The real things haven’t changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.

Laura Ingalls Wilder

It’s funny how much our dreams can change as we go through life. Things we wanted when we were kids seem to get forgotten. They are replaced with new goals and dreams depending on what season of life we are in. I remember wanting to be a teacher for the longest time. I would line my stuffed animals and dolls up in my room and read them stories, grade papers, send them out to recess. I even had parent teacher conferences. As I grew a little older, my focus shifted to helping people and I wanted to be a nurse. I took that dream as far as medical assisting school. After I graduated, I learned very quickly that it was not for me. (Huge shout out to those of you in the medical field!) One thing that remained throughout all of those transitions was my love for writing and the simple country lifestyle I had grown up in.

When I look back over my past jobs, the ones that have brought me the best memories and the most joy have been in two different fields- food service and childcare.

I have always had a love for cooking and baking. It is so satisfying to start with a counter top full of ingredients and end up with a mouthwatering dinner, or a sweet dessert that people line up for. That is the main reason I started my Pampered Chef business. I fell in love with the tools and the company’s philosophy and mission, and I haven’t looked back. You can browse some of my favorites here http://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/thuskisson. I truly do believe that memories are made around the table!

The same can be said for gardening. You start with a small packet of seeds, or starts from the nursery, and you nourish them and pour your time and energy into them. Those plants repay you with the biggest sense of pride during harvesting, and fresh produce that tastes better than you could have ever imagined! I think this is why each spring my garden gets a little bigger and my yard gets a little smaller.

I feel like in a way all of this can also be applied to raising kiddos. We invest time and nurturing into them, as well as developing the group of people we surround them with, and they reward us with love, smiles, and a sense of pride watching them become the people they are destined to be.

All of that brings us to The Huskisson Homestead. A place to combine all my loves and share them with you! Things I have learned over the years, things I still want to learn, and some humor, because let’s face it- life with livestock, wiener dogs, kids, and husbands is a little crazy. Seriously… yesterday we had an escaped hen and I came within inches of falling right on my face trying to catch her… in my slippers… Welcome to the Huskisson Homestead!