Blue Heaven

The rooster and my alarm went off at the same time today. The sun is coming up later these days and setting earlier, as the dark half of the year is coming. It feels very fall-like this morning too, cold and crisp, a little foggy, with smoke rising from a chimney in the courtyard. Those smells all combined are heaven to my senses. With my birthday less than a week away, I’m thinking a lot about Ooma lately. This will be my first birthday without her and I vividly remember last October and our shopping trip to the mall together, in what would be the last time, for my birthday. She bought me two fab pairs of shoes and I think I’ll never be able to part with them now. 

We had such a fun time that day, wandering arm-in-arm all over the mall and topped off our mommy/daughter date at Neiman Marcus' third floor restaurant with a glass of much-anticipated cheer and lunch. Laughing all the way. That was just what happened when you were with Ooma for even five minutes. You laughed. A lot. 

When I was little, I remember how she loved the fall so much because of my birthday and then came Hallowe’en and then the holidays were just right around the corner. And when the boys were both born right at Thanksgiving time, it was all the more a fallfest at our house.

For many reasons, I'm thankful to be here at Ballymaloe this year, to take my mind off of those things which can make us so sad. I miss my mom so much.

Ooma and me.

I have so many great photos of Ooma and me at birthday time at home, in Dallas, but not here. So, I'm making do with those I do have with me. Just know, she was taking the photos she's not in. 🎂💝 In the photo above, I'm reminded of a song she used to sing to me for as long as I can remember. "Just Shannon and me and Skipper (my stuffed animal) makes three. We're happy in our blue heaven." I can hear her singing it now.

My beloved grandfather, Obie Rambin, me and my other wonderful grandfather, Paul Kincaid, on my first birthday.

A wheelbarrow full o'presents.

Moving right along, on the schedule for the day is roasting and stuffing a chicken, making the gravy, bread sauce and a new-to-me turnip recipe with caramelized onions on top. Sounds a lot like Thanksgiving dinner. 

Tomorrow is all about cakes. We’re supposed to have a cake decorating competition tomorrow. Sounds like fun and I’m ready. ☺️