Cair Paravel

The Queens of Cair Paravel

A fellow homeschool family gave us their old playhouse last week. The catch involved was simply that we had to haul it home and then (ahem) rebuild it from a series of photos the original owner took when he tore it down.

If you know Craig at all, bless his soul, you know that “construction” isn’t one of the first words he puts on his resume, and that I am usually the one to use the tools around here (though he is stronger, by far, and very useful for lifting; he also hangs a darn straight picture).

But, as soon as finals were over, he borrowed a friend’s truck and made three trips between here and there and here again hauling all the parts of the goofy thing over here. And then, though I begged him to wait for some help, he began constructing it. Alone. And with just a bit of help here and there from Ed, and some roof raising help from Dick and Peter Schamp, he did it. He built the girls their very own Cair Paravel.

He had a coronation ceremony tonight in which he presented the four queens of the castle with flowers and led them in a line up to their thrones.

Ladder of Ladies

And here’s the self-titled Court Jester himself:

Court Jester

He did it. And he’s got the blisters, splinter spots, and callouses to prove it. The girls are thrilled and he says that he’s bought himself some time from my need-to-move-every-two-years-attachment-disorder. I just told him that I wouldn’t make him tear it down and move it with us.

*Grin*

I’m so proud of him, as he did this and we’re all still speaking to each other.

And Colorado friends, if that didn’t make you drop over dead to know that Craig did this pretty large building project almost entirely by himself, then this might: I made vegetarian hamburgers last night and after rolling his eyes at me, he tried one and said, “Okay, I guess it’s not really that bad.”

Times, they are a changing!

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18 thoughts on “Cair Paravel

  1. Suzanne says:

    The play house looks great! Craig did a wonderful job. I’m a little jealous, though. I’ve been a vegetarian for 15 years and STILL can’t get Nick to try a veggie burger. Maybe some peer pressure from Craig could help?

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  2. Lyra says:

    Your girls are so precious! And, that was so sweet of Craig to do all of that for them. Neat memories. Oh, and just to let you know, I think I have that same move-every-2-years disorder! Sounds weird, but I kind of like moving.

    Like

  3. Suzanne says:

    The play house looks great! Craig did a wonderful job. I’m a little jealous, though. I’ve been a vegetarian for 15 years and STILL can’t get Nick to try a veggie burger. Maybe some peer pressure from Craig could help?

    Like

  4. Lyra says:

    Your girls are so precious! And, that was so sweet of Craig to do all of that for them. Neat memories. Oh, and just to let you know, I think I have that same move-every-2-years disorder! Sounds weird, but I kind of like moving.

    Like

  5. Nana says:

    Way to go Craig! Mike has always said you could do things like this, if you had the incentive. I guess our 4 little darlings were your incentive this time. We can’t wait to actually see them playing in it. I had a playhouse when I was little, and I spent many hours there with my imaginary friends.

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  6. Amy P says:

    I still can’t believe that he built something without Derek!
    Very nice and tons of fun! Best of all- they don’t have to share it with brothers!

    Like

  7. Nana says:

    Way to go Craig! Mike has always said you could do things like this, if you had the incentive. I guess our 4 little darlings were your incentive this time. We can’t wait to actually see them playing in it. I had a playhouse when I was little, and I spent many hours there with my imaginary friends.

    Like

  8. Amy P says:

    I still can’t believe that he built something without Derek!
    Very nice and tons of fun! Best of all- they don’t have to share it with brothers!

    Like

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