Do you take a vacation in the summer? Now that our kids are long out of the house, Mr. Red Door and I prefer to take our vacations when the weather is cooler. In fact MUCH cooler than the 100+ degrees we had last week. But I got to take a mini vacation this summer and it was a much needed respite from the stresses of life. I think most people in this position realize that as rewarding as it is to be in the position to help your parents in their time of need, we also need to take time for ourselves. My sister and I are careful to cover for each other in this way. She went to Disney for a week and I had a short break last week.
Long before my mom’s diabetes diagnosis my dear friend Jill had plans to travel home to Maine with Jim and their wee dog Sasha to see their families and then stop here and stay with us for 4 days on the way back to SC. There was only one problem with her trip ~ I think she brought the extreme heat and humidity with her! Boy it was HOT! 100+ two days and the high 90’s the other two. You know how much I enjoy the heat ~ NOT~ but that didn’t dampen our plans none the less!
Because there is very little prim shopping in her area, that was one of her two requests while she was here. And did we ever shop! She had a list of the stores she wanted to visit and I drove her to them. Two days in a row we were on the road as she checked off things on her MUST BRING HOME list. She could barely close the doors and trunk on her car when they left here! And since it was my summer vacation ~ minus hotel and meals costs ~ I took home some treasures as well. It’s no secret I have been on a mission to get back to a more colonial feel in my home and to that end, I am very pleased with my newest treasures and tweaking that resulted.
Three guesses (and the first two don’t count) on what was on the top of my list. YUP….
…some by Pied Potter Hamelin … LOVE Rick’s work….
..and I will actually be able to use the creamer and sugar because they are lead free. 
This piece is by Stephen Earp….
The jug on the dry sink…
…and the plate on the center shelf below are by the potters at Old Sturbridge Village. The museum shop carries many pieces and the prices are reasonable and the purchase helps support the village.
This little folk art sheep made out of old textiles…
…and my new chair came from Homestead Primitives in Fitchburg, MA. They are having a sale until they close at the end of the day on Saturday July 30th for a month. 40% off upholstered and wooden furniture. Yes, you heard that right… 40% off. Now you know why this chair just had to come home with me! 
And I just love this gorgeous sconce! Jill spotted it behind some other things in another store and I knew it was just what I needed for this spot. 
I was plum broke after that but Jill was like the energizer bunny, she kept going and going and going. We had such fun with her last purchase, this yellowware chamber pot. I spotted it and wanted it but like I said, I was done, so she took it home. I will still get to enjoy it though, it will be placed on the bench at the foot of the bed in MY room at her house. 
On Friday, we had a brunch here with our friends Laurie and Audrey, two of the gals she enjoyed visiting with when she lived up north still. Then she, Jim and Sasha put the last of her goodies in the trunk and headed home. It was a short but fun vacation break for me and being with a dear friend was just the perfect way to spend it. I will savor our time together forever.
It’s back to the grind this week. And thankfully for a short time at least the temps are lower. It won’t last long though so I am off to get some things done before I need to get my mom to one of her Drs appointments this week.
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Today I am thankful for:
The slow steady rains we had enjoyed yesterday.
The cool temps overnight.
My generous and hard working hubby.
The pharmacy clerk who helped with my mom’s prescription mix up.
The end of the football lockout. Not for the overpaid players, but for the thousands of other workers in the concession stands, gift shops, field workers etc. who might not have a paycheck otherwise.
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Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today. I hope wherever you are, you get much needed rains and more comfortable temperatures and a summer break as well!
Prim blessings and hugs, Linda
