Wednesday 5 September 2018

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 483

You get a twofer today, because it made me laugh! I've been getting in a stitch over fitting stuff in and over the weekend spent a ridiculous two hours producing one card. And I made a huge mess. I whined about it on Facebook. I had to clear up, because last night I went to a 'Marython Inspiration' meeting at Shopkeeper Gal's lovely shop. I had to take some stuff with me and it would have been impossible to find anything in the mess.
So here's the 'tidy-ish' version that greeted me today. Then a little swing left and you can see why it's tidy. I seem to have dumped all the clear stamps I was thinking of using on or around the 'cutting station'. I didn't even realise. Which proves that for me, tidy just means space on the actual desk!
As I thought, I needed last week off and will probably not make many visits this week - today is the culmination of lots of miles and a few sleepless nights I can tell you - we're moving my lovely Mama into another care home. Poor Mama is deep into 6 years of life-robbing dementia and needs more care. The difficulties of wrenching her from an environment that she is even vaguely familiar with fill me with sorrow and dread, so please hold her in your thoughts over the next few days. The plus side is that she will be 6 instead of 56 miles from me, and I intend to share all my scrapbooks with her as we spend more time together. I can see my younger sister's eyes rolling at the thought! 
Show and tell will you, you may just provide the distraction that Penny and I need at some point today!

36 comments:

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

For some reason, I am unable to link. There is an "unexpected error." It tells me to come back later. I wonder if others are having this same problem.

Helen said...

good to see your clear desk.. and the spare one! Glad you have found alternative accommodation for your Mama and I hope she will be happy.. It is hard I know.. I am sure sharing the scrapbooks with her will be a pleasure to her. Helen #1

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I am truly sorry to read about your mother's declining mental health. At least she is much closer now, or will be soon.

Sorry, still can't link up, so I may not make it after all this week.

glitterandglue said...

Morning Julia. Praying for you all today. God be with you as you move your Mama. Take care of yourself as well. Lovely neat work area this morning - just love the shot to the left - exactly how I work!
Margaret #2

Sarah Brennan said...

So sorry to hear that your mother's health is declining Julia. At least if she is a lot closer you will be able to see more of her. Hugs and best wishes. Sarah #4

Claire said...

Gosh, you're on the ball today!!
I will, indeed, hold your dear mama in my thoughts, Julia - dementia is so cruel... I hope she settles as quickly as she can, and it's great she's now closer to your home xx
Claire no. 3

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

It will be indeed a blessing with your Dear Mama closer to you Julia, I am within walking distance of my Mom and I know at times like this especially I would struggle to cope with it all.
The thought you have still continued to carry on with this weeks WOYWW i'm so grateful for. A much deserved Crop coming up for you.
Sending hugs for the day & a BIG Thank you for keeping us all together in one place once a week.
Take Care & enjoy sharing those scrapbooks...Tracey #6

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Go steady mate, will be thinking of you all day.
Jan xxx

Heather M said...

Good morning Julia, I don't think I have ever seen your desk as tidy! I love the second shot, that's more like the Julia's desk I have come to know and love! I'm so sorry to hear your mother's health is declining. I hope the move to a new home does not cause her too much distress. You both will be in my thoughts today. I'm looking forward to meeting you on Saturday, thank you for WOYWW! Take care, Heather #12

Robyn said...

love and light to all during this time of transition. Moving is a trial in the best of times. Grateful for closeness of family- in all ways. Robyn -Lucky 13.

Annie said...

There's few words to say enough today. My heart goes out to you with all you’re going through . Itpulls on every heart string to do what you need to do at times like this. Focus on the positives...having her closer will make monitoring the situation a little easier for you. Biggest hugs my friend....and I hope you get your happy mail very soon.
Hugs,
Annie x

Frayed Round The Edges said...

What a difficult time for you. I know from personal experience how hard this is. Karen 15

Diana Taylor said...

My heart goes out to you, I know how hard this is having been in a similar situation with my own dear mum. I hope the move goes well for you both, it will be much easier having her so close to you. Good luck and thinking of you.
Sending hugs, Diana xx

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Julia, hope everything goes well with the move for your mum. I'm in the middle of sorting stuff for my parents. Age can be both a blessing and a problem and I don't mean for me they have some sad moments. Both of mine are in their 90's and are managing to live at home but don't know for how long. Still we are lucky to have them. Sending big hugs, Angela x17x

Anonymous said...

Happy WOYWW. I hope your mum's move goes smoothly and she is comfortable when settled. I do dread the coming years with our family, as we all live so far apart (mum is 5 hours away, youngest sister is 5 hours in another direction and eldest sister is 7 hours away right down in Kent!). We are intending to move further east in the near future, so that will make things simpler. Get the rest and crafty time that you need. Ali x #19

Twiglet said...

You and your Mum are in our thoughts Julia - it's so hard dealing with all the emotions but having her nearer to you will be easier on you and that will help. I love the tidy/untidy pics. That's why my pics are on my ironing board - maybe I should have swung round to show the real deal!! xx Jo

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Julia, and here's fingers crossed the move goes smoothly. It will be good to have her much closer, despite the upheaval, and at least you will be secure in the knowledge she's able to have the right level of care. What an awful, terrible thing Dementia is, for all those involved. We can only hope for a breakthrough with treatment, can't we? Sending you loads of love & many, many hugs, as we all are.
Smiling at you 'second shot'- mine is usually just like that too. :) Shaz #9 XxXx

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

My idea of tidying is just chucking everything into a box never to be seen again - out of sight out of mind scenario - I might find things in there years later and rediscover them again with renewed interest. Best of luck moving your mum to a new care home. It's good that she will be much closer to you now. I'm sure she'll find it stressful at first (who wouldn't?) but hopefully she'll settle soon and the fact that you can visit her more often makes the additional stress all worthwhile. Best wishes zsuzsa #21 xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

A side move is always good- until they fall off the end!
Sorry about your Mum, we had to move my Mum from one to another and despite the dementia she settled very well so wishing the same for yours! Good that you will be nearer too, we travelled over the Pennines every week for years when I was working! Take care! Hugs, Chrisx

Sue said...

