What a glorious sunny summer day it has been! Unfortunately I was at work, but am at least enjoying the evening sun and blue skies. On looking back at the week, I think the highlight has been a real feel of summer, which always makes me smile. Anyway, without further a do, here are this week’s small pleasures.
Walking
On my walk to work on Thursday, I met Mrs Duck with two little ducklings going for a stroll in the gardens, None of them seemed bothered by my presence, and just carried on on their walk. I also spotted these glorious hydrangeas.
Walking to Pilates on Saturday, I was diverted again thanks to road works (pedestrians seem to come at the bottom of the pile after cars and cyclists) and had to take a detour through the grounds of Parliament. At that time of the morning the sun was yet to come out (as it did later), but you can see the edge of the Beehive, Parliament House, the Parliamentary library (with the red roof) and the pink building in the near distance is the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul’s. The park are is open to all, though I did notice that since the occupation of the grounds by anti-vaxxers and others earlier this year there are posts put up to stop vehicles getting into the area. I love the design on the gates, so much of their time.
Eating
No small pleasures post would be complete without some reference to the ‘good eatings’ of the week. There was avocado toast at Squirrel on Wednesday, boiled eggs (with Kalles kaviar) for Saturday’s breakfast, a salad of feta, green beans and tomato to have with lamb burgers and pasta with spicy Hungarian salami and broccoli with asparagus on the side and all topped with parmesan inspired by Alison Roman’s recipe (I have never seen broccoli rabe for sale here).
In the basket this week: tomatoes, a kohlrabi for some sort of salad, a bright red capsicum, peas, beans asparagus, broccolini, and a bunch of coriander. There was also feta, some of that nice tuna which is always good to have to hand and of course, a punnet of strawberries. I also had to pick up some more cherries today.
Listening and watching
One of my favourite podcasts is 99% Invisible. I was listening to an episode at work the other day and was delighted to listen to presenter Roman Mars hearing about the private cable cars in Wellington. As it says in the show notes, this is a city built on hills and having a means to get up to your house other than steps (like we have to climb) is not so strange. Do listen to the episode (no 514).
On Sunday afternoon, we headed out to the cinema to see The Lost King, about the discovery in 2012 of the remains of Richard III beneath a carpark in Leicester. Amateur historian Philippa Langley, after extensive research, managed to persuade experts to dig and discover the body which was later given a full funeral and Leicester Cathedral. The film was a bit slow but still interesting, although apparently the academics were not too pleased with how they are portrayed. Anyway, we enjoyed it – a suitable film for a Sunday afternoon.
So that is it for this week. So, 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 over at Fashioned for Joy has been decorating her tree, bring back memories.
- Ju Lyn at Touring my Backyard shares some pictures of mouthwatering baking.
- Natalie the Explorer enjoys the holiday season.
- Anne over at Something Over Tea shares more yellow flowers.
- Share a coffee over at Trent’s World.
- Popsicle Society as ever motivates us on Monday.
- Green Dreams visits a snow covered allotment.
- There is a lovely set of pictures over at a Wordless Wednesday post from Southern Patches
- Retirement Reflections shares her ideas on the slow cooker.
- Laurie over at Notes From the Hinterland had a wonderful chance encounter.
- Deb celebrates her birthday – but so sorry to hear she has Covid.
- Jo over at And Anyways shares her 12 bakes of Chrstmas.
Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer, good food and pretends to garden.
You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram @thistlesandkiwis. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com or lofgren@thistlesandkiwis.org
Thistles and Kiwis 
Your basket of food looked lovely and healthy and all the dishes around the basket looked delicious. (and I’m thinking about our meal tonight!)
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Nothing very complicated either in terms of my own cooking either. Enjoy your dinner!
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Those cherries look delicious – as does the rest of your food. It is lovely to see such bright hydrangeas too.
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The cherries this year are particularly good if a little expensive.
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The Hydrangeas are a super colour
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Yes aren’t they?
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Sub-zero temperatures day and night here at the moment, so nice to read about summer!
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I saw there was even a dusting of snow in some places.
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Not here, fortunately! But very frosty.
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You had me at the cherries! Everything else looks wonderful as well. I’m with Anabel in subzero temperatures so the burst of summer from your post was greatly appreciated!
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Thank you! It is another sunny day again today,
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I think that the cherries got beyond small pleasures. For me cherries are great pleasures, almost impossible not to eat on sight.
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This year’s crop seem particularly good.
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Aha, the Kalles kaviar 🙂 I craved Kalles kaviar when I lived in the US, and sometimes ordered it on Amazon. Now when I have it in every grocery store I don’t eat it at all (it may have something to do with my doctors recommendation of not eating eggs.) When. I was pregnant with my first I ate Kalles kaviar every day, often more than once..
Your walks are always so beautiful, and it’s a little crazy to think that you are enjoying summer now, while I am wearing layers of wool clothing while going sledding with the kids 🙂 Have a wonderful week!
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I get the Kalles from the online Swedish shop based in Wellington – that way it doesn’t have to by pass our strict rules about importing food.
I was wearing a summer dress today and looking at pictures of snow in your hemisphere. I don’t miss snow!
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That is wonderful!
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I love the Hydrangeas Barb and those cherries look delicious! I’ve not had any yet but hopefully soon. Hopefully the weather will start warming up here for us soon, it’s been quite spasmodic so far! Another lovely lot of small pleasures, including my birthday post I see, thanks 🙂
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I can’t believe how warm it is here for December – 25C today. Lovely of course even though it was really humid.
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Your posts always remind me to look on the bright side of life and enjoy the details
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You had me at the cherries! They are available here in the summer but tend to be more expensive than other fruits. The ducklings are adorable. I love seeing ducklings and goslings in spring and summer. All your food photos look so good. Thank you for the mention and your weekend coffee share. Happy holidays!
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The cherries here aren’t that cheap but a treat is needed once in a while 🙂
I’m like you re ducklings and goslings -so sweet.
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I so miss fresh cherries in the winter, put me in the mood for a bag of frozen though, with some ice cream and a drizzle of sauce.
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Oh that sounds good!
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Your fresh veggie plate looks fantastic, and so do the cherries. But how do you get Kalles caviar in New Zealand? IKEA?
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There is a little online Swedish shop here in Wellington where we can order things to collect. There is also a shop in Auckland that will also deliver. There is no IKEA in New Zealand.
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I absolutely love cherries!!! And Avocado toast…especially when it’s loaded. I had one when on vacation and was so disappointed. Your market basket looks good too. I’ve never used Kohlrabi. Sorry it’s taken me over a week to get back to comment.
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