This week’s small pleasures #388

Thistles and Kiwis

After a week of really not feeling good at all, I feel I am finally getting over what ever bug I had, and that is a small pleasure in itself. I am still tired and not 100% but so much better – fit enough for work, meeting a friend for lunch and going to the dentist!

Today, 20 May, is my parent’s birthdays. Yes they were both born on 20th May, one year apart, in two very different places (Redcar in the north of England and Kielce in Poland), experiencing quite different things growing up. My father died just before his 66th birthday, and my mum at the age of 92, and it is on their birthdays that I remember them.

In the basket

Anyway, to what was in the basket this week, and the Wonky Box was filled with potatoes, mushrooms, tomatoes, a cucumber, a lovely bunch of crisp radishes, a leek, carrots and a bag of mesclun leaves (not pictured). I bought some celery during the week, and some Meyer lemons and capsicum, and on Saturday picked up more vegetables (spinach to have with salmon on Saturday, purple brussels sprouts with cottage pie, cavolo nero possibly on Wednesday), garlic, a couple of apples and persimmons and the first tamarillos.

Lunches

With being off work and at home, I dug out my egg coddler and made myself some coddled eggs with some toast and salad on the side. I keep forgetting about this wonderful little object, that cooks eggs beautifully. I had a panini filled with mushrooms and other vegetables at the library cafe which was really good – so nice to have this place so local.

Miso

On Sunday, a friend and I went to a miso making workshop hosted by Savour Cooking School. We made some miso paste to take home (see my jar below) which should be ready in 3 months time, at the moment keeping cool and dry under the bed (of all places). Below you can also see an egg roll being cooked and the miso soup.

Simple things

  • Having more time to read (see what I have been reading here).
  • Cooking and making good food at home from minestrone to cottage pie to just simple salmon.
  • Sleeping.
  • Watching the new series of Rebus and finding myself saying ‘aye’ and ‘just a wee bit’ – you can take the girl out of Edinburgh, but you can’t take Edinburgh out of the girl!
  • Reading blog posts by all you lovely bloggers out there and this beautiful piece from Debora Robertson.
  • Taking a walk before Pilates on Saturday

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

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Published by Thistles and Kiwis

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

39 Comments

  2. It happens to be my birthday today too – and I had to visit the dentist! I have been given a handful of tamarillos , which I am enjoying very much.

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  7. It sounds quite an industrious week so I’m glad you’re feeling better. Do the purple Brussel sprouts taste different than green?

    My mum died at 65, having lived most of her life in Hartlepool, but Dad made it to 89. I’ll never know if he would have been happier staying in his native Poland, but in some ways he had the best of both worlds.

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  10. I’m glad you are feeling better, Barbara and thank you as always for mentioning my posts. I do love WOYBS? and reading everyone’s recommendations. I enjoyed the original Rebus and only saw on social media yesterday there is a new one so will check that out. Take care and thanks for reminding us to take a moment to appreciate the small pleasures in our life. Have a good week. x

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    1. Thanks Sue – definitely on the mend! The new Rebus is quite good – it is young Rebus but in the present day. Some odd angles of buildings in Edinburgh though… Enjoy your week too!

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  11. Good to read you are feeling better, and happy birthday to both our parents..amazing to have their birthdays on the same day, and a nice time to remember them.
    Happy cooking!

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  15. How lovely that your parents were born on the same day a year apart Barbara, and I can understand you thinking of them both on their special day. I do hope you’re recovered fully now, it’s not fun feeling ill. Your egg coddler sounds interesting, I’ll have to look up how they work.

    It doesn’t look like we’ll be going to New Caledonia anytime soon! Thanks for the shoutout 🙂

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    1. I have been thinking of your trip to New Caledonia and how that will not be happening. I am sure, like me, you are following the news. I hope things settle down soon.

      The egg coddler – I need to use it more often as it is a good way to cook eggs and such a fun thing to use.

      It strikes me now as unusual to have parents with birthdays on the same day but as a child I thought it the norm.

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  17. Wonderful that you are feeling better!

    I woke up yesterday morning without any voice! It is related ot my allergies. It happened two previous years, (last year, and a few years ago,) when there’s been an unreasonably explosion of pollen. When the airways been disturbed for too long it is affecting my voice. I had to stay at home yesterday, and today, how could I teach without a voice? When I am not working it is easier to avoid pollen, I only go outside early in the morning, and late in the day, avoiding the worst pollen showers. Naturally only airing out my home during those times as well. At work there’s always doors and windows open and during the work days there’s no way of avoiding pollen. I’m not complaining, it will all be better soon. I am on meds and when the pollen slows down a little they will offer sufficient relief. Garden is doing great, kids are healthy – life is good!

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  19. I’m glad you’re feeling better. The produce looks so good and healthy. I like the buildings and storefront in your last three photos. Thank you for the mention and for your weekend coffee share.

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

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