Mr. H.'s ATV Adventures

Mr. H. has been 4wheeling again!

On the mountain ATV trails of beautiful New Mexico.

Just a bunch of guys doing guy things.

And having a great time at it! ;-)



Mr. H. never forgets to take a few scenery pictures for me. :-)

Welcome home! We missed you!

Magazine Storage for the Magazine Addicted ;-)

Most organizational books and popular television programs about organizing and decluttering are likely to tell you that one of the best things that you can do to clear out some clutter is to get rid of all those magazines laying around. The ones you never read and that are gathering dust and taking up space. "Get rid of all but the latest issues!" they tell us.

Well, that happens to be one organizing tip that I have never followed! ;-) I keep lots of my old magazines because I do refer to them for inspiration and ideas. In order to do this, though, I need to keep the magazines stored in a way that will make getting to and using the magazines practical for me.

I store my magazines in six rubber maid containers. This keeps them safe from dust or potential water damage. In the containers, they are organized by month.

I keep all the containers under the bed. They are easy to get to, but are also hidden from view. The key to making them useful is to take out a few issues of each magazine for each month.

I store these in my nightstand. I have about two dozen "September" issues in the drawer right now, just waiting to be looked through in the evenings or when I have a little extra time. The articles, crafts, recipes, and ideas will all be relevant to the season, and if I didn't get to something last year, maybe I will this time around. At the end of September, I will put these back in the containers under the bed and replace them with October issues.

My monthly Taste of Home issues are stored in two binders in the kitchen so they will be handy for menu planning.

If you are a maggazine addict like me,

I hope this gives you some ideas

for keeping your magazines around a little longer.

Happy magazine reading! :-)

I just couldn't end this post without sharing how I acquired these binders. They are very special to me. :-) I purchased them with a $20 gift certificate that Riemann Publications sent me for contributing to an article in Country Woman several years ago. It was about funny things that children say and I shared a story from our supper table when my son was about three years old. We were having spaghetti that evening, and as soon as we sat down, my son quickly reminded me that I hadn't put everything we needed for our meal on the table. He requested the "pizza sugar". It took me a moment, but I soon realized that he was asking for the parmesan cheese! ;-) We had a chuckle that night and down the road it earned Momma a gift certificate for a storage solution! :-)

Caramel Apple Crisp

Caramel Apple Crisp

12 servings

3 cups oats
2 cups flour
1-1/2 cups brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup butter
8 cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples
1 package (14 ounces) caramels, halved
1 cup apple cider, divided

Combine oats, flour, brown sugar and cinnamon; cut in butter until crumbly. Press half of the mixture into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Layer with half of the apples, caramels and 1 cup oat mixture. Repeat layers. Pour 1/2 cup cider over top. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes. Drizzle with remaining cider; bake 15-20 minutes longer or until apples are tender. Serve warm and enjoy!

Supper Menus
September 7th-12th

Monday
meatball sub sandwiches, potato chips, carrot and celery sticks, caramel apple crisp
Tuesday
poppy seed chicken, glazed carrots, buttered corn, lettuce and tomato salad, dinner rolls
Wednesday
end of summer harvest soup, garlic breadsticks, green salad
Thursday
out for supper
Friday
leftovers
Saturday
hamburgers, spicy potato wedges

Please visit Menu Plan Monday!

It's that time again...

...time for Fall Nesting at The Inspired Room!

Since autumn is my very favorite time of the year,
I really enjoyed participating in
last year's Fall Nesting Week.

This year, much of my decor will be the same ~

apples, pumpkins, indian corn,

my autumn dishes.

I have a tradition of purchasing one new decorative item

each year at Hobby Lobby

when they put the autumn decor on sale for 1/2 price.

A few of my favorite treasures

from year's past include these ~

I've already made this year's purchase!

