Revival

A message from Brigid ....

I have been a blogger since 2005. At the height of my blogging busy-ness, I had "a small stable" of blogs on different topics: social and political commentary; desert spirituality; food; waste and ....

A few years ago I called time and ceased blogging altogether - although there was an occasional post. I had called it quits. I am an aged woman these days with a couple of serious illnesses. I am not allowed to drive. I am no longer active in organisations. I think it fair to say that I am housebound. I am active on Facebook, although I am not there as often as once I was. I have decided to embark on a re-entry into the blogging world ... beginning with The Trad Pad and, possibly, a return to my food blog, Oz Tucker. I have always used a lot of photographs on my blogs ... and I miss not being out and about with my camera.

The Trad Pad has been my blog for the lovely things of life. The controversial or political has seldom intruded. Occasionally, the spiritual has found its way in, but I kept spirituality for the blog, Desert. I don't yet know if I will revive that. I will stick pretty much to food and the lovely things of life. If I have some regularity with those two categories, I feel that I will be doing well. I hope that, with this blog new friendships can be formed and old friendships renewed; new lovelies discovered; new reflections can enter into the meaning of modern life. I would love to hear from you - particularly if you have suggestions for new topics to enter into the conversation. So, it is a new year. Let's see what it has in store, what it can bring to us. And I hope that those who share the spirit of The Trad Pad can spread the message of a world of beauty, the creativity of humanity, and the joys of simplicity and tradition. ~~~ February, 2017

Friday, July 28, 2006

Soap and fire : froth and bubble?


Recently, the back of the Nunawading Public Library underwent a metamorphosis. It became the Erinsborough Hospital. Neighbours had turned up. Stickers went on to doors and the roof of the library was alight with TV trickery. Miss Eagle was there to give you a behind the scenes look.




Monday, July 24, 2006

Any further bids on Risorgimento?

Denis Wilson from The Nature of Robertson posted a comment to my previous post. Denis, as will be seen from his blog, is a naturalist, birdwatcher, and photographer. So no one misses his beautiful thoughts on the seasons, Miss Eagle is copying them here:

As soon as the Winter Solstice passes, and days start to get longer, many things start to grow, (or bud, or flower). It is a huge seasonal divide, which is not noticeable to Eurocentric, and insulated, urbanites. I think country people (and gardeners) might be more in touch with this than true city folk.But the plants and animals know all about it (it is breeding season for Wombats).

Presumably the Aboriginals would have been in tune with this seasonal sense of anticipation (I believe there are many different names for "seasons" in the NT, for example. But I don't know about this in the southern states.I cannot come up with an "appropriate" name, just now. But something like the "return". What about the Italian historical term: "risorgimento" (resurgence) - it sounds better in Italian. It actually encompasses the sense of recovery, and the sense of passion and urgency which turns into the frenetic burst of growth with which we are familiar in Spring.The more I think about that name, the more I like it - "risorgimento".

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Australian Spring

To read "Australian Spring" click on the picture for an enlarged version.
You should then see an enlarged version with on it a little square with arrows.
Click this little square and you will find the picture is now readable.

It is only July, but - after some clear Melbourne weather this week and seeing wattles and jonquils and fruit trees in blossom - Miss Eagle feels as though Spring is in the air. We Eurocentric people of the Southern Hemisphere still rely on the distinction of the Northern Hemisphere seasons turned upside down. So officially, Spring does not arrive here until September 1. Miss Eagle believes that we should pay more attention to our own environment not just in the Southern Hemisphere or in our own nation but in our own locality.

Miss Eagle thinks that if we were sufficiently in tune with our environment there would be a name for what is happening now. And for lots of other seasonal changes as well, seasonal changes that may not happen for a period of three months but may only last for three weeks or six weeks.

What would this present season be called? The Harbinger? Newness? Please let Miss Eagle know what you think.

The poem, Australian Spring, by Australia's leading suffragette and face-on-the-five-dollar note, Catherine Helen Spence, is from the State Library of South Australia and reminds us of the attitude of transplanted Europeans. Things have changed a century later - but not enough. Generally speaking, we Australians have not come to terms with our land. We have not paid sufficient attention to what it can tell us. In fact, let's ask ourselves if we are listening at all.

We are still seeing things through the eyes of elsewhere, not the eyes of the native born.


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