Wednesday 30 March 2022

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 669

And…whoosh. The week went. Today the last of my Americans fly home, the house will return to a quieter, less full home and I will be a bit lost! Mama’s funeral was hard, of course. But also beautiful and filled with the love of a reunited family. The weather was quite beautiful and we gathered in the garden and laughed and cried and ate and drank and reunited and she would have loved it. I can’t tell you what a lift your messages of support and cards have been to all of us, thank you so much.
At some stage this week, my sister had a birthday and we haven’t been together for one of those for over 25 years, so we followed sombre with fun, and I know too that Mama would have loved it. An Alice in Wonderland themed afternoon tea. Prosecco and tea and sandwiches without crusts and lots of huge scones and cream and cupcakes covered in way too much icing…it was perfect! And that is my desk today gentle Desker; I don’t think I’ve sat anywhere else for long enough to take a photo this week!
Terrible photos even by my standards, but do you know how hard it is to take pictures without people in them when all your people are sitting at a table? And the numbers…oh em gee, it was like herding cats!
Show me yours then, it would be nice to see what I’ve missed! Thank you.

19 comments:

Mary Anne said...

Oh how lovely it is to be with family! Funny how life gives you the good and the bad so often at once. Births (and birthdays!) and weddings and funerals… they sometimes come in clumps! Or that is what it seems to me. I thinks that reuniting effect of a funeral is the thing that gets us thru it. And I feel sad for those the damn virus robbed of that closure. Your dear mother held on long enough to allow you to gather. Clever girl. Bet it will be good to see off those Americans… lol!
Have a lovely Woyww.
Mary Anne

Sarah Brennan said...

SO glad you have had the support of family this week and that you were able to celebrate your sister's birthday with her Julia. That tea looks spectacular! Sending gentle hugs. Stay safe. Sarah #1

Helen said...

I am glad it went well, and that you were able to gather - it makes so much difference and I feel so sorry for all the people who weren't able to do so during restrictions. Glad too, that you were able to celebrate in style for your sister's birthday, the table looks beautiful. Hope once you visitors have all gone, you are not too bereft and that we, your WOYWW family can continue to support you. Much love. Helen xx

Crafting With Jack said...

Good morning Julia, it’s been quite a week for you. The Alice in Wonderland birthday party sounds marvellous. I love that quirky jug. We have had some lovely sunny days, but as usual the weather is changing! Sending love, Angela #4

glitterandglue said...

Morning Julia. My goodness 0- what a week. How precious to all gather together as a big family - to mourn a loss, to give thanks for a life, to celebrate another. The full circle as it were. That tea table is amazing 0 well done on so many counts this week!
Take care dear girl. God bless you.
Margaret #5

Neet said...

What a week, so many emotions. I am sure your Mama was looking down on you all and enjoying you all celebrating her life. Sure too, that she understood there were tears, after all she was a Mama and Mama's know these things.
How wonderful that you had a Wonderland themed birthday party. That must have been such fun and I am full of envy for the curvy teapot.
Take time to settle back to ordinary everyday living and take some time for you.
Hugs, Neet 6 xx

Susan Renshaw said...

It looks as though you did have some fun as well as the sad times! Lovely to catch up with family!

Annie said...

I’m so glad you’ve been surrounded with family and love to get you through a difficult week...it certainly helps lots. Take time to breathe now and your crafting will help to fill some of those empty spaces.
Hugs,
Annie x

Caro said...

The best part of a funeral is when family are all together and sharing lovely and daft memories. How wonderful to be able to share your sisters birthday and the mad hatters tea party looks fabulous! I always think that when everyone has gone and life returns to normal, but not normal because the loved one is no longer there, is the hardest part. Love and hugs to you. Caro xxx (#12)

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Pleased to hear everything went well. Having everyone together is so special at a funeral it makes everything that bit better which is what we missed when we lost my dad which seems an age ago now but only a year and a half. Nice that there was a birthday party to make the week even better. Take care and have a lovely WOYWW. Hugs, Angela x13x

Tracy said...

Such beauty in your words Julia ๐Ÿ’• such an emotional time for you all ... your Mama will have been right beside you all lifting you all up๐Ÿ’›I'm so glad it went well ... spending time together remembering along with a birthday celebration for your sister๐Ÿค—๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’› Be gentle with yourself in the coming days, I know I'm not long back here ๐Ÿ˜Š but if you ever want a chat just you shout. Sending lots of love and light across the miles. Tracy #14

Lynnecrafts said...

So good that you could have the fun of that lovely Alice tea party with your sister after saying goodbye to your Mama.
Keep yourself busy now and see friends. Be kind to yourself. There’s so much to do leading up to the funeral, so many people, but after can be hard.
Take care Julia. Sending big hugs
Lynnecrafts 10

Rebekah said...

This is just precious to read Julia. I'm so glad your time together went well. Your teapot that has the daffodils in is sooo cute!! Lovely photos!

Lindart said...

HI Julia! Sounds like everything was a success last week! The Tea Party sounds (and looks!) like so much fun, I'm sure you all needed it by then. How quiet a house sounds when all the guests are gone, a feeling you have to get used to again. I'm sure everything will be back to "normal" again, as much as it can be, and next week we will see a desk! Have a good week, big hugs, Lindart #18

Kelly said...

Out of sadness comes joy. What a special time for you and your sister. Alice in Wonderland theme? How perfect!!
Thanks for sharing pictures. Can't believe no one photo bombed! LOL
Hugs & Creative Blessings! Kelly #19

Kyla said...

Glad things went as well as they could and i bet it was a real rollercoaster of emotions
Kyla #20

Lunch Lady Jan said...

I’m sorry I’m late commenting. How marvellous that the tea party went so well, a much needed boost after the demands of the funeral. The house will seem very odd now everyone has gone back home, I’m looking forward to our catch up tomorrow.
Hugs LLJ 9 xxx

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

Way behind today, but have missed too many weeks with this crazy life we have. Julia I so enjoyed your post. Glad you had much needed family time. And time for great birthday fun. Love your photos, keep the kleenex handy those tears welp up at any time. But the Memories are Treasures and Life goes on. Hope SPRING is there for you to enjoy. Hugs to you.

Marit said...

A funeral and gathering of family and friends is bittersweet... it's a good thing to see and support each other and share memories but at the same time, it's sad that your mum isn't there to enjoy it too... life (and death) is strange like that. The 'terrible pics' show it all, so they're not terrible at all! Hope you have a good week Julia, big hug from Holland! Marit #15