gistfile1.txt

      try it using instance variables
      def define_defaults(ops={})
        ops.each do |k, v|
          next if k.to_s == 'options'
          class_defaults[k.to_sym] = v
          instance_variable_set "@#{k}", v
          methods_to_define = {
            :class_getter => "class << self; def #{k}; class_defaults[:#{k}]; end; end",
            # :instance_get_and_set => "def #{k}(i=nil); i ? @__#{k} = i : __options[:#{k}]; end",
            :attr_accessor => "attr_accessor :#{k}",
            :instance_get_and_set => "def #{k}(i=nil); i ? @#{k} = i : @#{k}; end",
            :instance_set_with_eql => "def #{k}=(v);  @#{k} = v;end"
          }.each {|method, definition| module_eval definition}
          puts " #{self} @minimum_instances= #{@minimum_instances}" if k.to_s =~ /minimum_run/
        end
      end


resulted in 
 PoolParty::Base @minimum_instances= 1
 PoolParty::Base @minimum_instances= 1
 PoolParty::Cloud::Cloud @minimum_instances= 2