Roof Dogs in Mexico!!

Another case of: "I can't believe I saw that" came right after we moved here & I noticed a dog on a rooftop not far from our house. The dog on the roof seems to be a Mexican version of "home security system" & in some cases a status symbol for the lower economic classes. The dogs bark at anything that seems to be in their territory & keep the other "roof dogs" in their neighborhood on alert as well. Some of the roof dogs are cared for & even have a shelter or dog house to retreat to during bad weather and are fed regularly but more often than not the roof dogs are a mangey & sad lot. One of the local missionaries had a run in with a roof dog when she was walking past a house where a rather clumsy roof dog fell from the roof on top of her!! Seems that even pedestrians can fall victim to the roof dogs!

Sometimes during our weekend travels we come across dogs; like these from one of the rock shops in Mapimi, who are so hungry they woof down any food we have to spare. John & I tend to give them our sandwiches, pretzels, cheese or whatever we have on hand. Some of the pets in the poor areas live in utterly deplorable conditions. These dogs generally are treated as animals with a job to perform or beasts of burden instead of members of the family like Americans tend treat their pets. Working dogs are one thing but starving animals is truly heartbreaking. In a country with such poor people the pets tend to bear the brunt when there is lack of food or money & rarely have the care organizations available to rescue them as in the US. There are a few here but their job is enormous! Below are 3 such organizations.
http://www.zihuatanejo.net/spaz/

http://www.islacozumel.net/services/spca/

http://www.loscabosguide.com/care/index.html



The family pets back in Texas are mucho thankful that they have a roof over their heads instead of being on the roof! Got to love those pets!!(Molly & Jack love their UT doggie sweaters!)

Can't take the Tex-Mex out of the Texan! Alot of the foods down here seem strangely familiar to most Texans. Occasionally, I try to introduce our Ex Pat friends to something altogether Tex-Mex! This strange sounding appetizer seems to make people question if it is dessert or appetizer...you be the judge!


Jalapeno Fudge~Gringo's Tex-Mex Appetizer!

Ingredients:
1 pound shredded cheddar cheese
1 pound shredded monterrey jack
1/2 cup chopped jalapeno
2 eggs
1 large can evaporated milk
1 cup flour
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. each salt & pepper

Directions:
Mix both cheeses and jalapenos. Press firmly (level) in a 9 x 13 pan. Mix eggs, milk, and flour and pour over the cheese mixture. Bake 40 minutes at 350F until slightly brown. Cool and cut into squares.
This recipe for Jalapeno Fudge serves/makes 16

Diego Rivera's Calla Lily Vendor