The Malvern Hills, and The ‘Pepperpot’ in Upton-upon-Severn

Ceramic Christmas tree, mince pies and pigs-in-blankets

This time when visiting Malvern I was being driven by someone else so I was able to get a better photo of the Malvern Hills. The Hills go on for just over eight miles so I’m not sure, even now, if I got them all, but I definitely got more than I did before when I was driving myself.

To get to Malvern we go through Upton-upon-Severn — I managed to get a photo of this tower — it’s called the ‘Pepperpot’ because of its shape including its hexagonal lantern and copper cupola.

It was originally part of the church and believed to be fourteenth century. Now it houses the Heritage Centre and is full of local history and information.

The Severn runs alongside it, and along the road to Malvern. When the river is high it frequently runs out over the road and then I have to drive all around the other way to get to Malvern. Luckily, the river wasn’t high yesterday.

I found these wonderful ceramic trees, with their little multi-coloured bulbs and the star that pushes in the top — a couple of batteries and they light up delightfully.

At just seven inches tall, they are absolutely perfect for a nursing home table! The rooms in the home are so very hot, too — at least I know this little tree won’t dry out in seconds, drop all its needles and droop pathetically.

Perfect.

I think this is Rudolph. He’s standing guard in one of my neighbours’ gardens. I wonder if the inhabitants of that house have got an ‘in’ with the other reindeer — maybe Rudolph is out front like this to make sure Santa gets to this house first before he runs out of presents.

What an amazing colour these berries are! They were in someone else’s garden or I’d have wanted to try to squish one to see if it was real. I’m pretty certain they are real.

PupperJack is very anxious about the state of the world’s mince pies. Home-made is best, he reckons. Although he does know that dogs should not eat raisins, sultanas, currants, grapes etc.

Our doggos are happy to comply with home-made, as long as there is plenty of tasting going on, to make sure they’re as good as they should be. They’re making them for their humans. (Because they are Very Good Dogs.)

(Susan will still buy her mince pies ready-made in boxes!)

Doggos actually prefer savoury treats, though — pigs-in-blankets fit the bill nicely.

Dennett started the Photo-a-Day Challenge to help combat the pandemic blues. She takes photos during the week, chooses the best ones, and adds some narrative.

Other practitioners who share their week with us:

Erika Burkhalter, Eileen Vorbach Collins, Anne Bonfert, Sasha Meyer, Tracy Aston, Lisa Bolin, Juan O. Aguilera, David Wade Chambers, Susan Alison, June Nguyen, Mia Verita, LensAfield, Barbara Radisavljevic, Diana Lotti, Barb Dalton, Kim Zuch, K. Barrett, Penny Grubb, Ellie Jacobson,

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