Rustic Hutch Vintage Show

The season for shows will be winding down here in a few weeks- but I wanted to invite all of you to come out to Rustic Hutch this Saturday.  It's located at 1902 E. Baseline Mesa, AZ (N. W. Corner of Baseline & Gilbert Rd.)  There will be over 36 vendors, food and some amazing home decor.  The event starts at 9am- come early for the best selection.  There will also be a Chalk paint specialist, CeCe Caldwell,  as well as a gold show (bring your gold and trade for cash)  Hope to see you all out there!  Love, Kelly

Living with Injury is easier with peach crisp

Recovering from an ax-in-the-foot injury hasn’t been easy for the counselor, or for those of us who love him, but he’s fairing well.  The doctors are worried about infections like staff, so please keep him and his precious foot in your prayers.

Interesting, how the counselor put an ax in his foot and now, almost everyone who has heard about his injury share’s their own ax story with us.  He's like the ax-tell-all counselor!  We’ve heard about the ax in the knee cap, the ax in the shin, the ax hitting a chain-link fence only to jump up to hit them in the head and the climbing up to get an ax out of a falling tree.  To all those out there thinking of chopping wood or simply holding an ax, please be careful!

Food always makes me feel better, so this morning before the counselor hobbled off to work I made him a peach crisp.  These frozen organic peaches from Costco make it so easy.  

They’re washed, peeled and already sliced.  I pour a bunch of peaches into a cake pan, sprinkle with a little lemon juice and sugar, 

then add the crisp topping:

½ cup butter

½ cup flour

2 cups oats

1 cup brown sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon.

Mix ingredients and crumple on top of peaches.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes and serve on a cute vintage plate to someone you love.

There's been little time for painting, but I was also able to finish this fun little mid-century piece.

Now, without my man to help me load, let’s see how I get it down to the shop!

A Book Trailer for The Memory Catcher

There are many things in life a girl wants, but thinks she’ll never get.

Like a diamond ring and then one day, it is granted to her by a man she loves with all her heart and life is never the same.

We all dream, we all hope and we all pray.

We work hard, sleep little and push ourselves farther then we thought possible.

And then one day, the dream to publish a book comes true and it is glorious in every way.

I dreamt of one day publishing a book.

I dreamt of the day I would have a beautiful book trailer.

And today is that day.

Please let me know what you think.  I hope you enjoy it and thank you to the beautiful Mary Cox for being so computer savvy and sharing her god-given talents and to my brother Matthew Hinze for his gorgeous song writing and music composition.  

A Milestone

When I first started re-doing furniture, I was overwhelmed by it all.  The only tools the counselor and I owned were a screwdriver and a hammer.  Still, I wanted to learn how to do it so bad and wasn't going to give up easily.
My first attempt to paint a dresser was with a brush and a can of paint.

My boys stood around while I slowly took off the fixtures.  

Stroke by stroke, I painted that piece of furniture, giving them each a chance to help.

I was amazed at what a little paint could do.

I wasn't long before,I started taking more chances; which only produced a new wave of questions.

Which grade of sandpaper should I use for striping?  

What shade of stain for antiquing?  

What is the difference between flat, semi-gloss and gloss paint?  

Little by little, error by error and miracle by miracle, I started learning tricks of the trade.

Last week, a friend asked if I would help her paint this china hutch.  When I first started, I would have never attempted such a thing.  Back then, I would've never dreamed I could paint something like this.

Didn't it turn out gorgeous!

I'm so glad I tried that first time.  Now, I actually own a power sander and power drill too!

An Ax and a Foot

It started out as a typical day.  The counselor and I, along with our kids, headed out mid-morning to attend the baptism for our niece.  Afterwards, we had lunch and spent the day hanging out at my sister’s house.

The kids rode every mechanical device possible and had hours of fun 

while the counselor and I caught up with family and enjoyed the rural setting of my sister’s barnyard home.

At sunset we drove home, the counselor and I excited about our evening where we would leave the kids with a sitter and go on a date.  I wanted to see the new Twilight movie because I am a nerd.  The counselor agreed to see it with me because he’s in love with a nerd.  I was getting dinner started for the kids when Chandler ran inside. 

“Dad just cut his foot with an ax!”

