Open-hearted joys 開開心心 № 17

Capturing the tiny details of my everyday mundane and the small moments that weave poetry to my days.

Sundaze Book Café is the home of everyday magic, joyful living and conversations likely to be had over a hot drink with a friend in your favourite café, capturing the syrup-slow feel and glow of a Sunday. I’m Michelle, and I’ll be your host today.

Happy Friday, my loves!

I always feel a little unsettled after any sort of travel and so this week has been one for laying low, making pancakes, and catching up on myself. In my corner of England, the sunshine and blue skies have made an appearance, too! And it’s exactly like the quips and memes you see online: we are enthralled by any change in weather, sky, season and mind. I didn’t realise how much the British winter affects me; the sun has been a real mood-changer and I genuinely feel like a new person.

Thanks for all your kind birthday wishes on my post over the weekend! 34 feels good and quiet so far, but my diary looks suspiciously full in the coming months. Today, our new carpet is being fitted, which means I can finally order furniture for my library room/office and our guest room! It’s all operations go, and it’s all very exciting.

There’s a lot to be said for appreciating the smaller, not necessarily finer, details of the everyday mundane. Here’s to another list of petite, open-hearted joys, the moments that’ve brought and woven poetry to my days, this week.

一. Palest pink sunrises, a marvel each morning as I do the obligatory pre-drive car reset before heading to work. Connect my phone, sip my matcha, clean the steering wheel, apply lip balm and hand cream.

二. Getting to celebrate my birthday in Cambridge! We went on a ghost tour beneath the magical planetary parade – our guide was an excellent storyteller! – and also punted down the River Cam.

三. Baby’s first Knoops hot chocolate. I was thoroughly impressed!

四. Late afternoon sunshine, streaming through the windowpanes.

五. A flurry of wedding invitations arriving through the letterbox.

六. Pancakes on Shrove Tuesday! We loaded ours up with cookie dough ice-cream, and ate them perched on the kitchen counter, sun shining through the back door.

七. A little downtime in the evenings to catch up on my books. My boyfriend gifted me a few new-to-me titles on our many bookshop wanders, so I’m even more motivated to get through the stacks! I finally picked up a copy of The Little Friend by Donna Tartt – time to become a Donna Tartt completionist!

八. Writing sessions and WFH days with Loaf ambient music on in the background. Chill vibes and it won’t mess with my year-end Spotify stats. Score.

九. Avocado, hummus and pico de Gallo on toast for breakfast. Sooo good.

十. Potting lovely new things. Spring is nearly here! I’m so excited for some proper garden time!

Share a joy from your week in the comments, and I’ll see you again next Friday.