Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Never did see what Tenaz took an interest in beyond our little opening in the trees.

Don’t you love his eyes?

So I was just hanging with my pal Ty when a branch snapped nearby. He struck a pretty pose, and I focused on him while he focused on the snapper of the branch.

When he lost interest, I looked over my shoulder and saw this fellow/gal sauntering up the hillside across the narrow arroyo. It didn’t give me the same backward glance, so all I caught was its south end.

Badgers are some of the crazy-cool critters sharing space in the wild yonder of Spring Creek Basin.

Pretty girl Reya on a sunny-cloudy-sunny day before the rain in Spring Creek Basin.

*Note: Her mud is courtesy of the (full) pond. 🙂

Houdini thought she could evade the laser-like focus of the camera by walking through trees.

Silly Houdini.

There’s no evading the laser-like focus of the camera! Beautiful mustangs will always be caught on camera!

One thousand words … one thousand more.

There is no fantasy more beautiful than their reality.

… celebrate 45 years of wedded bliss today. 🙂

My mom dragged my dad away from the ranch for a well-deserved getaway. They’ll hike, ride someone else’s horses, visit museums, eat great food that my mom doesn’t have to prepare (it’s worth saying she’s our favorite “top chef”), take in a great outdoor musical and have nothing to worry about (the ranch’s critters being in good hands back home).

Forty-five years have taken them from Ohio to Texas, with a lot of stops – stateside and overseas – along the way during my dad’s 20-year Army career.

They met as teenagers, showing horses in 4-H and open shows – different counties, different high schools. They both shared a love of speed events. 🙂 When I came along, a story about a champion barrel racer in the pages of Western Horseman caught their eyes. I was almost another Jennifer. Thank goodness for Tracey Jo Somebody, whose prowess at the barrels made her the subject of a story in a magazine for horsey folks!

My brother and I grew up as Army brats, but I wouldn’t change that upbringing for anything. We still had horses almost everywhere we lived – Mom and Dad made sure of it. Where we couldn’t have horses of our own (and that wasn’t very often, and only in the beginning years), they made sure we had access to horses. They were and are encouraging and supportive, and we’re still close. We like to joke that *our* family is dysfunctional – we all like each other!

My mom and dad still share a love of horses and wide-open spaces. They still make the trip “home” to Ohio to see friends and family, but Texas is home; they’ve lived there now longer than they spent following the Army’s orders. They’re Quarter Horse people, but they think enough of my mustangs that they traveled to Fort Worth last year to see the big Mustang Million competition.

Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad! I love you both!

Mustang as mountain goat. Seven nails the color, but he needs a better beard. 🙂

************

Rain, rain, rain is all the rage on the Western Slope of Colorado. Spring Creek is flowing again through Spring Creek Basin.

It has been dark with roiling clouds and curtains of rain. It has been humid. It has been puddle-licious.

It has been divine.

… is 66 years old today. 🙂

He’s feisty and fussy, and he likes things just so (thanks for passing that on to me, Dad). And without knowing much about you, he’d give more than his shirt to take care of you if you’re in trouble.

He wasn’t born in Texas, but he’s about as Texan as a non-native can get. He and my mom run a small ranch, and they’re the hardest working people I know – still. If my dad cusses a bit when the tractor blows a tire or the rake breaks a tine, he can be forgiven.

He was an Army officer, and he’s a patriot and my hero. Every man, I compare to him, and most fall short.

I love you, Dad. Happy birthday. 🙂