… to introduce you to Spring Creek Basin’s newest precious life:
Luna and her daughter Aghavni, named by our lovely visiting journalist from Armenia, Aghavni. 🙂 In Armenian, “aghavni” (pronounced “ah-havni” with a little hint of the “gh”) means dove. How perfect is that?
She must have been born this morning – she’s THAT brand new! Pale, pale silver buckskin.
We had a FABULOUS day! The highlight of which was finding Luna with her new treasure (she wasn’t due for almost two weeks). We saw all but the pintos and Bruiser and Milagro – I saw all the horses between yesterday and today – and we got a major surprise on our way home. Southeast of the basin, I hit the brakes when I saw an unmistakable form drop off the road. I don’t even remember *seeing* it … just seeing it disappear, if that makes sense. A few seconds later, we all saw it running with unmistakable grace up the shadowed drainage away from the road. A total of about 8.5 seconds (possibly less), and it was gone.
A mountain lion. The first I’ve seen in all my years of visiting the basin.
WOWOWOWOWOW.
I told Aghavni and Servet they can’t go home – they must always be my good luck charms. We also had with us our photo intern at the Herald, Sarah, from North Carolina, for whom seeing a mountain lion has long been on her bucket list.
Speaking of Servet, Houdini’s and Grey/Traveler’s daughter has a new name – Deniz – which means “sea” in his native Turkish. Our part of Colorado was once under a great sea, so it’s appropriate and beautiful.
Deniz
In Armenia, they have a saying: “Happy people don’t check their watches.” That was today for Servet and Aghavni -for all of us.
Thank you also to Dolores Elementary School for inviting me to participate in their annual Career Day this morning. The kids were awesome!
Today rocked – and that’s pure happiness. 🙂
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
They are sooo precious! I am jealous – seeing a mountain lion is something I have always dreamed of as well! That first photo of little Aghavni is A-MAZING! Soooo beautiful…
I am so happy. She looked so ready to pop soon when we was there two weeks ago. What a beautiful baby. I love it. Great Blog TJ.
Luna is an amazing mom. She’s on a very small list of mares that have had five healthy babies since I started documenting them. Bounce’s were with them when we saw them – and Mouse had rejoined them – so there were some “goings-on,” but Luna kept her baby sheltered … they went down to water … then up to graze in a little meadow … she was always checking on her like this. I love her, and I love her babies!
She’s about a week and a half to two weeks early. Roja was due before Luna! Some of the mares are very consistent – not so much Luna. She keeps me guessing. She made me very nervous when she was a month late last year! 🙂
Another precious beauty with a doting Mom. And Deniz is such a cutie! Hope they can stay clear of that big cat. I haven’t personally seen a mountain lion, but one of our neighbors had a “close encounter” while walking her dog in an arroyo about half a mile from our house … pretty much IN the city!
Aghavni reminds me of Winona when she was that old! Actually, at first glance, I thought it was Kestrel and Winona as a happy birthday Winona post, that was before I looked closer. I love these!