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My business partner, Derry, lives in the beautiful town of Bewdley in Worcestershire County, UK.  It’s such a pretty town that it’s often referred to as “the perfect small Georgian town.”   Running through it is the River Severn.

As you can see, it makes for lovely areas for people to stroll, sit and have a drink, or just relax in silence or with good conversation.  When the weather is right, the area is incredibly serene.  I was drinking in the calm.

This is “Thomas Telford’s Bridge” built in 1798.

As the evening went on, quite a bit more people were gathered than what shows above.

Going over the bridge takes you onto this road called Load Street. Way in the back you can see St. Anne’s Church which is over 250 years old.  Apparently there are records of a church on the same site going back to the mid-1400s.

More view of streets in Bewdley.

Me next to the Bridge with Load Street behind me.

Flying into England on a clear day is quite beautiful.  And, I can tell you from experience, it’s also somewhat unusual as that beautiful patchwork of lush greens results from a lot of rain.  A lot.

The first time I came to England, I sat next to a man who asked me where I was from.  I said New Jersey.  “Ah, American,” he said.  He went on to tell me how “unusual” Americans are, the amusing things we ask and say while on a plane.  He pulled out a notebook with pages of handwritten scribble.  He told me that he writes down all types of things he hears Americans saying with the intention on writing a book about it.  Knowing my ability to put my foot in my mouth, I thought it would be best to keep it shut or his notebook would be overflowing.  Each time he’d ask me a question, I’d politely smile and nod my head yes or no.  For those questions requiring more, my answers were very nondescript — a shrug of the shoulders, an “I’m not sure,” or other colorless responses.  When we started to get closer, I keep seeing the white dots.  You can see some on the lower left of the above picture.

I was so tempted to ask, “What are all of those white dots on the ground?” But there was no way I’d ask as I knew he’d fling open his notebook and jot down my question.  As we got closer and closer, there were more and more of the white dots.  It took a lot of effort for me to keep my trap shut.

Eventually, as we were nearly on top of them, I realized what they were: Sheep!  I am so glad I didn’t ask that question!  Now, every time I fly into England and see sheep, I always smile.  I photograph them all of the time and buy little stuffed ones to take home with me!

Just about landed in Birminham Airport and heading to Festival of Quilts on Saturday.