Simpleness

"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary

so that the necessary may speak."

~Hans Hofmann

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"Simply Your Life" by Karen Tribett

And the (very patient!) winner is...

Thank you all so much for understanding when I wasn't able to draw the winner of the New Years Day Giveaway on Thursday as planned. :-) My family is all doing a little better each day. This evening I wrote down all the entrants and Mr. H. was kind enough to draw the winner. Without further ado, the recipient of the Gooseberry Patch calendar is...

"Mystery of History Mom"

at Morning Glories and Moonflowers.

Congratulations! :-)

And thank you to every one that entered! :-)

Narnia ~ Prince Caspian

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

A Funky Chunky Scarf :-)

My daughter has been the first at Heritage Schoolhouse to start to recover from our family flu. She spent some time finishing up her second knitting project ~ a "funky, chunky scarf" on h-u-g-e needles. Very fun!

Thank you! :-)

I really, really appreciate the get well wishes! They have cheered me so. :-) My entire family has had the flu and it has been a very long week. We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but still have a little ways to go. I sincerely hope to get to the drawing tomorrow. Thank you so much for understanding and thank you to each reader that took the time to leave me a note - it means so much to me! :-)

Mrs. H. :-)

Mrs. H. will be back shortly...

Please continue to enter the New Years Day giveaway. I have not been feeling well, and I will be sure to draw the winner as soon as I am feeling better! Thanks, and I hope everyone is having a good week! :-)

Mrs. H. :-)

It's a New Years Day Giveaway!

To help you plan your new year ~ a Gooseberry Patch calender!

If you would like a chance to win, please leave a comment on this post. Remember, you don't have to have a blog to enter! I will draw the winner next Thursday, January 8th, after 8:00 PM. (All followers will be automatically entered, and those that leave a comment will be entered in the drawing two times!)

Thank you for visiting Heritage Schoolhouse and allowing me get to know you. :-) May God bless you and your family in 2009!

The Maltese Falcon

“Why does everyone want to go away?

I love being home.”

~ 'Beth', from Little Women by Louisa Mae Alcott

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com
"Title Page of Little Women" by E.h. Garrett

Supper Menus
January 5th-10th

Monday
comforting chicken casserole, green beans, carrots, laura ingalls wilder's gingerbread
Tuesday
pot roast, home style macaroni and cheese, green peas, dinner rolls

Living Room Organization

I am participating in this month's "Organizing Round-Up" contest hosted by Organizing Junkie. The month of December focus is on living rooms. I worked in the tv area of our living room on two spots that were needing attention.

Our Wii equipment organization left a lot to be desired. ;-)

And that is because, there was no organization! Everyone was just putting things where ever! I needed to make some "homes". A place for everything and everything in its place. :-)

Mr. H. suggested using baskets to store the controllers and the games. (What he actually said was ~ "Why don't you go buy some baskets to help organize this?" Now, if that's not speaking my love language, I don't know what is!)

Keeping the controllers in a basket will free up the small drawer

to store the remote controls and instruction manuals.

Our entertainment cabinet was also in quite a disarray!

I took every thing out, sorted through what I wanted to keep
and then arranged nicely what was left.
And now we have room to grow! ;-)

Thank you Laura for hosting the round-ups! I have enjoyed participating this year. :-)

"In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy."

~William Blake

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"Winter Sunset" by Dubravko Raos

Dark Passage

"Brew me a cup for a winter's night.

For the wind howls loud and the furies fight;

Spice it with love and stir it with care,

And I'll toast our bright eyes, my sweetheart fair."

~Minna Thomas Antrim

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"Hearth and Home" by Judy Gibson

New Years Day at Heritage Schoolhouse

The boys were ~consumed~ with building a car

for the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby.

The girls did a little shopping and some knitting.

And Daisy?

She is just hoping that we all go to bed

a little earlier this evening. ;-)

For Good Luck :-)

Hoppin' John 
(from Ranch Style blackeye peas)

6 servings

2 tablespoons oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped celery

1 clove garlic, minced

2 cans (15 ounces each) blackeye peas

8 ounces sausage or bacon, cooked

1 cup uncooked rice

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 can (14.5 ounces) chicken broth

Heat oil. Add onion, celery and garlic. Cook 10 minutes or until tender. Stir in remaining ingredients. Heat to a boil; reduce heat and cover. Stirring occasionally, simmer 30 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Enjoy and have a Happy New Year!

2009...

... in pancakes! ;-)

Happy New Year!

from Heritage Schoolhouse!

Please check back later for...

a giveaway! :-)

To Ring in the New Year

Things you need...

a little family
a few friends
a sweet puppy
a couple of snacks
a selection of games
a kiss

and...

a grateful heart for the blessings of the past year
a thoughtful remembrance for loved ones
a reflective mind for lessons learned
a hopeful spirit for the year to come
a peace that passes understanding