Visit to a Tree House

Before looking at this blog, check out the video of'

Hurricane Sandy and Mormon Helping Hands, upper right.

It's pretty cool!

One really fun experience we have had recently just can't be forgotten.  Lee and I were invited with Bairds to have dinner with John and Hiroko Gathright.  John is a former television regular, but cut back to spend more time with family.  He is still on TV when he chooses to be involved, but he has focused more instead on developing an organization called Tree Climbing Japan.  I think it has now grown into Tree Climbing International as well.  It is an organization that gives handicapped children the opportunity to climb trees, giving them the help they need in order to have that exhilarating experience and feel like they have done all they can do to get themselves up there.  They are very creative in ways they help these kids get up into the trees.  There are now just over 200 groups of Tree Climbing Japan.  And, wouldn't you guess, John, Hiroko, and their two boys, live in a tree house in a forest.  So cool!

This is the office.  John hires single moms to help run the program.  

This tree, with the great nose, is right in front of the front door of the office.
Can you see it in the picture above?

This is the boys tree houses. (Smaller one is behind.)
The only way to get to the tree house is
across the hanging walk (or maybe up the slide.)

Here's another view of the tree houses.  These houses and the home were originally built for handicapped
kids to come and enjoy, but after a while, the Gathright family decided to make it a home.

This is the doorbell for the home.  This shape of bell is often seen
in shrines of older cities.  Everything in the home is recycled.

And as you go inside, this is the genkan or entry.
This is the inside of the front door.

This is the living room area.  The barrel shaped corner is one of four miso barrels that are a part of the home.
Years ago, miso (for miso soup) was made in these barrels.  Now days it is made in stainless steel.
This one is now a bathroom.

When the Gathrights put this bathroom in, their boys were young.
These are their foot prints.  In the bathroom, you follow them first
to the toilet, then to the sink, then to the towel to dry your hands,
then to go out the door.  So cute.

This shot is looking up into the second floor of the home.
Half of the second floor is the parent's bedroom and the other half
is their two boys' bedrooms.  You climb steep open wooden steps to get up.
Most people come down on the fire pole you see in the center.

A little Japanese decor.

We sat in this barrel room at length, hearing some really fun stories
in the life of a famous TV personality, humanitarian, and caring father.
We have grown to love and appreciate the Gathright family.

 
This is John Gathright.  Does his hair remind you of
anyone you know?

Proof that we were there.  Hiroko Gathright is on the right.
She is as sweet as she is beautiful.  

Another view of the tree house (or house of the tree climbing man.)

Can you see the flying squirrel nest?  There were four that we saw.
Apparently they make a wonderful whooshing sound when
they "fly" from tree to tree.

These frogs are carved into the rock.  Cool!

Just another great example of an average width Japanese road.
This is how it looks on the way to the home.

Another barrel of the home is the kitchen.  It is lined with shelves and a great size for having everything close.

You are looking at one delicious meal.  It was full of new
tastes and it was a delight to enjoy.  Hiroko is a gourmet cook!

John and Hiroko--two awesome people.

Two great young men:  Denny and Johnny (right).
Johnny is applying at BYU.