Native Spirits & Spirit Pennies of Skamania Coves

In 2016, the Treehouse Guys television show from the Discovery Channel, approached us with the idea to build a treehouse on our property. We accepted.

Michael Garnier, one of the five Treehouse Guys, is also the brother to our Coves’ business partner, Tom. Michael is known as the Godfather of adult treehouses. He owns Out N About Treehouse Treesort in southern Oregon. Look it up, it’s fabulously fun! https://treehouses.com

After the city approved the building and we got the necessary permits, we hired an arborist to come out and ensure the safety of the tree. This man threw a line up and climbed that fir to the very top. His job was to ensure that both the tree and the house would be safe. Later, he told me that he spoke to the tree’s essence to ask for its permission. Fortunately, the tree approved.

The arborist would visit regularly to ensure that the health of the tree was maintained. Side Note: all of Michael’s treehouse designs allow for the growth of the tree in both width and in height. Michael also designed and patented Garnier Limbs used to hold the base of the treehouse in place. These spikes do not harm the tree. The tree produces pitch to heal the puncture, this acts as a glue and ensures the stability of the house.

Over a span of three months, the stars of the show Ka’V and B’fer and their “guys”, Michael, Jason, and Javier would come together and work on the house. Scott and our sons, Eric and Ryan, plus Tom’s sons Julien and Oliver worked on the building project too.

The production company hired me as their onsite production assistant. I fed and kept the crew hydrated. I had a blast! We grew very close with the crew, and still keep in touch. The producer, Jennifer Jordan became a good friend.

The show created a storyline around Michael wanting to build a treehouse for his brother. The staged drama had Michael jumping onto a catamaran boat to track down Tom and Scott who were sailing Lasers out on the river. In the middle of the river, he finds them and surprises them with his offer to build a treehouse. A camera crew sailed close behind and on the boat with Michael.

From there the story evolved into a Big Foot sighting. This was adorable! Treehouse Guy Jason, dressed in a Big Foot costume. In one scene, he dressed Big Foot in board shorts, a sun hat, and sunglasses and went out on the Big Cove standing on a paddle board. One of the cameramen used a drone to get close shots of Big Foot. The drone hit a gust of wind and sunk right in front of Jason. From the shoreline, we watched Jason strip off the furry costume and dive into the water to retrieve the equipment.

Another Big Foot shot had Jason in costume repelling down the tree, just outside the window as B’fer and Ka’V, inside, were debating as to whether Big Foot even existed. 

When it came time to choose furniture and decorate the inside of the house, the show’s director sent their interior designer to interview me.

“Cinda, how do you want the treehouse decorated,” the interior designer asked. “I’d like to honor the Native ancestors of the land,” I said.

“I’d like to see Pendleton blankets, throws and decorative pillows and to use those colors and patterns to set the tone and style.” I didn’t know how this suggestion of mine would influence the following events….

When it came time for the reveal, the producer lined our family up along the walkway. Tom, Scott, me, Eric, and Ryan entered the house in this order. The camera crew were set up inside ready to record our reaction. Spoiler Alert: I was the only one who had not seen the interior. All the other family members had helped to build the treehouse, so they were fully aware of what it looked like inside and out.

Tom led the way as we approached the finished treehouse. The interior lights made the entire house glow as if it were a sacred space beckoning us into its sanctuary. Truly, it was awe inspiring and breath taking. I was rendered speechless.

When we entered, everyone did the obligatory ooh’s and aah’s and gave all the right positive reactive noises that the camera crew tried hard to capture.

But then…bam! A significant and unexpected gift presented itself.

As I walked around the tree trunk to the back of the octagon shaped house. There, set up with two chairs, stood a table covered in pennies.

Pennies!

The entire tabletop was made of pennies.

I squealed in surprise. All the cameras turned and focused on me. I could hear them zooming in. The producer asked me to explain my reaction. So, I did. I shared the entire penny story. Note: none of this made it in the show.

When we were done. The producer called out, “That’s a wrap!”

We filed out of the treehouse, and then everyone went to the Riverhouse to celebrate.

On my way into town to pick up pizzas and beer, I called the interior decorator and asked him about the table.

“Colton, we just wrapped up the reveal! The house is beautiful. Thank you. But I have a very important question to ask you?” My mind was still reeling in surprise from finding the penny table.

“Sure, ask away,” he said. I could hear the worry in his voice. “Are you happy with it?”

“Tell me about the penny table!” I asked.

“The penny table…really?” he awkwardly laughed. “That’s hysterical that you’re asking about the table. There was a big fuss around that thing.”

“A big fuss?” I asked. “What do you mean?”

I wanted to ask him; how did he know? How could he possibly have known about the importance of pennies to this land? What kind of magic did he tap into?

“Well, there’s a story….,” he started. “After our conversation, when you said you wanted to honor the Native American ancestors, I can’t explain it, but I knew I had to make another trip to that antique store at the entrance to Stevenson.”

He paused to make sure I knew which store he was referring to.

“When I walked in, I immediately saw that table and knew that that was why I came,” he continued. “I had to have it. The store owner though disagreed. She felt the penny table was ugly and tried to convince me to buy a different one, one that would look better on camera. My partner even agreed with her and tried to sway me away from it.”

“Ugly? That table is extraordinary!” I chimed in.

“I know!” he agreed. “I wouldn’t be budged no matter what they said to persuade me otherwise. Every ounce of me knew that I needed that table. I can’t explain it. Why of all the things we placed in your treehouse is the penny table the one you’re asking about?”

“You won’t believe this when I tell you!” So…. I told him….

I told him the penny story…about the magic of the pennies on the property. I told him how the Native spirits seem to play games with us and the guests by hiding pennies for us to find. I told him that in the beginning, we delivered pennies to all the houses except the treehouse.

“Usually, we find single pennies in random places” I tell him. “This time, though, it wasn’t just a single penny, but an entire table of pennies! Pennies! It’s a fantastic coincidence. And it’s a fabulous validation for me since I specifically told you I wanted to honor the Native ancestors of the land. It’s as if they were guiding you to the table!”

“Cinda, I’m totally freaking out. I have goose bumps all over my arms!” he exclaimed. “I believe in this stuff. But this is crazy! This explains why I had to have it. Why I went against the store’s owner and my partner’s opinions. I was adamant. So adamant that the owner told me that if I took it, she didn’t want it back.”

“Well, of all the stuff you put into the treehouse, the penny table is what we want to keep!” I confirmed.

“Cinda, it’s rare that we get to talk to the client after a reveal and hear what they thought of our interior work. This was the best project ever! Thank you for telling me your penny story!”

You can watch the episode online. Season 3, Episode 6. Titled: Bigfoot Hideout in Washington State. Filmed: August 10, 2017. It is currently streaming on Apple TV.

STORY CONTINUES >>>>> CHAPTER TWELVE: IN CONCLUSION