The sign outside the Capitan Country Emporium (ENLARGE Here)

In Capitan our little town in the mountains of southern New Mexico, Fridays are when the bread lady makes her products available at the Capitan Country Emporium. The artful/art-filled Emporium is located on the corner of our street and Smokey Bear Boulevard, just three blocks from our house. We met up with the proprietress Patricia “Pat” Bowen as she was watering the plants outside her wonderful store.

Part of the LARGE Emporium Building – Out Front (ENLARGE Here)

It is all we can do to resist buying something in there. We are on a mission to reduce our foot print both here and in Mexico. That written, somehow I think there is something in the jam packed yet artfully displayed Emporium that we can’t live without.

For today we are here for Glynis Racine’s baked goods. George and Pearl our neighbors and friends had advised us that Friday was bread day. This reported on Saturday last – we have been waiting all week.

In Old Mexico good bread is hard to find. Oh there is the grocery store quality bread, but I am talking about micro bakery, natural leavened, organic, designer, sourdough bread.

Twenty plus years ago I was part and parcel to running a health food manufacturing business. We ventured into the designer bread waters and dough. Anita and I took a bread making workshop with a French master baker. Alex Karras and Susan Clark were participants of the class. Alex, Susan and I became friendly – I have stories from my times with Alex – but that for another time.

We bought a triple beam scale, a stone wheat grinder, bread pans and a commercial dough mixer. We purchased wood fired ovens at my company and explored the possibility of adding specialty breads to our product mix. We even actually constructed a portable-trailer able oven from a kit (Earthstone Ovens from France). We used it for company celebrations with great success.

While the business prospects were just that, Anita and I took the bull by the horns or the dough in hand and started selling Julian Bread locally – not a lot but 24 – 36 loaves a week. We had an ongoing waiting list with never a loaf to spare.

We called the custom bread made with the finest of ingredients – water, Celtic sea salt, Montana wheat, fresh herbs and passed down from France starter- Julian Bread. I wrote and produced a newsletter about bread; this side project was headed up by Anita while I tried to run a health food company.

Ostensibly we created a fund for our son Julian – thus the bread title; a labor of love on several fronts – for our son’s future and for the love of cooking and the making of fine breads.

In 1986 Anita and I traveled some distance to meet with ovencrafter Alan Scott. He was building a wood-fired oven for our bread-making teacher and friend from France. We spent the weekend with Alan watching and learning the details of making his fine ovens. Now 20 years plus later he is quite famous for his ovens even having written a book on the subject (The Bread Builder by Alan Scott and Daniel Wing.

I noticed on Alan’s web site that the bread oven he came here to Capitan to build is on the list “Adobe Bakehouse”. Glynis Racine is the owner. Last year we talked wood-fired ovens, sourdough breads and about our mutual meeting up with Alan Scott.

Today during our visit with Pat she called Glynis to see when she might be delivering – “She is on her way and will be here in five minutes.” We continued chatting with Pat who is an articulate and energetic spokesperson for the community. She feels Capitan is a stop not just for American tourists but for more international folks as well – we agree.

I reported that my Blogging Amigo Hollito has just a day or two ago expressed interest in Capitan – he being in Germany.

Soon Glynis arrived. She remembered that we had met last year at the Farmer’s Market where we talked about our mutual interest in sourdough bread as well as a bond in knowing Alan Scott. Glynis has an oven built by Alan here in Capitan. I begged an invitation to come out and see it. “I bake on Thursdays and Fridays.”

“Cool!” said I. “I will email to make an appointment,” photographs to follow.

My first meeting a year ago with Glynis left me with the distinct feeling she might have been a bit uncomfortable about our living in Capitan and having the bread bug. While we have no interest in designer bread crafting in New Mexico, thoughts have entered my head to do something in Xico. We already have a wood fired oven in place at Rancho del Cielo; who better then us to take up the bread making gauntlet in our part of Mexico?

