by Dr. Lourdes Estrada (Associate Director)
Three years ago, my husband Larry and I made a decision that most people thought was a little crazy—we would build our dream log home ourselves. Not from a kit. Not from milled lumber. From trees standing on our own property.
In the spring of 2023, we bought our land and got to work. Larry is the principal builder; I am the assistant, tool-fetcher, and occasional voice of reason when he wants to attempt something ambitious with a chainsaw at dusk. We cut the logs from our own woods, hauled them out one by one, and started learning—by doing—what it takes to raise a home from raw timber.
It has been grueling at times. There were weekends spent peeling bark until our arms ached and hoisting logs into place with more hope than engineering. But watching the walls rise—log by log, course by course—has been one of the most rewarding things we have ever done together.
Many of you have asked how the project is going, so here is the update: the walls are up, the metal roof is on, and it is finally starting to look like a real home. We still have a long road ahead, but every time we pull up to the site and see what we have built with our own hands, it is hard not to smile.
Roof on, walls up — May 2026If this project has taught us anything, it is that big dreams are built one log at a time. We will keep you posted as the next chapter unfolds!