Well, let’s just say it was windy on Saturday night and Sunday morning. In fact, there were gusts of 246kph at Cape Turnagain, between Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa, winds of up to 133kph were recorded at Wellington Airport and 150kph winds were measured at the Remutaka Summit. I have to say that while we suffered no damage, the weather did keep us awake with the noise of the wind making it sound as if we were in Antarctica. Anyway, today has been a lovely sunny, spring day and though a little breezy, nothing like it has been.
Spring
I just thought I would share more kowhai in the gardens around Parliament, because they are so lovely and really say ‘spring’ in New Zealand. The flowers are such a pretty shape too. I also bought more tulips as you can see in the featured image at the top of the post.
Lunches
I returned to Squirrel for lunch on Wednesday, enjoying this bursting full of flavour sandwich with salami, olives and many other good things. On Sunday, after successfully buying a new sofa, Karl and I headed to Field & Green for lunch, enjoying their excellent fish finger sandwiches. It was so nice to have a bit of a treat.
Spring in the shopping basket
There are also signs of spring in this week’s basket with the first asparagus. There was also some more purple stemmed broccoli, a bunch of kale, witloof (or endive), apples, oranges and a couple of rangpur limes, and not in the picture, a bag of spinach.
Simple things
- Making time for a more peaceful weekend than last week.
- Finding a few moments to actually sit down and read.
- Seeing bright blue skies.
- Enjoying cooking in the new kitchen (made this Julia Turshen pasta bake at the weekend).
- Having Karl home from Europe.
- Loving the new mugs he brought back from Stockholm, based on illustrations by Elsa Beskow.
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 entered in Natalie the Explorer’s weekly coffee share.
- Ju-Lyn gives us a window to Japan.
- Some beautiful dahlias over at Tootlepedal’s Blog – and of course flying birds.
- Nigella Eats Everything makes perfect comfort food – peanut noodles.
- Deb shares what is on her bookshelf.
- Laurie over at Notes from the Hinterland tells us about life after the hurricane.
- Trent also talks about the weather and of course makes us a good cup of coffee.
- Carol Ann of Fashioned for Joy sings, goes to the beach and enjoys a retreat.
- There are more books being read over at And Anyways.
- Anne at Something Over Tea shares pictures of animals enjoying eating in Addo Elephant National Park.
- Donna over at Retirement Reflections is also getting back into reading.
- Natalie shares more of her Icelandic adventure.
- …and all the other lovely bloggers out there. Sorry if I have missed anyone…..
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
Thistles and Kiwis 
Those mugs are beautiful! Our coastline has also been whipped by high winds and stormy weather combined with the spring high tide – a lot of damage done and some lives lost as a result. It is glorious to see the sun shining today: like a new lease of life after the cold. Fish finger sandwiches are new to me 🙂
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Oh no – sorry you’ve been hit by bad weather too and I do agree about seeing the sun again. Fish finger sandwiches are really good!
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Thank you for the kowhai – such a wonderful memory of growing up in New Zealand. They are such a joyful flower.
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Nothing says spring like tulips!
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I agree!
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Sounds as though you are settling in nicely, all ready to enjoy spring. Those mugs are so bright and colorful. As always, thanks for the mention.
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Bit by bit we are getting there.
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Good heavens, that is a fierce wind. I am always grateful for the relatively mild and gentle climate here, even if it is less exciting than other parts of the world. 🙂
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Yes…well it was quite a wind!
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Lovely post. Have you read Small Bodies of Water by Nina Mingya Powles? I think of her writing every time I see Kowhai flowers! If you haven’t read it then I think you would really enjoy it.
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Oh I absolutely adored that book! And of course kowhai are on the cover.
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Hopefully the weather has settled down for you and you can enjoy some more blue sky days Barbara. On your recommendation I’m currently reading Thirty Days of Darkness. Thanks for the mention as always 🙂
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Well…the wind keeps blowing unfortunately…as it does in spring. Oh hope you enjoy Thirty Days of Darkness! Always happy to give you a mention.
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Hi, Barbara – That was quite the wind! I am glad that it has settled down. I am jealous of your Spring. We are now fully into autumn with winter looming not far behid.
Thank you again for the shout out. It is greatly appreciated.
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It is still proving to be a very windy start to spring. In the UK we used to say ‘March comes in like a lion, and goes out like a lamb’. September is sort of our March and it is certainly roaring still!
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Hi, Barb – We have that saying as well. But it is usually more true about April…sometimes (sadly) even May! 😀
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Glad the wind didn’t do any damage other than your sleep. Simple pleasures are very much what my week was made up of. Loving the fall weather and colours as you enjoy your spring ones.
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Those mugs are so sweet. Lovely – I bet they give you a smile when you fill it. The produce shots are really lovely. So fresh and colourful! #WeekendCoffeeShare
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I need to find a few moments to actually sit down and read! My books are piling up and feeling neglected!
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I know the feeling…..
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