Horno at Rancho del Cielo – Waiting for Bread (ENLARGE Here)

We purchased a loaf and a baguette. Said our goodbyes and hurried home to appease our palettes. The taste test: a scrumptious hard chewy toasted crust with soft airy light flavorful dough innards; makes my mouth water just writing about it. The nutritional and better absorption/assimilation of whole grain bread made with natural starter (sourdough) leavener instead of commercial yeast are numerous and of great importance to the health conscious not to mention the rich flavors.

Best Baked Bread in These Parts! (ENLARGE Here)

I noticed on Alan’s list of ovens made in the Ovencrafters tradition there is one in Puebla, Mexico: PAN & Co. – 5B Sur 4306, CoL Huexotitla, 72530 Puebla, Pue. Tel 01 (222) 404 35 43. How cool is that. We will make a point of visiting when we return to our Mexico home.

Alan writes of his purpose of the craft of wood-fired ovens and baking of bread, “[Our] purpose is to earn a right livelihood for our staff guided by Gandhian principles, particularly; “Policy with principles, commerce with morality, wealth through work, and science with humanity”. …truly revolutionary oven designs and self building processes are inspiring a return to nourishing, handmade bread in the family home, and at a local level. Wow – this could be a plan Stay Tuned!

The differences between living in the U.S.A. and Mexico are what we Mexico Bloggers most often cover. This morning I have been thinking what about living in Mexico has changed me.

For one to up and leave their homeland is in my way of thinking ‘Intentional Living’. Looking around I feel most people live by way of the circumstances life presents to them. When you pack up and leave familiar territory for not just a vacation, but a different way of life – it is what I coin intentional living.

First and foremost or perhaps most commonly remarked upon is the calming affect Mexico will have on an American in Mexico. The pace is slower. It demands conformity. You will learn to relax or be frustrated by attempts to avoid it.

Not far back here I wrote of the break down of our small cargo trailer. Refreshing the memory we hauled a bunch of stuff down last October in a small homemade two wheel enclosed trailer.

On the return trip a week or so ago we had a break down. I had removed the rear doors to the little trailer leaving the back wide open. The rationale was that it could easily be seen the trailer was empty. This might help avoid being stopped in Mexico to see what the gringos had in the trailer – it did work. We had an easy time of avoidance of military and the like inspections.

After packing up and driving all day at 8:30 that night on a one lane road 35 miles before Tampico the welds holding the assembly that connects the trailer to our truck entirely broke. This caused the trailer to totally separate from the truck, it skidding to a stop on our side of the one lane in each direction roadway.

Prior to our living in Mexico an event such as this would have immediately induced some negative juices into my systems – anger, frustration, bewilderment, fear and rage are some of the emotions that come to mind; but not this time.

If nothing else Mexico has engendered a calming nature that heretofore did not exist in my make up. And I suggest this is a common affectation of living in Mexico; a good thing indeed. There was not a moment subsequent to the trailer separation of upset or any of the other aforementioned responses.

Seeking out understanding as it relates to cultural differences certainly is something that is motivated by living amongst a different people. This has broadened my perspective of humans and how they function. At first the cultural shock will eventually meld into a wider acceptance and more complete knowledge of one’s fellow man – a good thing.

It is often suggested that like the physical muscles it is important to exercise the mental muscles as one gets on in years – keep the mind active. The challenge presented by the adjustments one must make is most certainly mind stimulating. You will learn to do things differently in many ways, a broadened vocabulary and new ways to function will be introduced as you daily live beyond the expanse of your birth country. Not to suggest one can not get mentally stimulated in his own country – but certainly the change challenges the think pot.

After living in Mexico I am less apt to believe there is simply right or wrong to many issues relating to immigration. Living amongst people that are struggling for survival in ways we took for granted living in the U.S. has certainly opened my eyes, and made me a kinder, gentler person for it. Struggle is a motivator, even a ruler over one’s intentions and thought process.

More than ever, but not to suggest that I wasn’t aware before, I realize what we are told about our neighbors and life beyond our borders can be distorted. A common question is, “Do you feel safe in Mexico?” Just yesterday in line at the checkout counter of a store in Ruidoso I somehow got involved in conversation with an older couple (yes even older than me). The husband was in one of those in-store person movers – you know the electric shopping cart things. She was in front waiting behind our being checked out.

