Monday 19 May 2008

Broad beans, bread bins and old tins



I love broad beans. Love the taste, colour, feel and love popping them from their pods. I love them hot, cold, warm, however they come. Friday night we had our first spring broad beans of the year. They were delicious, served warm with a oil, vinegar and fresh mint. Spring on a plate. Plenty of spinach too. Friday nights for us are usually big bowls of pasta, bottle of wine and bars of chocolate in front of the TV. Mr Ragged Roses was not a happy bunny, he was very poorly coughing, aching and feeling oh so tired. Having worked really hard for months on an end to get a book off to print, his precious day off arrives and he spends it under the eiderdown, dead to the world! Hence the overload of green veg. M had been suffering all week and had to go in to work and it seemed very unfair to be so ill on your longed for day off. By Sunday he was on the mend, chocolate was bought and enjoyed and all is nearly back to normal, except that Little Sister is now off school today feeling under the weather. Not sure she'd admit to any green veg craving though!



A bit of a grey Saturday morning spent painting the door knobs of the kitchen cupboards in an attempt to lighten up the room. After 3 I was bored stiff but managed all 20 by Sunday night. I popped into town and bought my new bread bin to replace the old terracotta crock that has now been moved to the other end of the room and now holds the mountains of biscuits we seem to get through. I love this enamel one, it really brightens up the kitchen corner.



Lovely and cheery in the morning, unlike the ragged roses household!



A quick trip to the car boot yesterday morning resulted in a horde of more enamel and tin. Will I ever reach a point when I say "enough - I really don't need anymore" - I wonder ... My only justification is that these were all too pretty and cheap to leave behind. The colours were just too delicious to say "no" to and besides - well actually there isn't a besides, except that I love them. Could you have said no? The enamel jug is the prettiest of blues and the old sugar storage tin (which was given to me because I bought all the rest) is that shade of green that is so evocative of the 30s and 40s.



Anyway this little red coffee pot now is now a flower pot outside.



My little nautical tin will sit on the kitchen window sill and matches a lovely deck of boaty cards I bought a few weeks ago.



M says he can remember these Birds Baking Powder tins, I can't. I can only remember the custard tins. They can't have been that old but the packaging is lovely isn't it.



A little vintage tin of clotted cream (empty thank goodness!). I love clotted cream, not sure what it would be like from a tin though.



So now I've got a recipe for sponge cake, baking powder and clotted cream. Had to have a cake tin to put it in didn't I? Especially one covered in roses too.



And finally not a new purchase but an enamel plate and cup that Big Sister got as a pressie when she was little. Too sweet not to show you.
Hope you're having a good start to the week. I'm off to play nurse to Little Sister. looking at all these photos of sugar and cake tins I have a good idea what she might be craving!

54 comments:

A Thrifty Mrs said...

Your photos make me smile.

French Knots said...

Hope Little Sister is soon on the mend.
I love broad beans but nobody else in the household likes them so I rarely have them...must buy some in the greengrocers this week!
Lovely treasures as always.

Unknown said...

I simply adore your spotty enamel tin!

Elizabethd said...

Our broad beans are just about to be pickable, another few days should do it. Spinach and salad things are wonderful.
I love your photos of the containers. Now, Kim, Basil is very easy to grow, so buy some seed and put it in one of your lovely containers! It germinates very fast.

Simone said...

Lovely boot sale finds. Can I come round yours on friday? I love green veggies and pasta and chocolate and a glass of chilled wine will do just fine!

Wayfaring Wanderer said...

Oh my! I absolutely love love love the black cat plate and cup set......that is just too precious :o)

Emma Herian said...

Jam Jam hopes E gets better soon, purr prr miew!
What fantastic finds AGAIN!, I reckon as soon as the Open House has finished I will be tagging along with you to the Car boot!
Em X

Samantha said...

Hi Kim,
Hope everyone is on the mend and feeling a little better.

Love the finds. Are we going to see the revamped kitchen doors/knobs?

x

Country Cottage Chic said...

Fantastic finds! Hope Mr RR is feeling better now.

julia said...

Although our house is near saturation point with all my car boot finds I can't resist adding to it, it's a bit like an addiction!
I love your new bread bin, is it old or new? As for all that vintage enamel - heavenly!
Julia x
ps. Hope everone is better now.

Tinyholder said...

Gosh, what boot sale did you go to?! I went to one in Poynings...certainly didn't see any things as pretty as that lovely blue jug and the gorgeous rose tin!

Louise said...

