Saturday, September 29, 2012



The Brenda Photo Challenge: 
My America ~ Freedom! 

"Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better, whereas enslavement is a certainty of the worse."

~ Albert Camus 1913 - 1960


Volunteer marigolds...choosing a life outside the 'mainstream' garden.

My symbol of freedom are the herds of Mustangs that wander the mountain valleys near my house.  They are an icon of the western expansion, from the Spanish explorers to the Eastern farmers and prospectors, who trekked across the land looking for a better life.


These Mustangs waiting patiently out side the garden gate...wondering if any of the apples on the ground are meant for them.


The Big Bay Herd getting themselves into trouble.  They sometimes behave like over-grown rabbits by grazing on the front lawn of residents who have moved into territory the horses' genetics whisper 'this is my home' too.  Citizens call the state and the state rounds up the animals and puts them up for auction. Sometimes FREEDOM carries the ultimate huge price tag: life or death.  


A Bachelor Herd pondering the question of "how much" freedom (their side of the fence) or plenty of apples, grass and water (my side of the fence) is for them.  Freedom is always about deciding because in freedom there is choice: which side of the fence (particularly pressing in an election year, eh!).

Choice/ Freedom  is  a burden and a joy.









7 comments:

MarissaDW said...

Melinda, these are beautiful photos of Mustangs. I did a double take on the photo in front of the house. Amazing.

Jeanette said...

I would LOVE to see Mustangs grazing on my front lawn! That would be so cool to me but I'm sure if it happened all the time it would be a nuisance! Great pictures!

Donna said...

They sure are beautiful creatures! But I can understand people not wanting to them roam all over their yards! It's a tricky balance!

Brenda said...

Wonderful photos and a great story about life. I feel bad for the horses and other wildlife that has been upended by human development, but we number so many and take so much. The horses are beautiful!

Brenda said...

Love the horses and their story. Great photos!!

the walking man said...

Personally I'd tear the houses down and re-grass the land with native species before I did away with one horse. Humans can build upward horses have to live in on the horizontal linear.

WR said...

Yes, it's a problem. And a sad one at that. We need snow this winter to abate the drought. Once there is some the horses can have what they need and that takes a little pressure off them. Sending a horse to slaughter for a lawn ... I can't get my mind around the value system.