We engaged in talk about the differences between living in Ruidoso/Capitan and that of Xalapa/Xico. Of course the older folks wondered about safety. I told them I feel safer in Mexico – our part – then I do in the United States.

People are often taken back or incredulous when they hear this. If one is to believe the U.S. news reports and State Department travel warnings they most certainly will be fearsome of the drug wars and mob violence that is so much in the news about Mexico. Of course we that live in Mexico know differently.

I should add parenthetically during that conversation of course we discussed the comparison cost of living. The kind faced woman crinkled her already wrinkled face when she reported that their minimum monthly water bill in Ruidoso is $90.00 USD a month. I reported that we pay $14.00 USD a year for unlimited water use (sporadically supplied occasionally).

As our discussion came to a close upon the completion of our purchases the older woman exclaimed I don’t think I could get him to move as she peered his way. She followed this as we were leaving that they would just have to have their water meter pulled when they leave later in the summer for a couple of months.

Calmer attitudes, broader perspectives and a widening of the knowledge of the world are certainly part and parcel of the expatriate experience. Try it – you might like it. In the mean time while you ponder the possibilities Stay Tuned!

Part of the VLA Array (ENLARGE Here)

Capitan, New Mexico stands at 6350 feet and up. We haven’t temperature adjusted as of yet. At night it is still in the 30’s. Friday morning early it was 54 F in our garage house. Maybe the next time we come north we will wait until mid-June.

Later in the day Friday our friend John Paul from Chicago arrived on the scene. He is building a house on 35 acres in Southern Colorado. He decided to drive down and see what we were selling in the way of tools and equipment as well as make a visit.

He had apparently dropped his cell phone while visiting the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (VLA) area in San Augustin, New Mexico, about 140 miles from here. Saturday noon we decided to drive out and see if we could find his Blackberry.

Anita and I have passed the Very Large Array (VLA) area many times. Ten years ago when we were moving to this area we passed by perhaps 20 times. We often stopped to look from the road at the twenty-seven critically aligned dishes. But, in the many passes by we never drove into the visitor’s center to get a close up view and the tour.

I am one of those people that do not stop to see sights when driving. It is all Anita and Julian could do to get me to stop for a bathroom break. To his credit John Paul on the other hand actually drove 60 miles each way out of his intended path to see and photograph the dishware.

I Could Get Great TV Reception with One of These! (ENLARGE Here)

Upon arrival to the visitor center area a sign advises to turn off your cell phones. John followed directions after parking his car and before entering the center. Somewhere between that moment and leaving his Blackberry slid out of his jacket.

Luckily some kind lady had found his phone the day before and turned it in to the gift shop lost and found – yea! John had taken a lot of photos the day before, but I seized the moment to capture a few myself. The technology behind those 94 foot in diameter, one half million pound, white dishes fascinates me. The carefully placed array looks into deep space producing photos of galaxies millions of light years away.

Putting It in Perspective – BIG PLATO! (ENLARGE Here)

If you have never heard of the VLA you might remember the film Contact from the Carl Sagan book starring Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey. Much of the film was shot in 5 days at the site we were at yesterday
in 1996.

If you ever even get close – check it out. Don’t do like I did until John lost his phone – drive up the road and check in at the visitor’s center – you will not be disappointed.

And another reason to look skyward >>>> the spacecraft Phoenix landed successfully today on the icy northern plains of Mars after a triumphant voyage of 422 million miles half-way around the sun.

With a 130-pound cargo of instruments and a robotic digging arm to probe for ancient water and ice and long-decayed traces of organic chemicals essential for life, the lander’s three legs settled gently onto a rock-free Martian surface precisely at 4:38 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. Keep Looking Up & Stay Tuned!

We crossed into the United States around 5 PM Monday. I am always anxious to get some U.S. miles under my belt. We headed directly out of Brownsville towards San Antonio Spurs country.

GueroPaz on the VivaVeracruz forum who has family in Brownsville asked me to compare Matamoras to Brownsville. I would say first off I don’t know a lot about either because I tend to breeze through them. In the larger picture the first thing I notice when in the U.S. is how much better the road surfaces are.