I don't eat broad beans or drink wine, but I do love pasta and chocolate! More great carboot finds, I especially like the red coffee pot for outside. The baking powder tin looks familiar from my childhood and I definitely remember us buying clotted cream in a tin to bring home from our family holidays, they were silver and you could also post them as presents. I love the cats enamelware, I haven't ever seen anything similar. I hope everyone in the Ragged Roses household start to feel better soon. x

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

I know just what you mean about the humble little broad bean.. emerald green baby broad beans in a parmesan and asparagus risotto.. food of the gods!
Poor Mr RR.. I hope at least he got to rest his weary bones and that dear little Sis is making a speedy recovery..
I have a thing for tins too.. I can't resist the old nostalgic finds.. and I would have fallen big time for your Bird's Custard tin. I remember those tins too.. I must be the same Circa as Mr RR..

Sending germ free regards to the poorly ones!

Michelexx

Betty said...

My youngest is home sick today too! Must be something in the atmosphere. It's so hot here, we are hibernating inside until it cools down. I barely even had energy to go looking for treasures this weekend. You found some fun things!

Sal said...

I can't stand broad beans! I've no idea why as I love all other veg!
Your tin finds are great and I love the red coffee pot.Sal;-)

dottycookie said...

Isn't it great when the broad beans and asapragus arrive?

And isn't it always the way that we get sick the minute there's a chance for relaxation? Hope everyone is on the mend soon. My hubby was ill over the weekend too, poor old thing.

mountainear said...

Oh, huge broad bean envy. Love 'em to pieces. Mine are only about 6 inches high at present - a long way to go.

On the plus side we are eating asparagus!

And I remember Baking power in little tins too.

Naturegirl said...

Love love that last set with the kitty faces! I have never tasted broad beans?

Ally Jay said...

I love the enamel cup and plate.

No one is you ...& that's your power said...

Hi love the bread bin and your other treasures. I know what you mean"when is enough , enough!"!. I am always decluttering and then end up going to a car boot sale and getting more. I think when will I ever stop, I do try !. I worry the house will look like a storage container if I dont stop!
take care
x Dom

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous tins, love the bright colours...look really cheery. The white with red spots is great, and I must admit to remembering the blue baking powder tins.
Bet your kitchen looks really good.
Hope everyone's soon better, these viruses are such a nuisance.
Margaret and Noreen

Nonnie said...

Hope little Sister is feeling better soon. I'm sure some cake would make her feel better. Love that new bread bin. I've just managed to persuade Simon to get rid of the very ugly 70s flip up bin that was in the kitchen when I moved in. Not sure he'd go for a dotty one yet though. It's going to be a slow process introducing him to vintage ways! By the way, I think your parcel arrived the other day but was out and unable to collect from sorting office on Saturday so will have to wait until this weekend to get it. Just wanted to let you know incase you wondered if I received it ok.

Nonnie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Miss sew n sew said...

Hi all your tins , jugs and enamel wear are lovely finds I don't think I could leave them behind either their far to pretty and interesting. We have a tv and chocolate night too we get the big Dairy milk bars very naughty but very yummy!
Sarahx

Shirl said...

Hope everyone is feeling better soon and absolutely love the photos of all your newly acquired goodies!

Carol said...

hehe...yes Kim when will you ever stop.....not.
I love all of your enamelware and old tins, I wish the boot fair that I went to on sunday had some lovely bits like you managed to find...needless to say I will not be going again, wrong type of fair I think.
Your Braod Beans looks so nice they are making me feel very hungry just looking at them. I have a pathetic little line of broad beans in my allotment - about 10 plants I think, enough for one meal! you recipe for them also sound good, will make a note of that one. Your Friday evenings are much like mine...lovely!
Carol xx

Pam said...

Lovely pictures as usual. Hope you're all on the road to recovery now. I'm curious as to what Mr RR does: writer? printer? publisher?

CIELO said...

Pretty pictures....!

Cielo

carolyn said...

Oh dear it sounds as though you had better eat loads of those beans to ward off the horrid bug that seems to be doing the rounds of your household.

OhSoVintage said...

You certainly seem to find some good treasures at your car boots, I love seeing what you have bought. I did rise early on Sunday morning to go car booting but what with one thing and another didn't manage to get to one.. I'm sure I wouldn't have found such nice things as you did. I have enjoyed reading your posts over the last month even though I haven't been leaving comments. Your blog is so interesting with such good photos!

Heidi said...

