Thanks for all the comments on the Mr BC & I post yesterday…errm it’s funny how that came about but it’s nice to think back to the old days sometimes isn’t it?
Anyway, overnight, while Australia tootles off to bed while many are out to play, oh actually even before that too, I had rather a lot of emails about the box that I found at the market. I even had someone offer to buy it from me…truly…for a tidy little sum too…clearly not a regular reader of this blog, ‘cos I can assure you that if I find something that makes me do The BC Vintage Treasure Dance, something that has been on the Beach Cottage Most Wanted List for a very long time, then there ain’t no way I’m parting with a new member of this household baby.
As I took a good look at it and moved it around I did a little bit of research…it seems that these boxes were used as storage for factory butter with the purpose of distribution and sale…roughly made, which is exactly what I thought when inspecting this one, with crude wood and nails fixing it together
….and on the side with the company logo that they could be easily returned from where they came.
here’s a close up of her…
This one is Allowrie brand of butter box, used widely throughout NSW and would have carried about 56lb blocks of butter…the butter itself was apparently destined for overseas markets, including the UK, which I find amazing that in those days such perishables as butter were transported all that way…
A bit more internet googling and research and it seems that somewhere where we are going this school holidays may have been the dairy where Allowrie got it’s name…cool and I will be visiting!
So I’m not doing anything with this box really, apart from kinda stroking it and looking at it and loving it.
Though I thought the butter box and my boots, a mason jar and a shell sphere thrown in for coastal measure might just be a divine combination…
and so yesterday arvo, my friends, I took some time to clear up the one hundred and one pairs of kids’ shoes that seem unable to actually make it to the shoe cupboard and I picked up sports bags that were, to be quite frank, smelling rather suspect and moved pairs of my shoes kicked off when I walked in the door..
and here she is, in a very tidy Beach Cottage coastal hallway…posing for us all to see on Good Life Wednesday…
She is, the BC Butter Box, the epitome of it all for me…a day spent with my new family just having simple, easy fun, drinking coffee, looking for treasure and finding a thing that makes me do the Treasure Hunter’s Dance.
Now that’s worth it.
So, hit me with what you’ve got, ready and waiting
oh & I need your votes…click this link, check my blog box & run through to the end…thanks!
Love that butter box, I’m guessing your jaw dropped when you found that one. And the stool is great too. I am also loving that dash of blue scarf thrown in there on the oar. Just so gorgeous!
Sarah, your Butter Box is beautiful. I also loved the story of how you met your Husband, and loved seeing your Children with the Bagels.
I have fond memories of my first date too, ain’t Love wonderful? Thank you for hostessing , your photos are beautiful as always. I really love the subtle colors of the scarves and bag mixed in with the rustic box. Have a Wonderful Wednesday, xxx tami
hi sarah… something strange happened when i was linking just then! could you please delete the image (don’t know where that came from) no 15 the blue smiley face! grrrr! thanks a lot. cheryl ps love the box you got at rozelle markets!
I love the butter box and I like the inside, it is a perfect green. Have you seen the re-purposed basket lamp shade on your linky? How good is that! It’s raining cats and dogs to day so I am packing and de cluttering.
I have a very very similar Allowrie butter box that I bought from Balmain markets many years ago, I always get comments on where did I get it, the colour of the timder from back then is amazing!! They are a real piece of Australian history don;t you just love Rozelle/Balmain!!
I have an old butter churn base that I use as a garbage bin…in Summer when it is hot I can still get a whiff of
butter…lol
Beautiful pictures..and the box is lovely.
Is that market anywhere near downtown Sydney?? Just askin’…. lol
I am so happy that you wrote that you had to clean up all the shoes. Looking at my own closet, it very rarely look as organized or empty as I would wish. We are only two people but seem to have a thousand feets, and I am always kind of happy to hear that all bloggers out there does not live in perfect shoeless homes either.
Love the butter box but to honest I am more in love with the fact that you had to clean your hallway to take the photos! I always feel incredibly domestically challenged looking at your wonderful blog… so many wonderful decorating ideas floating around in my head, now if I could just *see* the floor…
P.S. I lifetime membershipped myself to <3 Saturdays very early on in the piece but didn't see my name on the last list you posted. Not that I would let that stop me from participating… just saying
Love the box, Sarah. Must do some research on the box I picked up with a metal mesh bottom. Don’t know what that was for! Also voted for your blog – Good Luck!
Such a beautiful BC Butter Box! I had never heard of butter boxes before. It’s so nice to know a little bit of the history behind treasures like these. And thank you for hosting Good Life Wednesday… I’ve come to look forward to it every week.
