Stress relief comes in many different forms...

 I don't remember when I've last had an entire day to just blow! But last Saturday was like heaven...My sister Marcella came in from out of town and my brother Don was also staying the weekend with us.  (His wife and daughter had a little weekend get-away of their own). While Don was tied up during the day, Marcella and I enjoyed one of our favorite pasttimes, thrifting!  So after a yummy breakfast out, we picked up our mom and headed to some local estate sales and yard sales.  It was an absolutely beautiful and sunny Satuday morning and we all found some great deals.  I think I spent about $20 total.  Here are just some of the items I picked up...

A beautiful hand-made basket full of pine cones, $1.00

I've always wanted one of these tea cup & saucer holders to hang on the wall, so I was happy to pay $5.00 for this one!All it needs is dusting...I can do that!

This large and very sturdy basketful of artificial flowers was only $1.00.

Go ahead and laugh, but I'm so excited to be the proud owner of this antique chamber pot, purchased for $2.We might not have a regular job, but as hubby says, we DO have a pot to pee in! 

I was equally excited to find a very clean and heavy stainless steel pot with a glass lid for soup or sauce, $2.00.

I think I have close to a dozen wreaths now, either thrifted or that I made myself.  I couldn't resist this one for $1.50! Earlier in the week I had found a large pinecone wreath in my on-line swap group for $5.

We finished off our shopping day with lunch at Flurry's, a small local restaurant that has been around since we were kids...this kind of place...

When we were finished with our sandwiches, the waitress came over with a very large piece of cheesecake covered with fresh strawberries and whipped cream and said we needed to eat it to save her from herself.  We obliged :)

In the evening, Marcella visited with Don at our house while several of us attended a ballet in Akron.  The daughter of friends of ours had the starring roll in the classic ballet, Coppelia.  I can't imagine what it would be like to drive around town and see your daughter on the billboards!

I think this is the fourth ballet we have taken our granddaughter, Elylah, to at the Civic Theater.  She loves dressing up !

Isn't she beautiful, even with two front teeth missing?

I first met Sarah Ruesch when she was about a year old when her family moved into our neighborhood. She started taking ballet lessons at 3 1/2.

She sure has made her parents proud!

Elylah with her mom, my mom, and Bob's mom

My sister Barb and my niece Sarah also attended...

On Sunday morning, Marcella, Don, Bob and I all were able to attend church together, where we picked up some more stress relief! (We took these picures right before we left for church.)

After church we took Don home to his waiting wife, my sister went back home to her family, and Bob and I spent the rest of the day relaxing at home.  On Sunday evening, Don and Marcie had to check into the Hope Lodge in Cleveland near University Hospital, where Don is spending this week getting some more intense chemotherapy.  Check out their blog here.

"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thess. 5:16-18