DIY Epiphytes Hanging Planter Box

You may well be asking - what is an epiphyte?
An epiphyte is:
a plant which grows harmlessly on another (usually a tree).
It derives moisture from the air, rain, and the debris that collects around it. They do not grow in soil.
The epiphyte family of plants includes many species of orchids, bromeliads, tillandsias, mosses and ferns.

To make a DIY epiphytes hanging planter box you will need:

a wooden box - an old drawer or a box made from pallet wood.

I used an old wooden drawer with the handle removed.

 First step:  dry brush the box with white paint for a wonderful shabby look..

 Once paint is dry add a plastic liner.
Staple in place and trim.
Add a wire hanger to the top.

Then a very thick layer of coconut fibre. 

Arabella decided she must help! 

By investigating what she thinks is her new cat bed!

Sorry sweetness but that box is not for you!

  Place a layer of moist sphagnum moss over the coconut fibre.

Staple a covering of wire meshon the front, to contain the fibre and moss. 

 Use wire cutters to make slits where you want your plants.
At the top I wired in place some spanish moss.
The second plant is Tillandsia aeranthos.

The plant on the wood is Dendrobium Tamara.
The yellow flowering orchid is Oncidium flexuosum.

The DIY Epiphytes Hanging Planter Box is on a covered deck with filtered sunlight with my other orchids in the collection, 

so Just a light misting is all the watering that will be needed.

You can use any epiphyte plant to create your own hanger.

I didn't put this one in the 'Epiphytes Hanging Planter Box', 

but I thought I would show you as it is a beautiful orchid.

 Wall or post mounted pot hangers are called 'Leyland Latches'.
Brilliant idea, really affordable, and perfect for a mini orchid collection!

Just in case you are wondering, this beauty is called:
Miltonia moreliana.

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A DIY LOVE mini Pallet sign...

A DIY love mini pallet sign is a simple gift to make for Mother's Day.

Here's how to make it:

Cut a 34cm piece of pallet wood.

Paint it white and leave to dry.

 For the next stage you need a good length of cord.
(in a colour of your choice).

Use PVA wood glue to write your word on the wood.

Press black dressmakers cord in a continuous length 

onto the glue to create the word.

Then cleanup the excess glue with a cotton bud.

Talking about words, you can change it.

I've chosen LOVE,

but you could say:

FUN...JOY...LAUGH...or MUM.
(Just adapt your wood size to the word you choose)

Add a hanger using a staple gun.

I used the same black cord.

This gives you the option to wall hang your DIY mini pallet sign,

or as I ended up doing, 

just leaning it against the back of a bookcase.

Sunset LOVE...

As dusk fell the sky was on fire...

 The plants in my garden became silhouettes...

 Against the red and orange sky...

Nature's passion!

Life is nothing without passion.

(a free inspirational quote for your moodboard)

❤

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How Easy Is It To Make Peanut Butter?

In blog land everyone else is making peanut butter!

And everyone says it's EASY!

And ya all know EASY is my friend...

so I decided to test the theory.

Off I went to Bin Inn bulk store...

purchased my roasted salted peanuts.

Got out my food processor, added my peanuts,

 pulsed and smashed those peanuts into little pieces.

One blogger said - it takes 5 minutes to make smooth peanut butter!

Well....

my food processor is so powerful - 

I am glad it has suction cups to stick it to the bench.

It literally takes off!

Yip - it is a BEAST!

And after 6 minutes at top speed I had smashed peanuts,

that did not quite resemble peanut butter.

Processed for another 2 minutes - hmmm no change.

So I am thinking - 

maybe we dry roast all the oil out of our peanuts in New Zealand.

USA you must have wonderful oily peanuts!

So in went two tablespoons of oil.

Another 3 minutes of full speed processing and I had an in between kind of crunchy and smooth peanut butter.

By this stage the noise of the 'BEAST' was doing my head in,

 so after a taste test, I decided it was good enough.

It took 11 minutes but I won the homemade peanut butter battle.
It is delicious.

When compared to a natural store bought peanut butter
that is available in New Zealand (in the same quantities), 
it's actually no cheaper to make at home.

But at least I can tick it off the list, and say I've done it.   

;) 

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Caramel Chocolate Mousse Tart...

The test kitchen is creating quite a few tarts of late!

And this Caramel Chocolate Mousse combination is a keeper!

 The ingredients are convenient - a packet of vanilla biscuits, a pot of thickened cream, easy melt chocolate and a tin of ready to eat caramel.

 Once you have prepped your biscuit base and it is in the fridge. 

Whip up a chocolate mousse using a hand mixer to beat to fluffiness.

 Fold in the egg whites and gelatin and set aside while you...

 dollop delicious caramel onto the biscuit base.

Level the caramel layer with a spatula,

then top with the mousse.

Leave in the refrigerator for at least four hours.

 Decorate the top as desired.

I used a cake stencil and icing sugar.

 Slice into portions...

 And serve with a dribble of fresh cream.

The Caramel Chocolate Mousse Tart is a quick to make dessert for special occasions.

 It makes a large tart so it will serve about 10 people.

To get the printable recipe, visit HERE.

Caramel Mousse Tart

Grease a 25cm flan dish (with a removable bottom)

Base:

Finely crush 250-gram packet of vanilla biscuits.

Add 1 tablespoon dark cocoa and 120 grams melted butter.

Combine and press into the flan dish. Place in refrigerator to firm.

Mousse Topping:

Melt 225 grams dark chocolate melts. Beat in 2 egg yolks.

Then 300ml pot of thickened cream. Beat until well mixed.

Add two teaspoons of gelatin that has been dissolved in boiling water.

Mix again.

In another bowl beat the two egg whites until thick. Add two tablespoons caster sugar and beat again until the sugar has dissolved.

Using a metal spoon, fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture.

Remove flan base from the refrigerator, and top with one tin of thick ready to eat caramel. Smooth with spatula.

Top the caramel with the chocolate mousse topping.

Refrigerate for at least four hours before serving.

Serve with fresh cream.

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