Michael H. Cranford 1964
Born in Southern California, I day dreamed about tropical birds, islands, and lost civilizations. I spent most of my youth in trouble which always gave me time to draw. Living in Colorado most of my adult life I connected with the mountains on the weekends and also climbed many of Colorado’s fourteeners. While married and raising my 2 sons I discovered the 7 pools of Hana on Maui, beneath a waterfall & relaxed for the first time in 20 years. ……. When I awoke, The feeling of inner peace was imbedded into my soul, When I returned home it took me 3 years to begin unplugging. I would begin to search for a place in the world where I could live with that kind of peace. Islands of the Caribbean had more hurricanes than types of birds, Belize was expensive and offered little culture, so off to Costa Rica, where I bought 55 acres of rain forest on a river, with an amazing ocean view. My childhood prepared me well for living here since I had spent many years playing in the Orange Groves of California and watching Gilligans Island. Days seemed to pass by while I wandered the isolated areas of the woods in my neighborhood. Today 35 years later, Monkeys, Toucans,. Sloths and Parrots drop down around me while I paint, truly inspiring! Vulcan Baru off in the distance while I contemplate my second pot of Costa Rican Coffee. Once the birds quiet down a bit, I generally fill the jungle with my blues and jazz while I paint. I work hard at being a painter and enjoy living in the tropics.
After 6 months of strategically packing a small trailer, $10K deposit at the Aduana we arrived, 2 cars packed with dog, birds, cash and lots of power tools. …ahhh, home at last.

Both Sombra de la Lapa rental home and art studio are available to rent were completed the year of my arrival to The Osa Peninsula Costa Rica . But wait, one must immediately pay for a locker at the airport , set down my bags, check my common sense intro the locker say good bye, close the locker door and throw away the key . Anyway….. 1 Year later our home started to reflect my new life.. 80 degrees, 80 % humidity 80% chance of rain, 80% of the time I can’t find my sandals, 80% chance my Jeep isn’t fixed yet, and 80% chance my title to my property is still in the guys name I bought it from. And my new life as a painter began.

Recently Blondie and I completed our 6 level luxury tree house in the rainforest of Costa Rica. A poroject we have been working on for 4 years off and on, and we now live in and up in our 6 level Lapas Nest Treehouse. We soon found out a personal journey was about to begin. Lots of lessons about letting go of control, belief and analyzing weaknesses. To simply describe my experience , It was more like finding my favorite National Geographic Magazine, and tearing out my fav article and using the pages as a flying carpet.

I also help friends with Costa Rica home designs and architecture. Down here I am referred to as the Jungle Home Architect in Costa Rica, as all of my designs are open, airy and invite nature into your space and create the sense of living outdoors. , I also design open air “really cool” jungle homes, ( insert link ) and I am also the sustainable coordinator for www.ranchodulce.com / A Canyasa Community where 6-8 neighbors are helping to save an arm of Corcovado National Park.
In addition to Oil and acrylic painting help friends with their websites, dabble in desktop publishing www.osapeninsulatravel.com and brochure designs. But mostly I like hangin at home and painting and drawing in Costa Rica. Come late December Rebecca Amelia & I host art workshops and retreats at Sombra de la Lapa Rainforest Reserve located here on our property
My art is represented in Cape Cod, Mass. ( insert ) and in Southern Utah ( insert ) and SanteFe NM ( insert ) and Arizona ( insert ) with clients all over the world ! My real passion is for my surreal work . I am always seeking to paint from my heart and to live a creative life. Living in Costa Rica teaches me to let go of control ! Timelessly waiting for internet, timelessly waiting for lawyers. for titles, for fresh milk, or the next shipment of Snyders Pretzels….Patience and letting go !
When we travel, it’s either to dive, and be in Four Corners area backpacking, Here on The Osa Peninsula Costa Rica it rains 4 -6 meters annually most of it in October, so we spend the falls in The USA.
Rebecca Amelia
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I find my passion entertaining guests & dreaming up these wild ideas for building tree houses. As a child I spent as much time as I could high in trees to get away from the adults in the tree house my Brothers & I built! I would imagine, very accurately I might add, flying over the neighborhood like a bird and watching the happenings of everyone. I have been in Costa Rica now for almost 14 years. I act as the travel agent for guests and make their trip here non- labor intensive. I do all the stuff you do not have time to do like negotiating the best airfares amongst the airlines, taking care of all hotel reservations & flights in Costa Rica. I also book all accommodations in Costa Rica for our guests & then include it all in one price so you are not nickled & dimed your entire visit here. I also cook all meals, which I LOVE doing. I think you’ll find my food creative, delicious but definitely not food for a diet! I am still that kid in the trees watching the neighborhood, only difference now is that I am at eye level with monkeys, friends with the local kinkajou and watching parrots fly through my living room! It is far better now that I am an adult because now one tells me when to come down. I crave to keep this place as intact as possible yet understanding that more & more of us will want to co exist with nature here. I believe our tree house project will help educate all of us about living harmoniously with nature, giving back within the communities where we live, and an opportunity to build with renewable & recycled resources.
Please contact us for more information info@treehouseincostarica.com