Building a House in Mexico

A Month of Transitions at Rancho de las Estrellas

The day before sending the boys back to Israel, we released baby sea turtles into the surf—tiny, fragile creatures embarking on a daunting journey. The next morning, their departure from Puerto Escondido’s cozy airport spiraled into chaos with delays and a sleepless night, but they eventually reached Tel Aviv via Dallas and Madrid.

Back at the ranch, progress greeted us: a pump house stood by the well, and we adopted Chico, a scrawny pup born onsite. We met grazing goats, watched a woman craft traditional clay bricks for the well, and marveled at workers digging 12 meters deep with shovels and chickens in tow—an electric winch we provided was a novel luxury they traded for a donkey request. At the lumber yard, we priced a palapa roof of palm leaves, while butterflies captivated Boaz on the hill where our house will rise. Visiting Francisco’s peanut farm, we admired his sustainable methods and timeless lifestyle, subtly modernized by his son’s phone. House plans neared completion, and as I drove to Huatulco for a trip to Canada, the sunrise painted the sky in divine hues—a fitting sendoff to a month of goodbyes, growth, and dreams taking root.