Kereru...

The Kereru is a very large wood pigeon that is native to New Zealand.  
They are one of the largest pigeons in the world, 
weigh 650 grams and are 51 cm long.
Mia Bella Gardens Aviaries had the privilege
 of temporarily caring for one who had flown into a window and stunned itself.
It took a few days to recover, 
but he was soon released back into the native bush area near where he was found.
Here is a painting by New Zealand artist Craig Platt 
showing the Kereru in its natural habitat.
They are eating the berries from a nikau palm.



Honey Vanilla Pannacotta...

I am still creating and taste testing recipes 
from Annabel Langbein's fabulous cookbook,
'The Free Range Cook'.
This book is based on her television series, of the same name.
to buy her cookbooks visit:
http://www.annabel-langbein.com/books-and-reviews/

The Honey Vanilla Pannacotta is a slightly healthier version 
of the full cream pannacotta desserts usually made.
It has 2 cups of cream and 2 cups of buttermilk in it...
which is what I used.
 Annabel says you can lower the fat content further, 
by using 1 cup cream and 1 cup of milk in the 2 cups of cream portion.
It was divine...
smooth and creamy...
served with fruit...
It had a subtle tartness, 
which was a nice change from the usual pannacotta sweetness. 
 Of course I just had to add roses to this photo shoot!
 with fabric in a gorgeous embossed leaf design....
 Annabel Langbein's 'Honey Vanilla Panna Cotta'
 made with buttermilk...
Glorious to eat...
Glorious to look at!
And that my friends is the name of this rose, 
picked from Mia Bella Gardens.
'Glorious'
A Hybrid Tea rose with an equally glorious fragrance.



Felt Rose & Book Page Butterfly Wreath...

What's your colour theme for Christmas this year?
Every year I plan my decorating around a colour theme...
and this year I have decided to keep it more traditional 
with red, white and green.
Christmas wreaths are so much fun to create,
so using the willow wreath previously made
I made a ton of gorgeous wee felt roses to decorate it with.
All you do it cut strips of felt using the adage...the thinner the strip, the smaller the rose.
Roll a centre, 
 
then twist the felt as you tightly wind it around.
Hot glue the end and hold until the glue firms.
DIY Felt rose Christmas wreath
I made green, red and white ones... 
DIY Felt rose Christmas wreath
Which will be perfect for this years Christmas colour theme.
DIY Wreath
 I LOVE Christmas creating...
don't you?
DIY Felt rose Christmas wreath
 Once you have made your roses,
simply hotglue them around the wreath.
For the focal bow,
I made a bow out of red satin ribbon, but this was not quite right.
So I made another bow from green felt.
And it was perfect!
DIY Felt rose Christmas wreath
The book paper butterflies made the other day
were added...
If you want to know how to make these follow this link...
http://miabellapassion.blogspot.co.nz/2013/11/diy-book-paper-butterflies.html
And it was finished!
A rather large but beautiful Christmas wreath.
DIY Felt rose Christmas wreath
Next on the list of 'Christmas Things To Do' is...
A porch sign.
What super fun Christmas is!





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