I find that words and writing come easily to me here, although, I do not think I am particularly great at it. I have, as my high school AP English teacher used to say to me, “an odd fascination with the semicolon,” which I have not really outgrown since high school, a tendency to miss the correct comma placement in a sentence more often than not, and am guilty of using run-on sentences with regularity. Grammatical errors seem to be my forte. Even so, I love writing and sharing what I see and experience; especially when I am in Ireland. I tried to continue to write when I returned home last year and words, thoughts, and ideas failed to form. I often wonder why that is. Perhaps it is because I struggle to see the beauty around me amidst the chaos of everyday life, but I make a conscious effort to do so regularly, and honestly, find the chaos beautiful in its own way. Maybe it is because the scenery outside my window is not as awe inspiring as it is here. There is definitely truth in that, but I feel there is something more to it and I cannot seem to put my finger on what is stopping me. Regardless of how my writing is perceived by others or myself, because inevitably, I am my own worst critic, I love to do it, and I suppose I should probably find a way to keep it going after my Irish journey ends, even if I do not share it with the world, because of the joy it brings me.

Today was a day we all have been looking forward to since the moment we knew we were coming back to Ireland and it did not disappoint. After an easy morning with extra sleep, we drove out to the Mayfield Birds of Prey Education Center to see some old friends. Willie, the owner, remembered our family from last year and was there to greet us as we pulled into the center, as well as his delightful son, Sean. From there, we got reacquainted with Willie and our bird friends, stopping to chat with Peanut the Asian Wood Owl, Doughal the Barn Owl, Hiccup the Tawny Owl, Sadie the Eagle Owl, and our favorite flying companion, Mikey the Harris Hawk, just to name a few. After a quick refresher course on the birds and their backgrounds, a tour of the changes made to the facility since our last visit, and a preview of the changes to come, we went for a walk with Mikey the Harris Hawk. We donned large gloves that stretched up our arms, and headed up the hill to a big field, watching Mikey soar through the air and onto our gloved hands to receive treats. At some point during our adventure, each one of us got to experience the strange but hilarious event of having a hawk perch on our head.

We finished up with Willie and Sean educating us further on the different birds and their care while allowing us to hold the birds of our choice for photographs. I cannot explain just how amazing of an experience this is or how much we all of enjoyed it. It is truly beyond words. Both Willie and Sean have a passion for what they do and a deep-rooted gift in how they share their knowledge and love for these animals and nature with others; it was a privilege to be in their company for the afternoon.

After our visit concluded we ventured into Youghal to eat at The Red Store, Bar & Grill for a late afternoon lunch and a walk through the downtown area taking in the fresh air and sunshine. Upon arriving back to the cottage, Kevin, Ellery, and I walked down to the water to comb the shore for sand/beach glass. To say we were successful would have been an understatement. The wind had picked up quite a bit and the rain, as well as the tide was moving in, so Audra stayed back at the cottage to keep warm. I think, perhaps, she will go with me another day after seeing the neat pieces we found.

We ended the evening with a snack and a game together and made our plans for tomorrow. It is certain to be a great day full of new discoveries, but only after I finish my cup of tea.