This week’s small pleasures #262

Christmas is just around the corner…along with summer holidays and time to read, relax and recuperate from 2021. I can hardly wait until I finish up at work for the festive season, though I have a lot to get on with before Christmas Eve – decorating the tree, cleaning, maybe baking some Christmas biscuits (or cookies). The first of my small pleasures this week is this little rose I spotted hanging over a neighbour’s fence.

There was a wealth of produce this week as I managed to make it to the Wednesday market as well as our usual Saturday shopping. There was a gorgeous purple cauliflower which I roasted on Sunday for a side dish, the first peaches of the season, blood oranges (which were disappointing to eat if lovely to look at) and the staples – carrots, red onions and garlic. I also picked up a bunch of radishes, and put some into a pickle, inspired by last week’s dinner and Kylee Newton’s The Modern Preserver’s Kitchen.

Still on food, I had a lovely baguette full of ham and cheese when out on Wednesday, and we were able to pick up some Swedish herring for Christmas Eve. It was touch and go as to whether we would be able to get any, so I am relieved to at least get some (though not the dill or the Danish curry ones). Saturday’s shopping included asparagus again, sweetcorn (still slightly expensive, but I do love it), tomatoes, broccolini, kiwi fruit, strawberries and blueberries. There was also ‘posh pasta’ and ready made polenta for a change.

On Sunday, we headed over to the City Art Gallery to see the Hilma af Klint exhibition. A Swedish artist active in the early years of the twentieth century, she drew on messages from the spirit powers to inspire her work. The centrepiece this exhibition is the The Ten Largest (1907), two of which you can see below. I was really drawn to her work, something so strong and exuberant about it. I am very tempted to buy another ticket and go for a second viewing when the gallery is not so busy.

What were your small pleasures this week? Here are some other blog posts from a few fellow bloggers looking at the good things in life. 

• Carol Ann of Fashioned for Joy gets into the festive season, decorating her tree, Christmas music and a fantastic trip to the Library of Congress.
• Ju Lyn at Touring my Backyard celebrates her silver wedding.
• Natalie the Explorer shares holiday displays in Toronto.
• Anne over at  Something Over Tea writes about purple.
• Jo at And Anyways shares her Festive Bonbons.
• Deb’s World also shares her Festive Bonbons – great idea by the way!
• Laurie at Notes from the Hinterland receives a surprise present.
• Trent over at Trent’s World shares his Weekly Smile.
• Scribble and Scran celebrates his son’s birthday and ponders what to do with the produce in his veg box.
• Sanch Writes has all sorts of things to be grateful for this week – cat and dog cuddles, the cricket and catching up with friends.

You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram @thistlesandkiwis.  As for Twitter….am totally inactive these days.  If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com