Loving Laura {Love Story}
Written by Julie Kohl of Eggs and Herbs

I think my first true love as a girl was for Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Not necessarily the real Laura but the fictional Laura that lived in the pages of the Little House on the Prairie books.  I romanticized the pioneer lifestyle and everything that was Laura.  I found myself drawn to pioneer type activities (sewing, crafting, cooking) and loved going to museums where the “olden days” came alive within their walls. Old Sturbridge Village, Colonial Williamsburg and the Billings Farm and Museum, where my mom worked, all had amazing pioneer exhibits and were places I loved to visit.

I looked forward to stormy winter nights (I grew up in Vermont) when the power would go out and we were forced to live by candle light and warm ourselves by the fireplace.

I channelled my inner Laura every time my sister and I played “Indians” or “Cooking Rock” by the pond in our back woods.

I always had a penchant for things that were handmade, homemade and simple.

I have read every book written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, several times.

I have read many books written about Laura.

Laura was a sister, a friend, a confidant, a mentor and long before I understood that Laura was real, she was real to me.

Laura was my first true love.