Describes life on any Rancho in Mexico in the early 70's, situations familiar as well as amusing. Like Water for Chocolate, these twelve short stories of love unfold in the Mexican desert. As a young woman I was introduced to one particular family when I spoke no Spanish and they spoke no English. Young readers will find this bi-cultural adventure in Mexico packed with anthropological moments that come to life. Whether getting water or getting married humans change little from one generation to the next. The love of beauty, awe, and surprise is never out of date and always worth remembering. The stories are written and formatted side by side for ease to learn Spanish or learn English. The translations are unique as a testament and educational. I have told these crazy stories at parties and to strangers for forty years. The love stories are meant to cross cultures and bring joy to anyone who is learning to bridge two worlds through the language of communication from Spanish into English. Twelve short stories unfold as Mary Jane discovers love in the desert for the first time. The Ranch by Mary Jane Miller describes Mexico in the early 70's, a time forgotten with behaviors and lifestyles left for the history books. She offers a glimpse through humorous events and activities you might find have found on any ranch around the country. There is no doubt that our human capacity for love of beauty, awe, and surprise is never out of date and always worth remembering. Young readers will find this bi-cultural adventure packed with anthropological moments that come to life. “ I was introduced to a lifestyle on a ranch outside San Miguel Allende and one particular family when I spoke no Spanish and they spoke no English ”. Whether getting water or getting married humans have changed little from one generation to the next. The love story about an American in Mexico was written and formatted side by side for easy translation from Spanish to English. The translations reveal the subtle difference between cultures, and sometimes Miller's comical determination to be understood. Mary Jane has told these crazy stories at parties and to strangers for forty years. The stories cross cultures and educate anyone learning to bridge two worlds, a bi lingual account of an adventure in Mexico in 1974. The subject matter stimulates great conversation regardless of learning Spanish or studying English.