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

The Things of Christmas

The decorations get put back in the attic...

But, the spirit, stays in your heart. :-)

"Why not learn to enjoy the little things -

there are so many of them."

~Author Unknown

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"Books in Winter" by Jessie Wilcox-Smith

Supper Menus
December 29th-January 3rd

Monday
kung pao chicken, white rice, passion fruit jasmine iced tea, chocolate raspberry lava cake ~ and yes, I'm trying to create PF Changs at home ;-)
Tuesday
beef stew, lettuce and tomato salad, dinner rolls
Wednesday
take out pizza
Thursday
hoppin' john, jalapeno cheese corn bread
Friday
cheese tortellini, garlic bread sticks, caesar salad

"To poke a wood fire is more solid enjoyment

than almost anything else in the world."

~Charles Dudley Warner

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"American Homestead - Winter" by Currier and Ives

A Surprise from Mr. H.! :-)

I LOVE this thing!!!

Thank you Mr. H.!!! :-)

Christmas Breakfast Casserole

Christmas Breakfast Casserole 

12 servings

4 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes
1 pound bulk pork sausage, cooked and drained
1/2 pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 medium green pepper, chopped
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 green onion, chopped
1 cup baking mix
1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 eggs
3 cups milk

Combine hash browns, sausage, bacon, green pepper, 1 cup cheese and onion. Transfer to a greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Whisk biscuit mix, salt, eggs and milk; pour over the top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting. Enjoy!