Of books, blooming amaltas, bookstore dates, little joys and a month I’m quietly grateful for.
If you’ve been around here for a while, you’ll know that this little corner of the internet has worn many hats over the years. It began with books, travel, poetry and random thoughts, which slowly became a full-fledged book blog, and somewhere along the way, life happened.
Lately, I’ve been craving a space that feels a little more like me. Not just books. Not just travel. Not just home. But everything.
The stories behind the books. The cafes I keep returning to. The recipes that I tried, and worked. The peacocks that decide to dance in my backyard. The flowers that bloom for a few fleeting weeks. The people I meet. The corners I make cosy. The ordinary days that don’t deserve to be forgotten.
So here’s something new.
From My Little Nest is my monthly journal. It’s a place where I gather all the little moments that made the month special. Think of it as us catching up over coffee. Like my previous monthly ketchup posts?
So, shall we?
On My Bookshelf
June was generous to my bookshelves.
Beautiful review copies arrived from Penguin Random House India and Pan Macmillan India, both of which made for an exciting week of book mail.
A few days later, more parcels from Bloomsbury India and Red River Press arrived, and yes, I was every bit as excited opening those too.
If you’re as nosy as I am about book mail, I’ve shared all the unboxings on my Bookstagram.
All these bookmails made my TBR grow at a rate that would probably alarm most people. Of course, not me, though. I firmly believe there’s no such thing as too many books.
Then came my own purchases. Let’s just say I showed remarkable restraint…maybe, for about five minutes.
I blame beautiful covers, irresistible pre-orders and the little voice in my head that keeps insisting, “You’ll regret not buying it now.” If you’re curious to see everything that followed me home this month, here’s my June book haul.
With a move around the corner, I’ve somehow convinced myself that buying more books is perfectly reasonable. Future me, i.e., the one packing cartons? is probably rolling her eyes.
Book mail still feels just as exciting as it did years ago. That little thrill of opening a parcel and wondering which story is about to become part of my life never gets old.
Places and Pages
Some of my happiest days this month were spent exactly where you’d expect to find me- in bookstores.
Delhi has spoiled me with some incredible ones, and I found myself wandering through familiar aisles at Kunzum, Midland, Faqir Chand and Bahrisons. I never leave quickly. One lap somehow becomes three, and before I know it, I’m carrying a stack I absolutely wasn’t planning to buy.
The best part, though, was meeting a couple of wonderful friends who share the love of books. There’s something lovely about conversations where discussing fictional characters as though they’re real people is perfectly normal, and nobody questions why your wishlist has over five hundred books on it.
I met Geethica after almost two years, and it felt like no time had passed at all. We yapped endlessly about books and happily spent over three hours at Kunzum, hopping from one floor to another.
June also brought another long-awaited first. I finally met Rugma in person after knowing her through Bookstagram for over eight years! She took me to Faqir Chand, introduced me to their iconic postcards, and even came home to meet Muffy. Although, let’s be honest, he was probably the one everyone was most excited to see.
Those afternoons reminded me why I love this little community so much.
Slow June
In June, the amaltas trees were in full bloom, turning ordinary walks into something magical.
One of my favourite memories from this month is taking a book into the garden and reading on my swing with Muffy and my little one aside, while watching those bright yellow flowers. It wasn’t anything extraordinary. Just quiet afternoons, a good story and a gentle breeze.
Those are usually the moments that stay with me the longest.
I’ve also been slowly collecting things for the next chapter of life. A new puzzle found its way home with me. (Because apparently books aren’t my only collecting habit.) And yes, I may already be looking forward to rainy evenings in July, spent solving it with a mug of coffee nearby.
Around my Table
I cooked more this month than I have in a while.
Some recipes were happy accidents. And some will definitely become repeats.
Cooking has slowly become less about getting food on the table and more about slowing down after a busy day with the toddler. When the husband returns from work and, play with our child, I get a few hours of breathing space. Music playing in the background, something bubbling away on the stove, tasting as I go… it’s oddly therapeutic.
I loved making Honey Garlic Chicken with Bok Choy, Garlic Fish, Arabian Mandhi Rice, and Mutton Biriyani. I also hosted friends and family this month, after a long time!
I also found myself returning to one of my favourite food joints in Delhi- Diggin’.
There’s comfort in familiar places. The kind where you don’t even need to look at the menu because your order has been the same for years.
Days with Nature
One thing I’ll probably miss about this house is how often nature surprises me.
This month, I watched peacocks dance in the backyard after the skies darkened. I spotted a thirsty jackal plopping over the water bowl I had kept just outside our fenced backyard. Muffy had a spat with Nilgais (blue bull or blue cow) grazing over our curry leaf tree.
Moments like these make me pause, put my phone down and simply watch. But of course, I clicked pictures too. They’re reminders that wonder often lives just outside our windows. We just need to look up.
June in a Nutshell
Book I couldn’t stop thinking about: As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
Favourite book mail: I’d say, Penguin India. It’s really hard to get noticed by them 🙂
Café I loved: Blue Tokai, Khan Market
My order on repeat: Red Wave from Third Wave Coffee, which is a fun mix of cranberry juice and cold brew coffee.
Songs on loop: Nothing new! Just random Bollywood songs.
Favourite watch: I’m a sucker for Reality shows, and I enjoyed watching Splitsvilla! Nope, you aren’t allowed to judge me here. I also watched Off Campus, and some random true crime documentaries on Netflix.
Latest obsession: Decorating my Kindle!
Favourite purchase: Some new journals and notepads.
Favourite little joy: Reading beneath the amaltas.
Word for the month: Contentment.
Photograph that sums up June:
Until next month..
July already feels like it’ll be a month of boxes, bubble wrap, checklists and goodbyes. There’s excitement, of course. But a little nervousness too.
However, if the past few years have taught me anything, it’s that home isn’t really a place. It’s the books you unpack first. The favourite mug you reach for every morning. The familiar recipes. And the little rituals you carry with you.
And somehow, those things always make a new place feel like home.
Until next month,
This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla
in collaboration with Mister Tikku.
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