Love was in the air!

Last night the conservatory was full of couples intent on romance for St Valentine's night.  The restaurant was set up with hearts and roses ready for the 4 course meal and the live music from father and daughter Jazz duo "Blue2".

The conservatory set up for a romantic dinner

Scrummy home-made trio of desserts - something for everyone !

"Blue2" -- In a serious moment!  They made a lovely sound

It must be half term, as there are certainly a lot of children about this week -- good news for us ducks as we are getting loads of corn! There is lots going on with Pottery activities and Mosaic sessions for all.

Despite the recent cold weather the garden has warmed up and is not too bad at all at the moment, makes us feel that spring is around the corner - let's hope so!  The craft units are starting to get a bit busier here too with lots of new work going on -- as an example when I put my head into the glass blowing unit today I find that are currently making some fantastic large glass swirls for a chandelier (a commission), they have to make 90 of them!  (I don't often look in this unit as it does remind me of the oven!).

The Framer (Freebird) is working hard on a new range of bespoke vinyl products too -- he is putting together memorable items for special years (say birthday, engagement or wedding years) as keepsakes.  He is framing photographs alongside things like concert tickets or vinyl records from a particular year with some relevant quotations.  They make great gifts and are brilliant for a bedroom or study wall  -- for all age groups and ideal for the person who has everything.......I am planning to order a Vinyl 45 of the "Birdie Song" by the Tweets alongside a ticket for the 2009 Game Fair at Ragley (where my Dad came from, I think!) and of course a picture of me, only problem is not sure where I would hang it as the duck house is a bit small!

Getting Cold Feet!

Bruhh, it chilly.  -9 degrees Celsius last night and the bottom pond is fully frozen over -- there is some free water on the top pond by the waterfall but even this is frozen at the edges (see above).  We have all been practising our skating and the Mallards have had some interesting landings on the ice, not what you would call "controlled"!
The ground is also really hard now -- this is however better to feed on as we don't loss the corn in the ground.
Still lots of people coming to feed us I am glad to say but they are not staying outside long, they prefer watching us from the windows holding a cup of hot chocolate. It has just started to snow now too -- the grit is ready to go down in the car park.

Valentine's day is coming up shortly, Chef is working on lots of lovely ideas for the daytime and the evening and there are lots of "hearts" and valentine gifts in the shops now, the glass blower has some lovely heart shaped glass again this year.

The early bird catches the fish....

Most mornings on the pond we have a rather large visitor  -- a Heron, today he must have had a 'lay-in' as he showed up at about 10am.  He is very camera shy and spooks at the slightest movement of people.  We are not fond of him as he expects us to vacate our comfortable places just so he can walk into the water!

We are getting well out of his way!

A blowy day here in the gardens, but pretty mild, so we will have plenty of fun on the water today.

Oh, what a giggle!

Talulah came to visit us this weekend -- and we all got just a bit excited as she fed us and we pushed forward until she fell backwards over the small wall into the flower bed!! This little girl was not one to cry and shout -- no, she got up and dusted herself off and carried on feeding us, and giggling -- we like her and her mum and sister -- they all giggled!

We have had lots of young couples visiting the gardens and the restaurant over the last week or two -- all planning their weddings, I heard the lady showing them round telling them that we ducks are always guests at the wedding - 'invited or not' -- not sure how to take this!

Anyway may be a few more coming up as Valentines day is nearly upon us - there is a lovely evening planned in the restaurant with music from Blues2Jazz and a lovely menu (no duck!).  also don't forget ladies -- it is a leap year!

Carols in the Conservatory

It is Christmas Eve and there are a number of folk wandering about with red and white hats on.  Everyone seems cheerful and we are getting plenty of corn!

There is music coming from the conservatory from the "Grafton Singers" as they entertain the customers with some Christmas carols, it is really lovely!

The Grafton Singers 

While everyone else is off enjoying their turkey dinners I hope we are not forgotten -- the only days in the year that we don't have visitors here (the craft centre is closed) are Christmas day and the following day, we see people every other day so it is a bit of a shock to us, but no doubt we will get fed in the morning as normal by the owners.  

The Craft Centre is closed 25th and 26th December and then reopens 27th at 11am.  For opening times please click here

Santa and the Guide Dog....

Santa with is Naughty and Nice book alongside Linda and Marley

Santa was back again today and he had a very special visitor - Marley.  Marley is a guide dog in waiting, that is to say he is still a puppy and has to wait until he is old enough to go for training.  In the meanwhile he lives with Linda and learns the basics,  part of this means he gets to go into restaurants and other places where dogs don't normally go, all so that he is prepared for his training.  Today he met Santa and some of the children who came to visit him, and also curled up in front of the fire and had a little nap!  They say it is a 'dogs life'!
 

Santa with a couple of the Children who visited today

Santa should be back again tomorrow with the Dray rides -- assuming the weather is OK.

Talking of weather -- out in the garden, it has got colder and wetter -- not so many visitors but still getting some dedicated ones who come to feed us.  Today the rain, sleet and snow made some lovely puddles for us to play in!  The "new" ducklings are now nearly full grown but still do not have all their feathers so are still being put away at night, brrrr they must be a bit chilly now!

Lots of 'Christmas Cheer'  everywhere in the centre this week with Christmas lunch parties, and a big birthday party last Sunday.  The lights look lovely and the fire makes it look very cosy.  This Sunday I hear that there will be Christmas songs and Carols during lunch.  

Two little Santa's

We don't normally see Santa much out here on the pond, but this year we have seen FOUR so far and it is not even Christmas Eve yet!  The first was the Green Santa who is promoting Worcestershire food and living , the second was the Jinney Ring Santa here this weekend for the dray rides. Today we were really privileged and had two "Little Santas" who ran around alot but they did remember to feed us.  (I think they are our favourites so far!).

Here they are by the Christmas tree in the lounge.