Episode 569 || Off the Shelf with Annie & Ashley: Winter 2026
This week on From the Front Porch, it's an episode of Off the Shelf with Annie & Ashley! Annie is joined by friend, cousin, and former colleague, Ashley Sherlock, to chat about what they’re reading – but also what they’re watching, listening to, and buying.
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 569) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
Annie reading:
Kin by Tayari Jones
The Reservation by Rebecca Kauffman
Ashley reading:
Lit by Mary Karr
The Secret Place by Tana French
Annie listening to:
This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum
Ashley listening to:
From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.
A full transcript of today’s episode can be found below.
Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.
This week, Annie is reading Kin by Tayari Jones. Ashley is reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.
If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.
We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.
Our Executive Producers are...Ashley Ferrell, Beth, Cammy Tidwell, Gene Queens, Jammie Treadwell, Joseph Shorter IV, Kimberly, Linda Lee Drozt, Nicole Marsee, Stephanie Dean, and Wendi Jenkins.
Transcript:
[squeaky porch swing] Welcome to From the Front Porch, a conversational podcast about books, small business and life in the South. [music plays out]
How you get there is how you'll be there. -Tayari Jones. Kin.
[as music fades out]
I'm Annie Jones, owner of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in beautiful downtown Thomasville, Georgia, and this week I'm chatting about wintry, off-the-shelf topics with my cousin Ashley Sherlock. If you're craving more From the Front Porch, or if you want to listen to episodes ad-free, join us on Patreon. This year, listener favorite Hunter Mclendon and I are sharing our monthly recaps of our Conquering of the Complete Stories by Flannery O'Connor. Episodes air on the last Friday of each month. And it's never too late to start reading or listening or to cajole friends and family into joining us too. To join Patreon, just visit patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. Three tiers are available. The $5 a month tier will give you access to our Conquer a Classic episodes, including our back catalog of episodes, and our monthly porch visit Q&A sessions. The $20 a month tier will give you ad-free episodes of From the Front Porch, plus a deep dive into some of Flannery O'Connor's other works. We hope you'll join us. Now, back to the show. Welcome back, Ashley.
Ashley [00:01:40] Thank you, thank you.
Annie Jones [00:01:42] What a delight to see your face, to hear your voice. If you are a new listener of From the Front Porch, Ashley is a former Bookshelf staffer and my literal family member and friend. And every quarter or so we do these episodes, they used to be called-- Oh my gosh, just kids' table?
Ashley [00:02:00] The kid's table.
Annie Jones [00:02:01] They used to be called the kid's tables in honor of the kids table, which I did ask kids in story time the other day because we were talking about Thanksgiving. This was months ago. And I asked the kids if they had a kids table and they looked at me like I had two heads. And I thought, do people not do that anymore? Do people not have?
Ashley [00:02:18] I've never heard of no kids table? What are they doing? Sitting with grownups?
Annie Jones [00:02:21] I don't know. Wild. What are people doing sitting with people too old for them? We still have a kid's table at our family gatherings. We're all approaching-- I won't speak for you, but we're approaching our forties and we still have a kid's table, so I don't know. I don't know what's going on with the new generation, but we have these episodes where we don't really talk just books. We talk about articles, TV shows, pop culture, and how we're handling, in this case, life in the winter. Ashley, you are a notorious winter hater, but I have sensed from your Instagram and from family group texts, are you turning around?
Ashley [00:02:57] I'm coming around to winter. I think it's still probably my least favorite season. However, I have learned that if you have appropriate clothing, it is a lot more manageable and pleasant.
Annie Jones [00:03:09] Yes, I think appropriate clothing is key. I personally frequently lament the lack of seasonality in the places where we live, and yet I will say, as of this recording, it happened approximately 45 minutes ago, my long-planned girls' trip to Nashville, Tennessee was canceled due to the snow and ice storm headed your way, everyone's way, and everyone except the deep south where we will get none of it except maybe horrible rain, which means nothing for us. We will still drive; we will still go to the grocery store. And so I will admit that in the family group text chat, I think it was yesterday when you were just so excited about your snow weekend, I was thinking, oh God, please know I have this one thing on my calendar. One thing. And it was canceled due to snow and ice because the South does not know what to do under those circumstances. And I don't either to be fair, but I do love winter apparel. I do love wintry weather. I do not like when it interferes with my plans, but what are you going to do?
Ashley [00:04:16] What are you going to do? I am excited for it to interfere with my plans. I'm looking forward to everything getting canceled.
Annie Jones [00:04:21] I hope you get the nice version. It'll be interesting to listen to this episode and to find out, did Ashley go without power for five days?