(((Julia))) My mum was just over 7 years in a care home with dementia. As she got worse, luckily the home was able to cope. Sending heaps of calming thoughts to your mum.

Did laugh at you just dumping the clear stamps:)

Happy WOYWW
Sue #16

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

You and I have several things in common, the simplest is the one really is messy a dropping point close to the desk. Only mine is a lot higher and things I need are at the bottom. Glory be.
Julia, you will have less stress with your mom being closer. She will really enjoy the books/photos.With the move, you no doubt have more things to take home or dispose of and that's another issue. For me to the move was dramatic, but she has adjusted very well. More people to spend time with. I take my phone each time I visit and we go over photos and her face lights up the joy seeing the grandchildren and their kids.
My one happiness was to take her in nice weather out for a ride. That is no longer possible so the visits are more strained. I understand the stress you are going thru mentally and physically. Total exhaustion when driving home. But each visit is because you share a unconditional love of being with her and someday we won't have that. Keeping you both in my prayers and truly enjoy the best in each visit. Hugs to you

Angie said...

Your messy desk makes me itchy lol! Oh, that I lived on your side of the pond so that I could come to organize it for you. Of course, my own mother won't let me tidy her space and it's far worse than yours lol! I'm an everything in its place sort of gal so that I can just put my hands right on it. Prayers to you and your family, my grandpa went through that and it was hard seeing the changes in him, I can't imagine how hard it is for the person going through it. Much love!
Angie #28

Stacy Sheldon said...

awww Julia ( know that I am hugging you in my thoughts ) Dementia is such an awful steal from all of us, I hope the move goes smoothly and YAY for having her much closer. and of course I laughed and nodded at the piles on the second flat surface. ( don't we all have flat surface filling syndrome?) :) ~Stacy #28

Dorlene Durham said...

Many thoughts and prayers for your mom, you and your family. Dementia is a tough disease. Good news with her being much closer to you. I hope she enjoys your scrapbooks. Have a great week. Dorlene #31

Belinda said...

Hello my crafty friend! I am back. I basically took the summer off to spend with family so no blogging occurred over here. I am thinking about your mum now. I imagine it must be very difficult for you and your family to move her again. But isn't it amazing that you have been a memory crafter all these years and can share you art with her. That is a true blessing. It's awfully hot over here and I am sweating as I type, but I am so happy to be back to peek at all the desks. Have a blessed day my friend and no worries about a visit. You take care of you and your mum. Hugs, Belinda #30

Christine said...

I hope the move goes quietly and well - if it hasn't taken place already - upheavals at any time of life are stressful. my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Much love
Christine #32

Caro said...

I love the swing to the side to reveal the things that have been moved from the tidy desk! Thanks for hosting us all as usual. Caro x (#27)

Lindart said...

Hi Julia! I'm sure that's how most of us "tidy up" - I know I do it a lot! Good luck with your Mom's move, how nice for both of you that she is much closer. Have a great week,
Lindart #23

Paper Wishes said...

Sorry to here your Mum has to move but as you say it will be good to have here closer. We visited my mother in law sometimes several times a day when she was in a home near to us. It was nice we could bake things she liked and bring them in and keep an eye on her and the repeated visiting kept her much more conscious of who we were for longer. Hope it works out for you, Its hard. x

Cardarian said...

Hi Julia!
I will be thinking of you and your mom! I hope she settles well into the new care home and it will be much easier for you to be visiting her being so close! I am for now really lucky that my mom is okay - lives on her own and cares for herself at 84!
Messy desk as you can see on my blog is a norm for me and I almost never manage to completely tidy up! So there!
Love and hugs Dolores - Cardarian

Carmen said...

I really feel for you and your family Julia - we went through it with my Nan. At least she will be closer and that will be a comfort to her. The scrapbooks is a lovely idea.

Carmen x #38

Anne said...

Hello Julia. I didn't manage WOYWW this week :-( and am sad to miss the crop.
Just wanted to say that I am sorry to read about your mum :-( I am glad she will be nearer to you( I wish so much mine was). I hope that moving her went as well as it could. I really feel for you and hold you and your mum in my thoughts. Just look after yourself as well. Hugs Anne x

ShazInOzCardsCalligraphy said...

My dear Julia,
I'm not blogging or WOYWWing for that matter.
But wanted to pop over and say am praying for you in all this.. the day my darling dad moved was so hard and he did struggle .. but the folk there were so kind and he came to be comfy there and happy.. he was happy by nature even in his confusion so that helped and being near me made it easier as I could visit so often.

So I'm praying this blessing for you dear loving Julia and your very precious mumma... may God bless and strengthen you both and hold you in all these things.

Will keep praying each day, too, dear mate.. big hugs and prayers from this little Aussie.
Shaz.xxxxxxxxxx

ShazInOzCardsCalligraphy said...

Ps my method of tidy is same chaos around but desk ok ... its tidy!!! Xxx

Kyla said...

Hope it goes ok, not easy but once settled hopefully being closer will be a bit easier for you.

Marit said...

I am keeping you, your mum and the family in my thoughts Julia, things like that are painfull... hope you find some destraction on your clean desk soon. Sending you a big hug from Holland, Marit #25