I came up with a different way to display a spider plant – the aerial way!

This past May 2022 I came up with a different way to display the typical spider plant with babies! Instead of letting it hang like a typical hanging plant, I used a couple of plant supports previously used for orchids. The stems of the new babies are quite thick and with some clips I gathered up all the hanging stems and created a more aerial display. From afar it may look like air plants. You can see from the image in May compared to the one I took in August that the baby spider plant doesn’t grow as big. I keep it trimmed to keep from weighing down.

I love this display as it doesn’t look too messy and it has an architectural touch to it. I searched online looking for any reference or image of this kind of display for spider plant and I could not find any! Is it possible that I came up with an original idea?? Would you display your spider plant this way? If you do, please let me know and share images!

Spider plant with babies displayed the aerial way. Photo credit: Marilou Strait. Taken May 2022

Updated photo of the same spider plant aerial display. Photo credit: Marilou Strait. Photo taken August 2022

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Making butter at home using a Vitamix blender

Here’s how I make homemade butter using a Vitamin blender. Using 500 ml store bought whipping cream, it yielded 200 grams of butter and 1 cup of buttermilk.

1. Place the cream in the blender and whip using the variable setting. I start with speed 1 and slowly up to 5 or 6. Stop once you can see the cream has the texture of whipped cream.
2. I used the tamper to push the cream into the bottom and centre and started again until the cream starts to separate. This may take about 2 minutes at speed 5 to 6 on the variable setting.
3. Observe the cream until butter forms in the middle and you can see the buttermilk separate. Stop the blender at this point.
4. Put in a big glass bowl. Strain the buttermilk and set aside.
5. Start rinsing the butter until the water runs clear about 5 to 6 times. Take the time to mix the butter with a rubber scraper to expose any buttermilk trapped within the butter.
6. Keep churning the butter until all the buttermilk is drained from the butter mass.
7. Using parchment paper ball the butter, weight and wrap. You can use it right away or separate into smaller portion for freezing.

This butter is best used for eating and not baking.

Chamomile flowers for tea

This year I decided to put more effort in my part of the garden and sowed a few different easy to grow plants in a mini greenhouse in early March. One of the plants that survived is the chamomile. I am pleased that I was able to harvest these beautiful and fragrant small flowers. I pick the flowers before the full heat of the noon sun. Since I only have one pot, I harvested several times allowing more blooms to grow. I used a 2-step drying process since I don’t have much room, a small harvest and pick the flowers at different times.

Step 1: Paper napkins secured on both ends to hold the fresh chamomile blooms.

Step 2: I transfer the dried flowers after a couple of weeks to a paper bag.This will allow the blooms to dry more. I reuse the paper napkin for the next batch of blooms to dry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I may only have enough for a cup or two of chamomile tea but it is nice to know that it came from my garden, and that is good in my books!

 

4 areas in your home to declutter

One does not need to wait for the new year to simplify and streamline things in your home. Here’s a simple list to start decluttering your home and your digital information.

Digital de-cluttering

1. Update your email subscriptions. Review your subscriptions once a year and unsubscribe to the ones that no longer serve its purpose.
2. Review and update your digital address/phone book – on your phone and computer.
3. De-clutter your bookmarks or favourites from your browser(s).
4. Donate or recycle older electronic devices such as smart phones, printers, scanners, monitors you no longer use. I drop-off unwanted electronics at a depot like Return-it,. they also take recyclable beverage containers and paint containers.
5. If you have time post on craigslist, kijiji, freecycle  or other similar websites.

Files and Paperwork

1. Donate things that you no longer use or have not used in a while that don’t have real sentimental value.
   • art and craft supplies
   • unused stationery – donate to a daycare or school
   • board games and toys
2. Review bank and investment statements that can be shredded. Consider receiving your statements and bills digitally.
3. Give away, donate, exchange barter books you won’t use a a reference for future or have no plans to read
4. Recipe clippings, business cards and receipts – scan or discard

Bathroom

1. Review and discard old cosmetics and brushes
   • Tip: the cosmetics such as lipstick, eyeshadows, lip liner, or eye liners may also be used as art medium. You might be surprised at how much pigmentation you can get using cosmetics on paper or canvas (or whatever substrate you have-time to experiment!)
2. Properly discard expired medications (OTC or prescriptions). Check this website on how to dispose of medication properly. Ask your local pharmacy if you can bring your expired medication if they. Do not flush it down the toilet or the drain, it has environmental and health repercussions.
3. Repurpose any “tired looking” towels as rags.
   • sew thinning towels together to make it thicker
   • here’s some ideas to repurpose or up-cycle your old towels and sheets
4. Spruce up colour in the bathroom with newer colour scheme.

Kitchen

1. Seldom used or unused glassware, plates and bowls – donate to Salvation Army thrift store or if you have time to post in Freecycle in your area or free section on Craigslist
2. Unexpired foods – donate to your local food bank
3. Small usable appliances – donate to Habitat for Humanity Restore

Remember you don’t have to do it all at once. Decide on which are you are going to target and do it in one weekend, several weeknights or once a week. The important thing is to just do it. Good luck and keep doing.

Tip: Choose one area per season to make it less daunting.