Babies!

Design - "Joyful Journal - June"

Designer - Heart in Hand

Fabric - 28 count R & R Liberty Gathering Gray

Fibers - DMC, WDW, GAST, and Classic Colorworks - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 4 June 2015

Completed - 17 June 2015

Can't go wrong with a bee skep!  The ants along the top were to be stitched with French knots, but I chose to cross stitch instead.

My Dad reported that he'd seen a family of California Quail as he drove up the driveway on Thursday. As the parents tend to keep their newly hatched young safe in the brush, I had to wait a few days until I saw a family.

On Monday these two parents came by hugging the hedgerow with their babies. In this photo the babies are in front of the parents.

Here they are trailing their Mama.

Dad Quail leads a group of little ones.

Mom and Dad in the lead.

Mom and Dad acting as bookends.

Mama bookended by babies. 

Mama and babies.

The entire family on the move!

It's hard to count the babies when they are so small - this family had at least eight and probably more.

They are extremely well camouflaged.

At this stage they have stripes on their backs.

I also encountered a 2nd family.  I am hoping that this is not a single mother as I saw no sign of a father.  Sometimes bachelors will step in and help out, and I am wishing for that to happen if it is needed.    

Speaking of babies, here's a photo of our newest family member!  He is now nine days old.