- Andrea
I’m hoping to find a box like that just lying on the side of a road one day. Wouldn’t that be awesome? People from back then would probably laugh if they new what we were paying for their old storage bokxes….but don’t they realise how awesome they are?!!
Thank you so much for hosting today. Have a wonderful Easter.
Great butter box Sarah, looks great in your hall, also loved it in your living room with all the white. I know what you mean about getting attached to newly found treasures ….. did you paint the little straps on your wicker bag? Lol anyway love it! x
Thank you so so much for hosting!
I adore your butter box…if you ever feel the need to send a present to someone you don’t know, I’d be happy to be that person…;)
And I voted for you!!! Best of luck!
I think I have linked up properly..the info link was broken so hope I did it right…I am in love with that paddle coat hook!! I have been hoarding paddles so I will have to find some hooks..what a great idea for my bathroom,with 5 kids we use loads of towels..they need to hang them up and use them twice!!
P.S I love the little box with all the white..just dreamy
Natalie
Hi Sarah! Lovin’ that sweet butter box AND the sweet story of you and Mr. BC! You two are just the cutest!!!!
I desperately need to know where you got your Marseilles shopper bag!!!!!!!?????? I want one so badly to take with me when I go junking this summer!!!!!!!! Please tell me!!!!!! ♥
Thank you for sharing and hosting all the creativity & inspiration !
You have my vote Sarah!
( Easy peasy, love that you are at the top of the 1st page )
Sarah.. I am tired! I have been from Nj to Australia a million times…:))))) tonight! But I am lovin it! Sorry for the lateness…
You are way too much fun!
Smiles~
C
Thanks for the Thank you note and the nice comments about my porch! Your blog is wonderful and so inspiring! I have been a reader for a few months now. I have always wanted to visit Australia and your blog makes me want to go more!
G'day! I'm Sarah, I live in a tatty old cottage, near the sea in Australia with a battered old deck & a big old fig tree out the back...stripped wooden floors, old sash windows & a jumble of vintage furniture. [Read More …]
Beach Cottage ladies, we have some vintage linen and some wood/twig washed up on the beach today here in Beach Cottage Land….don’t say I don’t keep you entertained now will you . Come on in. So, yep I have posted about colanders on this blog, about things sourced from the side of the road, about [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? The original place for Too Easy Recipes on the web ;-)
So, after my last salad went down a storm in my inbox, that's here if you missed it, I had to do this one seeing as I make it most weeks.
There is a problem with this salad and kiddos though...it looks, well, it looks, kinda yucky...but once they try it, they'll ask if and when they are next having it....at least that's what happens in this ratty old cottage...but I must interject here that my kiddos are 'good eaters'? ...they didn't get a choice in that ;-)
Now, stop, don't start running and hitting that next on your blog reading list, pulses are your best friend in the Too Easy Dump & Go kitchen for the busy mum, or busy anyone for that matter...that reminds me I must blog the garlic canneloni Go To for when you forgot to do dinner, feel like a bath but have three ravenous young Beach Cottage Kiddos on your hands...another day.
I am almost embarrassed to tell you how easy this is, we have it so much that I always have a couple, make that six, cans of lentils around and a jar of goat's cheese in the fridge...the great thing about this is that it's all too easy to get ready in just a few minutes, but it looks, tastes and seems like you did oh so very much more than that.
You can obviously too change it up a bit depending on what you have to hand in your kitchen, and I must say that is how I settled on this version...because one day when I made it I didn't have enough Parsley in the garden and so I chucked in some basil too, and liked the Summer feel it added.
I think of this as being a rather posh salad, not sure why, because it couldn't really be further from the truth...the great thing is that it works so well for an average run of the mill day, (when I did this for this blog post, it was a hot Sydney Sunday and I did it just simply to go with Rosemary & Garlic stuffed pork, you can see that pork here),
...but just as easily it works on a regular old Wednesday night when you have lost all enthusiasm for rustling up yet another meal, or indeed on Saturday night, when your friends are on their way over for dinner and you my friend, are in your new vintage inspired clawfoot bathtub (that's me in a few weeks time, k?) without any clothes on, a tipple and no idea what to cook for dinner...
I have a complicated and ever-changing relationship with goat's cheese...it never fails me in its performance and it never fails to impress me (you can find out a bit more on what I like in food here if you like) and I kinda collect it...because it's very easy to collect and has a fairly long fridge-life, I love trying out different ones and there's not many things I love more than goat's cheese on sourdough...but I think the best thing about it is not thinking about it exclusively in the toast/salad department...I've stuffed it in chicken and all sorts of things as a last minute and it's been fab.
