Dear Pat, Melissa, and Max,
I had decided to move to somewhere with weather preferable to what I had grown up with and lived with all my life (tornados, blizzards and high humidity). An internet search found 
Las Cruces as being in a part of the country with fewest natural disasters and warm dry weather, just what my knees wanted. And then I went looking for information on housing and rediscovered green building, remembering articles I had read many years previously about earth houses.That began an email conversation with Pat and Mario.
It was a long-running conversation while I tried to figure out what I wanted and what I needed, and what they could do. Mario took my initial thoughts on ground plans that included what I thought I wanted and turned it into a wonderful plot that had what I really needed with some wonderful additions that I hadn’t even realized I wanted. He was masterful, truly an artist. But we were still a long way from breaking ground when Mario was suddenly gone.
But Pat, Max and Melissa never floundered in such a difficult situation. Pat built what Mario designed while making some improvements, and added wonderful finishing details. I watched the construction daily from groundbreaking to completion, marveling as the space took shape. Pat was patient with my never ending questions during the construction and my house, now home, was finished right on schedule.
I have now spent my first winter in my new home and I couldn’t be happier. The rammed earth walls helped to maintain even temperatures on the coldest nights, the rooms all feel spacious, my great room has a marvelous ceiling with beautiful vigas. Best of all is the studio space with lots of light so I can finally return to my art work, and a lovely entry way gallery that will eventually showcase some of the many paintings I have inherited (one of Mario’s marvelous suggestions). There isn’t anything about this house I don’t like. Pat helped me make difficult choices such as what tile to use throughout, lighting and plumbing fixtures, even paint colors. Her taste and attention to detail are impeccable. Everyone she employs to bring those first drawings to life and make a home are part of a wonderful team, and I am endlessly grateful that I found Pat, Mario, Max, Melissa and Soledad Canyon Earth Builders.
Jean