Homemaker Portrait | Bess Hawthorne

In this episode, I am chatting with Bess Hawthorne, seasoned homemaker and host of the Come Over for Dinner Podcast, about her experience keeping a home for the last 29 years. She shares her journey of raising 5 kids and juggling some homeschooling and some working out side the home during those years. We cover all the usual ground of beginnings, influences, priorities, challenges and more—she has one of the best homemaker fail stories I’ve heard yet! 

Bess offers some great ideas for inviting kids into homemaking and she draws from her own experience and her podcast guests’ suggestions to give lots of hot tips for recipes and hospitality. 

NOTES & LINKS

Apply or Nominate a Friend to Be Out Guest this Fall! Deadline, August 13, 2025

Episode Companion Blog Post for all links, resources and recipes

Connect with Bess Podcast Website | Instagram 

Allison's Interview on Come Over for Dinner

Mentioned in this Episode

• Bible Reading Challenge
• Robert Murray M'Cheyne Reading Calendar (RMM)
• Bess' favorite homemaking resource: Technavorm Mocha Master KDT coffee pot
• Signature Dish: Chicken & Rice

Call to Action Homework

What ONE idea are you going to implement from today's episode? 

I'd love to hear about it! Send me a text using the link above, or send me an email,  or share with the FB group in Homemaker Forum. 

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome & Allison's Update; Lavender Lemonade & Pod News
• 6:59 Meet Bess; Preparing for an Empty Nest
• 12:02 Beginnings & Influences
• 16:20 Strengths & Weaknesses; Fighting to Stay Cheerful
• 21:43 Expectations & Challenges; Flexible Systems & Tight Budgets
• 29:55 Inviting Kids into Homemaking
• 37:30 Hospitality; Meal Train Hot Tips
• 42:35 Priorities; The Order of First Things & Bible Reading Plans
• 51:37 Homemaking Q & A: Fails, Wins, Favorites, Tips, Recipes
• 1:07:03 The Art of Home & Titus 2 Advice
• 1:17:22 Closing Thoughts, Reminders & Your Homework