This week’s small pleasures is coming to you a day early as I am off out and about tomorrow (Monday). It was a week of heavy rain, wind and lovely sunshine, or if you like, real spring weather.
Charlie
Charlie is enjoying the good weather, but as it is also bringing out the other neighbourhood cats, he is also watching carefully.

Peonies
Who doesn’t love peonies? These gorgeous blooms are in season right now, and this particular one has been brightening up our week.

Lunch in Paraparaumu
Today, Sunday, we took advantage of the good weather and drove up to Paraparaumu (more on that in the next post). We had lunch at the Marine Parade Eatery, with me opting for the bagel with halloumi, pesto, portobello mushrooms, salad and aioli, and Karl an excellent fish burger.


More mushrooms
Still on food, I could not help but pick up these gorgeous mushrooms to go with some ordinary button mushrooms with one of our new favourite dishes for a weekend, vincisgrassi (a mushroom and prosciutto lasagne). They are almost too pretty to eat though!

Herbs
What sunny Sunday in spring is not complete without a stop at a garden centre? Never thought I would every type that, but there you are! I picked up some more herbs – a Gorizia rosemary, a country cream marjoram, a bee balm bergamot and a red Freddy basil, that I am keeping indoors for another week.

Thanks to Mani over at A New Life Wandering for the original idea.
You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram@thistleandkiwis. As for Twitter….am totally inactive these days. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com
Lucky you enjoying your peonies. That’s a beauty. They seem a long way away here.
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It is quite a stunner!
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