This week’s small pleasures #468

Thistles and Kiwis

It is Monday evening. There were leftovers for dinner, the holidays are getting closer (and by holidays I mean 3 weeks away from the office) and the diary is filling up with events and things to look forward to. But perhaps the best small pleasure of the week was a wonderful photo of one of my nieces, brother and three of my great nephews celebrating Thanksgiving in Washington DC, and then speaking to my niece and brother on Sunday.

Yesterday was the first Sunday in Advent, so we lit our first candle to mark the day. Christmas is really only just around the corner. The picture is a bit hazy….but maybe more evocative that way!

In the basket

I got a Wonky Box delivery this week and it was quite good with a large head of broccoli, an aubergine (eggplant), capsicum, asparagus, a couple of courgettes (zucchini), kumara and a lettuce, with a punnet of strawberries and another one of blueberries I added on. I topped this up with the basics of onions, oranges, lemons and carrots and more asparagus (as after all the season does not go on for ever), flat beans, broad beans, a couple of heirloom tomatoes for a treat and some feta, turkey mince, fresh orange juice and bread. There were sausages and lamb from our local butcher (where I also ordered things for Christmas), and our Christmas cheese delivery arrived from Over the Moon Dairy – a camembert, a goat blue, a Wenslydale and some crackers.

Going out, staying in

The end of the academic year approaches here, and every year the students at the New Zealand School of Dance put on end of year performances. On Friday, I went to see the classical students, in a lovely mix of pieces that really showcased the dancers, with a mix of styles from Bournonville’s La Sylphide to Christopher Hampton’s Esquisses. The contemporary students performed on alternate nights, so I saw them on Saturday. While the dancers were full of energy and enthusiasm, I wasn’t sure about the pieces they performed. Anyway, always fun to go and see new talent.

At home, we watched the first four episodes of Stranger Things – and what fun that is. Looking forward to the rest of the final series. We also saw more of the Australian political drama Total Control and Shetland.

Simple things

  • Listening to this beautiful version of Elgar’s Nimrod from Enigma Variations
  • Catching up with a friend over lunch – read about it here.
  • Enjoying warmer weather.
  • Realising we will be in Europe for just over three months next year – Germany, Sweden and Portugal here we come (and Denmark, and probably the UK too).
  • Sipping on a negroni before Sunday dinner – I seem to have got just the right mix to our taste now.
  • Making a favourite dish for Sunday (and Monday) dinner – well, without the wild garlic – from Julius Roberts’ The Farm Table.

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. Added to 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.

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Published by Thistles and Kiwis

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

35 Comments

  1. These are such beautiful pictures and beautiful moments in life and exactly the sunshine I was needing to read after a lot of stressful days! Thank you so much for sharing! 🙌🏽

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  2. That waterfront always looks so attractive. I wouldn’t dare order cheese so early, Barbara as I’d be compelled to eat it! Well, maybe there’d be some left… I admire your organisation. Have a happy Advent and thanks so much for including me xx

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  4. Your grocery order always looks and sounds so healthy. Do you never visit a supermarket? I miss being close to proper butchers and greengrocers. I like a negroni too, but it is very much a summer drink I think. Nothing summery about today. It’s lashing it down.

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  13. Your post fills me with excitement and expectations of the upcoming holiday season. I have wished for three weeks of vacation but I am snot sure I will get it yet, I hope so (and think I will get my wishes full-filled).. How exciting to have such extended travel plans for the new year!

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    1. Oh thank you Maria! Our office shuts over Christmas and New Year, so I don’t even have to use up a lot of annual leave. This is of course also our summer holidays, so schools are finishing up for their break. The travel plans will be work for Karl, but of course we will have lots of opportunities to catch up with family and friends.

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