As many of you know this was a very long and tough weekend filled with wakes, funerals and saying goodbye to my sister in law who passed away much too soon. The funeral and burial took place on Sunday. The weather was abysmally dreary. Shortly after we entered the church the rain started coming down. After the lovely service, filled with friends and loved ones sharing their stories, we headed out to the cemetery where the weather turned crazy and the skies filled with snow, and sleet which accompanied the freezing rain! The grave site was at the bottom of a steep hill that was getting more and more slippery with every passing second. At the fear of risking another shoulder injury due to slipping on the ice I decided to stay at the top of the hill, looking down at the sea of umbrellas and flowers. It was really a spectacular vantage point. I wanted my camera with me terribly! I couldn't hear what was being said as the rain, sleet and snow that pelted overhead on my umbrella was deafening. I could, however, hear the wonderful music of bagpipes from behind. There was something so soothing and comforting about this bagpiper. Below the people huddled together, their multitudes of umbrellas forming a large tent-like structure. Beneath the umbrellas friends and families stood shivering, holding large, beautiful yellow roses. I watched as though I was an outsider looking in -- from a similar vantage point that Tia might have had. These people joined together, dressed mostly in black with shocks of brilliant color from various umbrellas, flowers on the grave site, and the roses in the people's hand. Such a sad event and yet so beautiful. And I looked at some of these umbrellas, many of which made me smile.
If you have to be out parading in the rain, why not, make the most of it? I love umbrellas and always have. There are many wonderful ones out there. Are you in the market? These are some of the ones I fell in love with or found amusing! The last is my favorite. I must have it!
To a regular passerby this may seem like a boring black umbrella. But look closely at the handle and you might start singing a Spoonful of Sugar Makes the Medicine Go Down! Mary Poppins donned this umbrella on Broadway. Available through The Disney Company.
Those aren't raindrops on my umbrella, they're diamonds! Perhaps you have incredible style and incredibly deep pockets. If you do you will fall in love with this Luxury Pasotti Black/Red Umbrella with Swarovski Crystals, $238, http://www.italianiche.com/wiki/ITN/AccessoriesUmbrellas.
If the last one was a little too rich for your blood perhaps this happy little umbrella from MoMa for
Target is what you need to chase those gray skies away! Look up and see nothing but blue sky! For $35 this umbrella will put a little spring back in your boot steps!
My favorite umbrella. I actually have two of them! I have a small version that I keep in the car that fits in a hand bag and a larger golf sized umbrella. (We found them at the outlets in Freeport, ME) This classic beauty will never go out of style. The Burberry Startford Umbrella is available at
Saks for $225
This slogan is a favorite to many. I can think of no place more fitting!With this on my umbrella I'm pretty certain I would be able to Keep Calm and Carry On! Available for a mere $30 at
Decorative Things.
Nothing says Prep like your college logo on your umbrella, especially if you went to one of the Ivies!
I love Lulu Guiness' whimsical dome umbrella! (We went to the same boarding school in the UK. She was a year behind me and gorgeous even back then!) The Birdcage is available for purchase from her UK site for 28 BP
I also love Lulu's Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining Umbrella. Both umbrellas can be purchased from
Lulu Guiness' website.
Last, but certainly not least, this umbrella really makes me laugh. I love the pale lavender color, and the slightly off-color message, which translated is "Shit, It's Raining," This umbrella is available from the Canadian company
Raindrops. Perhaps if you walk around carrying this everything will come up roses for you too!
Do you have a favorite umbrella?
