When I was a young child, probably a baby, my dad started it. Whether that is true or not doesn't matter...it might have been standing for 30 years for all I know...but in my mind, my daddy built it for sure, and it wasn't until I was about 4 years old that he "finished" it, with a beautiful roof, floor, and siding, leaving a couple windows for our viewing pleasure.
You see, he had 4 princesses to provide for, and we would always be playing some sort of game or imaginative story there. It was on a hill, 4 huge railroad tie posts as its supports...the original design had the steel bars, 4 of them, and you would land on a sort of, narrow "pathway" of wooden slats, much like a square dock, wrapping around the 4 posts. It was quite dangerous, so I wasn't often allowed there without mommy or daddy to hold my hand...and then there was a table of sorts, or a counter...or a top "level" I suppose it was, but you could only sit on that level, so it was better suited as a playland for our dolls, or a seat for when we would pretend we were rapunzel, and peek out of that tiny window longingly, and wish for our beloved prince to come along and save us from our tower.
I had such a wonderful childhood, but in today's busy life with 4 little ones of my own, I often forget those little memories that are so real and permanent in my mind still. That 4-post fort, that was unfinished. Grey hard wood, rough to the touch, but so warm on a summers day. I remember touching the soft grain, making sure to go back and forth rather than up and down, to deter any little splinters from jabbing my soft baby hands.
Not sure why I'm up so late reminiscing, but I think it was the photos...of that sweet little backyard fort in that house listing...wondering what children are playing there now, touching the soft grain of the beams, and running back home...up from their imaginary castle that stands halfway down the hill from the mountain ash berry tree.
