COURTYARD - DAY SEVEN

LUMBER DROP. THE DRIVER TOOK THE CEDAR SIDING FROM THE TRUCK WITH A MULTI-DIRECTIONAL FORKLIFT. CRAB-STYLE DOWN THE STREET:

AND A PIVOT INTO THE DRIVEWAY FOR THE DROP. VERY SMOOTH.

I GOT A FEW COURSES OF THE SIDING ON THE WALL BEFORE QUITTING TIME.

COURTYARD - DAY SIX

THIS WAS A SHORT DAY. NAILED DOWN THE STRAPPING TO SECURE THE OVERHEAD SECTION OF THE GATE.

THEN I SHEATHED THE FRONT IN PLYWOOD TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN IT AND TIE EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

COURTYARD - DAY FIVE

A BEAUTIFUL DAY, PERFECT WEATHER FOR 'FENCING.'

THE GRAND ENTRANCE TO THE COURTYARD:

COURTYARD - DAY FOUR

TODAY WAS 'TAKE YOUR DAUGHTER TO WORK DAY.' SO I DID, AND WE HAD A BLAST.

THE MORNING TRIP TO THE LUMBERYARD NETTED A BAG OF POPCORN. (NOTE THE MICRO-STRUCTURE IN THE BACKGROUND.)

AT THE JOBSITE, WE CHECKED ON THE FOOTINGS, NOW ALL CLEANED UP AND FLUSH WITH THE DRIVEWAY.

SHION TOOK PHOTOS OF HER DAD AS HE UNLOADED AND STACKED THE LUMBER.

LUNCH AT NOHO'S HAWAIIAN CAFE. RIBS AND TERIYAKI CHICKEN. DELICIOUS.

BACK TO THE JOBSITE TO UNLOAD TOOLS AND GET EVERYTHING READY.

THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED AND IT STARTED TO RAIN AND I'VE BEEN FIGHTING A COLD FOR A FEW DAYS AND I HAVE A SORE THROAT AND I DON'T WANT TO BREATHE SAWDUST AND I'M KINDA TIRED AND CAN'T WE JUST GO HOME AND DRINK TEA AND WATCH CARTOONS? SHION SAID YES, SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

COURTYARD - DAY THREE

TODAY WAS FILLED WITH CHORES, ERRANDS AND THINGS-TO-DO. I GOT A CHANCE TO MARK THE POST HEIGHTS, USING A 'SELF-LEVELING LASER LEVEL.' (SAY THAT TEN TIMES FAST.)

LUNCH WITH MATT - CARNITAS TACOS.

COURTYARD - DAY TWO

MIXED CONCRETE THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY, WITH A HOE AND A WHEELBARROW.

POURED THE FOOTINGS AND SET THE POSTS PLUMB IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.

STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE.

COURTYARD - DAY ONE

I'M BUILDING A WALL TO CONNECT THE CLIENT'S GARAGE TO THE HOUSE, CREATING  A COURTYARD AT THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY.

FIRST, JOHN DiBONA CUT THRU THE CONCRETE.

THEN I WENT AT IT, DIGGING POST-HOLES A COUPLE OF FEET DEEP.