Nail Box, Planter Box

Feeling inspired by vertical gardens and other such things I've seen in Pinterest lately I decided to revamp a nail box I had. It's been sitting on my porch holding a nest and nothing else for ever. What a shame! Succulents and a wild fern were plucked from else where on our section and the bird came from else where in my house.

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 The two little potted plants were my only purchase. Everything else I already had.

 

 I love the writing on the box, graffiti like next to the natural features.

Actually, I love this whole box!

I hope if you are feeling inspired to make a little something for the garden or porch I hope you will indulge yourself. I am so happy with this planter box and it was the easiest DIY project yet!

It's Autumn,It's Wet, It's time for Soup!

Carrot Soups

What's not to love about carrot soup? 

It's a great choice nutritionally

It's frugal

It's quick

It's satisfying

It's easy to make

It's versatile

AND

It tastes GREAT!

Thanks to my own version of carrot soup  I had 6 vegetables for lunch and there's enough left over for at least 3 more servings. I don't know about you but I don't usually eat 6 different vegetables at lunch time!

Here's my version: 5 carrots, 1 red capsicum, 1/4 cauliflower, 1large shucked corn cob,  1 medium potato and 1 medium red kumara, cooked, blended with stock and water..seasoned to taste.

I cruised pinterest for a while before deciding to adapt a recipe to better suit what ingredients I have but above it a collage of some other tempting carrot soups....

Photo 1

Simple Carrot Soup, one small change and it will be vegan friendly too.

Photo 2

Cream of Carrot Soup, not as fat free as the others but all things in moderation I say!

Photo 3

German Carrot Soup I can't wait to try this one. It doesn't use stock so  a good one for a last minute soup!

Photo 4

Roasted Carrot Soup contains ginger for added oomph! 

Photo 5

Carrot and Kumara (sweet potato) Soup This site also contains a variation of this recipe using maple syrup and cinnamon...

Photo 6

Carrot and Cauliflower soup. Recipe uses a whole head of cauliflower and not a drop of cheese sauce in sight!

So, who's hungry?

May your nest be blessed!

Post also linked to: Hello Monday

Study Star- Revision Idea

 

 This is a 'study star' I made to help my daughter revise her work for an upcoming science exam. (I made it as she has a physical disability making writing laborious and also resulting in individual notes flying everywhere!) I'm sharing in case there are others, like me who have had trouble finding interesting and useful ways of revising a lot of written information!

 She's studying the human digestive system so I started with the mouth, teeth and tongue and saliva. I listed all the enzymes and other key things involved in each stage then moved on to moving food. This covered the oesophagus (esophagus in American spelling I believe...) peristalsis and so on. 

 The 4 pointed star has 3 'pages' per point giving 12 spaces to order and organize all the facts she will need up to the small intestine.  It's easily transported too so she can do a quick cram on the way to the exam :)

To make your own study star simple cut 2 large squares the same size and one smaller (cut more squares for more pages/flaps.) Fold the corners of the square into the middle so the points touch. (See pic one) repeat with all the layers and glue JUST the back of each square (when unfolded it's easy to see the fold lines that make a square) onto the front of the square behind it...

Write the details and personalise it last, you will be surprised how much information these study stars will hold!

May your nest be blessed,

Lisa

Cupcakes, Chemical Change and Pepsin Enzymes!

Yes it is Easter, Easter and more Easter at our house...but most of all...HAPPY Easter to you all!

I hope you have a hot cross bun on the ready with a nice cuppa as you visit today:)

 Above: Our table display, it's not much but I like it's simplicity.

Below: Easter Cupcakes!

 To make these yourself mix and bake your preferred cupcake mix. When cool drizzle over melted white chocolate and place on top a Easter themed chocolate. I made the chocolates using choc molds. One thing I like about these is that by changing the colours and chocolates you can make these for adults of children without any extra expense or hassle.One batch two purposes!

 You can see more of this Easter embellishment I made using recycled and scrap materials on my other blog if it takes your fancy!

 When you teach at home you quickly learn to utilize all opportunities! I wanted a Easter decoration for the window and my son needed to review chemical change...add the two together and you have a burning/chemical change/products Easter egg!

 Did you know carbon glows yellow when it is heated? The yellow part of a flame contains carbon, carbon dioxide and water. Grey in the flame is unburnt vapors and blue is complete burning with carbon dioxide and water present.

 We produced black carbon (soot) by putting tin foil in the yellow part of the flame. 

A change that produces new substances is called CHEMICAL CHANGE. The substance produced by chemical change is called a PRODUCT. In our case Carbon which we used to make these adorable and funny bunnies. Yes my son did put a bunnie in a pot and shoot one out of a canon....BOYS!

 My daughter is studying the digestive system as part of her NCEA science course. Not to be left out she created a Easter Egg showing the break PEPSIN ENZYME breaking down PROTEIN MOLECULES.

 Eventually the protein is broken down so small it can pass into the blood stream (as AMINO ACIDS)

 Pepsin bunnies...check out Little Miss Cute Bunnie and Big Pepsin.

 Smaller protein molecules...unfortunately I forgot to photograph the even smaller bunnies in orange!

 Baby blue Amino Acid Bunnies, next to Too Dang Cute Bunnie from the protein stage...

Can you tell we had fun??

May your nest be blessed!

Lisa

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