Never another cat

This cat never became a lap cat because the group I was living with ended up with five cats. One from Barbara who couldn't take her north. The other four I have no idea but they were not feral. 

When I started building the house I was living alone and five was too many. Gave a couple away to locals and a couple in Chapala wanted two. Unknown to me the couple in Chapala had two large dogs. The dogs were curious and the wife was holding a cat near her face. One scratch on her check was enough to not want the cats. Luckily it was Tianguis day in Ajijic and the local animal lady was there. She willingly accepted the cats but I gave her 500 pesos for food. Now I have two cats.

Barbara's cat was once a street cat and never really became tame. She would hide in my 5th wheel next to the house construction. After 6-8 months I advertised the 5th wheel and someone in La Manzanilla knew someone.  Turns out it was a circus group and they had a truck to haul it. I went through it cleaning out all my stuff but "Molly" had a hiding place I did not know about. Needless to say, Molly joined the circus.

Now for my one cat, Tomas, His food is now outside because I got tired letting him in every 15 minutes. The problem with that is neighborhood cats are over in minutes and Tomas sits there watching them eat his food. I chased the other cats off today and my dog is there in minutes. Coyota likes Whiskers more than dog food. Now the cat food goes up on a shelf quickly.

The last part of the story is Tomas catches way too many birds though he does eat most of them. He also catches lizards and usually eats a little and vomits. He will even try to kill small Iguanas. 

I don't know how long cats live but Tomas is at least 10 years old. His passing is the only option to get some release. Never another cat, Dogs are great and can really become a buddy.

The swallows are back

They haven't been around for months - maybe last year at this time. They are supposed to migrate but from where to where. Maybe our area is an end destination because they definitely nest here. A couple of years ago they built a nest in my upstairs open laundry room. Neighbors used to not have a back door and they built inside the house and rear bathroom. They got tired of the mess and put up a curtain. The photo is of young birds sitting waiting to be fed.

Birds and the bees

Hummingbird at rest

Bees in the palm with cold pool behind

Roseate Spoonbill over by the Prepa

This was going to be a not very much happening around here post although two hummingbirds were very busy in my Moringa tree. Busy enough one had to take a break. I'm kind of surprised they don't come around the palm flowers because the bees sure love them. Last night we had a small wind storm that blew over parts of the Moringa, a Sugarcane and filled the pool with leaves and pieces of my palapa.

I mentioned a cold pool because every morning for the last week the local weather site shows the morning temperature is 61 degrees which is as cold as it's been all year. It's the end of April if someone didn't notice.

My cat's newest thing is being successful at catching small iguanas. Frogs and lizards have been easy for him in the past but iguanas have been too wary and fast. This past week he killed 3. None larger than a foot and a half long but pretty big for my cat. They live in the lot next door but like to sun themselves on top of my wall. Of course the live ones or dead ones have to be brought for me to see.

Yesterday morning neighbors came over for a ride to the Jaluco Kindergarten because the kids were dressed as cowboys and girls and had stick horses parents had made the day before. Also for me and my camera for some fotos for Facebook. They marched all around Jaluco followed by a band. That post will have to wait.

Deadly embrace of the Strangling Fig

Very disappointed that seemingly no one has shown an interest in how the Higuera posts for palapas and ramadas are found, trained, cut, cleaned and preserved for use. I found one article on how they were made of cement so termites were not a problem (very expensive) and another of a tourist liking them in a resort. It has to be a real craft since the posts are so common here.

I translated the article below from a Spanish Blog with a link at the bottom .... only about the life of the tree. I also came across the bridge foto below that I just couldn't pass up.

The process begins when the monkeys, birds, squirrels and bats eat the fruit of a tree called, strangler fig. 

Certain fig known as [strangler] are parasitic, but with a difference. Of the many species that live in the tropics, some germinate and grow as a common tree, though, to help, usually require a host tree, and continue to evolve so that in the end can do without. But to achieve this independence, the parasitic fig gradually strangling his unfortunate host to death. 

The process begins when the monkeys, birds, squirrels and bats eat fruit strangler fig and casts the seed on the upper branches of other trees [dense palm fronds are most vulnerable]. There, the embryo takes root in litter and humus of leaves that collect in the corners and crevices of the bark, and develop other roots that penetrate and nourish the trunk and branches. As the roots proliferate they intertwine and envelop the host in what looks like a work of basketry. Once it gets a firm hold, the young plant sends more roots into the soil, to start an independent life. 

Thus begins the death of the host, as the extra nutrients the fig obtains directly from the soil gives more energy and strength. Still developing more roots, the hosts trunk is wrapped a labyrinth of troncucos, and these woody roots grow more and more, in a process that can last a century, literally strangles the host tree. The host trunk can no longer expand as it grows, also fig exhaust all the nutrients in the soil. 

The strange final show, after the host has died and has withered, is a robust and mature tree with innumerable [logs] forming a hollow cylinder around the space previously occupied by the original tree. Many strangler figs become real giants. - Eco-Journal-Alternative LA OROPENDOLA 100% 

EL ABRAZO MORTAL DE LA HIGUERA ESTRANGULADORA

Bridge made of Higuera roots

Very interesting but it's in India

Fig or Ficus on a post

Someone on the La Manzanilla message board posted the first foto which is a bit unusual but this type of support post for ramadas in front of stores or houses is not. They are actually very common around here even though quite expensive. I assume a special name for them but neighbors and Internet are not helping.

I have two examples on neighboring lots but they are way, way past the usable or attractive stage. This Ficus or Fig is very much like the Mexican Mistletoe in a previous post. They both start high in a tree with the droppings of birds and eventually strangle the host and become a tree in the same place. Roots either hang or "climb" down the trunk which is what the foto is.

Neighbor did say the attractive and usable ones are found in the mountains and there's a guy in Jaluco that gets them as a business. The cost comes from getting them out of the woods, stripping all the bark and garbage and preserving them with diesel and later varnish. You can't drive around with a truck full of freshly cut trees in Mexico without a permit but these may be exempt since they are really a parasite and a dead tree. Would be interesting to know a little more.

Just figured out that "higuera" is the generic Spanish name for fig but there are many, many varieties.

Ramada support post

Strangling fig has totally taken over on lot next door

Around the corner even larger with roots hanging

In out of the weather

These guys like to sit on the sconces inside my covered porch. It's out of the rain, wind and high enough my cat can't even think of going after them. When they first started this I was afraid they were ready to make their mud nests but no sign of it for 4-5 months. They built a nest upstairs but I got it before there were any little ones in it.

I have two neighbors that have swallow families living inside their homes.  One house is always open and the other is open during the day. A little startling to have one fly past your head as you walk out the door.  They must be great bug catchers but mucho poop below the nest is why I don't welcome them.  One was sitting on my tomato supports this morning and I stood there talking to him less than a meter away.   Very cool birds. 

On the sconce

One still there under the porch

Everybody's fishing Sunday

I swear that every fisherman in the area was at the West Melaque beach yesterday both in boats and from shore. That could also include the 1000+/- pelicans and other birds fishing their way. Supposedly they were stocking up with bait for night fishing but I've never seen 20+ pangas lining the beach. Between lines in the water, nets thrown from boats, banana boat rides and diving birds it was not a good idea to venture very far out.

Eight of us went from Pinal and met up with Glen from Barra at Sirenitas. Bought a kilo of shrimp and made a large bowl of ceviche on the beach. It was overcast all day and the ocean seemed cooler. A welcome day away from the sun

Three amigas

Banana boat, fishermen and birds

Pelicans must be getting leftovers

Leaving with his catch