Ashley [00:04:32] Right. The power is a concern. Two feet of snow is quite unusual even for North Carolina or this part of North Carolina anyway. So everybody's scrambling. However, I have a load of laundry going right now. I'm going to the grocery store tomorrow to buy snacks and hot chocolate supplies. So I'm planning on a very cozy weekend at home.
Annie Jones [00:04:54] I think it's hard to know. It's just like when we endure a hurricane season to me, but like my friend who actually lives in Nashville texted something from Instagram that was like we're either getting zero inches of snow or 85 inches of snow. You will either have a cozy relaxing weekend at home or you will be without power for a week to 10 days. So I sincerely hope that you will have a beautiful snow weekend and not an ice storm.
Ashley [00:05:22] Either way, it still feels more fun than a hurricane. I'm not going to lie.
Annie Jones [00:05:25] Yes. Well, I think to us, it's more magical. I don't think other people would agree with us, but to us it's still novelty. Never forget. Were you around like last year when it snowed in Thomasville and I posted to Instagram. And I'm not calling anyone out because I do not remember who it was, but someone was so mad at me. Someone was so mad at me.
Ashley [00:05:49] I remember this.
Annie Jones [00:05:50] And they were like how on earth could you be so naive about snow? And I was like maybe because it's happened here twice.
Ashley [00:05:58] Friend, how on earth could you be so naive about South Georgia?
Annie Jones [00:06:01] Yeah. So I know everybody has different feelings about snow and ice, but I hope you do get a magical snowy weekend at home. Okay, we are going to talk reading, watching, listening, buying. Let's kick us off. I have two recommendations for you of things I've been reading. I did stick to the traditional books. Sometimes we do articles. And I will say, I last year got a subscription to The New Yorker and The Atlantic and I cannot recommend it enough. I am hoping that with a birthday coming up-- I don't even know when this episode drops. I may already be 40 by the time this episode drops, but one of the things I'm asking for my birthday is a print edition of either The New Yorker or The Atlantic. I have loved my subscription to those. That was a definite win for me in 2025. But what I've got for you today are books. And these are two books I think you in particular would be interested in. The first is Kin. This is the new book by Tayari Jones, comes out on February 24th. I think it would be a great audio book. I'm reading the physical copy like an ARC. But she wrote American Marriage, which I weirdly did not read. But I think American Marriage came out when you were still book selling, if I remember correctly. So this is her new book, very reminiscent to me of The Vanishing Half or Old Love Good Girls. It is about two cradle friends, Vernice and Annie. Vernice and Annie are growing up in the small town of Honeysuckle, Louisiana, and then they become adolescents and eventually leave their small towns right on the cusp of the civil rights movement. I am loving this book because it's just a book about two friends. It's a book about two friends. The writing is excellent. The way she's maybe weaving in some historical moments quietly, like Vernice goes off to Spelman College, which was a historically black college university and all women. It was an all-girls school. So I'm learning a little bit about that. But also it's really just Vernice and Annie's story. I'm about 70% of the way through, and the cover's gorgeous. Wait till you see it. Actually, I have it. I'll show it to you. I forgot this is a visual medium now. Look at this book.
Ashley [00:08:07] So pretty.
Annie Jones [00:08:09] Anyway, I think you would like it. And then the second book that I think you will love and eat up, pun intended, is a book called The Reservation. It comes out the same day, February 24th. And it is by Rebecca Kauffman. It is set over the course of one day at a restaurant. It is told from the perspective of all of the people who work at the restaurant. The line cook, the host, the owner of the restaurant, the manager. And it's really a character study about this restaurant, but underlying that is the fact that at the start of this day, two things are happening. The first is 22 ribeye steaks went missing from inventory and no one knows what happened to them. And so the owner is like on a hunt, desperate to figure out cause that's a lot of money and it's 22 ribeye steaks. And everyone is stressed because John Grisham has a reservation. And I loved this book so much. Five stars for me. One of my favorite books I've read so far this year. Obviously, it's early, but I'm standing by that statement. I loved it. I love anytime it's almost like a bottle episode of TV where it's set during a specific period of time.
Ashley [00:09:22] That's what I was about to say.
Annie Jones [00:09:22] Yeah, I think that storytelling technique is so good. So those are two books specifically that I've heard recently where I was like Ashley would love these. That's Kin by Tayari jones and The Reservation by Rebecca Kauffman. What are you reading?
Ashley [00:09:39] I finished my first Tana French.
Annie Jones [00:09:41] Which one?
Ashley [00:09:42] The Secret Place.
Annie Jones [00:09:43] Love it.
Ashley [00:09:44] It's so good. Those girls. I think I've actually figured out the mystery pretty early on, but I was still held by the story. And, I mean, good for Tana French. I see why people like her. My first time.
Annie Jones [00:09:55] She's amazing. You have to read The Likeness.
Ashley [00:09:59] Okay. I'll read that.
Annie Jones [00:09:59] Did you listen to it?
