Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Speaking of love. This guy. 🙂 Storm has had my heart since I first saw him at his mama’s side, bright copper-penny red with still-curled ears. What a handsome mister, even with his hard-won scars.

Isn’t she amazing? Think of all those wise eyes have seen during her wild life … the babies nurtured, the friends shared, the stallions led.

Houdini.

I just love her.

*****

Randomly, looking for something else among my files and files (both computerized and paper), I found the below that I apparently (I don’t remember it at all) composed for: March for Wild Horses, Girls Horse Club, March 19-26, 2010, interactive interview (according to my notes at the bottom of the page). I thought this post, about our remarkable, long-lived Houdini, fit the bill for bringing it (back?) to light.

“What inspires me most about mustangs is at once simple … and amazingly complex – just like the horses themselves. They are hardy. They are fragile. They are wonderfully complex in their social systems and bonds. They are refreshingly simple in their actions and reactions. They are adaptable. They are graceful. They are innocent. They carry the weight of their ancestors’ long history. They are curious and brave and easily frightened. They are bold and fearless and defensive of their families. They live in the harshest environments – to which man has committed them – and they thrive. They are independent. They are dependent (we have fenced them into these herd management areas and it is incumbent upon us that their basic needs of water and forage are met). In a perfect world, they could manage just fine without us (witness those few horses returned to the continent … the millions repopulating the continent … the devastation wrought upon them by generations of “mustangers” …). In many, many instances where they’ve been adopted, their adopters become so enamored of them as to say “I’ll never have but another mustang.” They are stunning. They are so much more.”

My, what a lovely long mane you have, Reya dear!

July, what?! It feels like spring with the grass growing! Well, and it’s hot … so I guess it’s really summer after some monsoon rain.

And have you heard? We have water. 🙂

Well, yesterday got exciting. The above pic of Buckeye doesn’t reflect the crazy rain event over an apparently localized area of Disappointment Valley and Spring Creek Basin, but he and his band were grazing what I swear was growing-right-before-our-eyes grasses after the amazingly crazy rain event!

It was a little nerve-wracking while water was gushing down arroyos and along and over parts of Disappointment Road and into Spring Creek (which, with its tributary arroyos, drains Spring Creek Basin) and Disappointment Creek … but I’m pretty sure that our world already looks a little greener. 🙂

With greatest respect – and a wide smile – do I refer to Cassidy Rain as a “monster” for her mud-caked appearance. … To have mud to roll in is a great and wondrous thing! As is the rain we’ve finally gotten in quantities enough to assuredly measure.

No offense to the rockets’ red glare … but I like Mother Nature’s style. 🙂 And it’s a lot more peaceful!

On this day of celebration of American independence (from persecution) and freedom (for everyone), let’s not forget to celebrate what makes America *uniquely* America: Our differences are not meant to be destroying factors but unifying ones; our strength manifested by our varying perspectives.

Let freedom ring … for us all.

A mama/sister/auntie’s love, as gentle as the kiss of last light upon the land as day fades. Breeze familiar and soothing, light as breath.

And there was this also:

Still not a lot of rain over us, but it has to rain *somewhere* to produce a rainbow … ? 🙂

How blessed are we to witness such beauty?

You know that mid-afternoon fade we humans sometimes suffer? I think Piedra was feeling her own fade in the early evening this day. 🙂 And why not? It’s a beautiful nap spot!