Friday, February 20, 2026

It's Friday

It's been a busy week.  Medical appointments Monday and Wednesday for me.  A Geological group meeting on Thursday for Paul.  

Whilst out for walks over the last week or two we've spotted some bright and cheerful things.


A Snoopy Trail is coming to Trentham Gardens in March.  That will be fun.  Love Snoopy.  Many years ago I had a yellow Woodstock (Snoopy's little bird friend) I wonder what happened to it? I probably gave it away.

There is another outdoor art exhibition in the City Centre in the Bethesda Chapel Gardens opposite the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery.  The Museum building is closed at the moment for refurbishment.


Charles William Brown (1882-1961) was born on Biddulph Moor* and worked in both the farming and mining industries.  He took up painting on his retirement.  Here is a -link- to more information from the Barewall Gallery in Burslem.  * The source of the River Trent is on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor where it rises as a small stream making its way through Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire across country until it meets the River Ouse and the North Sea between Kingston-upon-Hull and Immingham.

The paintings are of local places and happenings.  All painted in the early 1950s.  The three below caught my eye.


Landscape with bus 1955.  I'm guessing a day trip into the Staffordshire Moorlands or the Peak District., mainly because of the stone walls around the fields.


Shelton Bar from the Allotments 1950.  Shelton Bar was a major steel works in the city.  Closed now, of course as are the coal mines and many of the pottery works too.  


Washing Line 1952.  A riot of colour.  It looks like a warm Summer day.

A red squirrel at the Peak Wildlife Park.  He had a damp tail but was enjoying tucking into his breakfast hazelnut.


Snowdrops at Wolseley Bridge nature reserve.


My photos don't do the carpets of white under the trees justice.  There were a few daffodils dotted around amongst them.


A trip to the Library this morning to take books back and seek something new to read.  I took ages to find books to bring home but three came with me.  All authors I've read before.


Bad news this morning when we learned that a friend had fallen and broken her ankle and leg.  We will go to visit next week hopefully.  She and her husband spent most the the Summer and Autumn last year helping a neighbour who had fallen and broken her ankle quite badly now our friend has done the same.  

All for now.

20 comments:

  1. That trail looks fantastic! I'm a big fan of all things Snoopy :)
    And I'm really sorry to hear about your friend. Fingers crossed for a swift recovery. Xx

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    1. Thank you Jules, I'm looking forward to finding all the Snoopy kennels when they appear:)

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  2. Great news about the Snoopy Trail coming to Trentham Gardens. I like Snoopy :)

    I enjoyed your photos of the outdoor art exhibition and the red squirrel photo is lovely.

    It is always good to see snowdrops :) The books from the library look interesting although I haven't read any of the authors. I think I have a Val McDermid book though on my kindle.

    So sorry to hear about your friend having a fall.

    Have a good weekend Rosie.

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    1. Thank you Caroline, I'm looking forward to the Snoopy trail. The art exhibition is great and so cheerful and colourful, everyday life as it was with the little tweaks of the painter. It was a joy to see the snowdrops and the daffodils. Falls seem worse the older you get and harder to fully recover too. Hope you too have a good weekend:)

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  3. What an amazing and captivating trail. Beautiful photos. I am so sorry to hear that your friend broke her ankle.
    Thank you so much for sharing, and warm greetings from a retired lady living in Montreal, Canada ❤️ 😊 🇨🇦

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    1. Thank you Linda, Glad you enjoyed the photos, thank you for visiting:)

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  4. Lots of cheerful things in your post today! Snoopy is a favourite character from my childhood, and his red house is iconic. The painting of washing on the line is cheery, and the squirrel looks very lively. I'm sorry about your friend. Falling and breaking bones is so unpleasant. Have a good weekend, Rosie.

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    1. Thank you Lorrie, Snoopy is a favourite of mine too, so much more in the cartoons than at first glance. We only saw one squirrel on this visit there are usually three, I guess the others were hiding away. Hope you too have a good weekend:)

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  5. Good job your friend has someone who understands how it gpfeels to have a bad ankle and good job she waited until her friend was well again before having her fall. Some lovely photos from you this morning. The painting with the van reminded me of Eric Ravilious although the colours and style are a lot heavier. I hope the paintings are under cover with all this rain. Enjoy the Snoopy trail, I'm looking forward to seeing your photos. 😊

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    1. Thank you CK, yes my friends have some lovely, caring neighbours. See what you mean about the bus painting but yes, more 'naive' work from this artist. The paintings are waterproof copies of the original works so can withstand all the weather has to offer. I will return with my camera when the rest of the Snoopy kennels arrive:)

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  6. I so enjoyed all the artworks and your photos. Wishing your friend a speedy recovery.

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    1. Thank you Lara, glad you enjoyed the photos:)

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  7. You’ll enjoy 1989. I love that series. Lots of fun things in your corner and a fabulous photo of the red squirrel. B x

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    1. Thank you B, I love the squirrels. I seem to enjoy anything by Val McDermid especially Karen Pirie. I read 1979 awhile ago and enjoyed it:)

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  8. Seeing Snoopy relaxing on his roof just made me smile. The paintings are delightful and my favourite is the washing line. I managed to get my own washing out on the line today. Beautiful photo of the red squirrel enjoying his breakfast. Thank you for sharing the things that have been cheery for you in the last few weeks, Rosie. 😊

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    1. Thank you Beverley, I think Snoopy always makes us all smile. Good to get washing out on the line, I have a twizzle dryer/airer which needs putting out again now the weather is getting warmer and hopefully dryer. Have a good week:)

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  9. I enjoyed the story and artwork of Charles William Brown, lovely and interesting with a great sense of the period. I was sorry to hear about your friend, must be scary and painful for her.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Thank you Amelia. Charles William Brown's work is very much of his time and just into my early years, so some of the scenes are familiar to me, friend is out of hospital now and resting at home:)

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  10. So sorry about your friend! Falls can be so dangerous as we age.
    I was intrigued by the art and the artist. It like his work very much. Thank you for sharing it.
    Stay well, Rosie. I always enjoy your posts, and especially all your walks and visits to interesting places.

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    1. Thank you Granny Sue. Yes, falls are to be feared, we all try to be careful but these things usually happen in such a silly, simple way. I found the works intriguing, such energy and colour, I'm glad you enjoyed the ones I was able to share. Glad you enjoy the posts, you too stay well:)

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