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You are here: Home / Archives for friends

Hi Ho Home Market & My Friend Heidi

September 24, 2011 at 9:36 am by Claudia

When we first moved to this area, Don and I saw a shop that intrigued us. As I made the trip back and forth from our rental to the cottage, I kept passing the shop and made a mental note to stop in one day. Hi Ho Home Market was the name. We eventually stopped in, bought some much needed pieces of vintage furniture and started up a conversation with the owner, Heidi Hill-Haddard.

Fast forward a year or so and I was still stopping in, chatting with Heidi and gazing at her wonderful displays (she is the Queen of The Art of Display.) Eventually, Heidi took pity on me and I worked there part-time. That continued for a few years until my coaching work started to take me away for long stretches of time. I am proud to say that Heidi and her family have become great friends of ours.

All of my auction smarts were gleaned from watching Heidi in action. I admit it: I leaned on her experience when I first started bidding on things, in fact, I often made her bid for me. I’m now able to go on my own but I always hear Heidi’s voice in my head and I try to match her deadpan expression when I see something I want desperately. Never let them see that you want it!

Last year, Heidi won an award from Hudson Valley Magazine for best gift shop in the Hudson Valley, this year she won another award – Best Unique Home Shop in the Hudson Valley. And she was named Retailer of the Year by Country Business Magazine! She and her daughter Whitney were flown to Chicago and it was a big, big deal.

Heidi’s dog, Humphrey, has become the shop mascot. Everyone loves him, including his Aunt Claudia.

Here he is in his favorite spot – watching the world go by on Main Street. Look at that face!

Oh, and on top of all these awards that are so richly deserved, when Extreme Home Makeover was in our neck of the woods lately, Heidi was the Head Stager for the final reveal! Six degrees of separation: Ty Pennington was on the cover of the Studios magazine in which my studio was featured and Heidi worked with him on Extreme Home Makeover! Who would have thought?  Heidi works tirelessly and has more energy than Don and I put together. She sets the bar high for all other retailers. I’m so happy for her.

Hi Ho Home Market is on Facebook – just search for HiHoHome.

The website is here – you’ll enjoy looking at all the wonderfully decorated rooms throughout the store.

Heidi, Humphrey and me a couple of years ago – in the days of my blue glasses.

Congratulations, Heidi and Hi Ho Home Market!

Oh, I almost forgot: I’m starting a weekly meme called Reality Shot. I thought it would be fun to show the ‘real’ in our homes. One shot of something; a pile of clothes, a messy, cluttered table, boxes that haven’t been unpacked….you get the picture. Because there is so much that is pretty on home and design blogs (and I love it) it seems to me we need a dash of real life, as well. If you want to join, it will be every Thursday. I’ll put Mr. Linky or something like it up late Wednesday evening. If you want an idea of what I’m thinking of, visit this post from this past Thursday. I think it will be fun to share our real life messes, as well as all that’s beautiful.

I’ll put another reminder up on Tuesday. Grab the button and code on the sidebar and if you’d like to, pass the message along. Hope to see you there!

Filed Under: friends 13 Comments

Beauty on the Page & Tulips

May 4, 2010 at 11:13 am by Claudia

Warning: these publications contain so many beautiful images, so much eye-candy, if you will, that we recommend reading them in several short sessions, spread over several days.

Actually, it isn’t far from the truth! I so look forward to these issues and when I finally have them in my hands, I find myself reading little bits at a time. There is so much to take in and I find that I can only handle a little before I come down with a full-fledged case of ‘Beauty Overload.’ I suspect I also want to take my time so that I don’t get to that final page too soon.

I’ve started reading Where Women Create – some of my favorite bloggers are featured, including Karen Valentine and Elizabeth Maxon. I’m so happy for them both! I know that Beverly and Pink Saturday are featured in Artful Blogging – a well deserved recognition of all the work Beverly does every week in her role as hostess of this event.

Back to rehearsals today. Last night I attended a lovely tribute to Raul Moncada, friend and colleage of many years when I worked here full-time. He was just 64 when he died. But what a lesson he taught us – grab life by the horns and live it fully. He had such an amazing life; born in Cuba, eventually making a life in the United States. He was an actor, a translator, a playwright, a stage manager. He traveled the world. He was loved by many, including Don and me.


New tulips from Trader Joe’s. I always love flowers around my home, of course, but especially so here in this temporary lodging. They add life and beauty to the apartment. They make me smile. And you can’t beat that morning light, can you?

Have a wonderful day.

Filed Under: flowers, friends 22 Comments

Monday Thoughts

September 14, 2009 at 9:58 am by Claudia


Sorry for my absence over the weekend. Heidi had her annual Tent Event and I was helping out at the store on Saturday and Sunday. Lots of fun – with vendors in the big tent, lots of shoppers, and entertainment under another tent. Sweet husband was one of the talented people performing. It was a splendid, if tiring, weekend! (I can only imagine how tired Heidi is.)

The photo above is of my prize from Jennifer of The Old Painted Cottage. Do you remember the incredible reveal she had of Cottage8? I still go back and drool over the photos. Well, she had a fun game going on throughout the day and I was one of the winners. Isn’t this fabulous? I know just where I’m going to hang it – on the side of my kitchen island. Thank you, Jennifer!

I know I said that The Week of the Dog was over – but I couldn’t resist this photo…


…in which a remote appears to be growing out of Scout’s head. It doesn’t appear to be bothering her, does it?

Have a lovely Monday!

Filed Under: friends, husband, Scout 7 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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