But let's get down to the nitty gritty of this super salad that makes you look like an angel who has been on her knees all day scrubbing the front step when really you are in the digital world and spent most of ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, howdy, howdy howdy today for a Beach Cottage Too Easy recipe.
If you like cake, cream, sugar and chocolate, make this.
This is, rather than a recipe, a putting it together...as you know I am no dessert maker, but, I do make quite a few sweet things, because, somehow I have ended up with kiddos, who in their roles as offspring, believe that part of the deal, is that not only do I feed them a home-cooked meal with a few homegrown ingredients in there, yes, they also believe that dessert and not the kind that comes out of a packet is included too in this All-Inclusive Deal they call Parenthood.
So, this, for sure, is no culinary masterpiece, but if you are looking for something that is so very easy, dump-able, uses everyday ingredients and at the same time makes you look like you spent hours pulling things together plus tastes good....well, then this is for you.
Best though, you don't make this for yourself, if you have spent the most part of your week sitting on your derriere reading blogs...this my friend ain't low in the calories department...if, however, you are treating yourself to a delight in a mason jar, this is so for you.
I first had a version of this when at dinner back in Old Blighty with a girl, I once, in another life, caught the train up from our village to London with...she was a funny thing really...I am not quite sure how we got on...she was kinda prissy and a bit bothered by too much...I would run to the train flustered, having got up late, and she would have a spreadsheet on the train times, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, a few years later when we both had bambinos, I bumped into her again and we met up for playdates and dinner sometimes....this particular night, after a lovely meal she served up little bowls of creamy, cakey fruity stuff topped off with chocolate flake...it was delicious!
She didn't serve hers in little jars like this, hers were in a champagne glass and not quite so layered as these ones, plus she used tinned fruit not fresh or frozen.
Years later when said offspring kept requesting dessert, one day I wangled together somehow these from what was around in the fridge and they've been with us ever since.
Most likely, if you ever come here for dinner, and shock horror, you dont' bring the dessert with you, this, if you are lucky, will be what you will get.
Throw it all together, sprinkle a lil bit of chocolate on the top and the blog reading past-time you so rudely left in order to make this, is my friend, your oyster.
Beach Cottage Too Easy Layered Raspberry, Cream & Sponge Dessert
1 small maderia or butter cake or a pack of cupcakes (or of course make your own)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
8 tbsp fruit
1 x chocolate Flake or chocolate bar for grating
1. beat the cream cheese until it is soft
2. whip the cream until soft peaks form
3. combine & add the sugar through
4. cut your cake into portions
& layer into the bottom of your jar
5. add a tablespoon of fruit
6. layer on top the cream combo
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
*Beach Cottage Recipe Notes : this is just a guide really, you can use any cream that you have on hand...I have made this with clotted cream (don't even go there unless you want to seriously get these babies on your thighs), with double cream and I have even, in desperate times squirted in that, ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, well I thought it was time for some blogging tips here today, alongside a few nice flowers and shells ;-)
I was recently part of a blogger discussion group over at Kidspot and a couple of hours later had a few questions from girls who couldn't make it to the live chat, one was on my Facebook page and one via email, the Facebook one I will deal with in another Real Girl Blogging Tips post...the email one asked me what essentials do I think every blog needs?
Well I have been around here for a while now doing the blogging thing, so I should know this, yeah and I mused this on my walk by the sea this morning I thought well what do you only need?
...I think it is really very easy when blogging, whether or not you are blogging up there in the lofty heights of the Super Bloggers or you are just dipping your toe in the water, to get side-tracked by 101 million different things that are 'essential' to your blog and if you are someone like me who actually gets a thrill from reading blogging tips then you are in an even worse place because you will find yourself literally buzzing with these essential things to add/do/implement on your blog.
However, walking along, gulping down that brisk sea air today (no sunshine & clouds) I thought you actually don't need any of that professional blogging stuff to be successful...but there are a few things that are pretty much crucial ...and once I started to think about it I got it down to about 5 - these are the only things that you need to concentrate on...once you have read through take a look at some of the big girl's blogs...you'll see that actually they don't have bundles of stuff on their blogs...but they do have all of these...
So here are my top things that your blog must have
1. About Page
There are all sorts of About Pages out there, and if you search on it there are many different tips and ideas for what to have on yours
Whatever blogging platform you use, adding an About Me Page is easy, quick and simple and will do everything to grow your blog.
