This week’s small pleasures 509

It’s Monday evening and the sun is shining. In fact, it was sunny all weekend which not only lifted the spirits, but also the temperatures. It now really feels like spring. The voting has started for Bird of the Year, and I naturally have picked my birds. My choices, will, of course, remain secret. I was indoors on a work visit all day today, so went for a short work on getting home, stopping to admire these gorgeous magnolia blooms.

When I went out into the garden to pick some mint to add to a yoghurt sauce, I spotted these. I have forgotten what variety they are, but they are certainly very pretty.

A wee trip

The weather was lovely at the weekend, and on Sunday we drove to Eastbourne (also see the featured image at the top of the post) for a short walk and lunch. You can see Wellington over the water. The grey clouds did not last.

While other people seem to have the luck, I never seem to see penguins, seals, whales or whatever creature decides to visit Wellington, but I did say hello to this seal over in Eastbourne. He is at least always there.

Lunches

I won’t bore you with my Wednesday medical appointment, but it meant grabbing a cheese, ham and tomato toastie from a cafe I don’t normally go to. It was OK, not my favourite, but I did fall in love with the egg timer on the table.

On Sunday, we had excellent croque monsieur at Tartines in Eastbourne. After having read Tricia’s recent blog post about this dish, it was kind of necessary to have one. My excuse anyway…

In the basket

This week the Wonky Box gave me more broccoli, a few potatoes, avocados, a bunch of carrots, one bok choy, and a lettuce and a cucumber (not pictured). I have some things to still use up from last week, so I better get cooking! I topped it up with a bunch of this gorgeous looking rainbow chard, asparagus, a radicchio, oranges, kiwi fruit (please don’t say you are eating kiwis….) and onions. I made an apple and pear crumble with last week’s left over fruit on Saturday, with the other half on Sunday.

Simple things

• Seeing sunshine and feeling warmer days are coming.
• Hanging the laundry outside to dry.
• Purchasing the new Ottolenghi cook book, Simple Too.
• Spotting a man sitting reading and enjoying a glass of wine on Friday as I headed to the osteopath – one of the little things from Friday.
• Getting a nice new picture of my brother in Washington DC.
• Watching the tulips I bought on Monday opened up into these stunning blooms for a couple of days.

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.

• Laurie enjoys the start of autumn.
• And Fred shares six things from his garden.
• There are some nice looking succulents over at Cornwall in Colours.
• Jo of Still Restless Jo takes us to the Bingley 5 Rise locks.
• There is a surprise in Anne’s bathroom…
• The Glasgow Gallivanter arrives in Valletta.
• Meanwhile Travels Through My Lens gives us a croque retrospective as I mentione.
• The Travel Sketcher reflects on the week in The Pearl/
• Mr Tootlepedal gets halfway there.
• There is a beautiful sunset from Maria. 
• And Neal brings us Five Friday Happy Bringers.
• Ju Lyn goes to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.
• Ilze makes biscuits.
• And Natalie goes cruising across Toronto’s harbour.
• Deb writes about poetry.
• Finally….Mr Platypus finds an elk.
• ..…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