
Shadow keeps an eye on her band, drinking in the arroyo below, and on the photographer. Just in case, you know, *something*.

Shadow keeps an eye on her band, drinking in the arroyo below, and on the photographer. Just in case, you know, *something*.

If Killian looks a little grumpy … and like he’s hiding in the shade of a tamarisk in a deep arroyo in Spring Creek Basin … well, who can blame him? He doesn’t know the numbers, but he knows it’s hot. Our mercury hit at least 98 yesterday, and triple digits are on tap this weekend.

Storm starts the march that leads to the descent that takes his band to water.

And one little brown mustang.

Winona and Mariah, too beautiful for mere words.

Mister Hayden follows the well-worn path to water.
Bonus points if you spotted the white spot on the hill behind Hayden’s band and realized there was another band up there. 🙂 They came later; mustangs have a great sense of etiquette and are very polite when it comes to manners. (At least, Spring Creek Basin mustangs are that way!)


The ponies (Gaia here) do love to show off some spectacular scenery.

Who takes a better pic with his locks blowing artfully with the wind and the La Sals in the background than Sundance? No one, that’s who. 🙂

Ma Nature does “fireworks” in the very best way.
No bodies of any species in or near Spring Creek Basin were harmed by loud explosions, no fires were started, no fingers were amputated or eyebrows singed off.
Awe was widespread. 🙂
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
~ Lyrics by Katharine Lee Bates; music composed by Samuel A. Ward
This Independence Day, especially, let’s help our fellow Americans hold to the ideals of brother(and sister)hood and all lives being equally valued and cherished. We are bound not only by the country of our birth … but also by our planet of birth.
Celebrate freedom. Celebrate each other. Celebrate the wonderful diversity that thrives all across these United States of America.

Hollywood watches a couple of his mares while another couple peek over the ridge behind him. They chose a pretty scenic place to watch the nearly-full moon rise over Spring Creek Basin.
The full moon, known in July as the buck moon, thunder moon or hay moon, will be Saturday night and early Sunday morning, and there also will be a partial penumbral eclipse!