Well it’s taken us a long time to get here. Joe bought the property just before we met in August of 2007. And now… we’re here! There’s so much to explore and we expect a lot of guests, so this site is dedicated to your ability to plan a get away (by exploring what’s around us.) We also need a place to park information as we learn about the incredible nature by which we are surrounded. So we’ll be sharing our nature discoveries here too. I’m currently putting in lists and will add individual pages on plants and animals later. I’ve spent the past ten years collecting photos and data and am excited to be able to gather the best of it all in one place.
I have pictures of Joe and Evan Melby as we walked the property and determined the driveway placement. It was Evan’s idea to have it begin between the 2 pinyons and then to meander back to the house. We love how it turned out. I have pictures of when they stood over the edge of the ridge and determined where the house pad should be cutout.
Joe first brought me here in 2008. We rented a car and a trailer and did some camping. When we came to the property, we scratched the rental on the pinyons and had to buy some rubbing compound and buffing pads. We took turns being the Karate Kid. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you should really watch the movie. It’s a good one.) When we were leaving that first time, I cried when as we came down off this Mesa.
Several years down the road, the house was under way. We came in with the contractor and it was so surreal that I literally had to stop and steady myself. I thought about sitting down with my head between my knees but was trying not to embarrass myself at the time. We had planned the house for what seemed like so long. We had held a Native American ceremony on the house pad here, using everything Spotted Thunder Horse had taught me and we asked for blessing upon this land and protection over it. We asked for blessings upon our home and forgiveness for the disturbance. And it was here that we promised to honor Him and all His creations.
Our regret is that we had to clear trees and remove rock (which wasn’t a gentle procedure) to put our house, the garage, the shop and the tiny house in place. We took from what the Creator had put into place. So with that thought always, we honor Him by being stewards of what He has bestowed upon us. We take good care of the land and everything upon it.
Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ. Aho!
La Casa Del Sol 