George Bush must have a hand in the highway dollars that go to Texas because I do believe they have the finest quality roads in America. When you contrast that to some of the worst roads in the world in Mexico it is a glaring difference to say the least. In Texas your kidneys will find rest and relaxation.

Another immediate difference is the lack of drivers on the road in Texas as compared to the vibrant activity on Mexico highways. I theorize that this is in part because in Mexico fuel is still somewhat affordable. We paid more than $4.50 USD per gallon all through Texas and New Mexico; a staggering price after paying half that for the last 8 months in Mexico.

I noticed the people in the United States seem to not be happy. There appears to be a general apathy; throw in some doom and gloom on everyone’s face here. At the moment I think the current events in the last 8 months of the housing market collapse coupled with high food prices and just about everything else going up – PLUS gas prices – PLUS being weary from more than five years of war quite simply has the populace in a state of shock – waiting for it to be over and for the economy to level out or…?

As expected while we experienced substantial cost of living escalation in the eight months in Mexico the U.S. kept up proportionally and then some – and of course even far greater fuel increases.

People in the U.S. are having their lives change inextricably at this time. Fuel prices have gone up 400% since George Bush took office – and yet – we keep seeing these annual inflation figures of less than 5 % – PAH-LEEEEZE!

The last time the U.S. seemed so down was when George’s dad was President. Then everyone put their hope in Clinton turning things around – upside down yes, around no. Now Barack Obama is campaigning on the same platform – the only hope is change. If the color of his skin doesn’t beat him, he will be the next President. Change? It remains to be seen and is perhaps the only hope.

Our drive to Capitan, a sleepy little town of about 1500 high up near the southern end of the Rocky Mountains in New Mexico, was uneventful. It certainly was a trip through wide open spaces and highways – who can afford to drive these days in America? Stay Tuned.

We left Ursulo Galvan Sunday mid-morning. We wanted to have lunch in Coasta Esmeralda at Alicia’s but the restaurant was closed. I’m not sure if it is open any longer?

We had a fairly standard drive, but we did make a road mistake not taking the toll road past Alamo we veered west staying on 127 all the way to Tampico. This adds time and there are many small towns with hundreds of topes – after Alamo head back on 180 save some miles and reduced topes.

The adventuresome part of the trip occurred about 35 miles before Tampico.  We always seem to have at least one ‘event.’ It was about 8:30 PM – very dark of course. I heard a clunk and then dragging. I stopped right in the roadway (one lane in each direction only). When I got back to the little empty trailer – ugh! The welds tacked on apparently to hold the ball receiver assembly had broken; separated totally from the main rectangular metal shaft of the trailer. The little box that could was nose down in the road essentially disconnected from the truck as the safety chain was connected to the piece that had separated as well. Now it was the little box that couldn’t

Anita came out we discussed the possibility of taking the new tires and wheels and the license plate and abandoning my $500.00 home made trailer. Before I could give that further thought 4 cars with emergency lights and 5 hombres stopped. They immediately went into action directing traffic and sizing up the situation.

After some deliberation I had straps that they used to tie the broken trailer on to the truck. They suggested I follow them into Tampico. Thirty-five miles I am going to drive this set-up? Yikes I thought.

The hombres assured me it would work – hmmm. I tried to pay them for their great help, but they would have none of it. You may have read about the FREE emergency road service provided in Mexico at no cost to motorists with problems. I’m here to report it is real. It works!

I insisted that they take some money. The head fellow explained they couldn’t and wouldn’t do that – just not policy. I said I would donate money to the Red Cross in their name – which I did the next day.

Off we went in a slow trip those 35 miles. The patch job was loosening; the little wood box on wheels swayed like a stubborn pulled on mule. I pulled into a Pemex area as soon as we reached the outskirts of Tampico. There was a large ‘sleep-over’ 18 wheeler area. For 50 pesos we were allowed to stay safely there until morning. I threw a sleeping bag in the back of the truck to stretch out. Anita slept in her seat in the cab.

