Sleeping While the Sun Shines

Two mornings ago, after a night of squally showers, we had another short respite. An hour or two of blue skies before the next storm clouds rolled in from the west.

Up on the Forest heath, a family group of ponies dozed in the unexpected sunshine, their wet coats drying as eyelids and bottom lips drooped in relaxation.

When a herd or group of ponies sleep, one or two will stay awake, on watch for danger.

The wet bark of winter trees shone  against a blue sky.

Every track and pathway squelched underfoot from hours of rain.

There is little grass for the Forest ponies now, so they were foraging for gorse......

.....and tender young shoots of holly.

An oak has been felled by January storms. Thankfully it fell away from the Forest track.

Another group of young mares were rooting for food through leaves and undergrowth.

This friendly pony came over for a kind word and then returned to her companions under the trees.

Along the lane, every wet holly leaf shone like a mirror in the morning sunshine.

Within hours, the sky had turned grey. Rain, wind and hailstorms blew across the Forest once again.