Our good friend, Paul Marcaccio, came to California for his 13th Thanksgiving.  Paul has involved with our project from the start, and even has a set of work boots and tool belt here in California.  For example, Paul helped build the temporary deck over the swimming pool (December 7, 2008), identify where the stairs should go (July 26, 2009), and put the deck on the the bridge over the atrium (November 28, 2009).

After picking up coffee and bagels, Bryan and Paul walked through the job site.

Paul approved of progress to date.  He did, as everyone else does, ask about the completion date.

Let’s not go there Paul …

Celebrating Thanksgiving

After reviewing the job site, Bryan and Paul assembled the new turkey cooker that Jo-Anne bought.  She bought the ‘Big Easy Infrared Turkey Fryer‘ from Char-Broil.  We cooked one turkey, with traditional stuffing, in the oven and the second turkey was cooked using the new turkey fryer.

The new turkey fryer worked perfectly!  Jo-Anne gave Bryan and Paul explicit instructions on how she wanted the turkey fryer to be ‘seasoned’ prior to cooking our first turkey with it.  They followed her instructions without any questions.

We had some 16 adults and 12 children to celebrate a great year.  We have much to be thankful for and were absolutely delighted to have so many good friends with us to celebrate.

Next year, Thanksgiving will be at 17509 Via Sereno …

Current state of Guest Suite with plumbing roughed in and sliding glass doors being installed.

With the sun very low in the sky, a sliver of sunshine lands on the floor in Nik's Bedroom. Considering that the floor is nine feet below grade, this is amazing. Of course, when the sun is higher in the sky, the generous overhangs will block the sunlight from coming into Nik's Bedroom.

During his review of the project, Paul received several telephone calls (it wasn't a holiday in Canada).

The turkey is cooking nicely in our new Big Easy Infrared Turkey Fryer.

A couple of turkeys ...

A couple of turkeys ...

Ready for Thanksgiviing - Pia Staab (left), Lena Walters (center), and Jo-Anne Sinclair.

A kitchen full of guys. Note there are several animated discussions underway, with Worth Walters and David Staab on the left, and Jim O'Brien and Paul Marcaccio on the right.

The site needs to be safe and the railings need to go around the entire perimeter of the atrium, including both bridges.  This was the task today – get the railings in place so the site is safe.

Cutting the Decking

We still needed to put the plywood decking over the bridge going to the master suite.  Paul and Laura were going to San Francisco for the day so David Staab agreed to help Bryan for a few hours.

Everyone had fun helping cut the plywood and then Bryan was able to complete the posts and railings by himself. 

Our good friend and Eichler mentor, Jerry Ditto, dropped by at the end of the day to review our progress.  He approved.

And, yes, it was another beautiful, blue-sky California day.

Bryan and Paul, standing on the bridge deck (with no railing), planning their work.

The boys are ready to go to work ...

Measure twice, cut once ...

Starting to cut ...

Finishing the cut.

Having fun before Paul and Laura leave for San Francisco.

The decking, posts and railing are completed on the bridge to the master suite.

Bryan has the posts in place on the bridge.

Bryan has the first railing on now.

Jerry Ditto dropped by to review our project (and, he approved).

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