Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Well, not only did we not get any of the semi-forecast snow Tuesday night (in the forecast, out of the forecast, in … out … ), the sky was as clear as crystal studded with diamonds, showing off that glorious ol’ moon at its best and brightest!

Earlier in the day (shown), we had semi-optimistic clouds (though nothing came of their presence), and also howling wind.

Temple was trying to take advantage of the semi-protection of a lone juniper (the wind was from the right/south), and you can see that she’s not the first mustang to ever seek shelter beneath its branches. It’s also in a bit of a shallow drainage on a hillside, so that might have helped, too.

Not long after this pic was taken, most of the rest of her family joined her, but apparently, there was some disagreement about who should stand where (maybe, about who had the seniority to stand most protected?), and they went off grazing again, leaving Temple (mostly) at peace (having, apparently, prevailed in her seniority). 🙂

P.S. What looks like a tiny dark slash at sort of upper left in the pic is a raven winging his/her way across the scene.

From Rowan’s viewpoint, what else do you need?!

She’s following Dundee to water trickling along the surface of the Spring Creek arroyo around the bend to my right. A number of bands had gathered above the arroyo – very peacefully – and I’m sure the water was the reason.

Later, they’d all gone their separate ways, still, very peaceful and calm.

Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area may be small (slightly less than 22,000 acres), but it sure feels like big country.

No one could really call me a sports fan (Gig ’em, Aggies!), and certainly this blog about Spring Creek Basin’s mustangs isn’t the place you would think to read about the collegiate football national championship game.

But the Ohio State Buckeyes are playing Notre Dame (what are they? The Fighting Irish?), and my folks not only are from Ohio, my dad is an Ohio State Buckeye. 🙂

Have you wondered why Buckeye is named Buckeye? It’s not because he was born buckskin (though that would have been a good guess). It’s because he was born a couple of days before my mom’s birthday, and she named him when he was a baby!

So we’ll be rooting for the Buckeyes – of course! Go, Buckeyes!

Also celebrated today: the life of Martin Luther King Jr. According to Brittanica, “The day commemorates the life and work of Dr. King, who was a Baptist minister and prominent leader in the American civil rights movement. People are encouraged to use the day to ‘reflect on the principles of racial equality and nonviolent social change espoused by Dr. King.’”

Be kind to each other, and remember, we’re all on this planet together.

And for the incoming president, a hope from the last lines of Irish poet John O’Donahue’s poem, “For One Who Holds Power,” which I read recently:

“May integrity of soul be your first ideal.
The source that will guide and bless your work.“

(In polar news: Yesterday’s high temp in Disappointment Valley was about 28F. Not frigid, but it definitely was not warm. Buckeye and his family were able to find liquid water in the hoofprints through the ice layer in the bottom of the Spring Creek arroyo, so with that and their winter grazing, they’re not too bothered by the polar vortex.)

Tenaz was napping on semi-alert about halfway between his band and the following band, and I took full advantage of the handsome background beyond his handsome self. 🙂

Mariah, again. Napping, again.

She does pick the most beautiful nap spots, eh?

We need a bit of winter white to match her fuzzy coat, or we’re going to be looking that brown when we don’t want to be looking that brown – and way too hot to boot – later in the year. We don’t have any moisture in the forecast … hopefully that will change sooner than later!

(That white on the shady side of McKenna Peak IS residual snow, not melting on the north-facing, shady side of the peak. But we still need a lot more, covering a lot more ground.)