I knew right away this plate was for me. :-)

When I brought it home, I told Mr. H.

that to me the picture on the plate

represented all that is right in the world. :-)

So I had to get the mug, too. ;-)

I'll be enjoying lots of hazelnut coffee, hot cocoa, and spiced cider in it this fall. :-)

Autumn is the perfect time for lots of cozy cooking and baking. These are a few of our favorite foods that we enjoy during the fall ~

beef stew

autumn chowder

texas chili

sweet autumn salad

chicken pot pie

beef pot pie

braised autumn pork chops

savory beef sandwiches

home style macaroni and cheese

apple struesel muffins

cream cheese pumpkin muffins

orange cranberry nut muffins

pumpkin oat muffins

baked oatmeal

overnight cinnamon rolls

apple crisp

baked apples

pumpkin roll

autumn cheesecake

pumpkin harvest cookies

Thank you so much for visiting Heritage Schoolhouse. Have fun with your fall nesting!

Please visit the The Inspired Room for Fall Nesting 2009 and get inspired for fall!

Chocolate Eclair Cake

For a super easy, no-bake, end of summer dessert ~

try this!

Line a baking dish with chocolate graham crackers.

Combine two boxes of french vanilla instant pudding mix
with three cups of milk.

Add a container of cool whip.

Spread half the pudding mixture over graham crackers.

Layer more graham crackers and pudding mixture,

and end with a third layer of graham crackers.
Pop cake in the fridge for an hour or two.

Remove lid and foil wrap from a container of chocolate frosting.
Microwave frosting for 20-30 seconds and then pour over cake.

Refrigerate until serving and enjoy! :-)

Chocolate Eclair Cake

12 servings

1 (16 ounce) package graham crackers
2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant french vanilla pudding mix
3 cups milk
1 (8 ounce) package frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (16 ounce) can prepared chocolate frosting

Line the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan with graham crackers. In a large bowl, combine the milk and vanilla pudding. Fold in the whipped topping. Spread half the pudding mixture over the graham crackers. Place another layer of graham crackers on top of the pudding and then spread the rest of the pudding. End with a third layer of graham crackers. Place pan in the refrigerator to chill for an hour or two. Remove lid and foil from frosting and warm in microwave for 20-30 seconds. Pour frosting over the top of the cake. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. Enjoy!

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup.

September!!! :-)

September

"When the goldenrod is yellow,

And leaves are turning brown -

Reluctantly the summer goes

In a cloud of thistledown.

When squirrels are harvesting

And birds in flight appear -

By these autumn signs we know

September days are here."

~Beverly Ashour

Supper Menus
August 31st-September 5th

Monday
invited to friends house for supper, taking m&m cookies and chocolate eclair cake
Tuesday
summer sub sandwich, potato chips, pickles
Wednesday
chicken fajitas, spanish rice, refried beans
Thursday
leftovers
Friday
out for supper
Saturday
beef pot pie, lettuce and tomato salad

Please visit Menu Plan Monday for more menu planning ideas.

Red River

This morning we're...

...starting the weekend off right.
With caramel apple sticky buns! :-)

Another wonderful treat from the Pioneer Woman.
You can find the recipe here!

Have a good weekend! :-)

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"End of Summer" by Sherry Masters

"Just living is not enough.

One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."

~Hans Christian Anderson

The Wonders of Parchment Paper

A few weeks ago, I needed to make six dozen cookies. But not six dozen of one type of cookie. I wanted to make two dozen each of three types of cookies. (It was the only dessert I was serving to company, so I wanted to have a variety.) Also, I needed to bake them very quickly! I accomplished this in less than an hour. From start to finish, making three types of cookie dough and getting six dozen cookies baked, 2 dozen at a time. How'd I do that???

Parchment Paper!

