Gosh – the 500th small pleasures post! What started out as an occasional post has turned into my weekly Monday review of the week. Some weeks are just chock full of little things that make us smile, other weeks it can be harder to find things, but there are always some good things to note.
The weather this week was very mixed but finally the sun came out on Sunday, bringing with it bright blue skies, an opportunity to open all the windows and brighten up our lives. We took a walk to Marsden village and the book shop there, before walking back.
And today…the sun came out until 4pm…and then the rain started to fall again…but at least I got a nice lunch time walk along the waterfront.
A cooking class
On Tuesday at work, there was an opportunity to learn how to make He Parāoa Parai, classic Māori friend bread. You can find a recipe here if you want to try it yourself, but suffice to say these golden pillows of deliciousness are not for everyday eating. It was a fun interlude in the working day in the lead up to Matariki.
In the basket
The Wonky Box delivered a leek, broccolli, a large kumara, parsnips, a swede, a bag of spinach and one of miniature silverbeet leaves and a lettuce. On Wednesday I picked up this fabulous loaf of rosemary and potato bread, some brie for our Friday feast and pears. There were further additions on Saturday including a tin of kidney beans for Sunday’s chilli, green split peas for Wednesday’s soup, bright red yams (including one shaped like a heart), mushrooms, mandarins and cavolo nero (about which I had a nice conversation with a fellow shopper, wondering about its miniature leaves).
Lunch time
I met a friend for lunch at August on Wednesday, where I had my usual chicken salad with pearl couscous, always a winner. On Sunday we popped into our local cafe next to the library for their excellent cheese, ham and tomato toasties. Just look at that cheese! And yes you can see a bowl of chips in the background, for sharing.
Simple things
- Spending time reading, finishing the book for book club this week.
- Finding things I had put in a safe place but couldn’t remember where that was.
- Realising that the days are getting longer.
- Seeing the sun after days of grey.
- Thinking about our next holiday.
- Enjoying a piece of the chocolate and pear cake my friend made with our Saturday afternoon cup of tea.
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.
- Carol Ann shares her wonderful weekly delights.
- And Alex of Scribble and Scran continues his French holiday.
- It is high summer over in Fred’s garden.
- While Jo shares a Monday medley.
- Meanwhile Travels Through My Lens takes us to Perast.
- And The Travel Sketcher reports on a week in The Pearl.
- Mr Tootlepedal has reached a milestone.
- While Ilze takes us on a tour of her garden.
- And Maria shows her ingenious drying racks.
- Neal finds a great wee poster.
- And Laurie enjoys yellow.
- Ju-Lyn enjoys lazy, hazy, crazy days
- And Jo of Story Crumbs is all about rebuilding and new beginnings.
- Finally….Mr Platypus finds a great bear.
- ..…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 and good food. Thistles and Kiwis can be found on Facebook and Instagram @thistlesandkiwis
Thistles and Kiwis 
congratulations on the 500th small pleasures post! My small pleasures this week were lighting a new candle and starting a new book.
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Thank you! Both of yours sound excellent.
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Sincere congratulations on a very special milestone! A big ‘thank-you’ for the show-and-tell which has taught me so much in such a readable way . . . always looking at all the edibles first of course . . . and that is another Moomin mug I would be delighted to have 🙂 !
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Thank you! I should get out all our Moomin mugs and just see what we have and exactly how many.
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*smile* When you do, send us a photo also > I am just picking and choosing a few to match various moods!
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We made what looks like a similar fry bread one year when one of my son’s was studying Madagascar and it was so addicting!
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One piece is not enough!
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I love your small pleasure posts, and I am so happy when I see a new one. There can not be too much positivity and reflecting over good things in life.
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Oh thank you! They are always fun to write.
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just arrived home and having a quick catch up, Barbara. Congrats on 500! Interesting looking food this wee. Lovely bread, and a BIG wodge of cake! Thanks for the mention xx
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Thank you! It wasn’t the most exciting week but a few highlights.
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Wow, 500 post; congratulations! 🍾🎊🎈 Thanks for the shoutout!
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Thank you!!
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Congratulations on your 500th Small pleasure posts! That is a lot! Thank you for mentioning my garden post 🙂
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Thank you! I always enjoy your posts Ilze.
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Aww, thank you!
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That chocolate and pear cake looks amazing! The friend who made that is clearly the best kind of friend to have.
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It was very good – and very rich.
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Wowza 500 posts – congratulations!!!! I’m glad you spent the week exploring wonderful culinary delights, and that you left me to savor the chocolate and pear cake at the end!
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Thanks! The cake was very good.
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congrats on your 500th! Love that moomintroll mug!
sherry https://sherryspickings.blogspot.com/
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Thank you!
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Delicious looking cakes! Having looked at the recipe, I suspect the He Parāoa Parai are similar to what we call vetkoek (fat cake) here 🙂
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Quite probably – I think this type of thing is found in lots of places.
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Congratulations on your milestone, Barbara! You certainly add BIG pleasures to our day!
Your weekly reflections prove that the pleasures are there if we look for them, especially the simple ones. I chuckled over this: “Finding things I had put in a safe place but couldn’t remember where that was.” Yes, indeed.
And I found a double delight in the pairing of a Moomin mug with the chocolate pear cake. I don’t even need to sip or swallow to enjoy them both! (Thank you, also, for your kind mention!)
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Thank you for your kind words! The tea and cake were lovely and ‘finding not very important but annoying that I didn’t know what they were’ things was so good!
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Those red yams are fascinating – what do you do with them? And chocolate and pear cake sounds delicious. Happy mid week to you.
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The nicest in my opinion way with yams is to roast them, until they are sticky and soft. The cake was excellent.
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A lovely chocolate and pear cake to celebrate 500 – congratulations!
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Yes!
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Congrats on your 500! That cake and tea look delicious together. Thank you for your weekend coffee share – Natalie
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Wow, that cooking class sounds like so much fun. Glad the weather’s been good most days too. Wow, the days are getting longer where you are. They’re getting shorter here and I’m grateful that I’m not really noticing it yet.
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It was fun and broke up the working day.
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In the third picture from under the “In the Basket” heading, what is the red, grooved vegetable? It isn’t one I’m familiar with, and it looks so interesting.
Stopping in from Weekend Coffee Share: Coffee Rings & Camera Rolls – Brewing Coffee, Twisting Words & Breaking Pencils
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Ah yes! In New Zealand we call them yams. They are also known as oca.
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It’s lovely to see beautiful blue skies in your photos. It’s still very grey for us here but I’m counting down the days until winter is over.
Jennifer – Substack.com/theretirementphase
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At least the days are getting longer.
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Congratulations on the 500th simple pleasures! I’m a little late checking in… I’m steadily clearing my emails.
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Thank you!
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What day did you do small pleasures? I’d like to join in 😊
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Mondays. Usually Monday evening New Zealand time.
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Okay, I’ll try and be ready! We’re 2 hrs behind, so that shouldn’t be hard to manage.
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