The Paperback Porch

  I was born to love secondhand things and I wasn’t forced to, by any means; I just genuinely enjoy finding “old” items that have been well-loved in another life before me. I grew up thinking old glass bottles were treasure, you know? This, of course, applied to books as well, and I can remember hunting for cracked spines as a kid at antique shops and yard sales long before I realized there were places like Barnes and Noble. These days, the thrill hasn’t worn off. If anything, it’s gotten better because now I know where to look. Below are a few of my favorite places to find used books, both locally and online. Some are charming shops I’ve stumbled across in Missouri. Others are tried-and-true online sources I return to again and again. Finding a much sought-after used title always reminds me of why I love books in the first place: the joy of the hunt, the weight of a good story, and the feeling that you’re right where you’re supposed to be when the magic strikes.

  It’s that time again— What’s on the Porch? Wednesday —basically my favorite excuse to chat about whatever’s piling up on the porch these days . Books, drinks, travels, scribbled notes in the margins, or just little things I’m loving right now. You don’t have to be on a porch to join in (but if you are, bonus points). Just bring your current read, whatever’s in your mug, and anything you’ve been thinking about lately.  Missed last week's What's on the Porch? Wednesday ? Click here  to give it a read. Here's what’s on  my  porch this week:

Something I'm embarrassed to admit when talking to avid readers: Nonfiction wasn’t really my thing until the last couple of years. I used to stubbornly think of it as dry infodumps or dense biographies that I should read but never actually wanted to. Somewhere along the way, though, I started picking up titles about things I already loved: nature, teaching, farming, weird little science facts -- and suddenly it started to feel… fun? Like, sit-on-the-porch-with-an-iced-coffee kind of fun. I don’t claim to be a nonfiction expert, not even close - heck, you're probably the expert if you clicked this link and I'd love to learn FROM YOU (check out the end of this post) but I have found a few nonfiction books that have really stuck with me. Here's six books that made me think, scribble notes in the margins like I was preparing for an imaginary pop quiz, or close the book mid-sentence just to sit with an idea for a minute: A Sand County Almanac  – Aldo Leopold When people a...

  Welcome to What’s on the Porch? Wednesday , a casual little check-in I’m hoping to make a regular thing around here. I'm always curious what other people are loving  in the moment- whether that means: books, new drink flavor combinations, travels or little hole-in-the-wall spots to stop and eat, candles, running shoes, skincare or good deals online.  Here's what’s on my porch this week: No endorsements here - these are all just some small things I'm really loving at the moment! To eat, drink, read, journal with, and explore.  So far, The God of the Woods  by Liz Moore feels...disjointed (I think that's the right word for how I'm feeling) BUT I'm only four chapters deep and had a hard time stopping earlier when I needed to get started on other tasks. That's got to be a good indicator right? -- Have you read it? What were your thoughts, if so? I'm listening to it via Audible but wishing I had a hardcopy to snuggle up with tonight.  I stepped into Yellow...

I don't think there's anything more magical in the world than a front porch . Maybe it's the childhood coming out in me, of growing up eating peanuts from a bucket in a cushioned chair, watching Papa's petunias grow in colorful planters, always with a dog at our feet. There were blurry hummingbirds, neighbors who honked as they drove past, a radio that (sometimes) played country gold or (almost always) weather alerts on muggy summer nights. Now that my husband has gifted me a porch of our own, built with the makings of his powerful mind and capable hands, I find myself there daily. There's petunias (they're practically always on the cusp of death), there's a dog at my feet (either sleeping or bringing me a tennis ball), there's coffee in the mornings (usually iced) and a blanket in the rocker in the evenings. There is also, without fail, whatever book I'm currently reading and whatever notebook I'm journaling in. The amount of times I've brai...