I’ve been a bit under the weather today, and have been at home off work. It is nothing serious, but a day at home resting was the thing I needed. Anyway, it also gave me a bit more time to look back at the good things of the past week.
On Thursday I popped into the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts exhibition Urban Forums, with the theme of the urban landscape. I was drawn to this one by Daniel McLaren of the Art Deco Colonial Mutual Life Building. It is fun for many reasons including that you can see the Pilates studio I go to and that I may well be on that number 2 bus!
There were sandwiches this week…
An excellent egg salad sandwich at Shelly Bay Baker on Leeds Street was enjoyed on Wednesday and a ham salad baguette from The French Bakery eaten at my desk on Thursday.
…and some good things in the basket…
In the Wonky Box this week was a large piece of pumpkin (still in its wrapping in the picture, and roasted to have with chicken on Sunday), yet another leek, a bunch of miniature carrots, three little purple kumara, a lettuce, a bunch of watercress (used to make a sauce to have with salmon on Saturday evening), a cucumber and a bunch of choy sum (not pictured).
I picked up a bunch of kale, some spinach, a couple of oranges and a few feijoas (added to apples in a crumble for our weekend dessert).
I also got a couple of red kiwi fruit which are such a lovely colour when cut in half. I found these dip mixes which can also be mixed with butter for a flavour boost, or in the case of the red one, mixed with cream cheese and pasta. They sound interesting at least. And…I managed to make perfect poached eggs for Saturday breakfast, a real small pleasure!
Getting to the cinema
On Sunday afternoon, we went to see Mad About the Boy: the Noël Coward Story, a documentary about, well you guessed it from the title, Noël Coward. It was a really interesting account of his life, and featured some of his own home movies. Highly recommended if you are interested in theatre, cinema and music history, and you can see the trailer here.
Simple things
- A lovely evening on Tuesday – read about it here.
- Seeing sunshine after the rain.
- Lighting candles – the darker evenings are here.
- Making pea soup with lots of veggies (see the featured image) for dinner tonight.
- Getting the ironing done – a small victory!
- Spotting this mushroom which appeared outside our front door.
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.
- Green Dreams show promise of good things to come from her allotment.
- Laurie over at Notes From The Hinterland braves the storm.
- Boondock Ramblings makes cookies and shares her reading.
- Platypus Man of Now I’m 64 visits Waddesdon Manor
- Mr Tootlepedal makes a good route choice over at Tootlepedal’s Blog.
- Anne of Something Over Tea spots a rare chestnut-vented tit-babbler.
- Deb of Deb’s World gets her DNA tested.
- Sue over at Women Living Well After 50 reminds us to be comfortable in who we are.
- Lisa of Southern Patches shares coffee on a Sunday (and her fabulous embroidery)
- Natalie goes for a spring hike in High Park.
- And Trent shares wonderful eclipse and eagle photos while serving us good coffee.
- .…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 
Hi Barbara I hope you are feeling better. Some days we just have to take a step back don’t we? I love the print and I’m reminded of how many cities I’ve visited that have that shaped building at the apex of two streets. Pea soup sound delicious although here today in Brisbane it is still a warm one. Take care of yourself and have a lovely week. x
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Thanks Sue – a day of rest has done me wonders. Yes you are so right about the corner building! It definitely feels cooler here and the start of soup season for us!
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Ha! I thought it was going to be lentil soup, but I’d love to see the movie.
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Pea soup with lots of veggies! The film was good.
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The Urban Forum exhibition looks great..Paul and I were very taken by Daniel McLaren’s one .. we would love to see the exhibition.. …one day! …. 😊
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It was a nice exhibition – quite a few familiar places to spot too!
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Oh, I’ve never had red kiwis – but I really do love the golden ones! 🙂
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The red ones were trialled here a couple of years ago but this year the shops are full of them.
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Wow red kiwis, I’ve not heard of them Barbara. I smiled at getting the ironing done – I’m away looking after my granddaughter for a few days of school holidays and felt good to leave home with my ironing basket empty! It’s certainly the little things sometimes.
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This year the red kiwis are everywhere after a few years of small, I guess experimental, supplies. They are a much brighter red than the first ones I saw. You are so right about the little things like an empty ironing basket!
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Yes, hope you are feeling better. Those poached eggs are beautiful. The doc sounds interesting. Thanks for the mention!
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Feeling on the mend at least thanks! I was so lucky with those eggs…..
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I am sorry you haven’t been feeling well. Take care of you. The sandwiches look yummy. What will you do with the pumpkin? Have a wonderful week.
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Thanks Lisa – feeling a bit better today. I roasted half of the pumpkin but not sure what to do with the other half. It was a large piece for two people.
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What a week! I hope you feel better, just get some rest.
Perfect poached eggs!
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Thanks!
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The poached eggs do look perfect, a culinary triumph. My small pleasure was the overwintered spinach we ate with fish pie.
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I impressed myself!
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The red kiwi fruit looks really cool. The poached eggs look perfectly done. I hope you’ll feel better soon!
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I was so lucky with the eggs! The red kiwi fruit is rather stunning to look at.
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I hope you’re feeling much better. The sandwiches and veggies look delicious. You made perfect poached eggs, well done! Thank you for the mention and for your weekend coffee share.
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Much better thanks!
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I would love to have the recipe to your pea soup! I have several kilos of dried split peas in storage. Reading and seeing the photos of your “small pleasures” is definitely one of my high lights of the week. I really look forward to it. Thank you!
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I don’t really have a recipe as such for pea soup – I just add some peas to stock, and while they are cooking, prepare some vegetables – onion, celery, carrot, leak, whatever I have to hand. Of course we should have it on Thursdays and follow it with pancakes!
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I do something similar 🙂
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I was thrown back by your words, darker evenings, but then I remembered you are in New Zealand. Hello from the other side of the equator!
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Hello! Yes we are awake when you are asleep and have autumn when you have spring 🙂
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