This week’s small pleasures #356

Thistles and Kiwis

While the week was full of many small pleasures, from sunny days to spring flowers and good food, I also caught a cold, and spent Friday and a lot of the weekend on the sofa. Luckily I had some a couple of good books, podcasts and the kettle permanently on. As I type this on Monday evening I do feel I am definitely on the mend.

Sunshine

We had some glorious blue skies this week to make us smile. The picture below and the featured image at the top of the post were taken on Thursday lunch time.

Eating

There was no lunch time sandwich this Wednesday, instead there was this amazing asparagus dish at Floriditas, with a nest of crispy polenta and topped with all sorts of deliciousness including a poached egg. Gorgeous! There was also fish and chips one evening at Chapman Taylors, one of our new local haunts.

In the Wonky Box this week there were potatoes and onions again, another crispy cos and a pile of yams (oca), along with more avocados (we still have a couple left over from last week), a bunch of asparagus and some broccolini. I picked up grapefruit, lemons, oranges, a couple of passion fruit and a second bunch of asparagus as well.

Flowers

Wellington does its urban landscaping well. There are ornamental cabbages dotted all down the main shopping street, and these clivia or bush lilies (which made me think of Anne over at Something Over Tea since these are native to South Africa) spotted in central parts of the city. They are really quite lovely.

I was working at home today, and took a lunch time walk to our local florist and treated myself to this gorgeous bunch with roses, tulips, freesias and other blooms. The perfect pick-me-up!

Simple things

  • Reading this piece from Barrett and the Boys.
  • Lying on the sofa, reading a good book.
  • Purchasing new side tables to sit next to our new sofa.
  • Cooking and enjoying this pasta recipe from Alison Roman but using the broccolini and Marc Weir’s Chicken, Leek and Tarragon pie (topped with a freekah crumble).
  • Booking tickets for the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s 2024 season.
  • Enjoying the beautiful interior of this tulip earlier this week.

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 of Touring My Backyard gets ready for her holiday in her Happy Place, Happy Space.
  • Mr Tootlepedal of Tootlepedal’s Blog is in town I grew up in, Edinburgh.
  • Deb takes on a trail with texture!
  • Trent has a busy but fun sounding week and of course makes us a good cup of coffee.
  • Anne at Something Over Tea enjoys a holiday in Hout Bay.
  • Laurie over at Notes from the Hinterland celebrates Clif’s birthday.
  • Women Living Well After 50 reminds us to take care of our health.
  • There are lots of pictures of food over at And Anyways – warning – do not read if you are hungry!
  • Donna at Retirement Reflections shares what is on her plate.
  • Our sincere condolences to Natalie, the host of the weekly coffee share, whose father ahas just passed away.
  • …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

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Published by Thistles and Kiwis

Loves summer, sunshine and cats. Beginner gardener, likes eating, cooking and reading about food

21 Comments

  1. What fun to see clivias blooming in your part of the world! My garden ones are over now, yet there are a few blooms still in my daughter’s garden in the Western Cape. Avocado with anything is a favourite of mine and I have been enjoying them whilst on holiday (Granny-duty, yet such a pleasure).

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  2. What fun to see clivias still blooming in your part of the world. The ones in my garden are over, although a few are blooming here in the Western Cape – where I have been enjoying eating more than an avocado or two!

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  3. The wonky box had so many delicious treats. What beautiful blue skies you are having. I think I may treat myself to some flowers this week also. That’s a great idea and always brightens things up. I am enjoying being home after being gone all last week. That is definitely a simple pleasure for me. Have a wonderful week.

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  9. How have I not registered that you get a Wonky Box each week? Do your beautiful still-life arrangements of fruit & veg come from this box? I have admired them for so long …

    Hope you are better from your cold.

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  11. I hope your cold is completely gone by now. Perhaps it’s the change of the season?
    Your veggie box looks absolutely delicious, as usual. I am expecting 4kg of organic avocado from our adopted avocado tree in Spain. The box of deliciousness is supposed to arrive either today or tomorrow. It is so exciting.
    Enjoy your day!

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  12. Glad to hear you’re on the mend! Being sick is horrible…my kiddos and I caught a cold after our vacation. Not a fun way to settle back into real life. We’ve had lots of treats and couch time too.
    Take care!

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