Ashley [00:10:02] I did. And it had a small cast, but they had accents which was fantastic. And then the other one I'm reading is Lit by Mary Karr. I haven't gotten very far into it, but Hunter gifted it to me on Libro.fm. And it's my first Mary Karr. So, but it's a memoir and you know I love a memoir. So I'm very excited about it. There's a spiritual like higher power search element that I'm excited about. I'm not very far into it, but I'm liking it so much.
Annie Jones [00:10:37] You'll have to report back on that one to me because Hunter has been begging me to read that for years. And I think the only Mary Karr I've read is Liar's Club, I want to say. And I read that one, but this one I think because of how it ties into religion and stuff, Hunter has recommended to me, but I've not read it. So you'll have report back.
Ashley [00:10:55] I definitely will.
Annie Jones [00:10:57] What I am watching this winter. Listen, I'm going to change one of the things I'm talking about. Someone recommended it to me. Actually, maybe it was a mutual friend because I think it was in our league of her own group chat. Somebody talked about His & Hers on Netflix. I don't know that I'm recommending it. That's why I want to talk about it. I don't know that I'm recommending it because my friend Jennifer I think at one point was like did AI write this show? And I don't think AI did write that show, but some of the choices made, it's based on a book which I did not read I think by Alice Feeney. But I don't know if you've been to the theater recently or I don't know what level of Colleen Hoover you've consumed, but I do think we are in a Colleen Hoover, Freida McFadden ike we are definitely in that era. I don't read Alice Feeny, but do wonder if she is adjacent to those because that is how this show felt. I would have given up on this show at multiple points, but it was only six episodes. So I was like now I'm in it. And I know there's the lost-- what is it? The sunk cost fallacy. I understand that, but I really did feel like I've committed to this show, I want to find out what happens. But basically there's a guy who is a detective, like a sheriff's detective. And then his wife, who he's kind of estranged from, is a TV reporter. She is played by Tessa Thompson and they both are kind of investigating this murder of this woman that happened out in the woods in Dahlonega, Georgia. I don't even know what to say about it. Did you ever watch Scandal?
Ashley [00:12:35] No never.
Annie Jones [00:12:35] It felt kind of scandal soap opera-esque to me. I gave up on the show, The Hunting Wives late last year. Like I just could not do it. This felt, if you liked The Hunting wives, you will like His & Hers. Bonkers. If you just need-- and I am thinking of you with your snow weekend coming up, if you do have power and you just need something crappy to watch while you're doing a puzzle, you know what I'm saying? Like something on in the background that you can kind of half pay attention to, but every so often look up and go, what? This is the show for you. So if you need a wintry, yeah, doing a puzzle, cleaning your house, doing your laundry, but every so often you look up and you say, what just happened? Then I think this is what you need. I've got a couple more, but why don't we alternate? What else are you reading? What else are you watching?
Ashley [00:13:23] So I have to talk about Heated Rivalry. I'm not recommending it to you because there are too many bare rear ends involved. But that's it.
Annie Jones [00:13:33] I started it. I started and stopped it. I started it and my friends did tell me, and some Bookshelf staffers were like, just fast forward through it. And I want to fast forward through, but also I'm afraid I'm going to miss the building of their relationship if I skip all the sex, won't I just miss their chemistry?
Ashley [00:13:52] No, you won't. I found an Instagram post that had timestamps for all of the scenes. If I could find it again, I'll send it to you because I still think it's worth your time. It's so sweet. And I finished it thinking even less about ice hockey than I was thinking about ice hockey before I started.
Annie Jones [00:14:10] I saw that. Somebody tweeted that same thing. I was like I know less about hockey than I did now.
Ashley [00:14:17] Yeah, it's not about hockey.
Annie Jones [00:14:18] Kate, who used to work at The Bookshelf, she recommended these really lovely graphic novels to me and they were all about these two hockey players who fell in love and it was great. And he was a baker also, like did baked goods and they were charming. I loved them. And so I was, like, well, maybe I'll give Heated Rivalry a try. But at some point, I also worry that heated rivalry will become to me what Titanic is, which is just like this cultural moment that I missed and will never see. And I wonder at what point Heated Rivalry will be there for me. Like if I should give it a go or once winter passes, will it be too late? But did you binge it? Are you done?
Ashley [00:14:57] Yeah, I binged it in maybe two days. No, it was so good. There's only one character that I think I might have an issue with, and it's not the character, I think it might be the actor that I have an issues with. I don't know if I like his acting or if that's just an acting choice that he made. I was distracted by that. I was more distracted by than the butts. But no, it's a very sweet story. There's one scene, there's a Russian, one of the hockey players is Russian and my favorite scenes is where he's on the phone to his rival speaking in Russian. And I'm not going to tell you all of it, but it is the sweetest TV I have seen in a long time
Annie Jones [00:15:40] Well, maybe I'll retry it. Like I said, I think it was Kendall and Beth at The Bookshelf I think we're like, no, you can totally watch it and just skip those scenes. Because I started it the other morning like during morning feed, I thought it could be my morning show while I feed Isaac because the episodes are pretty short. Are they 30 minutes? Are they an hour?
