Now, before you make the mistake of assuming this is an ordinary morning that could happen anywhere in Las Cruces, imagine the sun rising slowly over the rim of the Organ Mountains directly before you – right in your backyard. That’s a great way to start the day.
Richard and Nancy Norton know what it’s like to feel as if they could touch the sun as it rises – and they knew what they were doing when they purchased land at the base of the Organ Mountains eight years ago to build a home.
Richard, a retired machinist who owned his own company, and Nancy, a retired elementary school teacher, lived in Connecticut when they decided a move was in their future. They set out to find the perfect place to live, and they did.
“Look at our back yard,” Richard says as we stand on the patio looking up into the crevices of the Organ Mountains directly before us. “This is what we get to look at everyday, and in the evening, you can see all the city lights from our front yard.”
He adds that there is nothing like seeing a full moon rise from behind the mountains, and to celebrate the beauty of it, friends and neighbors often get together in the best seats in the city for a Full Moon Party. “It starts as a glow coming up over the rim, then you begin to see it rise up. It’s an amazing sight.”
Since purchasing the property, Richard and Nancy have found more than a fabulous place to live, they have found lasting friendships in a community they now call home, including their dear friend and realtor Elaine Brown, who provided many resources to the couple, ensuring the building and moving would be as simple as possible once she met the couple.
Richard spent many hours researching the area, receiving valuable information from the Chamber of Commerce before making a decision, then stayed actively involved once it was time to build by designing the home. When building did start, the couple lived for a year in their motor home while Michael Floyd and his crew built the house, and Michael worked on all the cabinetry. Judy Floyd offered her expertise in color coordinating and tile selection. Richard remained actively involved with the details during the entire process.
“The people in the community are wonderful,” Nancy says as we talk about all the talents that came into building the home. “We had great people working on the house, wonderful neighbors and now really great friends.”
The couple credits their beautiful southwest style home to many others as well as Elaine and the Floyds, including Rincon Woodworks who provided the doorways, Kitchen Kraft for the lighting, Maxine Webber for the architecture and Ashley Furniture for most of the furniture and interior decorating in the home. The Nortons found all their appliances at Pat Goff’s Appliance and TV Warehouse. Heating and cooling was provided by Sun City Plumbing and Heating.
Since moving to Las Cruces, the couple has spent their time getting to know the area. On weekends, they get together with friends and neighbors, visit area attractions or events and sit out on their patio to see all that Mother Nature has to offer them. During the cooler seasons, the couple spends a lot of time in their backyard—hiking up into the mountains where they find Indian caves, waterfalls and golden eagles.
“This really is like the wild west,” Nancy says.
Richard agrees, and both say they don’t think they will ever get tired of their new home.
“There is great history here,” Richard says. “This is a great place to wake up in the morning and go to bed at night.” |
