G'day pop pickers!

Thanks for all the comments, I loved all the ideas.  

I have to say that I loved Laura's idea of candles – a soft glow, the weathered wood, the old lettering…I thought this would be a nice combination and it was…but just after I wrote this post today, I completely changed it for another idea…I thought you'd still like to see how it was looking…well it lasted one night anyway…

So yesterday afternoon I cleaned it up, this was actually pretty much a case of vacuuming it, then cleaning with a soapy solution and then disinfecting – my normal routine for grotty old items. 

I've had much on my mind lately and much happening in our life…on the outside, strangely enough things are probably the most organised they've been for a long time, but inside, for me, it's all just a little bit fuzzy round the edges. 

I found how welcome the distraction of this project was from that fuzziness. I seemed to get lost in soapy water and disinfectant.  You know?

I've had a gutful of 'real' the last six months…all the normal stuff we all go through…the self-growing laundry pile, dentist trips with the teenager who knocks out his $1000 tooth repair, the tired and ratty seven yr old at seven pm, our wonderful old vintage car having to go to the crusher, Mr BC being retrenched at one of the worst economic times and making a huge and pretty scary life-changing decision to go-it-alone. 

So as I lit these candles and snapped a few pics I felt pretty grateful to shift, if only for a short time, away from realities of life…I want old tatty cottages..vintage fruit boxes, weathered wood, white things…here I want to blog the good stuff…the beach, old sash windows, the sea, the simple things…the coastal air, the wonderful Australian sun …

 Nostalgic?  

Yep

Want more of it? 

Oh yes, I do think so.

OK, without wishing to bore you and blog yet another piece of rescued 'before' furniture but I had to show you this girls. 

So pleased, excited and all those things.  And even better.  IT WAS FREE.  AGAIN.  

The junking fairy is looking down and sprinkling her magic dust all over the Beach Cottage at the moment.  I am so not complaining.

On that rainy Sunday at the weekend, it was just me and the boys in the afternoon, Miss Beach Cottage and Mr BC were off to a sporting event the other side of Sydney.  

When they came home that early evening, surely ready for soup, Miss BC came in all bursting, I presumed with news of her success.  But no, she said "mummy come & see what we found for you!"  "you are so gonna love us!" 

Old wooden packing boxes and a vintage fruit box complete with stenciled lettering on the side (for which I am always on the lookout and rarely find) did not cross my mind. 

I ambled out there nonchalantly…and when I saw them, all three of us were grinning from ear to ear.  Boy did I love those two intrepid junkers!

Apparently they were driving along and commented to each other about some old boxes on the side of the road and how much I would like them.  Looked at each other, smiled, pulled in and popped them in the boot. 

Unfortunately they were wet, but they've dried up just fine, so this Wednesday morning I am, after filling that old Glory Box with linen and continuing my huge de-cluttering session (wow the cleansing!) going to start the cleaning up job, I think this will be a lot more than what I had to do with the old Hungarian trunk.  These are pretty yucky. 

But, here's the question I am, at present, perusing…shall I whitewash them, or leave them all rustic? (and as I re-read this post am erring on the side of rustic).

And, it's all very well finding them, but quite what will I do with them  ~  any ideas?? 

How easy and do-able would it be to attach them to the wall do you think (remember I have the limited skills of Frank Spencer oops I mean Mr BC and myself)

Lemme know what you think, you always seem to come up with things that hadn't even been on my radar…

Oh and if you are like I was in the early days of this fixer-upper whining about what you haven't got and how your home is errrm not quite what you expected in life (you can read about how I moaned  here) then hop of over to this wonderful post from Our Suburban Cottage…and pull your socks up!

see you soon, off to get my rubber gloves on  

edited to add:  ok so far in the Beach Cottage ideas forum  

keep it rustic 

under the coffee table  :  { like that }  from Laura 

herb boxes  :  { yep }  from Linda, & Cherrie

folded up towels :  { mmm mmm }  from Jennifer and Michelle

magazines  { haven't got many }  :  from Marfa

coffee table on wheels  { great idea }  :   from Julia

china or books   { hadn't thought of china }  :   from Sara

candles inside for dreamy feel  { love this!  }  :  from Laura

thanks!  

let me know what you think or vote for one of these 

I've just started cleaning them, the fruit box is FAB!  The other box is not in such good condition, a lot of grossness in there…but…inside are about 4 'panels' with lettering from another box…thinking wall art…I will definitely be trying Cindy's idea to wash this down with a bleach solution to lighten it all up a bit, thanks Cindy.