Hi Kim, Sorry your family is a bit "under the weather". We went through the same thing a couple weeks ago! Yuck!...Absolutely LOVE that blue enamelware pitcher!...Here in the states that would be a fortune! I love it almost as much as that amazing birdhouse you posted a couple weeks ago!...Hope to hear from you soon, Heidi :)

Thimbleanna said...

What a fun post full of lovelies Kim! Hope you're all feeling better today. I love your new seat cushions and all your pretty tins. Thanks so much for your lovely wedding wishes for my little lovebirds -- you're so thoughtful and kind!

Mrs.Kwitty said...

So sorry to hear Mr RaggedRose was ill--hope he is all better.

That polka dot tin just made me smile! love it! AND that aqua tin plate and cup with the kitties!!! Oh, I LOVE it so much!

Smiles, Karen

Anonymous said...

The thing I love most about this post is "Mr Ragged Roses"
That made me laugh out loud Kim. Hahahahahahahaha!
So cute!!!!

Cherry xoxoxo

Heidi said...

Sorry to hear that DH and the DD were not feeling well. I hope by now they are both feeling back to normal again? I think when you strive for something and really look forward to it, you seem to spend your energy so much that you are subject to coming down with something. I hope the book went off to print well.

Jos is not a bean eater at all. I can't get by with broad beans, white beans, peas, etc. while he normally loves most vegeatables like I do. I think lots of veg sounds heavenly and we have been doing the same. We just ate asparagus yesterday and I put it on my blog too. This time of year, there are so many wonderful things in season to choose from.

Love all the new finds at the boot sale. You now reminded me I want to search for the recipe of mock clotted cream I saved to try out.

Hugs ~
Heidi

Tracy said...

Love all the tins and festive finds! Broad beans...mmm...delicious! Happy Day ((HGUS))

A home far away said...

Lovely photos as always:-)
I hope you have a good week.

Hugs from Singapore

Britt- Sparkled Vintage Charm said...

LOVE all your finds!! soo cute!!! xo Britt

Heidijayhawk said...

i swear you always find the coolest stuff!

Jennie said...

Hope little sister is feeling much better soon!
You always get such fantastic things! The enamel tin is gorgeous and I love all the tins you got!
The cat mug and plate are so sweet!

pinkgreen said...

I love broad beans too. Mine are fighting off an attack of black fly at the moment but hopefully it won't be long before we have some juicy pods. Your tins are great - I especially like the spotty one.
Cathy X

meggie said...

Wow Kim, more lovely finds.

violetlady said...

I am wondering what broad beans are. Look like our lima beans.
I first had clotted cream years and years ago in Cornwall. Hard to find it here in U.S. but sometimes I get lucky. With strawberry preservies, yum!

Unknown said...

Didn't you do well! Love the little cat plate and mug.

Hope Little Sister is feeling better.

Rosie x

Niki Fretwell said...

Hi Kim,
Just recently I have been feeling 'vintaged-out' as it seemed to have crept into every corner of our lives. You may have just restored my faith with all your true vintage finds - the collection of tins is fabulous. Thank you!

Hope everyone feels so much better very soon,
Take care,
Niki x

mollycupcakes said...

Get well little sis and glad M is on the mend. It's not fair being ill on your day off but it sounds like you where nursed back to health by the wonderful Mrs Ragged Roses and chocolate. I'm sure the same will work for little sis too.
Beautiful items hun.
Have a nice week.
Get well soon everyone.
Hugs.

Catherine x

Anonymous said...

oh my, what lovely enamel goodies you found! I was given a red enamel coffee pot last week whihc I adore, what is it about old enamel, I love it so.
Love your blog, first time Ive visited
xx

Anonymous said...

Love the polkadot pot! With a pot like that I wouldn't pass the cooking of on my hubby quite so much. :)

Attic Clutter said...

Oh just love you kitchen bread tin and all the darling finds (:) Makes a kitchen so homey ..Hugs Patty

Louise said...

You always find the best stuff but my faves are the blue jug and the boaty tin - fab!

Garden Girl said...

Oooh, I love broad beans too, am off to pick the first ones from our allotment tomorrow, yum.
I love your enamel finds, especially the little red coffee pot, it looks lovely planted up.x

ShabbyInTheCity said...

I wouldn't say no either!!! Wonderful finds Kim. Cheerful like you say!

ShabbyInTheCity said...

Hmmmm...I was commenting on the post with enamel pieces...anyway...broadbeans...don't know what they are...limas?

Bread Bin UK said...

Am loving the spotty bread bin :)