It really feels like we are now heading into proper autumnal days with dark and chilly evenings just making us want to cosy up on the sofa. The early mornings are crisp too, and after a grey, damp and miserable Thursday we had some glorious sunny weather at the weekend and today. The picture below of the moon in the morning was taken on Friday morning – everything looked so peaceful, positive and cheerful.
Lunches
On Wednesday, after Pilates, I grabbed a sandwich at a favourite cafe, Shelley Bay Baker on Leeds Street. This time I had the halloumi, salad and very good spicy pickle on a ciabatta. On Friday I treated myself to Floridita’s green eggs and ham (poached eggs, ham, sautéed spinach and a parsley hollandaise). This is rich, satisfying and always really good.
In the basket…and other things
The Wonky Box delivered some good things this week – a lovely curly lettuce, courgettes, parsnips, kumara, carrots, tomatoes, a bag of Brussels sprouts and a kholrabi (which I roasted with last week’s carrots and the sprouts for work lunches). I can’t believe we are already in persimmon season, but yes we are, so I picked up a couple mid week. I also got some soup mix, some crunchy almond butter and this choco chilli tea which I tasted in the shop and decided it would be great for the colder months ahead. I also picked up some spinach, another lovely bunch of cavolo nero, potatoes, lemons, apples and golden kiwi fruit.
I took Friday as an additional holiday, and popped into Good House Keeping, a lovely home goods and ‘eco store’ at the top of Cuba Street full of brushes, ecological products and piles of wooden spoons and other fun things. I picked up a bag of wooden pegs, another butter knife, some make-up removal pads and a little spatula, though I am not sure what I will use the last of these for (suggestions welcome!). I also visited The Nut Store, a wonderful little shop full of all sorts of nuts. On this visit, I picked up some hazlenuts and pecans.
A day trip
Sunday turned out to be a gorgeous sunny day, so we got out of the city and drove over the hills, stopping first in Greytown for lunch at Main Street Deli (where I had the Swedish shrimp open sandwich, served on proper rye bread) before driving to Martinborough for some wine shopping, browsing and looking at the Anzac crosses and poppies.
Simple things
- Revelling in autumn sunshine and autumn colours.
- Finding a lot more time for reading.
- Enjoying good food and wine – out of the house and at home.
- Getting a good stretch at Pilates.
- Spending time in the kitchen…think of a fish pie, the filling bubbling over the potato and kumara topping.
- Spotting fungi outside the house and on the lawn.
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.
- Green Dreams takes us on a tour of her wonderful allotment garden and all her seedlings – what a real small pleasure to see!
- Boondock Ramblings has an interrupted day (but makes up for it).
- Anne of Something Over Tea has been reading.
- Mr Tootlepedal has a less energetic day over at Tootlepedal’s Blog.
- Jude over at Cornwall in Colours shares a blue Monday on the beach.
- And Ju-Lyn gives us a round up of the changing seasons on Touring My Backyard.
- Deb of Deb’s World takes us to a wonderful miniature village – it is the little things that count!
- Sue over at Women Living Well After 50 reflects on what she learned from a recent challenge.
- Jo of And Anyways…wraps up a great looking April.
- Meanwhile Donna over at Retirement Reflections has has some month….
- .…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, 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