German electric power company RWE recently released this computer animated ad entitled Giant. The spot appears to be part of a branding campaign to put a friendlier face on a giant corporation, by depicting a literal giant roaming the land and doing good.
The energy giant only has one thing in common with the well-known, friendly film monster Schrek from the swamp: both are initially faced with negative misconceptions. People claim that the energy giant is just a big monster that gobbles up smaller companies and does nothing for the environment. But the fact is that he can do a lot, simply because he is so huge. The motto is “It’s easy to achieve great things when you are a giant”. So he stands for XXL in likeability, closeness and energy and is a symbol for the healthy self-confidence that RWE represents.
He may be a little Shrek, perhaps part Ent, definitely the strong silent type. And whatever the motivation may be, it’s a lovely bit of animation and I’m liking the Bjork-esque soundtrack. (via NotCot)
Kids are pretty resourceful when it comes to crafting something out of nothing. A stick transforms into a sword, a horse, a wand, a baton and the list goes on. Today let’s look at transforming that stick into a whistle. I have three wood whistles how-tos, spanning degrees of difficulty and skill levels. Common sense dictates that an adult handles the knife and cutting responsibilities while kids help selecting and collecting the perfect materials.
First up, a Squash Stem Whistle. Summer squash runs rampant in the garden and this craft makes use of their hollow stems. This is by far the easiest of the three and simple instructions can be found here. Be mindful to scroll down to the bottom of the page and heed the tips and warnings.
Then there’s the “legendary” Willow Whistle. This sweet video tutorial is narrated by a dad who sincerely reminds us that “willow whistles do not contribute to global warming and are made from a renewable resource.” Good to know. This is a particularly cool looking toy, especially when some of the leaves are left attached.
Finally, we look at the amazing Twig Whistles created by a talented UK based woodworker named Treewright. There is obvious skill that goes into the creation of his natural noisemakers which you’ll see in the video below. Intimidated?, not to worry - Treewright makes finished whistles available through his web shop.
And I couldn’t finish this post without sharing an art project called Woodwind created by a student, Anna Kovárová, at Konstfact - the largest university college of arts, crafts, design and art education in Sweden. Anna carved a side-blown flute out of a living oak branch, while still attached to the tree. Her intent is to “return to the tree during the years to come, to play a piece and see how the living material will change the sound.” You can see an artsy fartsy video of Anna playing her tree flute here.
NPR did a little story on the UK based Cloud Appreciation Society this past week. (I can’t for the life of me remember which program. Anyone else?) Operating under the premise that “clouds are unjustly maligned and that life would be immeasurably poorer without them,” the CAS brings together thousands of day dreamers from around the globe.
They’ve recently released their first book, the Cloudspotter’s Guide, which I’m thinking could come in handy on lazy days this summer. Check out member submitted cloud photos, cloud poetry and music to watch clouds by.
We were driving along on the western slope
We were kidding and someone was telling a joke.
When all at once someone spoke,
They spoke aloud,
“Look up in the air at that lonely cloud
It looks to me like it’s lost from the crowd.”
It was just hanging there in suspended flight
It was not very big but was fluffy and white.
We thought it was probably filled with fright
about where it would go or would spend the night.
All the rest of the trip we watched in the sky
But the little cloud was gone,
We will never know where nor will we know why.
Holy hot wheels! I am loving this smartly designed and super utilitarian line of bikes. With ever expanding eco-consciousness permeating our culture, people are looking for ways to shrink their carbon footprint. (Calculate the size of your carbon footprint here.)
Leaving the car in the driveway and cruisin’ around town on your bike is a great step towards achieving that goal… but not exactly practical for hauling anything larger than what will fit into the traditional lunchbox size bike basket. Available in cream, blue or black, Madsen Cycles offer a solution - and a mighty fine looking one, I might add.
“After hauling six neighbor kids around in a wheel barrow bucket bolted to the front of our first prototype, we started to realize what a bicycle can really do. But the bucket on the front, like the box of the European design, creates an awkward center of gravity. So we stretched the chassis and put the bucket on the back. With the natural feel and balance of the rear bucket, you can ride with confidence knowing your load is secure and your cargo is protected.