Wait, WHAT!  Did we even own an ax?  Where did ax and foot and cut fit into our perfect day, let alone with a date and dinner and a movie?

I ran outside and limping toward me was the counselor, hobbling with a very bloody foot.

“What happened?” I asked, shocked as I examined the mangled foot.

And the story from the counselor’s lips was just as I heard earlier from Chandler.  No better explanation, no easier ending and no compromise.  An ax and a foot don’t go well together.  The idea to chop some wood for an evening fire had backfired into an ax in his foot.

A quick trip to Urgent Care and the expression on the doctor’s face said it all.  “You need to get to a hospital with a trauma unit immediately.”

On the drive over, the counselor discussed every worse-case scenario. All the what-ifs.  “What if I have to have surgery?  What if I broke something?  What if I have to go under?”

I’m not sure if it’s my usual positive outlook or wishful thinking, but everything he suggested this injury might be, I dismissed; insisting once we got there the doctor’s would just stitch him up and we’d be home.

How wrong was I!

Sometimes things just work out, sometimes they say “You were lucky,” or you slide under the radar without a scratch; well, not this time.

It was everything we hoped it wouldn’t be.  It was cut nerves, a broken bone, loss of blood, possible bone infection and a three-day hospital stay.  It was surgery with anesthesia, a bone plate and two screws.  It was mushy hospital meals and I.V drips and constant monitoring of blood pressure and heart rate.  It’s six to eight weeks in a cast, physical therapy and many more doctor’s visits to come.

But, you know what?  With all that, we experienced many miracles.  The doctor’s were A+.  It was just over an hour from the time we arrived to the Emergency room to the time they wheeled him off for surgery.  And even though there was no dinner (alright, we did share a protein bar) or Twilight movie (we had our own blood and action, but no vampires), there was still him and I, hand in hand and we shared many tender moments. 

He comes home today.  Life will be different for a while, but it will be good to have him home.  We all missed him so much!

Through all this, the doctor’s and nurses sure found plenty of humor in an ax/foot story.  The counselor was half humiliated/half in pain and such a good sport; making jokes about his lack of coordination too.  When his sister arrived, she suggested he start wearing a lumberjack shirt! I told her next time I’m at Goodwill, I’ll be on a lookout for one.  I guess when there's laughter before he's even discharged, it's going to work out.

A morning walk with my son.

The morning routine around here is a bit hectic, but around 8:25, my son Chandler waits for me by the front door while I put my shoes on.  There are  many other things I might be doing that seem more important, but it is at this time I walk with him to the bus stop.

Now, the bus stop is less then a 5 minute walk.  We live in a safe neighborhood with beautiful walking weather, but this small journey from one street to the next is our time to share together.

Chandler starts talking, telling me a joke his Spanish teacher told him just yesterday or how his P.E. teacher is pushing students to run a faster mile.  He lets me know about a girl he thinks is pretty or how he wishes seminary was for 7^th graders too.  It is usually at this point I talk him by the elbow and we walk arm in arm for another moment, turning by the dog that barks at the gate, then past the over-grown pomegranate tree with ripe red fruit.  I might ask him what he wants me to make for dinner or if he needs anything at the store when I go later.  And just like that, he turns to give me a hug goodbye, of course out of site of the others waiting at the bus stop, and then off he goes, my oldest son off to school.

Where does the time go, It seem like just the other day, Your eyes were barely open, And I had no words to say.

You would lay there in my arms, As you looked up at me, That's when I knew what love was, As I looked back down at thee. 

                                                                                            Richard Goolsby

Twirl!

It’s so easy to smile when this is my scenery.

Twirl, twirl, twirl.

I found Eden’s Cinderella dress at Salvation Army for $2.50.

Every day, she puts on her dress, I turn up the music and she twirls.

As a little girl, I loved to dance.

I loved to play dress up too.

My nieces; lighting up my world with their love.

Finding joy in baby's first steps.

At Goodwill, I found Eden and her cousin Shelby matching dresses and then they danced too.

Children are a gift.  They remind us to enjoy the simple things and to twirl instead of worry, to dress up instead of put ourselves down and to smile instead of frown.

Does Anyone Remember The Barn Boutique In Gilbert?

