This week’s small pleasures #328

It’s Monday evening here in New Zealand. The days are definitely getting shorter, with darker mornings making it just a little harder to get going. Next weekend our clocks go back, so then we will really know we have arrived in autumn and the cooler seasons ahead. There are, of course, good things to look forward to and some small pleasures of the week to smile at and remember. So to this week…..

CubaDupa

On Sunday afternoon, we headed over to CubaDupa, New Zealand’s largest outdoor arts and music festival, centred around Cuba Street in the city centre. It was a lovely, warm and sunny day, just right for walking around seeing what was on. The streets – and some shops – are decorated in the spirit of the event as you can see below.

We watched aerialists perform on a giant key, suspended in the air, listened to music as diverse as a Balkan brass band, jazz influenced sounds and a metal band playing in a courtyard. There was dancing, music and performance of all varieties, you just need to find something that grabs your attention. We picked up some lunch at one of the stalls (I had a great sausage from Waiheke Island based Babikas Table), and stopped for a beer at The Rogue and Vagabond while listening to music,

Below you can see one of the stages (where we stopped to listen to the Balkan band), street art on Cuba, and crowds enjoying the sunshine and music.

The edibles

On Wednesday, I picked up some lovely leafy green veggies from Commonsense Organics and also two, small golden beetroot for my annual taste test. I have to say that I managed to eat the, well roasted and surrounded by lots of other things. Progress? Not sure! I also picked up a bunch of rainbow carrots and these gorgeous turnips, some of which I roasted with the rest of the butternut squash for my lunch box.

I enjoyed a halloumi based sandwich at Mystic Kitchen (bottom right below) on Wednesday, and picked up red skin potatoes, feijoas, a head of broccoli, lemons and pears along with some feta and ricotta on Saturday, I made a celeriac and potato gratin on Sunday evening which I have to say was delicious.

Simple things

• A biscotti, a cup of coffee and a book
• The nodding heads of the Japanese anemones
• Waking through the meadow grass in the Botanic Gardens
• Coming home with a basket of vegetables
• Getting home from work on a Friday knowing it is the weekend ahead.
• Fresh bread and orange juice on a Sunday morning

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. 

• Ju Lyn at Touring my Backyard  takes us to a new mural on Singapore.
• Natalie the Explorer shares more great pictures from Charleston.
• Deb shares pictures from a recent trip over at Deb’s World.
• Jo over at And Anyways tells us more about her recent cruise.
• Laurie and Clif celebrate their wedding anniversary over at Notes from the Hinterland.
• Tootlepedal’s Blog has wonderful pictures of birds …and there are ducks too!
• Sit down and share a morning coffee with Trent.
• Anne over at  Something Over Tea wanders some interesting pathways.
• Maria of Green Dreams shares pictures of snow in Sweden.
• Easter feasting inspiration with slow cooked lamb shoulder over at Nigella Eats Everything.
• And of course Popsicle Society motivates us on Monday.
• …and all the other lovely 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.com