We were asleep immediately as it was now almost midnight. We were exhausted.

Monday morning we started asking around for a welder. As always people are helpful in Mexico. Soon we were in front of a house/welding shop.

Ruben Rios Parkins jumped into action even before having breakfast. He politely scoffed at the terrible welding job saying he could do much better. At that point those words were music to my ears. ;-0.

Before Ruben reattached the ball receptacle assembly he went down the street to purchase two large carriage bolt assemblies to fasten through the ball receptacle unit. He burned holes in the rectangular metal shaft for it to receive the bolts.

Ruben set a clean chair in the shop area for Anita while he and I worked in front on the street side. I checked in on her now and again. I spotted a piece of metal grate that looked like it would just fit across the front of the trailer so I could strap on a gas can or two.

I seized the piece carrying it to the curbside. “Cuanto por es?”

“Muy barato” Ruben replied. Cool I want it mounted por favor. He added this to the welding tasks. After mounting the assembly and securing with the two bolts he welded the receiver head back on as well as the safety chains and finally my new rack

Completed and looking great save some paint we asked how much we owed him. Inside Anita and I discussed what we thought it might cost. I first thought 800 pesos or about $80.00. I reckoned three hours of welding and the parts would have been about 200-250 US dollars – perhaps more.

Then I suggested using my 10% rule – that of Mexican labor seems to be about 10% of US – that would be around 250 pesos. “No it couldn’t be that cheap. This is higher level manual labor.

Ruben said the bill was 200 pesos and that it was a bargain. Yes it is thought I We gave him 250 suggesting he buy a couple beers for a job well done.

Then I asked where I could get two more nuts to double back the carriage bolts. Everything has a way of rattling off on a trailer – especially on Mexican roads.

Rather than explaining where the store was – off he went returning with two complete bolts set up with washers nuts etc. I started to explain I only needed the nuts – but let it go.

Help without a hitch below Tampico; then a terrific trailer repair job with a hitch for less than $25.00 USD made me a happy traveler.

Crossing pass the Mexico border section was easy. They hand you a razor blade to peel off your vehicle pass that is stuck in the middle of your windshield. The hombre in the booth actually came out from his booth and checked the trailer out – good thing we didn’t leave it on the side of the road – that would have be an event to explain.

The dreaded US Border crossing was even easier and more pleasant than the Mexican part – what? I am thinking perhaps their computers are finally really keeping tabs on things? They now know we have crossed there over and back 12 times in the last four years and we aren’t a drug or terrorist threat – not sure what the change was – but after 8 months in Mexico I was ready for the pull over to that section treatment, dog sniffing inspection, and a LOT of questions – but no 2 minutes at the window and we were through – very cool.

Tomorrow I will write about the US side of the trek. So Stay Tuned!

The rainy season is apparently here. We had a good dousing yesterday afternoon and into the evening. It is raining this morning as well. I like the rain. It cleans the air, but our streams and the waterfall across the way get chocolate brown.

Since the water for Poor Man’s Shangri La comes from surface water the feed to our houses also gets chocolate brown. Most in the Hood have water tanks. The supply is intermittent. Having a catch system tank fills in for the times the Hood water source pipe is empty.

Some people have filters on their water tanks. I think just one day like today with the chocolate water would completely fill and clog the filter rendering it useless. I think there are a lot of filters that never get changed – possibly it is better to not have one? I keep up with ours cleaning it often.

Along with the rain comes lightning and thunder this time of year. At times the system coming through might be characterized as an ‘electrical.’

My tip for today for those of you coming to Mexico is this: do not leave your houses during monsoonal season unprepared for rain – windows and vents should be set accordingly. ALWAYS unplug everything electrical. I unplug everything and throw the main switch to the power on our property when we leave for even a jaunt to the store.

With relatively poor power (developing country type), poor if even existing grounding, and a lot of lightning it is a good idea to disconnect. Another less considered issue is disconnecting your electronic phones and answering machines from the phone line. Also, and this can be a biggie – disconnect your antenna going to your television box or set.