We had a fantastic show this weekend- over $2500 in sales in just 8 hours!  We are truly enjoying participating in these vintage markets and are so grateful for those who are willing to put in the work to sponsor them.  Speaking of shows- I was curious to know if any of you local arizonans remember "The Barn"  that was located on Greenfield Road in Gilbert?  Carolyn Reidlinger was the sponsor and put on the best Boutique of it's time.  This was back in the early 1990's (maybe even late 1980's) and lasted through 2001.  The Reidlingers built a home that resembled that of an old barn   Here's what it looks like today- being used as a reception center.  Not long after, Carolyn and her husband Don purchased a real barn back east and reassembled it on the property next door to their original barn. Here's that barn today- which has been rebuilt (looks very similar though) to meet building codes for the church that purchased it from the Reidlingers.  It was at this location that history was made in the boutique industry.  The two enormous empty fields would be filled with cars when the boutique would open each October, November and December for just 3 days.  When you pulled up you could instantly smell the homemade cinnamon rolls, and tamales.  Most of the decorating pieces in my home that I won't part with (and that says a lot since I move things around weekly) are from the barn.  I would save all year so that I could go and purchase gifts and home decor.  The Reidlingers then purchased another old building, The Shenandoah Mill.  This was reassembled at a separate location, also in Gilbert.    They had a few boutiques there, but the mill soon became a reception center.  Here's a picture of the mill...



It was a sad day when the barn was sold and the boutiques ended.  September 11th had a hand in these decisions, I'm sure.  With my recent participation in these vintage markets, I have been reminiscing about the good ole days at the "The Barn"  Two weeks ago I was working on some projects for my daughter's teacher when my phone rang- "This is Carolyn Reidlinger, I got your name and number from a recent show you did in Queen Creek.  We're starting "The Barn" boutique again and wondered if you'd like to be a vendor?"  It may seem silly, but you would have thought I was being called by a magazine for my home to be photographed (a little dream I have)  I couldn't believe it!  Of course I would be a vendor!  And so,  I'm over the top excited to tell you that the Barn- Now called The Barn @ 3080 (because of it's new address) is this weekend!


Please join me in welcoming back Carolyn by attending the barn Friday or Saturday between 9-5.  This is the first one, so we need to get the word out.  Feel free to borrow any of the pictures on this post- blog, tweet, facebook and let everyone who loves shopping know- THE BARN IS BACK!  If you've ever attended one of the past barn boutiques, please leave me a comment letting me know- so I don't feel like the only one who's obsessing here.  If you can make it, stop by my tent and say hello.  Hope to see you there.  Love, Kelly.

It's Show Time!

We're packing up to go to Junk In The Trunk!  Here's a sneek peak at some of the items we'll have for sale...

 I love this french dresser in pink

 Don't be too impressed with the lettering on the chalkboard- I used an overhead projector and traced it!

Junk In The Trunk will be INDOORS! (The skies have been threatening rain and it's been super windy today)  There will be 70 vendors all selling vintage and handmade items.  Come join us Saturday at WestWorld in Scottsdale, AZ from 7am-3pm.  For more information visit Junk In The Trunk.  I'll be in space #46 so stop by and say hello.  Love, Kelly

What it that color?

Last weekend, the counselor scoured craigslist and found this dresser for sale. 

For $50, he brought home the credenza with two matching night stands.  It didn’t take long for it to go from questionable to gorgeous.

What color did I use?  I have no idea because this is opps! paint.  I have been on the lookout for a great greenish blue semi-gloss.  I think I found just what I was looking for; a gallon for $7.00.

This dresser is headed down to Qcumberz. 

I’d love for you to friend me on facebook and My Dear Trash has a facebook page too.

My book The Memory Catcher is getting great reviews.  

Over the past three decades, Sarah Hinze’s groundbreaking research on “prebirth experiences” has provided solid evidence that unborn children can warn, protect and enlighten us from another plane of existence.

Sarah’s initial quest was to understand what happened to her own miscarried child.  The answer she received eventually opened a world-wide discussion on where our children come from before they are born.

She has compiled hundreds of accounts that tell of heavenly encounters between parents and their soon-to-be-born children.

Now for the first time, Sarah shares the key experiences that shaped her life and set her on course to become The Memory Catcher—one of the world’s greatest advocates of the unborn.

Click here to order your copy.

Have a great weekend and hopefully get some thrifting in.
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