Thimbleanna

Mummy

Oh dear. After my New Year’s post I had such great intentions of picking things back up on the blog. I’d planned to spend the month of January doing catch up posts to re-cap fun projects and events fun and not-so-fun from 2023. And then January disappeared. As did February and March. Most days I’m just baffled as to where the time goes.

It’s been very busy here this winter and we’ve been working a lot on the house. As soon as the holidays were over, we dove right in – moving furniture, painting rooms, cleaning closets, changing flooring and cleaning out a storage unit. Most of the hard work is done, but there are still closets and bins of papers and things to go through. There was a little knitting and sewing, but in general, working on the house has been better to keep me occupied. Just like these sentences that I keep typing, I didn’t want to get to the point.

Which is this.  In November, we lost our darling Mummy.

Thimbleanna: Mummy

I’ve hardly been able to even say it.  I love this cute picture of her — I’m not sure the rest of the family likes it as much, but I think it’s just so … her. Sweet, pretty and funny.  I don’t even know where to start.  Her absence has left such a hole in our hearts.  She (along with BigDaddy) was the center of our little extended family.  They were the glue that held us all together.  We were SO lucky – we had many years of fun – birthdays, trips, holidays and just happy everyday memories.

Thimbleanna: Mummy

Wasn’t she a cute little girl?  This is one of the only pictures we have of her when she was young.  She had asthma when she was a little girl, so, it’s not surprising that she didn’t speak fondly of her childhood. But, luckily for us, she met Dad when she was young, and she grew up to be the happy, fun mother that we remember.

Thimbleanna: Mummy

And she, along with BigDaddy, gave MyDadLovesMeBestSister and I the happiest of childhoods. The two of them together were a great team. I never remember them arguing when I was a child — that seems impossible, but it was true.  She was the most even tempered person I’ve ever met. I never remember her yelling. Family was everything to Mummy and it showed in everything she did for us.

Thimbleanna: Mummy

She adored her grandchildren, and more recently, her three little great-granddaughters. I loved watching her face light up when they came to visit. And even though there were a lot of day-to-day things she couldn’t remember, she never forgot how to be fun.  Oh, how she would tease those little girls — and they didn’t always like it LOL.

Thimbleanna: Mummy

I always thought Dad was the funny one of the two of them, but she definitely held her own.  After she passed away, a friend of the boys’ told us a story from just a few years ago:  “My favorite memory was when we were at her house and she was telling me that the only difference between her and Jessica Simpson was her face.  She said her face showed age, but her body was just as good as Jessica Simpson’s.  She proceeded to go into the kitchen, grab a grocery bag, cut eye holes in it, write “Jessica Simpson’ on the bag, put it over her head, and walked back into the room.  She said ‘See … same thing!'”  Classic Mummy!

I feel like these pictures just don’t do her justice.  They definitely don’t reflect how I remember her.

Thimbleanna: Mummy

And, I haven’t even discussed everything else about her — she was so smart (more than one of her friends told me she was the smartest person they knew), she was an amazing cook, a loyal friend, and her quilting skills deserve a post of their own.

Thimbleanna: Mummy

When BigDaddy left us, I posted this picture of the two of them. I took it on their 60th anniversary. There were serious, more beautiful pictures taken on that day, but this one is, by far, my favorite. It’s. Just. Them.

Thimbleanna: Mummy

Oh, how I wish they were still here.

We’ll miss and love them forever.

XOXO,
Anna

17 thoughts on “Mummy”

  1. Oh Anna, this makes my heart hurt for you. I know how hard it is to lose a parent as I lost my father in January of last year. Your mom sounds like a wonderful person, the life of the party. I’m so glad you have so many wonderful memories of her. I pray that I’m making happy memories with my children and granddaughters similar to what you have with your mom. She sounds legendary!

  2. Auntie MeMum and Uncle Big Daddy are still putting a smile on my face – that last picture is priceless!!! i love both of them so, so much…

    p.s. – you already know how sorry i am for your loss

  3. Anna, I am so sorry. I loved the stories you told of you and your mom getting in to “events”, the special family times you all enjoyed so often, the trips, most of all the love you have for each other. What a great heritage you have, and what a great heritage you are continuing with your children and grandchildren. To me, it is such a comfort to know that we’ll meet those dear loved ones who have gone ahead again. I look forward to that. Love you, my friend.

  4. Dearest Anna, I’m so sorry to read about the loss of your dear Mum! Both your parents have been an integral part of your blog so I feel like I knew them too. It’s hard to lose a parent, no matter how old they were or we for that matter. It’s been almost nine years since my own mum passed away and although it gets easier, I’m still missing her every day. Last year we lost my husband’s mum too as well as my favourite aunt (both well over 90) so we feel we’re on the front line now. But the wheel of life goes on with our children and grandchildren. Guess what; I’m going to be a grandma for the first time this summer and I can’t wait. Sending a big hug. xx

  5. Oh Anna, I am so very sorry for your loss. I’m not surprised that you are all at sixes and sevens but you’ve done a wonderful job of writing such a lovely tribute that truly shows how very special and deeply loved she was. Sending love and hugs to you and yours xxxx

  6. I so loved this post Anna, it made me think of my parents who have passed on and wishing I could still talk to them, but memories I still have and will always cherish. I’m so very sorry for the loss of both your parents.

  7. I’m so sorry for your loss Anna. You’ve written beautifully about your Mum and Dad! I hope all those sweet memories will hlep you to go through the missing of your beloved parents.

  8. Long-time reader de-lurking to say I’m so very sorry to hear this sad news! You’ve shared such beautiful moments and memories and I hope it’s nice to know that your readers have a glimpse of how special your parents were. It seems like you’re more than carrying on all the fun and love to the next generations! Take care and hope the spring blooms are extra beautiful for you this year.
    –Sarabeth in Boston

  9. oh anna. I am so sorry. the pain is immense but the memories live on and get passed down through you and your boys.

  10. Oh Anna, I’m sure you will miss Mummy so much. She looks like an amazing woman. I love the pic of her patting Big Daddy’s tushie. She lives on….in you and all of you who loved her. God bless her memory. And God bless you.
    ~Jody

  11. I am so sorry Anna. I know the past few years have not been easy. I’m so happy for the loving memories you have. I understand some of how you feel. My dad passed 15 years ago and mom six. I still don’t want to talk about it. ?Sending a hug to you.

  12. Big hugs from Scotland. Death is really unacceptable, I’ve decided. Sigh.

    A new blog post, though… How about another???

  13. I haven’t seen this until now. I know we’ve spoken but I loved reading about her and I’ve loved hearing about her over the years. I’m so happy for you that you grew up with wonderful parents. I’m sorry for your loss. I’m proud of you for how you took care of her. ??

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