My mom had been using parchment paper for awhile, but I thought it would just be an added expense. Then I noticed that a 30 foot roll was only $1.99. I bought a roll, put it in my kitchen drawer and forgot about it...until the six dozen cookie marathon day. ;-) Wow! It made cookie baking so efficient! I lined two cookies sheets with parchment paper, made the chocolate chip cookie dough and put two dozen in to bake. While they were baking I made the oatmeal cookie dough and got the dough rolled out and placed on more parchment paper on the counter. When the first batch came out I immediately slid the cookies on the parchment paper onto the counter to cool instead of leaving them on the cookie sheets. Then I just slid the prepared oatmeal cookies on parchment paper onto the cookie sheets and popped them in the oven. Did you follow? I did the same thing with the third batch of dough. I was constantly working, never waiting on cookie sheets in the oven or cookie sheets that were cooling. Very speedy! And clean up? With parchment paper there isn't any! ;-) I'm sold!

Have you ever used parchment paper? What did you think?

Change

"The man who looks for security,

even in the mind,

is like a man who would chop off his limbs

in order to have artificial ones

which will give him no pain or trouble."

~Henry Miller

"You can avoid having ulcers by adapting to the situation:

If you fall in the mud puddle,

check your pockets for fish."

~Author Unknown

"Continuity gives us roots;

change gives us branches,

letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights."

~Pauline R. Kezer

"If nothing ever changed,

there'd be no butterflies." :-)

~Author Unknown

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"Seasons Change" by Lanie Loreth

First Day of School!

Today was the first day of school for my children.

After homeschooling for the past four years,

they are going to public school.

My daughter is in junior high.

And, my son is starting his last year of elementary school -

which will be his first year of school outside the home.

We might not be "homeschooling" this year

but we will still be learning and schooling at home,

as was evident while I was helping my daughter

with her math homework tonight... ;-)

This year will bring lots of changes,

and we're looking forward to new adventures.

Happy first day of school!

I pray it's a wonderful year for all! :-)

Supper Menus
August 24th-29th

Monday
out for supper
Tuesday
crispy tacos, refried beans, spanish rice, sangria punch
Wednesday
jessica simpsons chicken and dumplings, lettuce and tomato salad
Thursday
bbq beef sandwiches, easy baked beans, potato salad
Friday
super easy super cheesy lasagna, focaccia bread, caesar salad
Saturday
hamburgers, coleslaw, spicy potato wedges

Please visit Menu Plan Monday for more weekly menu plans.

Last Day of Summer

Summer? Where did you ago?

Once again, I blinked and you were gone.

You know what that means ~

my favorite time of year

is just around the corner...

back to school

football games

hunting season

falling leaves

cooler weather

Autumn! :-)

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"Last Days of Summer" by Miak Soileck

What is Success?

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people

and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics

and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;

To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better,

whether by a healthy child, a garden patch

or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed

easier because you have lived;
This is to have succeeded.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hanging on the wall

at Mr. H.'s aunt and uncle's home

in Montana.:-)

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"Sacagawea with Lewis and Clark During Their Expedition 0f 1804-1806"

by Newell Convers Wyeth

Huckleberries!

Huckleberry products were everywhere in Montana!

Huckleberry jams, huckleberry syrups, huckleberry candies,

huckleberry coffees, huckleberry candles and huckleberry lotions.

It was very hard to choose just one to sample.

"Growing amid the Rocky Mountains is a delicacy known to natives as the Wild Huckleberry. It's distinctive flavor makes it the most precious and highly valued wild berry available. They do not withstand transplanting or propagation and are not grown commercially. An abundant harvest, or lack of it, is determined by unpredictable elements such as frosts, adequate amounts of rainfall and sunlight. In late summer the berries are hand picked while they are at their sweetest. Using old family recipes, we at Huckleberry Mountain bring to you the finest most unforgettable taste treats made from nature's ultimate delicacy, the Wild Huckleberry."

I ended up choosing a milk chocolate

wild huckleberry truffle bar

to share with the family on the road.

They seemed to think I made the right choice. ;-)

It was just delicious and definitely rivaled Germany's "Milka" bars!