During Thanksgiving dinner yesterday, Worth and Lena Walters and their son, Andreas, asked about our renovation/construction project.  Actually, everyone did.

We offered to host a site visit today and the Walters showed up promptly at 3:00 pm.  Jo-Anne arrived a couple minutes later with two bottles of cabernet sauvignon (leftovers from last night).

The Walters had a good visit and stayed until it got too cold.  And, the wine was gone.

Jo-Anne and Lena Walters in the Kitchen.

Touring the lower level, with the home theatre in the background.

Finishing the tour and going upstairs (from left), Andreas Walters, Lena Walters (looking cold), Jo-Anne and Worth Walters. The glasses were empty (not even half empty).

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.

Bryan received a call today from Bill Edwards of Insulspan.  Bill apologized for interrupting our tool shopping on ’Black Friday’ (we bought an air compressor and a DeWalt miter saw) as he wanted to advise us that our SIPs will arrive at our job site on Wednesday morning (12/02/09) at 8:00 am.

Shipping Our SIPs

Bill explained that there will be three trucks; two truckloads full of SIPs and the third truck will have the remaining SIPs and all the hardware.  He sent the photos below to show us what to expect.

We need to ensure we have a crane ready and waiting, and that we have space to store the SIPs until we can place the SIPs on the structural framing.

Once we have the SIPs, the house should come together quickly.

Our SIPs in Delta, BC (Vancouver) loaded and ready to go on Friday, 11/27/09.

Back of the truck. Note the reference numbers on each panel.

Truck #2, with more SIPs.

Front of truck #2.

The Walters Visit Our Site

It was a great Thanksgiving dinner last night and, yes, we discussed our project several times.  Worth and Lena Walters were at the dinner with their two sons, Bjorn and Andreas.  Everyone, except Bjorn, has visited our project site and, during a lull in their Black Friday shopping, they called and said they would drop by.

Jo-Anne wanted to verify the progress so she joined us, too.

The Walters inspecting progress since their last visit.

The lower level is looking fine - we need to pour concrete!