Thank you darling ducklings. Not only have you provided me with the most delightful task of caring for you over the past 4 weeks, as your stand-in mother, but you've been most entertaining throughout.
From the time I rescued you from the drowning rainstorm....
till today!
I've watched you grow up very quickly, right before my eyes. In the mornings, when I come to fetch you from your straw pen, I wonder, "Are these the same little ducklings I tucked into bed last night?! Why, they have grown at least 2 inches!"
You would have made wonderful artist models, if only you could stay still for one minute. Thank goodness I took dozens of photos,
and did a few pencil studies,
as you grew and grew!
I hadn't planned on putting any ducklings in this book, but since they made themselves available, I decided they would be a nice fit in the Gardening Book I am working on.
This book goes hand in hand with 2 others I am working on simultaneously. I will explain later. Suffice it to say, all the books have something to do with a GARDEN
Okay, back to the drawing board,
and I promise this is the last Duckling picture you will have to endure..for a long time.... okay?
My babies!
You would have made wonderful artist models, if only you could stay still for one minute. Thank goodness I took dozens of photos,
and did a few pencil studies,
.
There are only 5 ducklings, but they have lovely little shapes and put themselves in the most interesting positions, I could have filled the page with ducks, if only I'd had more space.
This piece will be painted in watercolor AFTER I've finished 4 more illustrations for this book. 
This book goes hand in hand with 2 others I am working on simultaneously. I will explain later. Suffice it to say, all the books have something to do with a GARDEN
Okay, back to the drawing board,
and I promise this is the last Duckling picture you will have to endure..for a long time.... okay?
