This week’s small pleasures #386

Thistles and Kiwis

Autumn is well and truly here. Mornings are chilly, evenings dark, and we are getting out our cosy sweaters. We have, to be honest, been very lucky with some gorgeous weather, those sort of crisp, sunny days that are so special at this time of year. On Sunday we had intended to go for a walk up to the wind farm at Makara, but there was some sporting event, so instead we just had lunch down at the beach cafe, and where I managed to capture this rather romantic picture of Karl staring out over the water.

Sandwich time

There was a tomato and mozzarella sandwich with relish and salad at Shelley Bay Baker on Leeds Street on Wednesday and a cheese and tomato toastie at Makara Beach café on Sunday. Both good in different ways!

In the shopping basket

Our Wonky Box delivery this week had kumara, a head of broccoli, carrots, onions, mushrooms, a bunch of spring onions, a kohlrabi and a bag of sprouts (not shown). I made a slaw with the kohlrabi, carrot, apple and lots of parsley that will do a few meals, roasted the sprouts with last week’s parsnips to have with our Sunday roast chicken and will do something with the mushrooms later in the week, probably involving pasta.

I also picked up some potatoes (also roasted with the chicken), some new season tangerines (or were they mandarins?), more kiwi fruit which I am really enjoying at the moment, these beautiful coloured capsicum, a bag of spinach, an aubergine (eggplant), a fennel bulb and some late strawberries for Sunday dessert.

Ballet

On Saturday night, a friend and I went to the first performance of the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s 2024 season, Swan Lake. I don’t know how many times I have seen this ballet, but it has to be one of my favourites. It is such a classic and full of those moments balletomanes know and wait for. This production was a revival of the 2013 Russell Kerr’s staging, with glorious costumes designed by Kristian Frederikson. We were lucky to see Mayu Tanigaito in the Odette/Odile role, with Laurynas Vejalis as Siegfried, with Shaun James Kelly as the Jester and Branden Reiners as Rothbart. The production is now going on tour all around New Zealand.

Simple things

  • Reading this lovely piece about the joys of eating oysters.
  • Seeing a lot of autumn sunshine.
  • Buying bread at our local bakery.
  • Enjoying having a local library across the road.
  • Hearing that locally made Fix and Fogg peanut butter has made it into space.
  • Seeing these these signs about telling us to look our for kiwi – all part of the reintroduction of the birds to the Wellington region (which has even got a Hollywood star interested).

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.

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

Unknown's avatar

Published by Thistles and Kiwis

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

35 Comments

  1. I enjoy these happy posts of yours – just as I am enjoying the warm autumn days, a garden filled with bird song and the prospect of visiting a game park later this month 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. We have a few months to go before we see the wonderful autumn weather. However that hasn’t stopped the stores here from displaying autumn decor. What??? I say let’s enjoy each season as it comes. That is a wonderful picture of your hubs. Have a great week!!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. I don’t think I have ever been to a ballet before but I bet I’d love it; they always look so graceful and those pretty costumes get me every time.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. I agree that there is something special about a crisp autumn day. I associate it with running out onto the pitch for the first rugby game of the autumn term when I was just a scrubby schoolboy and it has stayed with me for the rest of my life..

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I agree – there is something about a crisp autumn day (another one this morning). As for sport….well, I was one of those who hated all sport and a few of us used to take as long as possible to walk up to the hockey pitch. There was a bread factory next to it, and the smell of warm bread on a cold day when you don’t want to be in shorts and wielding a hockey stick was like torture to teenage girls.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  11. While you are enjoying Autumn we are deep into Spring – almost Summer.

    Once again, I love all of the treats in your Wonky Box! And that sandwich has made me very hungry. Thank goodness it’s lunch time and I can make a sandwich right now!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  14. The water pictures are lovely.

    I’m visiting your coffee share after lunch today. I got smart and won’t leave here wanting to create one of the delicious sandwich images that you share.

    Happy Saturday.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. Lovely beach photos! Although I love sunny and crisp days of autumn, I’m enjoying spring atm. The sandwiches and produce from your Wonky Box look delicious. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.

    Like

    Reply
  17. Pingback: This week’s small pleasures #387 – Thistles and Kiwis

  18. “Your description of autumn paints such a vivid picture of the season’s beauty and charm! It’s lovely to hear about your cozy mornings and crisp, sunny days, as well as the unexpected delights like lunch by the beach cafe. Sometimes, those spontaneous moments turn out to be the most memorable. And your photo of Karl gazing out over the water captures the essence of autumn perfectly – a moment of reflection and tranquility amidst the changing seasons. Thanks for sharing your slice of autumnal bliss with us! https://ecoheads.com.au/

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  19. Pingback: What’s been on my calendar: May #WBOYC – Thistles and Kiwis

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.