In Colorado last year my Hughes satellite modem was disconnected from the computer and the power, but not from the antenna itself. Lightning struck in the yard. The modem was destroyed by way of the dish cable connection.

I know these steps sound like a hassle, but they don’t compare to having to repair or replace your electronic gear in Mexico.

A lot of folks have backup power supplies – these things are worthless when lightning strikes in your yard or directly to a power line. They are mostly a false sense of security in situations like these in Mexico where there is little to no grounding. They are fine for power fluctuations and even minor surges – but for lightning forget it – if you are connected in ANY way your precious device(s) will be fried by close lightning.

You have to decided if the effort of policing to this point is worth it. Or is the risk worth avoiding the hassle of unplugging and unscrewing cables. Remember just turning your stuff off is NOT a safety process.

With all my cautions I have still had two electronic devices burn out from power surges and lightning. In both cases I had forgotten they were still plugged in only to come back to them dead.

Lightning usually gives you some notice being further away and then gradually getting closer if it is coming your way. A first sign or sound disconnect – you will enjoy the wonderful Mexican rains and light and sound shows without worry about your stuff. Keep plugged in when it is safe ONLY and then you can Stay Tuned!

We made it through yet another party. I am not complaining – from a retired guy’s perspective – a lot of parties are a good thing.

Vince in her fiesta dress (ENLARGE Here)

Yesterday I was a bit confused as to how this birthday party related to a Mexican tradition. When I asked Vicente why is this party for his five year old daughter important or significant (and no I didn’t say significant in Spanish – ‘significativo’), his response was personal not having any bearing on a broader tradition like that of the fifteen year old female. He said he and Lidia had several parties for their now twelve year old son and none for their daughter – so there you have the rest of that story.

I did pickup the chairs and later drove Vicente to Coatepec to pickup the cake that Anita and Lidia had ordered the day before. This presented a minor problem and caused the motivation for a tip to travelers to our part of Mexico – first the tip: I have suggested on more than one occasion to try and not go across the border on a weekend for fairly obvious reasons – a lot of people are doing it and the delays can be significant.

Here is a more subtle but what can be equally aggravating situation. Many Mexican workers are paid on the 1st and 15th of the month. If you happen to be traveling in or through Xalapa or Coatepec on these dates you will encounter hellacious traffic. These people armed with paychecks are out about in mass. Parking and just driving itself becomes more of a challenge than normal – and normal is often quite challenging. So try not to arrive in Xalapa on those dates if you are driving.

Now here in Mexico they make a cake called tres leches pastel. I had to let Anita and Vicente out of the truck and drive around three long blocks back and forth rather than parking – because there was none. Going around those blocks allotted plenty of time for the two to get the cake.

The problem was the three leches (milk, half and half or cream in this case) came off basically as a large rectangular festively decorated cake floating in milk – all placed on a flimsy piece of plastic.

When the two got in the truck the liquids were rolling from one end to the other and over the edges onto my trucks seats and floor – grrrr. Also, Vicente had spent most of the morning with the pig project (killing, cutting and cooking). He had showered and got into his party clothes (possibly the only ones he owns). Along with my truck seats and floor this poor guy was spattered with the tres leches. The stuff is sticky. It was 92F outside and the people thick as flies and the flies were as thick as flies – this was not a good scenario.

So another tip – if you happen to order a celebratory cake and are talked into the 3-milks style – bring a container. Actually the thought of cake floating in milk while unappetizing in my way of thinking, didn’t taste bad – of course if nothing else the cake was moist

We had a terrific time. Lidia orders tamales sin carne just for us – what a nice gesture I thought. Here in the Hood you can order delicious homemade tamales from an excellent cook. She charges 2.5 pesos (about 25 cents US) per tamale. So while we can’t get pizza delivered from Coatepec or Xico here in Poor Man’s Shangri-La, you can get some fine prepared food at a bargain price.

Mexican parties run in shifts of people. They come, they are fed and they move on. There were more than 200 people that passed through this party – all in an orderly manner. I don’t think there were more than 30 at any one time. I have no idea how this seemingly well organized process actually happens.

