Our first year in France

It's been one year since we arrived at CDG airport in Paris, with a few bags of clothing and personal items, and Bailey in her crate. We kept that airline crate and it has become Bailey's den. We got a big piece of wood to lay on the top making it into a very useful table that lives on my side of the bedroom. I've since learned that crating is not common in France, but Bailey loves her crate, feels secure there, and goes into it willingly whenever we ask. 

We reserved a small room in the local brewery down the street and hosted a small gathering yesterday evening. There were probably 25 people who came and went in the course of the evening. We told folks that it was a dual celebration, marking our first year in France and our 30th year as a couple. Clay's beer friends came, of course, as well as some people we had met through the American Club in Lille, a couple who lives in our building, and Bailey's friend from the dog park. 

I might claim Bailey's friend as my friend, but really it's Bailey who made the relationship. We see her and her dog (an Australian shepherd) most days when we stop by the dog park towards the end of our morning walk. She made a real effort to get to know Bailey and she speaks English well enough that we've become acquainted as well. She has the same co-dependent relationship with her dog that I have with Bailey. I don't know much more about her personally, but that's enough to deem her a kindred spirit. Making human friends doesn't come easily to me, quelle surprise, so I'd say that one friend in one year is pretty good, or at least as good as could be expected. 

We have our carte vitale (French health insurance cards), and French driver's licenses. The main bureaucratic goal outstanding is the renewal of our one year visa, but we've been notified that it's in process and they've given us a three month extension already. I need to find and commit to a new language learning system. We are here to stay for as long as they'll have us. 

Bailey in her new harness.

I need to get her some cool velcro patches for the harness. 

The world's shortest blooming hollyhock, growing out of a crack in stone.

My favorite house in Lille.

We were in the dog park on Friday and spotted them moving the sheep to a new location. I hadn't seen this before. They normally just move the fencing to an adjacent location and move them around that way gradually. They actually moved them down the sidewalk along a roadway. I'm not sure where they went. There were one or two herding dogs controlling the movement. The guardian dogs were leading the way but not really assisting with the move.

Here you can see the livestock guardian dogs out front and a herding dog (Australian shepherd I think), at the rear. The owners and their dogs are Romanian. 

I had a good vantage point standing on top of the earthen mound in the dog park. See how dry and brown the grass is? We really need some rain.

The dogs and the people obviously knew what they were doing.

Full moon rising.

One year in and we have no regrets. Hoping for many more.

Annual vet visit

Our one year anniversary in France is rapidly approaching. One of the first things we did upon arrival last August was take Bailey to a vet. It was actually a requirement, within a week of arrival, and we had found the vet and scheduled the appointment on our scouting trip in April, 2025, well before our actual move. It's been almost a year since that initial vet visit so we scheduled Bailey's annual check up for today.

It was after our morning walk at the Citadel and I think we'll schedule any future visits for the same time because it was the lowest stress vet visit Bailey has ever had. Both the receptionist and the vet offered treats and got kisses. Bailey went up on the scale and sat down without hesitation. She only needed two vaccines, lepto and kennel cough, so that was easy and she was good for the exam. The vet said her weight was perfect and remarked how muscular she was. 

I had come over with a year's supply of both Heartguard and Frontline. On the vet's recommendation from our initial visit, I've been giving Bailey a dose of Drontal every three months since we got here to handle any intestinal parasites that she might pick up as a result of dietary indiscretion that she may indulge in on our hikes. It's available without a prescription here. Today I got a three month supply of Simparica for fleas and ticks and a refillable prescription for more. The vet said that they don't really have an issue with heartworms in this part of France. 

It was a very easy and successful vet visit. Bailey got everything she needs to comply with the requirements of the boarding kennel for the next year. 

Hanging out at the dog park this morning.

There were two small dogs there when we arrived this morning. The one kissing up to Bailey is a puppy who really wanted to be her friend. Bailey was tolerant but not really interested. The little guy on the left was named Eclair ("Flash" or "Lightning" in English) and he was surprisingly fast on those little legs. Bailey bounced around and played with him a little bit, slowing her pace so give him a chance.

Bailey's dining table.

These signs are posted along some of the interior canals at the Citadel, warning of the potential presence of dangerous bacteria in the water due to the summer heat. Bailey doesn't go in the water but she has been known to stop for a drink. I'm watching her closely now and call her away from the water if she goes close to it. 

Bailey has a human friend that we see very often at the dog park. She gave Bailey this disc to play with.

Waiting at the vet's office today.

Laying in the sun in front of an open window at home today. This is the last open window day for a while; it's supposed to get hot again tomorrow so we'll be running our air conditioner.

These last two pictures are off topic, but I've been wanting to share them. Before we left Virginia, I scattered the ashes of all the dogs we've owned over the years, including a number of foster dogs who died in our care. There were quite a few of them, but I don't have an exact count. Although I scattered the ashes, (some in our pasture, others along the trails at Pleasant Grove), I kept and brought along the collars of each of those dogs. To display them I got a curtain rod and hung it in one of our windows. I quite like the effect.

This is a view from below of all the tags and other bling on the collars.

The rod turned out to be surprisingly heavy.

Summer flowers, wildlife, and more

Just some recent pictures. The weather has been much better lately but very dry, we really need some rain. The wildflowers continue to thrive, however. 

A momma Coot and two babies swimming through duckweed.

Another concert at the cathedral.

A scene outside our very local brewery down the street. Their friend was taking their picture standing behind them. I took this from inside the bar looking out. Then we went outside and exchanged pictures with them. 

Grazing as vegetation control.

Firewooks as seen from our window on July 14h. 

Yet another concert at the cathedral. This was a school vocal group from the UK. 

This is the back end of St. Catherine's church, take from a table outside a Vietnamese restraurant nearby, (see next picture).

French Vietnamese food. It was good but different from Vietnamese food in the U.S.

Bailey on the top of the hill in the dog park. 

Bailey with a new toy.

A grey heron.

Wood pigeons. They are larger, heavier, than regular pigeons.

A cormorant on one of the interior canals around the Citadel. 

An arum lily. Very unusual.

I spotted this guy from across an interior canal. He looked huge, stork-sized compared to the usual grey herons. My phone identified him as a great blue heron.