Ashley [00:16:01] I think they're like 40 something.
Annie Jones [00:16:04] Okay. So that may be another reason I gave up, but okay, maybe I'll give it a go. I think the time to watch it is now. I don't think it's a summer show. I think it is a winter show.
Ashley [00:16:13] True, very true. And I'll send you that list of timestamps to skip.
Annie Jones [00:16:17] Send me the timestamps and maybe I'll give it a whirl. Because I think hunter and I were talking about it. I don't think he's seen it yet.
Ashley [00:16:24] He has. I asked him about it and he said yeah, which was surprising to me.
Annie Jones [00:16:30] So many other people I know have watched it but also all women
Ashley [00:16:34] Oh yeah, it's made for women, for sure. It's made for the female gaze.
Annie Jones [00:16:41] Okay, I will I will give it a go. All I know about it other than it's about hockey and there's a lot of sex is something about we're going to go to the cottage. That's all I now.
Ashley [00:16:53] I have to go to the cottage. I want to go to a cottage so bad. Cottage in Canada, please.
Annie Jones [00:17:01] Okay, well, speaking of hockey, I have not watched it yet, but I think when this episode comes out, I will be deep, deep in the Winter Olympics. I love the Olympics. Jordan Jones made the, I think, pretty rude comment the other day. And he was like, are you into the Winter Olympic? And I was like excuse me, what?
Ashley [00:17:21] How long have you been married?
Annie Jones [00:17:23] Right. I'm not just into the summer Olympics. I am into the winter Olympics. Give me the figure skating, give me the ice dancing, give me this skiing, give me the luge, like really everything but that broom sport that I can't remember the name of right now.
Ashley [00:17:38] Wait, what's it called? Curling.
Annie Jones [00:17:41] Curling, pretty much. And you know what? If it's on, I am not turning it off. If it is on, I will watch it. And then of course the Superbowl. The Superbowl is always around my birthday. For the first time I've paid attention to the playoffs. I always watch the Superbowls. It's a cultural moment, but this year I actually semi cared and am invested. And that is because of our fantasy football group. Do you want to tell the listeners?
Ashley [00:18:06] Listeners, I am delighted to report to you that yours truly Ashley Sherlock guest of From the Front Porch has won the fantasy football league. Meaning I have beat beaten 11 other people in choosing athletes and putting them on my team, swapping them out, having them play each other and some people were so into this and did so much research. And I walked in and I chose Kurt Cousins as my quarterback to begin with because I didn't know. I did drop him pretty quickly, but now I have a big old fat ring as my prize and it's a really nice feeling. It's good to win. I was trying not be a sore winner, but now I don't really care since I actually have one and do have bragging rights.
Annie Jones [00:18:58] You might as well have those bragging rights because I think people are coming for you.
Ashley [00:19:01] I know.
Annie Jones [00:19:02] I think that people are coming for you later this year. So you might as enjoy it while you have it.
Ashley [00:19:07] I surely will.
Annie Jones [00:19:08] Anything else you're watching?
Ashley [00:19:10] Only other thing I'll say for right now is the monks. I have been watching the Buddhist monks on their walk for peace from Texas to DC for, I guess, 86 days. Well, now 88 days. So they've started in Texas. They're just walking straight on through to Washington DC, but many of their night stops they'll do like a little talk for the crowds and they were in Greensboro, North Carolina, where I live. And they stopped at a hotel and gave a little talk about putting your phone down, inviting peace into your own life because individuals at peace can lead to countries and a universe at peace. But it was just so nice to see all these people handing each other flowers. And during their actual walk, people will hand them flowers. They actually handed a friend of a friend of mine a flower on their walk, which was just so beautiful. And the reverence that people have as they pass by just completely silent, which is kind of amazing. And they're pretty active on their Facebook page and they have a live map. It's updated probably at least by an hour, by the hour. So it's not super exact, but it is fun to keep track of where they're going and where all they're trying to bring peace.
