I’m sure like me you are thinking how did we get to the end of January so quickly…just where has the time gone? It is still summer, but with schools going back in the next few days, it really feels like normal daily routines are returning for us all. This will be the first full (well, 4 days) working week I have done since before Christmas! Will I cope? I’ll let you know!
Anyway, I spotted this cute little bit of graffiti on Wednesday, with some words of advice we can all take. And so to the small pleasures of the week…
In the basket
In our Wonky Box delivery this week, as well as little turnips (nice roasted), a bunch of baby carrots, useful onions, avocados, a little lettuce and one (why only one?) ear of sweetcorn, were two large beetroot. Luckily I was able to drop these off to a friend, as really, I cannot not face any more for a long time! There was also a bunch of basil, but when I took it out of the fridge on Saturday, all the leaves had turned to brown. The problem with these deliveries is that the box sits outside our front door until we get home from work, and with it having been warm, things just wilt. I’m contemplating using another, more local firm for veggies which also gives options to state what you don’t like, but will stick with this box for a few more weeks at least.
Anyway, I topped up the box with a bunch of watercress, some edible flowers/microgreens, aubergines for a moussaka, a capsicum and tomatoes, apricots and nectarines. There was also some pasta, Polish sausage (from local The Polish Sausage Company), and of course burrata and mozzarella for that touch of summer.
Eating out
Sunday marked 11 years since we arrived in New Zealand, and it also happened to be Karl’s name day, so on Saturday we went out for dinner to Mari Luca Ristoro, an Italian restaurant in Thorndon. We started with their always good bruschetta, topped with tomato and basil and mixed vegetable and goat’s cheese. While Karl enjoyed the Fettuccini alla Bolognese and I had snapper served with rosemary potatoes and a salad, which just hit the spot.
We can’t have a week go by without the ‘this week sandwiches’ spot, this Monday featuring the excellent egg and pickle sandwich from Dough Bakery and a cheese, ham and tomato toastie at The Annexe today.
Simple things
- Meeting friends for lunch – twice in one week.
- Lying on the sofa, reading and not feeling guilty (I had done the ironing first!).
- Seeing Jo of And Anyways… getting featured in Sophie Hansen’s 5 Things to be Cheerful About weekly newsletter this morning. What fun and how lovely!
- Enjoying a lot of good things on the small screen, from the Danish drama Ulven Kommer (Cry Wolf) to the new series of Australian comedy Utopia.
- Thinking about a possible trip somewhere in June.
- Enjoying these scarlet flowers on what I think is a red flowering gum tree (and the begonias in the featured image at the top of the post).
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 the weekend coffee share hosted by Natalie, recently back from a holiday to Spain.
- Green Dreams is loving the ordinary.
- Laurie over at Notes from the Hinterland tells us about the weather.
- Boondock Ramblings shares her Sunday bookends.
- There are birds, moss and a walk over at Tootlepedal’s Blog.
- Something Over Tea found something interesting in the curtains.
- Deb’s World writes about hobbies in retirement.
- Lisa over at Southern Patches shares her Friday Favourites.
- Ju Lyn was at the Singapore Art Week Happy Place, Happy Space.
- Women Loving Well After 50 shares what was on her calendar.
- We know there is always good coffee over at Trent’s – and he goes skiing too.
- .…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 lofgren@thistlesandkiwis.com
Thistles and Kiwis 
So much to love here Barbara! Jo’s books being mentioned is great to see. Congrats on being in NZ for 11 years, and I must say Utopia is one of my favourites comedy although it can be too close to real life sometimes. Thanks for the mention among the other stars – always appreciated!
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Thanks! Yes I know what you mean about Utopia…I work in the public sector and sometimes as you say it is a bit too real!
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I love Sophie’s newsletter so it was real treat to be in her classifieds this week.
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It was so much fun to see your name mentioned! I love her newsletter too.
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Life is certainly back to normal now with my grandsons off to school for another year. How lovely for Jo to be mentioned in Sophie’s newsletter. I’ve not heard of Sophie Hanson so will check out her blog. Your Italian meal looks delicious but the Egg sandwich is my pick it looks scrumptious. We love Utopia as well and after watching Fool Me Once on Netflix we could do with some laughs. Have a lovely week even if you are back at work. x
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Yes do check out Sopihie Hansen and her cook books. I must say the egg sandwich was good – really fresh and picked up on the way to work. Oh yes – Utopia is definitely an antidote to Fool Me Once!
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I’ve subscribed to Sophie’s newsletter. x
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I thoroughly enjoyed reading “Cry Wolf” – it must have been tense to watch!
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Very!
