Fort Tree is open weekends until October 10 Check ferry schedules for days and times.

Click here to see additional proposal sketches

...while Etta, the construction dog, patrols the yard.

I load the van leaving barely enough room for passengers...

Back in Brooklyn, we meet and load the materials into the Abby's studio at chashama.

The bottom of the frame makes a fitting corral.

By the end of the day, we've built our base.

Getting an early start, we brace the base, clamp on the wall inserts, and build our floor...

...in time to enjoy a picnic lunch in the fort.

Over the course of the week I gather materials in Philadelphia.

[Pictured Here: Sean, Laurie, my van full of wood, and leftovers from our dinner at The Standard Tap.]

After another stop by the Pham's house, I have a van full of wood that takes us two hours to unload in Brooklyn.

We begin by placing the large pieces from Rob and Tracy, so we can take advantage of their strength and build them into the structure.

Next we frame out the insert walls and the door.

We finish the day by completing one wall.

We quickly remedy the clearance issue by shortening the insert slots on the walls - a surprisingly simple solution after a full night's sleep.

Staring from the back, Abby and I build out the walls one by one.

On the right wall, we use the shutter to create some shade for the bench and an awning for the window.

With the walls complete, we can place the posts where the trees will be assembled.

Figuring out the swing is our primary task of the day.

The posts are started with the circular saw, but we must finish each of the thick cuts by hand with the Japanese saw.

The swing comes together nicely, but the apparatus for hanging takes us most of the affternoon to establish.

Using panels of plexi-glass, we construct a roof for the fort comprised of three skylights.

The roof from the side shows the bracing (and also the sawdust on the plexi.)

On the back porch we construct half-walls for added privacy on the two-person swing.

When we call it quits for the weekend, the entire structure of the fort is set.

Abby and I hash out what still needs to be done and detail the installation plan.

The porch schematic shows a similar slotted construction.

Between work sessions, I had a trip to London and Abby had a drive to Milwaukee, so we worked separately.

Here's the first prototype for the wooden swallows.

Since the wood itself is such a major part of the fort, we decided against painting the chimera.

We unloaded the van, which was full of purloined, dead trees

The swinging bench was secured with chain and bolts.

Abby toiled away cutting leaves, and we took turns staining them green.

I enjoyed some quality time with the scroll saw making a dozen more wooden swallows.

We spent the morning attaching leaves to trees - both found and constructed....

We enlist some strong men assist with the heavy lifting: Mark and Scott drive with me from Philly and Chris meets us there.

The loading takes less than two hours, which gets us on the road by 1AM.

We are especially grateful for the late night help from Chris - who had to be at the airport at 4AM.

We wake up early to catch our 8:15AM ferry.

The ride over is beautiful - as usual.

Unloading looks like less work in the daylight hours.

To begin, we lay out all of the components on our site.

Our notched out tenon joints allow the floor to slide on easily.

The wall slot in readily as well, and the structure takes form quickly.

Next stages are the back porch and swing.

The team goes to work on installing the branches.

Once the walls are in place, I install the small chimera drawings.

The birds are placed around the fort - while Abby binds leaves onto the trees.

Once the trees are installed, Abby places the flag pole.

Flo stops by and helps us put a coat of water sealer on the fort - a sticky job.

Pre-picnic, we had one last item of business - installing the flag that Abby had sewn.

Over opening weekend, chalk from Jennifer Upchurch's Temple of Wonder found its way onto the fort...

Viewers of all ages write their own story in and on the fort - adding new voices throughout the day.

Over the course of the summer, Fort Tree will continue to change.

Thanks to the many who made this happen.