Annie Jones [00:20:39] I love that. And I loved when you posted because you posted about it to Instagram and I really liked the message that you just shared because I think we can get overwhelmed by the concept, especially right now, but honestly, in any old time, like throw a dart at history and pick an era. And I think you can get overwhelming by the overarching concept of world peace or a world at peace. And I really like that they pointed out it really starts with you. I think we need that reminder because I think when we think about it as a big thing, we don't do anything about it. But if we think of it on a smaller, I don't know, cellular level and think about our own lives, I really liked that. Okay, last thing for me that I'm watching that I just started, but I needed a show that I could watch by myself because Jordan is in legislative session. And so I was like, what show can I get into? I picked Ponies, which is on Peacock right now. It is a show. Ponies stands for Persons of no interest. So a person of interest is a POI, a person with no interest is Pony. And so it's about these two women who something happens to their husbands who work for the CIA in the 70s in Moscow. And so now these women are determined to find out what happened to their husband and to kind of maybe continue their work, continue their mission.
[00:21:59] I've just watched the first episode, but the stars of it are Emilia Clarke, who most people I think know from Game of Thrones. And then Haley Lu-- I think her last name's Richardson-- who I adore. She was on a season of White Lotus. She was in this really cute rom-com on Netflix. Anyway, I'm rooting for her. And when she showed up on my screen, I was sold because I really like her as an actress. And she's doing something totally different on this show than she has in any other role I've seen her in. So I'm excited. It feels like just the right amount of campy without maybe being quite-- to me, it's a little better quality than His and Hers is what I'll say. I actually want to put my phone down to watch Ponies. His and Hers, I was in and out of the room on, but Ponies I'm invested in, which is perfect for in the evenings when Jordan's not home yet, Isaac is down, and I really want to actually watch something and put my phone down. I think this is going to be my show. So, Ponies on Peacock.
Ashley [00:22:55] Is this a recommendation for me? Would I like this?
Annie Jones [00:22:58] Yeah, I think you'd like it. Okay. I think it's about eight episodes, maybe. But I like it because I'm sure you could binge it, but I personally think I'm going to watch an episode every night, kind of let it last. All right, what are you listening to?
Ashley [00:23:15] Okay, I have been saving this for a couple of weeks so we could talk about it here, but I finished Beth's Dead, the podcast.
Annie Jones [00:23:23] Okay. Okay, what did you think.
Ashley [00:23:26] Okay, not going to lie, I don't think I needed the last two episodes.
Annie Jones [00:23:31] Oh, I feel the same way! Oh, thank goodness. But the rest of it, wild. What in the world?
Ashley [00:23:38] And also, without spoiling it, I do not agree with the conclusion that the host came to. No, I don't think that's correct.
Annie Jones [00:23:52] Wait, so who did you think? Did you think it was the other person they thought?
Ashley [00:23:58] The person they called, yes. The person the PI called.
Annie Jones [00:24:06] The older person.
Ashley [00:24:08] Yes.
Annie Jones [00:24:09] Interesting. Okay, my friend's friend also thinks that it's that's who it was. I don't think that's...
Ashley [00:24:14] There's no way. There's no way it's this person.
Annie Jones [00:24:18] I think it is. I think it is a typical, because I think the better story is that it's the older, like that is a better story, but that it is just this potential incel. Yeah, that feels right. It feels like the worst story. So why would they tell the worst story? But this is interesting because this is exactly what my friend's friend thought. I also would just like to say, I thought it was excellent storytelling. In fact, I didn't even finish the very last episode. I was like, I'm out. I don't need this anymore. It was like an unnecessary epilog. I didn't need to check in on anybody. I'm like a year later. What do I care? I do not care. And then was the second to last episode when they supposedly figured it out and interviewed the person?
Ashley [00:25:12] I thought that was the third to last.
Annie Jones [00:25:15] Maybe it was, because I'm with you. I felt like, oh my gosh, when I Voxed you, I think I was on episode three or four and that was like the peak.
Ashley [00:25:25] Oh, that's the best part.
Annie Jones [00:25:27] Yeah. That was the peak, and then the come down was a little bit of a bummer. But it did remind me, so my friend Jennifer recommended it to me, then I recommended it you. For the first time in a long time, I felt like invested in a podcast series, almost like cereal or something like that. It's been a long since that's happened.
Ashley [00:25:50] And that is what I want. I want to get invested in a podcast series like a book.
Annie Jones [00:25:55] Yes. All due respect to Amy Poehler and the gang. And including what we do here, but I do like a story and I listened to-- did I recommend to you, but it was totally different, the Alabama Murders and it was Malcolm Gladwell and he was talking about the death penalty. It's great, but to me in a totally different way. It has just been a long time since there's been almost a serial like quality to a what's going to happen here? Instead, I feel like it's all news podcasts and interview podcasts.
Ashley [00:26:26] Yeah. Okay, now do we think the best series are True Crime? Because I don't know of another one. I'm thinking of S-Town, Serial, Beth's Dead, the Alabama Murders.