Our production models have come a long way since that first prototype but our mission has stayed the same; a bicycle should do more. We are not the first to place a load on a bicycle but we are the first to do it right. Tested for up to 600 pounds, the Madsen kg271 is as burly as it is elegant.
So whether you use your Madsen Cycle to drop the kids off at soccer practice, pick up your groceries from the market, or pile in your tools for your next project, we hope you’ll fall in love with your new Madsen Cycle—like we have.”
Considerably smaller than their full-scale cousins, these treehouse playsets will fit comfortably inside your home. Find them at these independent retailers: Three Sisters Toys Blueberry Forest Toys Tree Blocks
While I’m fortunate to have a lemon tree outside my kitchen window, it’s far from being a suitable spot for a treetop getaway. If, like me, you’re just not in a position to construct a treehouse in the backyard - perhaps you’ll want to consider a treehouse vacation? Amazing travel destinations around the world offer you and your family treehouse lodging opportunities.
A wonderful list of international family-friendly treehouse resorts compiled by Cookie Magazine
A wide range of options from the Chicago Tribune from $40. to $1,000. per night
A ‘top ten’ list of U.S. based treehouse resorts compiled by America’s Best
Treehouse lodging suggestions from The Treehouse Guide
So, you’re inspired to build your own treehouse. Where do you start? Here are a few sites to use as your jumping off point.
Do-It-Yourself Treehouse By Design Features do-it-yourself plans, step-by-step instructions, blueprint examples and construction tips - also offers book recommendations and instructional videos The Treehouse Guide Walk-through design process, tutorials and even a free set of plans Treehouse Guides Selection of downloadable plans for purchase including complete instructions including full cutting lists and detailed color diagrams
Call in the professionals! (Check out their amazing portfolios.) TreeHouse Workshop (U.S.) Offer consulting, design, construction and how-to workshops BaumRaum (Germany) Offer consulting, design, construction and how-to workshops - feature extraordinary modern designs BlueForest Exclusive Tree Houses & Eco Lodges (Europe) Offer consulting, design, construction and maintenance
It’s day three in our five day treehouse cavalcade! More images to inspire:
Want a treehouse but don’t have a large enough tree in your backyard? Consider the amazing options from Daniel’s Wood Land - treehouses that come with their own tree!
Tree houses have a long history. From the Middle Ages on, tree arbors were popular in Europe. During the Italian Renaissance, the Medicis built a marble extravaganza in a tree. A town just west of Paris became famous in the mid-19th century for its arboreal restaurants. But the most famous tree houses of all time existed only in the imagination, including the one that was home to author Johann David Wyss’ shipwrecked clan, the Swiss Family Robinson.
- “Tree Houses Take a Bough”, Smithsonian.com
A tree house, a free house,
A secret you and me house,
A high up in the leafy branches
Cozy as can be house
A street house, a neat house
Be sure to wipe your feet house
I not my kind of house at all-
Let’s go live in a tree house.
-Shel Silverstein
With a nod to Earth Day (which officially falls on Wednesday of this week, April 22nd), I’ve decided to compile a pictorial ode to that much loved structure - the treehouse. For many adults, this architectural genre is inextricably linked to childhood and the place where they first learned to commune with nature. 100 treehouses: 20 a day for the next 5 days. Enjoy!
What to do with the playhouse when the kids outgrow it? Well, you can always keep it up in hopes of grandchildren in fifteen years…or you can take a note from the folks at BackyardChickens.com and convert it into a coop. This is one of the most creative ‘green’ reuses I’ve seen for children’s play structures.
The Backyard Chickens site was started by a family who back in 1999 suddenly found themselves the proud owners of some chicks brought home from one of their children’s kindergarten class. Originally it was a simple site on coop design but with the popularity of raising chicken, especially in more urban and suburban areas, it’s grown into a much larger information sharing resource. Research particular breeds, read about other family’s experience raising chickens or check out a chicken-cam with real time chicken action!
Below are some of my favorite playhouse to hen house conversions.
And when the family car goes to that great garage in the sky, consider keeping it out of a junk yard here on earth - like Michael Thompson who converted a 1970 Morris Traveller into a hen house for four. (It’s hard to see, but the bumper sticker in the back window reads, “I’d rather be flying.”)
