Autumn is well and truly here. Mornings are chilly, evenings dark, and we are getting out our cosy sweaters. We have, to be honest, been very lucky with some gorgeous weather, those sort of crisp, sunny days that are so special at this time of year. On Sunday we had intended to go for a walk up to the wind farm at Makara, but there was some sporting event, so instead we just had lunch down at the beach cafe, and where I managed to capture this rather romantic picture of Karl staring out over the water.
Sandwich time
There was a tomato and mozzarella sandwich with relish and salad at Shelley Bay Baker on Leeds Street on Wednesday and a cheese and tomato toastie at Makara Beach café on Sunday. Both good in different ways!
In the shopping basket
Our Wonky Box delivery this week had kumara, a head of broccoli, carrots, onions, mushrooms, a bunch of spring onions, a kohlrabi and a bag of sprouts (not shown). I made a slaw with the kohlrabi, carrot, apple and lots of parsley that will do a few meals, roasted the sprouts with last week’s parsnips to have with our Sunday roast chicken and will do something with the mushrooms later in the week, probably involving pasta.
I also picked up some potatoes (also roasted with the chicken), some new season tangerines (or were they mandarins?), more kiwi fruit which I am really enjoying at the moment, these beautiful coloured capsicum, a bag of spinach, an aubergine (eggplant), a fennel bulb and some late strawberries for Sunday dessert.
Ballet
On Saturday night, a friend and I went to the first performance of the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s 2024 season, Swan Lake. I don’t know how many times I have seen this ballet, but it has to be one of my favourites. It is such a classic and full of those moments balletomanes know and wait for. This production was a revival of the 2013 Russell Kerr’s staging, with glorious costumes designed by Kristian Frederikson. We were lucky to see Mayu Tanigaito in the Odette/Odile role, with Laurynas Vejalis as Siegfried, with Shaun James Kelly as the Jester and Branden Reiners as Rothbart. The production is now going on tour all around New Zealand.
Simple things
- Reading this lovely piece about the joys of eating oysters.
- Seeing a lot of autumn sunshine.
- Buying bread at our local bakery.
- Enjoying having a local library across the road.
- Hearing that locally made Fix and Fogg peanut butter has made it into space.
- Seeing these these signs about telling us to look our for kiwi – all part of the reintroduction of the birds to the Wellington region (which has even got a Hollywood star interested).
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 shares her weekend coffee share in warmer weather.
- Boondock Ramblings shares her Sunday bookends.
- Anne of Something Over Tea shares some wonderful pictures of Cape Dutch architecture.
- Mr Tootlepedal is visited by some ducks…and meets some cows over at Tootlepedal’s Blog.
- Jude over at Cornwall in Colours shares beautiful tulips.
- And Ju-Lyn meets otters Touring My Backyard.
- Deb of Deb’s World makes an apple crumble.
- Sue over at Women Living Well After 50 finds creativity with something new.
- Lisa of Southern Patches introduces us to some new orchids.
- .…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