never interfered unless we invited them in
for an “inspection”. They trusted us to spend endless hours outside (with no
cell phones!) and not maim ourselves with sharp tools. They also seemed pleased
that we were doing something constructive and were out from under their feet! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arno Pro"; font-size: 12pt;">When I wasn’t actually building a clubhouse, I spent a
lot of time thinking about clubhouse possibilities. I was inspired by
clubhouse-building stories in comic books, a memorable children’s novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Billy Had a Clubhouse</i>, and the 1923
edition of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Audel’s Carpenters and
Builders Guides</i>. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Audel</i> books
consisted of countless ink diagrams of house-construction details, and very few
words! I obsessively drew floor plans, imaginary clubhouses, and our real
clubhouses covered in snow or viewed in the future!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arno Pro"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> Our clubhouses were
of solid wood (no cardboard), tall enough to stand in and had doors with
hinges. I was determined to build them “right” so I learned a lot about
carpentry and wound up with some solid structures, one of which stood, more or
less intact, for 53 years! I also learned some valuable social skills and other
cosmic truths along the way; those things that parents and schools try to teach
us, but often to deaf ears. My clubhouse-building finally ended at age 16 when
we moved 700 miles away…and my grandfather and I built a bedroom!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arno Pro"; font-size: 12pt;"> I continued
to build other shelters after the clubhouses. I still like doing it. I studied
architecture briefly in college and learned carpentry ‘on the job’ from three
very different but accomplished master carpenters. For several years as a
freelance carpenter, I built room additions, cabins and one house for myself;
which felt like building a clubhouse all over again, only bigger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arno Pro"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Professionally, I was drawn to
visual art, and received a Bachelors Degree in art in 1980, at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Western</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Oregon</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>.
I worked as a graphic artist and designer until starting my own freelance art
studio, called Oceans and Dreams, in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Kaukauna</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Wisconsin</st1:state></st1:place> in 1990. I continue to
work in watercolor and acrylic, painting ocean waves and seascapes of the West
Coast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arno Pro"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>However, my interest in building
small shelters, especially clubhouses, has never diminished. In 1991 I began to
write a memoir about my clubhouse experiences, and sought out similar stories
from other builders through do-it-yourself homebuilding magazines. I'll share these stories and what I've learned about building clubhouses in this online saga...</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-81646975214092300792012-12-22T20:18:00.000-08:002012-12-22T20:18:02.481-08:00How Do I Start?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGi1GEYL3WF8ckCWQsOIUwqGciGDK9-BfJvnSDun2VKrVNp1PETFFz6ICW36ECM66iLaB26l_NU2bgOpfVUHfgByQDZNNXcQEgnGeleC8ds1JXRLInZ0R1SeKqnzHDvbx8LtxcZkN9oY/s1600/build+it+intro+drwg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGi1GEYL3WF8ckCWQsOIUwqGciGDK9-BfJvnSDun2VKrVNp1PETFFz6ICW36ECM66iLaB26l_NU2bgOpfVUHfgByQDZNNXcQEgnGeleC8ds1JXRLInZ0R1SeKqnzHDvbx8LtxcZkN9oY/s640/build+it+intro+drwg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Have you ever wanted to build something big enough to be inside of? A private, quiet place where you could hang out with a friend, or read by yourself, or store things you didn't want your brother (or little sister) to find? If you're a grownup, maybe it's a place to sew or paint, or grow bonzai, or just to sit and rest out just out of reach of needy family members.<br />
<br />
This sounds like your own backyard clubhouse or private retreat!<br />
<br />
If you've had the desire, then why not build it? Perhaps you've asked yourself:<br />
<br />
Me...build something? <br />
OK, so I'll need tools, right? <br />
Where can I get the stuff to build it with? <br />
Where would I build it?<br />
Will my parents, or the town I live in, even let me?<br />
How would I put it together?<br />
<br />
We'll go over all of these questions and more in the next several postings!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943925686466174904.post-19374861223308425982012-02-17T07:59:00.000-08:002012-02-17T08:00:41.009-08:00Build Your Own Shelter!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF2JkmbqGsYSmUrOAeCa0WcMaPqux-e4eeiNe-mXIU5IftZgbTJJC_aus-1IrxmBUnoHL1baZ_4ZdBJwFWO0hzWFnIWQaWtVgkTg6tsfsh6Nu2n1dTJRse_8zHZ2c8c4DsL3eXg4Xxpo/s1600/My+future+clubhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF2JkmbqGsYSmUrOAeCa0WcMaPqux-e4eeiNe-mXIU5IftZgbTJJC_aus-1IrxmBUnoHL1baZ_4ZdBJwFWO0hzWFnIWQaWtVgkTg6tsfsh6Nu2n1dTJRse_8zHZ2c8c4DsL3eXg4Xxpo/s400/My+future+clubhouse.jpg" width="290" yda="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I want to be this guy when I turn 80!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Picture courtesy Lloyd Kahn from "Homework, Handbuilt Shelter", Shelter Publications, 2004)</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Kids (and grownups) build clubhouses and playhouses because they must - building one's own shelter is still hardwired in our brains. <br />
<br />
Men and women have built houses for themselves and their families since we moved out of caves, and they still do in many cultures. But in "developed countries" like ours we all grew up and became dependent on buying contractor-built housing along with the 30-year debt to pay for it. <br />
<br />
But a few people have held on to their dreams of independence and built their own homes, often with recycled materials, and with their own souls imbedded within! The Counterculture movement of the 1960s and '70s inspired a wave of alternative architecture, often in conflict with local building codes and their enforcers. If more frustrated shelter-builders today knew they could build their own, the world might be better off.<br />
<br />
Lloyd Kahn has edited many fine books on home-built shelter, beginning with <em>Shelter</em> in 1973, <em>Homework, Handbuilt Shelter </em>in 2004, and 30 other related titles. His newest book, <em>Tiny Homes, Simple Shelter</em> (2012) is a must-read for anyone thinking of building their own humble abode. Lloyd has preserved the many stories of owner-builders all over the world with this and his many other gold-mines of inspiration.<br />
<br />
To see the books mentioned above and others offered by Shelter Publications, go to their website: <a href="http://www.shelterpub.com/">http://www.shelterpub.com/</a>.<br />
<br />
To see Lloyd's blog, click this: <a href="http://lloydkahn-ongoing.blogspot.com/">http://lloydkahn-ongoing.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<br />
Happy building!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03511919634972296368noreply@blogger.com0