The Dog written by Alan McManus

Anyone who has visited us here in San Juan del Río has met "the dog." Peanut is an interesting animal and while we're not what I would call dog-lovers or even pet-lovers, we enjoy the reactions that different guests have towards Peanut. Some are quite enchanted by her which surprises us.

A long time ago (she's now 3 years old) we tried to figure out what breed of dog she is and we came to the conclusion that she is a Dingo...yes...an Australian Dingo which is an official, domesticated breed in Australia.

Yesterday, one of our current work team guests commented that he thought she was a "Blue Heeler." What's that? I didn't know but a quick Internet search revealed that this breed has several names and the most commonly used for all those names is Australian Cattle Dog (or ACD for short). Of course, I wouldn't expect Peanut to be a pure breed of any type but it's clear she has many of the ACD traits. She also has Dingo traits. Turns out ACDs are a mix of Dingo, Dalmation, Bull Terrier, and all of those were mixed in the late 1800's in Australia with some original dog that just didn't have all the elements to make it a good cattle herder. Today, this breed is excellent for herding cattle and sheep and when encouraged, makes a great watch dog. This is what we're thankful for in Peanut.

If you've met Peanut and found an interest in this unique animal, you might enjoy reading what Wikipedia has to say about the ACD breed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Heeler.

Just last week Cameron watched Peanut react to the man who entered our patio (Peanut's domain for sure) in order to put a ladder up to the roof to refill our LP tank. She followed him low to the ground and nipped at his heels. Wow...that's really cool! I think she really is an Australian Cattle Dog! Fortunately, we were able to rescue the gas man and he's happily enjoying corn tortillas in some other pasture today. Peanut is waiting for his return though...ACDs need a job to do and I'm sure she thinks he is one of her many chores!

Midsummernight Dream by Rod Fry

Walking on a time line, between dimensions

Of light and space, a wheel of colors

Spinning around, a mirrored reflection

In a sea of glass and memory.

A bright, dark sky with soft clouds

Floating by, headed who knows where,

Bright stars shout out loud

As night becomes day, or so it seems.

As thoughts so dark and deep and clear

Such that I cannot fully express

Bombard my mind, a mix of fondness and fear,

Impressions, feelings, hopes, dreams.

As the passing years become as days

All strung out like a pattern repeated,

Conceived, designed, fashioned, replayed

Over and over and over again.

I sit myself down in a quiet enough place,

As I've done before, to peer into the night

To examine, refine, reject, and replace

This swirling of faces, ideas, beliefs.

I am alone, and I feel all the pain

Of living with so many questions.

How in the world will I ever regain

A conscience complete, a soul satisfied?

I've traveled far, and I bear the scars

Of too many unanswered pleas.

Is it too early to finish, too late to start...

Experiencing what I say I believe?

The clouds run away, and I hear the wind say

As it rustles and whistles my name,

That I just have to wait, there will come a day,

When all that is dark will be clear.

I will seek, then, to live what I know and believe,

Content not to know the whole plan;

Seeking to love those You've given to me,

Staking my life on the vows You have made.

Run 'cross the sky, clouds fringed with silver

Reflecting the light of the moon.

I will seek the Sun; the light that delivers

My soul from its twilight fears.

Rod with his wife Mayra and their 3 children serve in Mexico City, Mexico