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"Away From It All"
Planning a Log Home in New Mexico | February 2008 | Log Home Living
Away From It All:
Though Luther and Barbara Robinson are a mile away from their closest neighbor in their log home in Angel Fire, New Mexico, they aren’t exactly lonely. “The day before yesterday we had 75 elk,” says Luther, adding that they often have visits from black bears and hummingbirds, too. But this sort of solitary communion with nature isn’t exactly new territory for the Robinsons.When Luther retired in 1999, he and Barbara drove a motor home across the country for two years. Their extended vacation afforded them the luxury of exploring many locales before deciding on a place to settle. Originally from the Texas panhandle, the allure of year-round cool temperatures and the beauty of New Mexico, inspired them to build their home in the mountains. After witnessing a stunning view of the Valley of the Utes and observing the natural beauty of the pine trees, spruces and aspens in a rainstorm, Luther and Barbara made up their minds. This was where they belonged.
Because building a log home was a new experience for the couple, they equipped themselves with knowledge. They attended seminars, read magazines and their home took shape as a composite of various floor plans they’d seen. Their builder, Thomas Riek of Scenic Structures, presented their design to Yellowstone Log Homes, who turned the sketches into blueprints.
As their home was going up, Luther and Barbara stayed close by and were amazed at the ease of the construction. “We didn’t have a single log out of place. I don’t believe they had to use a chainsaw once,” Luther notes.
Still, as life would have it, there were some surprises. Upon seeing the well-worn character logs on the mantel and on the front porch, Luther was indignant. “I thought we were getting cheated because I wanted good solid logs,” he recalls. Of course the character logs were just as sturdy and now the mottles and pockmarks of the logs are one of the couple’s favorite attributes of the home.
The rustic logs with hand-carved notched corners average about 12 inches in diameter and give the 3,094-square-foot home exactly the natural look the Robinsons desired. Of course, getting exactly what you want can have its downside. Though the Robinson’s still travel, Luther says that now when they’re on vacation, “We look at each other and say, ‘This isn’t as nice as where we live.’”
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