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Yes it is so hard to believe that January is almost over. The red flowers and the Begonias are just beautiful. It’s so wonderful seeing color. It is really gray here in our area. Thanks for sharing my post. Have a wonderful week.
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I know…you will soon have spring and all the colours of that season. Enjoy your week!
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Thanks so much for the mention. Those scarlet flowers are fabulous. Disappointing about the basil. And what’s up with one ear of corn? Weird. Sounds like Karl had a happy name day.
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I’m seriously thinking of giving up this vegetable box. It is really disappointing and I end up with things I don’t need (eg 2 leeks in one box). There are some others around where you can either select what you want or state what you don’t like so might change. And yes thanks Karl had a happy name day.
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I can certainly understand why. Being able to select what you want is a very good thing.
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The flowers are beautiful, here in the UK the spring flowers are starting to push through and it’s a welcome sight. How did you find ‘Cry Wolf’? I enjoyed it, really got me thinking.
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We loved ‘Cry Wolf’ – got me thinking too just how difficult these situations are.
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Oh, I think that’s a big pleasure!
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One ear of corn?? Kind of silly. Do you put your basil in a glass of eater? It might help revive it. Gosh, I’d take those fresh beet roots off your hands! Have you tried borscht soup? Great use of them, but with so many other veggies that the flavour isn’t beet forward.
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My husband hates beetroot even more than me. I have had borscht but apart from the fact it takes ages to make (2 days), I know Karl wouldn’t touch it!
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Which makes it too much work if a big pot is only consumed by one. Oh wait — I do that all the time. My other half dislikes squash soup and it is my go to for work so I make a huge batch and eat it for days! But if the one making it doesn’t like it best to give away the beets!
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Such a lovely week filled with yummy foods. I am so happy to see January’s end.. since I find these winter months of Jan. & Feb. to just drag by with so much time spent indoors. I try to get out when I can but it has been a really dreary month of rain, ice, and snow..
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I was talking to a friend about how here Jan/Feb are the summer months and how the period after Christmas marks holiday time, and how different it is to the northern hemisphere. I remember those dark winter days!
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It was lovely to open your post and see the cheerful begonias. Not much colour here yet!
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The begonias really stood out – so colourful.
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I had to go out and buy myself some ready cooked beetroot after your post last week. So funny how different our tastes are. Why do you not just go to market or greengrocer and select exactly what you want?
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As I said to Laurie, I’m thinking of stopping the Wonky Box delivery as I end up with things I don’t want or can’t use too often. I might look for another veggie box delivery that lets you select what you want ie no beetroot and more than one ear of corn 🙂
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Your cheerful red flowers have been a definite pleasure for me on a very grey day here. Thank you.
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Thanks for the suggestion of Cry Wolf, it has been advertised on SBS in Australia. Utopia brings back all my working days!
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There was one episode in the current series where it was very realistic!
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yes can hardly believe January is over tomorrow. phew! Love the beautiful flowers. are they your photos? lovely.
https://sherryspickings.blogspot.com/
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Yes all photos are my own.
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my comment vanished … anyways, just saying i love the flowers. Just wondering where you moved to NZ from?
cheers
sherry
https://sherryspickings.blogspot.com/
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Denmark and before that Scotland.
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All you food photos makes my mouth water…and I just had dinner!!
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Oh thank you!
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Hi, Barbara – Thank you for letting me know about Sally Hansen’s newsletter and Jo Tracey’s mention there. I am now subscribed to Sally’s site.
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Nice! The newsletter is a lovely thing on a Monday morning (well….my time!).
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Oh, my gosh your dinner looks delicious! What a treat. The gum tree bloom is so vivid red and lively, I love it.
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It was a great dinner!
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Chiming in late, but I couldn’t resist commenting on the beetroot dilemma. Maybe if you called them by their Spanish name, betalbel, they would taste better! 🙂 That Italian dinner sounds yummy, but then everything you post does. But one ear of corn?
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🙂 I know – two large beetroot and 1 ear of corn…will see what I get today and then cancel next week. It just isn’t working out 🙂
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Congratulations on your 11 years in NZ. I am always interested in the food that people share and prepare and eat…because mostly I have to do with looking! It’s fine though. Back to work can come as a shock to the system. All the schools are back here now in Australia so it’s somewhat quieter around the shops during the day!
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Thanks! Most schools are back here too with a few classes returning after Waitangi Day.
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I love the bright colours of the flowers and the delicious food in your post. It doesn’t feel that long ago that we rang in the new year and here we are already in February. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
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Your box looks great. Oh that bruschetta looks amazing. Great update.
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Thank you! Yes that bruschetta was really good.
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