Annie Jones [00:26:42] Yeah, unless you count-- oh gosh, but now I'm like was that a series? I'm not sure. Like Heavyweights is doing something interesting, but I don't think that technically counts as a series. There was a series on-- oh, what was that show called? It was about technology. And it was like where this guy wound up calling back a solicitation caller and they wound up, and then he went to like India or something to find him. It was nuts. Now I don't remember the name. It was like a Gimlet media podcast. I don't even think Gimlet exists anymore. Can you believe, I know the internet by the time this episode comes out people won't be talking about it anymore, but the internet has been 2016 crazy. And I just want to say that, I mean, I appreciate it, but also the last decade of life, wowza. Like what has come and gone? The flashes and the pan. It's a little wild how much podcasts peaked, and now we're still in a podcast moment. I mean, the Golden Globes just gave Amy Poehler a Golden Globe for a podcast, but it just feels like that medium has changed so much in a really interesting way.
Ashley [00:27:49] I know, 2016, we were going to see Gilmore Girls.
Annie Jones [00:27:53] Yeah, I could not believe that. That was the only picture I had on my phone, which then Jordan had all these pictures on his phone, but one of his pictures he had was from the live pop cast. So I think it was like the moment of like fangirling over podcasts.
Ashley [00:28:10] Oh, 2016. Miss you.
Annie Jones [00:28:12] Yeah, simpler times, but also not. Like I did look back at my personal life and I was like, no, I turned 30. Like there was a lot going on. Okay, I've been listening to some audio books, including one that I do want to put on your radar. And I think you still have access to ALCs, do you?
Ashley [00:28:30] That is not something that I advertise or talk about with you because I don't want you to take it away from me, but yes.
Annie Jones [00:28:36] Well, you come on the podcast, so you to me get access.
Ashley [00:28:40] And I help with Reader Retreat.
Annie Jones [00:28:41] That's right. You're an honorary staffer. You should definitely listen to This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum. Okay. Much like Beth's Dead, I loved 60 to 70% of this. And then the last 30%, I was like, why did I need this? But Julia Whalen is the narrator. Where are you on her?
Ashley [00:29:03] I think I like her. I mean, I know her. Not in real life.
Annie Jones [00:29:06] Yeah. I think for me sometimes she can be a bit much, but at the same time, her voice is now so familiar to me that it's a comfort. So she's one of the narrators. And then there's another guy who does a great job, Sean Patrick Harris. But the book is about these best friends, Joy and Benny, and they have a podcast together about surviving like weird events. And the audio book includes excerpts from their podcast. And I think it's really cleverly done. So this is not a book I personally would say go read this book. To me the only way to consume this book is in audiobook format. And it's so well done in that way that I think that it would be worth your time.
Ashley [00:29:57] Okay, I have two songs and a podcast. Another podcast for you. Have I talked to you about What We Spend?
Annie Jones [00:30:08] Briefly. I don't know when.
Ashley [00:30:10] I don't know either, but I guess it is a series. I haven't finished it yet, but I'm always very interested in how people afford the things that they do and I'm super nosy and I just want to know what they make and where does it all go? This podcast is about that. It interviews real people. There's a host who ask them questions like what was your relationship like with money growing up and how do they feel about money now? And then they record themselves every time. They do like an audio diary for a week, talking about what they spent money on each day and kind of reflect on how they felt about it. And their worries and how somebody's trying to save money, but there's also somebody who is like newly making a lot of money and wants to be responsible with it. So it's just all these different people in different stages of life from different backgrounds and what they do with their money, and if they're in debt or not. I think it's super interesting and it makes me feel better and worse as a person. But it scratches that nosy itch that I have to know what people are making.
Annie Jones [00:31:30] Jordan subscribes to an email that does this same thing, because he'll sometimes forward it to me.
Ashley [00:31:35] I think he told me about this.
Annie Jones [00:31:37] Okay. Because this sounds right up Jordan's alley. I think I would like to listen to it. I also think it would stress me out because there is no doubt in my mind I have money issues. Like I know it. I probably should bring it up in real life therapy because I just think I have hangups from childhood, adolescence. I definitely have a scarcity mindset. I think that's my Enneagram coming to play, but it's funny that you say this because literally today an influencer I follow casually dropped that she was going to live in the Cotswolds for two to three months. I first thought was saying she was going like on a trip and then I relistened and I was like, oh no, she's going to live there for two two three months. And I appreciated her transparency because then she was like my husband is a British citizen. I work remotely. This influencing is going to pay for this cottage that we're renting. I was talking with a friend and I actually do think I have a real dream of living in New York for two to four weeks. I'm not even talking two to three months, two to four weeks in the summer. That's all. That's all I'm asking. And then it occurred to me, I think I could do it, but I just need to sit down and do it. And I think I have the money, but it's just a matter of would I save, would I put it away for that or am I going to keep drinking Dunkin every day for the rest of my life? Am I going to keep spending $6 a beverage that could go to staying in New York or house sitting or something like that? Anyway, but so I appreciate it. She was transparent about it, which is what I liked. But I had a moment when she first announced it, where I thought, you have got to be kidding me. The Cotswolds for two to three months cash. Hasn't even planned her return flight. I was like, what?
