Perhaps midwinter isn't so bleak......

There was a thick, freezing fog cloaking the Wylye valley this morning, but having lived here for twenty years we know that what's happening down by the river is not necessarily true of the top of Cotley Hill , a few hundred feet higher - so we took the camera as well as the dog!

The top of the hill was shrouded in mist but the sun was certainly trying to peek through, so Ian stayed on for half an hour to see if the mist would clear. It did! There are very few feelings that compare with standing in the sunshine at the top of a hill and looking down into a misty valley.

As the mist cleared from the hill it left a landscape of frosted spider's webs, thistles and teasels.
It's a good job Ian did wait as the retreating mist also revealed a ewe flat on her back with her legs in the air. Once a sheep is on its back it cannot get up without assistance and will die.
A little bit of pushing and pulling and the ewe was on her feet again. These ewes are all pregnant, mostly with twins. So this morning has seen spectacular views and a sheep back amongst the flock.

As Ian walked back down the hill the hoar frost was tinkling to the ground off the holly and the beech trees and the midwinter didn't seem so very bleak at all!