I like a long-ish About Page, I am inherently nosy and I like to know a bit more about the person but at the least you should have on it your name and where you are located. I also think a photo is good too...over the last year or so I think this has become more important in blogging - if you are hesitant about that as I was, you can try using sunglasses or a behind shot until you get comfortable.
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a new blog and going to find out more to only be faced with a piddly little one liner About Me Page...well there is something worse, not having one at all!
2. Contact Page
The chances are someone, somewhere will want to contact you and you will be surprised what lands in your inbox once you put yourself out there on the world wide web with a blog.
Many bloggers also use this page to include details for PR's/brands that may want to contact them and some bloggers put their stats on there too.
A short, to the point and simple Contact Page works really well...whenever I have wanted to contact another blogger I am often very busy and have limited time so I don't want to hang around sifting through information looking for an email address, so concise and clear ...
G'day lovely Beach Cottage lovelies.
So, yeah, so on a roll people, so on a roll.
I feel kinda home accessory wired right now.
I am always telling people, if anyone ever listens, that blogging is all about passion, not that sort of passion, but about passion that makes one tick.
Things like this make me tick tick boom.
I love finding things that suit my budget and let me treat my home but look amazing too.
So without further adieu I introduce you, ladies of the beach, to the blue vintage glasses that I have been stroking for about a week or two now...
These glasses are from a little boutique I sometimes happen upon, this boutique sells also pet accessories, carpet cleaner, bras and compost...it's quite unique though.
And, thanks to my friend Marnie (she blogs over here, go take a look at her praying position, interesting), who just so happens to be one day having me over for a lil' Greek dinner, has let me in on the fact that we call Kmart....The KMart...with an accent ....as in 'I love The KMart'...just like her MIL does. Oh yeah. Love that.
So I have had my eye on reproduction vintage glass blue wine glasses and being trying to find real true vintage blue glasses for like ever.
Oh yes I have spied them in Frenchy boutiques, I have lusted after them in stores that I shouldn't even enter and I have put them back pretty quickly in those shops with the hand-written price tags. C'mon, you know the ones.
And, though all of the above have tempted me, muchly, really, even with my wardrobe stashing skills I just thought that, actually, I'd rather be saving that casherooni for our next trip overseas..
Hello The KMart.
Tick Tick Boom
Vintage style blue wine glasses.
Do not come to my old place and think you might pick up one of these and smile with pleasure at their handblown quality, their weight, and be secretly jealous that my wine glasses cost more than your car...friend, that would not happen...these do not feel like that...indeed these in a funny way reminded me of my baby girl, she was a tiny little thing, with stick legs, the tinsssssssiest ankles and wrists you ever did see, she slept sideways in her cot wedged in between rolled up blankets and would only settle attached to Mr Beach Cottage or I or a (dirty) pj top of mine scrunched up under her nose...the first few times I picked her up to cuddle, being used to Honeymoon Baby who weighed in at 9lbs at birth and has never really stopped growing, I nearly threw her little bird-cum-rat down covered body over my shoulder.
These glasses are like that...be careful or you might lose your wine down the front of your shirt.
But oh baby, we are not talking picking up here, we are not talking quality, we are not talking house accessory snobbery.
Beach Cottage ladies, we are talking aesthetics.
And this is what I need in my cottage.
Blue vintage style glass, paired with coastal / nautical / beach stuff on my deck.
It's The KMart.
Tune in tomorrow, tomorrow, I have more budget foofing for your home, or maybe it will be the dress that wraps me up in supermarket-chic and makes me feel like me again.
Good Day to you my friends, wanna come hang out on my deck, talk house accessories, The KMart and drink some wine from blue glasses?
Sarah
Your butter box is just divine!
Love that butter box, I’m guessing your jaw dropped when you found that one. And the stool is great too. I am also loving that dash of blue scarf thrown in there on the oar. Just so gorgeous!
Oooooohhhhhh I love the box !!! The boots have a home at last !!!!!
Sarah, your Butter Box is beautiful. I also loved the story of how you met your Husband, and loved seeing your Children with the Bagels.
I have fond memories of my first date too, ain’t Love wonderful? Thank you for hostessing , your photos are beautiful as always. I really love the subtle colors of the scarves and bag mixed in with the rustic box. Have a Wonderful Wednesday, xxx tami
I love the box! So simple, so pretty.
I think the butter box would look divine just about anywhere! What a fabulous treasure. I just LOVE the look of the boots peeking out of the top!
hi sarah… something strange happened when i was linking just then! could you please delete the image (don’t know where that came from) no 15 the blue smiley face! grrrr! thanks a lot. cheryl ps love the box you got at rozelle markets!
Oh, and so what if I don’t live down under? I just voted for you.
