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 I am no longer active in organisations.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 23, 2010


This week I was in Turner and Lane and discovered an idea that was new - at least to me.  It was one of those "why didn't I think of that" moments.  The idea was in T&L's children's room but the idea, IMHO, could be adapted in other ways.  A "My Kitchen" version could be natty and cute.

These boards come in two sizes.  These are the large size and there is a smaller one.  The "boards" are painters' ready stretched canvases.  They could be painted over in a range of pastel colours to suit and still be as sweet.  Across the top are narrow gros-grain ribbons and some light two-ply string to which is attached those little clothes pegs usually used for hanging cards.

The bottom left has little nic-nax like covered buttons glued on.  Clearly, the choice is the decorator's.  Bottom right has the names.  Now, my only query is how does one cut out fabric letters sharp and neat?  Will someone please tell me how?  Because I think if I am to replicate these cute items, this is the one place where my efforts would fall down.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Grow your own heirlooms, organically and simply - with Belinda's help

That friend of mine Belinda from Belinda's Place is something.  This organised, organising, methodical woman  is in the category of Urban Homesteader.  She does it all from the Mud Palace at Ferny Creek in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia.  You can follow her doings and don't-ings in the aforesaid blog.  So for all you need to know, the contact details are above.  For the rest follow her on her blog.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Meet Bert the Bloke - one beautiful puss.

An introduction is warranted!
This is Bert the Bloke - one beautiful cat.

Peppered through this blog are photos of
Rose the Spartacat
and
FootFoot the Miniature Fox Terrier.

In recent times our two beloved friends
left this world - just six weeks apart.
Rose went first, aged 6 years, due to kidney tumours.
FootFoot died of old age, aged 16 years.
Increasingly, in the months prior to his death,
I cuddled him to his end and so did Herself.
Finally, one night while sleeping with Herself,
he breathed his last and was gone from us.

Our decision was not to rush 
to replace either of these beloveds.
However, after a couple of months, 
Herself decided we would get a cat.
No ordinary kitten, mind you.
She was determined to go to the RSPCA
and get an older cat whom no one wanted.

There was such a cat - Bert.
He is about 5 years old 
and needed to go to a home
where he would be the only one.
He came to the RSPCA because
in his original home other cats picked on him.
We don't know why.
He had been ill and in the RSPCA clinic because of cat flu.
Otherwise he lived in a cage with three others.

He has settled in well here.
He is reserved but interested
in the household's peeps and doings.
He is so pretty and poses beautifully.
His fur is the silkiest I have ever touched.
He is well at home
and we love this man about our house.

Earth's loveliness

Picture from here 

My soul  can find no staircase
to Heaven
unless it be through
Earth's loveliness.

.


Tuesday, July 20, 2010

The development Edna Walling designed

Dear Trad Padders,

If you scroll down the sidebar you will come cross my links which are categorised.  One whole category is dedicated (with many links) to one woman: Edna Walling.  By the time you work your way through those links you should have a good idea of who Edna Walling was and why she and her work are so admired.


In the long ago, Edna undertook some real estate development.  The development was named Bickleigh Vale and is situated in the the outer eastern Melbourne suburb of Mooroolbark.  In Edna's time, this area would have been rural or semi-rural.  To-day it is suburban and, unless you know where to look, it is easily missed.  The development is situated around Bickleigh Vale Road, off Pembroke Road in Mooroolbark.


The road is a dirt/gravel road.  I think it is likely to be a "local road" where the local residents take responsibility for their own road.  It wanders between tall trees which appear, remarkably, never to have seen a bushfire.  Many of the houses are timber so I think the residents are probably very fire conscious since the old timber homes would probably burn like paper.
Recently one of the houses came up for sale and it had a great promotion in real estate section of The Age, one of Melbourne's major dailies.  I include some of these for your interest and titillation.  BTW, one needs something more than bottletops to purchase n this neighbourhood.


Related reading:
The Vision of Edna Walling: Garden Plans 1920-1951 


Gardens in Australia: Their Design and Care 


Monday, July 19, 2010

For the love of Frida - and Salma

On Friday night, I went to the Shane Howard concert - which you can read about here.  I was on my own - and it is amazing how women chat and befriend one another easily - as I did with the owner of this remarkable black jacket.  It is a homage: to the wonderful, unique and extravagant Frida Kahlo.  And not only to Frida, but to the wonderful portrayal of her by the beautiful Salma Hayek.


And who could forget the remarkable tango from the movie.

BTW, my friend of the evening said that she had imbibed well before embarking on the paint job - which was done in poster paints so she dare not wear the jacket in the rain!


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