We had a sprinkling of snow this morning so obviously I had to rush out and catch it before it disappeared. 

Things are really looking rather murky this morning. 

The shed nestles beneath a blanket of Paul's Himalayan Musk. 

There was the thickest covering of ice yet on the pond this morning. The goldfish seems to be doing fine underneath it all! 

Who left their toy in the garden last night??? 

The frost really brings out the delicate structure of the ferns. 

Here is another frosted frond. 

Delicate but very beautiful. 

These perished in the night after only one day of frosted glory. 

The Bizzie Lizzies were fringed with frost as I went down the garden to check the pond this morning. 

Here is a close up. 

The teasel heads are exploding with frost. 

The pond is full of water again at last. I didn't get any netting over in time and already one pear has made it to the bottom. It was refreshing to see the reflections - most of the summer there has been very little visible water surface due to the fairy fern. 

The pear (Doyenne de Comice) is full of fruit and ready for picking. We haven't had a lot of success with pears. Last year's were lovely and juicy and ripe but up 'til then they have had a habit of withering rather than ripening....any advice anyone??? 

You can see how much rain there has been lately.... 

...but the sole surviving goldfish is making itself at home with some of the relocated plants in a container. 

...and I have got the stepping stones back in place at last. As of the time of writing they feel rock solid. 

Re below, above the waterline some of the plants are still getting on with being evergreen and brightening the place up a bit. 

The pond is now completely empty and I've sortedout the plants temporarily. I split the irises into several clumps and got rid of the invasive stuff I got from a pond at school. It was in everything. 

I got the mortar off the top of the supports ready to have another go with the stepping stones, but..... 

I made up a bag of ready-mix mortar I had in the shed but I couldn't use it as I put too much water in it.