Ashley [00:33:27] Hello. I didn't make it that far.
Annie Jones [00:33:29] And my life does feel very rooted in a way that you might feel differently because you work remotely, your living situation is different, like you might actually have some of the freedom that I feel like I don't have. I mean, but I do have some flexibility, like Jordan's flexible in the summer. My job it has gotten to the point where it is way more flexible than it used to be. So anyway, that podcast, I probably would really like and probably it would also stress me out. It might make me spend less money.
Ashley [00:34:00] Honestly, I think you could handle it. I don't think you would find it stressful. And also side note, we can do this off the air, but can we please plan a trip to New York?
Annie Jones [00:34:09] Yes. Well, I told Jordan, I was like, I got to go somewhere this year and I'm willing to travel with Isaac. I'm not unwilling, but I was, like, I would rather do someplace close to home with Isaac and then somewhere far away with Jordan. Because I was I've got to, and again, I just canceled this national girl’s trip. But guess what I did instead? And by the time this podcast airs, I will already have done it. I got myself a hotel room at St. George Island.
Ashley [00:34:35] No way.
Annie Jones [00:34:36] I was like peace out. I think my mom felt sorry for me and Jordan felt sorry for me. And I was like, well, if you guys feel sorry for me, I'm going to go ahead and book myself somewhere else.
Ashley [00:34:46] Let's go. That's awesome. Honestly, that's best case scenario.
Annie Jones [00:34:51] Yeah. I'll have a writing weekend, I think. Reading and writing weekend.
Ashley [00:34:54] Oh, that is so good. Just for you?
Annie Jones [00:34:56] So just for me, all by myself.
Ashley [00:34:59] Yes. Send pictures.
Annie Jones [00:35:00] Yeah I will. And I want to get back in the rhythm of going to New York. We can talk about that off air. Okay. Wait, did you have one other listen thing?
Ashley [00:35:11] Yeah. I have two songs that I really do think you would like. One is called Heaven Passing Through by Turnpike Troubadours. It's finger-picking guitar and a catchy tune. And the other is called Queen of the Season by Hazlitt. A little bit moodier. And I added it to my winter playlist, so it's perfect for the season.
Annie Jones [00:35:34] Okay, awesome. On a scale of one to 10, how excited are you for new Harry Styles music?
Ashley [00:35:42] Okay, confession. Seven, because I love Harry Styles. It's not a 10 because I don't know any song of his that I love. I don't know if I love his style. I like Golden. I also am not super familiar with his discography, but I don't listen to Harry Styles unless it's One Direction.
Annie Jones [00:36:05] Okay, what about Noah Kahan, scale of 1 to 10, how excited are you for his new song?
Ashley [00:36:09] I think I like Noah Kahan's music better than I like Harry Styles' music, but I like looking at Harry Styles more than I liked looking at Noah Kahan.
Annie Jones [00:36:16] That's interesting. I feel like that's a good... There's the clip. There's the promo for the episode. I'm a 10 about Noah Kahan. I'm pumped for that new song. I'm super excited. Although, never forget the time that Noah Kahan never responded to me quoting his song in my book and therefore we could not quote it. And I had to write my way around it. The writing was better for it, but it was frustrating. Okay, listen, speaking of money, what are we buying? I'll be honest with you. I'm not buying a ton. I'm still doing rental clothing from Nuuly. I'm liking it, especially I rented two coats. I love winter wear. I freaking love winterwear. I also live somewhere where while it snows and ices in the rest of the country, it's going to be 60 degrees and sunny here. So I don't need a new plaid wool coat, but I did get one in my Nuuly thinking I was going to Nashville. I'm not, but I have worn that coat twice. And so I am still on the rental clothing train. I don't know that I need to keep doing it. I think after this month, maybe I should put a pause, but I can totally see how helpful it is. I used to think, who needs rental clothing? But it was super helpful during maternity leave, super helpful postpartum. So I'm sorry, pregnancy, maternity, and postpartum. It was helpful for all of those things when your like sizes are weird and you don't want to spend a lot of money. And then I have also found it helpful for like, okay, I don t need a coat sitting in my closet forever, but I do need one for this week. And so I do think Nuuly is valuable, and I do like it. So that's probably the only, other than Dunkin' Refreshers, that's been what I spend my money on. What about you?
Ashley [00:37:57] Okay, I have two categories for you. One is food and the other is bodily products. I'll start with bodily products, both from Lush. One is a sweet wild orange scented hand balm. I use it in the mornings because the air is dry up here in North Carolina. It keeps Keezy [sp] moisturized and it smells like citrus. And then the other one is-- I don't know what it's called, but it smells like lavender. And it's like a bar that you put in between your hands to let it warm up and you rub it a little bit and then rub what comes off of it onto your hands. And I use that in the evenings to moisturize these dry hands.
