"School" Ducklings and a Hand-Fasting Ceremony!

News just in from Hanbury First School - the Reception class have now hatched 4 of the 7 eggs they were incubating for us and have a clutch of gorgeous ducklings.....

In true Hanbury School style they have named them all, they are Sonny, Cher, Elvis and Ringo!  Me thinks that the names may be influenced by someone a bit older this year !  (Last year we had Rosie and Jim - who are both still doing very well in the garden here).  Apologies for the pictures being rotated -- could not get my beak sorted to change them round - just thought you could move your head as they are lovely photos.....

The children will look after the ducklings for a while and we are likely to have them back with us in the garden at the end of May -- just lucky for them they are not here today with the wind blowing a gale!

Talking of gales - a small marquee/tent was put up in the garden on Friday so we knew something was going  on on the weekend.  It turned out to be a pagan "hand-fasting" ceremony.  Ella and Steve wanted to formally make lasting vows and celebrate their engagement here, so organised a ceremony which would have been in the gardens if the weather had been better.  All was not lost though, the conservatory was cleared out of furniture and the ceremony was held there instead.  It was a lovely ceremony with some brilliant costumes and heartfelt words.  Here are a few pictures:

The Priestess calling on the Elements to bless the Hand fasting

Ella and Steve are now "Handfasted" (engaged)

Proof that they have made their vows.

Friends participated in the ceremony

The menu for the evening was especially designed to have a medieval theme and had "pottage" and a "three-bird roast" included (not too keen on this last one myself!), as well as harvest mead to drink.
The whole thing was really lovely as well as great fun!.

There is plenty of planning afoot at the moment with a very busy couple summer planned -  lots of discussion this week about the forthcoming wedding fayre (27th May) and the jubilee events - not only are the gardeners working (against the weather) to create a patriotic theme but there is a High Tea planned (3rd June) and Hanbury Village has a barn dance and beacon all going on here on the 4th June.