December 31, 2022 · 7:46 am

2022 There I Go!

Well, I didn’t get as much done as I’d hoped in 2022, but I did have the intention, which was my one-word focus for the year. Here’s a recap and what did and didn’t happen. 

It was my intention to be fit at fifty. Sadly, I do not have Victorian babe arms yet. However, I did do pretty well with regular exercise, and I can now wear pants that were too tight during the pandemic years, even some that were too tight before that. I’ve still got a few months until I’m fifty, and while I won’t be buff, I am feeling healthier. 

It was my intention to complete an herbal book and course for women’s wellness. I published Exploring Traditional Herbal Remedies in Mexico Volume 3: Native and Naturalized Plant Use in May. The women’s wellness course has morphed into a second volume of The Mexican Apothecary but isn’t ready for release yet. I’m also working on Herb Book Volume 4, which should be finished in 2023. 

It was my intention to build a pool and finish the commercial space on my son’s lot. The pool project did get done, but it will need to be revamped in 2023 to include a pump to filter the water. A frog or two decided it was a perfect place to spawn, and we had tadpoles and algae and stuff that we’ll need to clear out before we use it again. The second floor was completed on my son’s lot, although the house isn’t ready for habitation just yet. 

It was my intention to complete two collaborative projects in 2022. I actually did three collaborative projects this year. The first was with Kimberlee Thorne. Our course for ex-pats didn’t bring any money in, so I’ll have to rethink continuing that project. Then I partnered up with both Ultimate Bundles and Infostack with my writing courses. Neither was financially lucrative, and I won’t be participating next year. And the children’s book series with Claudia Guzes is in the works. Look for the first book to be released in early 2023. 

It was not my intention to find another primary source of income, but that’s what happened in March when the company I worked for transferred their contracts to China. It took way longer than I would have liked to find another job. Currently, I’m working four jobs, and it’s still not cutting the mustard, but something is better than nothing. 

It was not my intention to adopt another pet either, but Bruce Goodboy came into our lives. We are above and beyond pet capacity, so hopefully, any new animals in 2023 can be rehomed somewhere other than our house, but we’ll see. 

Overall, I’d have to say that 2022 wasn’t the easiest year I’ve had, but I managed to muddle through living more intentionally. I have a few days yet to think about my goals and intentions for 2023 and will be spending some time daydreaming about the possibilities open for me in the new year. How did your year go?

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December 30, 2022 · 7:02 am

Big Mama Steps Up

Big Mama, despite her enormous girth, only gave birth to a singleton. Interestingly, the little guy looked EXACTLY like Brown Mama’s boy twin. (The girl has a white “toupee.”) Big Mama is extremely overprotective of him. Cocoa, who barks at everything, has made himself a mortal enemy here. How DARE he bark at her lamb???

Things were going well for about a week when suddenly Brown Mama died. The small flock was out foraging just on the other road and left unattended for about 15 minutes tops. When my son when to check on everyone, he found Brown Mama keeled over and swollen to twice her normal size. We think it was bloat that killed her. She might have eaten a poisonous plant, or the kid visiting with his parents on a nearby lot might have given her a handful of corn, or even the few kernels my husband doles out to everyone in the morning might have caused it. 

So then we had two orphans that weren’t old enough to get all their nutrients by foraging. They refused to be bottle-fed by Papa Chivo (my husband), and we despaired of their future. 

Thankfully, Big Mama decided to adopt the twins about three days after their mama’s demise. She’s a hefty sheep and seemed to have more than enough milk for her own and the two twins. The urgency has passed now that everyone can forage, although we are keeping a close eye on everyone since the rash of poisonings. It wouldn’t do for the lambs to lick something that could kill them.  

Other cloven-hoofed news: Fuzzy Mama still hasn’t given birth, nor has Jolina, although both are mighty uncomfortably pregnant. The other nameless goat miscarried, and my husband sold her. 

Then the Questgiver has been sent along to another realm to carry on his important tasks, whatever they may be. My husband didn’t like the way his testicles hung. Something about how that trait would be passed on to daughters and their udders would be uneven. I’m not sure that’s true, but I have no say on which animals stay and which go. 

I’d really like for him to stop with the animals. They aren’t getting the care they need here anymore, and the outdoor area is riddled with fleas making everyone miserable. Be that as it may…

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More Mexican homesteading stories can be found in the Animal Antics South of the Border Series. Now available on Amazon!

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December 25, 2022 · 8:52 am

Manchas’ in the HOUSE!

So at least one miracle occurred in my world this year. Manchas is BACK! Here’s how that went down.

Yesterday when my son was giving water to Lady, who was tied across the street, he saw a white blur in the nearby mesquite tree. He called out to it, and it mewed back. Of course, he knew that he’d never be able to approach, so he ran and got me. 

I came rushing out, and sure enough, it was Manchas. The tree branch was low enough that I could have reached her, except for the fact that it was surrounded completely by brambles. As much as I pushed in, I couldn’t get close enough. 

Manchas panicked at my blundering and ran down the tree to an even more secure location. I circled around and called to her. She mewed back but would not be coaxed out. So my son, ever limber, climbed a tree and moved toward her so she would leave her hiding spot. She did move but in the opposite direction. 

I spotted her through the abandoned house, and she stopped and mewed at me, then took off running. I had to take the long way ‘round, but the dogs on top of my son’s house let me know in which direction she had gone. 

My son circled his house and scared her back towards me; only she ducked into a hole in the wall. So through the house, I went and out into the backyard. She was there but obviously frazzled, and I didn’t try to grab her. My son blocked up the hole and then got Fuzz as bait. 

Manchas felt more comfortable approaching Fuzz, who wasn’t running anywhere anytime soon. With Fuzz as the distraction, I was able to swoop in (slowly, mind you) and catch her up. We went inside, and I served her some food. 

She was skittish the entire afternoon, although she’d chirp at me when I’d talk to her. Finally, I settled down on my bed, and she curled up next to me. She was HOME! My heart is so much lighter, as those of you who are pet parents will surely understand.

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Pet, pet, and more pet stories in the Animal Antics South of the Border series.

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