Tiny dancers

26 07 2017

Friend and mustang lover Bebe June Mantooth created this AMAZING scale model of Spring Creek Basin mustangs, and my folks brought it to me during a visit from Texas (where they and Bebe live). It was the first time I’d seen it (not even pictures), and to say it was a “pleasant surprise” is the understatement of the year!

The photos really don’t do it justice. It’s simply spectacular. Specific mustangs in Spring Creek Basin – including horses in two bands and several bachelor stallions – are memorialized in this model (contained in a box that is painted inside – also by Bebe) that I will treasure forever.

Model of Spring Creek Basin mustangs by Bebe June Mantooth, Troy, Texas.

This is the view through the looking glass (window) in one end of the box. Bachelors are in the foreground, and two bands are in the distance (middle ground and back). Can you identify anybody? 🙂

Model of Spring Creek Basin mustangs by Bebe June Mantooth, Troy, Texas.

Looking straight into the box of beautiful. You can see the window at right. Not shown in any of the pictures is the lid, which is lined with tiny lights, so when the lid is closed, you can look in on the mustangs’ tiny little magical world. 🙂

Model of Spring Creek Basin mustangs by Bebe June Mantooth, Troy, Texas.

Another view that shows some of the topographic detail. Don’t miss the grey mares under the juniper trees.

Model of Spring Creek Basin mustangs by Bebe June Mantooth, Troy, Texas.

A closer view of the bands – and look! They’re going to water! Which is awesomely awesome because we’ve just had some more incredible rain, which was a pond-filling gift from heaven!

Model of Spring Creek Basin mustangs by Bebe June Mantooth, Troy, Texas.

A better look at the bachelor boys. Surely readers will recognize some of the horses? 🙂

Model of Spring Creek Basin mustangs by Bebe June Mantooth, Troy, Texas.

Through the looking glass again. Below the window is the little plaque my mom and dad had made for it. 🙂

HUGE THANKS to artist Bebe for the skill and love that went into creating this one-of-a-kind mustang masterpiece! I can’t even begin to tell you all how meaningful and incredible this is!





The way it is

24 07 2017

Sundance, Filly Peak

Beauty.

Period.





Too beautiful to be bashful

23 07 2017

Sweet eye

Who doesn’t love a bay mustang??!!?





Dream day

22 07 2017

Hollywood

Have I mentioned how much I love the dreamy quality of backlighting?

Dreamy Hollywood models it to perfection. 🙂





October in July

20 07 2017

Maia and Alegre

My mom’s 70th (!) birthday is in October.

Because she and my dad – and my uncle (her little brother) and cousin – are visiting now (from Texas and from California, respectively), we decided to celebrate early. … Today, in fact!

Their visit will be celebrated with horses and family and friends and love. And we’ll have a big birthday in July!





Grey face

19 07 2017

Juniper

Sweet Juniper with the elegant mustang ears and tangly, dredly mane. 🙂





Awash in beauty

18 07 2017

Storm, McKenna Peak and Temple Butte

Storm’s band is just below the rise where he’s standing, and he’s looking back at a nearby band being followed by a bachelor.

Really, it’s impossible to describe such feelings of beauty- and peace-in-the-moment. It was a magical evening of wild horses and wild places and wild beauty and such blazing, stunning contentment. And it’s available to everyone because these are OUR wild horses and OUR wild beautiful places; OUR public lands.





Chasing ‘wabbits

17 07 2017

Reya

Would you believe that Reya took off in pursuit of a rabbit?

Who needs cows to wrangle when you have jackrabbits?!

(Seriously. The horses alerted, and I caught sight of it hopping off just before the horses took off at a gallop, heading straight for it. They didn’t go far, and no rabbits were hurt during the pursuit. :))





Cliff walker

16 07 2017

Seven

Seven walks a trail down to Spring Creek, which wasn’t flowing … but would run – just a little bit – a couple of days after this photo was taken.

Why did Seven walk the cliff to cross the creek?

To visit the bands on the other side, of course! 🙂





Red lady

15 07 2017

Gaia

We’ve had some rain.

We still have gnats.

In case you wondered. 🙂

Of course, the beauty is worth the beasts!