I am pretty sure the entire 150 or more pounds of pig was totally utilized save perhaps the feet for soup another day. Someone suggested in the comments that they kill the fatted pig on the day of the fiesta to avoid having to cool and house the body parts – a volume that would surely exceed any refrigerator around here – I have yet to see a freezer anywhere.

They have been feeding and caring for the pig for a year. I asked Vicente if the children on the compound  (kids from five families), if they don’t get upset seeing the pig killed and cut-up on the spot. Like the difference regarding their relationship with domestic pets, farm animals are for food – the children know it and accept the process without a blink.

How many stories or actual experiences have we had in the U.S. about a kid falling in love with a farm animal and then the ensuing struggle with the food processing part of that? This sad scene probably is not going to happen here in Mexico.

During the party that went on from 3 PM to about 8:30 PM I took a bunch of photos. At a couple points I ran home and processed a couple and then returned with 8 X 10 prints – what a hero I can become with my U.S. toys.

Of course people are far less used to having their picture taken even at a party. I have a great time snapping photos and it often breaks the ice between me and people I don’t know – sometimes it creates some as well.

One pretty young girl that I had captured a few images of left and returned with her cell phone replete with built-in camera; she started taking pictures of me taking pictures of her. She and her friends got a good laugh over that. A good time was had by all. Now we are in the final packing stages to head to the U.S. The party’s over. Stay Tuned!

I took this image at Rancho del Cielo the other day to show you the smoke in the air. It is still thick – but we have some cooling rain this afternoon. (ENLARGE Here)

Today is yet another fiesta. This one is close to home as it is being thrown by our friend’s and neighbors Vicente and Lidia. The cause of celebration is that of their five year old daughter’s birthday.

I confess I am busy and rushed at the moment. I don’t have the background information on the five year old celebration. As memory serves it is a line of demarcation where the child has survived the most dangerous childhood years and is likely to make it to adulthood? But I could be totally off base – so I will leave it at that for the moment. I should add that Mexico has made great strides in reducing the infant mortality rate.

We had planned on leaving today for the U.S. We put it off to not miss our good friends big party, and after all we are retired and live by a very flexible schedule (what a bonus for the retired!). I do have to be out of the Country at the end of the month when my visa extension runs out.

Early this morning Anita headed over to party central to help with slicing, dicing, wrapping and decorating; she reported that she was conscripted to blow up some balloons. Here I threw my assistance hat in the ring.

“I have the Coleman electric air mattress pump in the truck. I could blow those balloons up muy rapido!” I was raised to NOT volunteer for anything – this held up until I got here – oh well.

I have just returned from that job. The pump worked out great. Of course while I was there I got a few more tasks. Soon I will have to go with the truck and get some rental chairs. They are here in the Hood just a few blocks away. In a minute or two I have to go do that.

Here is a tip: the last time I volunteered for chair pickup and delivery we made three trips back and forth because the rental folks were not there the first two times. This time I insisted that someone walk over and ascertain that they were there and the chairs were available. I am trying to learn to manage my fuel consumption – see an old dog can learn a new trick or two.

Oh, when I was over there they had just slaughtered the fatted pig for the fiesta. I would have thought they would have done this a day or two prior – but no this guy left the living and will be consumed all on the same day – a better way to go – become part of a living organism almost immediately?

I took some possibly offensive photos because I found their process (after the actual life ending part) was interesting and different – but I will wait to see how these came out and if the mood I am allows me to think they are appropriate; certainly an explanation will be fitting – more on this after I get the chairs – so Stay Tuned!

Ten years ago Southern Mexico was plagued by fires. We were living in Prescott, Arizona at that time. I remember the smoke from those fires made it all the way to Prescott. In addition we owned land in New Mexico where the smoke was really invasive.

Here we are ten years later and a thousand mile closer to that fire zone in southern Mexico from Chiapas all the way down to Honduras. The smoke in the air has been thick since arriving up at Ranch del Cielo.

Fortunately to date the fires are not as bad as those of 1998. We actually had a smattering of rain late yesterday afternoon. If you have smoke in your part of Mexico – please report in. Stay Tuned!