Of Quail and Gates

Sometimes I think we should have named this place

Quail Creek Ranch.

There are quail everywhere.

Little families scurrying through the pastures,

rustling in the berry bushes,

and congregating under the oak trees.

They are very shy, though.

I sneak up on them with my point and shoot camera,

but they always hear me coming and scoot-fly away.

I love these birds.

I wish you could see them up close.

I need TexWis Girl to come take pictures of them for me.

Here's my best shot of the

State bird of California.

When we put in our front gate,

we were asked about putting horses or deer or an oak tree on the gate.

No contest; no discussion; easy decision:

Quail.

We even have a quail on the pedestrian gate.

We couldn't be happier with the main gate, 

built by John Hall, 

and the pedestrian gate 

built by Tom at Iron Willow.

They are both local here in El Dorado County.

They both do awesome work.