Usually I have an idea of what I want to write about on Mondays when I think about the good things of the last seven days. This week, however, I am a bit stuck. Whether is was the humid weather causing strange dreams and sleepless nights or being back to a normal routine, I’m feeling a bit flat at the moment. So to snap out of this mood, I am going to focus for a short while on some of the good things from the last seven days.
It is still summer
Yes, it is still summer and yes I am still wearing dresses and shorts. This is something in my book at least to celebrate. Facebook memories from 13 years ago brought up a picture of our old balcony in Copenhagen covered in snow and I thought to myself – gosh I don’t miss that at all. Today is also a holiday for Waitangi Day – read about what that means here. And the sun shone too!
Edibles
Sweetcorn was back in the shops and I enjoyed the figs I bought. On Sunday, I made a carrot salad topped with feta to have with chicken and couscous. Fish and chips were enjoyed in one of our local pubs after Pilates on Thursday, and in the basket this week was spinach, lemons, onions, courgettes, ‘flatto’ peaches, tomatoes, raspberries and an orange for the carrot salad.
Joy in the new
There was a new and bright shirt from the local brand Wilson Trollope, a new (replacement) lipstick, a new bookmark brought back from Pakistan, new reading matter and a new month (that is my year planner and diary in the middle of the pile).
.Simple things
- Pilates, even though Saturday’s class was a sweaty one due to the weather!
- The idea of ‘joy snacking’ – read about it here. Thanks to Sophie Hansen’s news letter for that.
- Fresh raspberries and Duck Island ice-cream for Saturday dessert
- Listening to the cicadas at 6am
- Enjoying a rose hanging over a neighbour’s fence (see featured image)
- Sipping a Campari and soda after cleaning the bathroom, washing the floors and wiping out the bin in the kitchen
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. Also posted in this week’s coffee share hosted by Natalie.
- Ju Lyn at Touring my Backyard makes a lovely looking cake.
- Natalie the Explorer shares pictures from Little Norway Park and opens up an interesting conversation about squirrels.
- Popsicle Society makes a pumpkin quiche.
- Laurie over at Notes From the Hinterland experiences a snow storm
- Deb is enjoying cherry season
- Jo over at And Anyways tries meditation but prefers mindfulness…I know what she means.
- Tootlepedal’s Blog as ever has some wonderful pictures of birds, the ones of the hawks in particular.
- Scribble and Scran shares coffee and cake
- Sit down and have a coffee with Trent who got new car
- It is good to see Anne back at Something Over Tea despite life’s little niggles.
- There is a lovely tray of roasted vegetables over at Retirement Reflections who also co-hosts What’s On Your Plate? You can find my entry here.
- …and all the other wonderful bloggers out there!
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 
Lots to love – & I loved that little snippet this morning about joy snacking too. It’s a great big ugh to humidity.
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I thought you might subscribe to that newsletter đŸ™‚
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That very tasty looking dish of fish and chips, with a glass of wine, would suit me, from memory all the fish we had in NZ was delicious!
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It was good!
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These posts of yours are always so uplifting and are a good reminder to enjoy the simplest things in life. The fish and chips look delicious and I am always keen to have a new book to read!
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Thank you! I hadn’t had fish and chips for ages so I think I enjoyed it all the more.
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I love the new shirt it is so colorful and happy. The fish and chips look amazing and also the wonderful fresh veggies. I can’t wait to have some of those here.
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Thank you! I think the shirt looks happy too đŸ™‚
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Hi, Barbara – I love how you always focus on the positive. That is one of the many things that I love about your blog. And thank you for the shout out. I greatly appreciate your generosity too!
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Thank you! I enjoy writing my Monday’s post and making myself concentrate on the positive.
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Ah summer, that distant dream. Still it is good to get a glimpse summer even if it is too humid and half a world away.
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Hot, humid weather can make a person feel flat. Oddly enough, cold weather doesn’t strike me this way. Maybe it’s because after the holidays, I am ready to hunker down and read as well as watch movies and television shows. Anyway, you found plenty of simple pleasures to share, in particular that carrot salad and that snazzy shirt. As always, thanks for the mention.
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It was humid and the sky was grey…but today we have gorgeous blue skies and a breeze so things are much better! Always a pleasure to mention your blog Laurie.
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Right I’m off immediately to look at joy-snacking! Thanks for sharing your lovely bunch of small pleasures and my cherry post đŸ™‚
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I love the idea of joy snacking – thank you for sharing this. It gives a very practical slant to what we are trying to do in this space – every smile, every bit of small pleasure to make the day better! And boy do we need it, with everything that’s going around the world.
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Barbara, The fish and chips look yum, the rose and the vegetables look beautiful. Thank you for the mention and for sharing these simple pleasures with us at #weekendcoffeeshare.
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Barbara, you ought to be a food photographer. Everything looks so yummy. You could make me hungry right after a big meal! Looks like you had a great week. Hope next week is a wonderful. đŸ™‚
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Oh thank you! You are very kind đŸ˜€
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It’s obvious that you enjoy arranging and taking pictures of food. Well done!
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Hi Barbara,
It might be common for folks so far away from New Zealand to not know anything about Waitangi Day, but this morning you corrected this problem for me. I read and listened to the links you shared and am glad to know a bit more about this history. Here in the US, we’re still struggling to get along with our native American tribes. We too struggled with dishonesty and greed on both sides. We also had some successes, but our disasters get all the press and, as is also normal, the good will created by the former are all too often washed away by the latter.
I’m glad that you all share Waitangi Day as a reminder of how we can get along, but need to exercise discipline to prevent the more crippling evils we are all capable of.
Many thanks
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I LOVE sweet corn. That fish also looks amazing. When we visited the new england states last year I was amazing at the slab of fish you got when you ordered fish and chips. Nothing like what we get here at restaurants.
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