At this moment, though, our animal collection is limited to 2 cats, 3 kittens, 2 dogs, 3 puppies, 4 ducks and 3 turtles. That's limited. A month ago we had 11 puppies and a giant iguana, too.
I like "free-range" animals best. Have you ever gone to a zoo and come home depressed at how miserable the animals looked? I never wanted my critters to have that sad, dejected look. I think I watched Charlotte's Web too many times as a child. We raised goats for some time when we lived in Oregon. Our first "family goat" was a black pygmy goat named Lucky. He was so funny! We just let him roam around loose and eat blackberry bushes.
There is one issue with free range animals: Poop.
I walked out the front door one morning a couple of weeks ago and this is what I saw...
Yes, the 4 ducks, 3 puppies and all 5 cats are eating from the same dishes. Those critters just have a way of making a mess, so I grabbed the hose and started taking care of what needed to be taken care of.
I heard a noise and turned around...
That one is not mine. The neighbor's pony had stopped by to say hello.
OK, horse. I am NOT cleaning up after you, too!!!
I think animals can just sense when someone is a pushover, don't you?
4 comments:
Hi,
We were thinking about Mexico and had a few questions.... why research when you know a blogger there, right?
How is the government towards homeschooling there?
Is your mailing system reliable?
How do you have internet... like is it wireless cellphone like Verizon (I can't picture cell phones getting reception there) or is it satellite???? Surely they don't have cable....
And last but not least- about how much does the average Mexican with electricity and running water spend a month to live compared to one in a little ho dunk town that carries water and lives in a tiny house a little bigger than a nice hut? Are they that "primitive" many places there? I don't picture them being so.
Your wish is my command! I am your interactive desk reference! ;^)
Homeschooling here is VERY similar to what it was in the States about 20 years ago -- completely legal and pretty much unknown. Curriculum is very limited -- even moreso than it was in the 80s in the States simply because the bulk of the material is in English. Did you know that even in Arizona, Spanish-speaking homeschoolers struggle to find quality materials? Sad, but true.
Reliable mailing system? Yes. You can depend on letters taking about 6 weeks to arrive from the US. We've had good experience with receiving packages from the States, but you can count on them costing WAY more than you want to pay!
Internet -- we have dial-up. On a good day I get 49.2 kbps. oooOOOooo. Larger cities have wireless and DSL, but we're in a little village 30 miles off the beaten path. Telcel recently came out with a satellite service which we're looking into. We're actually praying for the $200 it will take to get it hooked up. Once we have that initial cost covered, we will pay about $5 less per month than we currently pay for 2 cell phones, a land line and really slow dial-up service.
Our cell phones are very reliable and we text-message a LOT. The system jams easily, though, so on holidays we often lose signal.
Monthly living expenses...hmmm...I think that might be a good post for our scrap book site. In our village, there are families who own businesses and make several hundred dollars a month and there are families who live on $5 per day, cook on an outdoor grill, have a tar-paper covered one-holer for a bathroom and everyone sleeps in one room. The variation between the rich and the poor is staggering. I see more Humvies drive down the beach front road here than I ever saw in the States, but it's also not surprising to see a family of 5 balanced on an old, rusty 10 speed (the family vehicle).
OK, gotta run! More questions? Fire away!
Ok, my second wish is.........
How do you fit a family of five on a bike???? That would be a great photo to see!!!! LOL
I asked my kids today if they would rather have Christmas gifts or backpack through Mexico... It sounds like a lot of money but if instead of spending $100 a kid on gifts I take that money and put it towards a trip in January we could easily drive to the border and backpack for a week up and down the Mexican coast. What is the weather like in January?
Maybe you could help me here...
I was thinking it would be cheaper to use the bus system than drive. I read you can even rent a hammock on the beach for just a few bucks. If I know how to start a fire we can cook on the open fire (we are looking at avoiding major cities... are there beaches and rural towns away from tourist traps??)I don't mind sharing my seat with a chicken or goat. LOL
I grew up in Fresno, Ca on a poor side of town and I think there were more Mexicans than whites. I loved them! To this day I miss the gatherings, the tamales, the everything... the little pastries that the mexican guy sold who drove around in a white truck... the raspados (sp?)
To do traveling further away from the border like this I know I need a passport but do the kids??? I know they would be ok if we were sticking near the border but we want to go a little deeper.
I was hoping to take my laptop but I don't think Verizon would get reception even though they claim to be "worldwide"... which would probably could my cell phone out too.
I was also wondering if it is possible to carry a bunch of items out. If my husband and I carried out a box each of NICE cigars we could resell them in the states and get part of our money back from the trip.
I read that some people even make a living buying cars in TX and reselling them in Belize... I don't know much about that though...
Well, enough blog hogging!
I'll make it my mission Saturday (in addition to getting supplies for the last of Christmas presents) to take a photo of some of the great family vehicles in Guasave.
I'm not sure what the Baja coast is like, but you can camp on our beach for free! You can bus from Tucson to here for $60.(That's the really nice bus. There are cheaper ones.) Pitch a tent, catch fish and rake clams for free, go milk cows for the rancher in return for the milk...it's a good life! ;^)
Bring the laptop. Most hotels have free wireless. Your cell phone would probably work, too, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg!
Weather in January? Absolutely gorgeous! Oh! I know! There's this missionary family I know who is looking for someone to watch their house during their furlough in January. Maybe you can talk to them about house sitting for a few weeks!!! ;^)
Seriously, though, the weather this time of year is fantastic. Warm, sunny days and cool, clear nights -- just perfect!
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