Piedra, of course, is beautiful with any background. But there’s something particular about this background. … Do you see it? … With the sun still fairly high above the western horizon, the “it” looks like a cloud on the basin’s eastern horizon.
How ’bout now?
It’s not yet full, so it’s not yet super … but it’s about to be both. 🙂
We’re starting to see the lower-elevation signs of autumn (which began Saturday, by the way): snake weed and rabbitbrush flowering golden, ponies just starting to add some velvet to their coats.
It’s a beautiful time of year. 🙂
Sometimes, while watching the mustangs, you have that feeling of being watched. …
These two weren’t sure what to make of me, and after they gave a few warning calls to the horses, took themselves out of sight down the other side of that hill.
Check out the buck’s interesting, inwardly-curved horn. It gives him a sort of rakish air, don’t you think?
Maia nibbles on some tasty four-wing saltbush while checking on the littlest member of her band, who was off visiting another family. … Kinda the mustang equivalent of “visiting the neighbor kid down the block” – or the next ranch over when your backyard is 22,000 acres.
Most lovely Winona. She was near a few other bands, including son Buckeye’s. One wonders what she thinks about being a grandma to such a beautiful grandfilly. 🙂
A few days ago, a few bands were fairly close together right along one of the basin’s roads, which allowed many photo opportunities. Miss Temple is never one to squander a good photo op. 🙂
A storm was passing to the southeast, but all we got was great light (earlier) and a bit more wind.
(Answer: No. No, she could not possibly be any more lovely. Mud or no. :))
It’s been a while since we’ve seen Reya. She and her band favor the southern areas of Spring Creek Basin and aren’t often seen. That makes sightings all the more wonderful and appreciated. 🙂
A couple of days ago, with their attention fixed between a lone bachelor (there were three other bands to the left, behind them) and my two visitors, I finally got an all-together family portrait of Buckeye’s band. Bia’s attention, of course, was on the most important thing of all. 🙂
… in this case, the four o’clock. I’m not actually sure it has a definable scent, but it sure looked like Seneca was taking full advantage of the flowering plants along her grazing path. That’s a lesson to us all to slow down and notice – and appreciate – what’s around us, right in our path.
Have I mentioned the grass?? It really is tremendous right now, and we’ve gotten another couple of little grass-watering events (aka rain) to help keep it lush.
Tenaz and the members of his extended family (there are quite a few between two bands and a bachelor pair) are gobbling it up while the days are still warm and the night temps are dipping into the 50s. Ooooh, I just love fall. And I love seeing the ponies – plump and shiny – with plenty to eat and plenty to drink. 🙂
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 