Annie Jones [00:38:42] That sounds awesome.
Ashley [00:38:44] Yeah, put the excess up your arms, on your neck. It's fantastic, smells so good.
Annie Jones [00:38:50] Okay, that's fun.
Ashley [00:38:51] And then for food, I have several things that I think you would really enjoy. First of all, I've been making my own tea. I use ginger root plus lemon plus honey in some hot water.
Annie Jones [00:39:05] Okay. So you're not making your own tea leaves.
Ashley [00:39:08] No, not doing leaves. I don't know if tea is the right word.
Annie Jones [00:39:13] Wow, Ashley has really taken a turn. She's become like some kind of mountain mama up there.
Ashley [00:39:20] Well, and I know better than to recommend that to you. I do make sourdough. So homesteading is in the future.
Annie Jones [00:39:28] That's what I thought. I was like, wow, she's up there making her own bark. Like putting her own bark in tea.
Ashley [00:39:36] My Instagram feed is sourdough and crocheting and Heated Rivalry.
Annie Jones [00:39:41] Okay, that sounds great.
Ashley [00:39:42] Well, get you some ginger fruit, get your lemon and drizzle some honey in there, and then you make a big pot of it and then you put the excess in like a little mason jar and then you can pour it for later. Now, could you just use a regular person teabag? Yes, I don't think it would have the same effect. If you just want to feel like you're doing something homey, this is great. And you can adjust the ratios for your individual taste.
Annie Jones [00:40:12] Ginger is like iffy for me. I do want you to know that I did feel like you the other day because Joy the Baker, I don't know if you follow her, she did like this juice. And, well, my dad made me a batch, but then I made my own. But I did send it to my dad and I was like you should make this. I bought all the ingredients and then he came to my house and made it while they took care of Isaac. So it was really nice, but it was grapefruit, orange, lemon and ginger. And all mixed together, and it was delicious, and I've been drinking a shot of it every morning because I'm trying to stay well through my birthday. That's the goal this year. Last year I was sick as a dog on my birthday, and I was like, please, please no. I just need to be well on February 2nd. So, anyway, I think you would like it. And it made me feel like a homesteader, so you can keep feeling like a homesteader.
Ashley [00:41:01] I think I did see that. And also side note, I am feeling under the weather. So I'm wondering if people will have an easier time differentiating our voices in this episode. I feel like I sound different, but maybe I don't. Okay. Next food thing really quick is a dense bean salad. It's been taking over TikTok, but by golly, for good reason. You can make a warm one. I made a cold one using chickpeas white beans chopped celery, chopped tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and some other things that I can't remember but I can send to you. And then I used the marinade from the mozzarella pearls to make the dressing that goes on top with Dijon, lemon juice, and I guess just some seasonings. Fantastic. Made a big batch. The longer it sits in the fridge, the better it tastes because it soaks everything up and it's so easy. And I didn't need an afternoon snack on those days.
Annie Jones [00:42:05] Okay. So good for lunch.
Ashley [00:42:06] Great. It's, oh, so good for a lunch. I really am going to send you this recipe because I do think you'd like it.
Annie Jones [00:42:11] Please do because I hate lunch.
Ashley [00:42:13] I know. Okay. Then I have one more lunch for you and that is a sweet potato cooked, open it up and then you put, it's kind of like a homemade tzatziki using Greek yogurt, Lemon juice, lots of dill, salt, pepper, garlic. Prop that on there and then roasted chickpeas with whatever seasonings you want. Again, keeps me very full, delicious. Oh, and feta cheese. Feta cheese goes in there too if you want.
Annie Jones [00:42:45] Okay, that sounds delish. Okay. Maybe I will give those a go. Please send the recipes.
Ashley [00:42:48] Will do.
Annie Jones [00:42:50] Okay, thanks Ashley. May you enjoy a winter wonderland this weekend.
Ashley [00:42:54] Thanks so much.
Annie Jones [00:42:58] This week, I'm reading Kin by Tayari Jones. Ashley, what are you reading?
Ashley [00:43:03] This week I'm read The Hobbit.
Annie Jones: From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in Thomasville, Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram at @bookshelftville, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website:
A full transcript of today’s episode can be found at:
Special thanks to Studio D Podcast Production for production of From the Front Porch and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.
Our Executive Producers of today’s episode are…
Cammy Tidwell, Linda Lee Drozt, Martha, Stephanie Dean, Ashley Ferrell, Gene Queens, Beth, Jammie Treadwell…
Executive Producers (Read Their Own Names): Nicole Marsee, Wendi Jenkins
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