Halloween

We spent Halloween building our own ofrenda for the dead, and dealing with the dead cow problem.

Walking over to Yotatiro, we found that the cow (a calf, actually) wasn't actually dead — but it seemed to be mortally wounded. We wanted to quickly put the poor cow out of its misery, but we didn't have the expertise to do it properly. We learned that there was an old man in town who was an expert in butchering, but he was out drinking at another town, and wouldn't be back until 4 PM. We weren't thrilled about waiting, but we decided it was the best option. The cow had to be purchased from its owner.

Yotatiro - Wounded Calf - Brian (photo by Geoff) Yotatiro - Wounded Calf - b (photo by Geoff) Yotatiro - Lake Pátzcuaro (photo by Geoff) Yotatiro (photo by Geoff)

Back at the Rancho, making lunch on the outdoor stove.

Rancho Madroño - Wood Stove - Lars (photo by Geoff) Rancho Madroño - Ripping Paper for Papier Mache - Brian (photo by Lars) Rancho Madroño - Cooking on Wood Stove - Brian (photo by Lars) Rancho Madroño - Fruit (photo by Lars)

Painting a totem pole to serve as a template for papier mache masks.

Rancho Madroño - Painting Totem Pole - Brian (photo by Geoff)

Making our ofrenda, with photos of lost loved ones.

Rancho Madroño - Offrenda - Geoff (photo by Lars) Rancho Madroño - Offrenda - Geoff (photo by Lars) Rancho Madroño - Offrenda - Lars (photo by Brian) Rancho Madroño - Offrenda - Marie (photo by Brian) Rancho Madroño - Offrenda (photo by Lars) Rancho Madroño - Offrenda (photo by Geoff) Rancho Madroño - Offrenda (photo by Lars) Rancho Madroño - Offrenda (photo by Lars) Rancho Madroño - Offrenda (photo by Geoff) Rancho Madroño - Offrenda (photo by Brian) Rancho Madroño - Offrenda (photo by Geoff) Rancho Madroño - Offrenda (photo by Lars)

Back in Yotatiro, waiting for the butcher to return. It was a beautiful evening.

Yotatiro (photo by Geoff) Yotatiro (photo by Geoff) Yotatiro - Geoff, Brian, Lars (photo by Lars) Yotatiro (photo by Lars) Yotatiro (photo by Geoff)

butchering

The old man with the butchering skills did eventually return, a bit tipsy (as expected), and he agreed to help us with the cow. It turned out that the cow had expired on its own earlier in the day.

We then experienced the fascinating process of transforming a cow into meat. There are some graphic photos here, so only true carnivores may want to look at them.

Yotatiro - Dead Cow (photo by Brian)

(butchering photos)

Dinner at Beto's house. We ate tasty enchiladas (not beetles).

Yotatiro - Dinner at Beto's (photo by Geoff) Yotatiro - Dinner at Beto's - Beto (photo by Geoff) Yotatiro - Geoff, Giant Beetle (photo by Brian)

More ofrenda photos at the Rancho.

Rancho Madroño - Offrenda (photo by Brian) Rancho Madroño - Offrenda (photo by Geoff)