Fadedwords

I’m not going to miss 2009.

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The past two days have been filled with photography.  On Monday the plan had been to go to Lake Mattamuskeet, however the first set of directions I got were wrong and it ended up being too far away.  So we decided to head to Yates Mill Pond.

I had never been to Yates Mill before, but I absolutely fell in love with it.  There are nature trails, the mill, the waterfall… just beautiful.  I can’t wait to go back.  You can see all the pictures from that day HERE.

We decided to head to Lake Mattamuskeet yesterday.  It was a three hour drive, but as it turns out it was completely worth it.

Hundreds of thousands of tundra swan come here in the winter, along with thousands of other species of birds.  When we were first driving in to the refuge, a bald eagle flew over our car.  I’m so disappointed that my camera wasn’t out and ready, so there is no photograph of that.  He was beautiful though.  We saw lots of birds and enjoyed the park a great deal.  It was very windy though, and very cold.  I’m looking forward to going back again, hopefully to see some loons and another eagle.  You can see all the pictures from Lake Mattamuskeet HERE.

I just got off the phone with Bethany.  She told me that I “had” to call her tonight, which is unusual.  So despite my loathing of the phone, I called.

She told me that her Christmas gift to me is a trip to Seattle in June.

Holy Hell.

I don’t think I probably sounded excited on the phone.  This is because I was in a state of shock that I can’t fully explain.  My head was spinning at the thought of actually going to Seattle.  Bethany’s Mom lives there, and ever since we became friends I’ve seen the gorgeous photos that she’s taken on her trips to visit.  I had always wanted to visit Seattle, and seeing these photos/hearing her stories of her time there made me want to go even more.  I was just saying today that I really wanted to go out there sometime.

This is an amazing gift.  A crazy, ridiculous, this-is-too-much kind of gift.  It’s another time when I am reminded that I have a truly beautiful friend that is always thinking about the things that would make me happiest, and trying to give them to me.  I hope that, despite my shock-induced reaction, she is fully aware that I am freaking out and absolutely cannot wait to go.  (shock is wearing off a little now).

So Bethany, thank you.  And thank you to Belvie too.  This is such an amazing, generous, totally beautiful gift.  <3

Her mom lives HERE
Seattle website HERE

The new house is close to several major roads.  This is great for me, as it means easy access to stores and the like.  It also means that we hear a lot of sirens, which Merlin can’t help but express himself over…

This is what happens no matter what time of the day it is, or what he was doing prior to hearing the siren.  He can be in a dead sleep, but his reaction remains the same.  He jumps up, looks out the window, and then howls long and low.  Then he’ll look out the window again, listen, and howl again if the offensive noise hasn’t dissipated.  I guess consistency is key.

Howling Good Time from Kate Moynihan on Vimeo.