Thanks so much for hosting this blog party.
I love the butter box and I like the inside, it is a perfect green. Have you seen the re-purposed basket lamp shade on your linky? How good is that! It’s raining cats and dogs to day so I am packing and de cluttering.
That butter box is great. I love your entry way. Thanks for the link up.
I was hoping you would show more of that fabulous butter box……….
Nice box!
Voted for you x
I do love your butter box….like you, most ANY box is awesome and especially when it has writing or graphics on the sides.
I like the butter box as a wellie container. Very BC.
Hi Sarah, I love that Savon de Marseille shopper! Did you purchase here or OS?
Have a lovely day
Hi Sarah,
I have a very very similar Allowrie butter box that I bought from Balmain markets many years ago, I always get comments on where did I get it, the colour of the timder from back then is amazing!! They are a real piece of Australian history don;t you just love Rozelle/Balmain!!
Have a fab day!!
*Should read timber!!
Love that box!
Thanks for hosting again, Sarah.
x Marnie
The butter box is delightful, love it! Thanks for stopping by My Dream Canvas. Hope to see you again!!
I have an old butter churn base that I use as a garbage bin…in Summer when it is hot I can still get a whiff of
butter…lol
Beautiful pictures..and the box is lovely.
Is that market anywhere near downtown Sydney?? Just askin’…. lol
I am so happy that you wrote that you had to clean up all the shoes. Looking at my own closet, it very rarely look as organized or empty as I would wish. We are only two people but seem to have a thousand feets, and I am always kind of happy to hear that all bloggers out there does not live in perfect shoeless homes either.
Very nice to hear the history of your box.
Love the butter box but to honest I am more in love with the fact that you had to clean your hallway to take the photos! I always feel incredibly domestically challenged looking at your wonderful blog… so many wonderful decorating ideas floating around in my head, now if I could just *see* the floor…
P.S. I lifetime membershipped myself to <3 Saturdays very early on in the piece but didn't see my name on the last list you posted. Not that I would let that stop me from participating… just saying
Love the box, Sarah. Must do some research on the box I picked up with a metal mesh bottom. Don’t know what that was for! Also voted for your blog – Good Luck!
Such a beautiful BC Butter Box! I had never heard of butter boxes before. It’s so nice to know a little bit of the history behind treasures like these. And thank you for hosting Good Life Wednesday… I’ve come to look forward to it every week.
- Andrea
I’m hoping to find a box like that just lying on the side of a road one day. Wouldn’t that be awesome? People from back then would probably laugh if they new what we were paying for their old storage bokxes….but don’t they realise how awesome they are?!!
Thank you so much for hosting today. Have a wonderful Easter.
Sarahx
Great butter box Sarah, looks great in your hall, also loved it in your living room with all the white. I know what you mean about getting attached to newly found treasures
….. did you paint the little straps on your wicker bag? Lol anyway love it! x
no i didnt!
it is from country road
xx
I did notice that gorgeous box. It looks great where it is. A nice find indeed…
Thank you so so much for hosting!
I adore your butter box…if you ever feel the need to send a present to someone you don’t know, I’d be happy to be that person…;)
And I voted for you!!! Best of luck!
I just discovered your blog yesterday and love it! I feel very inspired by your beautiful home and lifestyle!
Off to check out the voting thing!
I think I have linked up properly..the info link was broken so hope I did it right…I am in love with that paddle coat hook!! I have been hoarding paddles so I will have to find some hooks..what a great idea for my bathroom,with 5 kids we use loads of towels..they need to hang them up and use them twice!!
P.S I love the little box with all the white..just dreamy
Natalie
*gasp* your home is gor-ge-ous!
Hi Sarah! Lovin’ that sweet butter box AND the sweet story of you and Mr. BC! You two are just the cutest!!!!
I desperately need to know where you got your Marseilles shopper bag!!!!!!!?????? I want one so badly to take with me when I go junking this summer!!!!!!!! Please tell me!!!!!! ♥
xoxo laurie
beautiful beautiful box!
Thank you for sharing and hosting all the creativity & inspiration !
You have my vote Sarah!
( Easy peasy, love that you are at the top of the 1st page )
Sarah.. I am tired! I have been from Nj to Australia a million times…:))))) tonight! But I am lovin it! Sorry for the lateness…
You are way too much fun!
Smiles~
C
Thanks for the Thank you note and the nice comments about my porch! Your blog is wonderful and so inspiring! I have been a reader for a few months now. I have always wanted to visit Australia and your blog makes me want to go more!
i just love your blog….truely inspirational!